Chapter 138 A Small Sign
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Tatara needed to check Ichika’s body again to make the new clothes, but he felt bad asking her. This was for cutting the finished mithril (silver metal) cloth with ‘Crafting’ and making Ichika’s ninja clothes. He had just finished Ichika’s ‘Impact Wing’ and now wove cloth with Mithril Silver Thread.
”Ichika…” he said.
”Yes, what is it, Master-degozaru?” she asked.
”I need to see your body to make your ninja clothes.”
”That is fine-degozaru,” Ichika replied.
She agreed at once. Tatara checked with care, but Ichika took off everything she wore. Yes, everything. The workshop light fell on her beautiful naked body right in front of him.
Her breasts seemed a little bigger now. The tips pointed up sharply. Even without touch, he could feel their firmness and softness. From her thin waist, the line of her thighs held up full hips good for having babies. That was beautiful too.
Thin hair grew lightly over the secret place that had taken him before-ssu. Liquid spilled from deep inside. It showed she was ready to take him.
”Hey!” Tatara said.
She noticed his worry but smiled in a sexy way. “You want to say I do not need to take off my underwear, right?” Ichika asked.
This was bad. Heat rose in him.
”I am a young female too. I want Tatara-sama so much I cannot stand it,” she said.
Her voice went back to normal. She moved slowly. Her fingertips traced his jaw. The touch made him impatient. He felt tingles run up his back.
More than that, his manhood stood ready for full battle. It wanted Ichika.
Ichika kept her shiny smile. She put her hand on his cheek. Then she brought her lips to his.
Their tongues tangled. Tatara could not hold back his excitement. He lifted Ichika and pushed her down on the work table.
He played with her soft breasts using both hands. He put his face between them. He sucked her skin with loud sounds.
Ichika let out sweet sounds from the touch. This made Tatara even more excited. His reason started to go away.
He pulled his manhood out of his pants with impatience. He pushed it against Ichika’s secret place.
Reason screamed to stop. His child was already inside her. But instinct whispered to ignore that and take Ichika.
He gave in to instinct. The tip of his manhood pushed open her vaginal opening and went in.
”That is far enough,” a voice said.
Mana wrapped around Tatara and held him. This feeling was now familiar. It was Ethelena’s binding magic.
He looked over. Sure enough, Ethelena stood there in a big T-shirt and hot pants.
”Ethelena… thank you,” Tatara said.
”Yes, you really look at your limit,” she replied.
Ethelena made Tatara step back even though he could not fight it. Ichika looked at them with an unhappy face.
”I was so close to ending our long wait with Master-degozaru…”
”Issan, you know your own body, right?” Ethelena asked.
Ichika pushed out her lips and showed her unhappiness. Ethelena’s voice sounded a bit strict.
Was it dangerous to do it here?
”I judged a little would be okay-degozaru,” Ichika said.
”If you take Tatara’s wild power now, your head will go stupid,” Ethelena explained.
”Wait a second. Ichika’s head going stupid? What does that mean?” Tatara asked.
He worried about his own wild state too. But he did not understand how Ichika’s head could go stupid if she took him. If it was about her bottom getting loose from his size, he could kind of get that—but shut up.
Ethelena answered his question.
”You know Tatara’s ‘Sex Sorcery’ is very strong, right?”
”I finished it, so I know it is a bit strong…”
”Well, it probably puts out five times the power of normal ‘Sex Sorcery’. Tatara’s ‘Sex Sorcery’ output.”
”…Yes?” Tatara and Ichika said together. They sounded blank.
Wait. His ‘Sex Sorcery’ was five times normal? The white demon had five times the power of mass-made enemies too. But what did white stuff have to do with—idiot.
”Oh, ‘normal’ is hard to understand. It is five times the output of a normal succubus. That is more exact,” Ethelena said.
”That makes even less sense,” Tatara replied.
