Days went by as I eventually found myself sitting calmly in a private waiting room.

Just outside  the room I heard the voices of thousands of children & their parents roaming around in excitement (or worry) about the contest. Sure enough, I was accepted into the thing with little to no problems at all on Thompsons side, due to my status I was able to even get my own private room even if I was technically a rookie. I had only ever taken part in a single “competition” that was more akin to a function for rich people from Germany to interact with one another in addition to showing off their kids.

Although I wish I could say it was thanks to my impressive performance - leading to the hosts believing I would be a sure-in for the semi-finals for the nationals at least - there was a part of me that doubted it. At most I was a nice booster to the ratings to have me. In actuality they were probably just partly worried about what would happen to them if an heir to Porshi was to be disgraced or endangered on their watch.

Best way to solve that while getting what they want would be to hide me away until they needed me.

Something that was supported as I watched the tv inside the fairly average looking room; sitting at the table while resting upon the strangely sticky sofa. On that murky cheap television was an interview that was currently going on with the batch of kids who were last year's podium. Honestly the best thing about this situation was that the television made me quite nostalgic for my previous life - I hadn’t even seen a holovision until after the gate outbreak incident.

“So you all managed to get to the junior nationals last year yet it was only the silver medalist who managed to actually get into the internationals where the result was quite disappointing to see.” Despite talking to three kids, all under the age of 12, the interviewer didn’t hold back. “Is there anything that you think will change this year?”

All three of them were on the older end of the junior category while I was the youngest; two of them being boys with the last being a girl. Obviously I had watched their performance during the nationals & then internationals for the average looking girl.

Nothing to worry about.

It was the prior winner of this local event that spoke up despite seemingly only getting through due to sheer luck that the runner up was in bad condition. “Well it was unfortunate that I didn’t get to the nationals last time due to getting sick on the day however I'm sure it won’t be the same this time.”

The other two looked at him as if they were looking at a dumbass but the interviewer managed to keep that same neutral smile on his face.

Moving onto a topic all the media was actually here for.

Me.

“I see, well, this year there will be the future head of Furstin as well as little miss of Porshi entering with the hopes of showing off like in a certain trending video. Do you-”

“Pfff~ are you honestly so stupid that you think anything in that video was actually real and even then it wasn’t as if anything that little girl did was that impressive as I could do it with my eyes closed.” Before the interviewer could finish his question he was cut off by the prior champion, who crossed his arms with a mocking leer across his face.

He wasn’t the only one as the other boy also giggled while that girl, the only one worth anything even if she wasn’t very accomplished, had a look of disgust as she spoke up as well. “Her fire rate wasn’t even that good plus I’ve never seen that revolver before so it probably had way too much velocity meaning it likely wasn’t even a tournament legal weapon.”

“I suppose everyone is entitled to their own opinion even if it’s a blatantly incorrect one - they were not firing too quickly themselves -  from what I saw in the internationals.” I said yet puffed up my cheeks in a pout as to keep my appearance as a bubbly bright girl; only negative due to being bullied by people who are practically double her age.

*clack*

It was just then that Thompson placed a tea cup (as well as its saucer) down in front of me while glaring at that old monitor, looking as if it would belong 200 years ago, with a scowl. “Do not listen to their nonsensical drivel, my little young lady strawberry. All of them are completely talking out of their over inflated egos and I have no doubt you will prove that to everyone very soon!”

Harrumphing as he reached over to his holocle; giving the metal base a soft tap which resulted in the screen promptly turning off.

“It’s fine uncle - I know that they’re just the same as Vagen - nothing but underachievers who are happy with putting out mediocre products while swindling people into thinking they’re the best!” So I confidently exclaimed while punching my chest with quite a bit of force. Not that that force amounted to much - I may not have even had lungs to punch the air out of. Still, I did at least pretend, acting as if I knocked all the air from my chest.

Uncle just chuckled in response while shaking his head gently with a smile on his face; in contrast I turned around in mock embarrassment as I held my cup up to my lips to take a sip. He pretended not to notice my embarrassment, like the gentleman he was, as he instead continued to explain the schedule. “It seems that you’ll be the very first one to be up for shooting - they say it is because they know how important your time is…”

More likely, they just want to get me out of the way then show off what a ‘real’ practised junior marksman is expected to do. Maybe they’ll sweep me under the rug with the most impressive going straight afterwards to push in just how amazing they are in hopes of stealing my popularity. Doubt they’ve bothered imagining how badly I can turn their little trick on all of them.

I’ll make sure they are all quite embarrassed.

Thompson continued expressing how amazing I was, something I already knew, so I tuned him out as I think it would be better to instead check how much my new training regime was working. Big B - if you wouldn’t mind - please show me my status? 

