Lute, age 7.
When they turn 7, the quick kids leave the orphanage and began their apprenticeships as rchant apprentices, apprentice workers, or apprentice maids.
The kids that dont leave the orphanage earn money by doing simple work in town.
Per the rules, one part of their earned money goes to the orphanage, while the rest goes into their savings.
Those savings are intended to beco their starting funds for when they leave the orphanage at 10 years old.
The savings are managed by the person themselves, to speed up the growth of their sense of independence and self-managent.
When I turned 7, I also intended to work in town for the orphanage and my future, but I was stopped by Elle-sensei.
I had already contributed lots of money from reversi and other toys.
If on top of that I were to work its possible that the other kids will lose motivation, thinking wouldnt it be fine if we dont work and earn money as well.
Regarding my starting funds for when I leave the orphanage, Elle-sensei had been putting one part of the fees for the rights transfer of reversi and other toys to the orphanage as per the rules, and putting the rest into my savings.
It seems that since I had too much money for a 5 year old, Elle-sensei made an exception and looked after my funds.
When I turned 7, she handed it over to so I could manage it myself.
At first I declined because I was embarrassed to receive back what Id given away, but sensei forced it onto , saying because its the rules.
If you ask what I really think, its actually a godsend.
Recently, I had been wanting to have a box for storing cartridges and also a gun belt.
I bowed my head, said my thanks, and gratefully received the money.
In this reincarnation world, there are about 360 days in 1 year, 30 days in a month.
12 months make 1 year. There are plusses or minuses depending on year, but thats basically it.
Furthermore, in the Fairy Human Continent I live in, there are four seasons cycling spring, sumr, fall, and winter.
There are so points of difference but I dont handle heat well, so Im thankful that it didnt have a tropical climate.
The hot sumr had passed, its the beginning of fall.
My schedule recently is: throughout the mornings helping with Elle-senseis lessons as usual, and in the afternoon practicing with the revolver and making ammunition.
Snow has talent in magic so in the mornings she works part-ti, and in the afternoon she joins magicians basic training.
Lute-kun!
On my way to the test firing range through the backyard, she waved at with a smiling face.
The happiest thing that happened to since I reincarnated is that I got such a cute childhood friend.
Snow unpleasantly stared at the revolver hanging from the gun belt wrapped around my waist
Lute-kun is going to experint on magic devices again today?
Experints are mostly finished back in sumr. Now its mostly practice
After the misfire incident, she seed to want to stop with the magic device developnt.
She seems to want to stop doing dangerous things.
But ever since that misfire incident I had been taking proper safety asures so there was never any problem again.
Yet Snow doesnt agree and cutely pouted her lips.
I halfheartedly evaded her remarks.
If you like, I can let you touch it. If you try shooting it you will definitely appreciate this magic devices awesoness.
Its fine. I dont want to touch such a dangerous toy. Lute-kun also, stop carelessly making strange toys
Its okay already, that blunder wont happen again. Ive made it nice and safe, see.
Snow put her hands on her hips and heaved a long sigh.
Anyway, be careful okay. Im fine since I have sensei next to , but Lute-kun doesnt. Dont do anything reckless.
Yeah yeah, I get it. Well then, Snow too, do your best in class
When she turned 7, Snow started calling herself when others are around.
But when its just the two of us, she went back to calling herself by na. but its cute so its fine.
Then Elle-sensei showed up. Looks like its ti.
Well then everyone, lets begin magicians basic lessons
See you later, Lute-kun. Take care.
See you later.
My cute childhood friend saw off.
Putting on a lustful look, I headed off to the test firing range alone.
I walked from the orphanage backyard for 10 minutes and reached the riverside.
On the opposite side of the river there was the entrance to the forests.
Basically, children arent allowed to enter the forests alone.
Because monsters will co out.
Monsters like to eat childrens soft at and internal organs.
But they rarely co outside the forests.
Around here there are almost no fierce monsters that co out of the forests and attack people.
I walked along the river without crossing over it.
Continuing 100 ters, I was at the test firing range.
