Chapter 128 The Emperor of Black Fire
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
I had just made Yohira’s Hydrangea stronger, and a new idea came to me. If it now had the power to take in elements, then maybe we could clear the tower past the fifty-first floor too.
With orichalcum (magic metal) in hand, I could also change the plates on my Genbu (turtle armor) model. Everyone had told me not to die, so I should ask for their okay.
”Um, I need to talk about something,” I said, and all eyes turned to me. I took a small breath and spoke.
”I want to change the armor on my Arcane Armor to orichalcum. Is that okay?”
”Approved,” they all said at once.
”You all agreed in one second?”
I gave a weak laugh. Still, it showed how much they cared. When I thought of that, I felt shy but also a bit proud.
”Then I’ll upgrade my Genbu model later. But first, Tatia, about your equipment.”
”I still think I can fight with my aura,” she said.
She was right. Her gear was strong enough to work up to the eightieth floor. But now we had no time to waste. We needed to upgrade before talking too long.
”You can fight, sure. With what I heard about the enemies, you could go to the seventieth floor without trouble.”
”Then—”
”But that is really only about defense.”
Aura gave very high defense, but other boosts were not so good. Her outer gear could stay until the student raids were over, but her inner muscle suit needed a new version.
”I want to raise your body boosts, like attack and speed,” I said.
”Is it… because you could not beat the Spirit King in one hit?” she asked.
”That started it, yes. But if we don’t have enough power to beat the boss on the fiftieth floor fast, we will be in danger. A long fight is risky. So I want to raise your battle power, Tatia.”
Tatia closed her eyes and thought for a full minute. At last, she opened them and looked straight at me.
”I understand. Please give me the strength to protect you.”
Her words eased my heart and made my will firm. I would use Dahlia’s inner muscle armor as a guide and make a new top model for Tatia.
”So, um… I need your measurement,” I said.
”Eh, did it change!?”
Tatia trained every day, so I did not think she got fat. So… more muscle?
”Well… around my chest and bottom,” she said.
The moment she said it, Yohira moved her hands up and down in front of her own chest. Please stop, I could almost hear a “whoosh.”
”Do you know what caused it?” I asked.
”S-Since I became one with Tatara-dono!?” she burst out.
Yes, her voice jumped from shame. And yes, I was the one who asked.
”Okay… then, let’s do the measurement.”
”…Yes,” she said softly.
Tatia put her clothes into her inventory and stood naked. I had seen her once before, so it should not make me shy, but her body was shaped like a fine statue. It was very beautiful.
I took her sizes. Her cup size had gone up, and her hips had more shape too. It felt like her body was getting ready to have a child. As expected from ero-fantasy—anything goes.
”Um, I’m done,” I said.
”Hmm, are you not excited?” she asked.
”I am. Very much.”
Please don’t say that when I am already hard. Of course I was excited to see the girl I liked.
”I see… I thought maybe you were not, since you did not push me down.”
”I’m holding back. Ethelena and Yohira are here.”
When I looked over, Ethelena smiled, but there was pressure in it. I would pay for this later.
Once Tatia dressed, I opened a magic word processor and showed my design. I used Dahlia’s equipment as a base and changed the back part.
”I’ll start work now and give it to you tomorrow.”
”I understand. Please do.”
”Oh, and give me Andrea too. I’ll make it change elements.”
”Yes, please,” she said.
I took her beloved sword. If I tuned it, it might get stronger too.
”I’ll take Ethelena’s equipment as well,” I said.
”Sure, here,” she said, and handed it over from her inventory. I hoped her cup size had not changed too much for her gear; I had left room for three cups last time.
”And Yohira, I’ll give you the new katana (sword) fittings later. Change the guard, please.”
”Hmm, is the current one no good?” she asked.
”No, the design can’t work with many elements.”
”Sou ka, I see, noja,” she said with a nod.
Good, everyone agreed. Our team would get a full power-up.
”Wait, Tatia! Your time!”
”…Fa!?”
We had talked too long and forgot her curfew. Tatia jumped up.
