Chapter 20 – Between Commitment and Insanity

The first light of dawn spills across the ruined city. For the first time in who knows how many centuries, the air feels… alive.

Birds—real birds—flutter through the broken spires and cracked stone streets, their chirping echoing like music in a place once drowned in silence. It feels almost wrong, as though Argentum, the city of alchemists, is remembering what it means to breathe.

Kline and I walk side by side through the main avenue, our boots crunching against the dust of forgotten ages. Strange markings and ancient writings are etched along the walls—spirals of runes, formulas that hum faintly as if reacting to our presence. I crouch down, brushing my hand along one of them.

“…These aren’t just words. It’s like a blueprint. A living script.”

Kline adjusts his glasses, eyes shining with curiosity. “Master told me there was once a library here—the Great Archives. It’s said to hold knowledge of every branch of magic… and even secrets the rest of the world isn’t ready for.”

That makes me pause. My chest tightens. “Then maybe… just maybe… it has something about returning to my world.”

Kline looks at me for a moment, his usual smile softening. “…She never mentioned anything like that. But… if such a place exists, then yes, maybe you’ll find your way home.”

I force a grin, trying not to show how desperate that thought makes me. “Well, that’s worth a try. No turning back now.”

“Yeah.” He smirks. “Besides, if it’s a legendary archive, there’s no way I’m missing out.”

Meanwhile, Elowen has wandered off into the heart of the ruins. Her eyes sparkle the moment she pushes open the heavy doors of what looks like an abandoned workshop.

“Whoa… is this—?!” Her voice echoes in awe. The chamber is lined with half-broken forges, cracked anvils, and tools left untouched for centuries. But at the center lies something miraculous: a hammer, silvery and pristine, untouched by rust or time. Its head gleams faintly, reflecting her wide eyes.

Elowen lifts it carefully, and her jaw drops. “This… this is pure mythril. Not an alloy, not diluted—pure! I thought this kind of craftsmanship was only a myth…”

A faint voice answers her.
“…Thank you for remembering.”

She spins around, but no one’s there. Instead, the forge itself flickers with faint blue fire, slowly reigniting after centuries of silence. Shadows of its past workers seem to shimmer in the air for a moment before fading again.

Elowen swallows hard, then chuckles to herself. “Alright… let’s see what you can do.” She rolls up her sleeves, sets the hammer aside, and begins inspecting the dormant furnace. To her delight, with a single strike of flint, the forge bursts into flames as though it had been waiting for her touch all along.

“Well… it’s a slow start, but if I can get this baby running, I can rebuild something. Maybe even…” She smiles faintly. “Maybe Randy would find this interesting, too.”

Before she can get too lost in thought, heavy footsteps approach. She turns quickly—only to find the towering sky golem standing at the doorway. Its luminous eyes blink, flickering as though struggling to speak.

Then, its voice echoes, not in broken fragments this time, but clear.
“...Are you a craftsman?”

Elowen raises an eyebrow, resting a hand on her hip. “Yeah. I’m a blacksmith. Why, you need a repair job?”

The golem nods slowly. “Affirmative. My body is… deteriorating. Many of my brethren remain inactive. To awaken them… I require maintenance.”

Her grin widens, excitement bubbling up in her chest. “Well then, you came to the right girl. Let’s get you fixed up—and after that, we’ll wake the others too.”

The golem lowers its head respectfully. “…Thank you, smith.”

As the forge roars to life, and Elowen prepares her tools, Argentum itself seems to stir awake once more.

Seraphina pushes open the creaking doors of what was once a military barracks. The air is heavy with dust and silence, broken armor stands like forgotten soldiers, and racks of weapons rest in eerie order as if still waiting for their masters.

Her sharp eyes scan the room, and then—she freezes.
Her breath catches.
“This… is…!!” Her fingers brush against a long, gleaming spear mounted on the wall. Its shaft is dark as midnight, yet the head shimmers with silver starlight. “…The Starforged Spear. I’ve only read about this in textbooks—legends said it was crafted from fragments of a fallen star. I never thought Argentum would actually possess one!”

A rare, childlike grin crosses her usually fierce face as she hefts it onto her back. The weight feels perfect, natural. Now two spears rest behind her, crossing like wings of a warrior angel.

