Chirp, chirp-chirp!
The next morning.
After resting at the palace in the capital, I packed my bags and left. I sighed as I looked back at the Imperial Palace.
"I’ll come back someday, Empress Dowager."
Perhaps when we meet again, we’ll play even more intensely? With new and exciting plays.
Ah, lately I seem to be laughing wickedly. Should I say I’ve become an evil hero? I shook my head. Me, evil?
"It must be Grant’s influence. I’m so pure, you know."
Once again, a sweet atmosphere was created. Dentists must be thriving.
As I walked through the streets, I recalled the play I had with the Empress yesterday. That was truly good. If it were a gender-reversed world, all the women would have flocked to me. It was quite effective. What kind of play should I try next?
"Oh, right. Our manor’s butler."
Now that I think about it, I forgot about the butler. He said he was busy with research?
"I was too busy to meet the butler. Should I go see him after a long time?"
I was secretly curious about the butler’s research. Had he succeeded? Imagine if our manor’s walls were lined with cannons filled with Kahlum. Doesn’t that make your heart swell?
"If I’m lucky, I’d like to place some in the Weaverpool territory too."
Whoosh!
I arrived in front of the main gate of the family estate via warp. I immediately headed for the Lord’s Manor.
As soon as I arrived in the manor courtyard, a low but cold voice rang out.
"As the Head Butler, I cannot tolerate this. Are you doing this on purpose because I’m busy with research?"
"No, Head Butler."
"Then prove it. Show your passion. Your passion for cleaning!"
"Yes, sir! Woooaaah!"
Young men in butler uniforms grabbed brooms and began cleaning with fervor. They were even exuding fighting spirit, like berserkers.
I approached them with a smile.
"Butler, hello?"
"Oh, long time no see, Lucian. No, should I call you Baron?"
The butler, who was now the Head Butler, looked troubled. He shook his head.
"Just call me comfortably. By the way, did you become the Head Butler?"
"Originally, there was no such position in our territory, but with this incident, young people stepped forward, saying they wanted to rebuild the territory. I became the Head Butler to manage those young people."
"That’s a good phenomenon."
Even at my words, the Head Butler shook his head, as if it was far from enough.
"They often make mistakes because they’re too eager. It’s really hard to watch over them all individually."
"Are you busy?"
"I am busy. Hahahaha, it feels like I’ve returned to my youth."
Isn’t this already his prime? For this Head Butler.
I cleared my throat and spoke.
"About the Kahllum research you mentioned before. How far have you progressed?"
"Oh, right. I haven’t told you."
Would there be any results? The Head Butler’s expression seemed subtly brighter. He smiled as if he had grasped all the success in the world.
The Head Butler adjusted his monocle and answered excitedly.
"We were mass-producing cannons with Kahlum. It was truly amazing! The blacksmiths’ fighting spirit, haaah...!"
"Oh, did you succeed?"
Did they succeed? Will our territory finally become the strongest firepower territory? Will we no longer have to rely on the Hero, and will self-reliant defense be realized?
The butler gave a thumbs up.
"Due to the damage to the territory from the last battle, all the mass-produced ones were destroyed! Hahahaha!"
"Uh, uhm...."
He was just resigned. His mental state was shattered. Indeed, I think my mental state would also be damaged. All the things I painstakingly made were blown away.
"It was quite an intense battle, after all."
It was regrettable. I was curious about the appearance and firepower of the Kahlum cannons.
Seeing me disappointed, the Head Butler raised his index finger.
"But we salvaged this one thing!"
Was there something else? He pulled out a small musket from his pocket. It was pistol-sized and had an ordinary appearance. There was no light, no ominous aura flowing from it.
I looked at it carefully and asked.
"Is that a pistol...?"
"It’s a portable small musket. Well, call it whatever you like. We connected a firing pin to it to create a cartridge chamber for Kahlum. In other words, it’s a gun that doesn’t need bullets!"
"Uh, but is that possible?"
A gun that runs on Kahlum, not mana or prayer.
The Head Butler nodded.
