06. Midterm exam (2)

I rejected all of Yuna’s proposals to have meals and tea time ready, and I went straight to the workshop at the Claprot Mansion to say they were ready. Headed If it was just for fun, it would have been nice to have fun, but today I’m here to make weapons.

Yuna had a sad look on her face, but she couldn’t figure out why. Since I am the client who entrusted the work, shouldn’t I be rather proud of my hard work?

The workshop we arrived at with Yuna’s guidance was so spacious and tidy that it couldn’t be compared to the one prepared in the basement of our house.

“Oh, great.”

“Even if it’s a villa, it’s Klaproth’s workshop. It is natural to have such facilities.”

It was equipped with more state-of-the-art facilities than the Academy’s production workshop, from the magic furnace to the magic auto hammer to the press and grinder. Indeed, it was a workshop worthy of the world’s leading arms producer.

Of course, my only working tool is the hammer I brought from home.

“There are many state-of-the-art tools, but is it okay with just one hammer like that?”

“I am comfortable with the tools I use often.”

I found the ingredients I needed in a box filled with materials up to the ceiling. As expected, not only the sword, but also all the materials to make the gun were prepared. It would have taken more time if I had to make everything from small parts such as springs to magazines by myself.

“To be honest, my knowledge of guns is rudimentary at best. So, I want to ask for your help for that part.”

“If there is anything I can do to help. But what specifically can I help you with?”

“I can make the sword myself. However, no matter how much I calculate the structure and firepower of a gun, I can make a mistake, so I want you and Yuna to keep pace.”

“It’s not that difficult.”

His self-confident smile is definitely reliable. Since she uses a homemade gun, she must have sufficient knowledge about gun maintenance and inspection, and she probably knows more about the structure of a gun than I do, just like Jiwon and Inni.

Today’s work can be said to be a collaborative work with Yuna.

To do that, I had to share the design I was going to make with Yuna. She took out a piece of white drawing paper and drew a drawing with a pencil on it to show her what she was going to make.

“I’m going to try to make it like this… What do you think?”

“So you still use automatic pistols?”

“The type of revolver using a cylinder is not common. But Claprot’s special technique is rechargeable? As long as it doesn’t fire real bullets, I guess an automatic pistol won’t matter.”

The design I drew was a combination of a knife under a standard automatic pistol. In fact, it was not much different from a bayonet, but there was no data, so I had no choice but to refer to existing weapons as data.

It was a weapon that was too unfamiliar to me, so I had to make it first, test it constantly, and fix it.

The work itself didn’t take that long. All you have to do is combine the dagger I made with the already made gun, and the dagger has a short blade, so you don’t have to spend a lot of time forging it.

I lit a fire in the furnace, and pounded the first-class magic steel cast into a casting form to make it easy to forge, and the design was made into the shape of a dagger. Since it was not possible to weld the gun and knife into the furnace, the only way was to weld the part together. The magic power torch for welding prepared in the workshop had great performance, so welding was easy.

I held the completed automatic pistol gunblade in my hand.

“Ummm….”

“How are you? Are you okay?”

“Balance is not bad.”

A typical attachment bayonet is inappropriate for actual use as a knife, as it was intended to literally ‘use in case of emergency’, assuming close combat when bullets run out. However, from the conception stage, I paid attention to the sense of balance so that there would be no discomfort between melee and long distance battles.

That’s why there shouldn’t be anything too heavy, too light, or uncomfortable when wielding it. But in practice, it will definitely be different. I have to do a real test, but I didn’t bring Yoon Seo-hee like last time. However, this is the Claprot mansion, and there are sure to be people among Yuna’s escorts who manage to fight well if you look for them.

“Yuna. I want to run a test, can you bring someone who is suitable for you?”

“Well… It should be there if you look for it, but most of the servants who can fight are hospitalized because of the last raid. The same goes for my direct escort.”

“Really? That’s a bit difficult.”

There is no one to trust. Should I ask Yoon Seo-hee to stop by her mansion? However, her test would be short-lived, but it was burdensome to call her out this far, even as friends. She seems to be taking advantage of her favor….

Yuna tilted her head as if wondering at my thoughtful appearance.

“Can’t Jin do it himself?”

“Huh? I?”

“Last time I saw you, your body movements weren’t normal. He fights much better than most hunters, so wouldn’t it be okay if Jin just tested it himself? There is nothing more certain than testing by the person who created it.”

That’s right, but.

It was clear that Yuna was talking about Certatus, not me. Because I don’t remember fighting in front of Yuna at all. Even though the body is the same, it is impossible for me to move like Kertatus. In such a situation, wouldn’t it be that I was suspicious for doing a poor test for no reason?

At that moment, Kertatus’ voice resonated in my head.

[Good opportunity. Give it a try.]

‘What? Where do you see this as a good opportunity? What if Yuna finds out that I wasn’t the one who caused the mess?’

[Don’t worry. Tell me how to move Boy, you tend to underestimate the contract with this body too much. Once you experience it, you will want to undo what I said was useless.]

You still have that in mind.

Since you said it so confidently, I felt a slight desire to do it. I was dubious and firmly gripped the gunblade in my hand.

“Okay. I’ll give it a shot. Don’t expect too much.”

“Whoops… Even the assassin sent by his uncle was defeated so easily. What are you nervous about? Then we will begin.”

Yuna’s gaze full of anticipation is burdensome. The natural feeling that this kind of test would be nothing to me is clearly conveyed through analysis.

