The Return of Lilietta - Chapter 37

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 37

Then she explained step by step.

“This is energy called Oaths. It’s similar to mana or aura.”

“Something like aura…?”

“I use this to create magic bullets with the desired power.”

The golden shimmer that had gathered in her palm was processed into the form of a golden bullet. Richard, who was watching from the side, widened his eyes.

“With aura… you make bullets?”

“No, wait, then are you saying you’re a supreme-level knight, Lillieta?”

“Father, no, supreme-level is the realm where you can coat aura on tools other than swords or on your bare body. Being able to create something with aura alone means special-grade… th-that’s impossible.”

Richard fell into confusion while explaining. Rita smiled and shook her head.

“Richard, I said Oaths are similar to aura, but I never said they were aura. You can’t evaluate a gunslinger by knight standards.”

Of course, if evaluated by this world’s knight standards, Rita Pascal was indeed at a level similar to special-grade.

If you can coat energy on a sword, you’re intermediate; if that energy is visible to the naked eye, you’re advanced; if you can wrap aura around mediums other than swords, you’re supreme; if you can use aura independently without any medium, you’re special-grade; anything beyond that is classified as the transcendent realm.

Rita Pascal had become able to manifest bullets using only Oaths without physical ammunition around age 17, so at that time she already had skills equivalent to a special-grade knight.

However, even she didn’t know exactly what level the current Lillieta was at. Her Oath aptitude was much better than during her Pascal days and her Oath capacity had increased, but her body wasn’t trained.

“Anyway, I load the magic bullet I made like this.”

Rita opened the revolver’s cylinder with one hand and flicked the magic bullet from her left hand into it.

The bullet she had flicked seemingly carelessly went into the empty chamber as if drawn by a magnet. She lightly flicked her wrist to close the cylinder.

“Oh, I did this outside to show you, but normally I generate magic bullets directly inside the chamber while holding the gun.”

She didn’t bother mentioning that gunslingers capable of that weren’t common. She moved the loaded revolver to aim at the sky again.

“I detect targets through the flow of Oaths. It’s like knights’ ki sense or mages’ detection magic.”

Visual assistance was needed when targets possessed mana or had abilities that disrupted Oaths. In other words, unless they were magical beasts or Oathbinders, there was no need to confirm with the eyes.

“After detecting, I aim.”

Aiming by predicting the position after firing based on the results detected through Oaths. This process was almost instinctive and difficult to explain.

‘But it’s somewhat easier than before.’

Her senses were much smoother than when she was Rita Pascal. Perhaps it was because this was her original body.

“Using Oaths changed to have properties similar to gunpowder…”

Ordinary gunslingers receive assistance from gunpowder. That way is much faster and more convenient.

Rita was skilled at processing Oaths into gunpowder, so she didn’t need to do that. This was a technique she learned at age 15 when she became a deserter and wandered.

In the ruins, it was difficult to obtain bullets with gunpowder, so she would pick up cartridge cases, marbles, small stones and such, fill them with Oaths processed as gunpowder, and shoot.

The advantage of substituting gunpowder with Oaths was that you could freely adjust power, range, and even the properties of the bullets as needed.

Golden light swirled around the barrel. She finished speaking while pulling the trigger.

“…adjusting range and power, and fire.”

With a bang, golden light shot up into the blue sky. Soon after, with a thud, a pigeon fell near them.

The jaws of the people around also dropped with a thud.

To ordinary people’s eyes, the pigeon flying in the distant sky wasn’t even visible. Moreover, Rita had been looking at her family members the entire time she was explaining, not giving even a glance to the sky.

Yet she had hit the head of a bird smaller than a walnut flying in the sky dead-on and brought it down. Something that even renowned archers would find difficult, with a revolver that was no different from a decorative item.

Leonhardt, who had been staring blankly back and forth between the fallen pigeon and Rita, stammered as he spoke.

“This is… what you call gunslinging?”

“It’s just one example of gunslinging. Other things are possible too.”

Richard hurriedly interjected.

“Hey, there are other things? For example?”

“For example? Hmm…”

She tilted her head, then spun the gun once in her hand while moving her arm.

This time too, her gaze remained fixed on the family members she was conversing with, not moving.

When making shots that didn’t require vision, she had the habit of not taking her eyes off the person in front of her—the enemy, though Richard wasn’t an enemy, but anyway.

