Rin Tohsaka concentrated on the task in front of her. At the small magic stone that came from some monster in the dungeon. She held her hands over it and concentrated.
'This time,' she thought , 'I should have it down pat by now…hopefully.'
She saw the stone begin to glow along its refined edges. So far so good. She just had to keep her output regular and steady enough to-
A crack suddenly appeared in it and Rin's worst fears were realized.
"No no no!"
In a snap of sound and a puff of smoke, the magic stone shattered before her eyes. Tiny pieces of debris landed on her face and in her hair. She looked down upon the metal plate that the stone once rested in. Seeing the scorch mark from where it once was.
Rin growled deep in her throat, an all too common reaction to this outcome. The growling became a shout as she pushed herself away from her desk, accidentally tipping back the chair she was on and sending herself crashing to the floor with a yelp and a groan.
She looked up at the ceiling for a moment, her gaze stormy as she thought about what happened. More accurately, what has regularly happened.
She finally lost it and grabbed her head, "Argh!" and let out a loud groan of frustration.
"I thought I had it!" she all but shouted, "I thought for sure I got the sequence down and everything!" she rolled from the chair and stood, looking back at her desk with irritation, "Dammit! Why can't the world agree with me just once?!"
Her desk was covered in various pieces of different material. Papers depicting unique formulas, tools that wouldn't be out of place in a jewelry shop, and several jars filled to different degrees with different jewels, each a different color.
The last jar she stared at with the most hostility, as it was filled with magic stones. Imperfect ones from the monsters in the dungeon. Each of various shapes and sizes. Except that they all had one thing in common.
"You all are a pain in the ass to deal with," Rin seethed, staring at the mineral filled container, "why can't I get it right regularly by now?"
Rin's question was directed just as much to herself as it was to the magic stones. Frustrating as it was, she could not put all the blame on the inanimate rocks.
She damn well wishes she could though!
Since her summoning and becoming aware of her existence, Rin had been forced to adjust to this new world and its rules. Specifically, its rules in regard to magic. Which should have been easy for someone like her.
Turns out it wasn't!
In her old world, magic, or more accurately to her, magecraft, was like an equation. Solve it and you get the result you expected. Magic circuits and prana were some of the key principles of all mages in her old world.
In this one?
Rin brought a hand up and clenched her fist and focused, trying to activate her magic circuits for a basic enhancement. Only to feel next to nothing. Instead, she felt as if a swath of heat ran up and down her arm but nothing worthwhile.
Before, she could feel her magic power in a sensation similar to static electricity arching up her arms in geometric lines. Now, it felt like she had an ever burning flame in her core, one that spreads through her body just with an act of will.
It sounded amazing…but it felt so alien to Rin.
She looked at the shattered stone again and sighed.
That brings up the problems as to why she was having an issue with making magic jewels. One, these magic stones were varied in different qualities. Some were better, others were less so. She had to find a solution to fix that and try and guarantee success whenever she worked at them.
The second problem was her, ashamed as she was to admit it.
Rin thought she was lucky when she saw her skill after Hestia blessed her. 'Jewelcraft', a unique skill that allowed her to turn magic stones into magic jewels. It was like her dreams came true when she saw that skill. Any worries or doubts about obtaining catalysts for her magic evaporated the instant she saw that skill on her status sheet.
That changed the moment she began trying to make the jewels. Instead of immediate success, she was subjected to seemingly random but all too common failures.
But she knew why, now at least. She was utilizing the principle techniques of her old world rather than this one to make her jewels. Which resulted in the average failure rate. Which was more than unacceptable!
Rin sat her chair up and sat down on it, laying her head on her desk with a groan. She knew what she had to do, she had to adjust her technique and power to those of this world, rather than holding on to her old ways of practice and teachings.
Which was far easier said than done!
She turned her head up and looked at the jars that were sporadically filled with her successful attempts. She knew she was adapting, her success was evident, just not frequent enough for her liking.
"This world and its magic," Rin muttered, "a headache and a half to be sure but definitely more potent than the kind in my world," she lifted a finger and poked at one of the jars, one that was half full of red gems, "at least to someone who isn't a spirit."
"Really? I think this world's magic is quite similar to my own."
Rin gave a squawk and jumped from her desk, banging her knees on the edge. She gave a cry as she leaned down to touch them, only to smack her head onto the surface next. She whipped backward and fell once more, dizzy and in pain. Soon she gave another cry as she tilted back in her chair and fell backwards, landing with a thump and hitting the back of her head.
Today was not her day!
Rin rolled from her chair, clutching the back of her head and her forehead at the same time. Wincing as her knees tapped the ground where she rolled.
She soon stopped on her back, muttering curses, both verbal and mystic, looking up at who now stood over her.
She recognized that face, or at least the upper half with the eyepatch, the bottom being obscured from her view by a mountainous chest.
'Damn those things are huge,' Rin thought before asking, "What do you want, Arue?" she soon tilted her head back, looking upside down from her grounded position to look between the crimson demon's legs and at her now open door, "How did you get in? I thought I locked the door."
Arue gave a giggle as she looked at the ridiculous position of the proud mage, "You seem to forget that we have a few here in this household that possess skeleton keys," she replied with obvious amusement.
'Oh right,' Rin thought , 'Goibniu gave Hestia a few skeleton keys for the doors,' she recalled when Hestia described their base of operations, shortly after her summoning. Mentioning that the craft God gave her a set of keys for all the doors. Hestia had one and Rin didn't need to guess who else had the other one.
"Kirumi," Rin said, it wasn't a question.
"Kirumi," Arue replied, knowing the answer would annoy Rin, "as to why I'm here," she looked up to Rin's desk, taking in her rather messy area, "we were supposed to meet up in Miyuki's room to discuss our magic and aid her in her crafting."
Rin gave a huff and stood up, brushing at her skirt and smoothing out her sweater. She flicked one of her pigtails and replied, "I know that. But that's not until at least twenty minutes from now."
Arue smiled at Rin, her humor evident. She crossed an arm underneath her breasts, earning a twitch of the eye from Rin by the emphasis of her bosom, and brought the other to her face, resting a cheek on her palm, "Maybe, if it were about forty minutes ago."
Rin blinked and looked at Arue for a moment before turning her gaze to a small clock on her desk. She stared at it for a moment before looking back to Arue, who raised an eyebrow.
Rin brought up a delicate hand and coughed into it, then she reached over to her desk and picked up a jar that was filled a third of the way with pale blue jewels, "Well let's be off then," she said, walking past Arue, "we can't keep them waiting."
Arue watched her go, giggling loud enough that Rin's ears started to burn with embarrassment, "I think you mean 'we can't keep them waiting any longer,' correct?"
"S-shut up!"
When Arue returned to Miyuki's room, with Rin alongside her, she was treated to the sight of an unamused Miyuki and a moderately disappointed Misato to greet them. Arue found it amusing that those gazes were directed at Rin, who looked awkwardly to the side and scooted slightly behind her.
"Nice of you to join us," Miyuki said, sitting cross legged on her bed, "after being twenty minutes late," she leaned forward, the action wobbling her chest before Rin's eyes, "from the time 'you' scheduled."
Rin had the decency to look embarrassed and could only offer apologies. Her embarrassment seemed to double as Misato looked at her and sighed in disappointment, like a mother seeing her child fail at an easy task.
"Honestly Rin," the elf began, "next time you emphasize a meeting time, you can at least have it be at a time you can keep. That's just proper manners."
Rin grumbled a sorry, her humiliation evident. Soon, she found a wall to lean back on, Arue following behind and doing similarly, granted with far more dramatic flair than she.
Miyuki looked around at everyone, at Misato, Rin, and Arue. She grinned before uncrossing her legs and hopping from her bed with a sound of excitement. She stood now, hands on her waist and chest pushed out high, bouncing it with the motion.