Her eyes wander further, landing on a short blade—broad, with a single sharp edge, forged for brutal precision. She tilts her head. “Strange… looks like some kind of one-sided short sword. Maybe Randy would like this one. He’s always tinkering with new toys.”

Then her gaze falls upon a rapier resting elegantly on a velvet-draped rack. Its slender blade hums faintly, arcs of mana dancing along its edge. When she lifts it, her arm tingles as if the sword itself recognizes her.
“This… this is alive with magic. Luna would adore this.”

She gives it a test swing.
“Shhhiiiing!”
The air itself seems to part before it, releasing a sharp metallic swosh. She chuckles. “Yeah. Definitely Luna’s style.”

Next, she finds something stranger still—a bow lined with blades, its limbs shaped like curved fangs. She whistles, impressed. “A bladed bow? Hybrid weapon. This screams Elysia.”

Row upon row, Seraphina gathers an arsenal, each weapon humming with the dignity of its forgotten masters. But deep inside, a prickling sense of unease creeps up her spine—as if the barracks themselves are watching.

Meanwhile, Kline and I finally arrive before the looming gates of the Great Archives. The building rises above us like a fortress of knowledge, its sealed doors etched with layered runes that pulsate faintly as if alive.

I can’t hide my grin. “Hey, this has to be it! The Great Archives!”

“Yep. Jackpot.” Kline adjusts his staff, already eager. “Let’s crack it open.”

He presses his staff against the door. Nothing happens.
He frowns, pushes harder. Still nothing.
“…Huh? Are you kidding me!?”

“What’s wrong?” I tilt my head.

“This thing’s locked tighter than a dragon’s hoard. Some kind of magical security.” He steps back, muttering. “Alright… let’s try this.”

His staff glows.
“Díreach drws fosgail!”

A massive magical circle spreads across the door, illuminating the ruins with crimson light. But instead of opening, the circle twists, flashes red, and a cold mechanical voice echoes:
“Authorization denied. Access restricted. Only the Grand Master Alchemist may open the Archives.”

Kline’s jaw drops. “Oh, come on!! Seriously!?”

I laugh nervously. “Guess it’s not that simple.”

“Not simple?” He glares at the door, eyes gleaming with challenge. “Nothing is impossible! Not for me!”

His staff flickers again, and dozens of glowing sigils bloom around him like holographic screens. To me, it looks like a hacker’s workstation back in my world—but in pure magical code.

“Ceangal prif ordugh!”

The circles rearrange themselves, splitting into intricate puzzles, streams of numbers, and rotating glyphs. Kline’s fingers twitch like a pianist on invisible keys, his eyes darting from one symbol to the next.

“This equals that… carry the four… divide the seal into three layers…” He mumbles furiously.

I scratch my head, watching him. “Yeah, nope. This is way beyond me. Math was never my strong suit. Physics, chemistry, additional maths… yeah, screw all that.”

While he’s busy “hacking,” I wander a bit, poking around the rubble nearby. That’s when I spot something odd: a skeleton slumped against the wall, still clutching… a gun.

I pick it up carefully. The design is sleek, metallic—but instead of a cartridge slot, it has a magical crystal chamber.

“…A magic gun? No way. These things are supposed to be extinct. Only rare gunners used them.” - Kline

Kline glances at me for half a second. “Since you can’t use magic, it’s useless to you. But hey, maybe Elysia, Luna, or even Marlisa could make it sing.”

I grin, examining it. “There’s four of these. Jackpot.”

But something else catches my eye. Half-buried in the debris is a dagger… no, not just any dagger. Its blade shimmers with a rainbow hue, shifting colors like liquid light. I pick it up, mesmerized.
“Kline! Look at this dagger!”

He barely looks up, sweat dripping as he works his arcane code. “Busy right now! But wait—rainbow dagger? That thing’s rare. Probably suits you best.”

I blink at it, then shrug. “Guess it’s mine, then.” The weapon hums faintly in my grip, almost like it’s alive.

As Kline continues muttering equations, I gaze out at Argentum. The ruins gleam under the morning sun, their structures far too advanced for this world. Steel, glass, strange machinery—it’s like staring at Atlantis, brought into my fantasy nightmare.

