The Strongest Gun Magus: I Cast Bullet!-Chapter 36: The Time Is Out

Upon hearing this tirade, Reynard could only sigh.

"I knew! I knew this day would come. Why is there never enough time to do things? Maybe I should just ditch the school today..."

"Mister Artemy, really? The Magister won’t be happy with it... Especially now." Terence glanced left and right, then approached Reynard and whispered, "Did you really do all this... kissy-kissy stuff with the other woman?"

"Not you too, kid! Can you imagine how many times people will tell me about this when I go back to the school? I don’t need that crap from you, too."

Chastized, Terence lowered his head.

"Tell anybody who asks that I will return tomorrow morning, in time for lessons," Reynard added. "I have something else to do in the meantime."

"I’m not your errand boy, Mister Artemy," grumbled Terence, but nodded. "Have a good evening."

"You too, kid," said Reynard, smirking cheerfully at him, then went to his rooms.

But not to sleep.

Now that he was on a deadline, he couldn’t afford any!

’As soon as I come back to the school, someone will call me to a duel. I am sure. Even if I don’t consider whoever Markus will pay to, so many people will be eager to get inro Marien’s good graces by avenging her! I must have something to slap their faces well and good with, or they will think they all stand a chance, and I will have no rest.’

Reynard rummaged in the bags of various supplies he had stashed in his room until he found a vial with a life-strengthening potion.

He immediately drank a large gulp and felt vigor spread through his body. These potions were best used to bolster immunity and regeneration of a person, but they also worked as stimulants.

Reynard felt ready to train for several more hours.

’I must train to cast the Spirit Armor faster! Faster than my opponent will cast his first spell, because I won’t be able to start a duel with the armor already on!’

***

In the morning, Reynard joined a small stream of students who were living outside the school’s grounds, and were now coming in for the lessons. He was wearing a black robe again, hiding his aura, and looking as sleepy as most other students who had to get up before sunrise.

At first, nobody even blinked an eye at Reynard. But then...

"That’s him!"

"The cheater..."

"The scoundrel!"

Reynard ignored the whispers behind his back as he went with the other people from his class toward the training ground. He only cared for people’s opinions if they were pretty girls. Even then, only Marien’s opinion actually affected his life and death.

That is, until...

"Stop right there! I challenge you to a duel for Marien’s honor, Reynard! We will bet our Athanors on this!"

Reynard stopped.

A semi-familiar student in a white robe with one blue square was blocking the path of Reynard and several of his classmates. He was only a few years older than Reynard, short-haired, and with the most self-possessed face Reynard had ever seen.

’What’s wrong with his jaw? Is he... He’s jutting it out on purpose! And almost makes duck-lips! Ugh, what a moron. What was his name?.. Orlan? Moron-lan, more like. Right, he’s still in an Albedo class and didn’t move up to be an instructor.’

"And what if I refuse, Orlan? I’m a stage lower than you, this is just unfair!" Reynard lied smoothly.

"So you remember my name. Good! Well, if you want to keep at least a shred of honor, you’d better agree to my challenge. And I know full well that you are a cheater in a battle, too. It’s only fair that I’m stronger than you, so our powers are equal! Also, if you don’t accept my challenge, I won’t let you go to your lessons. The school will just expel you then, which is the least of what you deserve!"

Reynard nodded thoughtfully.

"I see. Basic extortion. You know, the only thing that’s smaller than your penis is your brain, Orlan. I agree to the duel! In three days, after lunch."

"My—I will boil your tongue, fatherless fart!" Orlan spat back. "In three days!"

Reynard smirked, hiding his relief.

’I got him angry enough that he didn’t think to push the date sooner. And now that I have one duel, people won’t ask me for another. Plus, I still have three days to prepare...’

***

As soon as teacher Serge stepped onto the training grounds to meet the class of awaiting students, his eyes fell on Reynard, and he frowned. Then, a look of shock went over his face.

Reynard sighed. Of course, he couldn’t hide his refinement anymore.

"Reynard Artemy! Stop hiding your aura. Why didn’t you notify the school that you have advanced?" Serge glared. "You were slacking off, weren’t you? Blue Bismuth School exists for learning, not so you could eat through the stipend it gives!"

Other students gasped, realizing what was happening. Some whispered how Reynard could rise so fast and so quickly... Others just wondered what Orlan’s chances would be NOW.

’Don’t lie to me, teacher, this stipend is really just my salary for working in the school’s fields! It racks a tidy profit selling all the stuff students make for it, I’m sure!’ Reynard thought.

Outwardly, he just shrugged.

Serge glared further, then sighed.

"Well, congratulations. I suppose you can practice with my class until you are given your new schedule and a white robe. Go somewhere away from the others, though. The miscasts of Albedo spells are more powerful than those of Nigredo ones, just like the spells themselves."

Reynard bowed gratefully.

"Thank you, Teacher Serge!"

As soon as the teacher turned away, Reynard pumped his fist.

’Yessss! More time to practice that Spirit Armor!’

He made another gulp from a flask of life-strengthening potion in one of his many pockets, then started practicing again.

Reynard could cast Spirit Armor in two seconds if he really pushed himself... And got it wrong half the time.

Too slow!

It took half of this time for an average attack spell.

A quarter of it to aim and shoot a gun!

’I must do it faster!’

Time was ticking.