Chapter 60 The Maiden Wields Her Blade
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”The magic motor is highly miniaturized yet remarkably efficient—its compact size doesn’t stop it from delivering high power. The guide bar is longer and heavier than standard, balancing the recoil perfectly during operation. The double-edged design reminds me of a traditional blade, and that guard near the habaki functions as an internal cleaner, constantly realigning the edge. The blade itself is Demonsteel—each segment sharp enough to shave through Mithril. But most of all… I can feel love in the way this grip fits my hand perfectly!!” Dahlia exclaimed with uncharacteristic enthusiasm.
”I only wanted the wielder to feel comfortable. Love had nothing to do with it,” Tatara replied dryly.
Her tone and enthusiasm resembled their earlier exchanges, though the technical fervor had dulled somewhat. The previous machines—Auto Eizul, Elingium—were wholly original architectures. This new unit was only a minor revision. If Tatara had truly been serious, he would have rebuilt the guide bar into a linear-rail structure, pushed the rotation speed to absurd levels, and probably forged each blade from pure Mithril.
”Still, why would Master bother with such a small revision?” Dahlia asked.
”Because the Revelation came down,” Tatara muttered. “If I push too far, I’ll get banished to another world.”
”Then I shall accompany you on that journey,” she said softly.
”Don’t say things you can’t guarantee.”
”That’s impossible,” she replied without hesitation.
He frowned. “Why not?”
”The condition Master gave me when creating my new core was to ‘become happy.’ Without Master, I cannot fulfill that condition. So whether I can or cannot is irrelevant—it only matters that I will.”
She said it with such conviction that Tatara could only sigh. Her resolve is far too firm.
If he were to be exiled, it should be him alone. He had to bear the weight of what he’d done.
”You seem resolved, Master,” Dahlia said, her voice almost teasing. “But you’re naïve.”
”Oh? In what way?”
”When you are cast out of this world, those who will resist and those who will follow will not let you go alone.”
She looked to his sides—Ethelena to one, Yohira to the other.
”…Tatara, you haven’t told us about this Revelation,” Ethelena said in a low tone.
He realized he hadn’t mentioned it and felt the guilt pinch behind his ribs.
”Well,” Yohira said with a grin, “I’ve already decided to stay with Tatara. No matter how reckless or foolish it gets.”
Her hand brushed against his, the warmth and chill from each side threatening to annihilate him in some metaphysical implosion.
”Tatara,” Ethelena pressed, “Explain.”
”…Alright,” he murmured.
They’d only just reconciled last night, and here he was again stirring chaos. He had no one but himself to blame.
”It happened after the creation of the Alchemist’s Egg—after Dahlia’s core was made.”
”What exactly did the Revelation say?” Ethelena asked.
”In a ridiculously cheerful voice, it said: ‘If you keep going like this, you’ll get expelled from this world, so be careful!’”
”That sounds like they don’t want you gone,” Ethelena said, brow furrowed.
”I want to believe that’s the case,” Tatara replied uncertainly. “But if the Archangel was happy about my exile, I’d lose faith in everything.”
He chuckled grimly. “Not that they’re human anyway—more like a system-bound angel.”
”So, I’ve been holding back on inventing. Still got ideas, though.”
Ethelena sighed. “You’re hopeless, Tatara. Your mind’s always on crafting.”
”Hey, I think about you too,” he said quickly.
”Seems I’ve given you plenty to worry about,” Yohira chuckled, amused.
”Don’t sound so proud of that,” he grumbled, bowing his head. He couldn’t deny it—recently, she had been his biggest emotional tangle. Still, her smile made the struggle worthwhile… probably.
”I still don’t know if the Alchemist’s Egg caused this or if it was just accumulated missteps,” Tatara admitted. “Modifying existing devices seems fine, but full innovations might trigger the system again.”
”That doesn’t sound fine at all,” Dahlia noted sharply.
”Which is why I didn’t want to talk about it. I haven’t found a solution yet.”