”Do we explore tomorrow!?” she asked.
”I don’t know. Central Administration and the merchant guild take jobs until nine at night. I’ll send mind-talk when we know, so wear your accessory!”
”Understood, sorry for the trouble!!”
She ran out. Thanks to items that raised Movement, she became a blur. Maybe she still had time to spare after all.
I sent Ethelena and Yohira to their rooms and went to my workshop. I decided to do simple tasks first and took out Ethelena’s armor.
I did not push my face into it or breathe in like a creep. I first checked for damage and repaired it. Ethelena’s armor was made with Archangel feathers and mithril silver thread, so I called it Angel Robe. I was sure it could last to the very bottom of the tower.
Set Equipment: Angel Robe
Physical Defense +100
Magic Attack +40
Magic Defense +100
Speed +50
Movement +3
Special Ability: All Element Resistance, Status Effect Resistance’
To be honest, I had been too protective of Ethelena while she wore that armor. I just did not want to see someone I loved get hurt. I used royal gems on her jacket, gloves, and shoes to make them stronger. The gloves had different colors on left and right now, but that small asymmetric design was her taste, so it was fine. Like with Yohira, the gems added a boost to Physical Attack. If she dropped her mana gun, she could punch instead. The wind gem on the shoes raised Movement, and the water gem on the jacket raised defense.
The new armor for Ethelena was so different that I could not read its status at first.
”Well… Matriglanz, that will be your name,” I said.
A feeling of something linking together ran through me, and the status became clear.
Set Equipment: Matriglanz
Physical Attack +20
Physical Defense +130
Magic Attack +50
Magic Defense +150
Speed +75
Movement +5
Special Ability: Element Absorb: Four Elements, Element Resist: Light & Dark, Status Effect Resist
It was as strong as a poster girl’s show-piece gear. With this, she should handle leveling even after she rose to a higher state.
Next, I began on Tatia’s inner muscle armor. I took mithril ingots equal to half her body weight and about two kilos of orichalcum. First, I strengthened the mithril and orichalcum with a fragment of the Creation Goddess’s core. Tatia had angel blood, so I thought this would fit her, but we would not know until testing.
I set a royal gem on each wrist, the center of the chest, and the lower belly. The elements flowed slowly, while the inner armor kept a pure saint mithril light. I copied the aura spell formula onto it, but we still needed a test run. If not, Tatia might get thrown back by the output, like I did when I changed from Black Iron to the Genbu model.
Once Tatia’s new inner armor only needed fine tuning, I moved to adjust Andrea. I took the four element gems and orichalcum. I removed the guard and melted it once, then mixed in the orichalcum, forged it again, and shaped it.
I used the same skill I used to carve spell formulas into magic devices and added them to the guard. I set the four gems, and each sent out colored lines like vines that curled together. The blade lit each element in turn like shifting lights in the sky. Because of the orichalcum guard, the waiting state looked like this. It was like a gaming estoc now.
Then I forged a new guard with mithril and orichalcum shaped like rings crossing in a cross. I carved a spell formula on the rings, then linked the circle. I kept the elements from reacting with each other, and it was done. The white-gold shine was beautiful. I named it Four Heavenly Kings’ Sword Guard, a katana guard that let the user switch the four elements with their will.
With that, the team’s equipment was mostly done. I only needed to finish mine. I had worked too fast in one go and felt a bit tired. I should get some water in the kitchen.
(Please look, Tatara-san is crafting. So cute.)
(Cute…?)
”Gwah!?”
As I let out a breath, a mind-voice I knew well came from behind, and a strange sound escaped me. I turned and saw the Archangel and the Seisouchou standing side by side.
”You scared me,” I said.
(Fufu, I could not surprise you last time, so this is payback!)
The Archangel answered with a proud pose. Her large chest shook under the apron dress like Ichika’s. I looked away; it felt wrong to see her in that way.
”So, Seisouchou being here means you want the statue, right?”
(Yes, please!)
(You are very lively, Sister.)
Watching the oddly excited Archangel, I took a mithril ingot from my inventory and used Crafting. I let the world image fill me and shaped the mithril in my hands.
