Groundless Rumors

The concept for this item's production.

Dominate the battlefield.

Whether in skirmishes or full-scale wars, whoever seizes control of the field always claims victory.

To surpass the limitations of the existing Sunogi...

I reviewed the acquired materials one by one, beginning my design.

Not just those—I even checked the spoils from the supply convoy.

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"Lena, let's get started. If I miss anything or the magic circuits look unstable, fix it on the spot."

"Yes! Don't worry! And it's just a Sunogi, right? No risk of explosion this time or anything."

"......"

"......R-right? No explosion risk? I mean, making a Sunogi—why would it explode......"

"Let's begin!"

I dove into the work instead of answering her questions.

Lena needed to learn to think for herself.

"Start with Precise Control."

As I began, the materials trembled and shattered, shaping into the needed components.

Soon, a mid-grade magic stone slotted in, and I enchanted it.

Magic circuits etched across it as the stone slowly deformed.

This won't do as is.

I added Matter Conversion.

Mithril powder swirled around the mid-grade magic stone, soon seeping into the ogre tendons and other materials.

It spun like a tornado, resonating with the components.

Bad signs.

Sweat beaded on my forehead.

This crafting session demanded more effort than usual.

The ogre tendons seemed to be the issue.

Combining inorganic and organic materials felt off.

My hands, manipulating the mana, began to tremble faintly.

"Theo-nim, the magic stone's circuit capacity is at its limit! I'll add a mana crystal! And let me..."

Lena rushed over and gripped my hand.

Her crafting assistant ability stabilized the magic circuits.

"Thanks, Lena."

We barely cleared the first stage.

But the core part remained.

I ground the mid-grade undead bone into powder to form the arrow propulsion mechanism.

Applying Wrath of Flame turned the bone dark crimson as it absorbed mana.

"To counter this... I'll have to drop penetration."

Not enough enchantment slots.

Accuracy or penetration—pick one.

I skipped penetration and added Wind of Mobility instead.

Infusing a single-attribute material with another seemed to stabilize it somewhat.

But my mana was running dry.

Cold sweat dripped.

My fingertips shook.

The creation took shape.

Overall length tripled.

A bit cumbersome to carry on black earth horse back.

But that didn't matter.

I hadn't designed it for that anyway.

As the form solidified, new messages appeared.

A clear metallic ring echoed.

Complete.

I examined the Long-Range Sniper Sunogi's details.

Seeing "Unique" made me feel good from the start.

The specs satisfied me.

And then, the message I'd been waiting for appeared.

Inventor proficiency would hit 100% from this crafting.

Enchanter evolved before... what about Inventor?

Anticipation building, I checked the messages.

I hadn't expected this.

The Inventor class itself evolving.

Magi-tech Engineer?

Questions swirled, but a sudden shock rattled my skull before I could dwell.

"Th-Theo-nim!"

A bomb-like blast in my head.

Nosebleed gushed.

Lena's voice faded, but the messages stayed crystal clear.

Ringing in my ears.

Vision clearing.

Lena's voice grew audible.

"...nim! Theo-nim! Are you okay? Drink this quick! It's a potion! Hurry!"

She held a rare high-grade potion in both hands.

Scavenged from the supplies.

"Ah, uh! Huh? I'm f-fine. Yeah, seems okay."

"Really? You're really okay?"

"Yeah, just overtired, I guess."

Despite her worry, I didn't need the potion.

Seemed like shock from the ability awakening.

Additional awakening? I'd only heard rumors... didn't think it was real...

My heart raced.

In my hunter days, whispers of extra ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠awakenings circulated rarely.

Baseless rumors.

But impossible to ignore.

Source was the world #1 hunter.

Claimed it propelled them to the top.

Is this additional awakening? The ability... Magic Analysis?

No clue what it did.

System-analyzed from my patterns, so likely crafting-related.

Too bad I can't test it right now...

Nothing to do about it.

Urgency gnawed at me.

War had to end first to figure it out.

So, end the war.

"Lena, let's test it."

"Now? Shouldn't you rest a bit..."

"No, gotta end this war quick."

"How can just us end a war? We're already helping plenty—can't you rest a little?"

"Well, true, but..."

Lena gazed at me with anxious eyes.

Worried I'd collapse.

She looked like a shivering kitten in the cold.

Her concern touched me.

Couldn't tell her I wanted to test the new ability, so war first.

"Ending the war fast keeps Baron Sellevan's citizens safe, right? And they're starving... we have to help."

Lame excuse, but it worked on her.

"You cared for those poor villagers last time, and that's why you pushed so hard in this war..."

"Huh? Not really..."

"I'll help even harder! But promise—if your condition worsens, you retreat immediately!"

Firm Lena.

Resolute gaze.

She misunderstood, but I promised anyway.

Honestly, beyond the ability, I itched to test the new sniper Sunogi.

"Got it."

"Need to move this? Hard to believe it's a Sunogi... more like a ballista."

"Yeah, had to make it big for long range."

"Still lighter than it looks!"

"Stow it in the backpack for now. Let's move."

I stored the sniper Sunogi in the Deep Space Backpack and left the hideout.

Unrolled Jacob's map, found a spot, and rode the black earth horse.

"This should do it? Time to test."

"Here? Seriously? Can an arrow really fly... that far?"

"We'll see."

A hill overlooking Viscount Haft's army at decent height.

I set up the new Long-Range Sniper Sunogi there.

Firmly, no wobble.

Quickly locked aim, aligned breathing.

Focused—and messages popped up.

"Far indeed. Can't even see properly."

"Go closer?"

"Hm, test first."

Detected Viscount Haft's army as a target, but no clear aim point.

No scope, so aiming seemed impossible.

But I'd planned for this—a little cheat.

Hunter days trick... who knew I'd use it here.

Maybe craft a telescope later.

Sell well at the workshop, probably.

Shoved stray thoughts aside, refocused on the sniper Sunogi.

Message should come soon...

Slightly shifted toward what looked like command clusters in Haft's army, waiting.

Soon, it appeared.

Got it! Works here too.

Not locked on a specific target.

But something was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠aimed.

That sufficed.

A system exploit, a hack.

Can't pick individuals, but fine for now.

Any command officer works.

"Hoo—."

Breath aligned, held on exhale.

Arrow loaded.

Wind of Mobility activated, air gathering around the arrow.

"Theo-nim, that's three mages over there..."

She could spot mages.

Sharp eyes.

Sniper duty to her someday, maybe.

Not now.

Focus on messages.

Aimed, waited three seconds.

Thwoong—

Heavy thud.

First shot test.

Special sniper arrow.

Imbued with Wrath of Flame, Wind of Mobility, and accuracy boost.

It cleaved the sky.