"We were able to obtain Kahlum fragments left behind by a person named Grant when he exerted his power. We collected all of them, compressed them, and made a cartridge chamber. What’s more, even if it’s consumed, if even a little remains, the Kahlum regenerates on its own over time though it needs certain conditions too."
"Whoa, really? That’s quite surprising."
Kahlum regenerates? That’s a bit scary.
With me looking surprised, the Head Butler wore an ecstatic expression. Like a villain who had achieved his goal.
"Kahlum is an energy as astonishing as mana. Haaah... truly, truly... it’s resplendent!"
The Head Butler made an expression akin to a mad scientist. Looking at him, I could feel what pure madness was like. Competent, mad, and even terrifying. This old man, he wouldn’t become an enemy, would he?
I laughed awkwardly and said my goodbyes.
"Anyway, I’ll use it well. Hahaha! Is the Lord doing well?"
"He’s busy with his duties. I hope you have a comfortable adventure."
"Thank you. Stay healthy!"
I exchanged pleasantries and left the Lord’s Manor. I had somewhere to go first. It was the blacksmith. It should be quiet by now, right?
Clang! Clang! Whoosh, boom!
The blacksmith was still radiating heat today, and the sound of hammering steel could be heard.
As soon as I entered, I saw an apprentice with noticeably more muscle than before.
"Oh? Hello? You’re the Hero, right?"
"Yes. Where did the blacksmith old man go?"
"He overexerted himself making cannons before, so he’s lying down now."
Suddenly, the Head Butler became scary again. To make such a strong person sick. How much did he make him work?
"As expected, to make progress, you have to grind people to dust."
Let’s not talk to the Head Butler again. He’s terrifying. For real.
"Ahem, I’d like to ask you to check the condition of my equipment and enhance it."
"Oh, I’d be happy to. Let’s see...."
The apprentice looked at my equipment with a deeper gaze than before. Then he made a surprised expression.
"Since none of them are low-grade, I don’t even see minor damage. You’ve managed them quite well."
"Hahaha, is that so?"
"Which one should I enhance?"
Clink! Roll, roll!
I overturned the by-products, special by-products, and gold coins I had obtained so far. Seeing them, the apprentice was flustered.
"Uh, so many...!"
"Please fully enhance all of them. No, is it not enough? Well, just do as much as you can. Please."
"Really? Yes, yes!"
The apprentice scratched his head and took the equipment. And then he began hammering and cooling them like mad.
Clang! Clang, whoosh! Clang, clang!
As expected, after about five minutes, the enhanced artifacts began to appear one by one.
The Archmage’s Amulet was the first to be seen.
[Amulet of the Great Archmage]
**Rarity: Masterpiece
*Unique Passive Effect ’Perfect Stance’: Nullifies all mental interference.
*Unique Passive Effect ’Inner Circulation’: Efficiency increases by 100% each time Ki or Mana is activated.*
*Unique Passive Effect ’Pinnacle of Cultivation’: Recovers half of the Ki or Mana consumed.
*Unique Active Effect ’Teleportation’: Designates one location. Can travel back and forth to the designated location.
"The secret to advancing on the greatest path is one. Fundamentals." —Archmage Gellerd Grendelwald
Huh, now I won’t struggle even if I consume Ki.
Next was the Coat of the Lightning Dominator.
[Blitzkrieg]
**Rarity:Cosmic Artifact
*Unique Passive Effect ’Lightning Immunity’: Grants immunity to lightning attribute.
*Unique Passive Effect ’Increased Evasion Distance’: Increases distance when rolling or dashing.
*Unique Active Effect ’Thunderbird’s Blessing’: Flies at near-light speed using lightning.
*Unique Active Effect ’Lightning Aura+’: Speed increases by 100% with lightning aura.
"Become lightning. Lightning that cleaves all, and illuminates all." —Thunder Emperor Ivanovich
I could really fly around like a thunderbird, couldn’t I? So badass.
Lastly, even the Fairy Tribe Shield!
[Trace of the Fairy King]
**Rarity: Masterpiece
*Unique Passive Effect ’Precise Defense+’: Prevents interference equal to current level x 0.5t, limited to shield area.
