Main Weapon!
If Hypno had to list out every feature he wanted, it went something like this.
First: the ability to float up on its own the moment he poured mana into it.
Second: after being charged with mana, the orb would hover and circle around him—yet he could still move it however he pleased whenever he felt like it.
Third: a mild X-ray function that let him peer through clothing simply by looking into the orb and feeding it mana.
Fourth: the power to freeze a single moment of whatever he saw—or whatever the orb itself saw—into a photograph, or even record it as video and store it forever.
Fifth: the orb would remember its master's mana signature and return to him no matter how far away it was.
And finally, sixth: an inventory function that could store as many items as he wanted.
"That's about it. Think you can manage?"
Honestly, five and six were just me shooting for the moon.
Still, Hypno had gone ahead and dumped every single desire he could think of.
"Of course I can! Leave it all to me!"
And Maiking accepted every last one of Hypno's demands without the slightest hesitation.
"Photo and video storage… I can handle that with Mechatron tech. Auto-return? I'll reference the link functions spirit mages and summoners use. Inventory and X-ray—I've got connections in the Mage Guild, so I'll slap on top-tier clairvoyance and spatial magic! One staff as payment and they'll jump at the chance!"
"Ooooh."
Hypno hadn't expected the dwarf to take every single request.
"Hmm. But there's one thing I want to ask."
"What's that?"
"The first and second ones… the floating and the orbiting. Why do you need those?"
"A glowing orb drifting around you, or casting magic from an orb floating in mid-air… doesn't that just look cool as hell?"
"Aha! Now you're speaking my language!"
"Heh heh heh. A man's gotta have a few romance features like that. Oh, and the X-ray doesn't have to be too strong."
"Nonsense! This is my treat, so take it! Hell, I want to make it even better!"
"I can set the exact strength of the X-ray, right?"
"Of course! If you want X-ray… it's for that kind of thing, isn't it?"
Maiking wore a faintly sly smile. He clearly knew exactly why Hypno wanted the feature.
"Heh heh heh. No ethical problems or anything, I hope?"
"You're my benefactor! What's a little ethics between us? Don't worry! I'll set it so it never goes so deep you accidentally see inside someone's body—that'd be a disaster. Though if you ever want it stronger, I can make that happen too. That's just the default."
"Appreciate the thoughtful design. Heh heh heh."
"Hahaha! For my benefactor, this is nothing! But with all these functions, it'll take about two weeks to enchant. Once it's done, where should I send it?"
"Well…"
Hypno gave him the location of the inn Navi had booked and the room number.
"Or just drop it off at the Adventurer's Guild with a receptionist named Mika."
"Done! And once again… thank you for giving me the chance to create the masterpiece of my life, Hypno!"
"I'm the one who got the Heavenly Demon's Orb out of it. Oh, by the way… why is it called the Heavenly Demon's Orb?"
"Because I forged it as an orb worthy of someone who commands a thousand magics. Of course there are way more than a thousand spells out there, but… doesn't 'Heavenly Demon' just have a nice ring to it? 'Ten-Thousand Demon' just doesn't hit the same vibe!"
"Yeah, naming's all about the vibe!"
"Exactly!"
Maiking was a blacksmith who understood romance.
Hypno left Maiking's forge and headed back to the Adventurer's Guild.
The place was as packed as ever, the receptionists looking busy.
Wonder where today's cool-looking receptionist I can snag is~.
In high spirits, Hypno scanned the reception desks.
That was when his eyes landed on Mika, currently accepting items from a bare-chested male adventurer built like a barbarian warrior.
"Here's the stuff from the request."
"Yes! Thank you so much! I'm always so happy when you work hard for us!"
Mika answered in a bright voice, taking the goods while casually stroking the back of the adventurer's hand.
"Huh? Uh, yeah… this is just what an adventurer does."
"That earnest attitude of yours… I think it's really wonderful."
"Thanks. But… Mika? You seem a lot brighter than usual today."
"Do I? Heehee, actually, I had a little realization recently."
"A realization?"
"Yes! Oh, right—there's actually something I'd like to ask of you, Valbar. Would that… be okay?"
"Huh? A favor? If it's something simple, sure!"
"Really?!"
Mika set the items down and clasped the adventurer's hands in both of hers.
"Thank you!"
"Uh, y-yeah."
Suddenly faced with such an aggressively cheerful Mika, the adventurer flushed and looked flustered.
Mika leaned in a little, bringing her face closer to his.
"Then after I get off work… follow me, okay♥ Once you've helped me, I'll give you a little 'reward'♥"
"Nngh…! R-really? But wh-what do you need help with?"
"There's something I need moved. It's too heavy for me…"
Mika gently ran her fingers across the male adventurer's chest.
"I was hoping sturdy Valbar would help me out."
"L-leave it to me! A-after work, right? I'll time it for then?"
"Yes♥ Please♥ Make sure you come♥"
"O-of course!"
Face burning red, the male adventurer spun around and strode out of the guild with long steps.
Watching him go, Hypno felt deeply satisfied.
She's walking the path of a proper dirty bitch, Mika!
In that pleasant mood, Hypno approached her.
"You're doing great."
"Ah, Ma— Hypno-ssi♥"
"Already picked out today's target to seduce, huh?"
"Yes♥ Just like you said, Hypno-ssi… this dirty bitch…♥ wants to eat cock every single day♥ With this mouth… and the mouth down below too♥"
"You're doing perfectly!"