On the side opposite the river.
I faced the steep cliffs about 30 ters in front and practiced my firing.
The ground is soft, to the extent that if you put your feet on the cliffs, dry earth will co crumbling down, so theres no danger from ricocheting bullets.
As target, I drew human shapes using a stick of wood I found.
Even if its destroyed by rain or wind I can just draw it again.
When the water is not high, the river is not so deep, If I strengthened my body using body strengthening arts and picked a shallow spot, I can quickly go to the opposite side and back.
I dont need to make sandbags thanks to the cliffs, with that I saved so labor.
I put my luggage in a corner.
I took out my S&W M10 revolver from my custom-made gun belt wrapped around my waist.
As a safety asure, it was not loaded with any cartridges.
I reached out to a tal case I put in the corner.
This case is also made from the magic liquid tal.
The inside of the case was tightly packed with wooden boxes.
Opening the lid, there are 36 rounds of .38 Special929.5mmR bullets with the prirs underneath, laid down in a grid of 66.
I took 6 rounds from a box and quickly loaded the M10s cylinder.out 6 bullets from a box, and quickly put them inside the cylinder.
I took out another 12 and put them in my left pocket.
I held the revolver and pointed the muzzle at a human-shaped target 30 ters away.
Thumbing back the hamrRaising the hamr, I took a stand up shooting pose, aid at the head, and shot just one bullet.
Kuu.
As I thought, the recoil jump of the smokeless gunpowder reproduced by magic power is fit for a 7 year olds body.
I took out magic power, faintly covered the necessary parts for the firinglegs, hands, shoulders, back, and used the help of body strengthening arts.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
I fired again and again, manually re-cocking the hamrraising the hamr after each shot.
I spent all the bullets remaining in the cylinder shooting at the targets head.
There was hardly any shock compared to before.
Also thanks to the body strengthening, I could suppress the recoil, and increase my accuracy.
I pushed out the empty cartridges out of the cylinder with the ejector rod, and quickly loaded the next set of bullets.
The aim is once again the targets head.
Next, without cocking the hamr for each shotraising the hamr separately each ti, I pulled the trigger.
Sounds of firing was heard in succession.
Of course, compared to the first ti around, the shot grouping was worsethe bullets were more scattered.
Once again, I quickly loaded the bullets.
Thanks to repeatedly practicing body strengthening arts, I beca able to quickly reload the bullets.
I released body strengthening arts for a mont.
The next practice item was quick draw.
I returned the revolver to the gun belt, eased up my body and returned to a natural stance.
fu!
I instantly applied body strengthening while exhaling at the sa ti! This ti I also poured magic power into my eyes.
My eyesight, reflex speed, and kinetic vision was strengthened.
I aid at the human shapes head on the cliffside and fired.
Aiming true, the bullet pierced as if it were sucked in.
I released my body strengthening.
I returned the revolver to the gun belt.
Again, I continued practicing my quick draw until the bullets in the cylinder ran out.
Now that the bullets I brought had run out, I made ammunition.
I gathered the fallen empty cartridges.
Holding the empty cartridges, I soaked them in the magic liquid tal I brought.
The parts that compose the cartridgesize is 929.5mmR. I put magic inside the case part.
Magic power for the powder was released with the image of detonating, burning, exploding smokeless gunpowder, then it was compressed and solidified.
In addition, I made a bullet core as the cap.
As for the tal properties, I imagined lead.
I covered the faux-lead with a thin jacket.
I put in a prir at the bottom part with magic power to induce a small explosion, and finally I covered everything and the bullet is finished.
If the magic liquid tal runs out, there is still the remaining paynt for reversi and other toys, so I can ask Malton the rchant to send so more.
But because it is a rare item, I should scrimp and save where I could.
This is why Im reusing the spent cartridges.
Making ammunition like this is surprisingly laborious and requires sensitivity.
If I do not build the image clearly, it would not make good cartridges.
The amount of magic power needed is not much but I cant put too much or too little.
If I dont picture the combustion image perfectly it wont have satisfactory power.