*Unique Passive Effect ’Elemental Immunity’: All elemental resistances increase by 100%.
"Rinastasha, my dear. Even if I disappear, my trace will protect you." —Fairy King Alfredel
It was significantly enhanced. To the point where it wouldn’t fall behind anywhere.
"Thank you. It’s excellent. You might not lose to the blacksmith old man?"
"Oh, you flatter me. Thank you for protecting our territory."
"I just did what was natural. Just as you diligently enhanced my items. Keep up the good work."
"Thank you!"
As soon as I turned from the blacksmith, I immediately round-trip returned to an inn in the capital. And I gripped the gun. Hoo, it feels different, doesn’t it?
"Unlike a sword, it’s cold and light. But if I just pull the trigger, it’s a pistol with such grand implications that it can easily take a life...!"
I swallowed dryly and put the gun in my pocket. I’ll probably need it someday.
Then, it became noisy outside.
"Help me, uwaaah!"
"Hey, what’s wrong?"
"Some strange woman is tearing people apart outside the wall!"
"What?! What are the guards doing?"
"The people being torn apart are the guards themselves!"
Tearing people apart, not a bear?
"...She must be here. Horuz."
"Alright... shall we go?"
I threw myself towards the open window. Like a diver, I spun once in the air before soaring powerfully into the sky.
Whoosh, crackle!
Enveloped in lightning, I flew straight to where Horuz would be.
Whooooosh!
I was flying, tearing through the blowing wind. The sense of speed was one thing, but above all, the liberation of flying was immense. I can fly on my own, without a sword. Amazing!
Passing the wall, I looked at the hill and saw Horuz tearing people to death.
"How cruel."
Horuz tore the last guard to death and, covered in blood, looked up at me. That must all be their blood.
"Oh... to think I would see you while chasing my mother’s aura."
"Yo, long time no see! How are the wounds I gave you? Don’t they make you want to see me?"
As I asked casually, Horuz shook off all the blood from her body. She smiled menacingly.
"Hehehe, how could I forget that day? Don’t worry. I’ll repay you twofold!"
Horuz clenched her fist. I landed on the ground and rested my chin on my hand.
"Repay twofold? Are you saying you’ll repay me by getting pregnant? Heung."
"Who would have sex with a vulgar thing like you?"
"No, you’re missing the point."
I wiggled my index finger left and right.
"Horuz, honestly, you’re a virgin, aren’t you?"
I decided to provoke her. It’s a shame to have such a voluptuous figure and never have ’eaten’ anyone. So, I should ’eat’ her then.
Horuz was more flustered than I expected.
"What?!"
"Right? I admit you’re pretty. Your breasts are big, and your hips look like you could bear many children. But your personality is terrible, isn’t it? Have you ever had a proper relationship? Pfft."
"...Shut up! How dare you! I have a whole lot of followers who adore me! You uncivilized mortal!"
"Bullshit, a whole lot! Prove it. How do I know if you’re bluffing or not?"
"That’s a low-level provocation."
"It’s not a provocation, it’s a fact, virgin goddess. Pfft, how can a goddess be a virgin? And one with a ’girl-crush’ concept that goes around trying to exterminate humans? Kekeke, so damn funny!"
I deliberately held my stomach and laughed. Seeing me, Horuz trembled. Like a bomb about to explode.
"You bastard... you want to die!"
A sun appeared above her head as she gnashed her teeth. And the sun began to rotate clockwise.
[Sundial - Time Stop]
She charged at me and threw a punch. It was still a powerful aura.
"I shall crush you!"
Whoosh!
But Time Stop didn’t work on me. I pulled out the gun from my pocket and pulled the trigger. I deliberately shot so it would graze her cheek.
Bang!
Horuz stopped instantly. And the Time Stop was broken.
"Then... are you going to have a life-or-death struggle with me? Tell me."
"K-Kugh... What is this dark energy?!"
Horuz was flustered. I licked my lips, keeping the gun pointed at her.
"Choose. Are you going to fight me like this, or... are you going to have the sex battle you’re so confident about? The choice is yours, Goddess of Extermination."
And I laughed wickedly.