Chapter 168

While Violet operated the Magic Factory, Daphne recalled a conversation that had taken place right after their trip to the dungeon.

A few days ago, on a night when all the Violets were sleeping, the six team members gathered for a brief late-night meeting to discuss various topics.

The topic was their impressions of the recent fight and the outcomes, along with future plans.

As they exchanged words, the boy with blue hair, who had been quiet, slowly opened his mouth.

“I was useless.”

At Lucian’s declaration, the boys and girls present looked at him with expressions of confusion.

Seeing their astonished gazes, Lucian gave a hollow laugh.

“Yeah, you’re all thinking, ‘Why is this guy acting like this all of a sudden? Did he eat something bad?’ No need to be surprised. I’m just stating the facts. In the Vittorio Dungeon, I didn’t do anything. If it weren’t for Violet, I would have… died there.”

While everyone hesitated over how to respond to the gloomy confession of the boy who thought highly of himself, Irene stepped in.

“You don’t need to beat yourself up. You were the first among us to notice the Vanguard’s attack and respond. Thanks to you, we gained even a little time.”

“Just time. I lay there all day. Damn it, the Vanguard guys were monsters, and the mages behind them were lunatics. That Vice Student Council President? I couldn’t touch a hair on him. How strong is the Student Council President’s kid?”

“It’s obvious there’s a gap in skills. So, are you just going to lie there? You just need to train harder from now on. If it comes to it, I can introduce you to a professor we know…”

Lucian shook his head vigorously.

“Didn’t you get what I said? Look at what Violet did. You all helped, but in the end, it was Violet who smashed the Magnavis guys.

Let me put it bluntly. I’m useless. And soon, all of us will be useless.”

“Stop saying such weird things! We can definitely help Violet.”

“I’m speaking reality. Irene, you could confidently say you’re helpful. Your unique ability, experience, family background, they are all needed by Violet.”

“How about Daphne over there? Her medical knowledge and unique ability are beneficial to Violet. The problem is me and the others.”

Lucian muttered with a gloomy face.

“For example, Granite, what about you? Right now, your strength might be useful, but what happens when Violet starts using great weapons or something else someday?”

“What about Levi over there? Admittedly, your shooting skills are excellent. The firepower of relic weapons goes without saying. But what if Violet gets hold of cannons or other weapons? The same goes for the others.”

“Didn’t everyone notice? Each of those guys is weaker than us one by one, but the sheer numbers exceed a thousand. And they can learn anything. Their shortcomings can be filled with equipment or relics. Before long, we’ll just be fodder.”

Feeling annoyed, Kalia shouted.

“Hey, blue head! If you’re just going to grumble, shut up and leave! Did we say we wouldn’t help Violet? Then we need to find another way to help; do you think whining will solve anything?”

“There’s no solution. I said it before, more than a thousand, more than a thousand. And Violet is gradually increasing even now. Their combat skills are improving, you know?”

“Have you thought about how much they’ll increase in the future? Five thousand, ten thousand, a hundred thousand. The meals we eat and the laundry we do are all things Violet is handling right now. The work we can do will only decrease. Damn it… I…”

“Lucian, calm down.”

Unable to listen to his complaints any longer, Irene spoke up. Lucian glanced around and, ashamed, spoke in a small voice.

“…I’m sorry. I just wanted to do something right…”

Lucian managed to apologize, but the atmosphere had turned so frustrating that the late-night meeting ended.

As one by one they returned to their spots, Kalia, who was left behind sipping her drink, spoke to Daphne.

“…I may have gotten angry, but that guy isn’t completely wrong. Even for me, I’ve received more help than I’ve given to Violet.”

“I wonder if my skills are useful to Violet. If the numbers keep increasing, I’ll just be supporting from the back. But still, you have your healing ability…”

Looking at Kalia, who was turning away, Daphne felt a heavy stone rise in her heart.

‘I have nothing else…’

She self-reprimanded herself. What had she done while hundreds of friends threw themselves into enemy fire to protect them?

Suddenly, she recalled the time she had bickered with Violet while wielding the Brain Spear.

‘I said not to use dangerous weapons, just full of hot air. Who’s supporting from behind anyway?’

Daphne felt a twinge of shame.

As she briefly reflected on old matters, she snapped back to attention at what Violet was saying beside her.

“Daphne, are you low on magical power? Then you can stop!”

“No! I was just thinking for a bit. Shall we continue?”

“Yeah! There are a few more left. Thanks for helping!”

Seeing Violet smile brightly, Daphne resolved.

“Okay, let’s do what I can. And let’s keep training.”

With the help of the cooling system, the Violet Factory operated smoothly while the others focused on training.

Inside a disused factory far from the barracks, the team members engaged in combat against the countless Violets pouring in.

“Charge! Charge!”

“Uwaah!”

Hundreds of Violets rushed in, clashing with the team members.

There were various methods of training. For example, after a 1:1 duel, once a Violet was subdued, the next Violet would immediately enter for a relay match.

On the other hand, there was the wave method, where dozens of Violets charged in from all directions.

