Chapter 32: Mini Water Clone

According to Felix's plan, his department would be the Department of Mechanical Kinetic Energy—precisely the field that Rhine Lab had been lacking.

Of course, Felix's immediate goal wasn't to launch some grand journey of cybernetic ascension, combining flesh and steel to turn all of Terra's people into cyborgs or—worse—canned goods. That was pure fantasy. The current technological tree of Terra wasn't nearly advanced enough for that. And besides, he wasn't about to preach sermons like, "Stay alert and pray, lest you fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."

No, for now, Felix was simply busy modifying his gear.

The reason firearms were so difficult to use had nothing to do with recoil or fire rate. The real issue lay in the nature of Laterano's firearms themselves—they were spellcasting tools. Simply put, the firearm functioned like a magic wand, with bullets serving as the spellcasting medium. The damage they dealt resembled that of launching a fireball.

This directly tied into Originium Arts. In other games, it might be called mana or MP. But here, it was governed by intelligence.

One way to measure Originium skill proficiency was by the time it took to cast a spell—say, how quickly a fireball could be launched after invoking it. The higher the intelligence stat, the faster and more powerful the Originium Art.

Felix had extremely high intelligence stats, but aside from using pistols, he had never really tested his capability with other Originium-based skills.

During character creation, every player chose their own stat distribution—no one would intentionally leave a stat crippled. The Sankta people were naturally gifted in handling Originium Arts tied to firearms. With that foundation, it was entirely possible for them to awaken additional Arts-related abilities. However, Felix wasn't an Infected, and without an Originium staff, trying to cast other Arts recklessly was out of the question.

But that didn't matter. He had nothing to do with the Caster class. His place was in the forge—hammer in hand!

He didn't use Rhine Lab's resources right away. Instead, Felix submitted a proposal to Kristen detailing the equipment and space needed for his studio. After giving it a glance, Kristen waved her hand and said, "Buy it!"

Now, he had an official workshop—a branch base—in Columbia.

As a player who often relied on pistols and enjoyed ranged combat, Felix knew that low HP was his greatest weakness. To compensate, he started modifying his gloves to enhance his agility. If he had less health, he'd just dodge more. Simple.

Now that he had advanced to an apprentice mechanic, he could craft and build far more machinery than before. He began experimenting with using electricity to build mechanical constructs capable of executing basic commands. These creations were far from artificial intelligence; they could only perform simple instructions like moving left, right, or forward. In essence, they functioned similarly to NPC teammates from earlier generations of games.

Through repeated trials in the chip development field, Felix eventually acquired a skill called [Electronic Mechanical Application]. Upon reaching Level 10 in the skill, he began seriously working on building his first robot capable of following simple orders.

Of course, he had the blueprint—an SSR he had drawn during a previous round of gacha: [Mobile Ranger].

The function of this robot was exactly as its name implied: reconnaissance. It moved swiftly, able to traverse uneven terrain with ease. Its greatest strength lay in modular upgrades—on its existing framework, he could install features like stealth capabilities and even flight. Eventually, it could become a stealth-enabled, fully controllable drone.

There were no large-scale wars raging across Terra at this time. All the real battles were bloodless ones, waged silently in power struggles between the top brass of various factions—except for Kazdel.

Across Terra, peace generally prevailed. Only Kazdel remained embroiled in chaos and fire. The players stationed there lived a double-edged existence—gaining experience by killing enemies and destroying outposts, but losing just as much upon death. Given the cannon-fodder status of most players, few survived long on such a brutal battlefield.

It was around this time that the secret behind a player's immortality was on the verge of being discovered.

Felix remained composed. The metal in his hand seemed to come alive as he worked, his expression calm as he looked over the small flying unit resting on the workbench. Among the many available modules, he equipped the Ranger with only the most essential features: flight and basic shooting capabilities.

The shooting mechanism, of course, was powered by Originium Arts. In essence, the Ranger had become his Originium staff. His own skill with Originium-based firearms was now funneled through the Ranger—allowing it to pull the trigger and fire the shot on his behalf. In the realm of Originium Arts, the Ranger had now become his medium.

"Wow, what a beautiful machine! Can I take a look at it?"