Ethelena was his usual partner, so he thought it was stronger than average. But stronger than a normal succubus? What?
”Isn’t my ‘Sex Sorcery’ growing to satisfy Ethelena by doing it more times?”
”Yes, Tatara’s semen amount is growing too.”
”Semen amount too, huh.”
Was more production just a side effect?
”You may have the wrong idea, Tatara. A partner for us succubi is a very big deal,” Ethelena said.
Hey, Ethelena did not even know her own body until the archangel told her she got ‘Sex Sorcery’. Was she really saying this?
”Body match including semen is part of it. But soul and mana level match is needed too. Or the person cannot be a partner.”
”This talk is getting huge-degozaru,” Ichika said.
Tatara thought the same. Ichika said it for him. Soul-level match was a big deal. It was like god-killers and demon lord magic swords in old stories. Oh, the first apostle had good match too, right?
”When we first did it, I almost killed Tatara who had no ‘Sex Sorcery’, remember?” Ethelena asked.
”So I really almost died back then.”
That time had the biggest ejaculation of his life. After, he quickly filled the empty slot with ‘Sex Sorcery’. He remembered it well. Now Ethelena had ‘Sex Sorcery’ too, so wild power was lower. But without it, he might be dead now.
”That first time and all the work Tatara did to satisfy me made ‘Sex Sorcery’ grow in that way. It gives pleasure to satisfy a succubus. And it makes enough semen for one person to do it.”
”So that’s my ‘Sex Sorcery’.”
From the talk, it seemed useless on anyone but Ethelena—or other succubi. Maybe Tatia woke up to masochism because his ‘Sex Sorcery’ output was too high when it turned pain to pleasure? He thought it was useful after finishing it. But now he learned it caused problems.
”Maybe the reason I want Master is…”
”That is just because Issan is lewd,” Ethelena said.
”Hey.”
Ichika’s question got shot down fast. And with a pretty bad reason. Why did Ichika look a bit relieved?
”No, Issan is the strange one. How do you keep your reason after taking Tatara’s ‘Sex Sorcery’ that even normal succubi cannot stand?”
”Are we talking about some new brainwash monster?”
”Look at Chi-chan today. Her held-back sex desire came out like that.”
”So that idea was because of that!?”
How much was Tatia holding in? Did they need to do it regularly? Well, that was not just sex desire. Wanting to get strong mixed in too, he thought. Maybe make a weapon that could do body and magic attacks at the same time.
”By the way, Chi-chan now likes being tied or held by Tatara and treated rough.”
”Stop telling people’s sex likes, especially companions’ ones.”
”By the way, Issan likes new-married sweet sex or when Tatara cannot hold back and takes her one way.”
”Do not tell-degozaru!” Ichika said.
Ethelena became too strong when sex came up. Reading without ‘Appraisal’ was unfair. What could really stop her?
”Come to think, Ichika was more the type to let herself be led the first time.”
”Do not remember old times like that-degozaru.”
Ichika’s face turned red. She complained at his words. But remembering was okay. She had been cute.
”The talk went way off, I think. But Ethelena stopped me this time for Ichika’s sake, right?” Tatara asked.
”Yes. If you had taken Tatara’s full ‘Sex Sorcery’ this time, Issan would forget how to speak. You would wear only a collar and beg for Tatara’s manhood like a sex slave,” Ethelena said.
The picture threw away more pride than he thought. But he had seen signs before. Maybe it made sense.
”If Issan wants to escape Tatara’s ‘Sex Sorcery’ more, you need to get the skill yourself,” Ethelena added.
”Ugh… to get a skill, I need to raise another skill rank-degozaru…” Ichika said.
Come to think of it, Ichika’s level was already max. She could not get more slots from level ups. Tatara did not know her skill list. He could not tell her what to change. Even if he could, he would only answer if she asked. Ichika must have her own growth plan.
”Ichika, what skill rank will go up fastest right now?” Tatara asked.