"Alright," Miyuki began, "let's start," she pointed at the mages in her room, a curious gleam in her eyes, "tell me something, something about the magic of this world. What do you think?"
If the trio of mages were surprised by the sudden question, they didn't show it. Misato stood from her seat and gave a bow before beginning, "I think the magic of this world isn't too dissimilar to my own. Conceptually speaking that is. It's as natural as the air and water," she smiled, gently, "I feel the life of nature itself, even behind these city walls."
Miyuki nodded and reached down to her bed where a notebook lay. She reached into her cleavage next, drawing a surprised and embarrassed look from the red-headed elf, and procured a pen. She made some notes on a sheet of paper before looking up again, "Alright," she began, "what about the rest of you?"
Arue stepped up and brought a hand up to her head in one of her signature poses, her one red eye gleaming, "Magic to a Crimson Demon is akin to the very breath we breathe! It matters not the time, the place, or the world! All magic falls under the sway of the might of the Crimson Demons!"
Miyuki, Misato, and Rin stared at Arue with a variety of expressions. When their red-eyed friend was no longer forthcoming, Miyuki looked between the other two, "Translation?" she asked.
Misato coughed and gained the attention of the two, "Thankfully I have a friend from my old world who spoke in a similar manner," she said, "though I admit, Arue's stylized speaking is much easier to follow than hers."
"Alright," nodded Miyuki, "What did she say?"
"She said, 'It's the same with myself. I have no issue with calling forth magic with how similar it is to my own world', or something along those lines.
Miyuki hummed and jotted down some notes again before pointing at Rin with her pen and asking, "How about you? What's your opinion about magic in this world?"
Rin gave a sigh. It was her turn apparently, "Well for starters," she began, "my world's magic is completely different than this world's. In my old world, magic itself was a completely different practice than what we do here. What we do here is something I would call magecraft. And as to how it's been for me in practice," she winced, recalling the blown up bits of magic stone in her room, "it could be far better to be sure. I think the problem is more on me than the world though."
"Why's that?" Miyuki asked, "You strike me as one of the more intelligent and diligent types," she heard Arue give a loud 'hrmph' at her words, "present company excluded. Thought for sure you'd
have no issues with making use of this world's magic."
Rin smiled at the possibly unintentional compliment but it quickly turned to a grimace, "I thought so too," Rin replied, bringing a finger up and poking at her head, "especially since I have knowledge of how this world's magic works. At the same time, I still possess knowledge on how magic works in my old world so-" she shrugs, a gesture that looked awkward on her.
"It's like trying to write with another hand besides your dominant one," Arue said, her voice serious, "is that correct?"
Arue knew that frustration well. Remembering the times in her old world at the academy she was taught. How she was not so naturally gifted in some magic then others and the frustration that came with it.
Rin sighed and nodded but clarified, "Yes, but more accurately it's like trying to use a whole new arm. I'm making progress, don't get me wrong but," Rin shrugged, "it'll be a bit before I'm completely used to this world's magic."
"Will you be ready for our journey into the dungeon in a few days?" Misato asked, her tone one of worry, "I'd hate for anything ill to befall you because of these circumstances."
Rin almost wanted to scoff at the worry of the elf but the sincere eyes that stared at her stopped her cold. No way even someone as prideful as her could spit in the face of such concern and kindness.
"I-I'll be fine," Rin started, looking away from the kind eyes with flushed cheeks, "I'm making progress, don't you worry. It'll take more than this to stop me from mastering this world's magic," she took a breath and held up the jar that was somewhat filled with the magic jewels she created, "I'm making progress, that's something. I imagine that I should be more than okay by the time our journey to the eighteenth floor begins," she held up a finger in her opposite hand, smiling as a dark orb with a red halo of energy formed just at the tip of it, "I have more than just these in my arsenal, believe me."
Misato gave a nod, glad to hear it. She had her own duty when the time came for them to go down into the depths of the dungeon. A magical healer was a rare thing in Orario and one in the party had the vital task of monitoring the wellbeing of their party members. To Misato though, it was far more than that. To her, it was also watching over her allies in and out of the dungeon. Seeing that they are cared for properly both physically and mentally.
That Rin was still confident in her skills despite her fumbles with this world's magic, spoke well for the pigtailed mage's confidence and relieved the red-headed elf greatly.
"How about you, Miyuki?" Rin asked, dispelling her spark of magic and looking at the engineer, "how are you faring with this world's magic?"
Everyone turned to look at the Miyuki with curious gazes. She closed her eyes and crossed her legs on her bed, soon crossing her arms under her breasts as well, tapping a finger on an arm and humming in thought.
She then rocked side to side and hummed louder.
And louder.
And louder..
And louder…
"Say something, damn it!" Rin shouted, making Arue jump in surprise.
"Miss Tohsaka," Misato pleaded, her hands gesturing Rin to calm down, "let's not be rash here. Miyuki is probably thinking real hard on how to describe how the magic feels to her-"
"Not really," interrupted Miyuki with a grin, rubbing the back of her head, "because I don't really have an opinion on it. Given how I don't really have any magic myself."
"…"
"…"
"…"
Arue gave a huff that was near to a laugh. She brought a hand up to her face and peered through her fingers. She stared at Miyuki appraisingly, "Well done," she said as if conceding victory to an unseen battle.
"Well done my ass!" Rin shouted, launching herself at the pink eyed engineer. She was caught short by Misato, who struggled to hold back the angry mage.
"M-Miss Tohsaka, please calm down! I'm sure Miyuki didn't mean to come off as arrogant and rude! There's no need to resort to-ah! Please Rin! No biting!"
After finally pacifying Rin and keeping her on the farthest side of the room from Miyuki, the engineer elaborated.
"Sorry for the questions and vague answer on my end," shrugged Miyuki, "it's just that I thought I'd get a better idea of the stuff if I asked you all," she awkwardly scratched the back of her head, "I…don't have magic in my old world. It's less than a fantasy there. The only things I have there that stand out are my awesome engineering skills and mechs," she paused, thinking for a moment before continuing, "that we use to play basketball."
Misato and Arue looked at her with curious bewilderment, having no idea what any of the last two things are. Rin stared agape at her, losing her anger and replacing it with surprise.
'Well at least one of them knows what I'm talking about,' Miyuki thought with a smile, looking at Rin's astonished expression , 'don't think I'll get a better reaction than that."
Miyuki clapped her hands, snapping in everyone's attention, "Now for the second reason," she said with some glee, "I need your help on a few projects I'm working on."
"The prototypes you mentioned at breakfast today?" asked Rin, curiosity bleeding into her tone despite her previous anger, "you need our help to get them to work?"
Miyuki hopped off the bed and crouched down beside it, pulling her head and arms underneath it and rummaging around. This left her rear up in the air and well emphasized by her pants, the squirming shaking she did while she looked emphasized it even more.
"Miyuki," Misato said with a sigh, "try to show a bit of decency while you have guests."
"My room! My rules!" Miyuki called from under the bed, "Be glad I'm not in my underwear! Otherwise I-oh!" she suddenly stopped, "Found them!"
She quickly backed out from under the bed in a shimmy, dragging out a large box full of…
Somethings.
Miyuki returned to the bed and sat the box out in front of her and spread out her arms like a showman or…showgirl.
"Behold!" Miyuki announced, "Miyuki's prototype collection!"
Inside the box was a variety of different items in various forms or states of operation. To the eye of an engineer, each one of these were the purest essence of potential. Tools that were made to solve, work around, or outright blast apart whatever problem lay in front of them.
To the less than mechanically inclined however…
"What's with all the junk?" Rin asked, leaning down and looking at some of the material poking out of the box, "These the 'prototypes' you were talking about?
"Not to sound so crass but," Arue looked down at the box, an unreadable expression passing over her features, "can we really take any of this into the dungeon?"
