The weapon rested neatly within a foam-lined interior.
Its body was matte ivory, with faint silver engravings running along the slide. The grip looked custom-molded, and subtle lines along the barrel hinted at some form of enchantment.
Even Ezekiel could immediately tell that it wasn't an ordinary firearm.
Lysa placed her hands proudly on her hips.
"Beautiful, right?"
Viola stepped closer and examined it carefully.
Her eyes sharpened slightly.
She picked up the pistol and tested its weight in her hand.
It fit perfectly.
As if it had been made specifically for her.
Ezekiel leaned slightly closer.
"A pistol?"
Lysa nodded proudly.
"Not just any pistol. This one's custom-built for Vivi."
She tapped the side of the weapon.
"It's made from minerals mined inside dungeons. The metal, the gunpowder, everything comes from dungeon materials."
She grinned proudly.
"That means the impact is nearly ten times stronger than a normal gun. I also used the finest and lightest materials so Vivi can handle it easily."
Viola glanced at her.
"You didn't need to go that far."
"Of course I did."
Lysa leaned forward across the counter.
"You're going into a dungeon, aren't you?"
Viola didn't answer.
She didn't need to.
Lysa could already see the answer in her eyes.
Her playful expression softened slightly.
"So it's true."
She folded her arms.
"A hidden dungeon?"
Her gaze shifted between the two of them.
"You two planning to clear it alone?"
"Something like that," Viola replied.
Lysa rubbed the back of her neck.
"You know those things are unpredictable, right? High-level dungeons are basically walking disasters."
Her eyes drifted toward Ezekiel again.
"…Though judging by the atmosphere around this guy, maybe disaster isn't the right word."
Ezekiel remained silent.
Lysa narrowed her eyes slightly as she studied him more carefully.
"Seriously though," she said, pointing at him. "Who are you?"
Viola answered simply.
"He's someone I trust."
That response surprised Lysa more than anything else.
For a moment, she stared at Viola in disbelief.
Then she slowly looked back at Ezekiel.
"…Wow."
"Well, now I'm even more curious."
After a moment, she sighed.
"But I guess it's not my place to pry."
She waved her hand.
"Good luck with the raid."
"We will," Viola replied.
The two of them soon left the shop.
---
Back inside their vehicle, they began heading toward the location where the hidden dungeon would appear.
Viola spoke first.
"That girl's name is Lysa. We met a few days ago when I came here to arrange the documents for your fake identity."
"Just a few days ago?" Ezekiel asked.
"You two didn't look like people who only met recently."
Viola hesitated slightly.
"Well… how should I say this…"
"She recognized me and approached me first. She said she was a fan and introduced me to her family business."
"That's when I customized the gun."
Another lie.
In truth, Viola had approached Lysa first.
Lysa's real name was Alyssa Reincroft.
In the future, before the world fell into chaos, her research into modifying firearms using dungeon materials would become widely known.
But before those weapons could be mass-produced for civilians to defend themselves against monsters, society collapsed.
And she died during the monster outbreaks.
Viola had known her before that happened.
She had been one of the few fortunate people who met Alyssa while she was still developing these weapons.
Viola still remembered their first meeting.
It had been backstage after one of her concerts.
A girl had suddenly rushed toward her.
"Viola! Viola! Viola! Please, just one picture! And can you sign this limited album? I bought it with my entire research budget!"
She screamed excitedly as the guards dragged her away.
Viola had stopped them.
She allowed the girl to stay and even signed the album.
While signing it, Viola asked,
"So you're a researcher?"
The girl shook her head quickly.
"No! Not exactly. I'm a craftsman."
"A craftsman?"
"Yes! My family has been craftsmen for generations. And right now I'm studying something for the new age."
"What kind of research?"
The girl's eyes shone brightly.
"Firearms that can kill monsters."
Viola's eyes widened.
"What did you say?"
"Regular guns can't hurt those beasts," the girl explained. "Bombs can, but they're too destructive. So I'm researching modern weapons made from dungeon resources."
Viola leaned closer.
"Tell me more."
Her voice had grown unusually intense.
"Tell me everything."
She had grabbed the girl by the shoulders, her eyes filled with a strange determination.
Even then, Alyssa had only become more excited.
Since that day, she had become a dear friend.
A slightly clingy one.
But generous and kind. She had even given Viola her first pistol as a gift.
She was also the one who introduced Viola to that market in her past life, where she secretly operated her shop without proper licensing. Official permits and research materials were far too expensive, and she preferred saving her money for other things.
For example, fangirling over Viola by buying albums and other merchandise.
Even when Viola completely broke down after Ezekiel died and refused to see anyone, including her.
That was why Viola only heard the news of her passing far too late...
Viola leaned her head slightly against the car window as the memories faded.
The ocean road stretched endlessly ahead of them.
For a moment, she wondered what would have happened if the world had never fallen into chaos.
If monsters had never got out of the gates.
If people like Alyssa had been able to continue their research peacefully.
Maybe her inventions would have saved countless lives.
Maybe society would have survived longer.
But that future had never come.
Instead, the world had collapsed before any of it could even happen.