“…No wonder this city was the envy of nations,” I whisper. “This place isn’t just a city. It’s a miracle… maybe even a curse.”

And in the distance, the sound of shifting stone echoes, as if Argentum itself has just awakened to our intrusion.

The clanging of tools echoes through the air as Elowen crouches beside the giant machine, her hammer resting at her side. Sparks jump as she tightens a loose plate.

“Hey, do you even have a name?” she mutters, her voice both curious and playful, like she’s speaking to a stubborn old pet.

A faint hum vibrates through the air as the golem’s core flickers back to life. Its voice is metallic, steady, yet oddly weary.
“I am Automaton No.123. Sky Defense Model… and Security Model. Of the others stationed here, I am the only one still operational. The rest… have lost power.”

Elowen pauses, her emerald eyes softening. “So you’ve been abandoned, huh? Left to rust away like scrap.” Her lips curve into a small, determined smile. “Not on my watch. You’re not just a pile of gears—you’re family now. Let’s get you fixed.”

Her excitement practically glows. Every twist of a screw and every reconnected wire makes her shoulders bounce in rhythm. For a dwarf smith like her, this wasn’t work—it was joy.

Meanwhile, Seraphina slithers gracefully through the barracks, spear in hand, her serpentine lower body coiling across the dusty floor. She eyes the cobwebbed walls, muttering under her breath.
“Hmph. For a military facility, this place is an absolute disgrace.”

With a surprisingly domestic determination, she grabs a tattered cloth and begins sweeping debris aside. The sight of the naga warrior cleaning like an annoyed housewife is… jarring.
“If this is to be our base, then it shall not smell like rot.”

As for me… I wander. My boots creak against old wood until I spot something strange—a small, isolated building hidden behind the main complex. Curiosity bites, and I push open the door.

“…No way.”

My jaw nearly hits the floor. Inside isn’t some ruin—it’s a house. A modern house. Lights flicker to life as if greeting me. A faint hum from unseen machinery fills the air.

I stagger forward, wide-eyed.
“Electricity…? Running water…? This is—this is just like my world!”

I dash to the kitchen, twisting the faucet handle. Cold water gushes out.
“No way!! A working sink!?”

I fling open another door and—
“…A bathtub. A real bathtub. A shower. Even a toilet! This is insane!”

My shout echoes like a lunatic’s laugh, and I can almost hear Kline mocking me from afar. But I don’t care. My heart races with childish glee.
“Alright! Since Kline’s gonna be buried in his alchemy experiments for who knows how long, I’m calling dibs! This is my territory now!”

Rolling up my sleeves, I grab whatever I can find—rags, buckets, anything—and start cleaning like a man possessed. The dust clouds choke me, but the vision of a livable, cozy base keeps me going.

“Whoever lived here before… sorry, but you’re dead now, so…” I grin sheepishly, tossing out a pile of moldy sheets. “I’m taking over. Thanks for the housewarming gift!”

It doesn’t take long before I notice the others have the same idea. Elowen is practically married to her golem. Seraphina is polishing barracks walls like she owns the place. Even Kline, when he returns, will probably start brewing potions in some dusty lab corner.

The thought makes me chuckle.
“…Guess we all want this island for ourselves, huh?”

For the first time in what feels like forever, there’s no chaos. Just us, each carving out our own space, building something new in the middle of this forgotten ruin. A fragile peace, but one worth holding onto.

In the Capital City of Mana

For the first time in her life, Luna walks into a place that doesn’t smell of blood, fire, or battlefields.
A school.

The tall stone building towers before her, banners fluttering in the breeze with the crest of Mana’s Capital. Children’s voices echo through the wide hallways—some bright, some nervous. It feels… unreal.

Luna presses her hand to her chest, eyes glittering.
“So this is school… I’m excited!”

“Yeah…” Elysia answers softly, walking beside her. Compared to Luna’s sparkle, her tone carries something heavier—like she still isn’t sure if this new life is a dream or a fragile illusion.

They pass under an archway. Here, students once hailed as adventurers now sit at desks like ordinary youths. Even some who once fought alongside Raul the Hero are now wearing uniforms, clutching textbooks instead of weapons.

