Below, Arceus lowered the weapon slowly, admiration undisguised in his eyes as smoke curled faintly from the barrel.
The final bullet slid smoothly into the chamber.
Arceus Silver tilted the pistol slightly, studying the mechanism with focused eyes before glancing toward the servants waiting nearby.
"Replace the vase," he instructed, his tone composed yet firm. "Not at the same distance. Place it seven meters away."
The servants hurried to obey, their hands careful as they positioned a fresh porcelain vase at the requested spot. The courtyard lay bathed in late morning light, marble tiles reflecting a soft sheen beneath the sun.
Arceus raised the pistol once more.
As a first star mage, his physical strength was not remarkable, yet determination sharpened his posture. His shoulders squared. His breath steadied. The faintest trace of Ether swirled within him, subtle and controlled.
From the balcony above, Wester Silver watched intently, though his gaze lingered more on the unfamiliar weapon than on the target.
The courtyard fell silent.
Arceus squeezed the trigger.
The sharp report echoed across the estate. The bullet cut through open air in a straight, decisive line and struck the exact center of the vase. Porcelain shattered outward in a spray of white fragments that scattered across polished stone.
A faint curl of smoke rose from the muzzle.
"Fuu…" Arceus exhaled softly and lifted the pistol upright near his face, blowing away the lingering smoke while resting his free hand at his waist in a relaxed stance that felt strangely natural.
Applause erupted from the cluster of maids behind him.
"Young Master Arceus, that was incredible."
"That pose suits you perfectly, Young Master. Please stay like that."
One particularly enthusiastic maid, who habitually carried his instant camera tucked within her apron, fumbled it free and rushed forward.
"Just one picture, please."
Arceus blinked in surprise at the sudden attention. Having grown up with her constant requests and chatter, he did not refuse. He maintained the pose, chin angled slightly, the pistol still held upright as faint smoke drifted upward.
The flash clicked.
She hurried back and handed him the photograph as it developed.
"This weapon fits you so well, Young Master. Please look."
Arceus examined the image carefully. The sunlight had framed him neatly, the pistol gleaming against his dark attire, his stance poised and confident.
He paused.
"That was unintentional," he murmured. "If I wore a coat and perhaps a brimmed hat, would it look even better?"
His imagination wandered briefly, picturing variations of attire and stance, until a practical thought surfaced.
"I have run out of bullets."
He lowered the pistol and turned toward the mansion gates.
"I will return to that store."
With two maids accompanying him and a discreet guard trailing behind for security, the carriage departed once more toward Averton.
*
At Nexus Weapon Store, Kiara sat behind the counter, her elbow resting lightly against polished wood as she stared at nothing in particular.
Three hours had passed.
No customers had entered.
The shelves displayed neat rows of pistols, their silver forms arranged with quiet symmetry. The shop felt almost too orderly, too patient.
She let out a slow breath.
There were no televisions, no glowing screens, no humming servers to occupy the idle hours. Ether training was meaningless for her body, which remained incapable of gathering even a trace. Conversation with neighbors required sustained pretense, and Zion, though loyal and efficient, was not built for casual exchange.
So she created bullets.
One at a time.
The faint chime of creation echoed periodically in her mind as inventory numbers increased steadily. Ammunition would guarantee repeat customers. Even if competitors attempted imitation later, she would already have moved beyond this stage.
Her goal was not modest profit.
Her goal was dominance.
"Big Sister," Zion said evenly. "Customers."
The holographic interface vanished instantly.
Kiara looked up.
The same noble youth entered, accompanied not by the handsome man from before but by two maids of similar age.
She recognized the purpose of the visit immediately.
Rising smoothly to her feet, she offered a professional smile.
"Welcome to Nexus. What can I provide for you today?"
Arceus's gaze moved immediately to the shelves, where pistols now hung in place of traditional blades.
Behind him, the two maids exchanged excited whispers.
"That assistant is so handsome."
"But not comparable to Young Master Arceus."
"I wonder whether he is single." "Shh… he could be that beautiful owner's husband."
Their voices carried poorly concealed admiration as they alternated glances between Kiara and Zion.
Arceus shook his head faintly, an amused smile tugging at his lips before he approached the counter.
"I am here for bullets," he said directly. "Do you have stock?"
"Of course," Kiara replied, a beautiful smile crept to her lips. "How many would you like?"
"Ten," he began thoughtfully. "No, twenty."
He paused, calculating.
"Fifty."
He raised five fingers.
Kiara's heartbeat quickened, though her expression remained composed.
"Twenty silver per bullet. Fifty rounds come to ten gold coins."
The maids gasped audibly.
Their weekly earnings at the Silver Manor barely reached three gold.
"And two of those pistols," Arceus added, gesturing toward the display.
"Each pistol is five gold coins," Kiara said. "Two pistols and fifty bullets total twenty gold."
The maids exchanged stunned looks.
Without hesitation, Arceus withdrew twenty gleaming gold coins and placed them neatly upon the counter.
"Zion," Kiara instructed calmly, although controlling her heartbeat of excitement. "Two pistols."
Meanwhile, she drew three empty wooden boxes from beneath the counter and began filling one carefully with bullets.
The system notifications rang sharply within her mind.
[Single-Shot Pistol sold.] [Four gold, fifty silver deducted.]
[Single-Shot Pistol sold.] [Four gold fifty silver deducted.]
[Fifty bullets sold.] [Nine gold deducted.]
The deductions carved through her internal satisfaction like a blade, yet she maintained perfect composure.
"Thank you for your patronage," she said with a respectful bow. "Please visit again."
As each of them accepted a box, Arceus hesitated, but then said, "Miss, may I know your name? We neglected to ask previously."
"Kiara," she answered simply.
"So, it's Miss Kiara," Arceus said with a nod. "A beautiful name befitting a beautiful lady. Pleasure to meet you."
Kiara wasn't affected a bit. She looked at him and nodded with her practiced smile. "Looking forward for your visit again."
Before departing, he then glanced at the wooden boxes and commented. "Miss Kiara, for such a unique weapon that is sold at such a premium price, perhaps the packaging could be refined. Just a suggestion."
Kiara only smiled faintly.
While it seemed expensive, to her, this was the most basic firearm in existence. Lavish packaging would be reserved for far more advanced creations.
After the carriage disappeared down the street, she reopened the quest interface.
"Seventy-four gold to unlock the system store," she murmured thoughtfully.
*
Half an hour later, at the Silver Manor;
A hidden guard knelt before Wester Silver within a private chamber.
"My lord."
"Report."
The guard detailed the visit to Nexus Store, including the sight of more than twenty identical pistols displayed within the shop.
Wester Silver fell silent, fingers interlaced thoughtfully.
"More than twenty," he repeated quietly. "Which means they are being produced somewhere."
He paced slowly.
"Investigate the store's background. Discover where those weapons originate. Use whatever methods are necessary, but my name must remain absent from this matter."
"Yes, my lord."
After dismissing the guard, Wester Silver examined one of the retrieved bullets that had been collected from the courtyard earlier.
He turned it carefully between his fingers.
"This metal is neither iron nor steel," he muttered, eyes narrowing slightly. "Interesting."