piu~piu~piu~
A string of muffled-fart-like noises suddenly burst from within the pouring Black Rain.
In an instant, flames linked end to end like a game of idiom chaining with "do whatever one pleases," defying gravity as they tore through the rain curtain and shot skyward—then, with the Black Rain pouring down, descended from above!
Just like that, they lightly crossed the labyrinth woven from countless traps and illusory mists.
And struck the recently renovated Observation Station head-on!
One furious firework exploded, then another, then another, then yet another... Terrifying, earth-shaking tremors spread outward, and cracks appeared across the enormous workshop amid the violent shaking.
Dust sifted down.
Sprinkling over the dumbfounded face before the Water Mirror.
Helmut remained frozen, eyes wide as he leaned closer in utter disbelief.
What the hell? What happened? What the fuck are you doing?!
Are you even an Artisan?
You actually brought out a Rocket Launcher, such a humiliating phlogiston weapon?!
It was like a young hero from a prestigious clan arranging a duel atop the Forbidden City Summit. You stood at the highest point in the world, drew your sword, ready to demonstrate what it meant for a sword to come from the west, a celestial being to descend from beyond the heavens—only to find your opponent piloting an Airship straight at you...
No martial virtue, resorting to deception and a sneak attack—fine, whatever. But couldn't you at least show a little dignity as an Artisan?!
Even though every Artisan had relied on guns to some extent during their apprenticeship, aside from the small minority who also studied engineering or related fields, the overwhelming majority would not continue down that path.
It was not merely because they looked down on products mass-produced on assembly lines. It was also because conventional weapons propelled by phlogiston