Troubleso as it is, but if I dont make it now, I cant make it at night in the orphanage later.
I certainly cant make cartridges around small kids.
If the worst case happens, it would be too late.
After finished making the last round, I ended by tidying up.
I soaked a towel in water, wrung it out, then wiped my sweat with it.
As I wiped my sweat clean from start to finish, I went on my way back, holding down my hungry stomach, while bathed in the light of the setting sun.
Should I soon try using it in actual combat instead of just targets? I wanted to confirm how much power and effectiveness it has.
In order to do that it is necessary to ask Elle-sensei for permission to go inside the forest.
Because there are monsters in the forest.
They are suitable opponents for experints.
However, Im spinning my head over how to get senseis permission.
Because of the misfire incident, Elle-sensei didnt really think kindly of my magic device developnt.
But combat practice dropped in in an unexpected form.
A few days laterin the afternoon, close to nightti.
As usual after revolver practice by the river, I finished making cartridges.
After making sure that there are no cartridges left inside the cylinder as a safety asure, I returned the gun to the gun belt.
I inserted the filled up wooden box into the tal ammo case snugly, and reached for the lid.
Lute-kun!
I look back to greet snow who ca smilingly while waving her hands and going the river up.
I Think she ca to inform that dinner is done.
During that ti the children of the town were playing in the riverbed behind Snow.
I also waved back.
I will finish tidying up before she arrives.
Kyaaa!
My hands that were tidying up were stopped by multiple screams.
I looked confused back to the children playing 100m upstream, scread turned my back to the forest and started running.
Goblins are pouring out like an avalanche from the entrance of the forest.
15 of them.
They looked like hairless chimpanzees with big heads, wearing rags, and had faces 10 tis more evil.
They are holding bows and arrows, axes, swords,spears, knives, shields in their hands.
Though they are 3 heads tall they are unexpectedly fast.
3 of them have already set foot in the river.
Monsters favorite food are childrens soft flesh. I think the excitent makes the speed of the goblins faster.
At this rate several children will be caught by them and will be victims before arriving at the orphanage.
..!
I imdiately support myself with the body strengthening technique.
I throw the lid of the wooden box up and load the cylinder with six shots.
I pour the rest in my pockets.
Preparations are finished and i strengthen my legs and start running.
A 3 or 4 year old girl falls down while escaping and hit her head.
The whole strength left her body in an instant.
Damn it, it seems she fainted.
Snow ran to the child and hid her behind her back.
It is possible for Snow to carry the fainted girl with the body strengthening technique and escape.
But, the goblins will catch up before the kids are starting to run.
She shielded the child with her hands, not budging an inch against the flood of goblins.
Dance in my hands, sword of ice! Ice Sword!
Together with her incantation two 1m long ice swords are born in each hand and fired.
Aiming true, the sword pierced two goblins in front of her. But just when she thrusted her sword, one goblin fired an arrow so as to not get hit by the Ice Sword.
A small chance after the incantation.
The arrow flies straight to her chest.
It will hit the child behind her if she evades.
There is still no technique to expand the resistance technique by reflex.
Through my strengthened vision i saw Snows despaired face.
For a mont it overlapped with the expression of my friend in my previous existence.
I shake that dark feeling off in order to shout.
Snooooow!
Sink or swim, I held the revolver.
Shooting position.
Distance 15m.
I aim at the flying arrow.
I strengthen my kinetic vision, I practiced until now, the distance is shorter than usual i will do it, i persuaded myself with it.
I predict the future position of the arrow and held my breath to restrain the shaking.
I raised the hamr, put my finger on the trigger, and quietly pressed.
BANG!
A firing sound what is unfamiliar in this different world.
I made no mistake in the bullets aim and break the arrow.
Yosshaa!
The acrobatic shooting that im not able to do again was successful and i raised involuntary a shout.
It goes without saying that was good luck.
The goblins legs stop at the appearance of my firing sound and are staying vigilant.
In the anti, i strengthen my legs again to catch up to Snow and hide her behind my back.