"Aaaah, I'm so happy♥ Getting praised by you, Hypno-ssi♥"
"Heh heh heh. Keep growing into an even finer bitch from now on!"
"Yes! Um… Hypno-ssi, if you could also… sometimes…♥"
"While I'm in this city, I'll take care of you whenever the mood hits. Until then, polish that bitch power so you can make me even happier!"
"Yes!"
Mika answered with a pure, sunny smile.
"Oh, by the way—where's that receptionist who went to the infirmary with me yesterday? I don't see her."
"You mean Millis-senpai? She's just stepped into the document storage room to grab some materials. She should be back any minute."
"Got it."
Creak.
At that moment one of the guild doors opened, and out stepped a blue-haired woman with a short bob and black-rimmed glasses, arms full of papers—the very picture of a capable career woman.
Millis.
"Ah, Millis-senpai~!"
"Hm?"
Millis turned toward the voice calling her.
"Ah."
She hurried over, set the documents on a receptionist's desk, and said,
"Here are the materials you needed."
"Thank you, Millis-senpai!"
Then Millis approached Mika and Hypno and bowed her head toward him.
"Welcome, Hypno-ssi. I've been waiting for you."
"Heh heh heh. Shall we get right to the promotion exam, then?"
"Yes. Everything is prepared. I've reserved a reception room, so please follow me."
Hypno followed Millis into the reception room.
The Zenid Adventurer's Guild reception room was a little larger and more luxurious than the one in Polling.
The moment they stepped inside, Millis looked at the closed door and said,
"Lock."
A faint shimmer of mana washed over the entire room, then vanished.
"What was that just now…?"
"A security spell. Promotion exams must be conducted with only the two of us present, so I've taken measures to ensure no one else can enter. No one can come in, no one outside can see in, and not a single sound from this room will leak out."
"You went that far?"
"It's a standard function used whenever we discuss important commissions or host distinguished guests in the reception room."
"Ahh."
"Now then, Hypno-ssi. Please state the content of your promotion exam. We will begin immediately."
"Heh heh heh. In that case…"
Hypno licked his lips and told Millis exactly what the exam would be.
"Let's make it a virility exam."
"Viril… ity?"
Hypnosis Wave.
Hypno immediately layered on a mild Hypnosis Wave as he continued.
"Yes. Any male adventurer—especially a high-ranked one—is expected to possess strong virility. The power of a male. Mainly stamina, sexual prowess, or the ability to make a female melt. It's only natural, right?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"To examine that virility, receptionist Millis will have to use her own body. And the method of examination is decided by me, the examinee. You will carry out every single method I request, without omission. You understand that, correct?"
"Yes. I am fully aware. Hypno-ssi, which examination shall we begin with?"
Millis accepted his words without resistance.
Hypno asked her a question.
"Before we start, one question. Millis-ssi, are you a virgin?"
"Pardon?"
Millis tilted her head, momentarily unable to process the question.
Hypno added,
"It's a simple confirmation of whether the examining receptionist is a virgin or not. Now then, answer promptly. Are you a virgin?"
"Nngh…"
Millis's cheeks colored faintly. She closed her eyes for a moment and answered,
"Yes… I am a virgin."
"Ooooh!"
The instant she said it, Hypno's eyes lit up.
In this world so far, every woman he had dealt with—aside from Navi, somehow—had already been deflowered.
"A virgin examiner! How rare. Millis-ssi is beautiful enough that I would have expected at least one or two relationships. You've never had a boyfriend?"
"Such personal questions are…"
"Hm? This is a perfectly standard investigative question. Answering is only natural, isn't it?"
"Ah… y-yes, of course. Forgive me. I have… never had a lover. I have received admiring looks, but… I have no romantic experience."
"Hmm? Do you know why that is?"
At Hypno's question, Millis turned her head slightly, speaking as if the words were difficult.
"…Probably because of my impression. The cold, hardworking receptionist. Completely uninterested in men, married to her job, so approaching her is pointless. I am aware that is how those around me perceive me."
Her objective self-assessment matched exactly what Hypno himself had thought, and he felt a small twinge of guilt.
"Millis-ssi, do you have no desire for a lover?"
"I do."
She answered firmly.
"I want to marry as well. I want to fall in love. I am at the age where if I do not start putting effort into romance soon, it will become precarious. I am a woman too. I am interested in men. But when it comes time to actually begin a relationship, I am afraid to take the first step myself, and I end up simply waiting for someone who might be interested to approach me… and that is how I arrived at my current state."
The more she spoke, the more dejected Millis became.
That was when Hypno clapped his hands together with a sharp smack.
"Then this is perfect timing. While you examine my virility… we will also raise Millis-ssi's femininity!"
"Feminin… ity?"
"Heh heh heh. Yes. The power of an attractive female—femininity! The higher it is, the greater your power to seduce males… more precisely, the probability of acquiring a lover skyrockets! Correct?"
"Th-that is certainly true."
"In that case! While I undergo the examination, I will also assist in raising Millis-ssi's femininity."
"Pardon? But… this is a virility examination for you, Hypno-ssi. There is no need for you to show me consideration…"
"Heh heh heh. What's good for one is good for both! If your femininity rises during the exam, that only makes the virility test more enjoyable for me as well!"
Hypno beamed and spread his arms wide toward Millis.
"Now then! Let's begin a virility examination that benefits both of us!"