”Kyuu… ‘Physical Attack Boost’-degozaru, I think. Two more levels to max-degozaru.”
If it was Physical Defense or Magic Defense, it would be easier. But attack skills needed more hits. He did not know her special ability skills. If ‘Physical Attack Boost’ grew slow even with early bloom, it meant Ichika’s body did not fit physical attacks well.
”‘Tsubame Gaeshi’ is almost max level too-degozaru,” she said.
That made sense. With ‘Tsubame Gaeshi’, ‘Physical Attack Boost’ should still grow easy. Still, Tatara would raise ‘Tsubame Gaeshi’ rank to get more attack chances.
”…Ichika, want to train a bit with my childhood friend?” he asked.
”Is that to raise my ‘Physical Attack Boost’-degozaru?”
”Yes. With ‘Tsubame Gaeshi’, you should get stimulus and grow fast. We do not need to train long. It is the only exercise we can do at home.”
He could make a golem with auto repair and let her hit it hard. But if he made one now, the acting family head or that jerk might take it home.
”Then Tatara, why not make a sword that cannot kill, like his?” Ethelena said.
”Good idea. That would help,” Tatara replied with a nod.
Ethelena was right. It was perfect for person-to-person practice. That jerk had ordered three. He lent one to the idiot for training. Selling some to Yohira and the acting head might help their practice too.
”I will forge them later. But first, Ichika’s ninja clothes,” Tatara said.
He brought the talk back to the start. He had planned to make new ninja clothes for Ichika. But desire won. First, he needed to measure her body for size.
”Issan, no tempting this time, okay?” Ethelena said.
”Uu… I do not think I can hold back-degozaru,” Ichika replied.
Ethelena turned her back to Tatara. She leaned forward a bit to warn Ichika. Her butt stuck out at him by nature. His reason snapped.
He broke the binding magic. He grabbed her big butt. He pulled hot pants and underwear aside. He pushed in without warm-up.
”Hya!?” Ethelena cried.
The sudden act left her no time to react. She made a surprised sound. But her vaginal opening was ready. It had felt his excitement and waited fully.
Ethelena lost balance from the push behind. She fell over Ichika in a cover pose. Tatara held her from back like a hug. He hit his hips against her.
”Wait, Tatara!?” Ethelena said.
”Master, so hard…” Ichika added.
Ethelena tried to fight showing this in front of Ichika. But her strength could not match his. She could not shake free. No, for Ethelena, resistance might not exist once she took him.
Ichika watched them. She quietly put right-hand fingers to her secret place. Her body still burned with excitement. She needed comfort or she could not stand it. Was she that hungry?
He thrust again and again. Pleasure from his manhood dyed his brain. With Tatia or Ichika, he always held back. Ethelena took everything.
Loud hip hits and wet sounds filled the workshop. Ethelena and Ichika only let out breaths. No words.
Ethelena’s inside tightened. It stroked his manhood and pushed for ejaculation. He followed pleasure. He thrust to the deepest part and ejaculated.
Strong semen filled Ethelena’s belly. When he pulled out, it spilled from inside. White liquid ran down her inner thighs. It dirtied the floor. The sight was too lewd.
”…Ichika, clean up,” Tatara said.
”Yes,” she answered.
Ichika followed his order. She slipped between Ethelena’s legs. She put her mouth to the vaginal opening. She sucked out.
She used skills from imperial guard training. She gave Ethelena pleasure. She sucked and swallowed his seed inside.
Both Ethelena and Ichika had empty looks in their eyes.
”I am really sorry,” Tatara said.
He bowed at ninety degrees with full power. He had gone too far.
”You really are. Making Issan suck it out… I like to feel Tatara in my belly,” Ethelena said.
”Yes, but there are no feelers there, right?” he replied.
”I… with my upper mouth, but I tasted Master after long time,” Ichika said.
”Yes, do not say upper mouth,” Tatara added.
