Chapter 38 Wings in Motion
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Well then, sorry Est, but I’ll let Shamir go first,” I said.
”Yes!” Shamir answered with a lively voice.
”I’ll just watch for now,” Est replied, though her sharp gaze betrayed the hunger to learn.
I couldn’t help grinning to myself. Shamir’s joy was pure, born from learning something new. Est’s intensity came from wanting to grasp every piece of knowledge. With motivation like that, they’d catch up fast. When they became masters, I wanted to be able to smirk and say, “I trained them.”
”First, I’ll show the process of making Demonsteel again. Shamir, keep Appraisal active and try to sense the changes—not just understand them.”
”Sense them, not understand?” Shamir tilted his head.
He questioned my wording, and that was good. Curiosity meant growth.
”Honestly, Shamir, even if I explained the theory, you wouldn’t follow it, right?” I asked.
”Ugh…”
”If I put it into words, it only makes it harder for you. That’s why I’ll show you. Let your senses memorize it.”
Est raised her brows in surprise, but I knew Shamir well enough. That was his nature.
”To create Demonsteel, you need one mana stone per kilogram of iron. Any more mana than that will saturate, scatter, or worse—cause failure.”
I held up a mana stone, bringing it close to an iron ingot, stopping just short of touching.
”For now, keep Appraisal running at all times. Watch the distortions carefully. At first, scan everything. Later, you’ll notice how the warped spots stand out.”
I activated Appraisal as I spoke. This ingot was flawed, riddled with tiny distortions.
”Normally, I interfere with the ingot using Crafting, then channel mana from the stone. Alchemy lets me extract and filter the mana, removing its wild traits and turning it into pure mana. Then I feed it in, like using a syringe to inject the right amount through a tiny hole. Done carefully, the structure aligns.”
I cut off my words and held out the ingot. It had transformed into gleaming Demonsteel.
Est, scribbling notes, stared in awe. Even after seeing it once before, she couldn’t fully grasp it. Shamir, on the other hand, had his mouth open, drool slipping out, but his eyes were bloodshot with focus. He was seeing everything.
”Well, Shamir? Think you can do it?”
Unlike me, who pieced it together with study, Shamir relied on instinct. If he saw the process, he might discover something new.
After rubbing his brow, he replied, “Not right away. I can see where I’d stumble, but not how to get past it.”
”If you know where you’d stumble, I can give you a hint. Can you tell me where?” I asked.
”Um…”
Tracing my motions, he tried to explain. I compared his attempt against my own process.
”Here,” he said, stopping at the part where I filled small distortions before tackling the largest.
I figured it out—Shamir wanted to patch the biggest distortion first, then work down. My method probably seemed roundabout to him. Honestly, either could work. Outside of me, only the city mayor had pulled it off, so no statistics existed. Results mattered more than method.
”You’re thinking of starting with the big one and then the smaller ones, right?” I confirmed.
He nodded.
”Your way might work. Demonsteel only needs the gaps filled with mana. That’s the key.”
Shamir’s face brightened. Still, I had my own reason for starting small.
”My way looks roundabout, but it prevents problems. Forcing too much mana through a single path can break or clog it.”
Shamir frowned, trying to imagine it. I decided Est should hear this too—it would help in Crafting.
”Think of it like blood vessels,” I explained. “Materials have tiny paths running inside. By flowing mana through them, you can reshape the material. Metal just needs a slightly different approach.”
Others bent metal from the outside. I weakened the internal bonds by filling those paths with mana, then reshaped them. Neither method was superior, but mine was more efficient for magic metals. Even at Crafting rank I, I could handle Mithril and Orichalcum, while others needed rank II or III. The same principle applied here: Demonsteel and shape memory alloys formed by filling these paths with mana.
”By keeping mana flowing through the paths, even the largest distortions get fixed. That’s my method. But if you can handle the big one and let the overflow fill the small ones, that’s fine too. Find what suits you—but don’t forget the core principle.”
