Chapter 80
A Demon Lord's Tale: Dungeons, Monster Girls, and Heartwarming Bliss Chapter 80
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A New Weapon
Editor(s): Sebas Tian, Joker, Speedphoenix
A night had already passed since Lefi and I had returned to the dungeon . We'd spent yesterevening giving everyone the souvenirs we'd gotten them and talking, both about everything that had happened while we were away and what we did in town . The entire conversation had actually happened over the dinner table, at which the dungeon's residents had sat until the day's end .
"Okay! Next!" Illuna cheered energetically as she pointed towards yet another object . "That's called an apple!"
"App-o!"
"No, no, no! It's not an app-o . It's an apple!"
"A…pple!"
"That's it, good job!"
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The two girls continued the adorable act of squealing in delight . Watching them caused my head to fill with so many images of cute things that I felt like I was starting to experience Gestaltzerfall . Yet, I didn't want to tear my eyes away from them . That was just how cute they were . The reason I almost couldn't take my eyes off them was because one of the two girls was currently in the midst of acting as an apprentice to the other . That is, Shii, who had formed pseudo vocal chords, was learning how to speak from Illuna .
Of course, they weren't the only ones hanging around and doing whatever . Since we'd put everything behind us last night, today, we all went about doing our usual business . The maids were performing their duties, Lefi was, as proclaimed, lazing around in bed, and I was huddled up in one of the corners of the true throne room .
The next task at hand was for me to construct a brand new weapon . The base was obviously going to be the cursed axe I'd looted off a thug in town . So with that goal in mind, I reached into my inventory and grabbed the item in question . Though it didn't try to corrupt and take over my mind as it had the last time I wielded it, it did continue to overflow with a sort of twisting, malevolent mana . The magical energies that it gave off weren't entirely docile, however, as it did prickle my skin as if to complain that I had left it inside my inventory for far too long . My bad, my bad . I didn't forget about you or anything . I just didn't have the chance to get to doing this, so gimme a break already goddammit .
“T-The heck is that, Master? It’s lookin’ real sinister and givin’ me the creeps," said Lyuu as she stared at the axe wide-eyed .
"Is that perhaps the magically enhanced weapon you mentioned last night?"
The two maids' reactions were nearly on complete opposite ends of the spectrum . One was intimidated, while the other looked with her eyes full of curiosity .
"Basically, yeah . It's pretty much obeying me right now, so you don't really need to worry too much . That said, I'd still advise against getting too close to it . "
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"Uhmm… Master, y'sure obeying is the right word? 'Cause it almost sounds like you're treating it like a pet," said Lyuu . "Wait! Is it really okay for you to be touchin' it if it's dangerous!?"
"This ain't too big a deal for me, so don't worry . " I responded to Lyuu's confusion with a casual shrug before getting back to work .
I laid out the materials I planned to use and gave them a quick once over . The first was the Ancient Hero's Sword that I'd bought in town . The second, a chunk of metal I'd gotten from the catalogue . Orichalcum .
Orichalcum was an excellent conductor of magical energy . Mana could flow through it with ease . The metal was known for being able to not only restore, but also enhance broken blades when used in the repair process . But of course, that was a waste of the precious metal's potential, for it was of orichalcum weapons that legends were sung . They were so sharp that, according to Lefi, they were known for cleaving through even the scales of dragons, this world's most powerful creatures . That said, she herself was apparently immune to them . Her scales were far too hard even for orichalcum to pierce . What kinda bullshit is that!?
Of course, such a high quality good came with an appropriate price tag . A single kilogram of the stuff had equalled out to three whole inns . And given the expense, I wasn't about to just chuck the orichalcum in just to do it . The reason I included it was because I had hoped that I would be able to use it to restore some of the power that lay within the Ancient Hero's Sword during the reforging process . But man, I am seriously short on DP . I'll probably have to start going hunting with Rir again .
“…Is that perhaps orichaculm, my lord?” asked Leila .
"Wait, orichalcum!?" The warwolf's eyes went wide .
"Yeah," I said, impressed . "I'm surprised you could tell, Leila . "
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"Thank you, my lord," she replied . "…Remaining here in this dungeon has truly allowed me to see all sorts of different things . "
"All sortsa different things is cuttin' it short, Leila! Orichalcum is totally the stuff of legends, ain't it? Though I guess it ain't too special when you've got both the Supreme Dragon and a venerable member of the Fenrir species lying around, huh?"
Both maids had basically stopped working and become the peanut gallery . But though they continued to speak, and though I continued to listen, I ended up zoning them out as I placed the materials in a line and began to concentrate .
I had to take the grudges that possessed the weapon, its will, and forge it anew into something more… righteous, something that didn't scream malevolent at the top of its lungs . And I could not fail . I only had one shot at this; only one of each component lay in my possession . If I fucked up, then it was game over . Failure was equivalent to wasting both my money and destroying valuable materials .
To that end, I kept in mind the most important lesson I'd learned from creating all the weapons I had .
Simple was best . More often than not, making something complicated resulted in failure rather than success . Thus, I focused on the two traits that I really wanted: weight and sharpness . Those two traits were all I focused on . Ideally, I would like to have something done to its appearance . I wanted to make it look a lot less sinister and a lot more dignified . But that, again, wasn't nearly as important . I only kept it in the back of my mind . Don't worry . I'll use you a ton once you're born anew .
Only after reassuring the magic axe of my intentions and refining the image I had in mind, did I finally begin to channel my magical energies into the materials . And then I activated the skill .
A groan escaped my lips .
The materials, which were of the highest grade, rapidly drained my mana . The amount that it required was far greater than what Hasai had needed . But that don't mean shit!
I grit my teeth, clenched my jaws, and endured . I faced the weighty sense of despondency created by the fact that a massive amount of magical energy had escaped from my body . I faced it head-on with sheer willpower .
And I succeeded .
The materials almost seemed to liquify as they would in the depths of a blazing hot furnace . The three, distinct objects each gave off an incredible sheen as they slowly melded together to form a single, final result .
Editor's note (Joker): Hey, guys! Joker here . Oh boy, oh boy . What will the result be? Something epic, like a two handed greatswordaxe? Or will he fail, and make basically a giant frying pan . Which, if Patty from Tales of Vesperia is any indication of, isn't that bad of a weapon . She beats the shit out of all the monsters we run into and I crack up every time . And also, here's hoping a curious Illuna or Shii doesn't wander over here and fall into the melding items . That would just be… bad . Like, very bad . Like, a capital Very and a capital Bad . But I digress . They're probably too busy having fun and playing . Let's check the letter box! *he reaches into a large red box, feeling around, and pulls out one letter* Ah . Only one, huh? Well, at least it's not a bill . Let's see… Thanks you to Zehd Cashew for asking a question that someone else answered before I could . Look, I work afternoon/nights, okay? Boohoohoo… . Remember, if you've got a question for me, leave it in the comments below with the hashtag #AskJoker and I'll reply to you directly . Get noticed by your senpai today! See y'all in the next chapter!