The voice came from behind—cheerful, lively—and entirely unexpected. Felix removed his gloves. There was only one person in Rhine Lab who made surprise visits like this: Muelsyse.

Kristen had her own responsibilities. Yara was always buried in documents. Saria alternated between patrol duties and martial arts training. The old goat was so busy that sometimes he didn't even show up for meals. After the welcome ceremony, Rhine Lab's daily rhythm quickly resumed its usual pattern.

And so, Felix adapted to local life and began his path of becoming stronger—one hammer strike at a time.

"Muelsyse, don't you have a job?" Felix asked, adjusting the large display screen on his arm. As the sensation of channeling the gun's power spread through his body, the light from his "staff"—the Mobile Ranger—flared to life, slowly lifting off the workbench.

[Mobile Ranger · Revised]

Quality: Yellow

Attributes: Attack Power 30–42, Durability 750/750

Requirements: Sankta race, Support Class, Intelligence 25

Additional Ability 1 – Flight: Equipped with a flight module. Maximum lift: 15 meters. Current power: 97%. Battery life: 100%.

Additional Ability 2 – Shooting: Equipped with a shooting module. Requires Originium technique mastery. Weapon: D96 Basic MINI Submachine Gun. Basic attack power: 25–37.

"Today's work is done—the paper's written, and the plants are watered," Muelsyse replied with a soft laugh. She practically floated over to the hovering Ranger, eyes sparkling with curiosity. "The structure looks so intricate... Wouldn't this be incredibly useful for the Pioneers?"

"Then I'd need to develop a simpler control system."

Felix tapped the screen on his arm. "Products meant for the Pioneers can't be this complex. The mechanical interface would have to be stripped down so they can operate it easily… and of course, I'd have to remove the shooting function."

Before he could finish speaking, two black muzzles extended from the Ranger's sides and fired a volley toward a target in the corner of the workshop.

The air filled with the sharp, familiar scent of gunpowder. Felix blew away the smoke and glanced over at Muelsyse, who was standing slightly agape.

"Even if the Originium technique exclusive to the Sankta is installed," he said calmly, "the Pioneers won't be able to use it. Selling an invention like this as a product is still far too ambitious."

All major factions were conducting research into drones. While Felix's Patrol model could be considered a solid creation, it wasn't a breakthrough. Still, for the Pioneers, having a drone like this was akin to having a second life—it could help them avoid countless dangers and keep them far from infection zones.

"It's really beautiful..." Muelsyse murmured.

Felix paused, then said thoughtfully, "If you'd like, I can design a water-storage function into one, so you don't have to manually water your plants every day. I know tending them is your way of showing dedication to your work—and to the plants themselves. You're shouldering the legacy of the elves, after all. But humans became humans because they learned to use tools."

"Ah, that's far too extravagant." Muelsyse's eyes twinkled as she laughed. "I'm just a poor, helpless little creature scraping by. My salary could never cover something like that."

Felix picked up a pen and began sketching an engineering design onto a sheet of paper—one Muelsyse couldn't begin to understand. After a short while, he looked up and said simply, "I'll make it for you."

"If you feel guilty, just treat me to a meal. I've had enough of Rhine Lab's canteen food. I need a change of flavor."

Muelsyse raised an eyebrow playfully. "Can I interpret this invitation as a date?"

"Sure," Felix replied without even glancing up.

Muelsyse made a face at him, and her previously graceful figure collapsed with a soft thud, as if all vitality had drained from her. She melted into a puddle of clear water on the floor.

Felix wasn't surprised in the least. Muelsyse's Originium skill was water-based, after all. He simply resumed drawing his blueprint with focused precision, applying his crafting knowledge.

It was strange. Back when he played the game and obtained equipment as a player, he never felt anything—it was just about clicking buttons and watching progress bars fill. But now, actually standing on this land as an NPC, performing those same actions and watching the progress bars rise, he found that he genuinely understood what he was doing.

Maybe it was because this life was now the game itself—no separation between reality and fiction. Or perhaps it was thanks to his innate talent, his sharp mind, his photographic memory...?

Halfway through the drawing, a knock came at the front door. It opened shortly after. Muelsyse pouted as she stepped in, casting a glance at Felix, still absorbed in his work at the bench.