Shamir chewed over my words, trying hard to absorb them. Est kept writing, recording my theories. Maybe she’d be the one to pass this on someday.
”If you fail, just melt the ingot down and try again. As long as you’ve got mana stones, you can keep practicing.”
”Most people don’t have forges at home,” both of them shot back.
I scratched my cheek. Right… my house doubled as a forge, shop, and residence. Not exactly normal.
”When you move up, you’ll be able to use the academy workshop. Until then… want to practice at my place?”
”Eh, that—”
”No thanks,” Est cut in, firm. “Same for Shamir. We’ll pass.”
Est quickly pressed her hand over Shamir’s mouth before he could blurt something out. Even for best friends, that felt a bit harsh.
”With our skills still immature, seeing the kind of outrageous workshop you’ve built would only distort our standards. So, we’ll have to decline,” Est said politely.
Her words carried a strange dignity, like small-town craftsmen dismissing the massive automated factories of a big company. Maybe it was prejudice, but forcing them would be wrong. The city mayor had only glanced around when she visited, but then again, she was the best Crafter in the city.
”Got it. Well, I run a shop too, so stop by anytime. At the very least, it might give you some ideas for weapons,” I said.
With that, I handed Shamir an iron ingot and a mana stone.
”I can supervise here. Why don’t you try refining Demonsteel?”
”Eh, really!?” Shamir’s face lit up.
”Sure. Around here, I can call it a lesson and take responsibility.”
Strictly speaking, school rules forbade Crafting outside assigned workshops. But Demonsteel refinement wasn’t quite Crafting—it couldn’t be replicated, so it wasn’t classified as such. And since we weren’t making tools out of it, I could argue it wasn’t Crafting at all.
Beaming with joy, Shamir clutched the ingot and mana stone, hurrying to the workbench. I turned to face Est.
”…Frustrated, aren’t you?” I asked.
”…,” she stayed silent.
”That’s fine. If you’ve got someone you don’t want to lose to, you’ll grow.”
”…I’m not a genius like him,” Est muttered.
”So what? If everything was left to geniuses, neither society nor Crafting would exist. Processing Mithril and Orichalcum used to be the work of rare geniuses. Now, thanks to skills, others can do it too. And can you really accept always losing?”
”…Honestly, that’s what I hate about you, senpai.”
I chuckled. “But I like it when you glare like this, fired up to catch up.”
”…And I like it when you look at me properly,” Est replied with a faint smile.
Her fierce eyes made me laugh.
”Est, what mindset do you have when you use Appraisal?” I asked.
”Eh? I don’t really know. I never thought about it.”
To deepen her Appraisal, I decided to give her a little push. Based on her personality, it might work.
”Don’t you get distracted? Thinking about Shamir or me while you try to focus?” I pressed.
”…I can’t deny that,” she admitted.
”You’re smart, and your mind moves fast.”
”…So you’re saying I’m just a bookworm?” she pouted.
I’d annoyed her, but her determination was something I could use.
”It’s not a bad thing. Building theories from knowledge is how existing technology improves.”
”But not how new technology is made,” she countered.
”My work is closer to adapting or reviving lost techniques. Demonsteel, shape memory alloys—they’re inspired by old alchemy, even if they started as failures.”
”New technology born from failures… huh.”
”Happens all the time.”
She sighed, half-amused. I reined the talk back on course.
”Est, you know you’ve got a strong hunger for knowledge, right?”
”Eh? Well, yeah. I like reading and hearing stories.”
”Then bring that feeling into Appraisal.”
”What?”
”Don’t forget—Appraisal’s purpose is to know, to understand. You use it to deeply know what’s in front of you. Doesn’t that align with your own curiosity?”
”…!” Est’s eyes and mouth widened in surprise.
That simple drive to satisfy curiosity—that was enough. If she followed the same path I had, she could do it too.
”…Why do you think I can do it?” she asked.