He let out a sigh. One ejaculation cleared his head. He switched focus. Now he could see Ichika’s body without quick reaction. Time to make the ninja clothes.
He took out thread at once. He measured Ichika’s body. He finished all while she looked confused. He went to the loom in the workshop.
He took about 500 grams of mithril ingot. He used ‘Alchemy’ and ‘Crafting’ to make Mithril Silver Thread. He wove it into cloth on the loom. One mistake would ruin all. But max ‘Crafting’ skill meant he could not picture failure.
Weaving ended in ten minutes. Width was 1.1 meters. Length had extra, about 20 meters.
”Ichika, same as before would show too much skin. You hate that, right?”
”Yes, I hate showing skin-degozaru, but…”
”Got it.”
Then he needed stretchy cloth with magic work. He changed weave style again for ten minutes. He made stretchy cloth like for shirts. He used it to make body suits.
Unlike inner muscle armor, no body ability boost. But easier to wear. He cut cloth with ‘Crafting’ by numbers from Ichika’s style. He started sewing.
It fit her body perfect. Key parts had thicker cloth layers for defense. Full chest area. Thin waist. Careful work near hip joints too.
Wide move range mattered. But chest needed good support or it would block moves. That would put Ichika in danger. No good.
He made three quick. He had Ichika try one right away.
”…This hides skin-degozaru, but it feels more shy than naked-degozaru.”
”No, this is just inner wear,” Tatara said.
Ichika put on the body suit. Toe-to-head type took time to wear. She pulled it up fully. She closed zippers on both shoulders. Done.
”…It feels better than I thought-degozaru.”
”But toilet time is a bit hell.”
”I will finish all first-degozaru…”
Ichika moved to check suit move range. She looked surprised. But his words made her mouth twitch a bit. Well, yes.
She tried all suits. No problems. He used water king gem on suits to raise defense. Water mana flowed to keep clean to some level.
The outer clothes followed a normal ninja style. Not the sexy game type. Just a simple Japanese top with belt, hakama pants, and leg wraps.
He split the sleeves. He linked them with mesh made from Mithril Silver Thread. Instead of hand guards, he used ‘Impact Wing’ to keep attack power.
The body suit made this possible.
He prepared boots instead of straw sandals. He added wind king gem for speed. He used queen wind feathers to give ‘Flight’ power.
He put earth king gem on the top for defense. He made a scarf like the one he wove for Cornremu before. He added fire king gem to turn it red.
Finally, he sewed their party symbol on the back with special thread. Done.
”…Too fast-degozaru, Master,” Ichika said.
”What, you do not like it?” Tatara asked.
”No, the work is perfect-degozaru. If I complain about this, people would hit me-degozaru.”
Ichika put on everything to try. She looked like a proud ninja now. Different from before.
Well, walking outside like this might still draw eyes.
”No name yet. Give it one later,” he said.
”Hehe, as you wish-gozaru,” Ichika replied.
She smiled with real joy. Her ears and tail moved.
Making a tail hole in the body suit and ninja clothes had been the hardest part. If he made it loose to avoid catching, that spot lost defense.
”Now Ethelena’s sword… I want to make a magic sword,” Tatara said.
”Any ideas?” she asked.
”To be honest, something like Dahlia’s magic sword. The one that makes Mana Blade.”
There were two types of Mana Blade magic swords. One used raw mana to hit hard. The other used Magic Attack power.
Both were strong. Each had good and bad points.
The mana type had huge max attack. Mana was usually higher than Magic Attack. So max power was bigger.
But it used a lot of mana. One use took thirty percent of total mana. Even with 999 mana, three uses left nothing.
The Magic Attack type gave steady damage. It did not depend on mana amount. Like a close-range Arcane Gun.
Bad point: it needed high status. Low Magic Attack meant low damage. Even archangel-level status needed critical hits for max damage.
Tatara liked the steady fire power better. But what would Ethelena choose?
