Who even uses Laser Guns anymore? [Part 2]

My name is Yegr. I'm a senior officer in the police force in Megacity Nom, in the region of Uud. I was born and raised here, in this megacity, and for most of my life, I've worked in the force peacefully. When I was 5 years old, my mother died of an unknown disease. Or should I say, a disease that was known by the doctors who then chose not to treat my mother because we couldn't afford the treatment. I think my father was unemployed at that time. I was put into a public school free of cost, and the education level there was comparable only to the worst. Still, I saw the children around me who came from the same backgrounds and economic class as mine, and I didn't want to end up like them. My father always used to say to me,

"Son, if you really don't want to regret life, just do your best in whatever thing you do."

He didn't give me much more than that, but I knew I had to work my way out of the 5th floor. If only my father had done his best when the time had required, I wouldn't have lost my mother so easily. So I did my best. I struggled at first without really knowing how to study and even flunked a few classes. Most of my classmates dropped out of that hellhole of a school by 5th grade, but I kept going. Even if I wouldn't always understand something or fail my homework, I would chase after people who could teach me even a little.

Then one day, I graduated from high school. More than joy, I felt relieved. However, that relief soon came to an end when my father told me to find work. He was tired and wanted to retire. I could not continue studying. Then that began the saddest day of my life. I wanted to become an executive who would ascend to the highest floor of Nom. No, I would ascend to the highest floor of the biggest Megacity on Earth, Rak. That is what I felt. And what hurt me the most was that I could not regret a single thing. I really had done my best, and still, fate decided to let me off with just a high school degree.

Life became less colorful, as I had been yanked back into reality and my dreams faded into the back of my mind. It seemed as if I forcefully made my mind forget who I was, until I met Noelle. Noelle and I were co-workers in the school I had graduated from and worked as lab assistants in the department of magicode. Both of us received minimum wage, and our only job on the papers was to demonstrate basic magicode to the students. However, most of the time, the school didn't even bother sending the students to the lab, and we both would doze out through the day. One day Noelle said something to me that became the turning point of my life.

"Sensei, you have quite a talent for magicode usage. Why waste it here when you can use your talents for better opportunities?"

"Noelle. I don't think I'm that impressive at magicode. Besides, I don't have a license yet. I'll get it one of these days."

I had shaken off the prospect of getting a magicode license, something I used to look forward to when I was a kid. Why did I not get it yet, after 5 years had already passed since I was eligible to give my MMAT's (Magicode and Mana Adaptability Test)?

"Maybe I've been punishing myself this whole time, as defiance towards fate!"

Eventually, I got my passport for the 30th floor and went to the MMAT center. In the end, I was qualified as L1 with possible potential for L2.

People who can use magicode are distributed into 4 categories.

L1 (Beginners) are complete beginners who can manage basic magicode spells.

L2 (Journeyman) are adept at using secondary magicode with comfort.

L3 (Masters) are able to use advanced magicode, and sometimes even alter magicode for personalized usage.

Finally, L4 (Radioactives) are able to create new magicode, make existing ones stronger and far surpass multiple L3's in battle. These are the people who are hired by the government for bureaucracy in times of peace, and as warriors in times of war.

However, there is a 5th level, which is rumored to exist. It is not recognized or adopted by the government, but the people have given it a name. L5 (Invisibles) are those with complete control of the very essence of magicode. They are so skilled that no one knows who they are and it is said that there have only been a handful of Invisibles ever and that they govern the law of nature and secretly help society prosper.

After getting my L1 license, I was offered a job in the police force which I accepted and returned back to the 5th floor to pay my last visit to my friends until we would meet next time. I also went to visit Noelle's house with flowers, some sweets and a thank you note. However, when I rung her up, her father answered the door.

"Noelle was kidnapped by unidentified men when she was on the way back from school."

For a few seconds, I just stood there, my mind blank and the floor under my feet disappearing. It felt that I was falling into a void, but then I quickly jerked my head out of it. I knew there were two ways to approach the problem. Either I could set off all alone and begin blindly looking for Noelle, and go against the Kidnapping mafia. Or I could go back to the 30th floor, and report to the police department.

"Don't you worry, Sir? I'll bring back Noelle in no time at all!"

I raced back to my department and informed the higher-ups. At first, I expected everyone to rush to action and begin an operation. To my surprise, everyone made fun of me. Some of the older guys even told me to stop being a hero to show off to my girl. A few days passed by and I didn't get any answer from the higher-ups. Reality had set in that the world was as cruel on any floor of Nom and human nature was cold and heartless regardless of place and time. So I set off alone, in search of her. Till today, she is missing. It has now been 10 years since that incident, and I have not once faced her now old and frail father. It has been 10 years since I went to see him. How can I?

And consequently, it has been 10 years since I got an erection. My little one has been unresponsive since that incident.

However, that time I went inside that warehouse on the 27th floor. It's strange. I had just entered the warehouse, and suddenly, for some weird reason, my mind became eased. A warm sensation flushed inside my old body, and for the very first time in 10 years, my little one arose! I haven't said it to anyone yet, but I don't think it was by accident. I do not know what my partner had seen going inside the warehouse, but whatever devil was the reason for my little one's revival, I want to find him again, and get cured once and for all!