Chapter 33
“…So?”
“Huh?”
“So you decided where we’re going before saying that?”
Kael asked calmly, and Lin’s fingers stopped.
“Where were you going to take me?”
“Ah.”
Lin blinked for a moment, then looked down at her terminal.
“Th-that… Well, the observation deck is probably the most straightforward choice. You can see the entire city from there. It’s the observatory on the upper levels of Seraph Tower, so ordinary people can’t enter, and it’s usually the first place I show guests.”
“Then should we go there?”
“But if it’s your first time here, Lumen Promenade’s central plaza is good, too. You can see how people from the upper levels get around, and there are lots of shops, restaurants, and even a small gallery.”
….
“Hmm…. It’s something like a Seraph technology exhibit, so it might be boring. No, maybe Kael would be more curious about that sort of thing? But it might feel too much like corporate advertising, so maybe you wouldn’t like it….”
Lin rapidly swiped through the screen with her finger.
“Oh, there’s also a sky garden. It’s called Flora Spire, and it’s a garden suspended beside the tower. It’s really beautiful there. But the security routes are a little complicated, and there are a lot of reserved areas today. Or the Arclight Gallery would be good, too. It has an art exhibit and a city history museum together, though it might be boring. Hmm, or do you want to eat something at Seraph Lounge? You said you ate earlier, right? Then we could just have drinks.”
She began swiping even faster.
“Or we could go toward the transit lounge and ride the upper-level maglev. You can see outside really well from there. But then we’d go a bit farther. You said you wanted to keep it short, so maybe that won’t work? Still, it wouldn’t take that long if we went there and back….”
When Kael quietly looked at Lin, she belatedly noticed his gaze and closed her mouth.
“…Is that a little much? Hehe….”
….
“Sorry.”
Lin’s face reddened slightly.
“At first, I was going to take you to the observation deck, but then I started thinking about it and realized I didn’t know what you’d like….”
“Me?”
“Yeah.”
Lin hugged the terminal to her chest.
“I grew up here, so I’m used to everything. I don’t really know what’s fascinating and what’s disappointing. But it’s your first time seeing it. So I thought it would be better to see what you wanted to see rather than have me decide.”
Then she naturally took Kael’s hand and looked up at his face.
“So, is there anywhere you want to go?”
“Somewhere I want to go….”
Kael looked down at the hand holding his and fell into thought for a moment.
..
..
Mages were people who wielded magic.
That meant they generally fought their enemies from a distance.
Yet most mages carried daggers.
Why?
To use as a last resort in the worst possible situation.
When a mage had to draw a dagger, it generally meant the front line had collapsed and the party had been driven to the brink of annihilation.
In truth, there were not many cases where a single dagger could turn the tide of battle. Even so, mages kept one hidden inside their clothing.
Because simply having one last option they could hold in their hand raised their odds of survival, even if only by the slightest amount.
Kael was no exception.
As a mage who left nothing to chance, he always carried tools such as a dagger, an emergency wand, a makeshift catalyst, and compressed scrolls on his person.
Of course, he did not now.
For unknown reasons, most of the tools he had used in his previous world had vanished during the process of being transported to this world.
All that remained were his body and his memories.
His mana circuit had dried up as well, so the Kael of today was closer to a magic scholar who understood the principles of magic than to a mage.
Of course, mages had changed as the ages passed.
After a renowned mage created the “Battlemage” class, quite a few mages began training in close combat.
Because too many mages had stood in the rear trusting only in magic, only to have an assassin cut off their heads.
Kael was one of those who followed that trend, and he had learned everything he needed to survive on the battlefield.
Even so, having more possible options was always the right choice.
This was an eternal truth and an unchanging law in any world.
When magic was blocked, when the distance closed, when he needed something he could hold in his hand.
He had learned through abundant experience that there were more cases than one might think where a single tool could mean the difference between life and death.
However, in this place, he did not use daggers.
