Chapter 482: The Bluffing Apparatus of Violence

Guns exist in this game. That much was already known simply from the shapes of the excavated Legacy Weapons.
However, considering there wasn't a single player who had acquired the Ancient Craftsman job—which forces the bullshit contradiction of requiring an operational Legacy Weapon just to unlock the job needed to create Legacy Weapons—it was basically a weapon category whose mere existence was the only thing confirmed.

And putting Vysache aside, there are signs that Bilac, who just recently became an Ancient Craftsman, doesn't even really know what a gun is. Even if she did, it'd probably be something like, "Is that weird-ass contraption really stronger than a sword, then?"... so even with my advantage regarding the Ancient Craftsman job, I was essentially alienated from firearms for the longest time.
Well, Wethermon did leave a gun behind as a parting gift, but that's practically in a different category altogether, or rather, it functions more like an event-scene exclusive weapon.

The current civilization level in Shangri-La Frontier is just a bit before the medieval era, a world setting where people fight dead seriously with swords and spears. Crossbows are one thing, but the only era where "guns" make an appearance is the Divine Age.
In other words, the possibility of that existing on the Divine Age spaceship Leviathan was basically guaranteed. But nobody would've ever expected them to be sold in a vending machine in the tutorial area.

"Is that a Legacy Weapon?"

『Legacy...? Ah no, please wait a moment............ ah, you mean whether it's a device or not? Then the answer is No. Those are cheap, low-end models equipped solely with the most basic offensive functions.』

".........Sorry, I don't really get the difference."

『The Exceed Charge and material activation controls have been omitted, so it differs from what you Next-Generation Primitive Humans refer to as 【Legacy Weapons】.』

So it's just a normal firearm? Even so, I want it so much I'd take change for it.

"Supplement: The armaments utilized by These Units (Us) Conquista Dolls are mass-produced models omitting only the 【Exceed Charge】 system, therefore while they differ in specifications from those firearms, it is possible for this unit to operate them via manual control."

Makes sense, it's a lethal tool any monkey could use just by pulling the trigger. There's no logical reason a humanoid Conquista Doll with five fingers couldn't use it.

"Are those a free service too?"

『No, those can be purchased by consuming the virtual currency 'Score' accumulated by defeating enemies within the Leviathan ship.』

Literally exactly as it reads, huh. In that case... ah, just as I thought.

"I hunted a ton of those Techno-Magi-Gelus earlier, so I should've racked up a decent amount."

I can buy it! Uhehehe, it's time for some fun, fun shopping.

Snipers and shotguns are a no-go. I can use them normally, but a sniper rifle that restricts mobility doesn't fit Sunraku's battle style, and if I'm getting close enough for shotgun range, it's just more efficient to slash them normally. Going as an aggressive run-and-gun sniper is an option too, but... hmm, it's not something I'd prioritize. If we really need to force a sniper into the mix, it'd be way more efficient to hand it to Saina instead of using it myself.

Assault Rifle... a classic, but the fact that it occupies both hands is a huge minus point. It was the same when I played Cosmo Buster, but personally, I just prefer weapons I can handle with one hand. The disadvantage in raw firepower is hard to overcome, but having one hand completely free is a massive advantage.

"Ideally, something I can handle with one hand, with high power..."

I know a gun exactly like that. Or rather, whether in Saba-Gan or Cosmo Buster, in any game with FPS elements, the handgun is usually available right from the start, and among those, a large-caliber one is the most desirable.

"Isana, out of these, is there something I can handle one-handed with a large caliber... well I doubt this even uses calibers, but something with high firepower?"

『In that case, how about this? Maximum range of one hundred and fifty meters, the bullet is a mana material ware type, the high-output handgun 'Aguacate'! Equipped with a safety to prevent friendly fire against humanoid species, and right now it's only 250,000 Score!』

"So expensive."

I mean, even though I didn't systematically overhunt the Techno-Magi-Gelus to grind score and they are just trash mobs after all, that's still cutting it ridiculously close. Looks like I wouldn't have been able to reach the rifles either way.

"Can I test fire? Ah, whatever, I'll just shoot it at the real thing."

With a clunk, a box resembling a soda can dropped into the back of the dispensing slot at the bottom of the vending machine.
When I pulled it out, the box instantly scattered into particles, leaving nothing but a smooth, featureless white handgun in my grip. How should I put it, it feels like they just carved a handgun shape out of a massive block of plastic; it entirely lacks that "assembled from parts" feel unique to firearms.

Still, the fact that it isn't a Legacy Weapon means it belongs to an unknown category. I eagerly check the newly acquired item text.

B2: Civilian-Use Auxiliary Device (Civilian Sub-Device) "Aguacate"
Max Ammo: 10
Required Magic Power to Load: 15 (Full Reload: 150)
An original auxiliary device developed within the Leviathan ship. It functions as a firearm by loading mana particles accumulated in the main device.
Since it is strictly for the self-defense of Leviathan citizens, its performance is several tiers inferior when compared to military-grade armaments, but it is capable of repelling small-scale kin.
This armament functions by loading the user's magic power, allowing the firing of magic bullets that deal non-attribute damage.
Ultimately, by the time a situation arises where this must be used, everything is already over. Yet even so, this portable apparatus of violence brought peace of mind to innocent people. Even if it was something inferior to one's own fists.

"Knock it off with that flavor text..."

Why the hell is there such an ominous line about it being worse than bare fists...?
No, but it can't just be an airsoft gun exactly as the text says. It supposedly has enough firepower to put the ordinary citizens of the Divine Age at ease, at least.

Hmm, but this is subtly annoying... is this a weapon meant for magic classes? Are you telling me a muscle-brain build can't even reload it? You've got some nerve, but too bad... I already have a source for ammo.

"The design feels like a toy, but... hmm, the center of gravity is pretty similar to a normal large-caliber gun."

I spin it around in my hand, toss it lightly into the air, catch it by the grip, and aim. Compared to realistic games, there's definitely a slight sense of incongruity, but it's well within the realm of being written off as a difference in the world setting.
Wait, Techno-Magi-Gelus are supposed to be highly resistant to magic attacks, right? Won't these magic bullets be completely useless?

"But I couldn't care less."

A toy is perfectly fine. What I want is the impact, I don't need lethality.

"As long as it pierces through the walls and floors, that's enough. I know, Isana. The technology to forge weapons out of a single material was something developed later in the Divine Age, right? Which means those walls and floors aren't solid blocks of iron... they're precision machinery. I can blow right through them with a bullet, can't I? Because of the Insufficient Maintenance (Gimmick), right?"

『Fufu, ufufufufu, is it a misfortune to have invited someone as knowledgeable as you as my first customer? Or is it good fortune? I'm in quite a bind since my opportunities to explain things have decreased...』

Nice. I thought an overly wide area filled with nothing but trash mobs would be a complete bore, but with this, it looks like labyrinth capturing is going to be a lot of fun.

Author's Afterword
Aguacate (Meaning: Avocado)

As a side note, obviously the shotgun's name is Berenjena. Buy two. [*1]

Also, just a simple question, but for Amelia's arc, which do you prefer: GH:C or a brand-new game? (I've drafted scenarios for both but I still haven't been able to make a final choice.)

Translator's Note

• [1] Digimon Tamers. The Demon Lord Digimon Beelzemon famously rides a motorcycle and dual-wields two massive shotguns named Berenjena (Spanish for eggplant). The author is telling the readers that if shotguns ever drop, players are obligated to buy two and dual-wield them like Beelzemon.