"Now now," Misato interjected, "I'm sure each of these have a purpose," she looked over the items, "I'm sure that this…maybe this?…perhaps that?…" she looked over the box, trying to spot anything familiar. When she couldn't, she looked back to the proudly sitting Miyuki, "Um, perhaps our esteemed engineer can explain them better," she ended hopefully.
'If that's even possible,' Rin and Arue thought.
"Glad to Misato!" Miyuki exclaimed joyfully. She pointed to the box, "First off…yeah, some of those are just bits of scrap I couldn't put anywhere else.
*smack*
The loud sound of Rin palming her forehead echoed around the room. Followed closely by a deep sigh from Arue. Misato's brow twitched while her gentle smile started to look a bit brittle.
"But!" interjected Miyuki, reaching down into the box and grabbing something, "The prototypes are indeed in there! Such as-"
She drew out a pair of objects, holding them up above her head like a proud trophy.
"These beautiful babies right here!"
They were relatively flat in appearance, like elongated pads of some kind. They had a metal frame outlining them with four small metal latches on the 'corners' of it. At the back of them, or what the others consider the back, were metal boxy things that seemed to be what holds it all together.
"Uhhhh," Rin opined, "What are those?"
"Don't have a name for them just yet, but," she took one and raised a foot, "what they can do can certainly help with naming them," she began to fit one of the items to the bottom of her boot. Rin and the others watched curiously as the pad and frame flexed and fixed itself around the bottom of her boot. Once it seemed to have formed into the desired shape, Miyuki fixed the latches in place, two in front and two in back. She put the twin object on her other boot with just as much effort. Once both were secure, Miyuki stood from her bed, a giddy smile on her face.
"You all are gonna love this," the engineer said, "these babies were made for our vanguard fighters. Given how they have to adapt and battle in the unique terrain of the dungeon," she began to walk to one side of her room, approaching the wall, "with these however, there's no such thing," she put a foot on the wall, a faint glow could be seen at the bottom of the shoes, "as difficult terrain!" she took another step and placed her other foot on the wall.
It stuck and she stood on the wall.
The mages looked on in shock as Miyuki began walking up the wall with ease, humming an idle tune all the while. They watched as she walked all the way up to the ceiling and then began to walk on the ceiling itself, a laugh escaping her as the sensation of being upside down caught up to her. Her shirt fell down slightly, (or up?) catching on the bottom of her breasts in a bundle. She didn't care though and smiled as she made it to the other side of her room and walked down that wall and to the bottom.
At the final inches of her descent, she jumped and landed promptly, fixing her shirt back into place with a grin. Looking at the others, she spread her arms like a stage performer, "Tada!" she exclaimed, happily and proudly.
Misato and Arue were more than happy to applaud the demonstration. Their faces were full of amazement and delight at what they saw.
Rin was applauding as well, slower than the others as she was trying to wrap her head around what she saw.
Miyuki gave a deep bow, completely uncaring at how the action exposed her cleavage all the more, "Thank you! Thank you!" she said happily, "Your praise is like sweet honey to this genius!"
"It was an astounding demonstration, Miyuki," Misato said with a bright smile, "the others will certainly appreciate such an item."
"Indeed!" exclaimed Arue, "No longer shall our forces be limited to the ground! To the walls we walk! To the ceiling we sprint! No obstacle shall be safe from our tread!"
"That sounds a bit crazy but yes!" Miyuki said, flashing Arue a thumbs up. She turned her focus to Rin, who adopted a contemplative gesture, "Well, Rin?" she asked, "What do you think? Pretty amazing aren't they?! Feel free to shower me with praise for my accomplishment!"
Rin just stared at the engineer before directing her gaze down to the items attached to her boots. She finally gave a nod, coming to a conclusion, before raising her gaze back to Miyuki and giving the girl a raised eyebrow.
"So what's wrong with them?"
The question made Miyuki jump a bit and her smile turned a bit brittle and awkward looking. Misato and Arue noticed the change and soon ceased their clapping.
Rin continued, "Don't get me wrong, I'm amazed alright. The fact that you can make an object like that without the use of spells is astounding to say the least, but you did say these were prototypes, correct? Not the finished product? So that implies that these aren't exactly a perfect batch, right?"
Miyuki sighed, losing her smile, "Yeah," she replied, rubbing the back of her head awkwardly, "there is one problem with them that I need to solve. Though it's not a big one. It's the magic stones that power these things. In short," she reached down and behind her boot to where the blocky part of the device was. She pressed a finger to the back of it and a slot opened up. She reached in and drew out a small magic stone, "these little things can only power these things for about five minutes, at most. At least?" she shrugged, "three."
"That's…still not bad," Misato chimed in, "three minutes may just be enough for our frontline fighters."
"Or it may not," Arue added solemnly, understanding the gravity of the time duration, "I can recall a moment when five minutes weren't enough to matter, let alone three."
"What moment was this?" Misato asked, curiously. Wondering what information could bring the usually boastful Arue to heel.
"When our beloved captain decided to fight a minotaur by himself," Arue replied, voice serious, "I confess I wasn't there for the beginning, but even still, the ending took far longer than five minutes," she looked up to the ceiling, recalling the vivid moment when she saw her summoner and captain fight the mighty beast, despite being a level one, "That event remains as one of the most extraordinary I've ever witnessed and the most worrying."
No one had anything to say to that. It was rare for them to see Arue so serious. Which made what she said even more remarkable.
To the other three, the thought of a level one taking on a minotaur and winning was astounding in the extreme. The knowledge that they were given upon their summoning gave them a general understanding of how the dungeon worked and it only made what Bell did all the more amazing in their eyes.
They'd wish they were there to have seen it.
Rin gave a cough, clearing the air and bringing attention to her, "So the issue is longevity," she said, "I assume it has something to do with the magic stone powering it."
Miyuki nodded, detaching the items from her boots, "Yep. That's about right," she said, "when I made these things, I had to power it somehow. Magic stones were the obvious choice but the container that held them had to be compact," she gestured to the frame and thin pad, putting extra emphasis on the small box-like container in the back, "so that it wouldn't offset the balance. Dragging your battery by the heel wouldn't be the best outcome for gear like this."
"Indeed," replied Rin, bringing a hand up to her chin in thought, "our vanguards would look like they had an awkward case of clubfoot if the power supply were bigger," she looked up in realization, a smile on her lips, "I see why you asked about my magic jewels a few days ago," she held up the jar that contained said jewels, "interesting approach."
Miyuki nodded, "Yep! I want to use those jewels of yours to substitute for the magic stone," she held out a hand, a curious look in her eyes, "may I!"
Rin removed the lid and grabbed a small jewel, handing it over to Miyuki, the engineer took the proffered jewel and looked at it closely.
Rin wasn't sure, but something in Miyuki's eyes changed when she observed the blue jewel. It wasn't something she could easily describe but if she could put it into words, she would call it something along the lines of…preternatural.
'Is that Miyuki's skill activating?' she thought , 'Does it just…happen like that?'
When Miyuki received her falna from Hestia, it was revealed that she was in possession of a rather coveted skill.
'Mystery', the ability to make magic items.
Or more accurately, 'Inherited Mystery' as it said on the status sheet.
The skill alone was rare in the extreme. With the only other possessor of it, 'Mystery' that is, in the city being someone by the alias of 'Perseus', whoever that was.
Miyuki's skill differed a bit from the original skill. With herself being able to get more out of the magic items she makes by using them.
Rin didn't know how that would work but it did give her theories.
"Yeah, this should work," Miyuki's voice drew Rin back to the present, "I can't know until testing, but I theorize that this jewel could power my little footwear gear for close to an hour," she hummed, twisting the jewel in the air, "maybe less but not by much. This is amazing, Rin!"
Rin's pride flared up and her smile reflected that. She flicked one of her pigtails to the side in a proud display, "Only the best can be expected out of a Tohsaka! Your praise is unneeded but appreciated."