”Because that’s exactly how I do it.”
”…That’s your reasoning?”
”I told you before. I used Appraisal because I wanted to know what was in front of me. Same as your thirst for knowledge.”
Maybe Est was the truer disciple here. At the core, we were alike.
”Not right away, but maybe someday,” she murmured.
”No need to rush. But if you don’t get it down before I graduate, Shamir will leave you behind.”
”Keep talking. I’ve got no intention of always losing to him.”
She smiled with quiet defiance. Good—if she had that spirit, deepening her Appraisal wasn’t far off. I pulled an iron ingot and a Demonsteel ingot from my inventory and handed them to her.
”Use these as study materials. You can practice at home, right?”
”Yes. I’ll borrow them gratefully.”
”No, take them.”
”…No. I’ll return this ingot—after I’ve turned it into Demonsteel.”
”…I see. I’ll be waiting,” I said, smiling.
We both laughed together.
”Senpai! I’m sorry, I failed!!” Shamir cried from across the room.
So much for peace. I hurried over to help him.
”…I’m really glad you’re my teacher,” Est whispered behind me.
I pretended not to hear. A man doesn’t want others to see when he’s close to tears.
Shamir’s failure came from his reckless nature—he’d tried to flood the whole ingot at once while patching a large distortion. I told him not to rush, handed him a new ingot and mana stone, and guided him to feed mana steadily, bit by bit.
By the end of the lesson, Shamir had ruined eighteen ingots. But on the nineteenth, he succeeded. We all cheered louder than he did. Strangely, Est was the happiest of all, even more than Shamir.
That day, I also had to head to the central district with Ethelena. We were going to meet Torakuma (female; notorious for getting lost) who would be living with us from today. Tatia would join us there too. Since we were starting Arcane Armor production, it was time to gather the full party. Besides, the more people we had to handle Torakuma’s habit of wandering off, the better.
”…I hope Tora-chan’s all right,” Ethelena murmured.
”As long as she didn’t try to head to my house alone… hopefully,” I muttered.
Considering she once chased a butterfly out the garden and ended up in a dungeon in another country, the worry was justified.
As we neared the central plaza, I spotted a familiar figure.
A tall woman with hair streaked red and gold, clad in knight’s garb—Tatia.
”Hey! Chi-chan, hello!!” Ethelena shouted, waving both arms.
Hearing her voice, Tatia turned, smiling warmly as she waved back. Ethelena dashed toward her, restraining herself from flying in town. Tatia waited in place, and when Ethelena hugged her, she returned it gently. They’d grown incredibly close—unthinkable compared to when they first met.
”Hello, Lady Ethelena. You look well,” Tatia greeted, looking down from her tall height.
”And you don’t seem tired from yesterday either, Chi-chan. That’s good,” Ethelena replied brightly.
I walked up to them, smiling. “Hello, Tatia. Looking forward to today.”
”Hello, Tatara-dono. I was told yesterday that we would begin full-scale armor construction today. I intend to give my full cooperation,” she said earnestly.
I returned her greeting. We weren’t using Floating Stone theory yet, but the Arcane Armor would still be a unique creation infused with my techniques. Having Tatia’s help was vital, so her words were reassuring.
Three familiar presences approached us.
”Tatara! Ethelena! Tatia! Sorry to keep you waiting!!” a lively voice called.
That energy belonged to Torakuma (female), with the city mayor and Calmys-san following behind.
”Tora-chan, it’s been a whole day!” Ethelena exclaimed, immediately hugging her. Tatia gave a wry smile. Apparently, Ethelena had a habit of hugging close female friends her age. I hadn’t noticed before, since she had so few of them.
Torakuma, hugged tightly, pulled back with a curious look and glanced downward.
”…Ethelena, forgive my bluntness, but… are you bigger than yesterday?” she asked.
