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[System Upgraded. Displaying Menu]

[Tech Level: 3][System Upgrade Unavailable]

[Vehicle][Weapons][Ammo][Amenities][Building][Gear & Items][Killstreak]

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“Pidma, do you have a new weapon? I think my higher tech level should provide me with something new,” Del said.

[I have something new. What do you want to browse? I think a battle rifle or assault rifle should fit your loadout perfectly. After all, you already have a general-purpose machine gun]

“What assault rifles are available as of now anyway? I even haven’t browsed that category,” Del said.

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[Showing Available Assault Rifle]

[Tech Level: 3] [Total Balance: 5205$]

[AK-47] [300$]

[M-16A1] [500$]

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“It’s truly the first generation of the assault rifle, I don’t think it’s worth the time especially since I don’t think there’s a caliber powerful enough to beat our enemies yet. Even a 7.92 Mauser isn’t enough to defeat a demon,” Del said.

[Do you need any ballistic vest or any helmet?]

“I think I need a helmet, if my skull is crushed, I doubt any healing spell will be able to fix that,” Del said.

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[Showing Available Helmet]

[Tech Level: 3] [Total Balance: 5255$]

[SSh-40] [50$]

[M35 Helmet] [70$]

[M1 Helmet] [80$]

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“I want to buy an M1 helmet,” Del said.

[Very well]

A helmet appeared on the table of that room. Del walked to the table where the helmet was located. Del picked up the green helmet and it fitted perfectly on his head. It didn’t feel uncomfortable either. Overall, it was a solid helmet.

“Thanks, Pidma,” Del said.

[Do you need any anti-materiel rifle?]

“Yeah, but I think I will only need it if there’s some unpredictable threat, such as Eric,” Del said.

[Eric? What would that hero do to you?]

“You know, you might not understand, but I have the feeling that the relationship between my sister and the heroes’ party are getting worse as the day passed. I think, eventually, I have to fight them if my sister comes to my side,” Del said.

[Do you want any recommendation for the weapon?]

“Sure,” Del said.

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[Displaying weapon recommendation]

[PzB 39] [600$]

[PTRD-41] [800$]

[Solothurn S 18-100] [1400$]

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“What is so special about these rifles?”

[I think I will have to say that killing your former friend will require an anti-materiel rifle]

“I see. I’ll buy that rifle later. I doubt that I will survive any of them if I encounter them. Reality is saddening, isn’t it?” Del asked.

[I see. I think the heroes won’t be coming after you anytime soon]

“I know that and I’m more than well-aware of that. Still, I wish I can use an AC-130 for dealing with my friend,” Del said.

[I don’t think you’ll be able to afford an AC-130 anytime soon either]

“Why?”

[First, You need at least 5,000$ to operate it once. Second, you need a radio communicator. Third, you need to be able to communicate your target to the TV operator on the plane. Fourth, you need to have tech level at level five. Lastly, but optional, you need a targeting computer on your inventory if you want the TV operator to target your targets accurately.]

“Wow, that’s a lot of things to have just for the sake of calling an airstrike,” Del said.

[Did I tell you that they would only be available for ten hours maximum before it returns to base? It also has its own ammunition reserve so the operational hour could simply be less]

“I see,” Del acknowledged that piece of information.

Nevertheless, having an access to something as powerful as an AC-130 that early was not even a bad idea for Del even though it wasn’t usable yet. For now, he would just focus on getting more and more money.

“That’s all I need now, you can go now, Pidma,” Del said.

====

Del and Cole were eating in the dining room of the guild building. The food was paid for by the other adventurers so they wouldn’t have to pay for such delicacy. As usual, the food inside of a guild would be rather decent.

Del was just eating fried potato and sausage while Cole was eating soup. While eating, Cole was writing something inside of his textbook with a pencil. It looked weird, but somehow, Del could understand what was being told there.

To be honest, it fell to the realm of programming the moment Del tried to read it. One of the lines went like this:

If (Magical_Energy) < 100, Output=false

If (Magical_Energy) > 100, Output=true

If (Output=True), Initiate (Voice_Detection)

That was the only thing that Del understood, the rest of it felt really gibberish. He could read it but understanding it was a different matter at hand. Asking Cole would be a better way to do it after all.

