Chapter 26
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Hmm… It’s hard… and it feels warm and strange.”
Iris said as she touched it.
Well, it’s only natural that she feels weird since it’s something that doesn’t exist.
After petting it for a while, Iris pulled her hand away.
”This is Magic Mending… So you can create armor with magical threads, huh?”
”There are distance limits because you need to be connected to me, and the farther you reach, the more magic energy it uses.”
What she was touching was my body, covered entirely in Magic Armor, and I was showing her what I would look like when we act together in the future.
By the way, the surface feels warm because it relies on my body temperature.
I can choose either body temperature or outside temperature, and I don’t really know how it works, but it’s good since it can cover sensitive areas without any fuss, and it can change shape nicely.
The reason I called it “Magic Mending” instead of “Magic Armor” is to keep the chance of her realizing it’s “fake” as low as possible, and because Iris thinks my ability is “the skill to control magical threads,” it’s easier for her to accept that I’m just sewing those threads into armor.
In fact, when I explained it as sewing clothes with threads, she accepted it right away.
There’s a slight awkwardness in mixing words like this, but since it happened in Japan in my previous life too, with sentences containing multiple languages, I don’t find it unnatural, and since she hasn’t had any doubts about it, I just ignore it.
”Well… then, I should tell you about my skill too.”
Iris said after hesitating, starting to explain her own abilities.
”My skill is called ‘Magic Stock,’ which allows me to activate magic in advance and store its effect without showing it.”
I heard that she can store one magic for each finger, and to release the magic she want, she just have to raise the finger where it’s saved and declare its release.
That’s why the finger aimed at the men in the dungeon was her pinky, and it changed every time she cast magic at those men before.
So, she need a catalyst normally and can only store as many as her ten fingers, huh?
This skill is mainly used in emergencies when she wants to skip the casting time, but otherwise, she seems to be just like any other magician.
Ah, speaking of which, during the processing, she held a catalyst and a short staff to chant spells.
”Then, should you not rely on that skill too much?”
”That’s right. But if I store up as much magic as I can and then take a break to recover my mana, I can use magic more times.”
Iris said this proudly, but…
”I see. The consumption of the catalyst will also increase, then.”
”Ugh.”
At my words, her once proudly formed chest returned to its normal position.
”So, is this color okay for you?”
After regrouping, she asked this because I was in black armor.
I also made myself about 15 cm taller… but instead of stretching my toes and risking a cramp, I thickened the armor on my shins to hide the height increase.
I could stretch to over 2 meters, but that would stand out too much.
In the end, I ended up being just a bit over 180 cm, taller than in my past life.
This should reduce the connection to “Koji” a bit, but since the magic power thread she thought was transparent has turned into visible armor, I also have to tell her that I can change its color freely.
I couldn’t think of a convincing “logical reason” that would make it easy to believe I couldn’t change it to other colors.
However, it’s important to keep it a secret that I can be invisible under the Magic Armor.
I don’t want to be suspected of misusing it.
So, when Iris asked about its color…
”It really stands out, huh?”
”Yeah, a lot. Why did you choose black?”
”I thought it wouldn’t stand out much in a dark cave… Well, it might be the opposite outside, so I might just turn it to regular iron color.”
I said this and changed the color of the Magic Armor to a dull, glowing gray.
”Yep, the color looks like iron now. The design is a bit unique, but it’s within a range that could pass as the creator’s style.”
It seems there was a slight issue with the design itself, but this should be an acceptable excuse, so I can leave it like this.
I took inspiration from something I saw in some work.
After we finished talking about each other’s abilities, it had gotten completely dark, so we decided to head to the cafetaria.
Since I helped Iris when she was in trouble, I would be treated to a meal, and it would look like we had been talking in her room until mealtime.
Saying that “I was paid back with her body” was rejected.
Since I’m her benefactor and I lent her my strength, she doesn’t want to be seen badly because of someone like that.
So, I returned to the appearance I had when we came here, and as I went down to the cafetaria with her, I looked around the quite crowded restaurant.
”It’s busy, huh? Is it always like this?”
”Maybe? It’s my second day here too… but I feel like it was about the same last night.”
”Hmm…”
From a quick glance, there are quite a few male customers.
Aren’t about half of them guys?
I heard there are no female staff at this inn, which makes the male customers fewer and female customers more… hmm?
”Is this really a low number of men?”
”Isn’t it?”
Iris responds as if it’s obvious.
I see, when she says “few,” she means it relatively, comparing it to other places.
Well, if it’s a city with many adventurers and most of them are men, then it’s not strange for the male customers to be fewer in proportion.
But if that’s the case… wouldn’t the male customers talk to the female customers? I’m curious, so I ask Iris.
”Ah… that can happen, but with this, it seems they won’t be bothered too much.”
”I see.”
I nod at her answer while she points at her neck.
Wrapped around her neck is a red scarf, which indicates she can’t accept invitations for some reason.
One of those reasons could be prior commitments, and since that partner might have power or strength, most people give up easily, or so I’ve heard.
There may be exceptions, but… as I think this, Iris whispers into my ear.
”If it’s you… I could take it off anytime~♡.”
”O-Okay. If the chance arises.”
Even though I just had this experience, she’s really good at inviting me. Just then, one of the female staff comes over to us.
”Oh, you’re staying here, right? Aren’t you going to sit down?”
”Yes, that’s right… but we’re looking for a place to sit together.”
”…”
Iris’s answer made the staff member look at me.
This staff member also wore a red scarf around her neck, showing she weren’t selling her body, but… her gaze looked suspicious.
She was probably worried about a woman dining with a man while staying at the inn alone.
Maybe… she thought I would make a move and invite Iris to dinner, get her drunk, and then force my way into her room.
Even though I had just come out of the room, it seemed the staff member hadn’t seen me come down the stairs together with Iris.
So, Iris decided to explain how she met me.
”…Is that true?”
”Yes. I just want to treat him to a meal as thanks.”
”I see, but please be careful. He might get you drunk and pushed you into a room or something.”
”Um, yeah…”
For the sake of “Koji’s” honor, she couldn’t say that we had already done this with mutual consent. Iris returned the staff member’s close face with a wry smile.
”Well then, um… please follow me.”
Maybe she was perceptive and weren’t entirely convinced, but since Iris herself had clearly agreed, the staff member decided to guide us to our seats.
The seat we were shown was in a spot that seemed to have quite a bit of traffic.
It was probably just a coincidentally empty space, and leading us to a seat where many people could see us wasn’t meant to prevent any forceful invites.
Sitting across from each other at the round table, we ordered around 1000 Oar worth of food, considering our future plans.
After finishing our meal without any issues, I said goodbye to Iris in front of the stairs leading to the second floor.
”Well then… maybe we’ll meet again.”
”Yeah. Take care.”
Even though it was pretty noisy, I left the place with those simple words in mind, thinking about not wanting anyone to hear me.
I couldn’t let people think that “Koji” was teamed up with her.
At least… not until I figured out my position regarding “Gem Snake’s” Iris.
So, I made my way back to my inn, watching the lively scene with lights from the taverns and the crowds around.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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