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<< Displaying Information On {user}.[Armor-Cordis Mantis] >>

Name: Armor-Cordis Mantis/Porshi
Age: 5
Race: Dark Matter Spirit.{Mythical} ([REDACTED].{N/A} + [REDACTED].{N/A})
God/Pantheon: N/A
Element: Dark Matter.{-}
Level: 3 (12k21.5kxp)
Status: Healthy
Inventory: 0/500

Class: Baby Gunslinger Lvl 8.{Baby} (1,2k2.8kxp)
Job 1: N/A
Job 2: N/A
Job 3: N/A

Equipment
-[Baby’s Erste Schusswaffe].{Expert} (Unequipped):
Weapon Type: Revolver
Damage: 2
Projectile Speed: 120
Skill: [Baby Growth].{Expert} (When equipped the player gains a bonus of xp 1.5)
Bio: Even a prinzessin’s trash is a magd’s treasure,

Health Points: ERROR 404
Spirit Points:  110110

<< Average For Adult Human Is 5 With 7 For Some Athletes  >>

Vit: 1
Str: 1
Def: 1
Dex: 10 +8
Agi: 3
Int: 10 

Remaining Attribute Points: 030

Talent
-[Ameliorating Gun (Talent)].{Legendary}: Experience gained for Level & related Skills based on practice with Firearm type weapons
-[Dark Matter Body (Physique)].{Mythical}: Mana Points along with Health Points converted into superior Spirit Points with the usual 10 modifier to both Vit & Int while body is made from [Dark Matter] Element although also makes physical exercise useless since there is no muscle.
-[[REDACTED] ([REDACTED])].{N/A}: [REDACTED]

Passive
-[Range Finder Lvl 7 (2.7k12.7kxp)].{Common}: Player gains information relevant to Ranged Weapon usage

Active
-[Grasp Soul (0350xp)].{Special}: Allows the player to directly interact with the soul.
-[[REDACTED] (0[REDACTED]xp)].{N/A}: [REDACTED]

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May not seem too impressive of an improvement, a little over 2k experience, yet that was a little over a week since I last checked so it would most definitely show given time. Would be even better if I could multiply that amount by introducing more revolvers to practise with, however my body wouldn’t be resilient enough to use a normal one. As such I can only give R&D time while hoping they don’t prove to be a waste of my money.

An interesting thing to note is that I have no progress at all with levelling up [Grasp Soul] as well as it being an S-rank skill; a powerful skill. I should be able to rely on if I can use it offensive or defensively. It was hardly shocking that I wasn’t able to actually grind using it. Not every day that a young heiress runs into creatures that she can just play around with the soul of - can’t exactly use it no matter how much a certain scientist annoys me with his limitless energy.

The redacted stuff is still redacted (quite perplexing) despite my thoughts that [Grasp Soul] may have been the hidden active skill.

At the very least, it makes the presence of my new guidance counsellor all the more intriguing. I wonder exactly who that bespeckled person really is.

From what I heard and seen, they were likely some kind of spirit yet, they weren’t one that I had learned about through perusing HERO’s research documents. Those mostly focused on a group known as the {Birds of Prey} who worked directly for {The Abyss}… Whatever that meant I had no clues.

Meanwhile my current dexterity was well beyond the realm of humanity; thinking about that made it quite hilarious knowing that there were actually a bunch of little humans thinking me not even a challenge. There was also steady progress with my overall level - no doubt I could expect to level up again in less than two months if I keep this up.

The extra firearms should al-

“Would miss Porshi please come into the firing range to begin her weapons test.” A feminine voice exploded into the room from an old crackly tannoy that really seemed to have seen far better days. This was likely due to this room just being a spare rather than the sport not earning enough money to facilitate repairs; shooting was very popular. Regardless, that tannoy probably came from the 21st century…

It honestly annoyed me greatly that I was being treated like this despite being a member of the main family of Porshi - they didn’t even have a holovision installed. Perhaps I should subtly hint at this treatment to mother and daddy. Even if I couldn’t break character by punishing the organisers myself… There were ways around that.

That didn’t matter as, for now, it was time to show off.

Standing up I decided to walk out the door - of course it was Thompson who opened the door for me with a pair of four bodyguards in body armour already outside - into a wave of flashing lights. The constant sound of camera shutters indicated that, even without them giving me an interview of my own, I was still more popular than the region's supposed shining stars. Did not take a genius to figure out that was probably the reason why they kept me out of sight; hoping to use my own popularity to boost theirs.

A wave of questions exploded out with the prevalent ones being “what are your thoughts on last year's podium winners”, “is it true that you are the President of a Furstin branch” and “why did you not have your own interview”.

To all the excitement I just waved - making sure they got a good picture of me - before I politely spoke up with a bright innocent smile. “Daddy has let me take some of the reins in Furtsin. As for the rest… Well, my mother told me not to say anything bad about people especially if it causes them damages as they could try to get money from me. So I will refrain from commenting.”

Changing my smile to a slightly saddened expression. Which would no doubt explode into all the punishment that I could want; the internet really was a wonderful thing.

“Excuse me, but they wanted me to do my attempt first, so I need to go get my gun tested.” Like the red seas parting I was allowed to pass.

Now… Time for some fun.