Luna’s lips curve. “…I wonder what Randy is doing now.”

Elysia’s head snaps toward her.
“Heh, as if you’re thinking about him that much.” Her voice drips with teasing, but her brows crease with the same worry Luna feels. “…I’m worried about Randy too. But at least—for now—we can breathe here.”

Before Luna can respond, a familiar voice cuts in.
“Oi—so this is what they call a school, huh?”

It’s Sphaera, hands behind her head, eyes darting around the classrooms with open curiosity.

“Yep,” Elysia replies, trying not to smile.

“So… how will the classes even work?” Luna tilts her head, half puzzled, half thrilled.

Elysia sighs and crosses her arms. “I asked the teacher to put you and Sphaera with me. But since the system is a mess right now… there are no level divisions yet. No rankings. No order. Just chaos dressed up as school.”

Luna giggles. “So it’s like school, but not really.”

Elysia shrugs. “Pretty much.”

Just then, two more figures burst through the corridor.

“Hey, guys!!” Oswald waves, his energy filling the space like always.

“Looks like everyone’s here,” a calm but sharp voice follows. Marlisa steps forward, her long hair gleaming under the sunlight. She twirls a strand around her finger, her eyes flicking—too deliberately—toward Elysia.

“Hey… where’s Randy?” Marlisa asks, her tone casual, but the faint blush on her cheeks betrays her.

Elysia notices immediately. That subtle spin of her hair, the way her gaze softens just at his name.
(So… she has feelings for him too, huh…)

For a brief moment, tension hums between the girls. Luna’s bright excitement, Elysia’s guarded thoughts, and Marlisa’s hidden longing all collide—while Randy’s absence lingers over them like a shadow they can’t shake.

The grand centre hall of the academy buzzes with life. Light from the crystal chandeliers scatters across polished marble, and for the first time, the vast space is filled with students—both locals from the city and outsiders from other lands.

A sudden announcement echoes:

“Everyone, assemble!”

The crowd begins to settle, whispers mixing with excitement.

But Luna’s golden eyes widen the moment she notices the teaching staff stepping onto the stage. Among them is none other than her uncle, Fu Xi, standing proudly with his hands on his hips, and beside him, Mina adjusting her glasses like she owns the world.

“…you’ve gotta be kidding me,” Luna mutters. Without hesitation, she marches up and—smack!—knocks him on the head.

“Ouch!!” Fu Xi winces, rubbing his skull.

Leaning in, Luna whispers furiously, “What are you doing here, Uncle?! Aren’t you supposed to be managing the country?!”

Fu Xi just grins. “Hey… why should you kids have all the fun? I’m teaching physical education now. Call me Professor Fu Xi!”

“And me,” Mina adds smoothly, her glasses gleaming ominously, “I shall be his assistant.” She pushes the frame up with one finger, her lips curving into a sly smile. “For today, Lady Luna, I am no longer your guardian… but your teacher. Hehehe.”

Luna freezes, then facepalms. “You’re enjoying this way too much…”

The students whisper among themselves. A country’s leader and an elite mage as teaching staff? This “school” already feels like something out of a bizarre legend.

On the stage, Oswald and Elysia step forward to address the assembly. Oswald straightens his cape dramatically, while Elysia clears her throat, trying to appear serious.

“I am Elysia, your student head. Welcome to our academy!” she declares with all the confidence in the world.

The crowd bursts into polite applause. Smiles brighten the hall, hope flickers in eyes… until—

“Okay, have fun,” Elysia adds bluntly.

A heavy silence falls. The students blink.

“…that’s it?” someone whispers.

The teachers glance at each other, sweat dropping.

“Elysia,” Mina mutters, trying not to laugh, “aren’t you supposed to say something more?”

“U-uh…” Elysia scratches her cheek nervously, her serious mask cracking. “One more thing… don’t do anything stupid.”

The students: 😅😅😅

Fu Xi slams his palm against his thigh and bursts out laughing. “HAAHAHAHAHAH! I’m starting to like this place already!”

The laughter is infectious, and soon the entire hall feels lighter, the tension breaking into genuine excitement. A school—a place where warriors, nobles, and even ordinary townsfolk can come together to learn.