”Wha!?” Ethelena yelped, leaping back and covering her chest. Trust the troublesome fan—she could tell just from a hug. Behind Torakuma, the two older women made teasing motions with their hands at their own chests. I swore I could hear the whooshing sound.
”Ugh, Tora-chan always notices…” Ethelena groaned.
”We trained to notice changes in our opponent’s body, otherwise we couldn’t strike accurately. I was drilled on it endlessly,” Torakuma explained. “Yesterday’s hug confirmed it. Just looking wouldn’t have, with that cloak in the way.”
So it was a reasonable skill after all. Sorry for doubting you, troublesome fan.
”Anyway,” Ethelena continued, “my underwear doesn’t fit anymore. I thought maybe we could go shopping together. Tatara’s paying, after all.”
”So I’m the wallet again… Fine. I’ve got the money, and since I handle your finances anyway, it comes from me regardless.”
”Mmm, I use bindings myself,” Torakuma added. “But perhaps this culture has something more comfortable.”
”Probably easier than constantly binding,” I said. “Ethelena only wears support gear during exploration. Think of it as cultural exchange.”
”Ah, cultural exchange, is it? That could be fun,” Torakuma nodded sagely.
Her reasoning had shifted nicely. Cultural exchange—an excuse for me to gift her armor later.
”Um… Am I going too?” Tatia asked hesitantly.
Of course she was. She was part of the group.
”The whole party’s together, so you’re coming too. Ethelena’s always wanted to go shopping with friends her own age,” I said.
”Mmm. I’ve never done such things myself…”
”That makes it perfect. As a knight, experiencing what those you protect actually live for will remind you of what you’re guarding.”
”…Fufu, true. For a knight, that’s a refreshing perspective,” she admitted.
Her knight academy had been suspected of corruption, so letting her connect with ordinary people was good. She had started listening more; now I wanted her to become the kind of knight everyone admired.
I suddenly noticed someone watching. An older man—Tatia’s guardian—stood at a distance, surprised by her expression, then smiling warmly. Good. He seemed glad to see her growing. His eyes silently told me, Take care of her. I couldn’t promise lightly, but I would do my best.
”By the way, City Mayor, I have a report,” I said.
”…What is it? Another chance for a sore loser to strike back at someone younger?” she quipped dryly.
Don’t pout just because you lost in the chest department. She was up against a half-succubus. No contest.
”First, I’ve started new research. Just the basics so far.”
”Another new material?”
”You could call it that. I acquired a Floating Stone, so I’m analyzing it to see if I can reproduce it.”
The mayor’s expression soured. Floating Stones were unlike the tech used in flying warships. Output would be lower, but for lighter weapons, it could save lives. Soldiers forced to wear heavy armor might finally have some relief.
”Julon, are you planning to fill the skies with Whirlwinds?” she asked.
”If it were easy, maybe. But it’ll probably stay expensive for a long while. Widespread use would take decades.”
”The military will definitely take notice.”
”Even if I manage it, they’ll likely complain it lacks reproducibility. And that’s if the materials cooperate.”
I had a feeling it would take either a huge mana stone or a low-grade soul core just to make one—and even then, the result might be inferior.
”…Well, that’s a quieter report than usual,” she said at last.
”The other thing is more mundane—one of my juniors succeeded in using my version of Appraisal, and also managed to refine Demonsteel.”
”That’s good news,” she admitted.
”That’s all for today.”
”Understood. Everyone’s waiting for you, so go join them.”
She dismissed it lightly, but compared to Floating Stone research, another new user of Appraisal was minor.
I rejoined the others, and we headed for the lingerie shop. For me, a man, it promised to be hell—and my stomach already hurt.
”…My lord, about that report—was it truly wise?” someone murmured behind.
”What do you mean?” the mayor replied.
”You said Julon’s Appraisal, but…”
”Yes. He reported that another person can now use Tatara’s Appraisal, correct?”
