I reloaded with a full load, and shouldered again. Reloading took 44 seconds roughly. I would shorten this with practice and optimization.

  I fired again. The kick was larger, and a cloud of bluish smoke puffed out, along with a crack. Another center hit.

  I examined the gun, looking for damage of any kind. There was nothing, the reinforcements held. I laughed audibly.

  "It works! The test is successful! No damage detected! It works! Haha!" I say.

  The brothers give a cheer, and I walk over. "Anyone want a go?"

  "Dorik nods. "Ay, I'll give it a whirl, looks fun! Now, run me through it."

  I give him instructions on how to use the rifle. Slowly, he loads, cocks, and fires. It hits. He takes a step back from the strong recoil. He smiles widely.

  "Brothers and friends, with this, we will be rich!" He turns to me. "Keri, you've proven yourself. Come with us, you and we, we will be as close as kin. But first, we test this rigorously. Can't undersell now, can we?" He laughs, we follow along.

  We leave to a bar after we order some workers to test it. We celebrate through the night. Eventually, we head to our respective houses. I sit to process.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  It was a massive success. I had grown closer to the brothers, giving backing. We would inevitably sell this to the government, making us rich. This was good.

  Soon it was morning, and I went off to work. I went early to class, and sat in the back. This week's class was magical in nature, and I had the books already.

  Soon, it was the end of the day, and I prepared for my night of crafting. Some of the less complex machines had been made, and I was snowballing now. Soon I would have a new body.

  But, as I exited the class, the professor called out. "Keri, your requested in the Headmistresses office." He said. I nodded and left. When I arrived, Professor Leria, and professor Cherkok. They were seated, and I quickly joined them.

  "Good, now that you are all here, I am informing you of the yearly expedition to the woods. You two know this already, having participated, but Keri, every year, early in the year, we begin monthly expeditions to the forest." Serolith said.

  "Oh, why? Is it for physical health? Navigation training?" I ask.

  "Yes, but that's not it. While the monsters are lesser threats, they do need to be culled every so often. OH! On second thought you might not know..." She sighs.

  "Ok, so, if lest alone long enough, areas of sufficient mana density will spawn monsters. The forest to the south is one such area. We, along with the city guard, use this area to train new students and recruits respectively in a relatively safe and controlled environment." She says.

  I nod. It made sense. But... "Headmistress, I have no weapons. I know Professor Leria uses a rapier, but what of Cherkok?" I ask.

  "For one, Cherkok is a mage. He served in the army once upon a time. Second, if you can not get a weapon in 2 weeks, we will give you a steel weapon of choice." She says.

  "Anything else?" She looks around at the other 2. They shake their heads. "Ok then. That is all, good evening." She says, then we leave.

  Well, that puts me in a deadline...