“Ugh! I’ve been subdued!”

“Those who lost, go to the back and get treated. Next team, come in!”

Numerous Violets flooded into the building. The team members either fought with all their might or faced us with weakened weapons or non-lethal magic.

The team members could hone their skills, and we could gain experience facing a few powerful enemies, so it was a win-win situation.

“I wish we could do it more like real combat.”

I remembered the day we started training. Back then, I had told my friends that I wouldn’t mind if I died.

That way we could have more realistic training!

Unfortunately, my friends, upon hearing my words, looked like people who had just opened a trash can on a hot summer day.

In the end, the dangerous training with high mortality risk was canceled.

“Fourth squad! Third squad! Flank! Magic is coming down!”

Inside the industrial area, our team members fought in various ways. Lucian was particularly impressive as he relentlessly showered blades and small magic bullets.

He scampered all over the walls and stairs.

It was training, but the way he jumped around felt a bit irritating.

“Damn! Why’s he acting like that today?”

“Shut it!”

After I had praised him for contributing to the making of the memory chip last time, he had been jumping around like a fish in water during every training since then.

They say praise makes whales dance, but this seems a bit excessive.

“Why is there so much to do? Training! Clone production! Memory chip manufacturing!”

“I want to play!”

This is how the Violets spent their day, repeating training, magic storage, and clone stocking.

Of course, we didn’t forget about developing new weapons. The workshop secretly built in the academy city and the one constructed on a desert island were always bustling with activity.

“Ugh, rockets are definitely difficult.”

The technician Violets were steadily making rockets.

The V-1 rockets developed early on were gradually being improved. The failure rate has decreased, production speed has quickened, and the range has slightly increased.

The later-developed V-2 rocket grew a bit larger in size. During the initial phase of production, we still hadn’t figured out how to operate it.

Some opinions had floated around that it might be better to mount it on a car, considering its size.

“This is the limit with our skills. It’d be nice if we could procure missiles made by a proper company…”

“We can’t help it. For now, let’s buy a cannon and use that primarily.”

While the workshop was busy making rockets, other research and development were taking place.

“Lady, is this possible?”

I called Ennis, who was helping Yurik with his work.

When Ennis arrived at the workshop, I showed her a sketch of a short staff that attaches to the bottom of a rifle and a crossbow.

“See? Make a short magic staff that can attach to the rail beneath a gun or a crossbow! We have an unused staff here.”

“So, you want to make a short magic staff?”

“Yes!”

Watching the devoted slave thinker, I recalled the moment I first came up with this idea.

Actually, at first, I had intended to mount a gun on a staff and shoot it.

“They sell weapons that have guns attached to blades. Then what about combining a staff with a gun?”

“That sounds good. We’re super creative!”

I actually wondered what the hunters used and looked it up, and it turned out that equipment shops occasionally sold staffs designed to be mounted with a gun or sword on the end.

Apparently, there were quite a few people with thoughts similar to mine.

That image seemed cool, and until recently, I was checking to see if any good items were available, but after acquiring the technology for producing Vision Memory Chips, I changed my mind.

“We have plenty of weak magic, right? Use it as a substitute for grenade launchers!”

“Firing both a gun and magic! Wouldn’t that be super cool?”

If I attach a staff underneath a gun or crossbow and fire, the response speed would be quicker. It could also catch the enemy off guard.

Curiously, it was hard to find magic staffs or equipment that could be attached beneath guns.

For those who can use magic, it’s common to wield a staff or gauntlet in one hand and a gun or sword in the other.

“So, you can make it?”

“I can. I just need to cut it short and shape it. However, the magic amplification function that the staff had will be greatly reduced.”

“I don’t care!”

She began the work. We watched satisfactorily as she worked.

“Wonderful!”

I heard from Yurik that thanks to her, he could quickly grasp incomprehensible data.

Thanks to that, the speed of interpreting the research we had stolen picked up.

As expected, being a former graduate student, she knows how to utilize graduate students well.

We assessed the situation on-site. The work of the Violets ran smoothly like an oiled machine.

Now, there was almost nothing lacking. We just needed to secure cars and engineers.

“Let’s also buy electric cars. They can avoid Fire Suppression Magic.”

“That, if they get hit with electric magic, they’ll be zapped in one hit. Ah, is that the same for regular cars?”

In this case, we could ask the people from the Kalian Brotherhood.

There are a good number of guys working in car centers or in the used car trading and maintenance industries there.

So while working until evening and planning the next steps, we received an urgent report from Bodyguard Violet.

From the direction and location, it was the hospital where Uncle Kalian was. Could it be…?

“Guys! Urgent news! Uncle Kalian has woken up!”

“Wow! That’s good news. Let’s hurry and tell Kalia. But why is it urgent news?”

Surveillance Violet 256 didn’t reply but shared visuals.

In the late evening, lurking around the hospital were some suspicious groups.

Judging by the atmosphere, it was definitely one of the nearby gangs that had been at odds with the Brotherhood.

“Alert! Enemy!”

I was glad that we had Violet always on guard. We immediately set out to the scene.

“Company, deploy!”