Ero Academy

"Right, I should head to the workshop."

As they stepped out onto the training ground, Yuuna quickly let go of Sang-hyuk's hand. Was she worried someone might see them holding hands so affectionately?

"We still have time; aren't you going to practice more?"

"First, I'll teach you how to use Masugang."

It had been a while since their last hunter lesson with Yuuna.

"You mentioned it's a special material, right? Does it drop occasionally?"

"Yes, it's a material imbued with magical properties. Simply put, it can enhance items."

"Wow."

So, it's like an enhancement stone?

"I should tell you, just in case: Masugang must be refined only through institutions recognized by the country. Otherwise, there will be trouble."

"Institutions recognized by the country?"

"Such as the Hunter Association, Hero Association, and so on. Prestigious academies also have Masugang refining facilities inside."

This was a prestigious academy, wasn't it? How did Sang-hyuk, in his previous life, manage to get in here? Realistically, his entrance should have been impossible. This was the enigma of Yagem.

"Do they perform the enhancements there?"

"Yes, some people enhance their uniforms, but usually, it's done with weapons."

"Of course, it's a weapon."

Men are weapons!

"Excited? Kim Sang-hyuk."

"Isn't this such thrilling content?"

I can't resist enhancing equipment.

"True… Class D won't have to face things like the Demonic Beast River."

"Act all proud because you've seen a lot."

"I have seen a lot. Hehe. My Yuuna is ranked A."

"What is Yuuna? The name of the sword?"

Yuuna said, showing off the sword at her waist.

"It's my treasure. I couldn't use it during the scarecrow measurement, but...

"Are there any restrictions?"

"It's against the rules to bring a specially refined weapon when fighting a scarecrow."

It's because someone might bring an excessively enhanced weapon.

"With an A rank, your weapon ranks higher than yourself."

"It's proof that I've been more diligent than others. These hunter-like weapons... They're called masterpieces, regardless of armor or weapons."

「Masterpiece」

In that case, Yuuna's masterpiece is named 'Yuuna.'

My masterpiece is... Glock 19?

'I'm not sure yet.'

Above all, the malfunction is infuriating.

I thought my skills would improve with practice, but I faltered at the critical moment. Perhaps I should strengthen my revolver.

As I pondered this, I found myself leaving the training ground and boarding a large elevator. It seemed to be a lift descending into the basement. Aside from us, there were dozens of other academy students from various grade levels.

"We're heading to Workshop A. That's where the Demonic Steel Refining Facility is located."

The elevator slowly descended. The academy's basement was filled with infrastructure dedicated solely to refining equipment. Numerous furnaces and shops lined the area.

"This is Workshop A."

"You could say it's the heart of Ethol. Come on, let's go."

"Alright."

Yuuna took my hand and led me forward. Soon, I was guided into an unusual blacksmith's forge, where a female blacksmith was striking iron. The sheer size of the structure was astonishing.

"Miss Reida, we've come to request the refinement of Demonic Steel."

"Who's this handsome fellow?"

"I am Kim Sang-hyuk, a member of Yuuna's squad."

"A squad? Yuuna, you're part of something like that?"

"Just. They're the ones I bring along with me to the academy."

Reida stared at me intently.

She was a tall, muscular woman, standing close to 180 cm, and her imposing presence was undeniable.

Before my height reached 190 cm, I had been shorter than her.

She had shed all unnecessary body fat through strenuous labor yet retained her large breasts and boasted a sexy figure with well-tanned skin.

Her nonchalant demeanor as she smoked a cigarette complemented her bleached, bobbed hair.

"Do you use a gun?"

"Ah, yes…"

"Yuuna, you're raising them, and they use a gun?"

"It seems they like it."

"Tsk tsk…"

…

I was being pitied just for having a gun build.

"Is it that bad?"

"Did you choose it knowing that?"

"Well, I thought... You'd know much better than me."

"Older sister?"

Reida opened her mouth wide, laughing heartily, as if amused.

"Ahahaha! Yes, I do know well. So, it's like a hippopotamus feasting on demon rivers. A gun."

"…"

The reinforcement's efficiency was poor. Well, that much was...

"In addition, firearms face a significant finesse penalty within dungeons, which means they don't improve much even when enhanced."

Yuuna chimed in from the side.

"What do you mean, Yuuna?"

"Firearms become weaker in dungeons, you know? Swords don't have that issue."

"Is that so?"

"If a sword's strength increases by 5, 10, 15,... in a sequence like that due to monster power, a gun's strength would increase by 8, 9, 10, 11,... following a similar pattern."

Hmm…

Do I want to level up my character again?

