Chapter 77
“You’re the one. Peacemaker.”
“Correct.”
The three holy relics of the Cosmos Church.
The bloodline of Cosmos and the knowledge of the Wisdrammus family.
Four Diamond Knights and several Platinum Knights.
“It’s difficult.”
“It is.”
“Would adding this make it any easier?”
I opened the backpack I brought and revealed the Desert Hierophant.
The Peacemaker shot to his feet.
“That’s the Desert Hierophant, one of the ‘Nature Five’! Where in the world did you get it?!”
The greatest five treasures, whose owners survive until the final battle in the original story.
If the holy relics of Cosmos are the ultimate weapons given by a god to humanity, the Nature Five are the joker cards bestowed by nature itself.
Filled with the essence of nature, the Nature Five are comparable to holy relics.
“I found it in the underground ruins of the Eudialyte Desert.”
“It was a hideout used by the emperor of an ancient empire.”
“…If we can find their rightful owners, the burden will be greatly reduced.”
“It could fulfill the role of two or three Platinum Knights.”
“Do you know the whereabouts of the other Nature Five besides the Desert Hierophant?”
Fortunately, the original story contains all this information.
As a writer who only completed the first part, I’m not entirely certain, but I have a rough grasp of such critical details.
“The Heart of the Sea is held by the Kraken King.”
“The Authority of the Jungle is kept by the World Tree.”
“The Majesty of the Mountain is guarded by a secret society on the highest peak.”
“The Wrath of the Snow is possessed by the ruler of the Arctic Wasteland.”
As I finished, the Peacemaker slumped back into his seat.
His face was painted with disbelief.
“What… are you?”
“I run a coffee wagon.”
“That’s not what I’m asking.”
“I’m just someone who wants to stop the apocalypse.”
“…”
I can’t say I’m a ghostwriter for the original novel’s author.
So, I’ll thoroughly hide myself.
Instead, I’ll prove our goals align.
I hoped he’d believe me.
The Peacemaker closed his eyes briefly, then opened them.
“Fine, then. Can’t be helped.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
The Peacemaker took out a notebook and pen, handing them to me.
“Write down the information about the Nature Five.”
“I’ll come for them later.”
This was originally my task, but I can trust the Peacemaker with it.
“Understood.”
“If we need to contact each other in the future, tell Arnold here.”
“I’ll do the same.”
“Got it.”
I explained various precautions and tasks to the Peacemaker.
One of them was:
“We also need information on the demon worshippers.”
“I’ll include it in the notebook.”
All the talents and geniuses who will emerge in the empire are in my head.
“That person is a demon worshipper.”
“…What? This one too?”
“Then it makes sense.”
“This entire faction has been brainwashed for a long time.”
The Peacemaker, perhaps deciding not to be surprised by my intel anymore, reacted calmly.
I returned the notebook.
“Here it is.”
“Looks about done.”
“I’ve talked too much, haven’t I?”
“Anything you want to say?”
Something to say?
Not really.
He knows more and is far superior to me.
I have plenty of questions, though.
Why was he never even mentioned in the original story?
Why didn’t he show up even once during the indiscriminate apocalypse?
…All things I couldn’t ask.
But one thing.
I didn’t know if it was possible, but I spoke with the mindset of giving it a try.
“Teach me your marksmanship.”
“…Hmm, let’s see.”
The Peacemaker stroked his chin.
Not in refusal, but as if weighing whether it was feasible.
“I don’t use hunting rifles like that, to begin with.”
“Dual pistols, you see.”
“It’s different, like how a longsword differs from a rapier.”
“That’s fine. Teach me.”
Firearm Proficiency isn’t limited by the type of gun.
Even holding dual pistols, I should wield the same proficiency as with a hunting rifle.
‘I absolutely need the Peacemaker’s marksmanship.’
Firearm Proficiency is merely the basic technique of handling guns.
