Chapter 14: Encounter with [The Hundred Thunder]

After losing the battle for the plastic model against Lirisha, I wandered around the bazaar looking for other bargain treasures. I wasn’t thinking about finding another rare plastic model or anything, nope…

There were some reasonably cheap items and rare things, but they were at the level of “not really worth buying,” so I haven’t bought anything yet. Well, it’s not like I have to buy anything.

Looking over, I saw Lara crouching down at a stall, examining the goods. Is that a magic engine?

“This is a Tonda magic engine, and this is a Karasaki magic engine. Both are great deals.”

“Hmm…”

She seems to be wavering between the two magic engines recommended by the shopkeeper. The prices are about the same, but they’re still expensive… Though I guess they’re probably far cheaper than buying new.

“Tonda for versatility and fuel efficiency, or Karasaki for specialization and high output… I’m torn…”

They both look the same to me. Wait? Hold on a second?

“I think this one is better.”

“Eh?”

From behind the troubled Lara, I pointed to the magic engine that was said to be made by Tonda.

“Why is that?”

“This one isn’t charged with mana, so it probably hasn’t been used that much. I think it’s practically as good as new. If the price isn’t that different and there’s no deciding factor, this one will last longer, and it should be easier for your mana to flow through even if it’s weak, Lara.”

I’ve heard that since Meisters infuse their own mana into parts to transform or enchant them, it’s hard to handle parts that have someone else’s mana remaining in them. Used goods from reputable places should have been cleaned of that, but you can’t expect that from an individual stall like this.

The stall owner, an older woman who had been listening to our conversation, looked at me with a blank expression.

“Ehh…? You can tell…? It’s true that this Tonda magic engine was left almost unused, so it is indeed like new, but…”

“Eh, really!? N-Nero-san, how did you know!?”

“Eh? I can tell just by looking.”

Obviously, this Karasaki one? It feels like mana is stuck to it. Isn’t this quite old? The fact that it’s still usable probably means it’s very sturdy, though.

“Can you see ‘Mana Traces’!?”

“‘Mana Traces’? What’s that?”

“Umm, like the residue of mana, or traces left behind…”

“Hmm, rather than seeing, maybe sensing?”

My master told me before that I have sharp senses for that kind of thing. I can somehow tell if mana has been used on or touched an object, weapon, or item. Even hidden magic activations.

I think of it as a ‘hunch.’ I intuitively know things like ‘that feels dangerous’ or ‘that’s different from normal.’ That’s why I can immediately tell if something is a magic item or not.

“That’s mana perception ability on par with the Fairy tribe… Could it be that you have a Fairy ancestor? Ah, so that explains your appearance…!”

“Wrong.”

Wrong… I think. I’ve never heard such a story, and I don’t have wings. Besides, if that were true, wouldn’t that mean I won’t grow anymore? Don’t imagine such scary things!

“So, which one will it be?”

“Ah, t-then I’ll take the Tonda one…”

“Thank you for your business!”

Lara received the boxed magic engine and happily stored it in her smartphone’s [Storage].

“Thank you very much. You really saved me.”

“Don’t worry about it. When I eventually buy an Armed Gear, I’ll have you repay me with maintenance or something.”

“Yes! Leave it to me!”

Oops. I only meant that half-jokingly. Well, if she’s willing to do it, that would be a huge help.

Suddenly, my eyes stopped at a stall ahead.

“Huh? That person is…”

There was someone familiar sitting cross-legged on the stall’s sheet, looking away with a bored expression.

Short brown hair, a wild appearance. She wasn’t wearing a uniform, but I recognized her immediately by the similarly disheveled look. It was Rimiera Limitecus, [The Hundred Thunder], who fought against Zeldigard Minas Lestia, the [Sword Empress], yesterday.

I guess even high rankers open stalls at the bazaar.

“Anh?”

Ah, our eyes met.

“What? If you’re just window shopping, go home… wait, are you a student here? Eh? Why is a kid here?”

“Tsk…! Please don’t treat me like a kid. I’m a proper new student, you know. I’m Nero Silhoueska. Nice to meet you, Se-n-pa-i.”

“O-Oh…”

When I introduced myself with a smile on my face but a glare in my eyes, Rimiera-senpai replied, seemingly a bit flinched. Damn it, everyone treats me like… Hmm?

“Is this an Artifact?”

“Oh? You can tell?”

My eyes stopped on one of the gauntlets laid out in front of Rimiera-senpai.

Amazing. There are circuits for mana flow in almost every part. I don’t know what kind of effect it has, though…

“It’s something I got from a senior a long time ago. It’s dungeon loot, sturdy enough to withstand even my lightning strikes. Well, that’s about its only feature.”