Yet something had changed lately—his body felt different. Not in a bad way. It was as if he could sense the world more clearly, every touch more grounded.
It started after Calmys took him to the Head Temple. Since then, he sometimes felt the world’s threads tug tighter around him.
”Master,” Dahlia asked, “Do you regret anything?”
”I reflect,” he said, meeting her gaze. “But I don’t regret. Because regret would mean…”
He looked at her directly.
”…that saving you was a mistake. And that’s something I’ll never believe.”
Dahlia’s eyes widened. Her face barely moved, but her hand clenched near her chest as if to hold something in place.
”…Understood,” she whispered. “This Automaton Maiden, Dahlia Julon, will remain with her Master—even if it means defying the Machine God who created me.”
”Don’t take it that far.”
”Forgive me, but if it is for you, I can walk proudly until I decay. If you have no regrets about saving me, then I’ll have none about standing beside you until the end.”
”That’s… heavy.”
”Lives are never light,” she said quietly. “You thought that yourself when you used the Alchemist’s Egg on this chest, didn’t you?”
”…No comment.”
How does she even know that? he thought. Did some trace of my will remain in that egg?
”Tatara,” Ethelena said, “you should think more about what happens to the girls you rescue.”
”Coming from you, that’s rich,” Yohira teased.
”So you’re saying Ethelena’s already gone off the deep end?” Tatara asked.
”Sharing the man she loves—what else would you call it?” Yohira replied with a smirk.
”…Can’t argue with that,” he muttered.
He couldn’t even tell when his life had become this absurd.
”By the way, Dahlia,” he asked, “don’t you have anything else to wear besides that skin-tight outfit?”
”Ah, so Master wishes to satisfy his lust by dressing me in attire that perfectly displays my figure? How shameless,” she said flatly.
”Wrong. I already got my fill this morning with Ethelena. I just wanted to know if you had anything better suited for exploration. That dress we bought yesterday’s nice, but not dungeon material.”
”…Master, total denial still hurts,” she said, lowering her gaze.
”Expecting delicacy from me is a waste of time.”
He’d grown used to her banter—too used to it. Somehow, the distance between them had shrunk without him noticing.
”I do have alternatives,” she said. “But I think the one-piece you bought yesterday will suffice. I won’t let a single enemy touch me.”
”You’ll still get dirty walking around the dungeon. You bought it because you liked it, right? Wouldn’t you hate to stain it?”
”I bought it because you said it suited me, Master.”
”…That’s all it took?”
Her answer hung in the air, delicate and sincere, far heavier than it appeared.
”Quite a sufficient reason, I’d say,” Dahlia remarked. “Even Ethelena-san and the others would agree—and it’s written in the ancient texts.”
”Are Ethelena and the others some kind of wights now?” Tatara muttered.
He sighed. Please don’t tell me that ‘ancient text’ is the Kojiki or something.
”I kind of get it, though,” Ethelena said. “When someone tells you something suits you, it’s hard not to buy it.”
”…Aye, I can’t deny it. That’s how it was when I bought my undergarments,” Yohira admitted.
Wait, they’re agreeing with her now? Tatara thought, face twitching.
”But,” Ethelena added, “if it were for a date, I could understand—but exploration is a different story.”
”Indeed,” Yohira nodded. “Best to choose when to dress up. We’ll even arrange a day for you to go out with Tatara, so change into something suitable for exploration.”
”…Why does it sound like Dahlia and I are going on a date?” Tatara muttered. “Not that I’d mind buying casual clothes, but still…”
”…Master,” Dahlia said quietly.
”When we go out shopping again, wear that nice dress. I’ll take you properly next time,” Tatara said.
”…Yes, my Master.”
Reluctantly, Dahlia pulled out a set of clothes from her inventory resembling what she wore before. Ethelena noticed and quickly pulled Dahlia along before she could start changing right there. She’s starting to act like a mom, Tatara thought wryly.
