Chapter 39
A Strange Sword
* * *
After the attendant greeted him and stepped back, I sat down on the sofa and spent a moment in thought.
“This is the first add-on I will show you.”
The first item presented to me as I waited was a gauntlet reinforced with metal.
“There’s only one.”
Normally, gauntlets came as a pair, but this was only a single piece. When I asked, the attendant answered.
“It was originally manufactured this way.”
The attendant continued explaining as he put the gauntlet on his own hand and aimed it at the wall.
“It is an add-on made by Macintosh Industries. It uses an appropriate alloy that offers light weight and reasonable durability.”
Those were rather vague descriptions. But in any case, for this kind of add-on, what really mattered was not its performance as protective gear.
The attendant clenched his fist toward the wall. At that moment, there was a pssh sound, and something shot out from the back of the gauntlet and embedded itself into the wall.
“Flechette. That’s a military No. 3 spec.”
When I spoke, the attendant nodded and manipulated the back of the gauntlet. With a clicking sound, the back opened, revealing a compartment slightly larger than a matchbox.
“You have an excellent eye. It can store up to ten flechettes at once.”
The firing mechanism converted grip strength into pressure. When the user clenched their fist using the output of battle gear, that force was transferred through the cylinder and converted to pressure to launch the flechette.
“This add-on can handle up to fifteen horsepower of battle gear output. If any greater force is applied, the internal cylinder will break.”
I nodded and examined the gauntlet from different angles.
“I suppose Areumdri Pawnshop doesn’t offer separate repair guarantees.”
At my words, the attendant nodded again.
“We specialize in trade. There are quite a few repair centers in Bennett City. You can commission them.”
In the past, one had to rely on a blacksmith who made battle gear or add-ons, and it was impossible without connections or familiarity.
But now, mass production systems had been established. That meant all materials and components used in battle gear were standardized.
No matter where you took it, you could expect a consistent level of repair quality.
The old days were gone, when depending on who crafted your battle gear or add-on, even the screws and alloy ratios were all decided arbitrarily in a miserable mess.
‘Except for the battle gear considered masterpieces.’
Those masterpieces were created before mass production systems existed, so they could not benefit from the system.
Therefore, you had to find an expert known as a restoration specialist and pay a fortune to commission them. Of course, damaging a famous masterpiece battle gear was extremely difficult.
“It’s a good piece. If the price is reasonable, I’d like to purchase it immediately.”
Flechette ejection was a simple yet efficient function. I was someone who believed that the structure and function of an add-on should not be too complicated.
If the structure was too complicated and delicate, the reliability of its operation would decline.
This gauntlet had been manufactured by Macintosh. That brand was known for simple construction and dependable performance.
It would probably keep working fine even if it got rolled around in the mud.
“You’ll need to pay 35,000 pyint.”
At the attendant’s words, I let out a little laugh.
“This isn’t some antique or the magnum opus of a bankrupt company, is it? For that money, I could buy a brand-new add-on directly from Macintosh.”
Thirty-five thousand pyint was no trifling amount.
It wasn’t that I couldn’t afford to pay, but that didn’t mean I intended to hand over whatever price the pawnshop demanded.
“Macintosh continues to release new add-ons. But this is among the most reliable ones known.”
I smiled and answered.
“I’m not too fond of bargaining over this sort of thing, but I don’t like that price. Let’s settle at twenty thousand.”
At my words, the attendant replied.
“Macintosh sells special-purpose flechettes. I can include a batch of those and make it twenty-five. If we can’t agree, I’ll just wait for another good owner.”
I felt a bit intrigued by what he said.
“I’m curious what you mean by special-purpose flechettes.”
When I spoke, the attendant showed me a sample. Its form exactly followed the military No. 3 specification.
“These flechettes constantly emit a unique periodic wavelength.”
As he explained, he held out a machine about the size of a matchbox.
“This wavelength resonates with this device. As long as it’s within about seventy-five kilometers, you can track the flechette’s direction.”
It was a kind of tracking device. Though it wouldn’t give a precise location and only pointed in the general direction, that was more than enough to be useful.
“I’ll provide twenty rounds.”
After thinking it over, I nodded. Obviously, there was no connection between embedding a flechette into something and being able to track it.
In other words, even if I just slipped it into the pocket of someone I wanted to tail, there would be no problem following them.
“Then let’s do it that way.”
Of course, even so, the pawnshop was still making a tidy profit. But it wasn’t as if they ran their business on air, so I could understand.
“I look forward to seeing the other items.”
I still had money left. After all, I hadn’t come to Areumdri Pawnshop just to buy a single add-on.
The next item the attendant introduced to me was a tie pin with a gold snake decoration.
“It’s quite elaborate…but I doubt it performs well.”
If something was too small, it couldn’t function effectively.
“It’s more focused on portability than performance.”
According to the attendant, it could deploy a protective shield using the output of battle gear.
“How is the shield’s performance?”
“It has passed Level 1 certification.”
A Level 1 certification meant it could withstand a spike weighing ten kilograms dropped from a height of two meters.
That level of protection would prevent a normal person, who didn’t use battle gear, from suffering fatal wounds from a swing or a stab. It wasn’t particularly impressive.
But…
“It really is quite small.”
That, in fact, was precisely what attracted me.
