Winter Falling on Steel
1PP 282GP 99SP. Hmm, it felt like I'd spent a ton of loose change, but... I'd made a killing. With the mindset of earning as much as you spend, we headed to the armory today, planning some big purchases.
We couldn't infer that [organization] from the anomalous phenomenon, but there was a chance it could lead to climate shifts or monster outbreaks, so it seemed the Default Kingdom was gearing up to respond. The method was surprisingly a massive barrier enveloping the entire kingdom—that was the issue, though...
With a crackling zap, hexagonal transparent panels instantly covered the sky, and pure white snow began piling up against the invisible walls. I worried that when those cleared, snowballs might come crashing down from above, but the shocking sight of drones flying out to sweep it away left me speechless. Drones too...! Steel birds rising in perfect formation, and all sorts of bizarre contraptions—it was downright absurd.
Well... with a kingdom whose founding history spanned centuries, they wouldn't be fazed by something like this. The blizzard kept raging, blocking roads around the kingdom, but with gates handling most of the traffic anyway, it didn't seem to matter much.
Mixing in with the bustling crowds and androids clearing snow from the streets inside, I started my third day here with a cup of coffee, gazing down at the steel kingdom. Where'd the second day go? I ended up crashing from sleep deprivation... and everyone was off-kilter from the snow, so we took extra rest. A luxurious hotel stay.
Leona had caught a cold too. Larirure kept nagging about a date and carried me around princess-style. She'd stuff food in my mouth while I dozed, snap couple photos together. I'd been through more than a few things in my sleep. I hadn't done anything, though—was this okay?
"It's fine. Not bothering you when you're tired? That's consideration, right?"
She hit me with that cool line. Was she being considerate of my guilt? Come to think of it, she wasn't just pretty—she always showed her serious, mature side too... Saying that to her face turned it beet red, and she bolted to the bath like she was fleeing. Looked like she'd be in there a while—should I join? I teased, and she yelled "No!" while slamming the door shut and locking it.
Hyacinth had tried to go in first... but got shoved aside by Larirure and slumped whimpering by the door.
"Breakfast here's nice, bro."
"Yeah, tons of stuff I don't know, but the meat's the best part."
"Bro picks weird stuff, but set menus make it easy."
"Oh, that?" From an observer's view, it kills the appetite, but since she doesn't push you to try it, I think she's a decent person.
"Hey, finally unwrapped the plastic?"
"Not yet."
"Phew, you reek of rust, kiddo."
The moment we entered the armory, Larirure was bickering with a dwarf. Apparently, he'd confessed to her once and got shot down. But from what I heard, she'd set up the blind date, they hit it off by accident, and it just ended in friendship. They traded barbs without restraint, and the dwarf artisan stuck out his hand to me. He kneaded mine, tilted his head, and grumbled.
"Haven't held a sword long, huh. Mage type? Looking for a self-defense weapon, I bet."
"Yes, please."
The rare metal shortsword I'd bought before... honestly, I couldn't even use it properly; it was still stuck in its sheath. The combo of [Recycle] + [Spirit Sword] was efficient, and as my half-body, it conducted mana incredibly well. It wasn't that hard—just channel mana through your body to empower it, way easier than raw physical reinforcement. Bottom line: I had no reason to buy a sword.
Though I did use the one I had.
"Gear first."
Chest guard, wrist guards. Light chainmail to heavy gauntlets. Stats went up, but I switched to heavier leather-focused armor. Larirure had supplied the materials herself—griffon, apparently. I changed into a robe woven from griffon feathers too. Outer fabric layered with feathers inside. Felt like a pristine eagle.
I tested moving my arms and legs lightly, felt the material. For beginners who drop swords, the artisan explained special grips on the gloves, then handed me a folding crossbow. High penetration, easy to carry, concealable in the robe—perfect as a trump card... He kept explaining, assuming I mainly fought intelligent monsters. It was basically a gun: barrel, scope. Just shot bolts instead.
Even weaklings could crank it with the side winch. Official name: [Compound Crossbow]. A test shot packed punch; master mana infusion, and you could charge the bolts too. I grabbed some slingshot pellets as backup. No issue retrieving drops. Practiced quick-release from the wrist-bracelet mount.
