Chapter 152. Outlook
After finishing drinking tea while watching Shizuku and Serika playfully, we finish our break. Then, after bringing some steamed buns from the kitchen and feeding the young girl, when the playful atmosphere finally subsided, Shizuku returned to my side. While Serika said she would change into regular clothes and move to another room. She brought regular clothes with her, huh?
I find solace in patting the head of the little girl munching on steamed buns. Serika, now dressed in a neat dress returns and sits opposite me. Yukihana is still lying down, casually eating steamed buns.
"Now that we've finished discussing the reward, shall I explain what I was doing?"
"Yeah, please tell me."
I smile and cross my arms, looking at Serika. What is that black skeleton all about?
"That's a skeleton I made. The materials are like mana spread throughout this world, I guess?"
[Serika-chan, still hiding things, huh?]
[It's reassuring to see the usual Serika]
Shizuku conveys her exasperation with mental emotions. Indeed, without absorption into the equivalent exchange store, they wouldn't recognize it as an element. But does she not think we'll figure it out?
We were conversing mentally with poker faces, but Serika smiled knowingly and peered at my face.
"The energy's name is Honyarara. Can Shizuku and the others handle it orally?"
"Hmm? So that's how it is."
Does Serika, a craftsman skilled in skills, have stricter restrictions on knowledge leakage than Shizuku and the others?
Realizing I understand, Serika nods satisfactorily, then leans back on the sofa.
"I gathered and solidified energy to create the skeleton. Well, it wasn't originally a skeleton. I was creating a puppet that could destroy dungeons. I could freely assign skill compositions and become the strongest warrior with a puppet."
"And then, you failed and got absorbed."
I send a protesting glance at what happened, but Serika doesn't nod obediently. Instead, she frowns, crosses her arms, and tilts her head in wonder.
"...That's strange. I vaguely remember when I got absorbed. Even about Sakimori, who attacked mercilessly. I think you were trying to shout 'I love you' to regain my sanity."
"It seems you didn't pay enough in advance."
Ignoring Serika's resentful protest, I listen to her story.
"I didn't intend to create such a powerful skeleton. My goal was to mass-produce autonomous drones and collapse dungeons worldwide. So, I didn't set it to become such a big skeleton, and I didn't even set it to create a dungeon in the first place."
Serika, tilting her head even more, speaks earnestly.
"I messed up the parameters for energy collection. Why did I do that? It was clear that it would fail if I set it like that. An imperfect dungeon core was created and absorbed. It caused fluctuations in space and needlessly collected energy."
"...Needlessly?"
Serika nods in response to my question.
"The skeleton I got absorbed into was a part of the collected energy. It felt like energy flowed elsewhere. It's unsettling. Why did I set it up like that? I can't recall."
"Hmm... How did you make the energy collection device?"
You never made it before, so why suddenly now?
"Thanks to my elevated status, I received several blasters, and guns for research purposes, and I used the fuel cells installed in them. I was so happy to finally get them."
Oh? So Serika elevated her status and got her hands on those dangerous guns. Seriously? Maybe I contributed to Serika's rise in status without even realizing it, so I'm partly to blame. Well, it's too late now; we have to keep moving forward without stopping.
"And where did that energy go?"
"Into a spatial rift. I think it flowed into the spatial rift created when dungeons are formed. It's more of a feeling. It might have been manipulated to create a large dungeon."
"Manipulated by whom?"
"We... Honyarara. Is that bad...? It was probably the dungeon. It was only a slight interference since I'm not dead like Yukihana, but maybe they were strategically aiming for a fatal mistake."
Serika furrows her brows in frustration. She's a confident girl. It's very frustrating to realize she unknowingly got manipulated.
But is it true? By the dungeon? Could such a thing? Shizuku and Yukihana also got manipulated. Is it possible? The dungeon? They said it's part of nature. But is it really the dungeon? It feels off. Why doesn't Serika seem to question that?
"Shizuku, does the dungeon set up traps like that?"
"Hmm... I can't imagine a dungeon with such intricate thought control targeting a physically embodied Serika-chan, but probabilistically, it might be possible."
Shizuku twists her head, but her opinion is affirmative, and Yukihana also agrees.
"That's right. When it comes to monsters, even the genius Yukihana-chan got manipulated. It might be possible."
Is that so? If the three of them say so, then maybe it's true. If dungeons can do that...
"Sakimori-shan! Can me have seconds of steamed buns, please?"
The little girl, done eating her steamed bun, excitedly taps my knee, so I smile wryly and give her more buns. She starts eating them happily, nibbling like a squirrel. It's quite soothing.
"Alright. Let's put this discussion on hold. There's no point in dwelling on it."
I'll consider other possibilities on my own. I'll keep it in the back of my mind.
"Now, let's talk about the future. Will Serika continue making skeletons?"