Isn't it too late now?

"Don't get disheartened. Let's reconsider our approach before investing in demonic power."

Still, I believe guns have merit.

There's a certain reluctance to dealing with demons.

Furthermore…

'Strengthening isn't impossible, right?'

If a pistol could be enhanced like a monstrous weapon, wouldn't it reveal an unexpected performance?

"I like guns."

"Are you sure? Even though they're weapons that many avoid due to the poor returns when investing in demonic power,"

"That's why I like them."

Others don't do it. It's trendy.

Isn't it incredibly stylish?

I was the type who easily became enthralled by such charm in RPG games.

"I want to do something that others don't."

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Reida laughs heartily, her entire body shaking.

Yuuna looks at me, her eyes pleading for me to make a rational decision, but...

"Please allow me to use my glock, the 'Judgment of Light'."

"Did you bring a lot of magic essence?"

"Just one goblin's magic essence."

"Ah, what can you do with that? If you want to shoot something like a beam, you'll need at least 30,000 B-rank magic stones."

"Can you shoot a beam with 30,000?"

Incredible!!

Reida clutches her stomach and starts laughing uproariously.

"Ah ha ha ha ha! Where did you find such an amusing character, Yuuna?"

"…"

Yuuna's cheeks flush with embarrassment.

"Is it naïveté… or foolishness…"

"Why not, Yuuna? They say you can shoot a beam with just 30,000 of them. Isn't that insane?"

Is it possible to fire a personality-dissolving beam?

"How can you gather that much magic essence? Are you the student council president?"

"Isabella? Does the student council president shoot beams?"

"Our academy president's masterpiece is the Devil Suit. It's famous. They say it's empowered by 27,000 magical essences."

Unbelievable…

"Ah~ Isabella? Her magical power is a masterpiece as well."

She never showed any of that when we competed in the Lucky Skewer duel.

The Student Council President was hiding her true strength.

Or was she too caught up in her personal issues to even have the chance to reveal them?

"The student council president is the pinnacle of Ethol Academy. To accumulate enough achievements to surpass that, it's impossible if you only attend the academy."

"Should I become a hunter or a hero?"

Let me think.

"Yuuna. Hunters obtain magical essences within dungeons, but how do heroes acquire them?"

"Magical beasts that have escaped from dungeons. But dealing with such powerful creatures isn't easy. Usually, you capture a villain and receive the essences as a reward. Violains use refined weapons from the black market."

According to Yuuna's explanation,

In the black market, you can obtain items of unknown origin to quickly replenish and enhance your magical essence, but doing so is prohibited by law.

In the process of reclaiming the villain's weapon for the royal treasury, the hero receives some mystical energy as compensation, which he then uses to augment his abilities.

In other words,

"Isabella is a genuine workaholic. She hasn't slept more than two hours since she was eight," Reida remarked.

To collect the 30,000, I needed to put in as much effort.

"Without equipment, no one can manifest their innate power. A good MP supply directly impacts a hunter's strength. That's why it's crucial to choose your weapon wisely," Yuuna advised earnestly.

Though I wasn't disregarding Yuuna's counsel, if this were content within OnaAka, it could be seen as a system specifically designed for the protagonist. Even if I were to choose something as rudimentary as a wooden stick, wouldn't it be possible to enhance it to level 99? Such an idea is brimming with romanticism.

I couldn't help but chase after this romantic notion, a part of a man's psyche.

"I'll take a gun."

"…Sigh. All right."

Yuuna retrieved a generous amount of mystical energy from her inventory.

"Yuuna?"

"Please use all of this to reinforce Sang-hyuk's weapon."

"What..."

All of this?

Yuna presented dozens of diverse magical essences, including the C-rank essence we had consumed.

Why offer something so valuable, which she could have used for her own weapon, to me?

"Because you helped increase my stats before. I'm repaying the favor."

"…Yuna."

"Are you really going to do it with a real gun? No regrets?"

"Yuna, thank you!!"

Overwhelmed with joy, I embraced Yuna.

"Ah!!?"

"Thank you! I love you!"

"Alright, alright. Let go… Oh, dear…!"

Yuna must have treasured this magical essence.

To so willingly offer it for my own growth...

I truly want to fulfill her every request.

"I'll do it with a gun!"

"Good. Just wait a moment."

I decided to enhance my Glock 19.

It was my first weapon and held deep sentimental value, and even if I were to use a revolver, I believed I would still utilize the Glock.

Gradually, I would expand the arsenal of firearms I wielded.

The initial investment would be in the Glock.

