kscans

Chapter 237 - Invisible Ninjas, Second Squad

After school, we found ourselves at Shizuku-san's workshop.

Amidst the familiar hum of machinery, her workspace now occupied a quarter of the entire factory floor.

What was once just a partitioned area sectioned off by a thick curtain now had simple but proper walls.

At this rate, I thought, the whole factory is going to become her workshop.

Well, as long as the factory itself remained, Shizuku-san would probably be fine with it. Even if the products changed, as long as the workers stayed the same, it was still the same factory.

"So, what's with the sudden visit? You got an order for me?"

"Yep! First, I want Shī-chan to take a look at this!"

With that, Erina-san pulled a massive cannon from her Item Box.

It was the three-barreled revolving cannon, adorned in black and blue. The drop item from Cerberus.

As it was placed with a heavy thud on the metal workbench, Aika-san's eyes widened, and Shizuku-san placed a hand on her chin.

"The Black Hell Cannon! My new ninja tool!"

Erina-san struck a pose, gesturing dramatically toward the cannon with both hands as if to say, 'Ta-da!'

"Well, I've seen it once already. Right after you got it."

"This is my first time seeing it. I can feel an incredible amount of mana... but the mana stored inside feels like it's yours, Kyouta-kun."

"Yes. It uses mana instead of gunpowder."

I nodded in response to Aika-san's words.

"The ammunition is also made with the same principle as Arcane Gear, and I've already loaded it."

"I see... But loading this seems like it would take days for anyone but you, Kyouta-kun."

"Yeah! If I tried to load it, I'd probably pass out after just one barrel!"

"Aika, don't you even think about trying to channel mana into it. Once you start loading this thing, you can't stop. Not by your own will, anyway. You either fill it to the brim or cut off the arm touching the barrel. It'll suck you dry and kill you. You can't just charge it in multiple sessions whenever you want."

"Isn't that a cursed weapon?"

"The world of a ninja... is a merciless one...!"

As Aika-san's expression went blank, I offered a vague smile and ignored the self-proclaimed ninja next to me.

In truth, it was an incredibly dangerous item for anyone who didn't have an absurd amount of mana like I did. Was that hellhound trying to say that if you wanted to use its power, you had to offer up your life?

"So, I know it's a long shot, but."

"Shī-chan! Can you trick it out for me?"

"Not a chance in hell, you idiot."

"So harsh!?"

Shizuku-san made a pouting face, and Erina-san's eyes welled up with tears.

"Um, could you at least change the shape of the warhead and add some rifling?"

"I told you, I can't. You know how hard it is to modify a completed magic tool. If this thing used separate ammunition, I could make some dart-shaped shells, but there's no way to load them. You'd risk the barrel breaking in the middle of a fight."

"But you managed to do it with the ring... so I thought maybe you could, Shī-chan."

"Don't you dare compare that with this...!"

With a heavy sigh, Shizuku-san pinched the bridge of her nose as if staving off a headache.

"The Bracelet of the Flame Horse was like overclocking a commercial PC and slapping a touch panel on it. Trying to mess with that Black Hell Cannon is as reckless as an amateur trying to do a full maintenance check on a supercomputer."

"It's that complex...?"

"That magic tool is incredibly precise. It's in a different 'class.' It's beyond my skill. Even the `Alchemy Enthusiasts Club` would probably struggle with it. Seriously, that damn Atlantis Empire..."

Shizuku-san glared at the Black Hell Cannon with hatred.

If she was saying that, then we had no choice but to give up. Besides, that was more of a 'nice to have' request. Our main goal was something else.

"In that case, what about making it usable by a golem?"

"The difficulty just went up, didn't it? Impossible, impossible... Well, a golem probably can't use it, but."

With a sidelong glance, Shizuku-san's eyes flicked to another desk.

After a quick look at the blueprints spread out there, she gave a fearless smirk.

"I can at least modify the grip so that other thing can use it."

"That's my Shī-chan! I love you!"

"Shut up. You're too damn close, get off me...!"

Erina-san, beaming, threw her arms around Shizuku-san and nuzzled her cheek against her.