Then what did he use…?
..
..
“…A gun.”
Lin blinked as though she had misheard him, then repeated his words.
“Huh?”
“A place that sells guns. Was it called a gun shop?”
“Ah.”
Confusion showed on Lin’s face.
Still clutching her terminal, she looked at Kael.
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t know you were interested in guns, Kael.”
“In a city this dangerous, isn’t it only natural to carry a weapon for self-defense?”
Lin opened her mouth, then closed it.
She wanted to deny what he said, but it was not exactly wrong. If she thought about what she herself had been through recently, just as he said….
“That’s… true, I suppose.”
“Is there one nearby?”
Lin finally checked her terminal, rapidly swiping through the screen with her finger.
Several store names appeared and disappeared over the map of Lumen Promenade.
“There are hardly any ordinary gun shops inside Lumen Promenade. But there is a high-end store that handles certified self-defense firearms and security equipment. There’s a security screening, and the purchase will be recorded….”
“The closest one will do.”
“Wait a moment.”
Lin compared the ratings, distance, and security classifications several times before tapping one location.
“Here.”
Kael looked at the screen of Lin’s terminal.
[Caliber Atelier]
[Self-Defense Firearms · Security Equipment · Customized Protection Solutions]
[Rating: 4.8]
[East Side of Lumen Promenade Central Plaza]
Lin, who had been talking nonstop until just a moment ago, let the end of her sentence trail off strangely this time.
“It’s close, and the rating is high. Apparently a lot of people from the upper levels go there. It is expensive, though….”
She glanced at Kael.
“Could we charge Grandpa for it…?”
“Good idea.”
“Uh… I was joking.”
Lin looked at Kael for a moment, then gave a small laugh.
“Grandpa probably won’t mind. Probably.”
“Then let’s go there.”
The two crossed Lumen Promenade’s central plaza and soon arrived in the eastern section.
..
..
[Caliber Atelier]
When the door opened, a low bell rang.
“Welcome.”
A white-haired man wearing neat gloves walked out from the back of the store.
Rather than a weapons dealer, he gave off the impression of a sommelier tasting aged liquor.
When he saw Lin, he lowered his eyes for a moment.
“Miss Lin Arclight. It is an honor to have you visit us.”
Lin nodded a little awkwardly.
“Hello. I’m not the one looking today. He is.”
At her words, the man’s gaze turned to Kael and rapidly swept from his head to his toes.
The man soon smiled gently.
“It appears this is your first visit.”
“It is.”
The man maintained his smile at Kael’s words.
“In that case, it would be best to start with something unobtrusive.”
At his gesture, one of the display cases opened smoothly, and a silver-gray handgun rose from inside.
“This is the model I recommend most often to beginners. It has a built-in recoil-control assist, excellent aim correction, and a safety. Even if your hand shakes a little, your shots won’t stray much.”
Kael looked at the gun as he listened, then said briefly,
“This isn’t what I want.”
The man’s eyebrows rose slightly.
“May I ask why?”
“The correction functions only need to be minimal. It’s enough if the shot goes where I aim.”
The man looked at Kael for a moment, and his expression gradually grew quite serious.
It was the face of someone reassessing a customer’s preferences.
“You prefer less assistance.”
With another gesture, the man lowered the first handgun, and a somewhat larger handgun with a black frame rose in its place.
“Then what about this one? Its correction functions have been minimized, while its structure is simple and durable. It is also well regarded among security personnel.”
Kael picked up the gun and checked its weight.
Then he held it in a firing stance before lowering it again.
“This is too big.”
“Are you looking for something easy to conceal and highly portable?”
“It only needs to be small enough to carry inside my coat.”
The man nodded as though he understood Kael.
“I see. Portability is important, excessive correction systems are excluded… Simple handling. And yet suitable for actual combat.”
He thought for a moment, then changed the display.
What rose this time was much smaller than the models he had shown so far.
The model name appeared on the panel.
