“... Woahh, this remodeling, is pretty amazing”
Takanas.h.i.+-san had taken the materials everyone gathered and put them through her remodeling. Seeing all the s.h.i.+ny new equipment lined up, I was honestly impressed.
The weapons given to me look like 2nd hand goods compared to the ones carried by our frontliners, but s.h.i.+ny blades with no rust are more than good enough for me. The quality is unbelievable. I’m guessing what this remodeling does is, it cleanly collects the iron only from the materials and reconstructs everything into a blade of the same shape and size. Shove in 2 or 3 of those rusty short-swords, and her remodeling can dish out a sparkly new iron short-sword. The logic of bunching up only the good bits to make something of better quality is fine and all, but then, where does all the rust go? Who knows. They like, completely vanish. After the remodeling is over, you can only find the finished product inside the fountain and nothing else.
But let’s not sweat the small stuff. It’s all good if we can get quality weapons. But here’s where it gets better, you can actually mix in monster parts during the remodeling process. A synthesis of sorts.
A so called elemental weapon. Apparently, when Souma-kun beat the Cerberus, likely due to some special ability of the Hero, the monster turned into light particles and got absorbed into him. However, this ability is convenient in that it has the smarts to leave behind the core. And further conveniently, it also leaves behind monster parts that could be well used in the remodeling. Apparently, other than the core, the other parts are ones that hold a lot of mana, and that’s seemingly how it discerns between what to and what not to leave behind.
And so they now possess claws and fangs from the Cerberus.
What man, we getting Drop Items now?— I want to retort, but I’ll refrain.
Anyway, with that Cerberus claw supplied alongside Kenzaki-san’s Knight Saber, she got out the new and improved Red Saber.
“This is really good... Look, fire’s coming out”
“A genuine magic sword I see”
Even the cool and collected Kenzaki-san and Cla.s.s Rep are wide eyed looking at the flames that spouted after swinging the sword. I myself went “Woahhh!!” and got all excited.
Still, all this material quality improving and even adding elemental attributes, feels like we’re really making weapons, or I should say, like the crafting you see in games. You’d normally have to get tools for manufacturing iron or other metals, like molds and all sorts of equipment, and also the right knowledge. This is all something Remodeling can do all in one go. You could even call it a cheat skill.
The crafting produced by this magic figuratively scoffs “MUDA MUDA!” at all the industrial achievements founded by the human race in all its history, as if proclaiming the utter futility of it all. I feel a bit complicated seeing a bit of magic easily surpa.s.s modern science, but my life is on the line here, so I’ll gladly take full advantage of it. My Rem is pretty similar in that respect too. Plus, whatever my complaints may be, Takanas.h.i.+-san’s cheaty production skill has already become indispensable for our survival.[1]
(TN: IS THAT A JOJO REFERENCE!!1 XD— yes, yes it is. )
As I was pondering in my positive impressions, she’d made one more, another fire element weapon.
“Hey, why’s mine have a scary description again, hey you!?”
Natsukawa-san was overjoyed at receiving her new firey knife synthesized with the Cerberus’ fang. Swinging away at the red-hot blade that spit embers, she sent those feelings of grat.i.tude to the weapon’s creator, that is, towards Takanas.h.i.+-san.
“UAA~N! Hope you like fried chickeeen!”
“W-wait, Kotori doesn’t write these thiiings!”
That’s some good heat it’s giving off. That should let her take on tough bodied monsters too. I’d very much like Mei-chan to also equip herself like this, but it seems like those small Orthrus fangs simply can’t exert Cerberus-tier levels of fire.
(TN: The Red weapons’ names are as is. 剛鉄 — Goutetsu — Roaring Steel )
They didn’t get an elemental attribute, but Mei-chan’s new set of weapons are of incomparably higher quality from the stuff she has been using before this. What needs special attention is the fact that we used that Armor Bear’s carapace as the synthesis material.
Since we used the Armor Bear’s metallic skin, Steel made an upgrade to Roaring Steel. According to Takanas.h.i.+-san, this Roaring Steel is heavier than ordinary steel, but much harder in contrast. The weapons themselves were made larger than normal, so while they’d be unfit for someone like Natsukawa-san with her speed-centric fighting style, it’s pretty much a perfect match for a mega-power fighter like Mei-chan.
Incidentally, the reason it’s not an axe but a halberd is because we couldn’t collect a good enough long-axes to serve as its base. The Skeleton captain’s halberd is one of the easily attainable high quality weapons, so that was the main choosing criteria on this occasion.
A halberd is like a combo between a spear and an axe, so you can both slash or pierce. It’s pretty convenient like that, or so it would seem. As it has multi-usage functionality, wielding one can get fairly technical, is what I’ve heard. But as the user was Mei-chan, her super Berserker powers can draw out its potential with any weapon. She’ll get used to it in no time, so I’m not too worried.
There’s Roaring Steel Sword that was improved upon from Hirano-kun’s sword. And the Steel Short-sword which will be a spare. Well, she’s already got the Kill Carver so that one won’t see much use I guess.
Now, we’re all done getting everyone’s respective weapons in order, but there’s one more thing that I, have to get over with.
“... Alright, looks like everyone’s asleep”
It was decided that we would travel along the correct route after getting some shut-eye. My watch tells me that it’s a bit past 1 AM. Everyone went to bed around midnight, so they should all be frolicking in the land of dreams right about now.
