"...So? How did things end up like this? Suppose you give me the full story, nice and clear?"
"Y-Yes..."
"We’re truly sorry..."
A short while later, having finished dealing out their punishment, Yugo and his companions returned to the Fifth Dormitory. They immediately began their interrogation of the culprits, who were now kneeling in a formal seiza before them.
Yugo had deactivated his Blaster, but even in his normal state, he was an intimidating figure. Crouching like a street thug and glaring at them from inches away, his fierce features alone were enough to strike terror into their hearts.
Cowering under the sheer pressure radiating from Yugo and his allies, Avad and the others—battered and bruised after their one-sided defeat—began to explain the sequence of events.
"The truth is, um... the one who has your Blaster right now, Yugo-san, is the head of this dormitory. A third-year named Jima... This whole plan was his idea."
"Jima? Who’s that?"
"Ah, I believe he’s a senior in the third year," Presia chimed in. "I’ve overheard the teachers whispering rumors that his behavior is a... little bit problematic."
"When President Presia says 'a little bit' regarding anything other than cooking, she means 'a total nightmare,'" Marcos added. "In other words, he’s a massive problem child."
"I see. So, this delinquent upperclassman named Jima runs this dorm, and you lot were forced into this because you couldn't defy him?"
At Yugo’s question, Avad and the rest of the Fifth Dormitory Group nodded vigorously.
Suspecting that a fair amount of self-preservation was mixed into their claims, Yugo watched them with a doubtful eye. Sensing his skepticism, Avad spoke up desperately.
"W-We really were against it! No matter how infamous you are, we knew stealing a Magic Item would be a huge problem! We told him we should stop, but Jima-san wouldn't listen at all. He even punched the guys who tried to object. That's why—"
"...Fine. I’ll choose to believe you for now. But tell me, why did this Jima guy want my Blaster stolen in the first place?"
Yugo didn't think they were entirely blameless, but they clearly understood they had crossed a line. Considering they were under orders from a senior they couldn't refuse, the thrashing they had already received was likely punishment enough.
What interested him more was Jima's motive. Why had he orchestrated the theft? And why had he kept the item for himself?
If he simply wanted to put a junior in his place, Jima should have fought Yugo personally instead of sending his pawns. That would have been the proper way to demonstrate his authority as a senior and the dormitory leader.
Darom was the one who provided the explanation.
"Jima-san believed the only reason you’ve been so successful after losing your Sacred Sword was because of that new Magic Item, the Blaster. He said there was no way anyone could be that active with an old-model Magic Item. He was convinced it was actually some incredible, custom-made treasure disguised as a normal Blaster... He claimed that with that thing in his hands, anyone could become the strongest."
"Well, his logic is at least half-right," said Anhel, the one responsible for the suit’s maintenance. "It’s true that I’ve tuned that Blaster specifically for Yugo, and I’ve added special functions like weapon generation and shape transformation. However, thinking anyone can become the strongest just by wearing it is a massive mistake. That thing isn't some simple toy."
As Anhel explained, the Blaster was a Magic Item that could only be mastered by someone like Yugo, who possessed the necessary aptitude and had undergone rigorous training.
In fact, it hadn't even overcome the fundamental weakness of all armor-type Magic Items—weight. Because of the Micro-particle Metal added to facilitate the Purple Armor, weapon generation, and the Limb Shape Transformation Function, Yugo’s Blaster was significantly heavier than a standard model.
If someone were to equip it without the proper preparation, far from becoming the 'strongest,' they would struggle to even move. They would effectively be the weakest man alive.
"I realized just how wrong he was during our fight," Darom muttered. "Even though we forced you to use a fake and started the battle with a surprise attack, you turned the tables and knocked us out in an instant. You were stronger than we ever imagined... No, your strength was beyond anything we could have conceived."
"Or perhaps," Misery interjected bluntly, "your own weakness is simply beyond imagination?"
"Now, now, stop kicking him while he’s down, Misery," Marcos said with theatrical pity. "His pride is surely in tatters. Any more and it ceases to be 'unfortunate' and reaches a point where I'd be at a loss for words."
As Darom collapsed with a groan, his heart gouged by the exchange, Yugo addressed the Fifth Dormitory members who remained kneeling on the floor.
"Alright, I’ve got the gist of it. But before I decide what to do with you lot, I need my gear back. Where is this Jima guy?"
Retrieving the Blaster was the top priority. To do that, he needed to pinpoint Jima's location.
Just as Avad and the others opened their mouths to answer, the dormitory door swung open, and an unexpected figure appeared.