He explained all this. Ethelena tilted her head.
”Can’t I use a normal physical sword?” she asked.
”Mithril weapons need high equipment conditions,” he said.
Equipment conditions meant skill to handle hard weapons. Mithril was much lighter than iron or steel. That made it hard to use.
So ‘Sword Aptitude II’ or higher was needed.
He wanted to make a magic sword because strong ones had no equipment limits. They did not exist in this world yet.
”I see. Then start with a normal iron sword,” Ethelena said.
”Huh?”
”That makes sense-degozaru,” Ichika added.
Tatara looked confused. Ichika nodded once and explained.
”Ethelena-sama is still a beginner-degozaru. Starting with a basic sword shape stops bad habits-degozaru.”
Was that true?
The warhammer his father gave him needed low ‘Hammer Mastery’ for its power. He learned from family, so no trouble.
Hammers had high attack in their equipment group. He did not update weapons for a long time.
Lately, Yohira’s ‘Temari-bana’ and Ichika’s ‘Peony’ almost broke his sense. His elemental hammer had +25 Physical Attack. That was very high for normal people.
His weapons had crazy power. Too late to notice again.
”Then I will give you a standard city longsword. I do not know your father’s sword shape. Start with this.”
He took an iron sword from inventory. He handed it to Ethelena.
She checked the grip a few times. She nodded. She wrapped the handle cord.
Her work was not skilled but smooth. The result looked very nice.
”Good job,” Tatara said.
”I learned from my father long ago. I am rusty, but no problem,” she replied.
She swung the iron sword lightly a few times. The sword path was beautiful.
”…Still cannot copy father perfectly.”
”No, doing that on first try is already crazy,” Tatara said.
Her speed was high. But joint movement was even better. Strange skill.
She did not swing hard. Yet he almost lost sight of the tip.
The blade direction stayed perfect. The edge stood straight. It could cut well.
She swung for the first time today. Why so perfect?
Calling this talent felt unfair.
”She could cut upper-level goblins easy…” Tatara said.
”Normal people need months to swing that clean-degozaru,” Ichika added.
”You two exaggerate,” Ethelena said with a shy laugh.
No flattery. Her sword skill had no problem.
The only issue: could she swing at living enemies in real fight?
Tatara remembered his first dungeon. He hit a giant rat with warhammer. The feel stayed in his hand. He could not fight for a while.
Swinging at live targets had clear fit or not.
He hesitated many times. His life got in danger. Only then hesitation left.
What about Ethelena?
If she froze against goblins and got hurt… he would regret giving her a sword.
Still, he must not stop her growth.
That would be wrong.
Ethelena and he were partners. They respected each other. They walked together as people.
Mix that up, and they became master and servant. No good.
He swore to carry her life. But not make her a doll.
His duty: support her free will to walk her path.
”Tomorrow I deliver sake brewery order. No exploration for me. Be careful, Ethelena,” he said.
He hid his worry. Ethelena looked unhappy but nodded. She understood his work.
Later, he sent Ethelena and others to rooms. He forged concept weapons in the forge.
He finished non-lethal katana balanced for Yohira’s ‘Temari-bana’, Ichika’s ‘Peony’, and acting head’s ‘Dragon Tongue Orchid’. He added one ‘Sky Split’. Then sleep.
Next morning, he made breakfast. He waited for everyone.
Ethelena did not visit his room at night. His body felt fully rested.
Good for trip to sake brewery with Torakuma couple. Tired body might mean huge drinking. He could lose memory.
Brewery people always pushed him to drink too much. Same since last year.
Breakfast was rice cooked with kelp and dried plum. Salt salmon, fried egg, and shredded cabbage. Miso soup with onion and turnip.
He started rice in the kitchen. At the same time, he soaked over-salted salmon to remove salt. He could not touch miso soup yet. He needed Ichika’s help.