I can’t help it. I have no choice but to follow Kertatus’s advice and mimic battles with analysis. She moved to the personal training ground, thinking of making an excuse that it was because it was a weapon she was not familiar with if she showed a bit of a clumsy appearance. Since the workshop and training ground were in the same basement, it was only necessary to open one door and leave.

Yuna pressed the switch placed on the wall to activate the equipment at the training ground. Then, piles of her magical power were quickly created throughout the training ground.

At the same time, the ideal route to attack all piles the fastest is drawn in my field of vision. It was the ability of unique skill analysis. As I figured out the route and put my right foot forward, I was about to dive into the pile when Kertatus’ voice caught me.

[Still one eye is useful. But it’s wrong. Put a little more weight on your steps.]

‘Huh? Wow!?’

My body leaned forward like a magnet, putting more weight on it. For a moment, I wondered if Kertatus had taken control of my body against my will, but that wasn’t the case. By contract, Certatus can no longer take my body against my will.

What came into my mind was a strong image. The giant, who seemed to be made of muscle, stretched out his right foot wide in front of his head. He was a familiar man. The image was so vivid that my body naturally moved according to the image.

[As a creature, you only know how to walk and run, but you don’t know how to walk and run in order to fight. Take a good look. This is how the demon of struggle runs to fight.]

That was a heinous step. It wasn’t just running to reach forward, it was an attack in itself. With each step, the weight of the whole body was loaded, and the floor of the training ground roared.

It was like a train running like crazy with no brakes. I thought I had to take three steps, but in just two steps, I arrived in front of the first pile.

[Don’t use only your arms when swinging a sword. Focus on your toes and waist. The power varies depending on where the center of gravity is placed and how the weight is moved. Think of the whole body as a weapon.]

Seo-Gung! The dagger and the pile of mana split in two. Seeing that, Yuna smiled calmly and said.

“As expected, the difficulty level is too low, right? Shall we raise it a bit?”

It wasn’t the tone of asking for permission at all on the subject of the question. Yuna pressed the button twice without waiting for my answer. Then, the dummies who had been standing still suddenly lit up their eyes red and took out her weapon.

‘Crazy… !’

The path the analysis draws is dizzyingly wobbly. Because there are too many dummy numbers and the pattern has not been properly grasped, it shows the number of diverse cases. I hesitated for a moment as to how to move.

[Huh, kid, you have good eyes, but you try to fight too rationally. I’m not saying don’t think about it. Think with your head, but fight with your instincts. It should be sense, not reason, that moves the body.]

At that moment, my body moved. I didn’t think about which of the paths the analysis draws is the best. Once I moved, I thought. A red line was drawn in front of my eyes. And a spear made of magic flew in.

This is a dummy. Being hit doesn’t mean you’re actually hurt. However, my body and head moved my feet, recalling the actual battle. As I twisted my back and turned my body around, the spear flew past my cheek with a very slight difference.

I dodged the attack, now it’s my turn. But there are several dummy, and another dummy from the right lunges with a sword. Time and distance are ambiguous to rush in and deal with the pile of empty hands. But what I had in my hand was a knife, but also a gun.

Bang! Tattang!

As the aiming correction of the analysis, a magical bullet was inserted between the dummy’s forehead. A pile that crumbles and disappears like dust. Then, a dummy rushed in from the right and attacked me.

And then a strong image came into my mind. It was the appearance of a gigantic man continuing to fight with his bare hands while entangled in the ground.

[It’s not just the weapon in your hand. Don’t forget Use your whole body as a weapon!]

“Keuuugh!”

Rolls down on the floor and bends the joints to subdue the dummy. I don’t even know how I moved myself. I thought we were rolling on the floor together, but before we knew it, we were crushing the pile in a mount position.

It was a golden opportunity. Bang bang! He put a bullet between his eyes in close proximity.

Now three. There were still two more left.

I moved my body according to the image Kertatus showed me. His muscles trembled and he condensed his strength to the limit. Anyway, the gunblade cannot be used with both hands. Left hand free I grabbed one arm of the first dummy with my left hand and blocked it. Then he plunged the knife into his empty chest.

I don’t know if the dummy has a sense of fellowship, but the dummy caught by me obscures my vision, so the following dummy can’t continue its attack either. Bang bang! A couple of bullets were driven into the stabbed chest, and the captured dummy crumbled away.

Amidst the scattering remnants of magical power, the last remaining pile was visible. I made a noise and took a big step, like some kind of fighting maniac, like a demon. Bang! I planted my feet firmly on the ground and twisted my back. My waist completely transferred my weight to my arms. Its power was intense.

Kwajik! The dummy’s head, sharpened by the dagger, couldn’t stand my strength and flew off and landed on the wall. And the last dummy was destroyed, and a buzzer sounded indicating the end of the test.

“Heo Eok, Heo Eok… !”

It’s strange. It must have been my body. I didn’t even write magic. He had strength, agility, and nothing particularly advanced, but since he moved as Kertatus said, he made an absurd move.

But I was too tired. A sense of exhaustion swept over his body, as if he had overworked his muscles beyond their limit, as if he had released the limit of his body without limit. The desire to sit down like this soared like a chimney.

But I couldn’t sit down here. Feeling sorry for her, she turned her head and looked at Yuna. Violence too raw to be a test. I was worried that I might have gone too far.

But.

“Ah, ah… Also… !”

Thinly trembling shoulders, as if goosebumps had sprung up all over his body. Both cheeks and the nape of the neck were heavily flushed. And abnormally rapid breathing.

I covered my mouth with both hands, but to me it seemed to be barely trying to hide an unbridled smile.

That was the expression of a person feeling joy.