When the sense of “done” came, I opened my eyes. There stood the Seisouchou with a calm smile, touching the arm of her glasses. It was the same complete still figure type as the Archangel and the Chef I made before. The other two had changed a lot, but this one looked the same as in the game. Well, she did not really have a change point anyway.
”With this, the request is done, yes?” I asked.
The Archangel’s eyes shone as she took the statue.
(This! This is what I wanted!!)
(Sister, you are too excited.)
Well, last time the figure of her little sister turned out to be an adult figure with too much skin, so this must feel like a big win. I was glad it worked.
”By the way, you wanted a floor wiper too, right?” I asked.
(I plan to ask about that in detail, so please wait a bit.)
The Seisouchou moved quickly out of the room. Wait, wasn’t she terrible at housework and could not even make tea?
As I wondered, she came back… carrying the Chef under her arm. What?
(Wh-What is it, Big Sis!?)
”You almost made her cry by dragging her here,” I said.
(But I cannot make tea, so bringing the one who can is the best choice, no?)
”Are you out of your mind?”
I freed the confused, teary Chef from her hold. She almost fell, so I held her, and she fit right into my arms. She was so small.
(Fweh, Tatara-san!?)
”You were too shocked to notice, huh…”
The Chef stayed in my arms with no fight at all. Was she leaning on me?
(…You are calm,) she said.
”She was shocked and dragged here. Let her rest a bit,” I said.
(You dropped your polite talk,) the Seisouchou noted.
”I don’t use polite talk on a big sister who troubles her little sister.”
(…Fufu, I see.)
The Seisouchou looked almost happy. I then noticed the Chef hugging me back. Since when was she this open?
”Hey, Chef?” I said.
(Hehe, Tatara-san’s smell. His heart is beating… it’s really beating.)
She seemed to calm down just by listening to my heartbeat. Maybe the last incident had left a scar on her heart.
(Now then, could you leave the Tarashi-san zone and make tea?)
”What is that strange zone supposed to be?”
(…Fugyu!?)
Chef snapped back to herself and froze in my arms. I gently let her go, and she stared at me with a red face. Was she okay?
”…Are you alright?” I asked.
(…)
(She seems not okay,) the Seisouchou said.
”Hey, don’t say that like it has nothing to do with you. You’re the one who dragged her here.”
I could not stop myself from snapping at the Seisouchou. Was she always this wild? She must have acted calm in the game too.
After a moment, the Seisouchou clapped her hands in front of Chef. That sound brought Chef back.
(Wh-Why is Tatara-san here!?) she asked.
”This is my home, and your big sister brought you here,” I said.
(Why are you still staring? Make tea already!)
”You’re being too bossy.”
While I gave tsukkomi at the sisters, Chef let out a long breath and began to prepare tea.
”Should I make a pot with a heat-up function for hot water?” I asked.
(Tatara-san, if you make something that easy, our youngest sister will live on cup noodles. So no.)
(Also, she would break it first before using it, Big Sister.)
So the youngest was that clumsy. Chef did not deny it.
”But the Seisouchou is worse at cooking, right?” I said.
(The Big Sister is a kitchen destroyer.)
”That is scary.”
(Even if I destroy it, I clean it to look new, so it is fine.)
”That is not fine at all,” Chef and I said together.
Fixing it after blowing it up does not erase the crime.
(…Huh? When did you two get here?) the Archangel asked.
(You were too focused on the figure, Sister.)
Archangel had returned to normal. Chef answered with an exhausted voice. She finished tea fast, and even put out sweets from her inventory on a table she somehow set up without touching my work desks. Nice of her to think of that.
(Now then, Tarashi-san. Drink tea, wet your throat, and then tell us everything.)
”Why does this feel like an interrogation?”
(Our older sister loves cleaning tools.)
”And Archangel loves her little sister.”
(Of course, I’m her Onee-chan!)
”Don’t puff your chest, siscon.”
I sighed and took a sip of tea.
