Chapter 28 Equipment Creation!
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
We lounged at home for a while, idling away the time with small talk, until my sensing indicated a few monsters had finally reached the entrance of the maze. I stood up, signaling the others to head back outside.
”Alright, take this! Triple Buzzsaw Blitz!”
I shouted the name on a whim, channeling Mana into the circuit to trigger the traps.
The initial clatter-whir of the blades – sounds of the saws intermittently catching or skipping – made me uneasy. But the noise soon shifted into a high-pitched skreeeee of metal rending through timber. I couldn’t see the kill from my vantage point, but the monsters’ Mana signatures blinked out instantly. I targeted the coordinates for Storage and several Treant corpses vanished into my Inventory.
”Yeah, that’ll work. I’m going to extend the circuit so we can manage the traps from inside the house.”
”A-Are you sure, Master?” Shirley asked, looking hesitant. “Surely we should stay out here and keep watch…”
”Even if we stay, we can’t see over the walls, right? If I’m sensing them through the Mana, being inside is the same thing.”
It was a logical setup. I had reinforced the maze entrance with high defensive walls and anti-climb overhangs to keep anything from leaping over. While the maze ceiling was solid glass, we were currently standing on the wrong side of the defensive perimeter. There was no reason to stand in the dirt if I could track the situation from the sofa.
”I… I suppose you’re right,” Shirley said, tilting her head as she conceded.
I moved back inside, drawing out the Mana Circuit so the magic tools were controllable from the living room. A few of the girls still seemed restless, so I told them they could watch from the fence as long as they didn’t try to cross it. Several of them cheered and hurried back out.
”Though, it’s not a great look to have them out there empty-handed,” I muttered. I decided it was time to craft everyone some proper gear.
Let’s see, the new girls’ classes…
Lotte-chan is a Blue Mage.
Olivia-san is an Archer.
Shuri-chan is a Lancer.
Meena-chan is a Thief.
Erina, Maria, Rosanna-san, and Fran are all Fencers.
Luna-chan is a Priest.
Amelia-chan is an Assassin.
Ten girls in total. Aside from Amelia, they all seemed to hold basic, lower-tier occupations.
”I’ll start with the basics,” I thought.
I began hammering out swords, daggers, spears, and a recurve bow with a set of arrows. Naturally, every blade was forged from reinforced Mithril¹. For the bow, I used Treant wood and spun the string from the silk of a spider-monster I’d hunted during the fox-kin subjugation. I tempered both with Mana. Even the arrowheads were reinforced Mithril. My Processing skill automatically corrected for balance, so even my amateur designs felt like masterworks.
I handed them out one by one. Since these were forged from the same Mithril that had left Shirley speechless, I knew they wouldn’t be disappointed.
”Honestly, I’m still a novice at weaponsmithing,” I told them. “If anything feels off or you have a specific request, tell me. Is there anything wrong with them?”
”They are perfect, Master,” they replied in unison. They hadn’t even tested the weight yet, but I figured since we weren’t in immediate danger, it could wait.
”Now, the staves and maces… they aren’t just sticks, right?”
”No, Master,” Lisha said, after a pause. “A staff requires a catalyst at the head, and a mace needs one in the grip. If we aren’t worried about the cost, Mithril set with a catalyst gemstone is the standard for high-end gear. But… that would be incredibly expensive.”
”Then that’s what we’ll do. The only problem is I don’t have any gems. I’ll have to buy some or go prospecting. That’s going to be the real hurdle.”
”Wait, please!” Luna and Lotte both cried out, looking panicked.
”I can’t even use magic yet,” Luna stammered. “You don’t need to push yourself to make something so expensive for me!”
”Me neither!” Lotte added. “I don’t even know if I’ll ever be able to use it!”
Luna was a fifteen-year-old girl with striking, rose-pink hair. She had the look of a classic beauty, though she lacked any of the prickly attitude you’d expect from her archetype. Standing at barely five feet, she looked every bit the nervous student. She’d been too shy to speak much until now, but she finally found her voice.
”I told you all before – it’s fine if you can’t use them yet,” I said. “Think of it as a lucky bonus if you do. Recovery magic is rare; I want you to give it a shot, even if you think it’s impossible. Besides, I’m the one struggling with the crafting recipes anyway.”
I scratched the back of my head, feeling a bit awkward. But as I looked at Luna, I saw her eyes were brimming with tears.
”Hey, what’s wrong?” I asked, startled.
”I… I’ve tried before. And I failed,” Luna whispered, her voice breaking.
She explained that because healers are so precious, she’d been forced into two years of brutal training with a borrowed staff. When she couldn’t master it, she was beaten and eventually sold off. As she spoke, I saw the angry, raised welts on her arms – scars from the training she’d endured.
”I see. If it hurts to think about, we’ll drop it. I’ll make you the mace to keep you safe, but you don’t have to use the magic if it brings back bad memories.”
