Volume 4 Chapter 34 The Magician Archer and the Shadow of the West
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
We succeeded in taking down the pirate captain skeleton.
A few treasures ended up in our hands.
The deck and captain’s quarters are eerily quiet now, like the fierce battle we just fought was all just a mirage.
”We should appraise the loot while we can.”
”Yeah, good idea.”
Lifia suggested it, and I nodded in agreement.
It might help us in future battles, and there’s a chance they could be cursed.
Best to check them out sooner rather than later.
I pulled the Appraisal Mirror from my magic bag and held it to the cutlass first.
Words began to lazily materialize on the mirror’s surface.
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’Cursed Cutlass of the Skeleton Captain’
Special Trait: Deals extra damage to the target’s psyche on hit.
Drawback: Risk of the user’s soul being devoured.
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”A cursed weapon, huh?”
It looks powerful, but it’s unusable like this.
Glad I didn’t recklessly try to wield it.
Well, with my ‘Love Hotel’, I should be fine.
Just need to clean it.
I returned the cutlass to my magic bag and moved on to appraise the silver gun.
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’The Magic Bullet Shooter of the Skeleton Captain’
Special Trait: Consumes the user’s magic to guide bullets toward the target.
Massive magic consumption for the user.
Requires bullets made of magic metal.
Drawback: The last bullet targets the user’s most treasured possession.
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”This one’s got a terrible curse too.”
Yomi chimed in as she leaned closer to look.
Definitely a nasty effect.
This one needs cleaning too.
But the most treasured possession, huh?
My gaze naturally turned to Lifia.
”?”
Lifia tilted her head in confusion.
Her golden hair danced lightly around her shoulders.
So cute.
But what a powerful weapon.
The bullet guidance ability is bound to come in handy.
Thinking back to the earlier fight, did the captain use it?
Did he avoid it only to be shot from behind?
I broke into a cold sweat, hoping Lifia had blocked that with her magic barrier.
Well, it’ll be our weapon from now on, so it’ll see plenty of action.
But replenishing bullets might become a problem.
I should consult with the blacksmith, Beckus.
Next, I’ll appraise the compass we found in the treasure chest inside the room.
A finely crafted ornament, about the size of your palm.
Gold and silver patterns shimmer and catch the light, shining with a quiet beauty.
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’The Spirit-Seekers’ Compass’
Special Trait: Points to what the bearer desires most.
But those without magic can’t sense it.
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”I see…”
It shows what the user wants.
So, what’s the needle pointing to now?
It’s directed at a specific place──one clear focus.
I’m not intentionally thinking about anything particular.
If I had to guess──maybe the staircase to the next floor?
But stairs don’t carry magic, after all.
Then… the needle’s pointing somewhere else.
”A guardian.”
To reach the next dungeon floor, you have to defeat a monster called the ‘Guardian.’
So, the needle probably shows where that beast is hiding.
That means I can probably find other things with it, too.
I focus my mind and try it myself.
Target: a treasure chest.
If the contents contain magic, I should be able to locate it with this compass.
The needle begins to drift slowly, shifting to a new direction.
And now, it points somewhere else entirely.
”Now this… this might actually work.”
”It’s incredibly handy!”
Lifia’s eyes sparkle, and Yomi leans in, curious.
The compass that shows us what we’re after──this could change the game for our search.
If we use it right, it might lead us straight to treasures, or dangers, or clues.
Afterwards, we begin scouring what’s left in the captain’s quarters.
We check chairs, tables──nothing valuable or mysterious turns up.
The map on the wall’s faded beyond recognition, all color drained, unreadable.
Time’s worn it down──touch it, and it could crumble to dust.
”Seems useless. Nothing here.”
Yomi murmurs with a hint of disappointment.
Can’t be helped.
The compass alone is enough to consider this a win.
Finally, we retrieve the magic stone embedded deep inside the skull of the skeleton captain.
With that, our search wraps up, and we leave the ghostly pirate ship behind, shrouded in silence.
We head back to the Love Hotel room for now.
We toss our spoils into laundry, cleaning and purifying the cursed items.
That way, both the dagger and the remaining bullets in the gun are ready to use without issue.
But the dagger remains untouched──no one to wield it.
Kéa’s combat style is all about dual wielding; without it, she falls short.
I’ve gotten way too comfortable with the sword I’m using now.
Do I really need to switch?
I want to check the performance difference between my current sword and the cutlass.
* * *
We’re walking on the ocean floor.
Following the compass needle’s direction.
The sandy ground stretches beneath our feet.
We move under the dancing sunlight reflecting off the waves.
Gliding between rock formations, we slip beneath vibrant corals.
It feels like we’re really underwater, yet we don’t get wet at all.
And then, we encounter a swarm of demon sardines.
They’ve become a familiar foe in this floor.
”Alright, just like always!”
Yomi eagerly opens her spellbook.
”No, this time I want to try something else.”
Stopping Yomi, I draw the revolver I took from the skeleton captain.
I checked earlier; there are 3 rounds left in the chamber.
”Are you sure? We’re running low, and you’re going to waste it on such weaklings?”
Yomi furrows her brow.
It’s a valid concern.
But I have my reasons.
”Yeah, I want to confirm it against weak enemies first. If it works, then I’ll seriously consider reloading.”
If it turns out useless when facing a strong enemy, that’s a real problem.
I need to have a decent grasp of its performance.
With demon sardines, I can handle whatever happens.
Plus, they’re perfect for testing.
The swarm of demon sardines draws closer.
A massive shadow looms over us, ready to engulf.
Among them lurks the red individual, the leader of the swarm.
It’s hiding within the group, keeping out of sight.
But if this gun performs as assessed, I should be able to take aim without a hitch.
I set my sights toward the center of the swarm.
I concentrate.
My target is the red leader.
I can feel the magic flowing into the gun.
And then, I pull the trigger.
The bullet is fired.
A golden beam streaks forward in a straight line.
The precise shot hits the center of the swarm, piercing through.
A hole opens among the demon sardines.
”Missed!”
Lifia calls out.
Looks like I didn’t hit the red individual.
I might have taken down a couple in its path, but that’s nothing compared to the whole swarm.
As expected, the bullet holes close up in an instant, as if nothing had happened.
The swarm presses forward, undeterred, swimming toward us like there’s no gap, no wound at all.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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