I discreetly averted my eyes from the sight of her massive chest squishing and changing shape. Hold fast, my orichalcum reason...!

"So, there's one more thing I wanted to ask, or rather, have you look at."

"What is it? And just so you know, any more work is gonna push me past my limit."

"No, this one's more for Ā-chan."

"For me?"

Aika-san tilted her head, her long black hair swaying, and Erina-san nodded.

Stepping away from Shizuku-san, she took a metal box from her Item Box.

It was large enough to fit a human torso and was securely locked. Furthermore, its surface was covered with numerous warning labels.

"Oi. What's with that obviously dangerous-looking thing?"

"It is dangerous! One slip-up and even an Awakened Person could bite the dust!"

"You serious?"

"I am. That's a drop item from the A-Rank boss monster we just fought."

"...So, it's on the same level as that cannon, and what's more..."

"It's related to poison and curses, I take it? Since it's for me."

Shizuku-san's face twisted in disgust, and a bead of sweat trickled down Aika-san's cheek.

"Don't bring something like that into my place... is what I want to say. But I'm guessing it doesn't vaporize, right?"

"That's right. As long as you don't touch the blade, it's fine. Otherwise, the SDF would have confiscated it by now."

"I'm opening it now, just a sec!"

Putting away the cannon, Erina-san placed the box on the workbench.

She undid both of the two locks and slowly opened the lid.

"Ugh..."

The malevolent mana that was released made everyone but Erina-san groan quietly. No matter how many times I saw it, it was grotesque.

Inside lay a dagger with a serpentine blade.

It was small compared to its case, but its presence was more than enough to overwhelm the entire workspace. The dark green blade glinted under the factory lights.

"It's a drop item from a monster called Basmu. Normally, civilians aren't allowed to have it, but we got special permission!"

"Well, the same could be said for the cannon, I suppose."

When we were promoted to A-Rank, Director Akasaka told us he would 'do his best to look the other way on certain matters,' and this was likely part of that.

It would probably only last until we subjugated the white dragon, but we wouldn't have any regrets after defeating that thing anyway.

We planned to use up both the cannon and this dagger, to throw everything we had at that lizard.

"It's more than amazing, it's terrifying... What could they have been thinking, to want to mix this much poison and curse together? And to do it with such a perfectly calculated combination, so that they don't weaken each other..."

Aika-san stared at the dagger, looking like she was about to be sick.

I couldn't imagine that the Atlantis Empire was able to create something like this from the start. If they could, monsters in lower-rank dungeons would be equipped with them.

It was likely created shortly before or after the empire's fall. A period of various 'trial and error' experiments that were nauseating just to imagine.

There must have been ordinary citizens involved, so I knew it was disrespectful to think this, but... I was truly glad that empire was gone.

"This is something that no human, let alone an Awakened Person, should ever touch. It erodes all living things, killing them at the end of a long agony. That's what this is...!"

"By the way, Kyouta-chan took a direct hit from a breath attack that was just as bad as this."

"Well, that's just Kyouta-kun for you."

"Hey, what's with that tone of acceptance?"

I couldn't help but interject, but I was ignored. Just what kind of being am I in your eyes...?

"So, you fought two A-Rank bosses in a row, huh? How was this one compared to the first?"

"It was strong, but thanks to a good matchup, the fight itself was short."

"Still, we didn't have any room for error, though."

Erina-san and I looked at each other, our eyes distant.

Looking at the result alone, we came out unscathed and managed to completely shut down our opponent. However, if we had let Basmu do even one thing it wanted, there was a chance the tables could have been turned.

We had enough firepower to kill its massive body, and we had hard counters like myself and Mia-san. Without that, we might have been swallowed up by its poison breath, which even the Mushussu's ward couldn't block, or by the horde of kin it summoned.

It was truly an opponent where we could say we only won because of a favorable matchup.

"So, what exactly do you want me to do...?"

"I was hoping you could make a sheath for this."

"If we keep it in the case all the time, we won't be able to draw it quickly when we need it."