Meanwhile, far away in Carnac, the guild master receives word of this strange facility.

“A school, eh?” he mutters, stroking his beard. His lips curl into a dangerous grin, his eyes glimmering with curiosity.

“Hahhahahaha!!! Now that is something worth seeing! Perhaps… it’s time I pay this ‘school’ a little visit…”

And with that, the seeds of chaos begin to spread once again.

In the Sky Island – City of Argentum

The silence of Argentum—once a dead city in the sky—is broken at last.
Not by music, not by voices, but by the rhythmic clang! clang! clang! of hammer and gear.

Elowen wipes the sweat from her brow, her hammer resting on her shoulder. Around her, fifty golems suddenly rumble to life, their crystal cores glowing faintly like stars.

“Haah… finally got you lot moving again.” She smirks proudly, then points her hammer like a commander giving orders. “Hey, 123! Get those rust-buckets to start cleaning and repairing this place!”

One golem, taller than the others, bows stiffly. “As you wish.”
Its voice is metallic, yet oddly dignified, as it turns to bark orders.
The rest of the golems shuffle into motion, sweeping rubble, hauling broken pillars, and patching cracked walls. Slowly, the once-deserted city begins to stir with life again.

Seraphina’s serpentine body coils as she slithers past the barracks. Her golden eyes soften—not with warmth, but with faint recognition. “So this… was once a soldier’s den…” Her spear twirls in her hand as she steps onto the worn training ground. “Then I’ll make it one again.”

With a sharp thrust, her spear pierces the air.
Fwssh!
The training dummies crumble one after another, dust scattering like falling ash.

Meanwhile, Kline has completely lost his composure in front of the Great Archive’s door. He’s hunched over the massive, rune-carved surface, muttering like a lunatic alchemist.
“Cursed thing… what kind of mechanism IS this?!” He slams his hands against the lock. “It’s like it was built by my master just to mock me—!!”
His hair is a mess, eyes bloodshot, as he kicks the door. BAM!
“Open, damn you!! YARGHHHH!!”

Yeah… he’s completely possessed by frustration now.

As for me? Forget training, forget archives.
Because—
My house is finally complete.

A proper living room. A sofa so soft I could melt into it. A clean kitchen that doesn’t smell like smoke or slime.
But most importantly… the bathroom.

I sit there, king of my throne.
“Haah… nothing like taking a dump in peace…” My grin stretches ear to ear. “And it’s a flushing toilet. A FLUSHING TOILET! In another world!!”

Water swirls, carrying my triumph away. Truly, civilization has returned.

Since I’m done with my own work, I figure I should check on the others.
Something tells me they’re probably up to things way crazier than I am…

I head off, my footsteps echoing lightly, until I finally find Seraphina.
And when I see her place—

I literally drop my stuff.

“…A-A FRIGGIN BARRACK!? IN PRISTINE CONDITION!!?”

Standing in front of me is a full-blown military base, sparkling clean, banners fluttering, even the training dummies standing in perfect formation.

I sprint inside in disbelief, and there she is—Seraphina, training like a drill sergeant, her spear flashing in the air.

“Hey, Randy!!!” She beams with pride, sweat glistening on her skin. “This is my new home!”

…She actually made herself a full military base.
Commitment level: terrifying.

“Well, uh… I’ll leave it to you then…” I mutter, waving awkwardly as I turn to leave.

But then—

THUNK—THUNK—THUNK!

I freeze. My eyes widen.

“YA!!! WHAT THE HELL!!?”

Dozens—no, HORDES of giant golems are stomping around inside… cleaning the place. Sweeping, polishing, carrying lumber. Like some cursed army of janitors straight out of a nightmare.

…Don’t tell me.

I rush toward the sound of clanging metal—it’s definitely Elowen’s forge.

The moment I peek inside, my jaw drops again. My stuff slips right out of my hands.

“She’s… SHE’S BUILDING AN ARMY OF ROBOTS!!!”

Inside the forge, gears spin, smoke hisses, sparks fly, and Elowen is hammering away with a grin. A dozen half-finished mechanical constructs are lined up like soldiers.