”Good morning-degozaru, Master,” she said.
”Good morning, Ichika.”
Perfect timing. He cheered inside. Ichika checked the state. She started prep for miso soup. She did not know his thoughts or maybe did.
Good wife material. High praise.
She cut onion into wedges. No tears in her eyes. He remembered from past life: right cut stops juice spray and tears. Ichika knew it too.
He admired that. He started the rice cooker. Auto rice was great. Easy tasty rice was justice.
Prep done. Rice finished. He sat on sofa to grill salmon later.
Ichika finished prep. She put her head on his lap.
Oh, right.
”Ichika, take this first,” he said.
”…What is it?”
”Practice katana that cannot hurt people. Same length and weight as your ‘Peony’. Use it for home training.”
Ichika took the katana while lying. She pulled blade a bit from sheath to check. She sheathed it. She stored it in inventory. She hugged his belly.
Her tail swung big. She was happy.
Soon Torakuma family came. He waved them over.
Yohira saw Ichika on his lap and understood. She came quick. Torakuma couple followed.
”Yohira, this.”
”What is this?” she asked.
He gave practice katana without words. She looked doubtful. She used ‘Appraisal’. Her face turned blank.
”…Same non-lethal blade as beast trainer.”
”Yes. Made to match your ‘Temari-bana’.”
”You really do anything, Tatara,” Yohira said with wry smile.
He took out one for Acting Head of Family.
”Same as Yohira. Matched to ‘Dragon Tongue Orchid’.”
”Hm… feels just like it. Amazing,” Acting Head said. He checked lightly. He looked impressed.
Mother-in-law beside him looked stunned.
Father and daughter tried mock fight in yard. Mother-in-law hit back of heads hard. Stopped them.
Lecture: practice Yohira’s dance while here. Full practice with flute needed Acting Head. Natural.
Rice done music played while he watched.
He tried to wake Ichika on lap. She woke faster. Went to kitchen.
Fast reaction after sleep. He followed.
Ichika mixed rice. He lifted salmon. Wiped water with cloth. Put grill net on pan. Heated.
Watched to avoid burn. Turned sometimes. Fat dripped. Ju sound. Good smell.
Getting hungry.
Ichika finished rice. Started miso soup. Kitchen filled with salmon and miso smell. Hunger grew.
His stomach growled. Ichika heard. Smiled.
Salmon done. He started fried egg. Ichika made rolled omelet.
Dash broth type today. Not plan. But he loved Ichika’s rolled omelet. Good change.
Round plate: shredded cabbage, salmon, omelet. One serving done.
Rice in bowl. Miso soup in bowl.
Not common. But good breakfast. He was proud.
”Sorry, little late,” Ethelena said. She came.
He asked her to set table. Three put breakfast on table. Called Torakuma family from yard.
Hinagiku-san was up. Swinging in yard. He called properly.
”This is great breakfast! Salt salmon was strong but now perfect! Bit salty still. Cabbage cuts salt just right!! Rice with kelp and plum gives rich taste! Mild claim. Light sour cuts salmon fat. Mouth clean! Miso soup: light white miso, onion sweet, turnip soaked flavor perfect mix!!”
”…Full energy from morning, Hinagiku,” Tatara said.
”Can you believe… she does this without thinking?” Mother-in-law asked.
”That young man decided to marry this…” Acting Head added.
Torakuma couple talked with far eyes. Hinagiku-san food report after long time.
Yes, what makes her use such words without thought?
They were used to it. Ate while listening.
Ichika’s rolled omelet with broth and mirin always good. Ethelena’s scrambled eggs too. Egg heaven for egg lovers.
His heaven even if only for him. Still good.
Ichika stayed home. Left idiot, Hinagiku-san, jerk care to her. Others left house.
Split with Ethelena group on way. Tatara and Torakuma couple went to brewery.
Big building ahead after walk. Torakuma couple looked shocked.
”Such huge place just for sake?”
