Ch.100100. Grand Chief

“I’m back, granny.”

“Why are you home so early… what happened to you?”

Kasa Garda spoke with uncharacteristic alarm.

While she was accustomed to her granddaughter coming home drenched in sweat, seeing her return with injuries all over her body was unusual even by her standards.

Without a doubt, she must have gotten into a fierce fight with someone.

This used to happen quite frequently in the past, but it had become a rare sight lately.

“Did you end up like this while training with that boy?”

Kasa asked in a tone of disbelief.

Riru was already doing basic exercises daily to improve Darwood Campbell’s physical strength.

Even the person undergoing the training wondered why she wasn’t learning proper “techniques” instead of just doing physical conditioning, but it continued daily due to Kasa’s stubborn insistence.

After the Hunter’s Night ended and in earnest…

Anyway.

It didn’t make sense to get injured to this extent from such training. Riru herself was shaking her head with her lips pursed.

“That’s impossible.”

“Then how did you end up like this?”

At Kasa’s question, Riru fell silent for a moment.

Her expression revealed deep contemplation about whether this was the right time to discuss it.

“Um, granny.”

“What is it?”

“…”

After hesitating for a while, Riru finally spoke.

“…That Tristan noble girl. Do you know about her too?”

“Of course I do. She’s the sword prodigy famous across the continent. Why do you ask?”

“What kind of training would be best if I wanted to beat her in a fight?”

Kasa’s expression filled with questions.

“…Why her?”

“Well, I somehow ended up fighting her once.”

Riru continued, thoughtfully stroking her chin.

“…I think I could get much stronger quickly if I fight her.”

The Hunter’s Night was ending soon, which meant the day she could directly face the Archlord was approaching as well.

Shouldn’t she use every means available to become stronger?

And that wasn’t the only reason.

“And.”

Riru, about to continue, paused with a sigh.

In her mind, she was vividly recalling what had happened earlier.

The message Darwood Campbell had inscribed on her arm using his mysterious ability.

[Cooperate. Death if not. Save me.]

That’s what it said.

But that message could be interpreted differently.

As if Darwood Campbell “himself” would die if he didn’t “cooperate” with her.

So.

Combined with that man’s usual attitude of being “afraid” of Elnore, a rather unusual conclusion could be drawn.

“It’s not certain yet.”

Riru said awkwardly.

“I think he’s being threatened. By someone.”

“…What?”

When Kasa asked in a bewildered tone, Riru replied with pouting lips.

“…Just.”

Though clearly embarrassed, there was definitely…

“I just thought it would be pitiful if someone was being forced into a marriage.”

…a resolute “determination” in her voice.

●

Normally, when you think of a blacksmith in charge of the Hall of Fire, you’d imagine a burly blacksmith uncle.

Surprisingly, however, the equipment manager at the Tribal Union’s premier educational institution is far from that image.

First of all, it’s not even human.

[User recognized. ID confirmed. Elphante Academy 2nd Corps exchange student Darwood Campbell. Welcome to the Hall of Fire.]

“…”

I look at the massive “machine” placed in the center of a clean, reception room-like space with no hint of the expected heat and warmth.

It’s an especially bizarre sight in the Sera world, which maintains pre-modern technology levels except for occasional over-technological magical engineering tools.

It’s as if it belongs in a sci-fi genre rather than fantasy.

[I am Sefira, the production artificial intelligence in charge of the Hall of Fire. What brings you here today?]

“Equipment production.”

[Confirmed. Please place your materials in the input slot and select your desired blueprint.]

I dump all the materials I brought through the side opening that appears with those words.

Ectoplasm. Star iron. Adaptive leather. And even “dragon scales” obtained from defeating the water dragon recently.

Nothing but premium materials. Any single one of these would be enough to proudly commission from a blacksmith anywhere.

‘…Actually, using all these together doesn’t necessarily guarantee something good.’

Just as throwing every ingredient into a dish doesn’t make it taste better, good materials don’t always guarantee good results.

If done incorrectly, incompatible materials might produce worse results than not using them at all. Any respectable craftsman would likely refuse such a commission, claiming they weren’t confident in handling such materials.

‘This one is different.’

That’s what I think as I look at the machine before me.

There’s a reason I brought these materials here instead of entrusting them to Elphante’s workshop.

When it comes to “creating” something, no one in the entire continent can match entities bearing the Demonic Spire brand.

Indeed, after dumping all the materials with such thoughts, all I get in return is a mechanical hologram window, not any reaction.

It means it never says “impossible.” In the original work, this was an all-purpose production machine that could make anything from whatever was fed into it.

[All materials confirmed. Considering quality and quantity, I recommend creating armor. Full-body coverage would be most efficient-]

“No.”

I certainly agree with that assessment.

With this amount, making a single weapon would indeed be inefficient.

But still.

“Not armor. Not a weapon either.”

This is an essential condition when considering the boss battle structure with Tatiana and Allan.

Most blacksmiths would immediately show me the door for such a request, but Sefira calmly responded again.

[Then please select your desired equipment classification.]

A series of categories starting with major classifications like weapons or armor, followed by subcategories like swords, spears, helmets, or shields.

It’s an extremely modernized design, like ordering food from a kiosk.

‘…Playing in a completely different world by itself.’

I think as I manipulate the hologram window.

Even considering its appearance in the original work, the Demonic Spire produces items that seem to belong to an entirely different genre.

Their technology far surpasses even the Tribal Union, which has the most advanced technology among the hegemonic nations.