[Vesper V-9C]
[Concealable Handgun / Suppressor-Compatible / Mechanical Operation]
“The Vesper V-9C.”
Kael scanned the name and features engraved on the panel.
“I’m told its name comes from evening prayer. It means it should be quiet, brief, and certain.”
The man continued his explanation with a gentle smile.
“This model is well regarded among upper-level security personnel. It has no electronic aim correction. Instead, its basic structure is simple, with excellent concealability and portability. It is also balanced on the assumption that a suppressor will be attached, so it does not become heavily front-loaded even after installation.”
“Can it be operated while wearing gloves?”
“Yes.”
“Even if it gets blood on it?”
At his words, Lin’s expression stiffened slightly.
However, the man answered at once, as though accustomed to situations like this.
“This model was designed with such situations in mind.”
“Does it hold up well against moisture and dust?”
“That is why it is used more often in the outer districts than on the upper levels. It is relatively easy to maintain.”
“What about jams?”
“That depends on the ammunition, but it is generally reliable.”
“Any complicated locks?”
“None. A biometric lock can be added, but I suspect that is not what you want.”
“Correct.”
Kael added another question.
“Can a suppressor be attached?”
The man opened another small case, as though he had been waiting for that question.
“We have a dedicated suppressor. There is a short version and a long version, but I would recommend the short one for you. You seem to value portability and balance.”
Kael nodded.
“What about ammunition?”
“For actual use. Nothing overly specialized—something easy to obtain.”
The man took a small ammunition case from beneath the display cabinet.
“I’ll set you up with standard ammunition. Easy to obtain and with minimal tracking concerns. However, carrying it in the upper-level districts will require registration.”
At his words, Lin immediately spoke, as though her turn had finally come.
“I’ll handle that.”
Kael looked at her.
“…You?”
“Why do you think I came with you? And if you register by yourself here, it’ll take a long time.”
The man bowed politely.
“With Miss Lin Arclight’s guarantee, the process will be streamlined.”
Kael set the Vesper V-9C down on the case.
“I’ll take this.”
***
The door to Caliber Atelier closed quietly.
“…You know.”
Even as Lin spoke beside him with a bewildered expression, Kael answered without looking at her, examining the handgun.
“What?”
“I did bring you here because you wanted to come.”
“You did.”
“But isn’t it a little strange that the first place we went together was a gun shop?”
At her words, Kael turned his head toward Lin for a moment. She wore an aggrieved expression.
“Normally, you start with somewhere like the observation deck, a café, or a sky garden. At the very least, it’s a little… unusual for the first place I showed you to be a gun shop.”
“It was somewhere I’d wanted to go.”
“I know that.”
Lin let out a small sigh.
“There’s such a thing as atmosphere.”
“Atmosphere?”
“Yes. Atmosphere.”
Kael slipped the handgun inside his coat and said,
“The atmosphere in the gun shop wasn’t bad.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
Lin pouted as though she had received an unwanted answer.
“It’s really strange. At first, I wanted to show you around the upper levels, but then you suddenly said you wanted to go buy a gun. And then you were choosing one incredibly seriously….”
“When your life is on the line, you should take choosing one seriously.”
“…That makes sense, so I can’t even argue.”
Lin grumbled, but she did not look entirely unhappy.
Kael glanced at Lin, then turned his gaze forward.
Lumen Promenade’s central plaza was still brightly lit.
It was then.
KWAANG——!!!!!
A deafening boom erupted below, and the floor shook violently.
Beyond the transparent reinforced glass, a red flash spread from below the building.
Soon, screams rang out.
“Aaaah!”
“What the hell?!”
“It’s an explosion!”
People began fleeing in one direction. The electronic billboards switched to warning alerts and guided the panicked crowd toward their escape route.
[Please use the nearest evacuation passage]
[Magitera Public Security is responding to the emergency]
Even in this urgent situation, Kael did not move rashly.