”Well, this brewery is also sake god church. Has worship hall named party room.”
”…Usually reverse, right?” Mother-in-law said.
He explained Acting Head mutter. Got tsukkomi from Mother-in-law.
Normal people think reverse. But this church for sake god who loves drink and party. This was right.
”Excuse me. Crafting shop ‘forgeron’. Here to deliver merchant guild order.”
Last time guest. This time crafter with order. Polite.
”Ah… hey, Tatara-cchi!”
Red-faced dwarf brewery chief came. Saw his face. Happy voice.
Always fun person. Made Tatara feel good.
”Merchant guild order is distiller!”
”Yes. Brought two with extra.”
”Mm… two?”
He made extra since ordered. Why chief not know? He is request source.
Think: merchant guild chief told through Mother-in-law. No letter. Guild chief should send letter for formal order.
If so, someone else sent letter to guild chief without chief. But must pass chief. Order letter needs chief seal wax. No idea means trouble.
”Guild chief would not order without letter… hey, come here!”
Chief had same doubt. Called members.
Near 100 workers gathered.
”Today Tatara-cchi brings another high-power distiller like last year! One more!”
Big cheer.
Embarrassed but proud. Recognized by so many. Chest out worthy.
”But the merchant guild chief says Tatara-cchi ordered one more distiller. Anyone here use my seal without asking? To make more sake for the sake god!?”
The crowd went quiet at once. The air felt confused. No one looked guilty at a glance. None of the workers did it.
”…Then it must be that!” the brewery chief said with a happy shout.
Workers’ faces slowly lit with joy. Then the place exploded.
”Everyone cheer! The sake god ordered again!!”
’WOOOOOOOAAAAAHH!!’
Workers went wild at the chief’s words. If he was right, the sake god himself sent the order to the guild chief.
”Um, does the sake god send orders directly sometimes?” Tatara asked the excited chief.
The chief turned with a sparkling smile.
”Sometimes, yes. Last time was the new distiller Tatara-cchi brought. That order came from the sake god!”
”What!?”
The distiller order was straight from the god!?
”Well, exactly, the sake god sent a letter to the guild chief. The chief passed it to Tatara-cchi,” he explained.
”Good. Not a direct order to me then.”
If a god picked him before he made ‘eggs’ or became chief crafter, that would be bad. It would mean a god knew him with no fame.
”But no one here can remember Divine Oracle! That’s why!” the chief said openly.
”Do not say it so proud.”
He heard sake god oracles came during parties. But with drink, people forgot most of them. So oracles were like never sent.
Was that okay?
”By the way, Tatara-cchi. Who are the strangers behind you?”
”Oh, the head couple of Torakuma house. Big nobles from Hizuru where we just made ties.”
”…For real?”
”Real.”
The chief calmed down and asked. Tatara answered short.
The couple greeted politely.
”I am Torakuma Nobutsuna, acting head of Torakuma house. Please remember us.”
”I am his wife Kasumi. Treat us well.”
The chief froze at their manners. Workers slipped away to watch from far.
Were they shy with people?
The chief restarted. He introduced himself fast. He used stiff honorifics he was not used to.
But Acting Head said not to mind different country manners. The chief slowly went back to normal.
Yes, this should be fine.
”So Tatara-cchi, why bring them?”
”One, let them taste lots of our sake. I bought barrels before. They drank some. Want them to buy brands they like.”
The chief went “Haa!” and slapped Tatara’s back hard.
Getting used to this.
”Good good! Nob-cchi looks strong. Drink lots!”
”No, Nob-cchi…”
The nickname sounded rude. But Acting Head looked touched by it.
Tatara left them with the chief. He went deeper into the brewery.
He asked nearby workers. He set up the first distiller. Connected mana source. Checked it ran right. First one done.
Took five minutes. Simple power parts were best.
Workers talked for the second. No space ready. Side effect of forgetting oracles.
