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Chapter 4 : Departure
Two months have pa.s.sed since Yue showed Hajime the dignity of a senior, and various breakthroughs were made from that night. As for Hajime, who continued enhancing his body and heart against the crazy monsters in the abyss, lost to Yue’s onslaught. He decided to take it seriously and accept it.
Hajime was aware of Yue’s feelings, on top of that he did promise to take her with him. His reason for withstanding her approach was his stance on not allowing something take his attention until he achieved his objectives. Now he had conquered the dungeon and established a secure base. His goal was partially achieved when he discovered information and a plan to return home, and now his mind was allow to think about other things. His fragile reason couldn’t oppose Yue’s approach. Moreover, his reason didn’t exist anymore.
The two of them made full use of the base. If anyone saw from the side they would likely yell: “Riajuu should explode!!” everyday. Far away, a Hannya mask floated around a female student. Her best friend had been frequently frightened by the situation, but that’s another story. These were the preparation for the bloodshed in the near future.
“…Hajime, does it feel good?”
“Yeah, feels good.”
“Fufu…Then, here?”
“Ah, that’s good too.”
“Better…I’ll make it feel even better.”
Currently, Yue was giving Hajime a ma.s.sage. They weren’t doing anything erotic. Why were they doing a ma.s.sage? Because of Hajime’s left arm. The ma.s.sage was given on a regular basis to help his body get familiar with the prosthetic attached to his left arm.
His prosthetic arm is an artifact, and it could make like a real arm with the direct manipulation of magic. The arm had a pseudo neural mechanism, it allowed the touch sensation by using magic to send signals to the brain to perceive it. For its appearance, the arm had a silver l.u.s.ter with black lines running along it. In certain parts of the arm, there were magic formations and patterns engraved in it.
The arm was fitted with a large number of gimmicks. He had designed it similar to the items in the studio that were Orcus’ works, but Hajime added some of his original elements into it. A lot of special ores made with Creation Magic was used. If it was out in the world, this artifact would no doubt be an article of rare beauty that would be a national treasure. Of course, ordinary people couldn’t use it because you needed direct magic manipulation to operate it.
In two months their abilities and equipment were enhanced; they weren’t anything like their previous selves. Hajime’s current status.
Name
Nagumo Hajime
Age
17 Years Old
Gender
Male
Level
Cla.s.s
Trans.m.u.tation Artist (Synergist)
Strength
10,950
Vitality
13,190
Resistance
10,670
Agility
13,450
Magic
14,780
Magic Resistance
14,780
Skills Trans.m.u.tation Mineral Appraisal Precision Trans.m.u.tation Mineral Enquiry Mineral Separation Mineral Fusion Replica Trans.m.u.tation Compression Trans.m.u.tation Magic Manipulation Magic Emission Magic Compression Remote Control Iron Stomach Lightning Clad Divine Step Air Walk Flicker Grand Legs Light Speed Air Claws Night Vision Far Vision Perception Special Perception Magic Perception Special Perception Heat Perception Special Perception Hide Presence Phantom Step Poison Resistance Paralysis Resistance Petrification Resistance Panic Resistance All Elemental Resistance Foresight Varja Grand Arm Coercion Telepathic Communication High-Speed Magic Recovery Magic Conversion Vitality Healing Limit Break Generation Magic Language Comprehension
Levels showed the current degree of growth and the limit was 100 for a person. However, did his body change so much after eating too much demon flesh? The level stopped changing but his stats kept going up. Finally, it displayed those ??? for his level.
Hajime’s growth after he consumed demon flesh was a very abnormal, if you think about his initial values and his growth rate. When his body went into its alteration it seems his growth limit also increased; just like his stats increased. He guessed that the Status Plate was no longer able to measure his limits.
By the way, the limit of Kouki’s Hero cla.s.s was 1500 for all stats. He could temporarily triple his stats with “Limit Break”, but it still was ? of Hajime’s stats. Moreover, Hajime could quintuple his stats with his skill and magic manipulation. You can understand how he is a cheat now.
For comparison, the normal humans of this world had stat limits of 100-200. If they had a cla.s.s then it could be 300-400. The Devils and Demi-humans, depending on the tribe traits, could range from 300-600 as their limit. If a Hero was cheat, then Hajime was more or less a monster. This wasn’t really a mistake because his body and mind had changed…
Let’s introduce the new equipment.
First, Hajime obtained a useful device known as “Treasure Box”.
