He examined the torn metal ribs of the fan, then nodded once.
"I'll take it."
The woman beside him said nothing this time.
Kiara explained the loading process in clear, concise steps, showing him how to insert the bullet and reset the chamber. When she finished, she placed the pistol and remaining ammunition back into the wooden case and slid it across the counter toward him.
Her smile this time carried more than just professional courtesy.
As he accepted the box and she returned his excess coin, sharp notifications chimed in her mind.
[One Single-Shot Pistol sold.]
[Four gold and fifty silver deducted.]
[Six 9mm Bullets sold.]
[One gold and eight silver deducted.]
[Main Quest Completed.]
The deductions stung a little, thinning the warmth in her chest, but her expression never wavered.
"Please visit again," she said warmly.
The couple left without another word. Outside, the massive wolves resumed their powerful stride, pulling the carriage away into the night.
Once the shutters were closed and silence had reclaimed the shop, Kiara sank back into her seat and opened the quest panel.
[Main Quest: Sell your first system weapon.]
[Status: Completed.]
[Reward: Dismantling Skill.]
She selected it without hesitation.
[Dismantling Skill acquired.]
[Skill tab unlocked.]
[New Main Quest issued.]
[New Side Quest issued.]
The updated list appeared before her.
[Main Quest: Sell 100 Single-Shot Pistols.]
Progress: 1%
Reward: Single Shot Firearms Unlock.
*
[Side Quest 1: Earn 100 gold coins through sales.]
Progress: 6%
Reward: System Store.
*
[Side Quest 2: Sell 10 Single-Shot Pistols.]
Reward: Revolver.
*
[Dismantling: Convert any object owned by the host into equivalent credits.]
Cost: 0 Ether energy. Cooldown: None.
*
Kiara read the description twice, then let her gaze drift across the aging weapons still lining the walls.
"At last," she murmured. "Time to clear the shelves."
She instructed Zion to gather every displayed blade, spear, battered shield, and neglected piece stored in the back room. While he worked with quiet, mechanical efficiency, she lowered the shutters and sealed the shop away from prying eyes.
Soon, a large mound of steel, leather, and wood rose in the center of the floor—a small hill of forgotten craftsmanship.
Kiara opened the skill interface. A circular array of rotating mystic symbols appeared before her, with the word Dismantle glowing softly beneath it.
She picked up an old sword from the pile and moved it toward the projection. The moment its edge touched the array, the sword vanished from her hand. Its image appeared within the circle, and the command lit up.
She tapped it.
[Item will be permanently destroyed. Proceed?]
"Yes."
Light burst from the runes, striking the spectral image. The blade shimmered once before dissolving into particles of light.
[You dismantled a nameless sword.]
[Credits gained: 0.]
Kiara blinked. "Zero?"
Her tone cooled instantly. "System, explain."
[Ungraded weapons hold no credit value. Dismantle higher-quality items for credit gain.]
She exhaled slowly. "That would have been useful information earlier."
Had she sold them instead, she might have earned at least a few silver coins. Even small amounts mattered when multiplied.
[Compensation denied. Host failed to inquire.]
Her eyes narrowed. "So the system only compensates when *it* makes a mistake."
No response came.
She filed the interaction away carefully. "Very well. What are the exchange rates?"
A long list unfolded in front of her.
Copper Grade: 1–5 credits
Silver Grade: 10–50 credits
Gold Grade: 100–500 credits
Platinum Grade: 1,000–5,000 credits
And the numbers climbed higher from there, all the way up to God Grade.
Kiara stared at the staggering figures. "As far as this Empire is concerned, platinum should be the peak," she muttered.
She remembered how fiercely the previous owner had guarded that single gold-tier staff and let out a quiet laugh. Zion tilted his head slightly, uncertain.
Kiara waved it off. "Continue."
Three hours passed under the steady glow of lanterns. Weapon after weapon dissolved in brief flashes of arcane light. Steel vanished. Leather crumbled into glowing particles. The pile shrank steadily until nothing remained.
[Total equipment dismantled: 445.]
[Total credits earned: 687.]
She regarded the number without disappointment. "Modest."
For now, credits had no immediate use. She dismissed the screen and headed upstairs.
The world might lack modern refrigeration, but her inventory kept food perfectly preserved. She pulled out leftover rice, cracked a couple of eggs into a pan, and quickly stirred together a simple, fragrant meal with oil and salt.
After eating, she retired without ceremony.
Downstairs, Zion remained seated upright and motionless beneath the dim lantern light—a silent, tireless sentinel.
---
Morning light filtered gently through the shutters.
Kiara descended the stairs after washing up, her eyes sweeping across the now-empty walls.
"Right," she said quietly. "We rebuild."
She opened the gallery and selected the pistol.