Misato and Arue shared a look and a raised brow, "And people say I can be over dramatic," Arue commented with a smile.
"You are," agreed Misato, earning a small glare and pout from the red-eyed mage, "In Rin's case however, I believe it's pride that's more abundant in her than dramatism."
"I can hear you two," Rin said, not turning to look at them, less they see her red cheeks at their words.
Miyuki laughed, enjoying the back and forth of her familia. She earned a more focused but just as embarrassed glare from Rin for that but the engineer wasn't so easily cowed.
Rin gave a loud purposeful cough, bringing the focus to something else with her next words, "Besides the footwear equipment, is there anything else that you've been working on?"
Miyuki nodded and went back to rummaging through the box full of either prototypes or scraps, "Yes I do!" she replied with glee, "I've only had a couple days to come up with something worthwhile like what I just showed you. What I have left isn't so impressive but will be useful for us when we go down," she suddenly gave a frustrated grunt and lifted a large but clunky piece of scrap and put it to the side, "I gotta put that thing somewhere else. Now where are the-ah!" Miyuki let out a happy sound and picked up a few metal orbs and laying them on her desk, each of them roughly the size to comfortably fit into the palm of one's hand.
Rin and the others looked at the new items with new curiosity. There were three of them in total, each a silvery metal. Circling along each of them were lines of color, each one having a different color. Above those lines were ordered numbers stamped in, parallel to the line but all having the same black color that contrasted with the lines below them. At the top of each of them was a small square button, colored a different shade of silver than the greater body.
"Don't have a name for these just yet as well," Miyuki said with some embarrassment, "but, simply put, these are orbs that can support ya in a tight spot in the dungeon. Depending on which one you have."
She held out one and continued, "I thought about making something like a grenade but thought better of it. Given how the dungeon is…well a dungeon and setting off explosions in a place full of narrow spaces is not exactly a great idea."
The others nodded, following along.
"So," she clapped her hands, "until I get a better understanding of the dungeon's dimensions, I decided to improvise and create some unique alternatives!"
She grabbed one, it had a yellow line around it, "Behold the flashbang variant!" Miyuki announced with a smile, "Just twist the orb till the little arrow lands on a number you want, press the button on top and throw," she tossed it in the air, catching it seamlessly, "it blasts open and light and sound becomes too painful for anyone in the vicinity!"
The others watched the orb with interest, "I assume the numbers represent a timer before the device explodes?" Arue asks.
Miyuki nodded, "Yep! In seconds by the way. So keep that in mind before using them. Don't want these to go off in your hands. You won't lose a finger but it won't tickle either."
"I think we should proceed with caution with all your inventions," Rin deadpanned, looking at the orb in Miyuki's hand and the ones still on the desk, "for the sake of safety…and common sense."
Miyuki huffed at the comment but didn't dignify it with a response. Instead, she moved on to the other two orbs, putting the other one down.
She held one out with a red line around it, "Pepper gas bomb," she introduced, "great against anything with a sensitive nose. Ibuki collaborated with me on its make. Gave me a nice recipe for maximum effectiveness," she held out the other orb, a white line around this one, "this one is…something that should definitely be used with more caution," her tone changed to one of caution and a bit of embarrassment, "kinda went a bit crazy with this one but I was just having too much fun with my skill to stop."
The three mages shared a look, apprehension on each of their faces. Misato was the one to ask, "Um, Miyuki. What exactly is that orb meant to do?"
The pink eyed engineer just gave a smile and replied, "Well…this orb is meant to unleash a material that restrains and restricts movement from whoever it ends up catching."
"That sounds very effective and useful," Arue commented, cocking her head to the side in curiosity, "why would you advise caution to it? Surely you do not think us dim enough to catch ourselves in the object's vicinity?"
"No no no!" Miyuki hastily amended, catching the less than friendly glare from Rin at Arue's accusation, "It's just that the…resources I used to make this may have come from a strange source."
Rin cocked an eyebrow and Arue smiled in curious mirth.
"What source is this?" Misato asked, her gentle look narrowing into a suspicious one, "Surely not from somewhere illegal?"
"No," Miyuki quickly said, then she paused, "at least I don't think so. It's just that one of the ingredients I used came from a monster in the dungeon is all."
Arue gave a chuckle, "Miyuki," she began, her tone chiding with amusement, "it's definitely a regular practice that equipment and material are made from monster drops and similar materials that are found in the dungeon. I'm sure whatever you used is hardly any different."
It was a sound argument and an easy assurance all in one. Were it not for what was asked next, it may have been enough.
"What monster did the material come from in any case?" asked Misato.
Miyuki rubbed the back of her head, thinking. Soon she replied, "I think it was from something slimy. The shopkeeper I got it from was very adamant to get rid of the stuff and gave me a great discount. I was looking for a good bonding agent and well," she trailed off and shrugged, "it had the properties I was looking for."
"That's not at all ominous," sarcastically commented Rin, "any clue of what exactly 'type' of slimy thing it came from?"
Miyuki shrugged, having no clue. She only knew that it came from something slimy in the dungeon but given the menagerie of beasts and objects down there, finding out what 'slimy' thing it was would be an endearing task.
"Let's just take what our engineer said to heart and be cautious with that little bomb," Rin said, watching Miyuki put the orb back alongside the others, "the same goes for them all in any case. In an ideal scenario, let's actually hope we don't end up having to use them."
"I got no issue with that," commented Miyuki, drawing surprised looks from the other two mages, "What? You think these are made for you to use the moment you encounter something in the dungeon?" she lifted the device that let one walk on walls, "that's what these are for," she pointed to the orbs, "those are for when you're backed into a corner or bit off a bit more than you can chew."
"Use only in case of emergencies," surmised Misato, "a fair label for them."
"Agreed," Arue added, "a well thought priority for their make. You've done well Miyuki."
The engineer smiled and sat straighter on her bed at the compliment. Proud that she was able to contribute something positive once more to the familia.
"If you don't mind me asking," began Rin, "how many more of these will you have made before our journey to the eighteenth floor?"
Miyuki hummed, hand on chin, and thinked, and soon she replied, "I'd say I'd have twelve of them done by the time of our journey, four of each. I could have more but I want to prioritize the footwear gear and try to make another set of them.
Rin and the others nodded in agreement with Miyuki's prioritization. The orbs with their unique capabilities were impressive but the tool she'd made for the frontline fighters was definitely far more useful in the long run.
So far, this little meeting was progressing effectively and efficiently without issue. It was a unique, if a little strange, collaboration between mages and engineer. Something that one or two of them would have only read about in fictitious books.
Which was why what happened next was so surprising.
"Well, is there anything else?" Arue asks, looking at the box that housed Miyuki's work and scrap, "Surely there is more you can show us-ah!"
Arue's sudden sound of surprise drew everyone's attention and all turned to see what caused the usually implacable but dramatic mage to make such a sound.
"Th-that's, uugh! You're being, ah! So rough, mmm!" were the words that escaped between Arue's pleasure-filled cries.
"Ohhh? Am I now? Thought for sure with that personality of yours you'd like it rough. Don't worry, I'm just as adept with the gentle ways. Just ask Koukin!"
Behind Arue was a familiar sight, especially with that long pink hair and risqué attire of hers.
Hakufu Sonsaku was behind a thoroughly flushed Arue, whose cheeks were a close match to the color of her eye. The dramatic mage was squirming in place as she was being groped mercilessly by a greatly amused Hakufu.
'The Little Conqueror' hummed as she adjusted her squeezing of Arue's chest. Adopting a more gentler touch as her hands glided over the clothed mounds. Her fingers pressing against the soft flesh intermittently. Arue gave a louder moan as a few fingers pressed into one breast and glided past the center of it, deliberately missing the fine tip that was just barely visible over her clothes.
"Hakufu!" Rin shouted, surprised, "Why are you here?" she suddenly looked around, noticing the still closed door, "How did you get in here without us noticing?"