It can’t be the foundation of combat.
Just as Elisha has the Harmadun secret archery techniques beyond Archery Proficiency, and Gilbert has the Cosmos Empire Royal Swordsmanship, I need something too.
The Peacemaker’s marksmanship.
Unique skills cannot be acquired with points.
To learn unique skills, you must be taught directly.
The Peacemaker’s marksmanship falls under this category.
“Well… it’s not impossible.”
“Let’s see how much you can handle.”
“Marquis Arnold, mind lending us the training ground for a bit?”
“Yes, I’ll guide you.”
The 10th floor of Imperium Bank somehow had an actual training ground.
“Let me warn you, don’t be disappointed.”
“My marksmanship is basically a wild dance, free from the constraints of swordsmanship or spearmanship.”
“It has many prerequisites and is highly difficult, so it’s not strange if you can’t keep up.”
“That’s fine.”
I’ve been honing Firearm Proficiency for this moment.
To master advanced techniques, you need advanced comprehension and proficiency.
The Peacemaker swiftly grabbed his dual pistols.
“I’ll teach you the most critical techniques first: Interception, Ricochet, and Curved Shot.”
The pistol fired into the air.
The bullet was shot slowly enough to be visible.
“First, Interception.”
Then, a second bullet was fired.
I doubted my eyes.
The later-fired bullet clung to the first like a magnet, tangling and rolling on the ground.
“This is Interception, neutralizing a bullet with another.”
“But compared to the next stage, it’s nothing.”
The dual pistols blazed.
The target was the two bullets that had already lost momentum and fallen to the ground.
Four bullets collided, then scattered in all directions with destructive force.
“Ricochet, changing the path by colliding bullets.”
“Pretty impressive, right?”
The four collided bullets, unbelievably, shot toward Martin, Peacemaker, Luri, and Arnold.
Even though they’d pierce our heads if left alone, I couldn’t move, mesmerized by the near-divine skill.
“Lastly, Curved Shot.”
The Peacemaker placed the pistol in his right hand on his left shoulder, firing while swinging it horizontally like a sword with exaggerated flair.
‘Gasp…!’
The fired bullet didn’t travel straight but curved, forming a curved shot.
A bullet that should’ve gone straight traced a crescent-like arc, grazing past my eyes.
The curved shot then circled and shot down all four ricocheted bullets.
“When Curved Shot reaches its pinnacle, this becomes possible.”
“Perfect for when you’re surrounded.”
With momentum to spare, it spun around the training ground before losing speed and falling to the ground.
“It’s like the advanced stage of marksmanship, you could say.”
“I learned Interception as a Gold Knight, Ricochet as a Platinum Knight, and self-taught Curved Shot as a Diamond Knight.”
The Peacemaker holstered his dual pistols, smirking with a wink.
“What do you think? Easy?”
You are witnessing a legend.
The lessons of Gun Master Peacemaker have begun.
Depending on your progress, skills may be enhanced or new ones acquired.
I drew my hunting rifle.
I felt my Firearm Proficiency skill burning hot, overexerting itself to absorb what I’d just seen.
But it was still too much for me.
“No, it’s difficult.”
“Of course it is.”
Saying so, he drew one of his dual pistols and aimed at me.
It was loaded with live rounds.
The target: my head.
“There’s no practice like real combat.”
“Give it a try.”
The gunshot echoed through the training ground.
The fired bullet charged toward my forehead like lightning.
***
Everyone has plans.
I was no exception.
I was supposed to train Stellar Force or recover the relics of other Peacemaker members based on the decrypted data from the Nameless Revolutionary I met in the Petrak Ecological Park Time Chaos Dungeon.
But after meeting the Peacemaker at the Elidore Marquisate, I revised all my plans and went to Imperium Bank every single day.
“Slow! Too slow!”
“Ugh?!”
I failed to intercept the bullet the Peacemaker fired.
The bullet lodged in my shoulder.
