kscans

Chapter 207 - Chapter Eight: Prologue

Chapter Eight: Prologue

"So, the size should be something like this."

"...Yeah."

About a week had passed since the encounter with the white dragon.

It was getting late into September, and the temperature had become more pleasant. The weather forecast said it would be chilly even during the daytime by the end of next week.

Amidst all this, I had come to Shizuku-san's workshop with Erina-san.

In her workspace, which felt like it had expanded again for some reason, I handed over the stack of papers I’d brought.

"So this is the exterior for that ‘detachable Magi Battery’..."

With those words, Shizuku-san flipped through the order forms.

"Yes. The blueprints are done, but I haven't actually built it yet, so I left a fair amount of room in the internal space."

"But this is smaller than the Alchemy Enthusiasts Club’s Magi Battery. Are you sure about the performance?"

"Of course, even with the ‘secret technique,’ its operating time will be shorter than the club’s. But there's no problem as long as it can be replenished on the spot. If need be, we can bring spare batteries and swap them out."

"With my space-time ninjutsu, I can bring as many as we need as long as we have them!"

Beside me, Erina-san struck a V-sign with a smug look on her face.

Her Item Box now had the capacity of several shipping containers. Combined with her teleportation, she was practically a ticking time bomb for the logistics industry.

Spatial magic users were still few and far between, and magical tools that could serve as a substitute were rare. But I had a feeling a revolution in logistics was on the horizon.

But I digress. Our operations relied on Erina-san, but at this point, we couldn't imagine an exploration without her. With this operational method, we should be able to achieve a continuous combat capability on par with a machine equipped with the new Magi Battery made by the club... or so it should be.

To think we could only just about match them even using Sage's Nucleus. Was my skill lacking, or was their technical prowess just that extraordinary?

Those perverts. If you looked at their pure technical skill alone, they were a world-class group of alchemists.

"Well, I just make what I'm ordered to. The armor for Byakuren should also be made to connect with the Magi Battery..."

"It's not Byakuren."

"...Right. My bad."

"It’s fine."

Preparations for a new combat golem were already underway.

We would assemble a body from Byakuren’s spare parts, and its equipment would be adjusted from Byakuren’s remaining gear. The core, an "imperfect homunculus," was also ready. I planned to transfer it from the kettle-shaped one I used during the cultural festival.

The body and equipment were the same as Byakuren’s. But this golem was not Byakuren.

I was aware it was an unnecessary attachment, but this was my way of drawing a line.

"My apologies. The size and equipment adjustments are all the same as Byakuren's. It's just that the core is different."

"Yeah. Got it. Well, if the core's different, its movements will change too. We'll have to fine-tune that stuff once it's actually moving."

"Yes. I think we’ll be relying on you again, so thank you in advance."

"Well, I'll be charging you, of course."

We haven't told Shizuku-san, or Aika-san who isn't here, why we lost Byakuren.

The Self-Defense Force had ordered us to keep quiet about the white dragon. It wasn't legally binding, but I had decided to follow their instructions for now.

If the time came to break that silence and tell them, it would be...

"If you’re attaching the Magi Battery to the back, the backplate of the armor should have a dedicated socket, right?"

"Ah, yes. Please make that match the size of the exterior as well."

"Got it. Well, it won't take that long."

"Thank you very much."

"And,"

Placing the order forms on the desk, Shizuku-san looked up at me with her sharp eyes.

"What are you going to do about the materials for your new equipment and all that?"

"...Of course, I’ll use this."

I took off my light jacket, revealing my short-sleeved shirt.

I offered her my bare left arm.

"Is the syringe... ready yet?"

"Yeah. It's pretty thick, since it has to be big enough to safely pierce your skin."

With that, she placed a case that had been on the floor onto the desk.

When she opened the lid, there was something inside that was clearly not meant for drawing human blood. I felt my cheek twitch.

"...Please be gentle."

"I'm not a doctor or a nurse. When we actually draw the blood, I'll have you ask the professor to introduce you to someone."

"...This is a hassle. Maybe it's better to just stab it with a knife after all?"

"Why are you scared of a syringe but have no hesitation about that?"

Even if you look at me like I'm some kind of strange creature.

I mean, the syringe Shizuku-san just took out has a needle as thick as my little finger. Isn't that pretty much the same as being stabbed with a knife? Actually, isn't it scarier than a knife?

Besides, it's not like I have no hesitation about stabbing myself with a knife. It's genuinely scary, so I wouldn't want to do it myself. I'm just prepared to endure it if necessary.

"In your case, even if you cut yourself, it'll heal right away and you won't bleed much, will you?"

"I'll cut deep and, you know... gush. I figure I can get a lot out at once before it heals."

"Is your sense of pain dead?"

"It’s alive. I’ll probably cry the moment I cut myself."

"You’d cry?"

"Of course. Because it hurts."

"You have it tough, huh?"

Apparently having lost interest in our conversation, Erina-san was looking at the tools hanging on the wall.

"Well, we'll talk about this later. Erina. The shuriken you gave me is repaired and modified too."