At once, the taste and smell filled my mouth and nose. Even though the leaves should be dry, the tea tasted fresh. It had a light bitterness and a soft sweet note. Some might need sugar, but for me it was just right. Was this really just tea?
(…Um, did you not like it?) Chef asked quietly.
No, I had just spaced out from how good it was.
”No. It’s the best tea I’ve ever had. The smell is rich, and the light bitterness has a soft sweet taste. I could drink this any time.”
(Ehehe… I’m glad!)
Chef gave a bright smile—rare even in the game. Fans counted that she only smiled like this less than ten times across the whole series.
The sweets were financiers. The outside was crisp, the inside soft and moist. It tasted like she used honey, not sugar, so the sweetness was gentle. I smelled a little cinnamon too. Drinking tea with it raised both flavors even more. So this was the skill of the “good cook” official setting. If I had not been charmed by Ethelena and Ichika’s cooking, I might have fallen.
(Now, please tell us about the floor wiper and other cleaning tools,) the Seisouchou said.
”Why are your eyes shining like that when the room already has light?”
She sat like some secret base commander with her elbows on the table and her hand over her mouth. The Archangel gave a weak smile; Chef looked resigned.
I took out my magic word processor and opened blueprints. I explained the magic floor wiper. As the Seisouchou’s pressure grew, I also showed a simple floor cleaner, then a handy cleaner, then a high-pressure washer, and more.
After the long talk, my throat was dry, so I drank more tea. Still amazing. The Seisouchou slapped the table and leaned forward.
(Then, please make them.)
”You’re serious?”
Her eyes, usually half-closed, were now open. They were a deep green, and—were her pupils vertical? Like a snake staring at a frog. No wonder she kept her eyes closed often.
(Of course I will pay well. If you want, I can offer my body, or even my sister—)
”Are you stupid!? Take care of your body and your sisters’! I don’t want that and never will!”
I could not stop the anger. Did she think I was that kind of man?
The Seisouchou went quiet and looked at me with sharp eyes, like she was checking if I lied.
(…Then what do you want?) she asked.
”…Same as last time. We’re low on magic metal, especially adamantite.”
This was not a wild demand. If I did not ask for something pricey, she would go out of control.
(I understand. I will give you some orichalcum and adamantite.)
She stepped back, and I felt some relief. If she sold herself, the Archangel would kill me.
Time to build. The floor wiper was more like a spray wiper. I used the jet spray tech from engines to spray cleaning liquid and attached two rotating polishers to wipe. With mithril, it was light.
The floor cleaner was also mithril, but I used ball joints like figure models for the head and shaft so it could move freely. The shaft could stretch, so it could clean walls or windows too.
The handy cleaner used the same build as the Hurricane Cleaner I made before, just smaller. To make it easy to use, I added a trigger so it only worked while held down.
The high-pressure washer used wind and water gems. As long as you fed mana, the gems made wind and water that sprayed out. It was a bit like a flamethrower in design, only the elements were the opposite, which was funny.
I finished everything and handed the tools to the Seisouchou. I felt tired after working so long. Chef offered tea, and when I sipped it, it was lemon tea with honey. It tasted great and helped my tired body and heart.
(Sorry for all the trouble from my sister, Tatara-san,) the Archangel said.
Then she began to massage my shoulders. I was shocked, but a pleasant feeling ran down my back. She must have noticed, because she kept going.
(To ask someone to make things for us… right now, only you can do that, Tatara-san.)
”…There were more people before, right?” I asked.
(Of course not. You saw this world’s history from outside, didn’t you?)
She was right. Across the past games, the Archangel sisters only asked someone to craft for them a few times. In “Beyond the Deep Darkness,” the smith only hunted the wing thief; he never took their requests.
(Why do you listen to us and not push us away?)
Even half-asleep from the massage, I could answer.
”Because I want you sisters to smile. That’s why I listen.”
Warmth and sleep washed over me.
(…Because of that, we—)
I heard her voice faintly, then sleep took me.
I woke up only fifteen minutes later. The sisters had waited. The Seisouchou had tested the new tools, and the workshop was spotless.