Lu, Lute-kun, t, tha
Never mind the thanks, Snow you hold her close and absolutely dont move from here!
O, okay!
A wild animal will instinctively pursue the prey which turns ons back and tries to escape.
I want to avoid exciting the goblins a second ti and assaulted by the goblins again.
I stop the conversation and point the muzzle at the goblins which legs had stopped.
I aim at the nearest goblin and fired.
Although it is a demon it is a living thing But ,in order to protect Snow and the other girl I dont waver and pull the trigger.
The bullet pierces the head of the goblin.
The blood sprays not showy like in a movie or drama.
It only falls down like the threads of a doll were cut.
I cannot defeat the goblins with one shoot when i dont fire at the head with the power of the present revolver.
I slaughtered four goblins with the remaining bullets.
8 remained.
Regarding the goblins, it ans that in an instant 5 of their comrades were killed.
Frenzied, they kicked up a splash and attacked once again.
Ooooooooooooooooooo!
A roar with killing intent strikes my skin.
I frantically stopped my shaking body and moved my hands in a daze.
I ejected the empty cartridges from the cylinder using the ejector rod and quickly loaded the next set of bullets.
In order of priority, I aid at the nearer goblins and the goblins with bows and arrows capable of long range attack.
First, I fired at the nearest goblin, who was holding a worn-out sword and a wooden shield.
The goblin promptly hid behind its shield, but it was no use.
Against a force that could pierce through car doors, a wooden shield is no obstacle.
The bullet easily pierced the shield, and shot the goblin in the head.
Their comrade defeated, the goblins instantly stopped moving. Capturing that scene, I pointed the muzzle at the next target.
..su-
I took a small breath.
Next is the one aiming our way with a bow and arrow.
Thanks to my strengthened kinetic vision, the goblins movent looked like it was in slow motion.
But my own heart was beating quickly like mayflies buzzing in my ear.
Exhaling my breath and calming myself down, I fired the gun as practiced.
Before the goblin could shoot an arrow, I shot it between the eyebrows, it fell face-first into the water.
Like a precision machine, I proceeded to empty all my rounds on the goblins heads.
I shot all 6 rounds.
2 goblins remaining.
Becoming aware of their own nurical inferiority, the two turned their backs and scurried back into the forest.
I reloaded the cylinder with cartridges, just in case.
Only 2 rounds remain in my left pocket.
If there had been more than 8 goblins coming
Examining the situation for a while, there are no signs of them returning with reinforcents.
I released my body strengthening arts, and heaved a deep sigh.
Though it should have been only 3 minutes since the battle started, my forehead was already covered in beads of sweat.
I felt tired, and not only because I used up more than half my magic power.
There was also ntal fatigue from experiencing my first battle.
I lowered the hamr, and turned around to check up on the state of Snow, who I had been covering for.
Snow, are you injured? Does it hurt anywhere!
Lute-kun Im scared! Lute-kun!
Snow clung to while calling my na.
Because our heights are not that different, her head was buried on the back of my neck, it felt ticklish.
Despite being nad Snow, her body was entirely soaked in warmth.
Seeing her safe, I felt more relieved than Id imagine.
I lovingly caressed Snows head over and over again.
Snow is admirable. Even when youre scared, you stayed behind so everyone can get away youre really great.
In a life-threatening situation, she was able to do what I couldnt do, and at 7 years old, at that.
I praised Snow from the bottom of my heart.
But while buried in my chest she shook her head, and holding back her tears she clearly said to .
Lute-kun too, thank you, you protected Snow and the kids. Thanks
Snows words of gratitude.
No matter how much I help her out, it doesnt change what I did in my previous life, that sin will not disappear.
But hearing those words I felt the weight in the bottom of my heart lighten just a little bit.
too thank you Snow.
I embraced Snow tightly.
Shes warm.
Shes alive.
Having those feelings, she grasped my fingers. Her tears fell down my cheeks.
Afterwards, the kids that fled earlier sought Elle-senseis help, and she rushed over.
Until then, Snow and I kept on hugging, as if confirming each others warmth.
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