Chapter 875
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 875
“W-well, what can I do?! Operating a machine that converts mana properties also requires mana! And it needs to continuously convert mana over a wide enough area to protect Miss Matilda and ward off monster attacks! Developing a power source that can keep such a machine running after making it small enough to carry around—that’s not something that can be done quickly!”
Though I hadn’t said a word yet, Diana, perhaps feeling guilty, launched into a desperate string of excuses.
No. I don’t know much about it, but it all sounds correct, so it’s not really an excuse.
“And also! And also! Even if they seem minor, these small discoveries lead to great achievements in the future—!”
“It’s okay. I understand, so calm down. Who would doubt our Archmage’s words?”
I patted Diana’s head, giving Sara a look, just in case she might say something unnecessary.
Sara shot me a look back, as if to say, Do you really think I can’t keep that much in check? So, my worry was unfounded.
Indeed, even Sara wouldn’t say something like, “Isn’t this ultimately not much practical help right now?” to Diana in this situation.
“U-um. And these discoveries aren’t entirely unhelpful for future adventures either.”
Anyway, once I stroked her head, Diana finally caught her breath and continued, as if she wasn’t finished.
“Oh? Really?”
“Hmm. Why else would I bring this up? It’s certainly impossible to miniaturize it enough to carry around. But you, you have the ability to carry even the largest and heaviest objects and pull them out when needed, don’t you?”
The ability to carry even the largest and heaviest objects and pull them out when needed.
…I can’t believe Diana would say something so bold first.
“Hmph. I certainly do.”
“Hmph?! W-what are you doing?! I wasn’t talking about that item!”
When I deliberately flexed my “item,” making it twitch, and spoke confidently, Diana once again jumped up from my thigh, her face turning bright red. She tried to swat at my “item” but stopped herself.
Of course, it wouldn’t do any damage anyway, and she probably realized it would just look like she was touching my “item” herself in front of others. Tsk.
“I know. It’s a joke.”
“Stop with your useless jokes at all times! You really are….”
I stroked Diana’s head as she grumbled, still unable to get rid of the redness in her face, and continued what she was trying to say.
“So, you mean I can carry the mana conversion device in my inventory and take it out when needed? For uses like preventing monsters from approaching while we sleep or eat.”
“Hmm. Exactly. And since we’ve learned that stronger monsters are less likely to approach, I’ve already suggested to the Guild that we use this to install a teleportation magic circle on the 6th Floor, but that will require a bit more review.”
Well, of course. Seeing that Diana had been diligently going out while I was gone, she probably conducted experiments in the Dungeon with the Mage Association members. But considering the dangers of the 6th Floor, that alone wouldn’t be enough.
“Well, just being able to rest more safely in the Dungeon is a huge gain. Good job, Diana.”
“Hmm! Do you understand a little of my greatness now!”
“Yes, yes. You’re cute, you’re cute.”
“I wasn’t asking you to call me cute!”
I was complimenting you, don’t get mad.
You’d be upset if I didn’t pat your head, anyway.
In any case, after sharing such useful information, we spent the day catching up on everything that had happened during the two weeks we hadn’t seen each other.
And once we had roughly told each other everything, we naturally decided to go out and wander around together.
Of course, being surrounded by three peerless beauties and chatting amicably, we could have easily enjoyed a whole day—no, several days—just sitting and talking. But wouldn’t it be even better to spend our time more enjoyably?
For that reason, we strolled aimlessly through the streets, chatting sweetly and doing some window shopping.
When people wander without a specific destination, they unconsciously follow familiar paths. So, as we wandered aimlessly, we eventually found ourselves in front of one of our regular shops.
Seeing its sign, I suddenly remembered something I needed to do and stopped.
“Can we make a quick stop?”
In front of Hanna’s Blacksmith Shop, our regular haunt, I asked for my companions’ understanding and went inside.
Though lately, the atmosphere there had become increasingly difficult to deal with.
No. It’s not for any other reason, it’s just…
“S-Saint! Welcome! H-have you come to see Hanna?! Haaah… haaah….”
It’s because of this perverted Dwarf who developed a strange fetish because of me.
His symptoms have been getting worse by the day. Now, even if I just try to have a conversation with Hanna, he starts breathing heavily like this.
Ugh, I swear. I can’t really say anything since it’s half my fault he ended up like this.
You think it’s shameless to only count half my share? Not at all. He developed this fetish from just that, so he must have had such a fetish to begin with. I’m being generous even giving myself half the credit.
“…Right. She’s in the blacksmith area, isn’t she? I’ll go there.”
“Ugh?! Y-you’re just going in without my permission… Haaah. Yes, yes, sir! Please do!”
Hey. I won’t say anything about you fantasizing and enjoying yourself, but at least keep it to yourself.
Ugh. If he didn’t look like a child, I’d really punch him.
It was quite disgusting to have a dirty man breathing heavily while staring at me, but I couldn’t not get my equipment modified, so I headed to the blacksmith area inside the shop.
“Yo. You’re here.”
Hanna, still with her tough way of speaking, was wearing a highly revealing top, practically just a piece of cloth wrapped around her chest, probably because it was hot in the blacksmith area.