This was a ring type artifact that Oscar kept. There was a 1 cm red jewelry attached to the ring, and this jewel could make a s.p.a.ce where it could store items. In short, it was like a hero’s tool bag. Hajime did not know the exact size of the s.p.a.ce, but it was a considerable size. There seemed to be free s.p.a.ce still after putting in all the equipment, tools, and materials. Anything can be deposited or withdrawn by just pouring magic into the formation on the ring. Withdrawn items can be placed anywhere within a 1 m radius.
It is an extremely convenient artifact, especially useful for the one armed Hajime. If the ring could transport anything to any place than Hajime thought he could use it to reload. When the tested it, it was half a success. As expected, it did not have the precision to directly transfer the bullet into the magazine. The limit was the transfer had a certain range it could align the bullet’s orientation. He might be able to use it when he became more skilled with the transmission.
Hajime decided to train to load a magazine with this transferring skill in the air. The important note is he was reloading in the air. Donner was a revolver that had a cylinder that swung out. Naturally, because the exposure of the cylinder was less than that of a top break revolver, it would require a superhuman technique to reload in the air. He wanted to use it in actual combat, not as a street performance, so it became more difficult. Hajime thought about remodeling itto a top break style but decided against it because it weakened the intensity in the trial.
After intense training for one month, Hajime had mastered this aerial reloading. Why was he able to master such a superhuman technique with just one month training? His secret was “Light Speed”. This Special Magic had the ability to raise the user’s cognitive functions. With this, he was able to slow the world down in his mind and aerial reloading became possible. There was a large burden to his body when he used it, so he couldn’t use it for very long. However, it was perfectly fine to use it for his fast reloading.
Next, Hajime manufactured “Magic 2-Wheel Drive and 4-Wheel Drive”.
Literally, these were 2 and 4 wheels driven by magic. The two-wheel was an American type, and the four-wheel was designed like a military vehicle Hummer type. He used the tar shark resilience for the wheels because of its excellent elasticity. Tauru ore was the basis for all the parts. In the studio storage was Azantium Ore, at least that’s what Oscar’s book called it. Surfaces of the parts were coated with this ore, known as the world’s hardest ore. Even Donner’s maximum output probably wouldn’t be able to pierce through that durability. There was no complex structures like engines. The vehicle was driven by Hajime’s own magic or the magic stored in the fragment of G.o.d’s Crystal. Speed was proportional to the amount of magic.
In addition, there were devices fitted to the bottom of these two vehicles. When magic is poured into these devices, it will start to level the ground with trans.m.u.tation magic. This would allow them to travel off-road in most places. Also, the vehicles were fully loaded like some spy car. Hajime was a boy. He was pa.s.sionate about anything related to military. When he was too absorbed in it, Yue would pout. But her mood would improve when he spoiled her in various ways.
“Devil Eye” was another tool he developed.
Hajime lost his right eye when he fought the Hydra. His whole eye was evaporated by the heat of the Aurora attack, and he couldn’t get it back with sacred potion because he had lost it before he drank it. Yue was worried about it, so she devised and made “Devil Eye”.
Even with Creation Magic, it was not possible to make a normal “eyeball”. However, using Creation Magic, she was able to apply “Magic Perception” and “Foresight” to the G.o.d’s Crystal. The Devil Eye was successfully created and it gave a very unusual but special sight.
Using the same pseudo nerves used in the artificial arm, the Devil Eye could send images to the brain to perceive. Devil eye did not grant normal vision. Instead, it could recognize the flow, strength and attribute of magic by color. He could see the core of the invoked magic.
What is the magic core? It is the thing that maintains and operates invoked magic…it seems. After invoking the magic, the magic is operated by the magic formation; he knew that. However, he had never thought about how the formula was linked with distant magic. None of the books and instructors had even mentioned anything about it. Probably it is a new discovery. Even Yue the magic expert didn’t know anything about it.
The normal “Magic Perception” was the same as “Perception”. It was only able to perceive a vague sense of number and location. Monsters that could hide their senses affected the effectiveness of the skills. With Devil Eye, he would be able to know what magic and how strong the magic the opponent is using. Hajime could even destroy the magic if he pierce the core of the magic. However, shooting it would be like putting a bullet through a pinhole; it would require a lot of accuracy.
G.o.d’s crystal was used because it could retain these magic better than other materials. Hajime supposed that the reason was its ability to contain a vast amount of magic. Since he was still inexperienced with Creation Magic, he wasn’t able to grant three or more magic. With the G.o.d’s Crystal potential, they may be able to install many more magic into it when he is skilled enough; Hajime hoped.