”Correct. Specifically, his conceptual Appraisal. And casually, he mentioned Demonsteel refinement too…”
”…Tatara, wait!” the mayor called.
”He’s already gone, my lady.”
I half-heard the exchange behind me, but my stomachache was louder.
Before long, we arrived at the lingerie shop where I’d once bought undergarments alone for Ethelena. The last time I came was months ago, when she came with me.
The four of us entered, and a well-dressed woman greeted us politely.
”Well, I’ll be hiding over here while you three pick out what you want,” I said quickly.
Better to preemptively avoid being dragged into this.
”Then I’ll bring some over. You can pick which design you like,” Ethelena said cheerfully.
So much for hiding. Even the clerk gave me an indulgent little smile, as if watching a cute scene unfold.
”Hm. This is my first time seeing undergarments from this culture. Shopkeeper, may I trouble you for a moment?” Torakuma asked, marching straight up to a staff member.
The veteran-looking attendant’s expression sharpened with professional enthusiasm. She’d be reliable, no doubt about it.
”My eyes… they sting,” Tatia muttered, shielding them.
Too many colors, huh? I understood—when I first came here, it felt like being blinded. Worse, a predatory-looking saleslady was eyeing her like fresh prey. Sorry, Tatia, I’ll collect your remains.
As the others scattered into the store, I retreated toward a wall, trying to blend into a stain. This shop was on the quieter side near the noble district, so thankfully we weren’t drawing too many stares.
”Welcome back, young man. It’s been a while,” a familiar voice greeted me.
It was the older attendant from my very first visit. She’d helped me back then when I awkwardly tried to describe what I needed.
”Yes, long time no see. Sorry for the commotion,” I replied.
”Not at all. Young customers are wonderful. They inspire new designs,” she said warmly.
Her kindness made me shrink with guilt.
”Forgive me asking, but… the girl with violet hair—she’s the one?”
”The one… ah. Yes, she’s my fiancée,” I admitted, a little embarrassed.
”Oh my, how lovely.”
She looked genuinely pleased. I realized she must not have been here during the times I came with Ethelena before.
”So she’s trying to learn your tastes? That speaks of a close bond,” the clerk remarked.
”I hope so. But you never really know someone’s heart.”
”Oh? No confidence?”
”If I indulge my pride, I’d say I want to believe she loves me. Enough that I can’t imagine a future without her.”
The clerk chuckled softly. “With devotion like that, your feelings must reach her. She seems earnest, if a little awkward.”
”I hope you’re right.”
No matter how often I say it, I never feel sure my feelings reach her completely. That’s why I keep saying the words—and why her words reassure me when she returns them. Maybe I’m cowardly, but I’d rather speak plainly than assume and drift apart.
”Hey, Tatara! Which one’s better?”
I turned. Ethelena held up two sets of lingerie, one in each hand. I excused myself from the clerk and walked over.
”Your lack of confidence could be a flaw,” the clerk’s voice floated behind me. “But valuing words of love as you do—that is a virtue. Be happy, both of you.”
I pretended not to hear.
Ethelena’s options: a sheer lilac set that matched her hair, and a bold crimson-and-black lace piece practically dripping with allure. Honestly, either would wreck my rationality the moment I saw them.
”Which do you like?” she pressed.
”Honestly, either one will short-circuit my brain. How can you even pick things this sexy…?”
”Muu. I want an actual answer.”
”For someone who only cares about the girl inside, lingerie is kind of irrelevant.”
”Don’t flirt with me at a time like this!”
I studied the sets carefully, imagining them on her with my Crafting-based modeling skill. A misuse of technique, maybe, but handy.
The lilac—delicate, sheer, enough to make me nearly nosebleed. The crimson-and-black—far too mature for her age, but her body could pull it off, whether she blushed shyly or wore it with confidence. Either way… my body was definitely reacting.
”…If I’m honest, the crimson and black excites me more.”
”Thought so,” she said knowingly.
So she’d felt my desire and guessed my choice. Before she could settle, I stopped her.