Just then, the doorbell rang. Tatara turned to answer—it was probably Tatia. Sure enough, the knight stood just beyond the gate.
”Good morning, Tatara-dono. May I come in?”
”Ah, yeah. I’ll open it now.”
He unlocked the gate and welcomed her inside. Something about her seemed lighter today—her expression brighter.
”Something happen?” he asked.
”Hmm? What makes you say that?”
”You just look… happy.”
Tatia scratched her cheek, embarrassed. “Ah, you noticed. My father lord told me something—about the issue you’d been struggling with, the Angel race. It seems there’s progress.”
”…Seriously?”
That was good news indeed. Recognition of Tatia’s wings had been the biggest obstacle so far.
”They’ll arrive at Whirlwind within a week or two,” she said.
”Then we’ll make it in time… feels like a weight’s been lifted.”
”Fufu, I agree.”
Their shared laughter filled the morning air. The preparations to receive the Angel race delegation were finally complete—assuming no unexpected trouble.
”Also, Tatia,” Tatara said, “I’m bringing Dahlia on today’s exploration.”
”Oh? Is that wise? She’s still recovering, isn’t she?”
”At the very least, her status is the highest in the city. She’ll be fine.”
”That strong?”
”Her physical attack’s equal to Yohira’s, and her defense is triple yours.”
”That’s excessive,” Tatia admitted with a wry smile.
Indeed, Dahlia could handle any current dungeon layer they dived into without defensive maneuvers. Even a full-charge from a distant orc couldn’t faze her. It’s honestly absurd, Tatara thought.
”I’ll test how she moves first, then tailor her equipment accordingly. For now, I’ve lent her two magic swords, but I plan to give her an Elingium and a Mana Cannon too.”
”So you already foresee something beyond this?”
”Yeah. Once she has a Mana Cannon, we’ll finally be able to deal with the Liches on the thirty-first floor. Pure Mana strikes work even without elemental affinity.”
The undead-type rare monster Lich was formidable but not invincible—its HP barely around 160. It nullified physical attacks and boasted high magic defense, but with Dahlia’s magic output, it’d be manageable. The Archangel once bypassed its resistance entirely with a beloved sword—though not because of Pierce. That part still baffled him.
”So this run is mostly for material gathering?” Tatia asked.
”Pretty much. I’d like to collect as much iron as possible.”
”My skill tends to interfere with drops—sorry about that.”
”Nah, it’s fine. The Muumin outbreak’s been giving us stat-boosting items. Total profit.”
He chuckled, recalling that he hadn’t checked last exploration’s results. Well, no point dwelling now. Dahlia’s situation took priority.
”Speaking of weapons,” Tatia said, “I wanted to ask you for something.”
”Demonsteel Estoc, huh?” Tatara guessed.
”As expected. I did consider a mounted lance, but it didn’t feel right. I want a Demonsteel Estoc—longer and heavier than my current one.”
”Got it. But I’ll have to charge a technical fee this time.”
”Of course. There is no good work without fair compensation. My father lord always said that, and I agree.”
The old man really is something else, Tatara thought. Dalma had warned him before about undervaluing his work. As next Chief Crafter of Whirlwind, he couldn’t afford to make the guild’s craftsmanship look cheap. He’d probably need to discuss pricing with the City Mayor (female) soon.
Still, he’d wait until after academy graduation and attaining half-rank.
”If we get a good batch of Mithril again, I could forge you one from that,” Tatara mused.
”I’d love to try it, but that’d be far beyond my budget.”
”There’s a way. You sell me the Mithril you acquire, and I use that as material credit for the crafting cost.”
”Ah, so you’d take payment through materials instead of coin. Clever.”
”It’s a little gray, yeah. But if the merchant guild sees it as a sale rather than unpaid work, it passes.”
Especially with Mithril’s high value—the sale would cover most of the technical fee. As a half-rank craftsman, Tatara wouldn’t need much beyond base metal for fittings unless excessive ornamentation was requested.