“Cole, what are you writing?” Del asked.

“Oh, this? Just filling up the book with my spell sequences that I wrote in my old book which was burned,” Cole said.

“Spell sequences? That reeks of programming,” Del said.

“Correct. What? Do you want to try?” Cole asked.

“I think I’ve asked that for a long time,” Del said.

“Alright, I think it’s fair enough for me to teach you,” Cole said.

“What are you writing anyway?” Del asked.

“A failsafe,” Cole said.

“What is the purpose of that failsafe?” Del asked.

“Preventing magical exhaustion,” Cole said.

“Magical exhaustion? What is magical exhaustion?” Del asked.

Cole sipped on his soup.

“Cole?”

Cole put his spoon on the bowl of the soup, “Magical exhaustion is a condition in which the body has run out of magical energy and when magical energy started sucking the life energy of its user. It’s quite lethal.”

“How lethal is it?”

“Well, if we talk about numbers, maybe draining life energy as magical energy will require ten times the amount of magical energy necessary to create a magical spell. In short, it’s inefficient and ineffective,” Cole said.

“What’s the worse that could happen? You make it sounds as if we actually have an infinite amount of magical energy inside of your body,” Del said.

“Well, this is more of Cassandra’s territory as a medical student, but I will explain it anyway. Life energy is basically the energy that keeps your blood pumping, your heart beating, etc. Without it, you are as good as dead,” Cole said.

“What? It’s not even scientific,” Del said.

“It’s very scientific because it has been researched by the medical university. I won’t delve too deep into that. Anyway, magical exhaustion at the very least will cause a headache, and at worst, it will cause an organ failure,” Cole said.

“Damn, it sounds dangerous now,” Del said.

“It is. Anyway, when will we start training magic?” Cole asked.

“Maybe after we get back to Midham after this assignment,” Del said.

“Good, great,” Cole said.

Del and Cole continued eating their dinner. They were sitting separately from the other adventurers because of one simple reason, Cole. They simply didn’t want to sit at the same table as Cole. Maybe it was just basic common sense that a demon was dangerous.

Del and Cole finished their dinner and they headed outside of the guild building for a little bit of a night walk. Del carried a kar98 on his back so he could defend himself in case someone tried something funny with him.

The cold breeze of the night alongside the smell of saltwater was really a trademark of Alder. It might be a good idea to have a drink in one of the local bars. Some of the alcohol that Rina served was from Alder as well.

“Let’s search for a bar,” Del said.

“Sure,” Cole said.

Del and Cole walked until they noticed something odd on the dark alleyway. Mugging was quite common inside of Alder. Del usually wouldn’t bother with it, but the appearance of the victim was quite familiar.

“Is that the girl that sits beside me on the carriage?” Cole pointed his finger at an alleyway.

Del took a closer look at the alleyway. Two people were surrounding one single woman. It was nothing unusual. The woman just looked familiar. Maybe it was because of the staff that she held on her right hand.

“Hmm, who is that?” Del tried to remember.

“That’s one of the twins, isn’t it?” Cole asked.

“AH, RIGHT!” Del facepalmed himself.

“Can I rescue her?” Cole asked.

“Sure, I guess? You’ll be her knight in shining armor,” Del giggled.

“Wait for me, ok,” Cole said.

“Sure,” Del grabbed his rifle from his back.

Cole walked in the direction of the alleyway. Del stayed behind one of the walls in the entrance of the alleyway. Cole walked there with his sword in his hand while spinning it. He might try to act cool, but to be honest, it just felt impractical.

“Hey, gentlemen, what are you doing?” Cole shouted as he unsheathed his sword.

“Fuck off!” The man shouted back, but he didn’t even take a glance at Cole.

“Boss…, we should get out here,” the other guy pointed his hand at Cole.

Both of them looked at Cole, “DEMON!!!”

Both of them ran away without fighting. Del was confused while Cole felt proud. Cole walked closer to the woman that was attacked. Cole sheathed his sword. He approached that woman.

“Are you ok?”