But as if completely unashamed, she proudly displayed her pussyy, well-defined muscles and raised a hand to greet me.
She’s been getting prettier by the day, too.
Well, I did help her level up in that way, so it’s only natural.
The Dwarf’s reaction also means their sex life is going well.
Anyway, the reason I came here was none other than to get my weapon serviced.
I had actually felt the need for it ever since I was holed up on the 4th Floor for special training, but after experiencing that hell, I felt an even greater need to get it looked at.
The reason was my job.
Moon Shadow Warrior. This advanced composite job, combining Martial Artist and Assassin, naturally possesses the characteristics of both.
And that extended to the skills it could learn. A Moon Shadow Warrior could learn not only skills that used the body directly, like punches and kicks, but also skills that used daggers.
I often took out my dagger and used it effectively during my special training.
However, the battles in that hellish place weren’t as leisurely as training, and there were often times when I couldn’t immediately use dagger skills when I wanted to, such as using joint locks while holding a dagger, or using dagger skills while unarmed.
Of course, thanks to Shadow Movement and Saint skills, I never faced a major crisis.
Anyway, for that reason, I decided to create a new weapon by combining daggers directly with my gauntlets.
Well, to put it grandly, I came to make claws.
However, I didn’t intend to make the blades as long as real claws, as that would completely change my combat style. Instead, I planned to attach small blades, about 1 to 2 centimeters long, to the gauntlets.
I only needed blades long enough to activate dagger skills when necessary.
“I see. I understand what you mean. But wouldn’t it be a problem if you just made them like that and the dagger skills didn’t activate properly on those blades? The skill might not activate if the blade length is too short.”
After hearing my explanation, Hanna, like the weapon expert she was, offered that advice.
“Ah, yeah. That’s true.”
“Then I’ll just make a rough version for now, so you can test it?”
“Here, now? Is that okay? Weren’t you busy with something?”
“It’s fine. How long could it take to make something rough just to check skill activation? And it’s not just any customer, it’s the Saint’s request, so I have to help.” “Haaah! Haaah!”
Hanna, whose service had improved since I helped her before, said it coolly as if it were nothing.
She did make brief eye contact with me behind my back, sending a sexy gaze, but I pretended not to notice.
“Ohh! Thank you. This is why I always come to you and nowhere else.” “Haaah! Haaah!”
Hey. You Dwarf over there. I’m trying to pretend not to notice, so stop making those disgusting noises and get lost.
Please, only make those noises when you two are alone.
Anyway, accepting Hanna’s favor, I immediately tested the skill activation by holding the claws myself.
In the end, we decided to attach three 2-centimeter-long blades to each gauntlet, and as an added bonus, we included a function that allowed them to be launched for throwing skills.
“Farewell! I look forward to your next visit to Hanna’s Blacksmith Shop!”
I waved vaguely at Yohan, who saw me off with bloodshot eyes until the very end, and left the blacksmith shop.
While I was there, I also left the other girls’ equipment to be reinforced with materials obtained from the 5.5th Floor. Hanna gave them a quick glance and nodded lightly.
She used to struggle even with 5th Floor materials. How much has her level increased in the meantime?
Moreover, Hanna has visibly gotten prettier, but Yohan doesn’t seem to have changed dramatically in appearance, which is subtly bothering me… No, no. No. Let’s not think about it any further.
It’s probably just that I’m not interested in men, so I just don’t notice whether Yohan changes or not. Yes. That must be it.
Anyway, after taking care of those errands, I spent some quality time with the trio for the first time in a while.
We visited not only Hanna’s Blacksmith Shop but also several other places, buying necessary items.
And time flies when you’re having fun, so before I knew it, it was this time.
The very moment I had been eagerly awaiting.
“Vanessa. You remember, don’t you?”
“…Remember what, sir?”
Yes. It was my night with Vanessa.
Oh, you’ve been messing with me with that poker face all this time, haven’t you? Not only did you say things that could make Diana misunderstand, but yesterday you even gave me a back smash. And you even made me poke my own eye out with my own hand? And now you dare to feign ignorance?
“You’re not going to tell me you don’t remember me saying I’d make you cry and beg under me, are you?!”
“…When did you say that, sir?”
When I pointed a finger and spoke, Vanessa’s expression hardened even more than usual as she replied.
That reaction means she genuinely doesn’t remember.
Her expression hardened, but that was merely a reaction to my words about making her cry and beg under me.
But this one. She said it while doing her butler duties, and she dares not to remember…
“D-did I only think it and not say it out loud?”
“……”
“A-argh! Anyway! You usually read my mind perfectly well, so why couldn’t you read it this time?!”
“Don’t make such ridiculous accusations.”
Don’t look at me with such a pathetic gaze! It’s making me feel all creepy!
Oh, just for the record, the “creepy” feeling I’m getting isn’t because I have a particular fetish for that, but because I’m looking forward to how you, with that expression, will change later. Really!
“Heheheh. Anyway, you’re ready, aren’t you? There’s no escape for you.”
“Kuh…”
As I approached Vanessa with a sinister smile, even she couldn’t help but be intimidated by the situation, taking a step back.
Well, of course. After everything she’s done.