I ask casually, but if she answers affirmatively, it's disappointing. It'll be goodbye. That thing is dangerous.
Shizuku squints slightly, and Yukihana stops lounging and sits up.
But Serika denies it with a wry smile mixed with resignation.
"I understand now that this experiment has no future. Because if I create the powerful skeleton I aim for, another dungeon will likely occur, like this time. If dungeons are created as an aftermath of energy, it's counterproductive. I thought the dungeon got created because I couldn't solidify it, but maybe it can occur due to the aftermath. This experiment is over."
Serika raises her hand in surrender, smiling with a wry smile. I understand the meaning behind her words. This girl wanted to create dungeons.
I don't intend to blame her for showing her sense of justice. I'm sure there were victims. But in the abandoned town, killings were happening even without reason. It was a far cry from a peaceful life. And even though I witnessed that, I didn't try to stop it. In fact, I did similar things when setting up the [Equivalent Exchange Store]. I chose not to care since none of my family members got harmed. It's quite selfish of me, I admit.
"So, what are you going to do now?"
"Well, first, gain significant power within the inner town. Then maybe assist the Defenders as a wife. Would you be interested in researching familiars? Like the ones the Sakimori ride?"
Serika, who spoke in a delicate noble lady-like manner, lightly smiled and made a mad scientist-like proposal.
"Creating the ultimate skeleton was impossible, but by analyzing the Sakimori's familiars, we could mass-produce..."
"Panchi! Me is here to protect Mike!"
Jumping down from my lap, the little girl angrily pouts and gives Serika a gentle punch. Since she's close to Mike, she must be quite upset.
"Haha, sorry sorry. It was just a joke."
While deflecting the punch, Serika soothes her. The little girl then crawls back to my lap and stares warily at Serika.
Yeah, it's definitely not a joke. I'm glad I didn't tell Serika about the [Equivalent Exchange Store]. This albino beauty would likely become ecstatic and crazed, wanting to conduct various experiments.
"For now, let's set it aside. But even though I gave up on the skeleton, I plan to focus on doll-making. Plan B, originally my main area of research."
"Dolls? Wow, Serika, were you that young? Surprisingly, you play with dolls."
"Don't tease me. I plan to create autonomous automatons using materials from monsters and magic stones in machines. Though the principles differ, the goal is mass production like with skeletons."
Serika chuckles softly but makes golems seem more peaceful.
"Serika-chan, personally, I think for mass production, we'd need at least a hundred units, right? Wouldn't creating your automaton cost around a hundred billion yen per unit? I think someone mentioned that before."
Shizuku's eyes were in apparent exasperation. That's impossible for mass production.
"Um, let's create one unit first and then think about it."
"Reality isn't like anime, you know? Mass-produced units need to perform better than prototypes and cost less. White Devil's mass-produced units must match or exceed the White Devil's performance."
Coming from a combat specialist, Shizuku's serious opinion makes Serika awkwardly scratch her cheek. She understands this too. She just wants to create without constraints.
"I understand that. So, I plan to make it my equipment. A type you can ride in. A Living Mail."
It's a powered suit type. That makes sense.
"Serika, I'll count on that too. Many future battles might be too dangerous for us without proper equipment."
"That's right, master. Let's also request equipment upgrades for Yukika and the others."
As enemies grow stronger, magicians become vulnerable in hand-to-hand combat and can be instantly killed, so I agree with the equipment upgrade.
"Serika, please give us our weapons back. Oboromizu short swords easily broke."
Shizuku, oblivious to her own fault, requests her weapons.
"Sigh... I understand. Without continuous crafting, our arsenal won't suffice. By the way, why were you hiding from me?"
Accustomed to Shizuku's demands, Serika sighs tiredly but curiously asks.
"Because I can't trust you, Serika-chan. We've known each other for a long time. You would use even a close friend for your goals, right? There was no benefit in showing myself without guarantees."
With a nonchalant expression, Shizuku's ruthless reply forces Serika to smile wryly. She doesn't protest because it's true. I trust you, Serika.
"If you did the same, I would believe in you. Besides, it seems there are still secrets between us."
"The key to a successful marriage is keeping secrets from each other."
Laughing at Serika's glaring, I stand up from the sofa to prepare to leave. It's a festival, after all. The young girl seems to have disappeared, but that's okay.
"That American joke earlier wasn't funny, was it, Sakimori-san?"
With a smile like a koala clinging to my arm, my beautiful girl partner remarked. While Yukihana, now standing, begins preparations. Serika seems to be hesitating between getting involved or not, perhaps wanting to try new gymnastics.
"I will now become Rei. I will showcase how close Sakimori-san and I are."
Wearing a mask, Shizuku declares, though it seems like a subtle appeal with some ulterior motive. I won't say it, though.
Well then, shall we head to the Spring Festival?
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