(If you’re that tired, you must not push yourself,) Chef said. Her tone was sharp, but her mind-voice showed real worry.
”Yeah, sorry.”
(As long as you understand. Here, chamomile tea. It’s good after waking up.)
”Thanks.”
I drank the tea. It was fresh and clear, and helped me relax.
”…So, Archangel, you needed something else?”
(Yes, I did!)
She answered with her usual bright energy.
(I heard from my sisters that you made a golem, Tatara-san?)
”Yes, for a job.”
(Please show me.)
Her eyes were full of joy. I glanced at Chef; she looked excited too. You got a plushie yesterday, didn’t you?
I sighed and took Chibi-Tatara from my inventory. He peeked out happily, but the moment he saw the Archangel and Chef, his face went blank and he dove back inside. You’re a golem, right?
(…He hid?) the Archangel said.
(Last time, he hid behind Tatara-san too,) Chef added.
”I don’t know why, but he’s cautious.”
Why was he so scared? Did he get destroyed in another timeline? No, that was silly.
”So, what about the golems?” I asked.
(We wanted to greet them and… if possible, receive one of our own,) the Archangel said.
Ah. That might be why he ran.
”…I’ll make a new one for you in the same size, okay?”
(Yes!)
(Then one for me too!)
So Chef liked golems more than I thought. Well, each should have something special.
”Then, can you give me some feathers?” I asked.
(Eh.)
(Yes!)
Chef agreed fast, while the Archangel froze. Right, her current blade-wings had no feathers.
Chef moved the frozen Archangel aside, stroked her own wings, plucked a few feathers, and handed them to me.
”They’re pretty. Same color as your hair.”
Chef blushed. The Seisouchou had called me a sweet-talker, but this time it seemed fine. I took thirteen mithril ingots from my inventory and strengthened them with Chef’s feathers. I used Crafting and Golem Crafting at the same time and shaped a small human form. It wore a cute cook coat like mine. I made a quick “egg” from a mana stone as its core and placed it inside. Soon its eyes opened, and it greeted me with energy.
”Ta!”
(It talked!?)
The Archangel jumped. Maybe her sisters forgot to tell her that part. They only said I made a golem—those two loved mischief.
I knelt and spoke to the new golem at eye level.
”Sorry to ask right after you’re born, but help Chef instead of me, okay?”
The golem looked between us, then walked to Chef. As it turned, I saw tiny wings on its back.
”Ta!”
(Yes, please look after me!) Chef said with a smile.
Maybe only the poster girls could truly hear the golem’s meaning. To me it sounded like “ta,” but Chef seemed to understand him.
Chef picked him up. He didn’t resist. After a moment, he relaxed and leaned on her.
(U-Um, Tatara-san,)
the Archangel said.
”Yes?”
(I… don’t have feathers!)
She always lost two or three whenever she visited, so why none now? I checked my inventory. I still had a few, but maybe…
(…Sister?) Chef said.
(Yes?) the Archangel answered.
(Try stroking your wings with a bit of strength.)
The Archangel did as told, and a few feathers appeared in her hand.
(Eh… why?)
She looked confused. For now, I took the feathers and planned to make her golem next.
”For now, can I hold onto those?” I asked.
(Eh—yes, here.)
I accepted the feathers and repeated the same process as before. Strangely, they blended into mithril even easier than other materials. I prepared another “egg,” embedded it as the core, and used Golem Crafting.
This time, the golem took the form of a chibi me in a butler outfit… We went from maid to butler? Why?
”Ta—?”
He opened his eyes, noticed me, and sounded confused.
(Um… why is he calling Tatara-san ‘Dad’?) the Archangel asked.
…What?
(My golem calls Tatara-san ‘Master,’ but my sister’s golem is calling him ‘Dad,’) Chef added.
That made even less sense. Sure, I made them, but still.
The golem looked away from me and walked cheerfully to the Archangel. He raised both hands and called out:
”Raa!”
(Eh—Mom!?) she yelped.