"Hehe," the proud Hakufu laughed, her breath sending a shiver down Arue's spine at their closeness, "trade secret I'm afraid. Sneaking into bedrooms is a practiced-art of my family lasting generations."
'What the hell kinda family is that,' Rin, Misato, and Miyuki thought.
Eventually Hakufu released her erotic hold upon Arue, who collapsed forward into her hands and knees, her breath deep and ragged from the passionate embrace she was prey to.
"I was told to come up here and see what you all were up to," Hakufu said, stepping over Arue's form and approaching the bed, the sight of the box of gadgets catching her attention, "Meirin is still downstairs having a private talk with that Lili person," she stopped near the bed, her blue eyes looking over the unique and strange devices before trailing their way to Miyuki. Hakufu enjoyed drinking in the sight of her generous body and licked her lips in appreciation, prompting the engineer to crawl back on her bed with a yelp and cover her large chest, "I imagine the discussion between the two is a severe one. Someone like me could overreact to what might be said or asked. Best I find myself in more…pleasurable company."
"How promiscuous can one person be?!" Rin exclaimed, "Is that really the reason why you're here or are you just messing with us?!"
Hakufu actually jumped in place by the sudden shout and her once sultry look disappeared in the face of such prideful aggression. She looked into the frustrated eyes of Rin and realized now was probably not the best time for her usual shenanigans.
Not with this company at least.
"Meirin telling me to go up here is the truth," Hakufu said, sitting down on the bed beside the box of scrap and gadgets, "the last bit was wishful thinking," she glanced at Rin, her gaze looking innocent despite her next words, "I don't suppose you could oblige-"
"No," Rin firmly replied.
"I refuse as well," Misato added.
"Same here," Miyuki said from behind Hakufu.
"I…*pant*…am…*pant*…not…*pant*…interested," came Arue's near breathless response. She was soon standing and looking at Hakufu with clear caution in her eye, but there was also something else. Something that told Hakufu that her actions weren't 'entirely' unappreciated.
Though for now the she'll restrain herself, besides, there were some interesting things inside this box next to her.
"Well since my dream for a seventhsome are now destroyed-," Hakufu began.
"Sixthsome? Who are the other two?" Rin asked, only to realize what she just asked and groaned.
"Everyone in this room plus my love and the adorable shortstack talking to her," Hakufu continued with a grin, an air of pride around her at such a thought.
"Hakufu," Misato began, her tone terse, "while I will not disparage your affection and openness with your lover. I'd certainly appreciate it if you would keep your…lasciviousness to yourself."
Hakufu gave a groan, the sound actually sounding legitimately painful from her, "I'm sorry," she began, sifting through the box with more focus and under the cautious stare of Miyuki, who returned to her previous spot on the bed, "I should have better control over myself but I'm just so…excited," her smile appeared again, only this time there was no trace of lust to be seen.
Not 'traditional' lust in this case, more like a hunger for something else.
Rin recalls seeing such a smile on a few faces in her past life. More so on a familiar blue-clad spearman that was her foe once and her friend the next.
Misato too recalls such a smile upon a blonde haired maniac that threatened her home once upon another-world.
Hakufu continued, "I've only been down in the dungeon a few times. Never reaching as far as I wanted or cutting down as many foes as I wished. On our little journey coming up, I'll be able to sink my teeth into some worthy prey and really cut loose with the carnage," her smile broadened, looking more suited to fit on a predatory animal than a person, "I can hardly wait, the anticipation is killing me."
Rin and the others had been fortunate enough to have not been near Hakufu when they were with her in the dungeon. Usually the fierce and passionate warrior would run off and battle a group of monsters somewhere down the path while they took a more cautious approach, wanting to better study the environment they would be traversing on average.
But whenever Hakufu came back, it would be generous to say she was bathed in blood, the primal fire in her eyes not diminishing in the least. Everyone was thankful that their vice-captain and her lover was there to calm her down.
If she hadn't, Rin feared she would actually have to calm her down 'forcefully'.
Suddenly, as if flipping a switch, Hakufu's features softened and a curious look entered her eyes as she spotted something in the box that caught her interest. She picked up the object from out of the box and held it aloft in the air.
"This thing looks interesting," Hakufu said, "what's it do?"
It was a medium sized device, something that would take a normal person two hands to hold. It had an exe shap at the bottom where two flat bars of metal crossed one on top of the other, with the one on top rotating lightly as it hung in the air. On top of both of them was an intricate mesh-like fixture that looked close to an egg in shape but more generous in size.
Miyuki stared at the object held in Hakufu's hand, her brow scrunched up in thought. She suddenly snapped her fingers and answered, "Oh yeah! I got that thing for cheap from a desperate merchant," she grinned at the memory, "poor fella looked so hopeless. I got a steal out of it," her grin lessened as she looked at the object, "when I can make it work that is."
"What is it?" Rin asked, curious to see such a…interesting design, "It does something. Given that spinning piece of metal attached to it."
Miyuki crossed her arms in thought, recalling the memory. Her action had the unintended consequence of attracting Hakufu's gaze, who leered at the engineer's emphasized chest with appreciation.
Hakufu's gazing was swiftly cut short by a short chop on the head by a stern-faced Misato.
"Enough of that," the elf said.
"I'll be good," Hakufu replied with a pout, she hadn't expected the gentle elf to hit so hard.
"Well, to move on," Miyuki continued, "the engineering sector of the city is…small, and that's being generous. Besides the factories that process the magic stones for use in most amenities, there really isn't much…more than that. Hardly anything is 'invented' in the city. Most of that privilege goes to that flying academy-thingy I've heard about. So anytime this place decides to land in Orario, an opportunistic trader might buy some of their experimental works and try to sell them off for a profit," she poked at the rotating bar of metal on the device, watching it spin, "this little thing is an investment gone bad according to the merchant. He thought he could get a good profit out of it, considering what it's 'supposed' to do."
"And that is?" Rin asked, getting impatient.
"Sets up a magic barrier," Miyuki answered frankly, "apparently this was some promising student's pet project for a program at the academy. But, it hasn't worked properly since the merchant bought it, if it ever worked at all," she pointed at the stylistic egg-mesh fixture on top of it, "the way he said it was supposed to work, is you put magic stones in here," she spun the metal bar at the bottom of it gently, "you spin that and suddenly a barrier is supposed to form from it. Covering itself and anyone nearby."
Everyone processed the explanation and all had mostly the same thoughts on the matter.
A device that was powered by magic stones and could generate a magical defense? It was an astounding idea, especially since such mystic shielding was normally found in spells. With this, one could easily have a reliable source of protection for themselves and their party should this be brought into the dungeon. Or an effective means of home defense whenever one was out and about, or in need of protection late at night.
Truly a remarkable device…had it worked.
As Miyuki had said, it does not.
Something Rin was happy to point out, "A very nice device, had it worked at all. Or perhaps if it ever worked at all," she looked at the item with some interest but far more skepticism.
"Ha!" Miyuki's loud laugh cut through the air, "More accurately, 'when it's going to work.' Don't forget, my skill lets me make magic items," she took the device from Hakufu and held it in the air, "someone else just did all the leg work for me this time. Bet they didn't have my skill to make it work!"
"Clearly they did try their best," Misato said, trying to give this unknown inventor some credit.
"And when I try, I'll succeed!" Miyuki boastfully replied.
"Aren't you still getting used to you skill and magic in general?" Arue asked, "I think this would be a…great deal more challenging than with your other projects."
"Yeah," added Rin before Miyuki could boastfully respond again, "didn't you say you're focusing on our gear for our trip down to the eighteenth floor? I don't think you're gonna have time for this."
Miyuki gave a snort and a grin, "I didn't say I was going to do it today," she replied, "or even this week. Or next week. Maybe next month or the month after that. But I am gonna try my best at it when I get to it," she held the object out to Rin, who walked up and took it gingerly, "it's too interesting of a device not to work on."
