Chapter 234

The easiest way would be to obtain the essence of another Magic Tower. However, it's difficult to find the right opportunity.'

While Lennok's interactions with the Thorben Magic Tower had been minimal, aside from the case involving Eden, the former leader of the Cigar Bang Gang, his independent accomplishment of developing unique lightning-based magic had tangible value.

At present, Lennok was in the process of mastering the distinctive heat-based magic of the Blaiver Magic Tower. Nevertheless, this achievement was primarily acquired through the teachings of a young wizard who had assisted Byzen and the Drug Lord. It couldn't be claimed that he possessed as profound an understanding of this magic as he did with his lightning-based abilities.

Despite obtaining the Domain in an incredibly unconventional and unimaginable manner, his concerns did not diminish; instead, they continued to grow. Ultimately, to fully utilize this Domain, he came to the realization that he needed to shift from his current risk-averse approach to a more proactive one.

Reaching the pinnacle of magic represented one of the most assured ways for Lennok to liberate himself from his limitations.

However, in order to make rapid progress towards this goal, he had to actively accumulate diverse experiences and explore new avenues far beyond his current efforts.

'I'm not sure if changing my approach will yield results. I thought it was something I had to do someday, though...'

Persisting in a passive role only led to Lennok obtaining rewards that others had already claimed. He was fully aware that he needed to proactively pursue what he desired. The challenge lay in convincing himself to prioritize those desires over safety.

Having secured the necessary opportunities, it was time for him to move forward. He didn't require prolonged contemplation. As long as Lennok didn't lose sight of the path he had chosen, his current position would suffice.

With his contemplation complete, Lennok promptly rose to his feet.

There was one more matter he wished to address now that he had come this far.

* * *

Arriving naturally at a rather organized workshop, dressed in a lengthy cardigan, Lennok wasted no time in entering. Despite the space lacking a proper signboard, he strode in without hesitation.

Upon hearing the resonating sound of a drill within, Lennok tapped on the wall, prompting a stout middle-aged man to appear.

It was Palmer, the blacksmith he had become acquainted with while dealing with Dyke Corporation.

"It's been a while."

Lennok inquired with a friendly smile, and Palmer, who appeared to have just woken up, responded with a yawn and a belly scratch, his eyes still puffy.

"What brings you here?"

"I heard you moved your workshop, so I thought I'd stop by while handling some business."

The workshop had a distinctly different atmosphere compared to the cramped, nearly collapsing room from before. Although not large, it now appeared more proper and well-kept. Given that Palmer's income likely hadn't changed significantly, it seemed reasonable to assume that Dyke Corporation had provided him with substantial support.

As Lennok casually pulled out a chair to sit, Palmer grumbled but removed his gloves and took a seat across from him.

"Coming out of the blue and that's all you have to say?"

"Aren't we closely connected through business? Panua would be disappointed to hear that."

Seeing Palmer remain silent, it became apparent that he had received help from Panua in setting up the new workshop.

Palmer changed the topic.

"I've heard the rumors. You had a good fight with those cartel guys?"

"Is that what's being said?"

"Well done. Stagnant water like that needs to be stirred up once in a while. My hometown stalled because it couldn't do just that."

If Lennok continued to listen to Palmer's stories, he might end up spending endless time there. Sensing this possibility, Lennok swiftly brought up the main topic.

"You know I use firearms."

"Ah, I vaguely remember. Thought it was a strange taste for someone with your skills to favor gunpowder weapons."

"..."

"Now that I think about it, I did check one of your revolvers before... right? Hard to remember stuff I did while drunk."

"I'm here for a similar reason."

As Lennok spoke, he extended his hand toward his left wrist.

Whoosh!

Instantly, a revolver and a shotgun appeared and landed on the table.

Palmer's expression grew serious as he naturally reached out to examine the two firearms.

"Hmm... they're junk."

"..."

"The revolver's barrel is cracked, and the cylinder has been spun so much the oil's all dried up. And the shotgun? The barrel is so corroded it's fused. Did you shoot at point-blank range?"

"That's accurate."

This time, Palmer fell silent, and Lennok averted his gaze. He hadn't neglected gun maintenance, but it was true that he had been rough with his equipment. Relying on shooting-assist magic, he hadn't been overly concerned about the durability of his gear. So far, he had simply infused mana into the cracked barrel and cylinder, but he couldn't keep it up indefinitely. With the evolution of his mana, it was time to upgrade his equipment.

"I want to know if there's any room for further modification of these weapons. If not, I'd like to commission new equipment."

"Forget about modifying them."

Palmer responded sharply.

"How much longer do you plan to use these relics? Let them rest. They're begging for it."

"......."

Lennok sighed as he observed Palmer, who seemed unusually attached to the firearms.

"I would like that too, but... I can't just spend money on a new model that's not much different, can I?"

"It looks like you bought those from Gun and Barrel, but there are a truckload of guns out there that perform better and are more efficient than these. What are you talking about?"

"If it's a ready-made product, it won't make much difference to me."

"What?"

"If I need strong firepower, there are plenty of other means."

Lennok said this and, with a surge of mana, pressed his finger onto the table.

Ssshhh...

Cold air flowed out from between his fingers, quickly forming a distinct shape that turned into a small statue.

Seeing his own familiar face in the statue, Palmer looked stunned.

"What's important is not just the firepower, but how well the mana I use can synergize with it."

As Lennok's proficiency in magic increased, the disparity between the firepower generated through pure magical formulas and that achieved using firearms grew significantly.