Me and the girls were split up such that our sleeping areas are on opposite sides of the fountain. The other side currently has paradise with 5 beautiful young ladies lined up sleeping, but this side just has the sole man, me, all by his lonesome. But right now, that’s fine. It’s more convenient this way. The reason— I don’t think I need to explain too much. It’ll be my 2nd time doing this after all.[3]
(TN: OK I seriously double checked about there being 5 girls on the other side, I don’t know why man, there’s supposed to be 6 right? )
“Outside the square is a bit... yup, bad idea”
I bounce towards a corner of the fairy square. It had a fairy walnut tree, plus with the fountain, it’s a double blindspot. Pretty much the ideal location.
“Haaa... Man, this is nerve-wracking...”
My pulse is rapidly rising. But it’s better than last time, since I guess I got used to it a bit more. But it’s probably mostly because I’m not doing it while looking at Mei-chan.
“Calm down... you need to do this, don’t keep avoiding it and revive Rem”
No wait, if I calm down, doing this will just get more difficult. I need to be excited more or less. You can do this, me.
“... Haah”[4]
(TN: Hmm... somebody was asking for silver lining in the comments :^) )
Along with a heavy sigh, I have once again successfully collected the final ingredient to make Rem, the Vile Mud Doll. I thought it’d end up this way, so I had kept my exclusive collection tool, the condom, all nice and cleanly washed. There’s a myriad of reasons I resent the prospect of using this again, but I can’t afford to choose my methods. Like, do you think I can ask those lovely party members if they happen to have one?
Honestly, I’d rather not walk this tightrope. I want to make Rem without using this if possible... But the previous Rem’s power was greater mostly because this s.e.m.e.n was used as an ingredient, it would seem.
This a.s.sumption comes from when us and Rem were fighting together. I happened to come into contact with her a lot, and somehow understood how she was made and stuff. It’s not like I can suddenly open up a game-like status screen for her, read descriptions and look at different icons and what not.
But from experience with all my other curses, where I just get it when I’m not supposed to logically know something, I can be sure that the information is correct. Therefore, once I felt that s.e.m.e.n is an essential component, it became indispensable. There’s a limit to materials, so I don’t have the leisure to try out a version without s.e.m.e.n to see if the power actually goes down.
I thought about it. There’s the safe route of explaining everything and having them understand, but something tells me the moment I start on that subject, I’d be kicked to the curb, so nope.
But I absolutely need Rem in my current state. I can’t just rely on Mei-chan for everything. If Rem wasn’t there, I would’ve been killed by that Armor Bear.
We’ll be heading back into the danger soon, and I could die instantly if I don’t have Rem subst.i.tute for me in a dire situation.
The girls might find out, but my fear and sense of self-preservation takes priority. I don’t want to die regretting not making Rem here and now.
Anyway, I’m done collecting, so all’s well.
After I’m done, no one would know Rem’s ingredients from just looking at her. And they wouldn’t bother to find out. I just mixed some monster materials and done, what of it? I could simply persist. That way, it’s not embarra.s.sing for me, and the girls won’t care much either. it’s a win-win for everyone.[5]
(TN: win-win is such a fun word, remember to make a circle with your index and thumb while extending the other three fingers when you say it. Also, watch Sakura Quest... it’s super fun lol. )
Now, same as last time, I’m perfectly prepped for Vile Mud Doll. A Skeleton captain’s bones will serve as the frame this time, and I added in its core too. Additionally, what was before Goar scales is now Armor Bear sh.e.l.l. Both quant.i.ty and quality of materials have been b.u.mped up a notch. I’m definitely getting a more powerful Mud Doll Rem after this.
Plus, I’ve already had Tananas.h.i.+-san prepare a 2nd Steel Spear for Rem to use. So her armaments are also receiving an upgrade.
“Fufuh... This is kinda exciting”
From all the new prospects to power up, I unconsciously let a smile show, and with the now well filled adult rubber balloon in hand, I get on my feet— and right then,
“Momokawa, what are you, doing over there”
Spine froze.
She found out. She saw. How, why. Bad thoughts rush in one after another, making my head a vomit-inducing swirl of disorder. But even within that chaos, I quickly knew who she was.
The person standing there when I slowly turn around—
“Don’t move!!”
“Hii!?”
Glaring at me with eyes like the devil incarnate（an oni) , there stood Kenzaki Asuna, with her sword at my throat.
Author’s postscript: This is unrelated to this story, but “Kuro no Maou V: Witch in Love” is now on sale. There’s a gaiden chapter you can only get in this published version so please have a look![6]
(TN: This is a few arcs ago in KnM, when he got Evil Eater, and Wrath Pun battle I think. I havn’t seen the book so I can’t be too sure tho. Anyway this is just advertis.e.m.e.nt for the book, but apparently the gaiden’s pretty cool. Author summarized it somewhat, and it’s a what if about if Kurono never escaped from the lab. He apparently still meets Lily somehow, and there’s characters that appear in the ch 500s in that gaiden (the book comes out in that time frame), so I guess with current translations you don’t really have a grasp of some of the characters. Anyway, my point is, if you happen to buy the book, can you please send me scans of the ill.u.s.trations inside? I’ve been really curious about this for a while. And my second point is, we should totally badger Yos.h.i.+ to translate it lol. )