The fact that they replaced the most important “equipment” production aspect of the Tribal Union with something imported from the Demonic Spire speaks volumes.

The immediate response proves it too.

[Estimated equipment production time: 30 minutes.]

“…”

This would take at least a week if entrusted to Professor Vulcan of Elphante’s Production Department, yet it’s completed in just 30 minutes here.

If all equipment produced by the Demonic Spire didn’t use the ridiculously expensive “Demonic Spire cells” for sale, the technological level of this world would have been completely overturned long ago.

They’re such a closed group that they’re willing to die to prevent others from using their technology.

Because they’re scientists whose interests, for better or worse, lie solely in research.

‘…I should visit there sometime.’

It’s not far, and there’s a high probability of building connections with the Demonic Spire from the next main scenario branch in Chapter 4.

With that thought, I examine the “creator” inscription engraved on Sefira’s interface front.

[Creator: Redacted record.]

[Assistant: Faynol Leiphec]

“…”

There’s a familiar name.

The name of an Inquisition mage inscribed on Demonic Spire equipment seems quite incongruous, but considering that person’s background, it’s not so strange.

And considering that Faynol occupies the final boss position in Chapter 4, this is definitely one of the “clues” that shouldn’t be missed.

[Production complete.]

As I continue these thoughts, Sefira’s front opens and slides my requested equipment onto a conveyor belt.

Two pairs of “gauntlets” with various colorful materials woven throughout.

Equipment that sits most ambiguously on the boundary between weapons and armor.

‘That’s right.’

I smile as I pick them up, feeling they turned out better than expected.

[Infinity Gauntlets]

[Equipment: Unique]

[Gauntlets with various effects made using all kinds of premium materials.]

[▶ Dragon Scales: Possesses durability that will never break or wear down under any circumstances.]

[▶ Ectoplasm: Shows extremely high compatibility with various abilities. When enhancement and buff skills are cast on this equipment, effects are applied at double strength.]

[▶ Star Iron: Has extremely high resistance to various curses and responds most sensitively to divinity.]

[▶ Adaptive Leather: Automatically copies the target’s attributes upon impact. Automatically weakens the target’s attributes on second impact.]

‘Perfect.’

This is why I waited for Sefira despite collecting all these materials.

The properties of every material I input are perfectly incorporated.

This is no joke—it’s performance that could nearly match the “Holy Sword” that Elia will obtain in the next chapter.

Of course, it can’t reach the ceiling of the Holy Sword due to it being the protagonist’s exclusive weapon, but it’s undeniably equipment too good for just one person.

It never breaks, enhances more easily than normal equipment, resists curses and responds sensitively to divinity.

And above all.

The final characteristic of “weakening the target’s attributes” is an ability that could specifically counter Tatiana.

The name sounds a bit funny, like I should be putting stones on these gloves.

‘…Riru will be happy when I give her these.’

The reason I made two pairs is because I need to give one to Riru.

She’ll definitely be happy to receive such premium equipment—

< System Message >

[Special interaction between ‘Riru Garda’, vessel of the ‘Blue Demon’, and ‘Elnore’, vessel of ‘¾̶̛͙̦͎͖͈̘̔͑͛͋́̊́̃̂̐̊͋̎̕Æ̷̬̩̲̲͓̹͈̗̕À̸͈̮̜̹̤̥͘Ì̴̛̫͌̽̀̊͑̕̕͘͝͝Ḁ̸̢̗͈͙̦͙̤̰̤̲̭̈̎͂̓̔̑́̍̊̃͑́̚͘͝Ü̶̳͖͂̽̂̇͌̃̓̈́͠’, is unlocked.]

[Contact frequency between the two vessels increases!]

“…”

Well, I can tell that Riru isn’t exactly well-behaved.

The fortunate thing is that, judging by the nuance of the system window, it’s not a threatening situation.

If this were an event threatening my life, this system would have warned me to go stop it quickly, given its characteristics.

‘…Well, they must have made contact.’

Even without me building a bridge between them, they’ve already had several interactions, as evidenced by her barging in earlier.

But given how overwhelmingly she lost just recently, with Riru’s personality, she should dislike encountering Elnore for a while. I don’t understand why their contact frequency would increase.

Why on earth?

“Ah, here you are.”

As I’m thinking this, an extremely unpleasant voice taps my ears.

I turn to see Tatiana.

As always, she wears that mechanical smile on her face.

“…”

For reasons unknown, this person who had been quiet until now suddenly appeared before me.

She doesn’t intend to engage in combat and kill me right here. She must think her head would immediately fly off courtesy of Elnore if she tried.

Probably, the likelihood of her making a show of force against me is extremely low until she finds a way to “subdue” Elnore.

As I slightly furrow my brow, Tatiana speaks in a light voice.

“The Archlord will soon arrive at the Crucible of Struggle. Everyone is preparing a welcome ceremony.”

“…I see.”

It is that time.

News of that person visiting here has been circulating for days now.

“And.”

Tatiana said with a bright smile.

“He wishes to see you first, Darwood Campbell.”

My expression, conversely, grew more furrowed.

‘…Making contact with Allan already?’

I can’t understand why she would do this.

That’s her hidden card that she should be keeping secret. There’s no need to show it to me early and leak information.

“Ah.”

However, Tatiana continued speaking, completely disregarding my expression.

“On your way, would you bring Riru Garda and Kasa Garda with you?”

“…”

“The Archlord wishes to see those two as well.”

Without a doubt, it wasn’t a statement with a pleasant resonance.

●