Even without a direct comparison, it was evident that firearms had their unique advantages. When considering firepower, equivalent to artillery or missiles, magic fell short.

Firearms boasted notably lower mana consumption, exceptionally rapid attack speed, and the ability to fire continuously. Furthermore, they offered customization options tailored to the user's preferences.

When combined with Lennok's shooting-assist magic, it became possible to devise attack patterns that surpassed those of many conventional wizards.

However, the challenge lay in the fact that Lennok lacked equipment commensurate with his skill level.

In the WORLD 2.0 game he immersed himself in, Magic Musketeer not only harnessed shooting magic but also utilized guns and bullets meticulously modified for magical use. Until now, he had forcefully integrated shooting-assist magic into ordinary firearms and ammunition, but he now had the opportunity to make precise adjustments and obtain proper equipment.

"Modifying mana to fire directly from the barrel or embedding formulas directly into the bullets... I've tried both before, but without much success."

"That figures. A wizard like you wouldn't usually focus on firearms rather than other artifacts... It proves how challenging it is."

"Fundamentally, every material making up the firearm must have some degree of magical conductivity, and at the same time, be resistant to continuous impact and heat. Just that would skyrocket the difficulty and cost of production. If you start customizing with the spells you'll infuse in mind..."

"It would be difficult."

"You'd be better off looking for an artifact or relic shaped like a firearm."

"But wouldn't it be interesting?"

Palmer momentarily closed his mouth, gazing thoughtfully at Lennok.

Observing Lennok's faint smile, he tilted his head and remarked, "You... you've changed a bit. Interesting, huh? I never expected to hear that from you."

"For craftsmen like you, that must be the strongest motivation."

"..."

Lennok seemed to have gained some insight as well. Motivations that transcended mere efficiency and rationality—these were significant in human life, something to be felt emotionally, not just understood intellectually.

Had Palmer discerned that aspect in Lennok's candid words?

Palmer stroked his beard, revealing a grin. "Well, okay. If anyone else asked me this, I would have kicked them out... But making a firearm for a wizard like you does sound quite interesting."

"That's good to hear."

"But remember, this will be the only one I make."

With that statement, Palmer picked up the worn and battered revolver.

"The shotgun has too many parts to tinker with, and aside from pumping up its power, there's not much else to do, making it boring. I'm accepting this request because you insist on using the inefficient revolver. Does that make sense to you?"

"Fine by me."

Lennok had chosen the revolver as his secondary weapon for a reason. He believed it to be the optimal choice for applying different spells to each bullet, and he could compensate for its drawbacks using spells for rapid loading or rapid fire.

Though he hadn't yet reaped significant benefits from this approach, his acquisition of alchemy had changed the game.

Countless paths lay before Lennok, countless opportunities for growth. He had no intention of restricting himself to just one.

His goal was to seize the chance to choose.

That, indeed, was the essence of the life Lennok had chosen for himself.

***

-Some targeted requests have come in, what will you do?

"What do you mean?"

After wrapping up his business, Lennok spent some time at a bar and then left District 49. It wasn't common for Jenny to call after he had departed, but it indicated she had been getting busier lately.

Even as she focused on running her business, she continued to inquire about freelance work from Lennok, showing no signs of giving up her role as a broker.

-I forgot to mention earlier when you took those bounty hunter photos, but there are a few clients looking for you.

"Clients..."

-It seems your reputation has really spread in the last month.

A faint smile could be detected in her voice on the phone.

-The number of miscellaneous requests has decreased, but the value of the clients themselves has increased significantly.

This meant that as Lennok's fame and position had grown, only clients suitable for his stature were sending requests.

Lennok thought for a moment but then shook his head.

"Decline all simple targeted requests. As I said before, I only want to take on tasks related to space-time artifacts or formulas."

-Really? Even though other clients are one thing, the Balitz Corporation has reached out to you directly.

"..."

Balitz Corporation.

It had been a while since he had heard that name. Lately, he had had very little interaction with them, but they were a massive conglomerate with various successful businesses in this sprawling city.

If they were reaching out now, it must be for an event and reward commensurate with their stature.

Lennok hesitated for a moment, and then he felt the surroundings blur slightly as he stopped walking.

An unnatural sense of time.

Along with a rapid decrease in the surrounding pace, as if time itself were fading away.

Lennok recognized this feeling. It was as if consciousness were accelerating wildly, leaving everything else behind - a precursor to a rapid sprint along a different timeline.

Click!

Lennok turned his head to break free from the interference and spoke into the phone.

"Balitz is tempting, but... no, I still have things to do."

-...What do you mean?

"There was someone who interfered and played a crucial role in the cartel issue. It might seem over, but..."

-...

"I didn't expect to encounter them again so soon, but I need to understand their intentions clearly."

Finally catching on to something in Lennok's words, Jenny asked with a trembling voice.

-Wait, Van... Who are you talking about right now?

Click!!

"Their mouth is lighter than I thought."

A voice came from right behind Lennok.

Indistinct, somewhat disinterested, but Lennok had never forgotten that tone.

"If you go around spilling our story like that, what's the use?"

"Our?"

Lennok turned around to face the speaker and smirked.

"That's a word that really doesn't suit you or me."

A man of indeterminate age, somewhat unruly in demeanor. Despite standing nonchalantly in the middle of the street, his appearance was so ordinary that one could never guess his profound background.

Who could imagine the notorious name of Pandemonium in this man, dressed in a plain black shirt and pants?

The man, named Fame, looked at Lennok and grinned.

"Last time wasn't the right situation to talk."

"..."

"Shall we move to a different place first?"