With the bandits now restrained and powerless, the caravan resumed its journey toward the city in a much calmer atmosphere than before. Some of the adventurers on escort duty looked relieved, while others occasionally glanced at Ren—or more specifically, at the assault rifle now slung across his back.
After a few minutes of walking, a burly adventurer clad in light armor finally spoke up.
"Oi, Kiddo, what was that weapon you used earlier? I've never seen a magic staff like that before."
The question immediately caught everyone's attention. The merchants, who had previously been focused on the road ahead, now turned their curious gazes toward Ren as well.
"That's true," added an older man, the head merchant of the group. "It wasn't a sword, a bow, or even a spear… but it was faster than magic and didn't require a chant?"
Ren met their stares for a moment, quickly thinking of a response. If he told them the truth, it could lead to serious trouble. Firearms didn't exist in this world, and if the kingdom—or any other power—discovered what he was capable of creating, they might try to take his technology for themselves.
So, with a relaxed expression, he shrugged and started weaving a story.
"Oh, this?" he said, patting his assault rifle. "It's just my personal magic staff."
The adventurers exchanged uncertain looks. "A magic staff?" one of them repeated, clearly skeptical.
Ren nodded confidently. "Yep. Basically, I'm a mage, but instead of using long incantations or magic circles, I use a quick-activation mechanism built into this staff. You could say I fire magic projectiles in a more stable and rapid form."
Their eyes widened slightly. The explanation sounded bizarre, but… it made sense in the logic of this world.
"So, it's magic, huh?" one of them murmured. "No wonder I didn't see any arrows or bolts… I thought it was some kind of secret artifact!"
Ren simply gave a small, knowing smile—but inwardly, he let out a quiet sigh of relief.
(Phew… luckily, they bought it.)
A female adventurer who had been silent until now finally spoke up. "But… I've never seen magic like that before. You must be from an elite mage family, right?"
Ren chuckled lightly, keeping his demeanor casual. "Not really. I just have a unique method that not many people know about."
The conversation eventually died down, though a few people still seemed curious. However, since no one could prove him wrong, they had no choice but to accept his explanation.
After all this, Ren realized one important thing—he now had a new identity in this world.
If anyone ever asked what weapon he wielded, the answer was simple:
"A magic staff."
###
As the sun began its descent toward the west, the caravan finally arrived at Vermont City—a bustling trade hub located in the southeastern part of the Eldoria Kingdom. Compared to the previous city, Vermont was livelier and wealthier, its streets packed with merchants, adventurers, and blacksmiths. It wasn't surprising, given that the city was located near a major mining site, making it the center of trade for high-quality metals and minerals.
Upon reaching the city gates, Ren received a small but unexpected surprise. A city guard approached their group to inspect the captured bandits, only to discover that one of them was a wanted criminal with a bounty on his head.
"You're pretty lucky, kid," said one of the senior adventurers who had joined the escort mission. "This guy's bounty is worth three gold coins. Since you were the one who took him down first, you get the biggest cut."
Ren received one gold coin and five silver coins—a significant boost to his earnings, considering most of his previous income had been in silver. With that money, he wouldn't have to worry about living expenses for the next few months.
After parting ways with the merchants and fellow adventurers, Ren immediately sought out a modest inn, paid for a night's stay, and collapsed onto the bed.
"Fuuuh…" he exhaled deeply, staring at the dim wooden ceiling of his room.
"Everything is going according to plan so far. Now… it's time to take my equipment to the next level."
The next morning, Ren began exploring the city, searching for the resources he needed. As expected, since Vermont was close to a mine, rare minerals were more abundant and affordable here. Blacksmiths and alchemy shops offered raw materials such as black iron, orichalcum, and even mithril shards, though the rarer materials were still quite expensive.
However, Ren didn't rush into buying anything. As someone accustomed to working with materials, he preferred to gather samples and study them first before deciding on the best components for his project.
After gathering a sufficient variety of materials, Ren rented a small house on the outskirts of the city—a location far from the bustling crowds, allowing him to conduct his experiments in peace. The house was simple, consisting of a single bedroom, a small kitchen, and a spacious main area—perfect for setting up his workshop.
As soon as he locked the door behind him and ensured no one was watching, he pulled out all the materials he had gathered and neatly arranged them on the wooden table.
"Alright… time to start experimenting."
Rolling up his sleeves, his eyes gleamed with anticipation.
Today, he would take his technology to the next level.
Experiment Log
Day 1
Everything is progressing normally. I spent the entire day researching the various materials available in Vermont before beginning work on my planned project. This city has a much richer resource pool than I initially expected—rare metals, unique minerals, and even magic-infused stones that seem to have potential as an energy source.
The main project I want to build is a miniature fusion reactor.
Back in my original world, I had attempted to design one in theory. However, due to the limitations of technology and the high risks of handling uranium, I ultimately abandoned the idea before it could even begin. But in this world, the restrictions that once held me back are gone.
I don't have to hold back anymore.
If uranium was the primary fuel for fusion in the modern world, then maybe this world had an alternative. Magic, mana energy, or even certain naturally radioactive minerals could serve as a more stable substitute.
So, my first step was to analyze all the minerals I had collected, testing their conductivity, durability, and potential reactions under various conditions. I needed to determine whether any material could act as a reactor core without producing uncontrollable radioactive waste.
Day 2
I haven't found a suitable material for the reactor core. Every tested substance either had unstable atomic structures, leading to wild reactions, or failed to produce enough energy.
Even though many rare minerals are available in this city, none of them meet the necessary criteria.
But I'm not giving up. There must be another material that can replace uranium. I just need to expand my search and dive deeper into the structure of this world's elements.
Day 3 & 4
No significant progress.
Just researching, eating, and sleeping.
My experiments haven't found a breakthrough, but I know that in research, hitting dead ends is part of the process.
Day 5
Finally, a glimmer of hope.
I stumbled upon a strange mineral with no known name. I obtained it by chance from a merchant while searching for extra materials for my project.
At first, I only bought it because its crystal structure intrigued me, but after testing, I realized that this material might have the potential to be an energy source.
I will continue testing to confirm my theory.
Day 6
Success!
The composition of this mineral is perfect! It has remarkable stability and can withstand fusion reactions without excessive energy loss.
With this, I can move on to the next phase of development.
If everything proceeds smoothly, this miniature fusion reactor will become a reality.
Day 14
Okay… I've hit a wall.
Theoretically, everything should work perfectly. But there is **one missing material—**something essential to stabilizing the reactor core under extreme conditions.
Without it, I can't complete the project.
Now, I have to find out where it comes from.
Day 15
Finally, after digging deeper and speaking with several merchants and miners, I discovered the answer.
The material originates from the Southern Dungeon—a location two days' journey from the city.
That means I can't rely on merchants to acquire it.
I have to get it myself.
Ren closed his notebook and exhaled deeply.
"So… a dungeon expedition, huh?"
This was a journey he couldn't avoid.