Swapped my buckler for a griffon-bone one too. Quiver of 10 bolts on my belt, and I looked like a confident hunter. Hyacinth got a new pistol-sword and ammo; Leona, size-adjustable gauntlets for growth. Adjustable armor after, plus sturdy boots she wanted—I helped her into them. Alloy soles: light, solid impact. Po'runga used the same, she said. Artisans had their own makers, but top-tier was insanely pricey.
Mortis glanced around, then returned in full plate. A brutal mace at her hip—spiked orb that'd crush skulls. She swung it lightly; the whoosh made dwarves and us all step back.
"Aren't you a priestess?"
"Dullahan are combat-born. I only became a priest because I couldn't catch my head at birth. Catch it yourself, become a holy knight?"
"Your head falls off?"
"Oh, you didn't know."
She explained dullahan are born with heads attached. They drop with age: catch it for holy knight, miss for priest. They could reattach anytime if they wanted. Demo: lifted her head, and it locked on normally. Why not keep it on?
"Motion sickness... makes me dizzy."
Too disorienting, so she detached it, slung it back on her belt. Bought a thick vinyl bag for it—rolled around, viewable from either side. Hands free, she eyed a shield; Larirure had to calm her down.
My 1PP 282GP 99SP personal funds became 386GP 54SP. Money's easy to make, but expenses add up fast. Guess that's why gear maintenance matters. I kept needing new stuff anyway...
With our city business done, Larirure bounced like a kid: "Since we're here, let's watch the [Giant Knight] move!" Historic day—dwarves finally reached it themselves after centuries mimicking [Technician] robotics at their "pinnacle." Crude androids and golems were all they'd managed till now.
"Cy borg line cleared monsters so thoroughly, nothing's left around the kingdom."
Larirure shook her head: unavoidable sacrifice. But disaster-class materials? Better exterminated. Guilds supplied gear massively to gather them. The succubus lord I'd beaten provided skeleton and hide, surpassing the hero's version. Only flaw: heart too high-tech to integrate fully.
"Kingdom tech guy's an old pal. Twenty years?"
"Whoa..."
"He'll freak if I bring a human!"
She grinned, eager to tease her "pickled solo" friend who nagged her about marriage. We headed to the cafe.
There sat a dwarf with dark circles, shark teeth, green ponytail, in a purple magical girl outfit, downing her seventh energy drink. Not satisfied, she one-shot a coffee, slumped blissed-out like she'd popped pills, basking in sunlight.
"See? That's a dwarf who's never dated till 27."
"Grad student vibe?"
"Nah, full-on PhD."
The PhD dwarf flipped off Larirure, then waved warmly at me.
"Hey, firepower duel? Oops, first time—slipped. Sounded flirty, huh?"
"Quit challenging firepower fights, you bomb nut. Know how many mines you've blown?"
"Sigh... blast 'em clean, just ore left. You muscle-brained caveman."
"Yeah, I got a boyfriend. Even muscle-brain gets love— I win."
"Fuckin' bitch, I'll stuff dynamite down your throat."
Besties, no doubt. [Technician] who loves bombing—Larirure called her a mad dwarf. Always max firepower. Knew fire magic? "Mine's stronger"—that's her vibe.
"Human, sit!" She pulled a chair; Larirure tilted her head: "Did I say he's human?" PhD dwarf glanced at me, smirked.
"Booze blacked you out again. Stinking of rot daily—who'd brute-force that?"
"Confessed boldly!"
"First-meet confession? How no death penalty? That's jailbait."
"'Cause I'm a cutie?"
I slipped her some support. "Cutie confessed, so I accepted." Larirure slammed her head on the table, trembling. Soon beet-red like stripped bare, hyperventilating: "S-saw that...?!" Clutching her chest, she bowed her head. Then, horrified, trembling: "W-wait... drunk hallucination? Delusion?"
"Snap out, friend. Hot human boyfriend calls you cutie."
"...Even trashy fanfic skips that plot."
"Nope, real life! Jealous—my friend's hubby human. Meanwhile I wanna nuke the kingdom daily."
Her mad eyes sincere, she muttered. Condition dire: three sleepless months for [Giant Knight]. Seven hours a week, giggling insanely. Normal...?
"Kesera Sera Sera. See ya long-term, human."
"Ah, yes. Radamu Dice."
"Know ya."
She shook my hand firmly.