”Hey, brother. This way.”
A worker in work clothes called. Beard, manly smell. Had Tatara met him?
”Put the other distiller here. Follow me.”
”Ah, yes.”
Big arms full of muscle. Huge glove-like hands. Thumb up to show way.
Tatara followed.
Three minutes walk. Wide open space.
”This big enough?”
”Plenty. Too big even.”
Tatara answered. Took mithril distiller from inventory.
The worker looked shocked. Then very happy.
”Amazing. Mithril?”
”Guild gave no material when ordered. Used what I had most. Church donation, so forgive me.”
”True. Buying this would stop buys for ten years!”
Sake god church gave sake as thanks for donations. Sold that way. Only brewery in ‘Whirlwind’. Huge sales each year.
Still, ten years no new gear for this mithril distiller. What face would the city mayor make if she knew?
He connected mana source. Started it. Ran normal. But distilled faster than planned. And very pure.
”Crazy thing you made, brother!”
”Sorry. Faster than I thought.”
”No problem! Means more sake!!”
The worker laughed loud. Slapped Tatara’s back harder than the chief. Hard to breathe.
But real joy. Tatara felt happy.
”Then, new distiller came. Let’s toast!”
The worker took two small bottles from inventory… from inventory, right? Felt like something else, but maybe not.
”Party time. Here!”
He gave one bottle to Tatara.
Tatara took it. Opened cap. Rich smell he knew hit his nose.
”This is the secret…!?”
”Quiet quiet, or they take it!”
Mischief success face like a bad kid.
Tatara looked around. No one near.
”Hey, do not look for others. Worry about me, not sharing.”
”But rare sake. If seen taking two, attack.”
”…Geez. You really are too nice, brother.”
Big hand ruffled Tatara’s head hard.
Reminded him of father long ago.
”But I am fine. Drink fast.”
”Wait… one sec.”
Tatara took mithril ingot. Made two tumblers. Thin rim. Double wall with vacuum inside for heat block.
Gave one to worker. Poured his bottle into his tumbler.
Worker laughed fun. Poured into Tatara’s.
”Rare. Someone makes me pour.”
”But drinking like this sometimes good, right?”
”Hah, true!”
Tatara laughed with the loud worker.
”Then, what toast?”
”Anything fine.”
”Yes, anything.”
Short pause. They clinked tumblers high. Sound rang.
’To everyone’s happiness.’
Their voices matched by chance. The same wish came out together.
They drank deep from the tumblers. The sake tasted even better than before. It gave a wave of happiness.
He finished. He looked up. He stood alone by the distiller.
In the distance, Acting Head of Family and Mother-in-law drank with the brewery chief and others. They looked happy.
Maybe the sake god mixed in with them. Long ago, the archangel said the god loved noise and fun. He often hid among people.
Tatara had a sudden idea. He took out a mithril ingot. He used ‘Crafting’ skill.
He made a strong muscled man. Sitting in a chair. Laughing loud. Holding up a cup.
The face looked familiar. But probably just in his head.
He placed the statue—maybe rude—of the sake god by the distiller. He wished happiness for everyone drinking here now.
He opened his eyes. The statue was gone. It must have reached the sake god.
Tatara turned. He walked to the others.
His steps felt light. He hoped they would not make him drink until he forgot everything.
Far away, he thought he heard cups clink with a high sound.
Notes:
• Ichika – The fox girl. Kunoichi. Virgincest⚠️, becomes pregnant immediately.
• Yohira – Torakuma’s first name. Oni warrior.
• Cornremu – TataraGolem; wears red scarf (*”Ta-!” greetings*).
• Dahlia – The automaton.
• Hinagiku – A tengu woman as Ranka’s potential companion. She stays with Tatara’s group after travels. Joins household scenes only. Linked to Ranka by shared gluttony jokes. No direct tie to Tatara beyond cohabitation. Cheerful eater.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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