“Oh! Hey Randy,” Elowen greets me casually, brushing soot from her cheek. “Cool, right? The golems are helping me now. Look how efficient this place is!”

Efficient!? More like a horror factory!!
She’s way scarier than Kline at this point…

As I’m still processing this nightmare, a sudden scream pierces the air.

“GYAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!”

Me and Elowen snap our heads around, rushing outside—

And there’s Kline. Completely frozen stiff on the ground, his glasses crooked, eyes wide.

One of the giant golems is just… poking him. Like it’s checking if he’s still alive.

“Are you alright?!” I kneel down quickly.

Kline twitches. “H-h-how rude… poking me like that…”

Rude!? If a ten-foot metal monster leaned over me with glowing eyes while I was stressed out, I’d faint too!!

“So… Elowen,” I cross my arms, staring at the rows of golems stomping around the city. “Why don’t you just… repopulate this whole damn place!?”

Elowen smirks without even looking up from the schematics in her hands.
“Nope. I like it this way. Honestly… I might even move out of Carnac. This is my new home now.”

“Yep. I love this place,” Seraphina adds, standing proudly with her spear resting on her shoulder. “This is my home now too.”

“…Ugh…” I groan, rubbing the back of my head. “Fine. I’ll find my own place then. Ugh…”

Kline stomps past me, fists clenched, hair wild like a madman.
“Hey, did you manage to open the door?” I ask.

His face twitches.
“…Nope. For the first time since leaving my master’s home… I lost. I can practically hear him laughing at me from the afterlife right now!”

Kline throws his arms into the air, screaming at the heavens.
“HAAAH!!! FINE! SINCE YOU GUYS ARE TURNING THIS PLACE INTO A HOME, I’LL JUST FIND MY OWN SPOT! EARGHHH!!! CURSE YOU MASTER!!!”

Elowen tilts her head, muttering dryly.
“He’s lost his screws.”

“He’s gone insane,” Seraphina agrees with a shrug.

I nod solemnly.
“Farewell… may you rest in peace.”

“OI! I’M NOT DEAD YET!!!” Kline’s voice echoes as he runs down the ruined street, still shouting curses at his master while looking for a new base.

…Yeah, he’s gone.

Elowen suddenly taps my shoulder.
“Hey Randy. Look at this.”

She holds up a strange crystal, shimmering faintly with inner light.

“…No way. This is… a material for…” My brain short-circuits. Then—BOOM. The idea hits me like lightning.

A grin spreads across my face. “Oh yeah… I know exactly what I want to do.”

I follow Elowen to her workshop, my hands trembling in excitement. Seraphina trails behind, raising an eyebrow.
“What’s he plotting now?”

The crystal glows brighter in my hands. It hums… almost like it’s alive.

“This… this is definitely a kyber crystal…” I whisper. Its light pulses with my emotions, just like in Star Wars. Yes. YES. THIS IS IT. My destiny. My nerd dream come true.

“Kyber… crystal?” Seraphina tilts her head.

“What are you even talking about?” Elowen frowns.

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Hehehehe…” I try to hide my manic grin, but it’s hopeless.

Elowen sighs. “Looks like Randy’s the one who lost his screws now.”

“Yep. I’ll have to agree,” Seraphina deadpans.

Ignoring them, I slap a paper onto the forge. “Hey Elowen, can you make this?”

She glances at my rough sketch. “Huh? This is easy. But… why do you need it?”

“Don’t worry about it. Just… let me enjoy the moment.”

I work feverishly, carving, assembling, slotting the crystal into place. Elowen mutters something about “Heartstones”—crystals wizards use to divine the truth of things—but I barely hear her. I’m too far gone.

At last, I raise the hilt high.
“Hahahaha!! FINALLY!!! I’VE DONE IT!!!”

Elowen and Seraphina just stare, wide-eyed.

“The moment of truth…” I whisper, pressing the activation switch.

SWOOOOOSH!!!

A blinding white blade of pure light ignites, humming with power.

“YESSSSSSSS!!! FINALLY!!! MY OWN LIGHTSABER!!!” I shout, laughing like a madman.

Elowen blinks. “…What are you doing?”

Seraphina tilts her head, smiling faintly. “He looks like a little boy. How adorable.”