”But… why? Why make it if I’m not going to use it?”
”Because as long as I can find the materials, I can make a thousand of them. And because you’re all part of my family now. I brought you here, so I’m going to take care of you. I want you to have the best tool ready, just in case you ever find the courage to try again. If that day comes, I want you to have something that helps you, Luna.”
I meant it. As their master, I felt as though I’d adopted them. I was responsible for their lives. And honestly, they were all good kids; I wanted to build something real with them.
”I mean it, it’s okay if you never use it,” I said with a smile. “Just helping with the chores is enough. Take it easy.”
That just made her sob harder.
Wait! Stop! I am not smooth enough with women to handle a full-scale breakdown!
What do I do?
In a moment of sheer panic, I just pulled her into a hug. Let’s call it skin-to-skin healing. I wasn’t trying to hide the fact that I’d made her cry… okay, maybe I was. I was just shielding her crying face from the others.
She squeezed me back with a strength that suggested I was forgiven. I added a few head-pats, praying she’d calm down soon. Then, Lotte tentatively tugged at my sleeve.
”Um… is it okay if I can’t use magic either?” she asked, looking up with wide, anxious eyes.
It was almost too cute to be real, but the fear in her expression was genuine.
”Of course,” I said. I let go of Luna just enough to pat Lotte’s head too. Immediately, Luna’s grip on my waist tightened.
Is she… protesting?
I used my other hand to resume the pats for Luna, and she contentedly rubbed her cheek against my chest.
Man, they’re adorable. A beauty like this without the attitude? Is this the peak?
Our moment was interrupted by the arrival of a massive monster horde. We’d been dealing with trickles of a dozen or so, but this was a wave of over a hundred Treants. They had finally bunched up after navigating the terrain.
”Alright, things are getting serious,” I said, lifting both girls as I stood up.
”Eek!”
”Whoa!”
Their startled chirps were heartwarming, but I kept my face straight. “The Treant party has arrived. Let’s go see the show.”
Shirley and the others, eager to test their new blades, nodded and hurried outside. I followed them, channeling Mana into the circuits beneath the floorboards.
The high walls blocked our view, but my Sensing showed the far side was crawling with monsters. The roar of the circular saws was a constant shriek of rending wood, punctuated by the heavy thud of blades stalling against thicker trunks. Even so, the traps held. The second row was spinning perfectly. Once this group cleared, it would just be stragglers.
Still, the wait was tedious. I wanted to see if the system could handle things on autopilot.
I explained the plan to the group and deactivated the saws, leaving only the last few Treants alive. Lured by the Mana from the Cocoon at the far end of the maze, the monsters shuffled forward. Once they reached it, they tore into the Mana source, devouring the Cocoon entirely.
What’s the next move? I wondered. They immediately began thumping against the glass ceiling.
I see. They can sense us too. They had just prioritized the Cocoon because it was a closer meal.
This was good data. Even a hundred Treants couldn’t scratch the reinforced glass. We were safe. I triggered the flamethrower trap, and within ten seconds, the monsters’ Mana signatures vanished.
”Alright! Looks like we’re in the clear. Let’s eat!”
”Okay!” Charlotte cheered.
”Good girl, Charlotte! I love a prompt reply,” I said, giving her a pat. (Silence after a dinner announcement is the worst, so I make sure to reward the engagement.)
Since the traps were reliable, I suggested we take shifts monitoring the Mana levels. Luna eagerly volunteered. “I’ll do it!” she cried. I gave her a quick hug, thanked her, and headed in to relax.
We’d been eating nothing but Orc meat lately, so I decided to cook up some of that fox-kin meat.
Verdict: It was terrible. Stringy, acrid, and just plain gross. Apparently, stronger doesn’t mean tastier.
I gave up and used my skills to whip up some salt-grilled river fish, miso soup, and rice. I tossed the fox meat back into the Inventory, keeping only the pelts and magic stones. As we ate, I brainstormed how to use the literal tons of leftover monster parts. Usually, you’d use them for feed or fertilizer.
We need fertilizer anyway, I thought. I tried putting the remains into my Processing tab, then wondered: What if I use Cultivation?
I tried a recipe of seeds, soil, and monster carcasses to see if it would lower the Mana cost for the farm. It didn’t work. Giving up, I put the carcasses into Processing with some soil, and the output was labeled as High-Grade Fertilizer.
When I used that on the crops, the Mana consumption plummeted. I have a lot of food I want to mass-produce, and this was a massive breakthrough. I’ve spent enough time with these menus to know I’d hit a jackpot.
While the occasional straggler wandered into the saws, I spent the rest of the night experimenting with my skills. The girls started their own independent training with the new weapons, so I crafted a few more target dummies and kept on testing my Crafter powers.