“Eh? But this is an Artifact, right? Doesn’t it have a special effect?”

“Oh, that. Try putting it on your arm.”

Doing as told, I put my hand into one of the gauntlets. Hmm, it’s too big. Maybe if I tighten the belt a bit… wait,

“Wa!?”

The moment I thought that, the gauntlet shrank a size and tightened to fit perfectly.

Lara peeked at the gauntlet from next to me.

“It has an automatic size adjustment function.”

“Yup. It’s something often enchanted on armor found in dungeons.”

“Apparently, that was a standard function in the Ancient Magic Era.”

The Ancient Magic Era Lara mentioned is the era of super-magic civilization that flourished more than five thousand years ago. It is said that Frame Gear technology was also established in that era.

Since stuff like this was used daily, it must have been incredibly convenient.

I clenched the gauntlets, now fitted to my size on both arms, and tried shadow boxing lightly. They weren’t heavy and were quite easy to use.

“Oh? You’re pretty good for a pipsqueak, aren’t you?”

Rimiera-senpai, who was watching my movements, said that. I told you the ‘for a pipsqueak’ part is unnecessary…!

Lara asked Rimiera-senpai with a puzzled look.

“Can you tell that sort of thing?”

“I can tell what kind of opponent she’s imagining by her footwork and body movement. You were trying to punch someone stronger than you just now, weren’t you?”

Correct. I was punching while imagining sparring with my master. I would have definitely been dodged, and then sent flying by a counterattack or thrown, though.

“Well, I was trying to punch someone ridiculously strong. I’ve never won against him even once.”

“Nice. Fighting opponents you can definitely beat isn’t interesting. You gotta aim big after all!”

Well, I agree with that sentiment. The problem is, I can’t picture myself beating that master at all.

“So, what will you do? That gauntlet is one gold coin, but for you, I’ll sell it for half price.”

“Hmm…”

An Artifact gauntlet for five silver coins is a steal. Even one gold coin is too cheap.

But this Artifact… This, probably…

“Um, listen. I think this probably has another enchantment besides the size adjustment function, you know?”

“Ha?”

“Umm, ah… like this maybe?”

While channeling mana, I slammed the gauntlets equipped on my left and right arms together in front of my chest.

Gakin! Along with the metallic sound, Bachii! sparks flew.

Bachi, bachi, lightning wrapped around both my arms, scattering sparks.

“Wha!?”

“This is…!”

“Looks like a lightning enchantment effect. Heave… ho!”

When I thrust my fist towards the sky, a bolt of lightning flew upwards. Seems like I can discharge it too.

“Nero-san, did you know about this Artifact?”

“Nope? It’s just that there were too many mana circuits for just a size adjustment function, and since they were most concentrated on the knuckle part, I just thought it might activate from there.”

“No, ‘just thought’… Normally people can’t even see those traces…”

It resembled the Artifact equipment my master showed me a long time ago. Probably the same type. Since many Artifacts made in the Ancient Magic Era were mass-produced in the same place, they often have similar activation methods and specifications.

“No way… That senior didn’t tell me anything…”

“Maybe she wanted to test if you would notice it yourself? Since a lightning enchantment is an Artifact perfect for you, Rimiera-senpai.”

“Ah… She did have a smirk on her face when she gave it to me… Damn, what a nasty personality!”

Apparently, Rimiera-senpai’s senior has a nasty personality. She almost sold it cheap. Maybe she intended to reveal the trick after Rimiera-senpai sold it. Isn’t that person’s nature twisted?

“T-If you sold this normally, it wouldn’t go for just one gold coin, right? I think it would easily go for about fifty…”

“Fifty!?”

Rimiera-senpai was shocked by Lara’s words. Or rather, she used something worth fifty gold coins just to prank a junior!? I think that senior is a bit crazy…

“Well, that’s why I can’t really buy it for five silver coins. If you don’t need the money that badly, I think you shouldn’t sell it.”

“O-Oh… Thanks. …You’re a weird one. If you had just bought it without saying anything, you could have made a huge profit.”

“I don’t want to. If you found out later, you might hold a weird grudge against me. That’s troublesome.”

Rimiera-senpai looked blankly at my words, but eventually clutched her stomach and started laughing.

“Kuh… Kuhahaha! You really are weird! I’ll treat you to something next time as thanks!”

Saying that, Rimiera-senpai slapped my back bam bam while laughing. Ow, ow! She has super strength!

For a moment, I thought about paralyzing her with this gauntlet, but I want someone to praise me for holding back.