“Here goes…” I grin, swinging the blade toward a nearby boulder.

The crystal-white blade slices through solid stone like butter. SHHHNK! The rock falls apart in two perfect halves.

Both of them freeze.

Elowen: “…It’s just some light.”
Seraphina: “It doesn’t even feel like a weapon.”

I glare. “What are you talking about!? This is a LIGHTSABER!! It’s a LASER SWORD! A symbol of justice and coolness!”

Elowen cautiously picks it up. “Strange… it has no weight. Almost like it isn’t really here.”

“Yeah,” Seraphina adds, giving it a test swing. “Feels like a toy to me.”

I snatch it back, eyes blazing. “A TOY!? THIS IS THE LEGENDARY WEAPON OF HEROES! WHITE BLADE, BABY!! I DON’T EVEN CARE IF IT’S NOT BLUE!!!”

And for the first time since arriving in this world, I feel complete.

Finally…
Not a laser gun.
Not a magic staff.

But a lightsaber.

My lightsaber.

“Hahahahaha!!!” I throw my head back, laughing into the sky like a lunatic. The blade hums in perfect rhythm with my heart, white light flickering against the broken stone walls of Argentum.

Elowen and Seraphina exchange weary looks.

“…He’s lost it,” Elowen mutters flatly.

“…But he’s kinda cute when he’s like this,” Seraphina admits, smiling faintly.

I don’t care. I’m living the dream.

With zero hesitation, I swing my new toy—no, my new weapon of destiny—at the nearest golem.

SWOOSH—SHNK!!

The poor thing’s freshly repaired arm drops to the ground.

“RANDY!!!” Elowen shrieks, her glasses glinting with pure rage. “I JUST FIXED THOSE!!”

She’s chasing me with a hammer in hand, veins popping on her forehead.

Meanwhile, Seraphina claps her hands together and squeals.
“He looks sooo cute! Like a little kid!!”

…Yeah, I’ll take the compliment.

At the same time, Kline finally manages to settle down across the street. He’s found an abandoned apothecary, shelves still lined with dusty bottles and broken jars. With a wave of his hand, arcane light surges through the shop, cleaning every corner until it shines.

“Hah. Perfect. This will be my—”

VWOOOMMM!!!

His front door slides cleanly in half and collapses to the floor.

Kline freezes. “…Huh?”

“Oh yeah!!!” I roar, charging in with the lightsaber like a kid who’s been waiting his whole life for this.

“Kline!! Let’s fight!!”

“Wha—WHAT ARE YOU!?” Kline yells, dodging as I swing at him like a complete maniac.

“OI!!!” His face turns red as he drops down from my strike.

Outside, Elowen groans. “Randy’s gone completely insane!!”

I bolt out of Kline’s apothecary, laughing my head off, swinging wildly at everything in sight. Golems flee in terror, their iron feet clanging against stone.

“WAAAAAAAAH!! MASTER RANDY HAS LOST CONTROL!!!” one of them shouts in a surprisingly human-like voice before sprinting away.

Behind me, Elowen barrels forward, hammer raised like an executioner.
“You IDIOT!!! STOP DOING THAT!! I JUST FIXED THEM!!!”

Meanwhile, Seraphina’s leaning against the wall, cheeks pink, watching the chaos with sparkling eyes.
“He’s like a little boy… how adorable…”

And me? I don’t care about the shouting, the golems panicking, or Kline losing his zen.

Because finally… FINALLY… my childhood dream comes true.

A lightsaber fight, just like in Star Wars.

“HYAHHHH!!” I yell, spinning like a wannabe Jedi.

Of course, my glorious fun doesn’t last forever.

WHAM!!!

Elowen’s hammer comes down on my head. I drop like a rock, a giant bulge instantly swelling on my scalp.

“OWWWW!!!”

Elowen stands over me, face twitching with fury, hammer still smoking from the impact.

👹 Elowen: “YOU. ABSOLUTE. MORON.”
😪 Kline: already asleep at his counter, muttering about “idiots and children.”
🥰 Seraphina: staring dreamily at me like I just declared my undying love.

And thus, my lightsaber adventure ends… with a lump the size of a grapefruit on my head.

To be continued.