After successfully performing a Synthesis² and evolving the Trent into a High Species³, I used the materials to craft a reinforced longbow. I poured every drop of Mana⁴ I had into it, creating a weapon of absolute power.
When I handed it to Miss Olivia to test, the results were staggering. A single shot shattered a two-meter stone block as if it were glass.
”Milord, just what kind of magic is this…?” she asked, standing in a daze.
”I used the Trent materials and reinforced them with Mana, but I’m not sure you can even call this a magic effect anymore,” I replied.
”Wait… you did this with nothing but a Trent?”
She stared intently at the ornate, handcrafted bow. To her, a Trent was merely a decent wood, nothing more. Judging by her shock, the results were even better than I’d hoped.
”If I can synthesize even better monsters, this could become our primary source of firepower,” I said.
”Does that mean… I may continue to use this?” Olivia asked.
”Of course. I made it for you, Olivia. I want you to use it until you no longer need it.”
”I shall treasure it for a lifetime!” she exclaimed, suddenly dropping to one knee and bowing her head.
”Whoa, hold on. Tools are meant to be used, and anything used will eventually break. A ‘lifetime’ might be a bit much, don’t you think? If it breaks, I’ll just make you a new one. Just use it normally. More importantly, I need your help making some armor.”
”Oh… yes! But what do you mean by help…?”
I sat the bewildered girl down next to me to get her input – what kind of magical properties they needed, what styles they preferred, and so on.
As it turned out, armor didn’t usually require special enchantments; standard metal smithing was typically enough. While resistance gear was usually made from monster hides, Mithril⁵ naturally gained resistance when Mana was channeled through it. So, I used reinforced Mithril to forge “Princess Knight”⁶ style armor for the five of them – the four swordsmen and our vanguard lancer.
Next, I tried using the hide of the High Species pseudo-lizard to create leather armor. Honestly, the results weren’t great. It looked “cool,” sure, but it wasn’t cute.
I sat there gritting my teeth in frustration until the others approached. They asked if something was wrong. I came clean and told them I was making armor, but the hide just wouldn’t turn out “cute” enough.
”Is ‘cuteness’ really a requirement for armor?” Shuri asked, looking utterly floored.
”Absolutely! I’m not going to be the one to get in the way of how cute you all are!”
”Milord… do you really think we’re cute?” Amelia asked, finally speaking up.
”Yeah. I’m not going to lie – I chose you all for your looks. You’re exactly my type. So at least let me have some fun dressing you up.”
”Why do you need permission?” Amelia asked, her face as expressionless as ever. “You only have to give the order.”
”Because being trusted is a better feeling. I want a relationship where we believe in each other and help each other out. That’s why I don’t intend to use ‘orders’ if I can avoid it.”
”What part of you… should I believe in?” she asked. Her voice was flat, yet she seemed to falter.
Ouch. Am I really that hopeless? Yeah… maybe I am.
As I muttered that to myself, her expression shifted to one of confusion. “No… what can I believe in… that would make you happy?”
”I… well, when you put it that way… Wait, Amelia, do you actually want to make me happy?”
”Yes. The food, the clothes, the equipment… it all made me happy. I want to give back.”
”I see, I see.” I felt a wave of relief and patted her head. “I’m just glad you liked them.”
Her face remained stoic, but the tension left her shoulders. The other girls seemed to relax as well, their expressions softening.
In the midst of that, the wives pulled the others aside for a huddle. They were whispering about something in secret. Just as I started to feel left out, Shirley walked back over.
”Milord, it seems everyone is in agreement. From now on, please… do as you like with us.”
She said it with a deep blush.
Agreement? Wait, does she mean… that? The “strength in numbers” thing they were talking about? But even if you tell me that out of the blue… how am I supposed to make a move? I mean, sure, I’ve been hands-on with the hugging and the head-patting, but if they actually hated it deep down, I’d never forgive myself.
I decided to pass the buck.
”W-well, look. There’s no rush. Let’s just… leave it up to you,” I said, effectively throwing the ball back into their court.
I knew the second I said it that I might not get that ball back for a long time. It felt like a wasted opportunity, but my lack of courage won out.
”So… that means it’s okay for us to take the initiative?”
”U-umu. I’ll leave it to you! But only if you actually want to, okay? No forcing yourselves! Absolutely no coercion!”
”Yes… I understand. It’s because you’re that kind of man that I…” Shirley’s face was bright red as she scurried back to the group.
I stood there feeling restless. I told them to take the lead, so it should be fine, right? They won’t think I’m some kind of creep, will they?
No, it’ll be fine. There’s no way Charlotte and the others would get caught up in that kind of talk. …Actually, yeah, there’s a zero percent chance of that. That thought made me feel a bit better.
”Alright, let’s hand out this gear and then maybe I’ll hit the bath.”
I called everyone over and distributed the armor, adding that I’d be remaking the leather sets later.
