◎ Winlard City, Ricard Inn - Night
「Fuu, I’ve returned . 」
Kazane threw herself noisily onto the bed .
「Nya」
A huge cat was relaxing beside it .
「Hehehehe」
Yumika was embracing the cat with a happy face . Kazane summoned the Elder Cat Yukko-nee at Yumika's request since she would recover the magic power anyway after sleeping . By the way, at Rock Hold Cavern it had dirty brown fur, but now it was a longhair cat with mixed white and black fur, similar to the appearance of a Siberian . But it was huge . It felt like it would completely cover the bed if it sprawled out . If it didn’t fight it could remain for a reasonably long time, so Kazane asked it to make some indication if it grew tired and wanted to return home . The reply was
「Nyan . 」
「Uu, it’s a little scary . 」
「Don’t say such things . It's fluffy . 」
Yumika was becoming a useless person . By the way, Yumika had to use all her strength to pierce this fluffiness with her spear . Don’t be distracted by such things while fighting it .
Louise wasn’t certain what to make of this state of affairs, but she approached and tested the fluffiness for herself and was delighted by how pleasant it was .
『Hm . Come to think of it, Karuti’s summoned beast was not such a soft thing . 』
「Well, it was a lizard, after all . 」
Mefirus was in his usual place in Louise’s arms . Well, they were lovers so it was normal, but it looked like an onee-san embracing a stuffed Griffin . In addition, Karuti was a female scout that was in the party with those two people and Zinray . She was able to summon using a childstone like Kazane, but it was a lizard called Sly Greed .
「Tomorrow we’ll be able to meet Master for the first time in a while . 」
「Master huh . It's been a while since I’ve met Johnz as well . 」
「Do you know each other?」
Louise nodded while say
「Reasonably well . 」
『I have also met him . From what I can recall he was a good man with a strong spirit . 』
「Ehehe」
Kazane smiled at Mefirus’ words . An acquaintance being praised made her happy .
Incidentally, Zinray was not there because he was back at the dojo . He originally lived in the city, so he did not have to stay in the inn .
◎ Winlard City, Batroa Workshop - Morning
「Coming in~!」
Kazane said to the receptionist .
「Oh it’s Kazane-chan, it has been a long time . Did you come to see Master?」
Kazane had conversed with this receptionist several times . As one would expect Kazane would not give such a casual greeting to someone she was not familiar with .
「Un . I wonder if he’s in?」
「I don’t think it's a problem . I’ll lead you to the drawing room so wait there for a bit . 」
With that said Kazane and their group were led inside to the drawing room . En route
『It seems to be quite profitable』
Mefirus said .
「Most of the weapons and armor sold around this town are made here」
Louise returned .
「Huh, is that so?」
said Tiara . It didn’t seem like she actually understood .
In short, the Batroa workshop did both weapon production and distribution . They had a hotline to fellow master smiths prepared, and if there was a shortage of armaments, such as a war that caused their stock to be purchased all at once, they would be able to purchase from them if necessary . That was the reality of the Zenith Firm’s Weapons Division Batroa Workshop .
「Ou, Kazane . It's been a long time, eh?」
Master greeted Kazane as he opened the door and entered the room, which Kazane returned with a
「long time no see . 」
Master nodded and laughed at that .
「You’re looking lively as ever . I hear that you brought along an incredible beauty?」
That said Master looked over the guests accompanying Kazane .
「Un . Master already knows this person . 」
Matching Kazane’s words, Louise and Tiara smiled at Master .
「I’ve come!」
「Huh?」
As a contrast Master's face solidified .
「Umm, Louise-sama?」
「Un, I’ve come!」
While watching the mystified Master, Louise repeated
「I’ve come . 」
「So you have come . Kazane . . . . . . . umm, why did you bring this person?」
「We’re in a party together now」
Kazane said . Master replied
「Is that so? That’s good, then」
in a resigned voice .
「Johnz-kun, so cold~」
「Are you in any position to say that? I'm a completely different person from when I was blue . 」
Master smiled bitterly .
「Anyway, it’s unusual that you’d join a party and leave Tsuvara . Ah, is it because of Zinray?」
「That’s right . It’s also because of this young lady behind me . 」
「Good morning, Master-san . 」
Master bowed his head and said
「Thank you」
to Tiara's greeting .
「Kazane, who is this lady? From her features she looks Tsuvaran . 」
「Tiara is also a party member . It seems to be a more or less free position right now . 」
Free? . . . . . . while making a strange face Master returned Kazane's party members’ greetings with
「Well, best regards . 」
Incidentally, Master judged Tiara’s features as Tsuvaran because he had met the very young Tiara in the past and the features matched . Although it seemed the person himself did not recognize it .
