Manowa

◎ 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.

「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.」

「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 a.s.sembled 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.)

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

t.i.tle: 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.」