Holding the object in her hands, Rin's eyes studied it. She wasn't an engineer, inventor, or really anything that involved technology, but even she could tell that this unique device was special.
Looking at it through an outside perspective, or more accurately an 'outer-world' perspective, she could tell something was actually very…familiar.
She looked at the egg-like fixture at the top, studying the metals of it as well as the shape. Her gaze traveled to the rotating bar that was just above the stationary one at the bottom. Idly, she flicked the rotating bar and watched it spin, noticing that it spun on its own axis and didn't affect the container on top of it. Funny, she hadn't noticed until she got close to it like this.
It was a strange device but Rin could tell where the inspiration came from, silly though it was.
It looked like a weather vane just without the rooster. Which really made this thing all the more…strange.
She trailed off suddenly, recalling lessons in a past that both was and wasn't hers. Theories and practices drilled into her head. Fundamental laws that helped her perfect her craft for years and years to come.
She recalled all of this and more as she looked at this unique device and suddenly Rin had an idea.
She looked up to the others and saw that they were in general discussion on the inventions that Miyuki had made as well as what other potential work she had thought of doing.
Miyuki mentioned something about the 'flying academy' again but Rin paid little heed to it. Instead, she approached the engineer and waited. When Miyuki noticed her proximity and looked at her, Rin spoke before she could say a word.
"I think I can make this work."
Miyuki blinked and soon curiosity made its way to her features, then surprise as her eyes widened and her mouth slightly dropped.
"Eh?" she intelligibly replied.
Rin explained, "I think this thing was made using unique principles," she looked down at the object in her hands, "principles that are similar to the ones I studied in my old world."
"Really?" Miyuki asked, looking at Rin before looking down at the device, "You're sure?"
At that, Rin hesitated but soon nodded, "It's only a theory," she said, "but one I think we can put into practice."
Miyuki rubbed her chin, skepticism on her features.
She really shouldn't but today was a day of experimentation. Magical experimentation at that!
Still, best be cautious.
"Okay," Miyuki replied to Rin's relief and excitement, "but let's not go overboard. Small steps before we decide to walk at length."
"I agree," Rin replied, a bit giddy, "caution is the best approach when doing something new."
Ironic, given Rin's past history in her former life, or lives, something that wasn't lost on her.
Together, they got everyone's attention and soon discussions were cut short and curiosity and excitement at what was about to happen took over.
A space was cleared in the middle of Miyuki's room, the barrier device resting in the middle of it, surrounded by anxious eyes.
"Alright Rin," Began Miyuki, "the way I was told, you put in a bunch of magic stones, or one big one, in the container up top. Then you spin the middle bar, it activates something and a barrier blossoms up from the container. Covering anyone in its vicinity."
Rin nodded, her gaze not leaving the device, "I assume the barrier's size and power are determined by the stone's quality and size?"
"That's my theory," Miyuki replied, "but either our stones aren't that high quality or I'm not using enough; cause I tested it and got jack-all for results."
Rin smiled, she had come to that conclusion already but it was nice to have it confirmed as well from another source.
"It's a good thing I'm not using magic stones then," Rin said, unscrewing the lid to the jar of magic jewels she brought, "these should make up for the lack of potency our magic stones possess. At least the ones on the upper floors that is."
Miyuki and the others eyed her, seeing her sift through a few stones before grumbling and dumping a few in her hand. When she found one she was looking for, she put the rest back in the jar and set it aside, holding up a pale blue jewel the size of three valis coins.
"This should do," Rin said with a smile, "we aren't trying to make a big barrier, just something big enough so we know it works," she began to walk to the device, "don't want to crush ourselves against the walls do we?"
The others grimaced at the mental imagery. That wouldn't be good at all and in the worst case it would probably be messy.
Very messy.
Most of the room's occupants had just gotten here in this world, they weren't eager to leave it so soon.
"Are you sure this is safe?" Misato asked, concern clear as day on her face, "Are there any more precautions that we need to take?"
Rin was kneeling next to the device now and opened the mesh container, "we should be fine," she said, placing the jewel in the container, it didn't even go up to half its height and had ample room surrounding it, "if I'm correct, and I'm confident that I am, this should put up a barrier about the size of a bird cage. The magic jewel I put in is one of my lesser ones but definitely better than the magic stones that we're used to," she shut the container, putting down the latches that held it, "we should see 'something' happen and if we do and don't get a barrier, we just have to go up in quality from there."
She suddenly realized something else and asked the room, "Anyone have a knife or something sharp? There's something else I have to do."
"I got one," Hakufu called, holding a small dagger in her hand, "here," she tossed it over to Rin who caught it with ease.
Rin looked at the dagger before pausing and looking back at Hakufu, then back down at the dagger, "Where were you hiding this?"
Hakufu's wardrobe left little to the imagination, much like Koukin's, and Rin didn't see any pockets on the pink haired woman's wardrobe.
Hakufu saw a chance to tease and took it, adopting a sultry look and gazing at Rin, "Come join me and Meirin tonight and I'll show you."
"Naughty," Misato said from beside her, emphasizing her words with a chop to the side of Hakufu's head, making the warrior yelp in pain and rub her head, "try to be serious right now, this could be a monumental event."
Rin didn't know about that but it would certainly be great if this succeeded.
If it didn't? There was always next time.
Provided nothing goes catastrophically wrong of course.
Rin held the middle flat bar steady and carefully made small etchings at the ends of it. Simple perpendicular lines that were in a similar alignment with the device. She pricked the tip of an elegant finger and added a drop of blood to the center of each etching, finalizing her work.
'That should help,' she thought , 'this thing has a design based around the four cardinal directions. My etchings should help with that concept, make up for the other eight. The middle bar spins, so that could be used as representation for the rotation of the…earth? World? Whatever! Add in my potent magus blood and I'll have a better control of the device in theory.'
To Rin, this was honestly a simple experiment that she practiced quite often in her old world, in a different life, under the tutelage of a great magus. One whose modern method of magecraft pushed the boundaries of magic as a whole in terms of innovation.
Time to see it pay off in this world as well!
"Here we go," Rin said to the room, readying to spin the flat piece of central metal.
And for the life of her, just then, she spoke a stream of words that she had no idea where they came from.
"One hundred percent maximum," she spun the metal with force, "no chill!"
Where the hell did that come from?!
Rin stepped back and watched, along with the others. She soon held out a hand, the one with the cut finger, and gradually prepared to use her magic should it be needed.
The metal bar spun and spun and as it did, the mesh container on top began to glow, and soon the jewel inside it glowed as well, its pale color becoming richer in the luminosity.
Rin felt something in the air then and focused her power. Strange as this world's magic was, she could still transfer her own, provided there was a link between her and whatever she was focusing on.
Like the blood on the ends of the bar, or propeller in this case.
She fed her power gradually into the ends, keeping it moving until the jewel could take over.
Soon though, she felt something intercede with her power and that prompted her to release her focus. She saw the jewel glow brighter until it stayed at a certain luminosity, one that was bright but did not hurt the eyes.
Best of all, the rod kept spinning. Stable and sure, moving at a comfortable speed, the magic in the jewel took it seems.
What came next was the astounding part.
Right before the eyes of the room's occupants, moats of light emerged from gaps in the mesh container, hovering and moving about like tiny fireflies. The lights aimlessly moved about the egg-shaped container before gradually forming a ring at the top of it. The ring of light shrunk in upon itself and something amazing happened.
Magic sprung up and out from the top of the device, going out slightly past its radius before curtaining down, like a fountain. It even had a pale blue transparent color, adding to the mystique.
Rin was happy to see the color matched that of the jewel she placed inside it.
"Success," Rin said, her smile flaring up alongside her pride.
A round of applause followed at her word and she turned to see the smiling faces of her fellow mages, along with Miyuki and Hakufu.