But once they actually put them on, they weren’t half bad. They had a bit of a wild edge to them, but you know what? It worked.
—
Summary:
The protagonist tests his maze traps against a Treant horde and begins crafting high-quality Mithril weapons for his new housemates. He comforts Luna, who reveals a traumatic past related to her magic training, and reinforces the idea that they are now a family. Finally, he discovers a way to use monster remains as high-grade fertilizer to optimize his food production.
The Master uses high-level crafting to create a powerful bow for Olivia and Mithril armor for his team. A significant emotional breakthrough occurs when Amelia expresses gratitude and a desire to make him happy. The chapter ends with the girls collectively deciding to allow the Master more intimacy, though he nervously leaves the initiative to them.
—
Trivia:
- The maze ceiling is made of glass, allowing for observation but keeping monsters out.
- Luna’s trauma stems specifically from failing to use recovery magic while under pressure from former owners.
- Vulpine-type/Fox-kin meat is inedible/disgusting despite the monsters being strong.
- The protagonist’s ‘Processing’ skill automatically handles balance and ergonomics for crafted weapons.
- Treants prioritized the Mana-rich Cocoon over the humans because it was closer.
- The Master specifically chose the girls based on their physical beauty.
- Mithril armor in this world provides resistance specifically through Mana conduction.
- The term ‘human wave tactics’ (strength in numbers) is being used by the girls as a strategy for romantic/physical approach.
- Amelia is evolving from a robotic state to one capable of reciprocating emotion
—
Character Insight:
The protagonist is shifting from a simple ‘owner’ role to a ‘paternal guardian’ figure, explicitly calling the girls his family. Luna shows vulnerability and the beginning of trust after years of abuse.
The Master shows a deep insecurity about his ‘trashy’ nature and a fear of coercing the women, while the women are beginning to see his kindness as a reason to trust and approach him voluntarily.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The use of monster parts for fertilizer is a common isekai trope used to solve the problem of loot disposal while boosting base-building efficiency.
The ‘Princess Knight’ trope is a staple of Japanese fantasy, usually involving a noble female warrior who values her pride and armor above all else.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Shirley – 14yo ex-knight family swordswoman, Ibuki’s 2nd slave (8-gold scapegoat from Karl), rocking long red hair, dignified cool beauty in tight white dress—shocked by the chill vibes at first. Fanatic loyalist, weapon tester, security guard, blunt questioner of his slave game, one of his 3 wives, combat/sales pro but can’t cook.
• Lotte – 12-year-old slave girl under Ibuki, a scaredy-cat blue mage (water/ice) standing just 130cm with fluffy light-brown hair and big watery eyes. Lacks magic confidence, gets shocked by his OP power, one of the group’s sensitive lil’ sis types dreaming of spell-slinging skills.
• Olivia – A member of the group who asks about the ‘weird’ monster types with some technical/magic-tech knowledge who is stunned by the efficiency of Ibuki’s skills. Archer. Eldest of the new recruits. Height approx 160cm (5’3). Deep blue-black hair. Calm demeanor.
• Shuri – 15yo tomboy lancer at 170cm, messy blonde hair, lean athletic build—worries about the Dole Kingdom beef heating up. Blacksmithing savvy, she’s the tough chick with a spear who’s all about that hands-on grind.
• Meena – A young girl and slave who is easily overwhelmed by Ibuki’s crafting abilities. An 18-year-old thief with a youthful appearance. Height is approximately 140cm (4’7
• Erina – A 17‑year‑old swordswoman and slave under Ibuki’s contract, originally from Paul, with drill hair, a refined noble‑like air and speech suggesting she was once a high‑born lady.
• Maria – A 16-year-old swordswoman. Has long, lustrous red hair and a sharp, dignified facial structure. One of the new recruit.
• Luna – A 15-year-old girl with rose-pink hair, roughly 155cm tall. A Priest who suffered trauma and physical abuse (welts on her arms) due to her inability to use recovery magic during previous forced training. A companion who recently received armor and weapons from the protagonist.
• Amelia – A girl who was previously silent or robotic, now beginning to open up. She admits to being happy with the food and clothes provided by the Master. She has an expressionless face but shows a desire to reciprocate kindness.
• Lisha – Mature native girl with killer curves, huge rack, brown long haired and big-sis vibes—polite, shy homebody type who calls banging Ibuki a
• Charlotte – Short, skinny late‑teen slave girl with messy brown hair, feline eyes, and a soft, slender body. Was an Ex‑Level 8 farmer, now Level 10 and bound to Ibuki, who she calls “Master” and calls herself his wife. Wears rags at first, then pretty clothes he makes, plus his bat‑wing hairband. Blushy, clingy, protective, and easily emotional, she follows him on runs, fights, and flights while always worrying if she’s useful enough.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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