”Wait. Get both.”
Laugh if you want—desire overflowing, that’s me.
”…Tatara, you perv.”
”Only for you. Should I prove it by getting you pregnant before graduation?”
”Don’t say that so shamelessly!”
Her face flushed as she smacked me, but she still grabbed both sets to buy. Definitely on board.
Then she shyly showed me a third option. “…Um, what about this?”
My heart nearly stopped. It was an open design—strategically cut so nothing was truly covered. Was she trying to kill me?
”Ethelena… do you want to be a mom?” I blurted, remembering what she’d whispered during our heat last night.
If she wore something like that, I really wouldn’t be able to hold back.
Her cheeks burned. “W-well… yes, I want children with you. But! I want to enjoy a little newlywed life first!”
”Fine, but lower your voice,” I hissed.
Too late. The shop’s few patrons and staff all stared. Older ladies smiled fondly, while a handful of others glared like they’d shed blood tears. Sorry—please just wish us well instead.
”You say newlywed life, but what changes?” I asked.
”Um… like, sleeping in the same room every night?”
”We already do sometimes, when we can’t keep our hands off each other.”
”Uuu… it feels different if it’s official…”
”…Maybe. I’ll grant you that.”
If she wanted it, I’d make it happen. I was hers, after all. People say the one who loves more loses—and maybe that’s me. But I didn’t mind.
Of course, there was still Torakuma, who’d be staying with us until her teleportation gate linked home. Knowing her, she’d lurk with “Stealth” just to watch. If she turned up glowing the next morning, I’d know exactly why.
”…Anyway, I’ll get these three,” Ethelena said at last.
”That enough? You’ll need practical ones too for adventuring.”
”Ugh, but it’ll get expensive…”
”Even if it hits six digits, I can handle it. I’m not stingy.”
”…Okay. I’ll lean on you, then.”
”Always.”
Relieved, she went to gather more. The clerk seemed shocked by my words, but thanks to the hefty royalties still sitting in my account, I had no worries.
”Ta–Tatara! Help me!!” a desperate cry rang out.
The sudden voice belonged to Torakuma. I turned toward her—and immediately jerked my eyes away.
”Wh-why are you half-naked out here!?” I shouted.
”I asked them to help me change, but they started fiddling with me all over! I couldn’t endure it!” she yelped.
”I get the reason, but stay back! Do you even realize how beautiful you look?!”
We bickered like idiots, and part of my brain coolly noted that if Ethelena saw this, I’d be in for a beating. If this happened while Torakuma was in one of those risqué sets… I’d be a goner.
”Still! When others touch me, it tickles unbearably! Even if it’s for fitting, when they press and gather the flesh for the cups, I can’t take it!”
”Then don’t run out here halfway through!”
She clung to me, and I turned my head as far as possible. She wasn’t wearing anything on top. Smaller than Ethelena, sure, but still more than enough to be obvious. Honestly, next to her, even the City Mayor and Calmys looked flat… pitifully so.
”Don’t be so cold! We’re comrades, aren’t we!?”
”If we keep this up, Ethelena will literally freeze us—by blowing our heads off!”
A younger attendant was chasing after her, hands twitching ominously. Honestly terrifying.
”Tatara! You could do it, couldn’t you? You’d be fine!” Torakuma pleaded.
”Are you trying to get me killed!?”
True, I’d done that kind of thing with Ethelena—as part of play. But if I touched another girl like that, I’d be a dead man. Worse, Ethelena might cry while crushing me into paste. After last night’s perpetual-motion-machine routine, maybe she wouldn’t even let me die.
Determined to avoid that future, I spotted the veteran clerk watching from a distance and waved frantically. She sighed, then came over to restrain the overzealous young clerk and lead Torakuma away. A while later, Torakuma returned clutching a frilly white set with pale-pink ribbons. I bought it for her as a housewarming gift—and threw in a few similar ones.