The engineer beamed at Rin before looking at the device and the amazing barrier it was producing, "Amazing! Simply amazing!" she gushed, "Magic and technology working in tandem! I know I've made some cool gadgets but this is on a different level!"
"It's beautiful," Misato said, looking at the color of the barrier admiringly, "this could almost be an art piece," she snapped her fingers in sudden realization, "oh dear, we should have had Elbia or Hana with us to see this."
"Worry not for our virtuoso companions," Arue spoke aloud, "they will have another chance to gaze upon such a spectacular sight," she passed a grin towards Rin and Miyuki, "I doubt this'll be the last we see of such a sight."
"Damn well better not be," Hakufu said loudly, a grin on her face, "I don't know a whole lot about magic or technology but I know Meirin would definitely have a better idea about what to do with this. Can't wait to tell her!"
Rin was glad that everyone was joyous at the success of this experiment. She had some things to say about it, some critical things actually but for now she'd let them have this joy.
She'd let herself have this joy! She did it, she actually did it! She not only got the device to work but she also came to a conclusion that she didn't believe was possible.
She had made a bounded field. She had worked a device into creating a bounded field.
This was something she could definitely work with in the long run. For now it was just a physical field, a small one at that. But in time? She could make one, with the help of Miyuki, that could cover the familia home. Even better, she could perhaps make multiple that do more than physical or magical protection.
Ones that could obscure the senses, ones that cast unassuming illusion, ones that deter others from approaching.
Just like the ones in her old world…or worlds?
…dammit this summoned existence was annoying.
She shook her head to clear the distracting thought, getting back on track.
What this means is that she could probably pioneer this as the first kind of magic this world had ever seen.
She'd make history!
But that could come later, for now it was time to get back to properly studying the device and barrier before the magic jewel lost its power.
"Hmmmm? That's strange."
The words of the elf, Misato, brought Rin back into focus. She looked to the kindly elf, seeing the curious look in her eyes.
"What is?" Rin asked, looking at her.
Misato pointed at the bottom of the barrier, Rin following her gesture, "It's difficult to tell but," she trailed off, squinting her eyes in concentration, "but does it look like the barrier is…curving on itself?"
Rin focused her gaze on the ground the barrier was touching. She didn't see anything at first but eventually caught sight of what Misato was talking about. She could see the fountain/ waterfall of magic was curling in towards the device now, gradually.
Looking even closer at the device itself, Rin spotted something…unnerving.
Slowly, before her eyes, the device was…being slightly lifted off the ground?
"The hell?" Rin muttered, "what's going on."
The device was definitely rising slowly off the ground from within the barrier and as it did, the waterfall of magic light that surrounded it gradually moved closer together at the bottom, shrinking in, finally meeting below the now hovering device, the middle bar still spinning the same speed as always.
This was different and Rin wondered what was about to happen next. So far there hadn't been any unsustainabilities-
The barrier shrunk in slightly again and made contact with the spinning metal bar, creating a new discus of light that actually started to hurt the eyes before it dimmed and something else replaced it.
A ring of crystal began to form where the ring of light was, gradually spreading up and down the barrier.
Rin could barely tell, but the forming crystal looked similar to the texture that was on the jewel she put in the container.
Only its color was a different shape and…what was that humming?
Rin reached out with her magic, trying to secure a link between herself and the device in order to find out what's going on with it.
'There!' She thought, sensing a connection , 'I got-oh…uh-oh.'
"Uh-oh," she voiced aloud.
"'Uh-oh'?" Hakufu said, looking at the magus and the now large crystal that used to be the barrier generator, "Uh-oh are the last words we want to hear right now, Rin!"
"I agree," Arue intoned, striking an ominous but serious pose, yet smiling a poker smile at the situation in front of her, "the crystal hums with an overwhelming might. As if defence is forsaken entirely. Soon such a change will manifest itself," she paused and those near her could see a drop of sweat running down her temple, "catastrophically."
"This is no time for dramatics," Misato chided the Crimson Demon, "but…I agree. Something is wrong and we may not be in the best position to be in right now," she turned to Miyuki, "I don't suppose you discovered a deactivation feature when you previously studied the device?"
Miyuki didn't reply at first, too busy memorizing the development in front of her. She knew something went wrong, now she was trying to figure out what it was and was entranced by what she saw.
She was used to more…technical problems. Like a faulty gearshift, an over stressed engine, or something as simple as the replacement of a rusty bolt.
This…this was unique. This was magic! This was magic gone wrong!! This was new!!!
This gives her a few new ideas-
"Miyuki! Get over here," Rin shouted, moving to the newly formed crystal, "we have to move this thing before its stability shatters! Literally! In our faces!"
Miyuki made a confused sound at first before suddenly moving, clarity returning to her.
They potentially had a borderline bomb on their hands! She didn't know why, but that humming was setting alarm bells off in her head now.
Especially since it kept getting louder and louder in pitch.
"Right," Miyuki said, coming to the opposite side of the crystal and lifting it up, "where to?"
"Downstairs!" Rin shouted, moving to the door, which was thankfully opened by a concerned Misato, "after that-uh…I'll think of something! Come on, let's move!"
Together they left the room in a rush and ventured downstairs, a unstable magical crystal that was once a magical device. Once they reached downstairs-
"I realized that when the crystal would soon burst, it would cause a commotion and bring attention upon us if we threw it outside," Rin said from her kneeling position beside Miyuki, "so I decided that it would be better if it blew up someplace more…compact."
"So…the basement," Koukin surmised, rubbing the bridge of her nose, "you decided to throw what amounts to a magical bomb," she leveled a glare at the two before her, making them shiver under her gaze, "into the basement."
"Th-the farthest part of it!" Rin quickly added, "I wasn't just gonna just drop it into Hana and Elbia's art studio!"
Koukin turned to look at the entrance to the basement, pale blue smoke still slightly poured up from it. They had opened as many windows as they could but there was still a considerable amount of smoke in the air.
She imagines it was potentially worse in the basement.
She then turned to look at Hana and Elbia and her features softened, "I hope your artwork wasn't damaged by the explosion or the smoke."
Hana and Elbia gifted her with smiles of gratitude but waved her concerns, "You needn't worry," Hana said, "we were just putting away our finished pieces. They are safe from any smoke damage and the explosion seemed confined to the back and wasn't very big…in terms of an explosion."
"Yep," agreed Elbia, whose tail was wagging curiously as she thought aloud, "Our art is safe but that explosion was more puff than blast. From where we were at least."
"Probably because I closed the door in the back room," Miyuki said, still looking embarrassed, "that compressed the blast a bit and prevented anything worse from happening," she grimaced, realizing something, "though I imagine we'd want to get a new door and a room."
Koukin sighed and rubbed her temples, "We won't," she said, "we already had Goibniu and his followers renovate this place after careful negotiations. If we call them out again, this soon, they'll have the advantage in discussions. They may overprice us due to inconvenience and hold it over our heads in case we need more work done in the future."
Miyuki made a sound that was a mix of a groan and a whine. Koukin let her feel her shame without a word. Looking over at Rin, she could see the proud mage or 'magus' was looking down at herself.
Koukin knew when to scold and when to let silence take the reins. Both knew they were responsible for this enthusiastic experimental mishap and both knew that they were in trouble for it.
Given their expressions though, Koukin supposes she could lessen the punishment somewhat. Both were clearly beating themselves up for this.
All the more when they realized something a little too late when Rin was telling her what happened. They were doing this experiment with equipment that was made by a 'student' that was a 'prototype', meaning it wasn't guaranteed to work properly, and it was sold by a desperate 'merchant', who eagerly wanted it out of his store, by Miyuki's own words.
Either way you look at it, this was doomed to fail.
At the very least, Koukin was happy to hear about the inventions that were successful. She was all the more happy at hearing Miyuki's confidence at getting those strange wall walking devices ready for the dungeon.