"Didn't you say your work was done?"

Felix paused, a little reluctant to leave his work half-finished. The thought of stopping midway through a progress bar left him uncomfortable. But it would be rude to turn her down now—especially when a beauty had made plans.

He changed out of his work clothes and casually pulled on a Rhine Lab lab coat. Then he noticed Muelsyse's outfit... and realized it would be inappropriate to go out still dressed in official uniform.

Muelsyse had clearly made an effort—at the very least, her dress wasn't the standard attire of Rhine Lab.

Felix thought for a moment and said, "Give me five minutes," before heading into the locker room.

Muelsyse chuckled softly, amused by his attentiveness.

When Felix emerged in casual clothes, he found Muelsyse examining the Dawn secured in its holster. He took a few steps toward her.

"Want to give it a try?" he offered.

"Ah, no thanks. My Originium skill doesn't require anything like that," Muelsyse declined with a gentle shake of her head. Then, glancing at Felix's new outfit, she was slightly taken aback by how youthful he looked.

Felix was tall—about 180 centimeters—making him even taller than Saria, the tallest person in Rhine Lab. When he wore work clothes or research uniforms, it was difficult to guess his age. He looked like an adult in his twenties. But now, dressed in casual clothes, the youthful energy he gave off unsettled Muelsyse slightly. She suddenly wondered if she might get arrested by the Colombian police just for ordering drinks with him.

"Felix, how old are you?"

"Elves have long lifespans, and their appearances hardly change with age," Felix replied. He remembered—it was Muelsyse who told him she was an elf. "Sankta, by comparison, only live up to around 300 years. But most don't stay active past a hundred. Once their mission is complete, they return to the Sea of Heaven."

Seeing Muelsyse silently sulking, Felix stretched lazily and added, "Seventeen. But in Laterano, seventeen is already considered an adult."

"Really? You're only seventeen?" Muelsyse blinked at him, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Call me sister."

"Shouldn't it be auntie?"

Muelsyse's cute expression instantly darkened, and she grumbled under her breath, "Ugh… I'm just a poor, helpless little elf aunt…"

Felix gave her a light smile and offered an apology. "I'll treat you to dinner tonight, as compensation for the verbal damage."

"This is a rare chance. Are you sure you want to give it up?"

Felix blinked at her in confusion. Then Muelsyse remembered—this young man wasn't just a researcher at Rhine Lab. He was also a shareholder.

Realizing this, she placed her hands on her hips and puffed out her cheeks in mock annoyance. "Fine. I'll pick the place."

"Please do."

In the end, Muelsyse brought Felix to a modest little restaurant. According to her, the ingredients were healthy, the kitchen clean, and the prices affordable. Students from several nearby universities frequented the place, especially on weekends.

Before he realized it, two months had passed, and it was already March, 1088 on Terra. He needed to move faster—because the annual knight competition was just around the corner.

"I might have to go on a field mission soon."

"Huh? Where to? What for?" Muelsyse asked, a straw between her lips bobbing up and down as she spoke.

Felix gave a mock snort. "What, does a shareholder like me need to report my whereabouts to you?"

"Then I'll go cry to Saria and tell her that Felix bullied me… even made my water dirty," Muelsyse said, feigning tears. Her beautiful eyes shimmered with moisture, looking as if tears might spill at any moment. The water-based Originium Arts really did come in handy.

Felix cleared his throat lightly. "Don't bring up Saria. Everything else is negotiable."

"I want to return to Kazimierz once," he added after a pause, "and also visit Kazdel."

"Kazdel? There's a war going on there…" Muelsyse said quietly. "You're a Sankta—you need to be careful."

She didn't try to stop him. Instead, she chose silent support. Though she clearly understood how dangerous such a field mission would be, Muelsyse only pressed her lips together and said nothing more.

"You better come back soon," she said. "If the breadwinner of Rhine Lab runs off, we'll all be in trouble."

Felix glanced at the teardrop mole at the corner of her eye, a faint smile forming on his lips. He nodded.

"Before I leave, I'll build you another Ranger."

"…I'll definitely treasure the gift you gave me."