A terrorist attack or an accident.
Or a diversion meant to draw attention.
He looked toward the site of the explosion. There were five people moving nearby.
Unlike those around them, they were not fleeing. Instead, they were using the confusion to move upward.
Their clothing varied, but their movements were coordinated, so it was right to assume they were not civilians.
When Kael seized Lin by the wrist, she looked at him in surprise.
“Kael?!”
“Move.”
“What?”
“We need to get out of here.”
Kael swept his surroundings again.
Four.
The figures that had followed at a fixed distance since Kael and Lin began moving.
He had known from the beginning.
Ever since they entered Lumen Promenade, they had circled around Kael and Lin at regular intervals. They had not looked directly at them, but their movements had been too clean.
They moved like people on guard, but there was no killing intent. There was no hostility, and their approach was not overt. That meant… they had to be the bodyguards Edrian had assigned to them.
Kael made a quick decision.
Prioritize Lin’s protection.
Whether they were terrorists, a decoy, or merely rioters, what mattered now was not resolving the incident but getting Lin away from the scene.
That came first.
Kael pulled Lin toward the emergency passage.
Lin’s face went pale, as though reminded of the nightmare from the previous day, but she forced herself to move her feet.
It was then.
A man darted out from the crowd, moving in the opposite direction from those who were fleeing.
He wore a black hood, and metal glinted in his right hand.
‘He’s concealing his identity and carrying a blade.’
His gaze was fixed on Lin, so Kael immediately shoved her behind him.
“Stay back.”
“Kael!”
The man charged rapidly toward Kael. His movement was definitely fast. But it was too straightforward. The more direct a movement was, the easier it was to handle, no matter how fast it was.
Kael pulled his right hand back and turned his body half a step. The instant the man’s shoulder was about to graze Kael’s front, Kael knocked the man’s wrist aside with his left hand.
Light flashed across the metal fragment.
Kael folded the man’s arm inward and brought him off balance with his knee.
The instant his opponent staggered, Kael spoke without looking toward Lin.
“Go.”
No sooner had the word left his mouth than four shadows moved.
The men and women who had blended into the crowd until just now revealed themselves simultaneously.
The four bodyguards surrounded Lin on all sides. Their movements were short and precise, proving they were highly trained.
“Miss Lin Arclight, this way.”
“Excuse us for a moment.”
Lin looked back at Kael.
“Kael!”
Kael twisted the man’s wrist and spoke briefly.
“Go on ahead.”
“But….”
“I’ll follow.”
Lin bit her lip and hesitated, but the bodyguards did not.
They surrounded Lin protectively and quickly moved toward the nearest security entrance.
As Lin’s figure receded into the crowd, Kael finally turned his attention to the man in front of him.
The man gritted his teeth and tried to move his other hand.
Inside his coat.
‘He has a backup weapon.’
Kael drove down on his elbow, and a dull sensation of bone shifting out of place traveled to his fingertips.
“Ugh!”
The man groaned as his body twisted, but Kael merely pinned him to the floor.
Even as he did so, Kael looked around, but the area had already descended into chaos.
From below came screams mixed with gunshots.
Bang.
Bang bang.
Kael raised his head.
Five people.
One of them moved toward Lin. It was still impossible to tell whether the movement was planned or whether he had simply seized the opportunity to find a target.
Kael twisted the pinned man’s wrist harder and asked him,
“Who sent you?”
The man answered his question with a laugh.
The instant he saw that laugh, Kael instinctively released the man’s hand and threw his body backward.
At that moment, a faint red light spread inside the man’s throat.
KWA-AAANG—!!!!!
A massive explosion erupted. The shockwave from the ensuing blast sent Kael’s body flying.
His back slammed into the floor, and his shoulder scraped against the glass railing as the air was knocked from his lungs. His body continued rolling for several turns.
Lying facedown on the floor, he heard people screaming in his ears.
“Haa…. Damn it.”