"...I see. It's true, a normal sheath would have the poison seep through from the inside."

The inside of this metal case was inscribed with numerous magic circles. We were currently borrowing it from the SDF, who used them to transport dangerous magical items.

This dagger was harmless as long as you didn't touch the blade, but conversely, anything that touched the blade would be assailed by its curse and poison.

Looking closely, I could see that the magic circles kept the dagger constantly levitating, so that it didn't even touch the cotton padding lining the case.

Incidentally, that cotton was soaked in a potent magical potion. It couldn't neutralize the poison, but it should buy some time.

"I understand. I'll see what I can do."

"Please do! We'll pay you well, of course."

"No, you've all helped me so much... Ah."

She clapped her hands together and looked back and forth between me and Shizuku-san.

Then, she smiled sweetly.

"In that case, I'll put it on your 'tab.' You'd better pay me back, okay? Erina-san. Kyouta-kun."

"She's copying her! She's copying her, Kyouta-chan!"

"Please call it 'paying homage.'"

"Huh? I don't talk all cutesy-cutesy like that. A tab is just a tab."

I chuckled at the three of them, as noisy as ever. Even though the request itself was plenty dangerous.

That aside.

"Aika-san, for crafting the sheath, please take this."

"What's this...?"

She tilted her head at the small vial I offered her.

"It's an antidote. I asked Professor Arisugawa to make it using a part of me as a material. If there's an accident while you're working, please use this. Given the nature of the poison, it shouldn't be instantly fatal."

"Hold on, Kyouta. Hey."

Perhaps because I had asked her friend to do a dangerous job, Shizuku-san glared at me, her sharp eyes narrowed to their limit.

"You... you wouldn't let me use it, but... you gave your semen to Erina's grandma...!?"

"It was blood, you harassing dwarf."

So that's not what happened at all.

"Even so...! For me to be able to use your blood, it took so long for...!"

"No, that was just a matter of sharing secrets. It's not like I treat you and the professor differently."

"Tch...! You cheater!"

"What a terrible thing to say."

I could have sworn I heard the sound of a large piece of metal dropping in the distance. I hoped everything was alright.

I felt a strange sense of killing intent. Hmm, a bad feeling...

"Anyway, I know I'm asking you to do something very dangerous, and I feel bad about it, but..."

"No. I may not be able to stand with you on the battlefield, but I am proud to be your ally."

Aika-san took the vial, her hands enveloping mine as she did.

Her cool yet soft touch made my heart skip a beat.

"That's why I'm so happy you're relying on me. Leave it to me. I'll make sure it's done right."

"P-Please do."

"Look, Erina. Aika's trying to seduce him."

"What a hussy!!"

"I-It's not seduction! And Erina-san, where did you learn such a word!?"

"From a manga I borrowed from senpai!"

"...I'll have a word with Aira-san about that later."

"Please do...!"

Her face red all the way to her ears, Aika-san clutched the vial to her chest as if it were a precious treasure.

"I'll take good care of it. I'll have Shizuku-san help me, so don't worry."

"Eh? I'm busy with other work..."

"I'll have you help me, so don't worry."

"...Yeah."

Shizuku-san was acting like a henpecked husband. They were a close pair, this mismatched duo.

Well, I heard that Aika-san usually helped her with her studies and other things, so maybe she just couldn't say no to her.

"Alright, I'm counting on you two! Let's show them that the technical skill of the Invisible Ninjas is the best in the world!"

"Ah, while we may be your allies, we are not members of the Invisible Ninjas."

"Same here."

"Why not!?"

"The name."

As we had this silly conversation, we started for home.

...It would be best if these preparations ended up being for nothing, of course.

Still, I would continue to prepare. To make ready to kill that damn lizard.

I clenched my fist and headed for the bus stop.

Incidentally, as we were leaving the factory, I saw a middle-aged man with sharp eyes holding a wrench being restrained by the other workers while Ooyama-san's mother yelled at him... I decided not to think about who that person was, or what kind of misunderstanding he was having.

I'll just pray that Shizuku-san can clear up the misunderstanding somehow!