Richard also stared intently at Lillieta.

His sister in white riding clothes was beautiful like a fairy. This wasn’t his subjective delusion but an objective judgment. There were more than a few servants whose faces reddened upon seeing Lillieta.

However, unlike her lovely and bright appearance, her eyes were dry and cool.

Her slender arms, which looked like they couldn’t even properly hold a sword, aimed at a nearby tree while gripping the revolver.

In that state, her wrist moved minutely and ta-da-da-bang, gunshots rang out in succession. Richard looked toward where she had shot with a creaking neck.

Leaves were fluttering down from there. Each one had a hole pierced right through its center. The bullets hadn’t even grazed the branches.

“I can also rapid-fire like this.”

Rita said matter-of-factly. Richard counted the falling leaves and muttered in amazement.

“Seven… you fired seven shots in that instant?”

She nodded.

Actually, she could shoot more. Rita Pascal’s best rapid-fire record was 12 shots per second, and now that her Oath aptitude had improved, her bullet formation speed was faster, so it might be even more.

But even with family, she felt an instinctive reluctance to reveal all her capabilities. This too was an unavoidable habit.

The Duke, who had been frozen with his eyes wide open, approached her.

“Lillieta, let me see the gun for a moment.”

“Yes.”

Though she had adjusted it somewhat to suit her since receiving it, it was originally the Duke’s gun. Rita turned the revolver’s grip and handed it to him.

The Duke turned the revolver this way and that to examine it, then let out a hollow laugh.

“Riclef LS11 Silver Grace… limited series number 11 for collectors. This is definitely the gun I know…”

A collector’s limited edition? No wonder it felt strangely light and had so many decorations and was flashy. Rita clicked her tongue inwardly.

“Such shooting is possible with this kind of gun…? I feel like my common sense is being destroyed. It’s truly amazing…”

The Duke shook his head, then suddenly became excited and said.

“Lillieta, this gun is for collection so it only has really basic functions. It’s insufficient for a child with such amazing shooting skills as yours. Should Daddy get you a better gun? One with more power and magic inscribed on it.”

“No, it’s fine. This is enough.”

If it’s not a magic gun, any gun is pretty much the same.

Moreover, having useless magic inscribed on it interferes with gunslinging. Unless it’s magic specifically tailored for gunslinging.

It didn’t seem likely she could obtain an automatic pistol with magic formulas for gunslinging in this world, and it would be difficult for her to commission custom manufacturing.

She knew how to assemble parts and make repairs, but design beyond the level of maintenance was the domain of manufacturers, not gunslingers. If not properly designed and ordered, it would become a defective product that explodes in your hand rather than a magic gun.

‘I can use gunslinging with this anyway. It’s better than bare hands at least.’

Rita was quite fond of this revolver she had already broken in.

She wasn’t going to battle magical beasts with this gun anyway, and it was practically for mental stability purposes, so something pretty to look at wasn’t bad either.

“I’d just like to keep borrowing this gun, is that okay?”

“Of course. Keep it for yourself. Daddy will give it as a first hunt gift.”

The Duke smiled brightly as he returned the revolver and added.

“Since I’ve decided to give it as a gift, would you like to hear an explanation of what kind of gun it is?”

“Yes, I’d like that.”

“No, please don’t.”

Leonhardt’s refusal popped out unexpectedly at the same time as Rita’s affirmation. When she looked back at Leonhardt questioningly, he quickly shook his head. His attitude was strangely desperate.

‘Why is he acting like that?’

Regardless, the Duke only heard his daughter’s affirmation and opened his mouth with a brightened face.

“I already mentioned that it’s a collector’s model made by Riclef Workshop, right? Riclef Workshop is a place directly established by Renoir Riclef, the continent’s greatest firearms craftsman! The revolvers designed by Riclef aren’t ordinary weapons. They’re amazingly precise and chillingly beautiful works of art! To use an analogy, they’re like timepieces made by a master craftsman. Do you see this cylinder here? It meshes as precisely and smoothly as the gears of a clock, right? This is perfection created through countless trials and errors! This cylinder is Riclef’s symbol. And this barrel, trigger, grip…”

The excited Duke’s explanation poured out like a storm. Even though Leonhardt was holding his forehead and Richard was openly frowning, the Duke didn’t stop talking.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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