novelraw Chapter 63 : Chapter 63
Chapter 63 : Chapter 63
Chapter 63 : Reality
Upgrade buried her face in her palms and let out a groan.
“Can you explain to me what ‘basic’ means? What did I say yesterday? Don't you remember I said this class was an opportunity to solidify the basics?”
She lowered her hands, looked at the modified blueprint again, and then shifted her gaze to Sal.
“You worked all night again, didn't you? I won't even ask about the other blueprints.”
Letting out a long sigh, Upgrade stared piercingly at Sal before eventually succumbing to her curiosity.
“Forget it. Show me the rest.”
Sal shook his head and tried to hide the blueprints with clumsy movements, but Upgrade quickly snatched one and spread it open.
After checking the blueprint, she shook her head from side to side again.
“You're truly crazy.”
Sal went around to the other side of the table to see which blueprint she had opened.
Upgrade gestured to the blueprint and spoke.
“At least explain it.”
Sal burst into laughter and shrugged his shoulders.
“I didn't expect the project to get this big either. I just intended to improve it as much as I could handle myself… well, mostly. The grappling hook just sort of happened, but it's definitely out of my league.”
Upgrade shook her head and walked around the table to check the other blueprints.
“I didn't even include things like grappling hooks, so why on earth did you make something like that?”
Sal raised both hands and laughed even louder.
“Originally, it was an arm guard to mount a defensive shield. But as I placed it on top of the mobility design… my eyes automatically combined the two. It was such a cool design that I thought I just had to draw it!”
Upgrade opened another blueprint, stared at it for a long time, and then picked up the next one.
She examined the blueprints in order without even looking at Sal, and finally reached the grappling hook blueprint.
After scanning the design, she let out a deep sigh and looked up at the ceiling.
“Why are you always like this….”
Contrary to her words, a smile was rising on Upgrade's lips as she flipped through the blueprints.
She pointed a finger at Sal, shook her head, and spoke firmly.
“Fine, but you are absolutely not allowed to receive help from me or other instructors to make this. However, I'll have to supervise every single part because I'm afraid you might die.”
Upgrade continued to shake her head as she opened the last blueprint.
Curiosity appeared on her face, replacing the initial exhaustion.
Upgrade tilted her head slightly and looked closer at the blueprint.
“What is this?”
When she looked up, the annoyance that had been half-joking and half-serious was gone, leaving only pure curiosity.
Sal knew which blueprint it was without turning his head.
It was originally a design starting from a back support to increase defense and strength, but Sal had developed it into a form of recovery equipment by referencing the ability threads of a naughty healer.
“I tried to make defensive gear that could heal the user. Then it evolved into an exoskeleton suit form. Honestly, this is completely out of my skill range… but I drew it because I thought it would come out looking cool. If made properly, it would come out as Legend rank.”
Sal shrugged and pointed to one of the initial blueprints.
“But I can make these boots! They enhance speed and jumping power… imagine adding a grappling hook to that!”
Upgrade slumped her shoulders once again.
“Sal, do you know what scope creep is? This is a textbook example. Making this before combat class is impossible. Honestly speaking, making just one of these would be a semester-long project.”
She shook her head and sighed.
“I think your sense of reality has become a bit dull because of the sniper rifle you made last time. If you keep making things like this, you will never learn the basics, nor will you understand their value. I'm not trying to stop you, nor am I trying to limit your potential. I really like your blueprints. But you need to approach this realistically.”
Upgrade picked up the boots blueprint and placed it on top of the others.
“If you want to make these items, I will supervise you. But I want you to think about it one more time.”
Sal smiled and nodded.
Upgrade seemed somewhat surprised by his reaction, having expected a long argument.
Sal activated the workbench and brought up his blueprints on the screen.
He flipped through numerous versions until he reached the most recently created ones, which were in a much more realistic range than before.
Upgrade looked at the blueprints silently for a moment, then turned her head to glare at Sal.
“I talked to myself for so long, and you didn't intend to make them in the first place!”
Sal mimicked Upgrade's tone and said.
“You said we need to approach this realistically.”
Upgrade walked around the workbench to chase Sal, and Sal hurriedly stepped aside to avoid her path.
“Hey, I'm sorry. I was just curious about your reaction! I thought you'd realize it was a joke as soon as you saw the grappling hook!”
Upgrade grumbled but eventually couldn't hide her smile.
As she examined the realistic blueprints Sal had submitted, her expression softened as if the worry that had cast a shadow over her face was lifting.
“Alright, this is actually decent. These all fall within Rare rank, right?”
Sal nodded and pointed out a few functions.
“The boots have a speed enhancement effect and a jump function. Not enough to jump over buildings, just for moving around the arena.”
