Ascendance of a Bookworm

No matter how you look at it, a water gun isn’t a weapon. A toy that just squirts water with a “pishu pishu” sound can never be a real weapon.

…What I need is a weapon to protect myself!

“Lady Rosemine, what is that you’re holding? Is it a weapon?”

The first to react to Hannelore’s voice, who was looking at the water gun clutched in my hand, was Rufen. He came over at an almost suspiciously fast pace, as if he’d been eavesdropping the whole time, and stopped to stare at the water gun in my hand.

“Lady Rosemine’s new weapon!?”

“No, it’s not! It’s nothing that grand. It’s just a child’s toy.”

“No, no, you say it’s a child’s toy, but actually it’s an incredible weapon… I’d love to see its power tested.”

Rufen’s loud voice drew attention from those around us. Please, give me a break. I could feel the painful gazes as if they were silently asking, “What is she planning now?”

…There are so many people looking at me like I’m carrying something dangerous besides an amulet! But it’s not dangerous! It’s just a toy!

The whispered conversations exchanged in low voices were probably not favorable. Since I had already passed the transformation test on the stave, I just wanted to escape quietly and hide in the library.

“Now, Lady Rosemine. Aim at that enemy!”

Before I knew it, Rufen pointed at several objects wrapped tightly in cloth. Those were probably the real targets for testing the transformed weapon’s performance. I could see a boy who looked like a knight apprentice swinging a sword at them.

…Of all people, I have to stand next to that sharp, cool, and strong-looking boy and shoot a water gun with a “pyu pyu” sound? That’s so uncool!

The image of my ridiculous self popped into my head, and I couldn’t help but shake my head.

“I told you, it’s just a toy. It’s not something that can be used as a weapon.”

“So you mean to secretly keep this new weapon hidden? As expected of Lord Ferdinand’s beloved disciple.”

“I simply don’t see the need to show it off, but I have no intention of hiding it.”

“Then, I definitely want to see it.”

Rufen’s eyes gleamed as he clenched his fist. From the look on his face, it was obvious he had wildly high expectations for the water gun.

At this point, I had no choice but to show it—how useless the water gun is as a weapon.

…I’ll make that hopeful face fall into disappointment!

With students watching from a distance, I stood before the cloth-wrapped test targets. A hush fell over the crowd, so quiet you could hear a gulp. I could feel their piercing gazes directed at me—no, at the water gun in my hand.

“Then, here I go.”

I aimed the water gun at the cloth-wrapped target. My stance was perfect. Then, I gently put my finger on the small trigger and pulled firmly.

Pishu pishu!

The water shot out with force but just barely missed the target, splashing noisily onto the floor. At the same moment, the water glowed faintly and disappeared. Though it was a water gun, what was inside wasn’t water but my mana. It vanished so quickly that it was a surprisingly neat water gun — no cleaning needed.

“...Huh?”

“Huh? Eh?”

I was impressed with my water gun, but the faces around me were all blank with disbelief. Rufen shook his head as if he couldn’t understand what just happened.

“Um, Lady Rosemine, what exactly is this...? It doesn’t look like something usable as a weapon...”

“I told you, it’s a child’s toy.”

“...If I may ask, what’s the purpose of using it then?”

“Well, I suppose it’s just to surprise people a little.”

“I see. That was certainly surprising.”

Rufen’s shoulders slumped in disappointment. Watching him sink into a sea of despair, I thought maybe now Ditter won’t invite me anymore. I then deactivated the stave’s transformation.

“Ryuken.”

Once the water gun disappeared from my hand, those watching lost interest and resumed their own training.

Relieved to have the eyes dispersed, I returned to where Hannelore was waiting. She looked pale and troubled.