The City Mayor had even once valued his Aura device at eighty kilograms of Mithril. He’d thought it ridiculous, but apparently, no one else could replicate his designs cheaply. If she sees the next upgrade, she might just kill me.
”…Tatara-dono,” Tatia said softly.
”Hm?”
”If possible, please make the Estoc ornate enough for ceremony. Not on the blade—just the hilt, guard, and sheath.”
”…That’ll raise the cost.”
”I’ll make up the difference by gathering more Mithril.”
Complicated order, he thought. But if it’s Tatia’s request, I’ll find a way. He mentally set the weight to about eight kilograms, assuming an aura-equipped design.
They continued chatting as they reached the living room. Yohira was already there, and Ethelena had just returned with Dahlia, who now wore a cape. Ethelena must’ve insisted—the skin-tight suit was apparently a no-go even by her standards.
”Tatara, do you have any spare armor?” Ethelena asked.
”Not for Dahlia. I’ve still got your old gear, but… the size problem’s real.”
”Mine should be fine—let her borrow it,” she said.
”No way. You two are built completely differently.”
”So you’re saying I’m fat?”
”No, Ethelena. You’re thin, but your proportions are… extreme. Dahlia would cry if she tried that on.”
”Then at least the shirt and hoodie? Those should fit, right?”
”That’d be the cruelest thing of all…”
He grimaced. Ethelena’s bust is an E-cup. Dahlia’s an A. It’d be like watching a social commentary on despair.
”Master, I shall not lose! Please lend me Okusama’s old equipment,” Dahlia declared with pride.
”Oh boy. Don’t mistake reckless courage for valor.”
I do have a conscience, Tatara thought. Even if they call me insensitive, I’m not completely heartless.
”Do not worry, Master,” Dahlia said firmly.
”Dahlia, you’re a size 65A trying to fit into a 70E. That’s a guaranteed tragedy.”
”…Ah, worry not, Master. I will—will show you victory!”
He sighed. She’s already broken inside and pretending not to be.
”…Why do you even know Dahlia’s size?” Ethelena asked sharply.
”She told me at the lingerie shop the first day—we had to buy her clothes, remember?”
That memory made him wince. Dahlia hadn’t seemed embarrassed in the slightest; her courteous indifference had made it worse.
”I ran away from the clerk back then,” Yohira said casually, “and jumped into Tatara’s arms naked.”
”That one scared the hell out of me,” he muttered.
”What?! I didn’t hear about that,” Ethelena said, narrowing her eyes.
”It was right after you took him shopping for undergarments,” Yohira said innocently.
”The look on Tatara’s face back then was priceless,” Yohira continued, chuckling. “You’d think he was some ‘boob saint’ who’d never settle for anything less than Ethelena’s size.”
”…You—No, forget it.”
”…I see,” Ethelena said flatly, though the twitch at her lip betrayed irritation.
”Hey, Torakuma,” she muttered under her breath, “I’m not satisfied with this conversation.”
Meanwhile, Tatia had been watching the back-and-forth with a growing look of confusion.
”…Yohira-dono,” she said finally. “Aren’t you… awfully close to Tatara-dono?”
”Well, yes. Tatara… accepted my feelings,” Yohira said.
”…Huh?” Tatia blinked, then gasped. “Wait—what!?”
Her face flushed red as she grabbed Yohira’s shoulders.
”He accepted you!? But what about Ethelena-dono!?”
”Ethelena knows. She’s the one who convinced Tatara, actually.”
”Ethelena-dono!?”
Ethelena smiled softly. “Tatara can’t carry everything alone. I needed someone to help me support him.”
”T-Tatara-dono!” Tatia said, turning toward him.
”I told Yohira I can only love Ethelena,” he said evenly. “But she still chose to stay. I know it’s not… normal. You’re right to think it’s strange.”
”…Kh,” Tatia exhaled, eyes trembling.
There had to be conflict inside her. I get it, Tatara thought. I know this setup’s not right, but if they both accept it, I’ll live with it.