So there was some silver lining, behind all this smoke and magic.
Footsteps could be heard coming from downstairs and Koukin and the others turned to see Hakufu and Kirumi coming up them and into the living room.
Koukin had sent them downstairs to evaluate any potential damages that the explosion caused. Kirumi was serene as she approached and Hakufu had a joyful smile on her face, like she found the secret joke to something.
Koukin wouldn't be surprised if she was amused by this event, she'd seen her uproarious with laughter from crazier moments.
Hopefully the calm expression on Kirumi was the sign of good news.
"Well?" asked Koukin, "What are the damages? Are we going to have to close off the basement for a time?"
Elbia and Hana looked horrified at that and the two suddenly clasped hands and said a prayer.
Funny, given they actually walked amongst Gods.
"Thankfully not," answered Kirumi, "the damage has thus far been isolated and I'm happy to inform our artistic friends that their studio remains unmarred by both the explosion and the smoke."
"Yay!" the artistic duo cheered and clapped their hands together.
"I feel there is more to this," Koukin said, gesturing to the two, "please continue."
Kirumi did so, "As I said, the damage was isolated. Where it was isolated," she coughed and looked to the side, "is the problem."
That wasn't good. Both the words and expression on the usually sedate maid's face made Koukin worry about what she'd hear next.
"Yeah," continued Hakufu, a grin still on her face as she continued in Kirumi's stead, "you know what's in the back of the basement, Meirin?"
"The old kitchen," Koukin answered, "I know the previous layout of the building before the major renovations. All the more considering it's the only place that seemed untouched during the work."
Hakufu snapped her fingers, "Oh! Good!" she exclaimed, "that means you know what's past the kitchen then! Cause that's where they threw the bomb!"
"It wasn't a bomb!" Rin hastily shouted before suddenly pausing in her outrage and then looking embarrassed as all eyes were on her now, "W-well, not at first."
"Rin," Miyuki said, deadpan, "sometimes silence is best for right now."
Koukin decided to ignore those two, "I suppose it could be worse," she said, relieved, "losing a storage room is hardly a loss, especially an empty one at that."
Hakufu suddenly paused, her smile looking awkward and Koukin knew just from that that something was definitely wrong.
"What?" she asked, she was getting tired of surprises for today.
"It wasn't the storage room that was damaged," Kirumi said, coughing into her gloved hand to clear her throat and perhaps endure through what she was going to say next, " it was the other thing down there past the kitchen."
Koukin recalled and suddenly she wished the world would give her a break today.
"The bathroom," she said.
"The bathroom," confirmed Kirumi.
"The bathroom!" proclaimed Hakufu with a grin, "What are the odds?"
"A coin flip," Koukin said with a sigh, rubbing her temples, "I'm sure I'm gonna regret asking, but what's the damage like?"
"Well, there's some good news there," Hakufu replied, her grin disappearing somewhat as the amusement of the situation abated, "the good news is, the water pipes are undamaged. So no fear of the basement flooding."
"Yay!" Elbia and Hana clapped hands again. Another bit of good news for them.
Koukin needed to have a talk with them about 'reading the room.'
"And the bad news?" asked Koukin, already anticipating it.
"The bad news is the water pipes are undamaged," continued Hakufu, "because we could see them."
Koukin stood still as she processed that, "What?" she finally asked.
"It's as Miss Sonsaku says," answered Kirumi, gesturing back to the basement, "we can see the water pipes because the wall, floor, and tiles were heavily damaged in the blast. Thankfully the basement bathroom didn't have a sink, otherwise I fear we may have a broken pipe otherwise."
Koukin took all of this in gradually, processing each piece of information before asking, "In your best estimate, Kirumi, how salvageable is the bathroom?"
At this, Kirumi grimaces and turns her head away awkwardly, her long bangs nearly covering her face at the movement.
It was all the answer Koukin needed, "That bad," she said, it wasn't a question.
"Worse, actually," Hakufu said, for once serious, "hate to break it to you, Meirin, but that bathroom is fucked. Have to get the whole thing replaced if we want one down there again."
'Which we can't do considering how soon renovations were already completed upon the home,' thought Koukin , 'and Goibniu would be in a position to overcharge us or hold it over our heads for any future work. Like how I just told Rin and Miyuki.'
"We won't do that," Koukin said, "given how soon they they finished up their work already-"
"Say no more," Hakufu interjected, "I get it. Can't exactly blame them though. Business is business."
"And Goibniu familia are professionals to their core, much like their God," replied Koukin with a reluctant smile, "can't say I don't understand and I respect professionalism if nothing else."
"Excuse me," Kirumi interjected with a raised hand, "not to belabor the situation but there is something that needs to be discussed," a dust of pink tinged her cheeks, "perhaps before our captain gets home."
Koukin nodded and suddenly felt awkward at the situation they were in, though a big part of her wasn't at all bothered.
Since the Hestia familia had a new and large floor level bathroom and wash area, a little problem presented itself. Namely with it being an open and unisex bathing area. No dividers between men and women like Hestia had seen in a few bathhouses she visited herself, including one in the Tower of Babel.
So that left a problem, more of an issue in Koukin's opinion. What to do about the bathing arrangements? Should Bell bathe along with everyone else?
Koukin had no issue with it, Hakufu neither, and after the passionate night he had with Elbia and Hana, both were on board with the idea.
Others though were still on the fence about it. Especially their new arrivals to the familia who hadn't known Bell at all and felt awkward about sharing the washroom with him.
Hestia was definitely on the fence. On one hand, she had the chance of bathing with her precious first child. On the other, she had to potentially watch as her first child bathed with other beautiful women.
Bell though, bless his sweet soul, didn't want anyone to feel out of sorts about it and said he would be content to use the basement shower to bathe. Though he did ask if he could use the toiletries that were there in the new bathroom, given that walking down two floors to the downstairs bathroom was a bit of a hassle.
No one argued and were happy to accept, though Koukin and those like her still maintain that Bell should enjoy the new bathing areas alongside them all.
Now though? It looks like they were about to get their wish. However unorthodox it came to be.
The only hard part and following questions, how are they gonna explain to the others and how are they going to tell their captain?
Knowing Bell, his reaction will be both amusing and ridiculous.
Koukin sighed exhaustively as she thought about it some more. She felt a bit better when she felt a familiar figure move to her side and hold her gently. Hakufu always knew when to comfort, even when she was hardly being serious at all.
"Ohhh! So now the embrace. I wonder if things are gonna get steamy now with all the tension and stress!"
"That would certainly be interesting, but I'm waiting for the next plot twist to happen. These things usually occur when the theme calms down."
Koukin let out another sigh, this one not tired as much as it was annoyed. She looked over to the living room couches a way away to see Charlotte and Rinko both watching the proceedings with rapt attention. As if this were a drama play right before their eyes.
Not helping things were Arue and Misato. Who sat by the two with equally focused expressions.
Koukin was tempted to throw something at them. Was the stress and plight of their second-in-command so amusing?
She thought back for a moment, recalling the old command structure she followed and enforced.
…well, 'try' to enforce. Her stalwart allies who were once enemies definitely made things somewhat difficult.
Compared to them, her familia members were saints.
Still, she let herself relax in the arms of her lover. It seems that the troubles were over and maybe now she could have some peace for a bit.
Still, she felt like she was forgetting something.
The sound of the familia home's main door opened with a slam and a loud familiar feminine voice could be heard shouting from it.
"Why is there blue smoke coming out of our home?! What the hell happened?!"
Ah…that's right. Koukin nearly forgot that she would have to explain things to Hestia when she got back and knowing her Goddess, she imagined that the short deity would not have the most positive reaction to today's events.
She only hopes Bell was enjoying his date with Chitoge and Ibuki because he was certainly in for a surprise when he got back.
At the very least, his reaction will be something to see.