A dizzying pain struck, like lightning in my brain.
“Here comes another!”
This time, I barely managed to succeed in Interception.
Even if Ricochet, which manipulates projectiles, was too much, I could somehow manage Interception in real combat.
Wild Instinct (Lv 3) has detected a Curved Shot!
As I twisted my body, I saw the bullet aiming for my back.
I fired my hunting rifle.
I succeeded in hitting the bullet with another, but it wasn’t intercepted.
This time, my thigh was pierced.
“Don’t stop!”
Now, two shots from left and right!
Forcing my injured body to move, I fired consecutively to both sides.
I intercepted the left, but failed the right.
The bullet pierced my side.
“Argh…!”
The vivid sensation of broken bones and pierced organs was clear.
I’ve broken bones over 50 times by now.
Yet, I didn’t stop this training.
Your understanding of Firearm Proficiency has increased.
Upon upgrading to a higher level, points will be discounted by 76.2%.
Know-It-All (Lv 3) more thoroughly analyzes the principles of Interception, Ricochet, and Curved Shot.
“Tch, tch, still a long way to go.”
“But, well, for five days, this is impressive.”
“Your Interception success rate is about 60%, I’d say.”
“Huff! More, please…!”
Clutching the Rosary of Grace tightly, I slowly stood.
Stellar Force enveloped my body, mending bones and regenerating muscles.
“Hmm, your Stellar Force handling is improving faster than your marksmanship, isn’t it?”
Using the Rosary of Grace, my body recovered as if healed by a priest.
It was almost miraculous.
The Peacemaker advised not only on marksmanship but also on using Stellar Force.
“Be careful not to overuse it.”
“The Rosary’s charge must always be maintained.”
“It’s no exaggeration to call it the ultimate weapon against demons, surpassing even diamond bullets.”
“Understood.”
“Stellar Force has effects similar to divine power, but it’s different.”
“Divine power is a gift from gods.”
“In contrast, Stellar Force is the cosmic energy bestowed by the order of the universe.”
“With different origins, your mindset must differ too.”
Handling Stellar Force was quite different from the faith of revering a god.
“All you need is a sincere desire to uphold order.”
“Because Cosmos is the very embodiment of universal order.”
“Only you know what personal order means to you…”
“But keep chaos at bay and embrace order.”
“Then Stellar Force will lend you its power.”
The first time I activated Stellar Force was ‘by chance’ while comforting a drunken Princess Adela.
Though it debuted as her hangover cure, its true power was recovery akin to time reversal.
You are receiving lessons on Stellar Force from the Star Child of the Cosmos Church.
Bonuses will be applied based on your learning progress.
The Peacemaker invested nearly an entire day in me.
Firearm Proficiency Lv 2, having reached mastery, has been upgraded to Lv 3.
I heard from Luri that he’s extremely busy.
Acquired unique skill: Saint Gunner’s Dual Pistols (Temporary) (Lv 1)!
Firearm Proficiency Lv 5, having reached mastery, has been upgraded to Lv 6.
Perhaps he has high expectations for me because of what I’ve shown.
So, I asked.
“Peacemaker, sir.”
“Hm?”
“Aren’t you busy?”
Lacking eloquence, this was the best I could muster.
The Peacemaker chuckled, looking at me fondly.
“Busy? Live past 200, and you’ll see.”
“How can anyone not be busy?”
“I’d love to retire to a small farm, till a tiny field, eat, play, and sleep, but the world won’t let me.”
“I’m worried I’m holding you back too much.”
“Don’t worry about it.”
“Thanks to the information you provided, I’m adjusting my plans and using the spare time.”
“Your intel is that valuable.”
Then he patted my head.
“You’ll figure it out and do well, so kids like you should just grow up healthy without overthinking.”
Somehow, his touch didn’t feel bad.
“…By the way, Peacemaker, sir, you’re shorter than me.”