”…I don’t understand any of you,” Tatia whispered.
”Yeah,” Tatara said. “That’s fair.”
”It feels wrong.”
”You’re right. It is.”
”Even so… I still think of you all as companions. Irreplaceable party members.”
”Thanks,” he said softly.
”Why… why do I feel like this…” she murmured, hiding her face in her hands.
There was no anger or resentment—just something softer. Jealousy, perhaps. Or… longing.
”…Anyway,” Tatara said, clearing his throat, “let’s just make this a normal exploration day.”
”Understood,” Tatia replied. “If we encounter a Goblin Commander early, I’ll let Dahlia take point. That should be fine.”
”Got it.”
Her tone wavered—like she was convincing herself more than him. Maybe she wasn’t ready for emotional chaos like this.
”…Master.”
He turned. Dahlia stood behind him.
”I… managed to put it on, Master.”
”…No, you didn’t. That’s impossible.”
Dahlia in Ethelena’s old armor was… a disaster. The shirt that once revealed a hint of Ethelena’s stomach now hung down to Dahlia’s thighs. The shoulder straps stretched limply, and the hot pants barely clung on—her hips too small, waist unfit. So Ethelena’s waist is actually thinner. Great.
This is too cruel, he thought. Someone stop her.
”Look, Master,” Dahlia said, forcing a smile. “I did it…”
”Enough. You can rest now,” he said gently.
Her smile trembled—eyes dry, yet somehow crying. He had Ethelena let her keep the cape, at least.
Soon after, as they walked through the city, attention followed them everywhere.
”Hm… we’re quite the spectacle,” Yohira murmured.
”Well, yeah. Look at this party,” Tatara replied.
At the entrance of the Cavern of Eternal Night, even the receptionists were staring. Dahlia’s beauty was almost doll-like. Ethelena’s elegance, Yohira’s exotic charm, Tatia’s knightly grace—and then him, the odd man out. No wonder people gawked.
Some men whispered nearby, debating whether to try talking to them. Understandable, but still annoying, Tatara thought.
”…Displeasing,” Yohira muttered.
He turned. Her eyes were narrowed, lips pressed thin. Her Whirlwind-style armor couldn’t hide her foreign beauty—one glance and strangers stared too long.
”You okay?” he asked quietly.
”Honestly? Irritated.”
He nodded. Can’t blame her.
”So many eyes on us,” she continued softly. “If they were simply curious, I could bear it—but lustful gazes are unbearable.”
”Yeah… you didn’t seem to mind before.”
”Because I hadn’t yet been accepted by you,” she murmured. “Now, when they look at me like that, it feels… wrong.”
So it was his fault—she couldn’t tolerate being ogled anymore.
”…You’re smiling, Tatara,” she said, narrowing her eyes.
”Sorry,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “Just realized we’re angry for the same reason.”
”…Fool,” she muttered, glancing down.
Her ears reddened, but he didn’t tease her—just offered his hand. She hesitated, then gently intertwined her fingers with his.
”Torakuma, it’s not fair that you get special treatment,” Ethelena’s teasing voice broke in from behind.
Ethelena slipped her arm around his other side, pressing close. The soft sensation of her chest made Tatara’s pulse spike, despite the fact he’d thoroughly “exercised” that morning.
Predictably, the surrounding men glared daggers at him. If you’re jealous, then go comfort someone suffering yourself, he thought.
They finally cleared the fuss at the entrance and stepped into the Dungeon—five figures descending into its dim halls.
Tatara summoned his Black Iron armor and shifted into battle stance, flexing joints and verifying the Spell Formula responses. He drew his warhammer. I meant to upgrade this thing, didn’t I? He’d forgotten, too busy crafting everyone else’s gear.