「So how is Master acquainted with Louise-san?」
「What to say… well, I was originally Conrad's master blacksmith . Because of the trade relationship with Tsuvara there were many opportunities to visit the hot spring district . As a result I received various accommodations from Louise-sama . 」
Master explained .
「Even back then Johnz-kun's skill was certain . I merely reported such to that person . 」
That person she referred to was currently in her arms . With that, Master’s face stiffened and he turned to face Louise . Although it was late to be saying it, now that he realized it he thought he should say something .
That person she referred to was currently in her arms . With that, Master’s face stiffened and he turned to face Louise . Although it was late to be saying it, now that he realized it he thought he should say something .
「I was very sorry to hear about King Mefirus . I would not be where I am now if I hadn’t received that gentleman’s favor . 」
「Don’t worry about it . I’m sure that person would feel the same way . 」
And Louise stroked the small Griffin’s head . It let out a pleased-sounding kuroro .
「By the way, I’ve been wondering, what are you holding in your arms?」
It seems he was interested . It was easy to see it was living and breathing normally . It was a summoned beast .
「It’s my current lover . Don’t worry about it . 」
「Is that so . 」
With that said he had no choice but to back down . But he was still a little worried about it .
「Kazane, Yumika isn’t here?」
「Yumika is having morning practice with Zinray-san . She thinks she will come afterwards and consult with you about Silky . 」
[TL: It wasn’t mentioned before this but Yumika’s spear is named Silky . ]
「Is that so . I'm looking forward to seeing how well she can use it now」
Master said with a smile . Kazane asked,
「And Master, what about that thing?」
「That? Ah, I completed it right away, but since you weren’t here I wasn’t able to do a test run . 」
「What thing are you talking about?」
At Tiara’s question Master looked at Kazane .
「Shall we test it out?」
「We should go to the testing ground . Here would be dangerous . 」
「Understood . Well then Tiara, it’s better to see it for yourself . 」
◎ Winlard City, Batroa Workshop, Multipurpose Testing Ground
Batroa Workshop multipurpose testing ground . It was the Workshop’s courtyard and was used to check the performance of weapons made by Research and Development and for breaking in enchanted weapons .
「Alright, we’re here . 」
Master took out a wok-shaped helmet-like thing from his Mysterious Bag .
「? Do you wear that on your head?」
「Well, part of it is for something like a head . 」
Master’s words further confused Tiara .
「Are the contents what I requested?」
「That’s right . I finished it according to your specifications . The Magiria Magic Tool workshop lent me the soil; it is mixed at the ratio of 6 Dragon Burial Soil to 4 Magic Clay . It’s elasticity has been certified . 」
After saying that, Master looked at Kazane with a frown .
「But where did you learn this knowledge?」
When Dragon meat is left to rot it transforms into Dragon Burial Soil and Magic Clay is a clay-like object present in the central part of worm-type monsters such as Chiruchiruhi . When the two are mixed together at the ratio Kazane specified they change into an especially strong and elastic material that is capable of holding a high amount of magic power . In Zexiaheart it was a part of the Philosopher’s Stone Series called
「Muscle Clay」
and was used for the wings of the Dragon Boats . By all rights it was a top secret special material of puppeteers .
「It's a secret of golem use . 」
She thought of it randomly but it was not a lie .
「For the time being I told them to keep their mouths’ shut, though the Magiria Magic Tool Workshop were complaining . A technical patent registration was made in your name . 」
「For the time being I told them to keep their mouths’ shut, though the Magiria Magic Tool Workshop were complaining . A technical patent registration was made in your name . 」
「There is such a thing . 」
Kazane was surprised . She did not think that words like patent would show up here .
「They are supposed to get permission from you for anything related to its use . That’s the official position, but…」
Master implicitly said that there was a high possibility of it being used secretly . But Kazane didn’t consider it a big deal since the material and knowledge were useless to anyone but a golem user .
「Well, it’s fine . More importantly, shall we test it out?」
「Ah, I also want to see how it will go . Do it quickly . 」
With that said, Kazane took out her staff
「White Blaze」
and touched the helmet-like thing with it .
「Skill · Golem Maker · Tatsuyoshi-kun」
Kazane’s skill activated and the helmet-like thing started rattling as it moved .
「What is going on?」
Something came from within the helmet and the metal clattered noisily as it put itself together . It was composed of layers of steel with a surface like an accordion and shapes started to appear: first the hands, then feet, then fingers like a human . When it was assembled it was a steel doll that was a size smaller than Kazane .
「Wow, it came into shape properly . 」
「Un . It’s doing it nicely . 」
Master was impressed and Kazane’s eyes were sparkling .
「It has no face」
Louise muttered . The part of Tatsuyoshi-kun that would be a face was smooth .