Upgrade flipped the boots blueprint and opened the arm guard blueprint.
“And this?”
Sal pointed to the threads written next to the blueprint.
“It's similar to the gauntlet I made for Hannah. It uses her defensive ability to create a mobile barrier attached to the arm. It should be able to block projectile attacks, and if I have enough capacity, I'm thinking of adding a function to reflect attacks. It might be scope creep… but I want to make it like that if time permits.”
Upgrade nodded again and said.
“It is a bit ambitious, but it looks good as a final goal. What about the exoskeleton suit?”
Sal frowned and flipped to the next blueprint.
“I tried to combine it with the arm guard, but it conflicted heavily with the barrier function. So I made it as standalone upper body equipment worn over the uniform. I envisioned it working by charging it with Recovery Essence once… but honestly, I don't really know how it works either. When I tried to implement the function with the Mythos Crafter ability, it came up saying it was impossible below Legend rank. So I think I'll have to put it on hold for now.”
Upgrade nodded slowly.
“A wise decision. Then let's put that aside for now and focus on the other equipment. Do you have an offensive blueprint too?”
She didn't even wait for an answer and immediately moved to the next blueprint, spreading out a gauntlet diagram.
When she looked up at Sal, he smiled while mimicking Hannah's signature gun gesture.
“I came up with the idea of shooting Essence by aiming with fingertips like this. As an advanced function, I designed it so that hitting with an open palm generates a shockwave to push enemies away.”
Sal demonstrated with both arms raised.
“Left arm for defense, right arm for shooting, like this. I can push away enemies coming close. And these boots will help me quickly escape from danger or relocate to an advantageous position. If I can craft this equipment tailored to all our team members, I believe we can avoid demotion.”
Upgrade's eyes went wide.
“Wait a minute! You intend to make five sets of this? Sal, honestly, just making one set is a tremendous challenge! You need to lower your expectations. But why are you smiling?”
Sal took out his Q-Card, showed it, and said.
“You said you couldn't give direct help, but commissioning the Workshop is possible, right? It feels like the Q-Credits are burning a hole in my hand right now!”
Upgrade was speechless with her mouth open for a moment, then eventually burst into laughter.
“You thought this all through, didn't you? Thanks to you, I went on a completely useless emotional rollercoaster. So, where do you need me eventually? Or can I go back to my own work now?”
Sal flipped the workbench to the last blueprint and smiled brightly.
“Do you remember the Rare rank sword I got from the Reavers Guild? I'm thinking of upgrading it! Could I ask for some advice?”
Upgrade looked back and forth between Sal and the blueprint, giving a wry smile.
“Next time, just start with this!”
***
“Ah, Mr. Argento! Thank you for coming despite such a sudden request!”
Quest stood up from his seat and gestured to one of the chairs in front of the desk, inviting Sal to sit.
This summons had forced him to stop his work at the Workshop, but if this conversation took a long time, he could also avoid the grueling training with Divinity and the team members.
So, inwardly, he felt a little grateful.
Sal sat in front of the Headmaster and waited to hear why he had been called.
Quest went straight to the point.
“Once again, I apologize for calling you so urgently. However, there was a gap in today's schedule, so I wanted to put your mind at ease a little. Reports have arrived from Professor Lombardi regarding Divinity, Martin, Upgrade, and Gosha. There were no special side effects over the past week, and we plan to continue observing their condition while they use the Skill Tuning Chamber. In Professor Lombardi's opinion, the untying of the Knots you performed is unlikely to be a problem.”
Relief could be felt in Quest's voice.
Sal felt a twinge of guilt at the fact that he had almost forgotten about this matter because he had been so busy over the past few days.
Quest pushed a tablet toward Sal and continued.
“In this short time, you have made a significant impact on the Academy. So I wanted to tell you a few things to reassure you. Your value as a Skill Master and Mythos Crafter will absolutely not be overlooked in the final evaluation at the end of the semester. Entering the combat-focused cycle inevitably places a particularly heavy burden on students in the crafting or Supporter tracks. But while we hope you do your best and learn as much as possible… we wanted to let you know that there are various paths for a student like you to succeed in this Academy.”
Quest paused for a moment and carefully observed Sal's reaction.
“You are the first student in the Academy's history to create a completely new skill. When I reported that to Professor Lombardi, he suggested things he wants to test over the next few months. The list on that tablet contains skills we have tentatively selected. They are skills with high compatibility, and the proposal is to experiment whether you can combine them to create a new skill that can be helpful to everyone.”
Sal looked at the Headmaster in front of him and mulled over whether he was understanding this proposal correctly.