”Magnificent,” Dahlia began in awe. “Master’s Arcane Armor—seeing it in motion completely changes its impression. The woven Shape Memory Alloy fibers forming the Artificial Muscles, the reinforcing Spell Formula layered atop them, creating twin channels of amplification that yield high torque. Because it follows the body’s musculature, there’s no imbalance, resulting in a perfect enhancement ratio. The plating—Demonsteel, its properties doubled through alloying—interlaced with a honeycomb framework to distribute impact. And most remarkable of all, the compressed air Spell Formula on the back enabling thrust bursts for rapid assault—truly, a template for the next generation of close-combat armor!”
”Yeah, great review,” Tatara cut in. “But maybe not while we’re in a dungeon, huh?”
Dahlia’s enthusiastic tech commentary would’ve fit better on a late-night infomercial. Even if the enemies here were trivial, distraction wasn’t ideal.
”She’s… quite intense,” Tatia murmured, edging back.
”Well, no one in this party’s normal,” Tatara replied. If anything, I’m the least eccentric—though the City Mayor would probably club me for saying that.
”And now, you, brave trainee knight Tatia!” Dahlia suddenly turned, radiant. “The armor Aura Master forged for you—perfection itself! Your inner Artificial Muscle layer, dubbed the Inner Muscle Armor, synchronizes to your physical rhythm with an error margin under 0.001%! That means full body enhancement at explosive output! The outer plating is light yet resilient—Demonsteel on the surface, Mithril honeycomb beneath for hybrid protection. But the true marvel—the wings! Forged from Shape Memory Alloy, shifting from shield to cloak, inscribed with Flight Spell Formula for aerial mobility! Crafted by Master Tatara Julon himself, this is the ultimate flight-type Arcane Armor—the one and only, Aura!“
”…Tatara-dono,” Tatia whispered. “This person terrifies me.”
Even Tatia, the stoic knight, looked rattled. He’d never heard her call someone “this person” before.
”Let’s keep moving,” Tatara said. “We’re not here for a gear exhibition.”
With that, the group pressed deeper.
The first Giant Bat appeared soon after, but Tatia darted into the air, kicking it down effortlessly. Dahlia clapped in sheer fascination, going on about the auxiliary wing control formulas being “art beyond art.”
The exploration went smoothly, and by the fifth floor, they’d gathered an impressive ten kilograms of iron ingots—enough for new Elingium and even a fresh weapon for Yohira.
Then, at the fifth layer, the enemies shifted—Goblins, led by a Goblin Commander. One commander, two Warriors, two Wizards, and ten regular Goblins. Tatara was about to intervene, but Dahlia strode forward on her own, meeting his gaze with a firm nod.
Not “leave it to me.”
That look said—”Watch me.”
”Greetings, vile dust,” she said sweetly. “I am the graceful Automaton Maiden, Dahlia Julon.”
She drew two Magic Swords from her inventory, spreading them like wings.
”Good day—”
Mana condensed at her left blade’s edge, forming a translucent Katana Blade—not just energy but almost matter itself from sheer output.
”—and farewell.”
The right-hand chainsaw blade roared to life. Sparks flew from its guide bar, tinting the air with crimson streaks that mirrored the Mana glow.
And then came the slaughter.
Dahlia dashed forward, an explosive step gouging the earth as she blurred into the front lines. Her right-hand weapon carved into the Commander’s clavicle, splitting him clean through in a fountain of blood.
The subordinates had barely turned when her blades finished four more. The remaining Goblins fled—too slow. Dahlia moved like lightning, ending each one before they could scream.
Absolute dominance.
When it was over, she turned back, smiling faintly, as if she’d merely danced instead of massacred a small army.
Yeah, Tatara thought, we definitely picked up something terrifying.
Notes:
• Dahlia – The automaton.
• Yohira – Torakuma’s first name.
• 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.
• Dalma – A massive, rugged Explorer with a burly frame and a presence that overshadows others, long considered a battle comrade of Rogas, Calmys, and the mayor. Straightforward and loyal, his trademark is entrusting everything to his allies—“makaseru otoko,” the kind who leaves even the forging of his great axe entirely to Tatara’s hands.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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