「Golems have a unique sensor that perceives the surroundings, but since it’s lacking charm, I’m planning to give it a face . 」
A face with Tatsuyoshi's likeness should be good . . . Kazane thought .
「So Kazane, what is this?」
Tiara nervously asked . That doll made of steel had the appearance of a fleeing warrior and an atmosphere that made her feel like it was going to head her direction and attack at any moment .
「It’s a doll with artificial muscles . It’s an advanced doll used by superior golem users to act like puppeteers . 」
Kazane vigorously raised her fist . It was the highest level of doll created by puppeteers, equipped with artificial muscles born from their research . And since the artificial muscles were made from Muscle Clay, a golem user’s soil manipulation allowed them to use it even without the puppeteering skill .
「I heard that puppeteer techniques were lost hundreds of years ago . Yet this girl says that she knows them?」
Master was likely misunderstanding, though she agreed anyway .
「That's what it is . Well then, shall we begin the Tatsuyoshi-kun test run?」
Kazane was ready, and Master nodded
「Do it . 」
「Movement first . Run over there . 」
So Kazane instructed it to
「Dash」
.
At Kazane's words Tatsuyoshi-kun went into a crouching start, then forcefully launched itself forward at a terrifying speed . With only three strides of its strong legs it crossed the courtyard and slammed into the wall . It was truly only an instant .
「What . . . !!?」
Everyone including Kazane was dumbfounded at that excessive speed .
「Oi, are you trying to break it?」
Master’s words had barely left his mouth before Kazane said
「Eh?」
and opened a window . The window called Puppet Status booted up .
(Ah, power output increased by six times . The golem’s reaction speed couldn’t catch up . )
Master’s words had barely left his mouth before Kazane said
「Eh?」
and opened a window . The window called Puppet Status booted up .
(Ah, power output increased by six times . The golem’s reaction speed couldn’t catch up . )
It seems she had estimated the calculations naively . She had the knowledge from the game but was not familiar with making something and adjusting the balance herself .
(If I focus on power and slow it down that should be enough for it to move properly . But would constructing it for mobility be better?)
Kazane groaned . She would probably have to do a considerable amount of adjustment to understand its body .
「What is it? Perhaps it was failure?」
Master asked Kazane, worried about the glum face she was making .
「I made the puppet’s behavioral pattern myself, but it seems my preparations were too hasty . Since I don’t have a dedicated pattern I think operating it like a puppeteer will be difficult . 」
Master could not understand the meaning of those words, but he understood that it was a failure . Originally the dolls manipulated by puppetry had a monkey-like mobility and would overwhelm the enemy, which Master had heard of . Even though the technology had been lost for a long time, stories of its fearsome power had not been lost .
Master’s face sank a little, but Kazane said in an encouraging voice .
「But if I use Knight-san’s movements as a base I should be able to fix it to move properly . 」
「Knight-san? That knight-shaped golem?」
It was the golem that she had used to defeat Kimberly, and Master remembered it . In the recent battles their fighting power had increased and so she only used Tebasaki-san to take away their opponents’ mobility, but it is not like she can’t use Knight-san anymore .
「Un . Even if I raise the mobility to the limit I think the body will still be able to produce a considerable amount of power . Please look forward to it . It should be considerably fun once it’s complete . 」
When Master looked at Kazane's face after she spoke, he noticed that it was the possessed face that often appeared on engineers . For the first time Master realized that Kazane was
『that kind』
of person .
Name: Yuihama Kazane
Occupation: Magic Swordswoman
Title: Ogre Killer
Equipment: Staff
『White Blaze』
, Two Handed Sword
『Black Fang』
, Silver Breastplate, Silver Gauntlets, Silver Sheep Clothes, Carapace Bull Trousers, Berserk Ogre Greaves, Indestructible Cloak, Mysterious Pouch, Crimson Saint Coffin, Spirit Summoning Ring
Level : 22
Health: 77
Magic Power: 132+300
Strength: 33
Agility: 27
Endurance: 17
Wisdom : 34
Dexterity : 20
Spell :
『Fly』
『Torch』
『Fire』
『Heal』
Skill :
『Goblin Language』
『Night Vision』
『Crushing Blow』
『Dog’s Sense of Smell』
『Golem Maker: Lv2』
『Rush』
『Fire Principle: Second Chapter』
『Healing Principle: Second Chapter』
『Air Jump』
『Killing Leg』
『Fear Voice』
『Invisible』
『Tiger Eye』
『Wall Walking』
『Insight』
『Cheat Death』
Kazane:
「The wonderful thing you asked about last time has finally arrived . 」
Yumika:
「Calling it Tatsuyoshi-kun is still . . . 」
Kazane:
「Because you forbade me from giving that name to the cat . 」
Yumika:
「I did not want the extremely fluffy cat to be transformed from having that guy's name placed on it . 」