The effect wasn’t remarkable, but the problem or rather, the advantage was that the size of the add-on needed to deploy that function was just a tie pin. The portability was incredible.
“And unlike the gauntlet…”
I could carry the tie pin on my person at all times. No one would think it strange. I clicked my tongue.
“The portability and form are certainly very good.”
However, there was a fundamental issue. Just the fact that I was carrying stained glass implied I was already in a place where weapons were permitted.
Add-ons that relied on battle gear output could not be used independently.
“Of course, it has a mana storage function as well, doesn’t it?”
“Yes. But it can only hold enough for five minutes at full charge. The size is simply too small.”
I made an uncertain expression. It really was a bit dubious. After thinking it over, I spoke.
“I have no intention of paying more than 8,500 pyint.”
Its portability was outstanding. In addition, since mana could be preloaded, if I ever had to protect someone who couldn’t use battle gear, I could hand it to them just in case.
In truth, an ordinary person stabbed with a blade would die. Thinking about that, it meant this tie pin could save someone at the right moment.
Even so, it wasn’t something I wanted badly enough to spend a large sum on.
“Very well. I’m glad we keep reaching agreements. That being said…”
The attendant slowly took out a small storage box. It was a case made of cedarwood lacquered black, decorated by attaching glistening pieces of processed shell.
“This one is quite expensive.”
I looked at the case and replied simply.
“That’s nacre inlay from the Daeyeon Kingdom. The decoration is the Four Gentlemen.”
Whatever was inside would also likely be an add-on manufactured in the Daeyeon Kingdom.
“Valorn and Aylan make better battle gear and add-ons.”
There was a reason they were simply called battle gear and add-ons without any qualifiers.
If the Daeyeon Kingdom’s battle gear and add-ons had truly been superior, they would have come with names in the Daeyeon language as descriptors.
Like nacre inlay. However, when it came to martial arts that utilized battle gear, the Daeyeon Kingdom excelled. That was why many martial arts traditions used Daeyeon Kingdom notations.
The nacre inlay case looked expensive, but as for whether the add-on inside would also be exceptional, I honestly wasn’t sure.
“You can decide after seeing it yourself.”
Unlike before, the attendant now wore white gloves as he slowly opened the box.
Inside the beautiful nacre inlay case was a norigae ornament adorned with a jade carving shaped like a scorpion.
“It’s a bit of an odd accessory for me to use.”
It was a design fitting for an add-on produced in the Daeyeon Kingdom.
“Do you consider the design of your add-ons as well?”
“No, I was just making conversation.”
I didn’t care about the design at all.
“What matters is performance.”
If an add-on or battle gear performed well enough, I was willing to wear a dog collar with a chain or even bite down on a gag with a rubber ball attached.
It was selfish to cling to pride or fashion when something could save your life.
If it had outstanding capabilities, I was more than willing to pay for it.
“You’ll be satisfied.”
The attendant suddenly placed a large kettle under his hand.
Then, still holding the norigae, he raised the output of the battle gear he was using.
Water poured from the dangling jade scorpion into the kettle.
“…”
“If you increase the output, you can also adjust the water pressure and temperature.”
As soon as he finished speaking, steaming hot water gushed into the kettle.
I let out a small sound of admiration. There was no need to explain how important water was in combat.
“Is it drinkable?”
“The liquid produced by this add-on is identical to the saline solution hospitals use for intravenous fluids.”
It wasn’t even ordinary water.
If what he said was true, then this could be used for nearly every purpose a person might imagine when they heard the word “water.”
“With temperature control…”
In a cold environment, you could use warm water to maintain body heat, and in a hot place, you could do the same with cold water.
It wasn’t an add-on that directly helped in combat but rather one that minimized changes in health and condition before stepping into battle.
But assuming your enemy was of equal skill, there were countless times when properly managing your condition decided victory or defeat.
In the labor correctional facility, I had experienced every kind of hardship a person could endure. Among them had been thirst.
Except for about five or six torments like the torture that prevented you from sleeping there hadn’t been much worse.
“It must be expensive.”
When I spoke, the attendant only smiled. Not denying it meant that if I wanted this norigae, I would have to be ready to spend a significant amount.
“Shall we start at a hundred thousand?”
At my words, the attendant replied.
“Oh dear, the pawnshop was thinking around two hundred thousand.”
The moment I heard that, I made an awkward expression. The attendant’s face looked equally troubled.
“At that price, I could buy a brand-new battle gear.”
The attendant’s gaze drifted to the stained glass hanging at my waist.
“You couldn’t get a battle gear better than the one you have now for two hundred thousand pyint.”
That was true, so I couldn’t argue.
“Unless you happen to have the talent of a conductor and actually need more battle gear.”
I gave a bitter smile at that.
“Of course not.”
The ability to operate two or more battle gear simultaneously was called concerto, and those capable of it were called conductors.
It was an extremely rare talent.
There was a joke that it was faster to find a unicorn than a conductor.
Naturally, I wasn’t one of them.
“Then you have no reason to possess two battle gears.”
Even if I could get a decent battle gear for two hundred thousand pyint, there was no way it would surpass the stained glass I already owned.
“What you need right now isn’t another fine battle gear, but a fine add-on. And our pawnshop is offering you a very fine add-on for two hundred thousand pyint.”
He hadn’t said a single thing that was wrong.