[Create.]
[Single-Shot Pistol created.]
[Single-Shot Pistol created.]
[Single-Shot Pistol created.]
She continued until roughly twenty pistols rested in her inventory. With a nod to Zion, she said, "Place them evenly along the shelves."
He obeyed without comment.
Next, she turned to the ammunition. Bullet after bullet materialized until she had well over a hundred. She gathered them into a sturdy wooden box and slid it neatly beneath the counter.
"Ready," she declared.
Zion moved to the entrance. The shutters lifted, and warm daylight flooded back into Nexus.
*
Meanwhile, at Silver Manor…
Morning sunlight slipped gently through the tall windows, casting long golden streaks across the polished wooden floor.
Arceus Silver slowly opened his eyes. For a brief moment, he simply lay there, staring at the ceiling with a faint, almost boyish smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
His gaze drifted toward the wooden case resting neatly on the table beside his bed.
Without bothering to change his clothes first, he reached over and picked it up. The polished lid clicked open with a satisfying sound. Inside rested the silver pistol, its clean metallic surface gleaming in the soft morning light. No gemstones. No ornate engravings. No glowing Ether crystal.
Somehow, its simplicity only made it more captivating.
Arceus gently lifted the weapon from the case. The cool, solid weight settled naturally into his palm. His thumb brushed lightly across the smooth wooden grip, and he smiled to himself.
"Let's try this properly today."
After quickly washing up and changing into a simple training outfit, he left his room with the pistol secured inside its wooden case. Several servants bowed immediately as he passed.
"Young Master."
Arceus glanced toward the spacious training courtyard. "Bring me six old porcelain vases. The cracked ones will do."
The servants exchanged puzzled looks but obeyed without question. "Yes, Young Master."
Within minutes, six worn vases had been lined up across the courtyard. A few curious maids lingered near the corridors, whispering among themselves. Everyone had heard the rumors—the Young Master had bought some strange object from a little-known weapon shop the night before. No one knew what it was.
Arceus placed the wooden case on a stone table and opened it once more. He picked up one of the small brass bullets, turning it between his fingers.
Such a tiny thing.
Yet according to the shopkeeper, *this* was the real weapon.
He recalled Kiara's instructions step by step. Open the chamber. Insert the bullet. Close it. Simple enough… in theory.
His fingers fumbled slightly as he searched for the release.
"Like this?"
*Click.*
The chamber swung open.
"So that's how," he muttered, a small grin forming.
He inserted the bullet a bit awkwardly, then closed the chamber. Another clean *click* echoed. The sound alone brought him unexpected satisfaction.
"There's something really nice about that."
He walked to the marked position, raised the pistol with both hands exactly as Kiara had shown him, and took a slow breath. Ten meters away, the first vase sat quietly on its pedestal.
He aimed.
Squeezed.
BANG!
The explosion ripped through the morning silence like thunder.
Several maids screamed. One servant nearly dropped his tray. The vase remained completely untouched. Instead, a flower pot several meters off to the side exploded into pieces.
Arceus blinked. "I may have missed."
A nearby guard coughed awkwardly, trying not to laugh. Arceus pretended not to notice and calmly opened the chamber again.
The empty casing was still inside.
"Right. Remove it first."
Another small lesson.
By the time he loaded the second bullet, his movements were already smoother. He raised the pistol again.
BANG!
This time the bullet struck the ground beside the pedestal, spraying dirt everywhere. A nearby gardener yelped and scrambled backward.
"My apologies," Arceus called out.
"N-No harm done, Young Master!" the gardener replied, bowing quickly despite his pounding heart.
Arceus rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Ten meters might still be optimistic."
He moved the remaining vases closer, cutting the distance to five meters. This time he focused—stance, grip, breathing, everything Kiara had demonstrated replayed in his mind.
Raise. Aim. Steady. Squeeze. *Not* pull.
BANG!
The vase exploded into glittering shards.
A satisfied smile finally broke across his face. "So that's the feeling."
He reloaded almost instinctively now.
Open. Insert. Close. Raise. Aim. Fire.
BANG!
Another vase shattered.
The recoil no longer startled him. He was starting to anticipate it, adjust for it, even enjoy it. Each successful shot felt more natural than the last.
By the sixth and final bullet, the entire process already felt far less foreign.
He exhaled slowly, aimed, and fired.
BANG!
The fifth vase burst apart.
Meanwhile, at the balcony, Wester Silver was observing the situation, his calm gaze settling immediately on the unfamiliar object in his son's hands.
He didn't speak right away. He simply watched.
Only after Arceus lowered the pistol did Wester finally ask, "What is that?"
His wife, beside him, stared ahead at the silver weapon. After a long moment, she shook her head.
"I don't recognize it either."