”What is he saying…”
The golem happily repeated “Raa” at the Archangel. She nervously picked him up. I noticed he had tiny blade-like wings on his back like hers.
”So, that makes both golems done, right?”
The sisters, each holding their golem, nodded with confused smiles. If this many were leaving my workshop, maybe I should send helpers to the City Mayor too… Maybe one medium and five small golems as a gift?
(Then, first, my payment,) the Seisouchou said.
”…Stop whispering behind my back,” I muttered.
(Just a little prank. Here.)
She handed me 10 kg of orichalcum and 5 kg of adamantite. That amount was insane, but perfect for upgrading the Genbu model armor.
(Next is from me. Here,) Chef said, offering 20 kg of orichalcum.
With that, I could completely replace the armor plating.
(And lastly, from me!) the Archangel said, giving 10 kg of adamantite.
My sense of value was breaking.
”I confirm the payment. Thank you.”
My head throbbed, but Dalma-san’s words echoed—accept proper payment with sincerity. Undervaluing my work would dishonor those who used it. I swallowed my guilt.
(That ends our extra requests. We’ll be going now.)
The poster girls lined up, bowed, and left the workshop. I wished they waited long enough for me to respond.
Still, I now had even more materials than planned. After the student event, I could make Tatia’s outer armor. For now, they told me to prioritize myself, so the Genbu model armor came first.
I removed all the demonsteel and prepared the same weight of orichalcum and half that weight of adamantite. With Crafting, I forged one metal sheet, then split it. I hammered and shaped curved plates matching the original armor. I used mithril lining with core stones to add elemental defense, then attached the armor plates. A simple upgrade, but it fixed its main weakness.
As expected, Appraisal showed nothing. I needed to give it a new name.
”…Black Radiance,” I decided.
Once named, Appraisal displayed its stats:
Arcane Armor: Black Radiance
HP +100
Mana +0
Skill Power +0
Physical Attack +80
Physical Defense +80
Magic Attack +80
Magic Defense +80
Speed +80
Movement +5
Special Abilities: Artillery / Magic Bombardment (Revised) / Auto-Regeneration / Elemental Absorption: Four Elements
Magic Bombardment (Revised):
Mana Cost: 2–100
Power: (Mana Spent ÷ 2) + Magic Attack
Yeah, that was busted. I could probably rush to floor 80 without a plan.
I stored my nearly poster-girl-level arcane armor in my inventory and left the workshop. Cleaning was already done by the Seisouchou, so I only needed to tidy a bit. In the living room, Cipher flew toward me.
”Whoa—what is it?”
I held out my left arm to catch him. A letter was tied to his leg. I untied and read it. Requests from the City Mayor and the merchant guild master. One in the morning, one in the evening—both doable in a day. I wrote my acceptance and tied it back.
”Can you deliver this?”
Cipher chirped and flew off at top speed.
I’d hand out the updated equipment tomorrow morning. I activated the accessory’s spell formula and sent telepathy to Tatia and the others:
’Tomorrow I’ll be busy with requests from the Mayor and the Merchant Guild, so I won’t join exploration. Equipment is upgraded but not fine-tuned. Use aura if possible.’
’Understood. Being a crafter is rough,’ Tatia replied.
’Well, I like it, so it’s fine. Get everyone to level 50 and collect stat-up items if you can.’
’Got it.’
Only Tatia replied. Maybe the others didn’t hear, or they let her answer for everyone since she was the farthest away.
Thinking about that, I headed to the bath to wash off the workshop grime.
Notes:
• Yohira – Torakuma’s first name. Oni warrior.
• Dahlia – The automaton.
• Ichika – The fox girl. Kunoichi. Virgincest⚠️, becomes pregnant immediately.
• Dalma – A massive, rugged Explorer with a burly frame and a presence that overshadows others, long considered a battle comrade of Rogas, Calmys, and the mayor. Straightforward and loyal, his trademark is entrusting everything to his allies—“makaseru otoko,” the kind who leaves even the forging of his great axe entirely to Tatara’s hands.
• Cipher – Tatara’s familiar, sent to guard Tatia.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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