[Glock 19 (COMPACT)] [B Rank]

[Owner: Kim Sang-hyuk]

[Glock 19 compact version] Holds 15 rounds of 9-mm ammunition. [Strengthened with demonic steel, it enhances shooting accuracy, rate of fire, and power.]

"Here."

"Thank you."

She accepts it reverently, as if it were a sacred relic.

"Now you'll be able to wield some power within the dungeon. Return when you obtain the Demonic Steel."

"Yes!"

"You're that excited?"

Yuuna looks at me with an amused expression, unable to help smiling at my enthusiasm.

"My Glock is now B-rank!"

"Anything else? Do you need anything?"

"Let's head to the gun shop."

This time, I take Yuuna's hand and lead her.

Yuuna follows me with an embarrassed moan.

The atmosphere is reminiscent of a date.

"Why did you attach so many accessories?"

Yuuna gazes at the gun with curious eyes, seemingly unfamiliar with it.

"You're aware of dot sights, right?"

"Yes. What is this attached to the muzzle?"

"It's called a muzzle brake. It releases gas to reduce recoil."

"And this part below?"

"A flashlight."

It's referred to as 'Surefire.'

As it was crafted for extreme conditions, this piece of equipment is both durable and provides ample light. I purchased it to ensure that I would be well-prepared, even if I were to find myself in the Apocalypse Dungeon once more.

And then…

"You already have a gun; do you want another one?" Yuuna asked, watching me pick up the revolver.

"I'm thinking of getting a revolver as backup, in case my main gun jams," I explained. "With a revolver, even if there's an issue with the round you're trying to fire, the cylinder rotates and allows you to shoot the next functional round. It's great for handling emergencies."

While this isn't a reinforced revolver, it would certainly prove its worth if my Glock were to malfunction. The revolver that I selected as my secondary weapon was the Colt Python, a pistol crafted by Colt intended to be a "luxury" competition firearm.

"You don't seem like an average academy student these days, considering the weapon you've chosen," the gun shop owner remarked with a smile.

"Oh, well, I have a good eye for these things," I replied.

[「Perception・Red」activated]

[Colt Python]

This is not a mass-produced item, but a luxurious Colt Python crafted by artisans who manually bent and adjusted each action part. [The wooden grip is made of walnut.]

It's not just the ability to distinguish between Onahole masterpieces.

There were countless revolvers showcased within the glass display.

Yet, if a Colt Python made by a craftsman is present, there are no other choices.

This gun, featuring a walnut grip with checkering—a checkerboard pattern engraved to prevent slipping—

It was challenging to obtain since Colt was on the brink of bankruptcy—though the history within the game's setting remains unknown—and before the decision was made to sell reproductions, it was considered a relic.

The advantage of the artisan-crafted Colt Python is its high accuracy.

"I'll take the bullets and holster as well. Sir."

"Hmm. Just pay 1,000 coins."

"I'll leave out the bullets and the holster."

"Then 900 coins."

Goodness, most of that is the cost of the gun itself. I don't have money right now.

The sudden thought made me feel lightheaded.

At that moment, Yuuna stepped in.

"Are you short on money?"

"Uh, yeah…"

"Since we have to distribute funds anyway, I'll cover whatever's lacking."

"Really?"

Can I accept this?

In truth, I had given Yuuna more money.

But I'm grateful for her understanding my needs without me having to say anything.

"I thought your girlfriend was only pretty, but she also has a kind heart."

"She's not my girlfriend. Not yet."

I let it slip.

"…"

Yuuna glared at me and paid with her student ID.

"Why? Does she have someone else she likes? She only looked at your face the entire time while shopping.

"Please, just process the payment!"

"Take care. Huh? From an old man's perspective, it's clear she has feelings.

"Mister!"

Yuuna, who left the shop, had even her ears flushed red.

"Ah, it's hot. Is it because of the furnace?"

"Shall we go up? Now."

My insides were burning with excitement because I tried to somehow manage a harem.

Hehehe… How many more times will I have to do something so ill-suited for me?

"She's not my girlfriend... Not yet☆"

Aaaaaa!!!

I'm going insane!

How do they manage to do something that makes them want to kick the blankets like this?

"By the way, I might have intercepted the distribution of money in the middle. Why don't you ask how much it is?"

Should I tease her more this time?

The brainwave following verses 2 and 3!

"It's similar to leaving your wallet with your wife and not worrying about it."

"Pffft!!"

Unable to hold back, Yuuna patted me on the back with her charming fist.

"You fool! Fool! Die! Just die!"

The bashful reaction is truly delightful.

Indeed, people are good-looking and worth observing.

*

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