Vol 7. Chapter 61: Crimson-Gold Gauntlet

A few days later, outside the Imperial Capital.

Rebecca helped Muse onto the six-winged dragon-eagle, then pulled Leon aside.

“What is it, Rebecca? Why the secrecy?” Leon asked, puzzled.

Rebecca recounted the strange damage she’d found on the shooting range wall a few days prior and handed Leon several photos she had taken at the scene.

After hearing her description and reviewing the photos, Leon couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

“That’s... definitely a bizarre form of attack. Among all known types of elemental magic, there shouldn’t be any that could cause damage like this, right?”

Rebecca nodded. “I’ve checked too. Nothing matches.”

Leon put the photos away, then shared Hera’s hypothesis with Rebecca.

When she finished listening, Rebecca looked slightly taken aback.

“A special type of power that doesn’t belong to the five base elements...? In that case, Hera’s theory might really be spot-on.”

“Yeah. The only thing is, we still don’t know how this special power actually works.”

As he spoke, Leon turned to look at Muse, who was now playing with Little Brother Hawk on the dragon-eagle’s back, giggling.

He pulled his gaze back and said in a serious tone:

“From the looks of it, whatever this anomalous element is, she’s not truly without magical attribute. That’s good news.”

“Right. So what’s your plan now, Captain?”

Leon thought for a moment before replying.

“First, I’ll figure out how exactly this power works. Then, I’ll help her fully master it.”

“Sounds good.”

Rebecca paused, then added:

“By the way, I gave her the custom weapon I had made. She’s already learned the basics over the past few days. Make sure she keeps up with practice once she’s back home.”

“A custom weapon, huh...” Leon smiled faintly. “Thanks, Rebecca.”

Rebecca waved her hand dismissively.

“Come on, no need to thank me. As long as little Muse regains her confidence, that’s all that matters.”

"You're one of those 'uncles' who spoil the kid rotten, but still spoil her the right ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) way,” Leon joked.

He gave a final nod.

“Well, we’ll be off now.”

“OK. Safe travels.”

Leon waved and jumped onto the six-winged dragon-eagle.

The eagle spread its wings and slowly took to the sky.

Muse waved cheerfully from the creature’s back.

“Bye-bye, Rebecca! See you next time!”

Rebecca waved back, watching her fade into the distance, and shouted:

“Goodbye, little one! Come visit again during the next break!”

“Got it, Auntie!”

They left the Empire behind, with hours of travel still ahead before reaching home.

Muse had woken up early that morning, and not long after they left the city, she fell asleep curled up in Leon’s arms.

When she finally stirred awake, her head still a bit fuzzy, the scent of grilled fish had completely taken over her nose.

Muse sleepily sat up and followed the delicious smell with her eyes.

Papa was grilling fish.

Little Brother Hawk lay obediently nearby, waiting for a bite.

“It’s ready. Here—start with this skewer, fill your belly a bit. We still have to keep going later this afternoon.”

“Eat up.”

Seeing the food, Little Brother Hawk flapped his wings in delight. He caught two grilled fish tossed by Leon and began munching happily.

“Papa... where are we now?”

Muse blinked and sat beside Leon.

“Oh, you’re awake.”

Leon handed her a grilled fish and answered:

“We’ll be entering dragon territory soon. We’re almost home.”

“Yay~”

Muse nibbled at her fish. Leon had prepared plenty—more than enough for the journey.

The firewood crackled loudly in the flames. After Muse was full and content, Leon asked:

“By the way, Muse, Rebecca said she gave you a custom-made weapon. What kind is it?”

“Oh, I’ll show you, Papa.”

“Alright.”

Muse stood up, pulled the weapon out of her backpack, then ran back and sat beside Leon, carefully handing it over with both hands.

Leon took it in his hands.

“...A pair of... gloves?”

“Specifically, a pair of finger gloves.”

The gloves were primarily crimson in color. Each glove had three gold-threaded seams running from the pinky to the index finger, all converging into the center of the palm.

The golden threads clearly weren’t just decorative—they seemed to be some sort of control mechanism.

Each glove also had three small cylindrical launchers on the back of the hand.

“Mhm. Auntie Rebecca said the name of this weapon is Crimson-Gold Gauntlet. It’s a type of long-range shooting weapon.”

As she spoke, Muse slid the gloves onto her hands. She raised her right arm, formed a loose fist, bent her middle finger slightly, and hooked it around one of the gold threads.

She aimed at a nearby shrub and channeled her mana.

With a soft “shoop,” a fine magic needle shot from the gauntlet and pierced through the bush.

A clean hole ripped through the leaves.

At the spot where the golden thread connected, the entry point was clearly visible—even the stone behind the bush showed faint damage.

Leon’s eyes lit up.

“Whoa, that’s amazing! What a convenient firing mechanism.”

“Mhm! It really is convenient. As long as I channel mana into both hands, the gauntlets absorb it and redirect it into the launchers on the back of the hands to create magic needles.”

Muse explained while adjusting the golden thread with her pinky. She fired another needle.

This one also pierced through the bush, but the hole it left behind was slightly smaller than the first.

However, on the stone behind it—the dent left was even deeper.

“And depending on which thread you press, you can adjust the needle’s power and penetration. It’s kind of like playing a harp—it’s super fun~”

“‘Fun,’ huh...”

Leon smiled with a slight furrow of the brow. Clearly, Muse still didn’t grasp the full concept of what a weapon really was.

But he didn’t start lecturing her.

Because he could tell—Muse genuinely loved this weapon.

Not just because it was a gift from Rebecca.

Not just because it enhanced her marksmanship.

But because, in part, it could be played like a musical instrument.

When Rebecca designed this weapon, she had clearly taken into account Muse’s love and talent for music.

So Leon wouldn’t rush in and say things like “Weapons are dangerous,” or “Kids shouldn’t play with these.”

Instead, like when he used to guide Noa, he’d patiently help his daughter grow.

“Then make sure you take good care of it, alright?” Leon gently ruffled her hair.

Muse nodded seriously. “I will, Papa.”

She carefully removed the Crimson-Gold Gauntlet, stowed it back in her bag, and resumed munching her fish.

Leon stood up and walked slowly behind the shrub, checking the damage Muse had caused.

“Entry point looks normal. Clear trace.”

With that kind of weapon, penetration power wasn’t unusual.

He stroked his chin, frowning slightly, then turned his eyes to the stone behind the bush.

“The mark on the rock looks normal too... according to Muse, adjusting the gold threads changes the strength of the needle.”

“But it doesn’t seem to match the bizarre damage Rebecca was talking about...”

“Hm... what’s going on...”

As he spoke, Leon reached out to touch the stone—to see if there was any additional damage behind it.

But the instant his fingers touched the rock... Without warning...

The entire stone crumbled into powder.

Leon froze in shock, staring wide-eyed at the pile of dust now at his feet.

He muttered to himself.

“This... was caused by Muse?”