Chapter 288: Incomplete Craft (Interlude) (1/2)

After having received Tamae's permission like a normal student, I exited the classroom alongside Kurumi as students began their usual bout of speculating things based on what just happened.

Naturally, neither Kurumi nor I were bothered with their uttering as we went on our way without sparing anyone a glance.

And so, here I am right now, following after Kurumi as she leads the way to wherever she is planning to hand me the thing she spoke of.

Not much long later, the two of us reach our destination as Kurumi comes to a halt in front of a classroom.

”This place,” I mutter while using Clairvoyance to examine inside the classroom, only to find it barren and more like a storage room than anything else.

From what I can see, there is nothing more than desks and chairs that have been flipped over and stacked on top of one another.

”Now, don't think about it much,” Kurumi says as she turns around to face me, ”This room is the most suitable for this matter, that's all.”

How suspicious. This further supports the notion of this matter being much more complicated than her simply handing me something.

After all, there are could only be two reasons why she would utter the words she just did.

Either the thing she is about to hand over is one that can't be seen by anyone, at all, or she is having me take a test of some sort. Perhaps try something out?

Giving it a little more thought, a notion gets cemented within my mind - What if it's both?

Letting out a sigh, I take a step forward before reaching my left arm out to wrap it around Kurumi's waist.

Then, the two of us walk toward the classroom which is most likely locked, and practically phase through it.

”Thank you for that,” Kurumi says as we find ourselves in the classroom surrounded by extra desks and chairs.

”Before we begin, I would like to ask you something,” Kurumi says as she walks over to two stacked desks, ”If you had the power to bring a whole race to extinction, would you do it?”

”What kind of question is that?” I respond while grinning, ”That would obviously depend on whether the race deserves it or not.”

”Hm… Is that so?” she mutters while rubbing her palm against the desk that has been flipped over, ”So, you're saying that you're fine with making use of the power as long as it is 'justified'?”

”Naturally. It would be unwise to not make use of such a convenient power and resolve otherwise bothersome problems with ease.”

”Marvelous!” Kurumi suddenly exclaims as she slams the side of her hand into the desk, resulting in it breaking along with the one beneath it.

She then turns around, revealing an excited expression on her face as flames seem to be burning within her red and yellow eyes.

Kurumi then proceeds to take a few steps toward me, only stopping once she is less than a meter away from me.

Then, she shifts her feet a little as a circular black shadow appears in between them, following which a snow-white arm protrudes from the hole.

What catches my attention the most is that there is an odd-looking weapon grasped by the arm.

Upon closer inspection, I notice that the weapon seems to be a peculiar combination of a modern-day Glock pistol and a flintlock from a few centuries ago.

Admittedly, the weapon doesn't look that good, and the fact that there is absolutely nothing remarkable about it other than its peculiarity only serves to disappoint.

Nevertheless, it would be quite a ridiculous thing to judge a weapon's capabilities by its looks. If anything, since the one that has summoned it is Kurumi, then it's safe to assume the weapon has some absurd power or something like that.

”It's beautiful, isn't it?” Kurumi says as she takes the jet-black weapon from the arm as the arm sinks back into the hole.

Once the circular shadow on the ground has completely disappeared, Kurumi raises the weapon and inspects it with a bright smile on her lips.

”I had been waiting for this moment ever since the day we became one,” Kurumi mutters with a dreamy look in her eyes.

Ever since we became one? Could this weapon somehow be related to what transpired on that night?

At this moment, the image of a certain katana flashes through my mind along with the face of a certain girl.

But… When I did it with Krul in Sorcerers' Lair, nothing appeared. Why would it now? Agnetem is a Platform too, isn't it?

Hold on, I had almost forgotten something crucial - This Platform is not in a stable state. Despite not knowing what means, I can take that as this Platform obviously not being an ordinary one like Project Charlotte and Sorcerers' Lair.

In which case, it would be possible for this weapon in Kurumi's hand to be the result of me copulating with her.

But then again, if that were the case, I should've been able to access the Network with her and the weapon would've appeared in my system window.

”Do you know what this is?” Kurumi's voice suddenly reaches my ears, interrupting my train of thought.

”Perhaps, but I'm not quite sure yet,” I respond in a solemn tone.

Hearing this, Kurumi chuckles for a few seconds before reaching her arm out and offering me the weapon.

”Take it,” she says while peering into my eyes.

I don't do it. At least, not immediately.

The reason for that is the odd vibe the weapon is giving me. It's almost like… it's alive.

I don't know why I can tell, but the idea is stuck within my head and won't go away.

Releasing a sigh, I shake my head and reach out for the weapon and grab it.

The next thing I know, several images flash in my eyes, most of which consists of numerous Kurumi clones(?) just floating around in an empty dark space.

After what seems like an eternity, I regain focus and instantly inspect the weapon in my hand.