Because they used the G.o.d’s Crystal for the Devil Eye, it constantly gave off a pale light. Hajime’s right eye constantly s.h.i.+ned. There was no way to stop the glowing, so Hajime reluctantly put on a black eyepatch made of thin cloth.
White hair, artificial arm and an eyepatch. Hajime had completely became a Chuuni character. Calm down left arm! His figure seemed to say. When he saw himself in the mirror he despaired and entered an ORZ state. He stayed in bed for a whole day, and Yue tried to comfort him by various means…everyone didn’t want to talk about it.
About new weapons, Schlagen was revived after its destruction by the Hydra. The gun was strengthened using Azantium ore. Since he no longer had to worry about carrying it, he lengthened the barrel to 3 m. A scope was created with “Far Sight” installed and attached to the gun. This increased its maximum effective range to 10 km.
Hajime remembered the struggle he had when he was chased by the horde of raptors. He developed a gatling railgun: Metsurai. Fires 30 mm caliber rounds at 12,000 rounds per minute through its 6 barrels. The barrels were created from special ores that had cooling effects installed by creation magic, but it still couldn’t be used for more than 5 minutes continuously. If it overheats, it needs a 10 minute cooling period.
For surface supremacy, Hajime developed a rocket and missile launcher: Orca; purely because it was his interest. In the back was a 12-round rotary magazine for continuous fire, and it had an elongated barrel. He also had various kinds of rockets.
He even created another revolver to pair it with Donner: Schlag. Hajime could use both now that he had his artificial left arm. Using both at the same time, Hajime would be able to use Gun Kata as his basic tactics. With Yue as the typical rear guard, he considered close combat to efficiently cooperate with Yue. However, Hajime could be an all-rounder if he was properly equipped.
Other various equipment and tools were developed. However, contrary to being fully equipped, the G.o.d’s Crystal was finally depleted of its sacred water. Only 12 tube containers were left of the sacred water. They tried to pour magic into the G.o.d’s Crystal, but wasn’t able to extract sacred water. Maybe after many years of concentration it would flow again.
Throwing away the G.o.d’s Crystal would be a waste. It had saved his life…his lucky stone. Good luck piled up with good luck, he would be dead if he didn’t arrive at this crystal. Hajime was extraordinarily attached to it because of that. Loneliness was unbearable to a survivor and painted a visage on his belonging. It was about the same as giving it a name and admiring it.
Hajime used the crystal’s ability to contain enormous amount of magic; to make necklace, earrings, rings and other accessories with trans.m.u.tation. He gave them to Yue. She was able to use very powerful magic. Her most powerful spells consumed a lot of magic, and just one shot would leave her depleted. If she was able to stock up her magic in a battery, she could use those superlative magic in rapid succession and not get magically exhausted.
He named the accessories set “Magic Crystal Series” and gave it to Yue. Her reaction at that time…
“…Proposal.”
“Say What?”
Yue jumped at the first time hearing Hajime unintentionally using Kansai dialect with his Tsukkomi.
“It prevents magic exhaustion. I thought this would surely protect Yue from now on.”
“…It is a proposal.”
“No, that’s wrong. Just new equipment.”
“…Hajime, so shy.”
“…Recently, you’re not listening to people.”
“…Even shy in bed.”
“Will you stop!? Seriously, such a thing!”
“Hajime..”
“Ah, What is it?”
“Thanks…I love it.”
“Oh.”
Please, really explode already! These two were creating their own atmosphere. They were ready for everything in a lot of ways.
Ten days after that, Hajime and Yue were setting off for the surface.
While they were activating the magic on the third floor, Hajime told Yue in a quiet voice.
“Yue…My weapons, and our powers are heresy on the surface. The church and countries will not remain silent.”
“Nn…”
“They will demand our weapons and artifacts. There is a high possibility they will coerce us into partic.i.p.ating in their war.”
“Nn…”
“This may be a dangerous trip that turns the world against us. No matter how many lives you have, it might be insufficient.”
“At this late of time…”
Hajime wryly smiled at her words. He gently stroke her fluffy hair, as she stared straight at him.
Yue squinted her eyes from the pleasant feeling. He took a moments pause, and stared back at the sparkling red eyes. Hajime put his wish and resolution into words, as he inscribed it into his soul.
“I will protect Yue, Yue will protect me. So we are the strongest. All will be mowed down, and we will cross worlds.”
At his words, Yue grasped both hands in front of the chest tightly; almost like a hug. Her expressionless face vanished to reveal a blooming smile. And answered like always,
“N~!”