The veteran clerk gave me a cool look, like she was silently asking what I was doing buying lingerie for someone other than my fiancée. But come on, Torakuma doesn’t even have local currency yet.
I wondered if Tatia would need help too, but when I looked, her father was standing right beside her. The man radiated killing intent—the kind that said no one but him would oversee something that sensitive. Where had he even come from? He’d walked off earlier!
As we left after paying, he shot me a glare sharp enough to split stone. But since I hadn’t gone near Tatia, I exhaled in relief. Maybe he noticed, because he ended up smiling wryly before leaving. Still… I had a feeling he’d keep watching.
About an hour and a half later, the four of us finally arrived home. My spirit and HP were drained, but the day’s work was only beginning. First, though, we needed a late lunch.
Together with Ethelena, I prepared simple toast sandwiches and corn potage. Egg filling I’d made earlier, with tomato, lettuce, and ham—two each. Since overeating could throw off Tatia’s figure for her armor fitting, I made smaller portions all around. It wouldn’t feel right if she had less than us. Dinner would be a bigger meal anyway.
As I washed dishes, Ethelena hummed happily, her tail unconsciously curling around my leg. She didn’t even notice. I didn’t point it out either. Behind me, I could feel Torakuma’s creepy “fervent fan” aura flaring, but I ignored it.
”Alright, time to start Tatia’s armor,” I said.
”Yes, I’ll be counting on you,” she replied.
We gathered in the workshop. I’d wanted Ethelena to show Torakuma to her new room, but both insisted on watching, so I’d just put them to work as extra hands.
I projected the blueprint into the air and showed Tatia one diagram. It was the armor’s inner layer, made from Shape Memory Alloy woven into artificial muscle. It would cling tightly, open across the back, and adjust to size shifts thanks to the alloy’s extension properties. Mana sensors built into the collar and cuffs would read her magical output, triggering the artificial muscles to expand or contract in sync with her movements—boosting her physical ability.
”For this inner suit, I’ll need detailed body data,” I explained.
”More than simple measurements?” she asked.
”The fastest way would be to use Appraisal. But that means reading into your deeper information.”
”And if you measured me normally?”
”Then you’d have to stretch, flex, and move through various ranges so I could record joint mobility. I’d also need to touch you at times.”
”I see…”
After a pause, Tatia nodded. “Let’s start with measuring. I know Appraisal might be more precise, but I’d prefer we proceed the usual way first.”
”Got it. In that case, change into this.”
I handed her a simple garment made from thin cloth, almost like an apron, tied at the neck and waist. Not much of a “garment,” but it would save us some awkwardness.
”Understood.”
She accepted it and began undressing. Anticipating this, I quickly shoved Ethelena and Torakuma toward her and ducked out of the workshop. A moment later, Ethelena called me back in. Tatia now stood with the cloth over her undergarments, so I could safely continue.
”Alright. Let’s take your measurements.”
”Yes. Please do.”
I began with a length of thread, about two meters long. With practice, you could use it as accurately as a measuring tape. Starting at her neck, I worked down in sequence. After a full set of static measurements, I moved on to joint mobility—shoulders, arms, elbows, hips, thighs, knees. Each note, each movement, I committed carefully to memory.
From the measurements, I built the extension parameters into the Shape Memory Alloy. Pulling out an ingot of steel we’d recovered, I transmuted it into the alloy with a Mana Stone. Then, with focused mana, I stretched it into the thinnest filaments I could, weaving them into artificial muscle fibers. Over those, I inscribed a strength-boosting spell formula, keyed to activate when mana flowed through the fibers.
I configured the contractions down to the ten-thousandth of a millimeter. A quick Appraisal check confirmed they responded properly. Normally loose for comfort, the suit would tighten once the mana circuit ran through the bracelets and collar. The image in my mind was something like those trauma-inducing giant robot anime pilot suits from the old world—except this one hugged the body even closer. Not that it mattered; armor plating would cover it later. For now, I dubbed the prototype the “Inner Muscle Suit”—the first of a new Arcane Armor line.