"Whoa! As expected of Shī-chan! You work fast!"

"I had to turn down a few online orders to take on Aira-san's job, too. I'm pretty much your exclusive smith at this point."

"Which means... Shī-chan is already a ninja!!"

"I'm not a ninja."

"!?"

"I'm not a ninja either, you know?"

"!!??"

What's with that look of shock, as if you just found out your sworn enemy was your father?

"Noooooo!!"

She really started reacting like that.

"Erina."

"Yes!"

"If you shout inside the workshop again, I'm kicking you out."

"Okay."

With a small vein popping on her forehead, Shizuku-san got a compliant nod from the self-proclaimed ninja.

Then, looking annoyed, the workshop's master walked to the back and immediately returned, carrying the giant shuriken—the Daisharinmaru—wrapped in cloth.

Erina-san took it and peeled back part of the cloth.

"Here. I increased the blade's thickness by three millimeters and forged the steel I used in the ‘Furnace of Utuq.’ It's not quite twice as strong as before, but it should still be considerably tougher."

"Thank you, Shī-chan! I love you!"

"Yeah, yeah. I love you too."

"What should I do, Kyō-chan!? I just got confessed to!"

"That's great for you."

"Sorry, Erina. I'm not into that."

"What should I do, Kyō-chan!? I just got rejected!"

"That's rough."

As I half-listened to her nonsense, Shizuku-san suddenly took my hand.

It was small but slightly thick. It felt a little harder than Erina-san's, but the sensation of a member of the opposite sex's hand still made my heart skip a beat.

But the person holding it just looked at my fingertips and clicked her tongue.

"Tch, they haven't grown much yet."

"Ah, yes."

This harassing dwarf. Seriously, if our genders were reversed, you'd be sued. In civil court.

"Come back when your nails and hair have grown out. I'll cut them."

"Um. If you're concerned about qualifications for drawing blood, shouldn't you leave that to professionals at a hair salon or nail salon...?"

"Shut up. Let me collect them."

"Kyō-chan, are you okay? If you go to a hair salon or a nail salon, won't you turn to stone?"

"...No comment."

"When I went with Paisen before, I had to carry her home! When you go, Kyō-chan, I'll go with you!"

The self-proclaimed ninja gave a vigorous thumbs-up. I silently averted my gaze.

I used to go to barbershops until a little while ago, but hair salons always felt kind of intimidating... As for nail salons, I don't even really know what they do there.

Like, they file your nails and paint something on them? Something like that?

"Also, hair and nail salons for Awakened Persons, especially high-level ones, are craaaazy expensive. Be careful. Don't even think about paying with cash. Bring a card. Or an app that can handle large payments."

"Are they that expensive?"

"I thought my eyes were going to pop out."

Seeing Shizuku-san nod with a straight face made my cheek twitch again.

This is a person who deals in armaments worth millions, sometimes tens of millions of yen. For her to be wide-eyed about it, just how much could it cost?

However, it's hard to say they're overcharging. My own hair, for example, feels normal to the touch, but when you try to cut it, it's as strong as wire. To cut and style that, the stylist would probably have to be an Awakened Person too, and use specialized tools.

"So, just let me cut it. Okay? You don't really care about your hair or nails as long as you don't stand out, right?"

"Besides, Kyō-chan likes it when Shī-chan holds his arm! Because she presses her boobs against it!"

"Erina."

"Yes!"

"You're too loud. Get out."

"Aw, man!"

Shizuku-san's ears, who had turned away towards her workbench, were faintly red.

Somehow, I felt sorry...

And thank you for the side boob...! Since saying it out loud would be sexual harassment, I bowed my head deeply in my mind.

"Kyouta, you get out too. I've got the order. I'll give the syringe to this idiot. Bring the materials later. Including yourself."

"Understood. Well then, I'll be going."

"I'll get the work started up to the point before injecting your blood. I've got the request from Aira-san, too. I need to make progress on that."

"Yes. Thank you for everything."

I bowed to her as she waved a hand without turning around, and then left the workspace.

As always, the factory was filled with the sound of machinery, with workers sweating as they faced the iron. I prayed that the self-proclaimed ninja's voice hadn't reached them.

Still, this factory apparently got back on its feet by making equipment for dungeon exploration... I wonder what they think about the current situation.

About a week has passed since the white dragon appeared in the Holophagus's dungeon.

All dungeons are still sealed off.

Will the day come when dungeons are reopened to the public? And if it does, will the government release information about the white dragon... and the rumored red dragon?

If they reopen the dungeons while remaining silent, I'll have no choice but to tell Shizuku-san and Aika-san myself. Whether I tell other adventurers will depend on the situation.

But if the government does announce what happened that day...

What will happen to Japan, to the adventurers? If the "superficial safety" provided by ranks crumbles, can the adventurer system even continue?

Many might retire, saying it's too dangerous. Or perhaps, the dungeons won't be opened to the public at all.

This problem, which could affect the very existence of the adventurer system, I wonder how it will be resolved.

With these thoughts, I left the factory with the self-proclaimed ninja.