Quest raised both hands and burst into laughter.
“Don't worry. I'm not saying to do it right now. It's merely a hypothetical discussion…. However, I wanted to ask if you have the intention to try something like this later. This could be a great help to the Academy or the Doom Council. Of course, I know very well that this must feel like a tremendous proposal right now. So whatever plan we come up with, we will definitely consult with your parents to confirm their consent.”
At the unexpected words, Sal blinked.
“Even if you refuse, it is fine. Your value as a Mythos Crafter or the ability to permanently unlock another person's potential… anyone can see how important those abilities will be in the future without me saying it. What we hope for now is that you carefully consider the abilities you will acquire next and consult with us before making a decision.”
Quest continued with a warm smile.
“This might just be my conceit, but I would be truly happy if you included my ability in a combination later. It could open your horizons completely anew, and it would have great significance in carrying on the legacy of Quest Academy. Of course, if a System forms in your head, you might go crazy. Haha.”
Quest looked at Sal with a laugh, but Sal did not share the same cheerfulness.
Sal wanted to make sure if this was truly a theoretical proposal.
Because despite what was said, it sounded like a quite serious request.
“First of all, it is truly a relief to hear that everyone is safe after the skill Knots were untied.”
Sal spoke cautiously, choosing each word carefully.
Quest nodded and responded with a smile.
“Yes, you can say whatever you are thinking. Don't worry. I know I am asking a lot of you. I want to hear your sincerity rather than polite formalities.”
At those words, Sal relaxed his tension and raised both hands, revealing a bit of frustration.
“To be honest, I've never thought I was qualified to be a hero. I just intended to come here, work as hard as I could, and eventually return to the auction house my parents run. I was really proud when I unlocked other people's potential, and conversely, it was truly terrible when I thought I might have harmed them.”
Sal began to pour out his thoughts, and Quest listened to his story with a quiet smile.
“Gaining the Mythos Crafter ability was amazing. It felt like I had my own ability for the first time… and I was so moved that I could make something with my own power. I didn't even know how great it was until Watcher explained the sniper rifle to me. That's when I knew. That I was too naive and still had a lot to learn. I didn't even know that creating the Mythos Crafter ability could pose a danger to my Internal Core. I am afraid that my ignorance might hurt myself or someone else someday.”
Sal said with a frown.
He couldn't believe he was confessing these inner feelings to the Headmaster of all people, but he couldn't hold back what had been piling up in his heart any longer.
“It feels like everyone expects too much from me, and I'm worried I might let those expectations down. Do you… understand these thoughts?”
“Of course. I understand everything you are feeling right now. If you had seen when I first established this Academy, you would have been surprised. My whole body trembled, and I doubted every decision I made. Fortunately, I was with capable people, and we all had the same goal. It was to reclaim our hometown and drive out the monsters. The power of sharing a common vision is stronger than you think, Mr. Argento.”
Quest nodded quietly.
“You are already building deep bonds with your classmates and the faculty. Even though only a few weeks have passed. As time goes by, you will become increasingly aware of your limitations and capabilities. We want to support and grow your talents to the maximum, but it shouldn't be in a way that harms your mind. Right now, you probably feel like all the burden is on your shoulders, but the reason I showed you that list of abilities is precisely because of that.”
Quest tapped the tablet once again.
“This isn't just a collection of abilities. It is data to remind you that you are not the only exceptional existence in this Academy. There are people here who can bend time, people who nullify Essence, and even someone who summons an otherworldly dragon! There is also a student who can unfold a barrier covering the entire campus. All these people are your peers. So it is okay to put down the burden that the fate of humanity depends on you alone. This is a matter of solidarity and cooperation. Everyone came here to learn and grow, and we just want to guide that path as best as we can.”
Sal let out a sigh of relief from deep in his chest and spoke.
“An otherworldly dragon? Really?”
Quest burst into laughter at the question that popped out before he could even finish speaking.
“Yes, it's quite impressive. A 3rd year student whom almost every Tier 1 guild is currently trying to scout. But returning to the main point… take the tablet with the combination list. You can look at it again when something comes to mind, and you don't need to do anything right now. If you can make judgments with as much information as possible in the process of creating your next skill, that in itself will be a path that helps humanity. Is that alright?”
Sal smiled and nodded.
“Sounds good.”
Quest clapped his hands and stood up.
“Excellent! I won't keep you any longer. I know you have another schedule in the training room.”
Sal burst into laughter.
“I won't ask how you know.”
Quest opened the door and held it for Sal.
“Spies are everywhere, Mr. Argento. All the students' secrets come to my ears. From training routines woven with future foresight... to absurd grappling hook guns. I know everything.”