”Tatia, it’s just a prototype, but I’d like you to put it on.”
”Very well… but will undergarments fit beneath it?”
If it were like modern adhesive or minimal coverage, sure. A normal bra, though, would get in the way—especially with her wings.
”Bottoms should be fine, but the top… better not. The wings might snag.”
”Hmm. An outfit that demands courage, then.”
She joked lightly as she removed the measuring cloth. I bolted from the room, catching Ethelena’s frosty glare as I fled. Hey, I’m working here!
When she called me back, Tatia was dressed, the suit still loose around her frame.
”Tatara-dono, I have my arms and legs in, but it hangs loose. What now?”
”Fasten the bracelets and collar until they click.”
”Like this?”
A soft snap echoed. She repeated it for the other two rings.
”Now, channel mana through them.”
”Understood—whoa!?”
The slack fabric cinched tight in an instant, molding perfectly to her form. Not lewd, but… the sculpted physique of a trained knight stood out in stark relief. If it were Ethelena wearing it, I’d be a dead man from sheer nosebleed overload.
”How is it? Too tight, or hard to move?”
”Hmm…”
I handed her an estoc from my Inventory. She went through forms, each movement smooth. I fine-tuned until no trace of discomfort remained.
”The odd sensation is gone… but the power is incredible,” Tatia admitted.
One thrust blurred like an afterimage. I glanced at Ethelena, whose eyes told me plainly: That’s barely within control. This boost could turn Tatia from tank to secondary attacker. Maybe I really had created something terrifying.
”Next comes the outer plating. But before that—I need one more set of data.”
”Data?”
”Yes. I want to record your flight patterns. Could you fly in the courtyard?”
She froze, meeting my eyes with a serious gaze. Without her flight data, I couldn’t finish a critical formula.
”…Is it necessary for the armor?”
”Yes. Without Floating Stone integration, it’s essential.”
”May I ask why?”
”I need to study how your wings move in flight. It could reduce the strain on your body—and help me disguise them.”
”…Disguise?”
I projected another diagram: false wings.
”…What is this?”
”First, a question. Do you know what determines the number of an Angel’s wings?”
”…Strength?”
”Close. More fundamentally: spiritual rank, or hierarchy. It’s not a perfect equation, but the difference between two and four wings is vast. The highest recorded rank, the First Seat, is said to hold creation-level power. The Second Seat was described as having six wings. Even lower ranks—Third, Fourth—were beyond the reach of humanity.”
”So, if you gave me the appearance of four or six wings…”
”Exactly. People would assume you were a high-ranking angel—or at least blessed by one. Even as a half-blood, they’d accept it as armor’s influence.”
”…To let me be acknowledged, despite these wings.”
She nodded slowly, comprehension dawning. This world’s angels were… arrogant, to put it mildly. They considered themselves shepherds, humanity their flock. Only rarely did one honor a mortal as a partner. But when they did, such humans were revered beyond measure.
”…Will it truly work?”
”We’ll make it work. For your future.”
”…Heh.”
Her sudden laugh startled me. Did she find a flaw?
”You’re right. I could never have spoken of such a plan to my younger self—or to my father.”
”It’s basically tricking a kingdom’s leadership. If we’re caught, you’ll be branded a criminal.”
”Indeed.”
”Ugh…”
A direct hit. Still, if she refused, this whole scheme would end here.
”Tatara-dono.”
”Yeah?”
”The courtyard will suffice?”
”…Ah—yeah!”
Not many words, but enough. Her consent. After careful thought, Tatia had accepted. I couldn’t help but smile.
Notes:
• Calmys – War God’s knight, Mayor’s guard chief, whip-master hiding as a swordswoman; sharp tongue, big-sister vibe to Tatara, grants him and Ethelena church protection.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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