Rayish
patreon
Chapter 94
🕑 Added 2025-01-31 09:26:22 +0000 UTCAfter a lunch break outside the forge, Lefiya and Shirou returned inside. The warm midday sun that had touched their skin was replaced by the coolness of metal and the distinct scent of freshly forged iron. Shirou deftly placed the empty lunch boxes and the thermos they had used into the bag he had been carrying. Meanwhile, Lefiya stood near Shirou's worktable, her eyes fixed on the bicycle frame that now looked more complete.
She approached the bike with curiosity. The pedals and gears were neatly installed, adding a sense of sturdiness to the previously bare metal frame. "We've come this far, huh?" Lefiya murmured softly, her voice almost drowned out by the silence of the forge.
Shirou, who had finished tidying up his bag, also approached. He looked at the bike with a satisfied yet serious expression. "Almost done," he said. "Now all that's left is the chain, brakes, and wheel rims."
Lefiya watched Shirou, who was so calm and skilled, then lowered her head, feeling that her efforts paled in comparison to what Shirou had accomplished. "You know," she said quietly, "it feels like I'm not really helping much. You could probably finish all of this without me."
Shirou turned to her and shook his head firmly. "No, Lefiya," he said seriously. "I couldn't have made this bike without your help. In fact, I want to show you just how important your role here is."
His words made Lefiya lift her head, her blue eyes filled with curiosity. "Really?" she asked.
Shirou walked over to the mold containing the outer tire made from Lefiya's experiment. Carefully, he lifted the dried but still rough and plain outer tire from the mold with his right hand. At the same time, he grabbed a factory-made bicycle tire he had projected earlier from under Lefiya's alchemy table with his left hand.
"Look at this," Shirou said, holding up both tires for Lefiya to see. He focused on the factory-made tire in his left hand, activating Structural Analysis. His eyes glowed briefly as he analyzed the structure and composition of the tire down to the smallest detail. Once finished, he shifted his focus to the rough slime tire. In a soft but firm voice, he used Alteration magecraft, applying the blueprint from the factory tire to transform the plain tire into an exact replica of the one in his left hand.
In an instant, the plain tire changed shape, its rough surface becoming smooth, its texture and details now resembling the factory tire. "Done," Shirou said, spinning the tire in his hand to check its precision.
Lefiya stared at the result with her mouth slightly open. "Wow…" she murmured in admiration. But then she lowered her head slightly, her expression turning sad. "If you can do that, why didn't you just use your magecraft on the slime earlier? Why did I have to go through all the trouble of making the raw material?"
Shirou smiled faintly and placed the tire on the table. "It's because I can't," he answered honestly yet warmly. "My Alteration ability has limits. I can't directly turn a slime carcass into a tire like this. But your alchemy experiment, Lefiya, is the key to all of this. You're the one who managed to turn the slime into a usable material. Without you, I wouldn't have been able to finish this."
Lefiya looked at him, her blue eyes shimmering. Shirou's words were so sincere that they warmed her chest, even though she was still a bit tired. "Thank you, Lefiya," Shirou added, smiling at her with a warm and appreciative smile.
Seeing that smile, Lefiya felt something she couldn't quite put into words. This is all I need, she thought. That smile. If this is the result of all the hard work I've put in, then I'm satisfied. She returned Shirou's smile softly, feeling that her efforts had finally paid off.
"Yosh!" Lefiya clapped her hands enthusiastically, trying to shake off the fatigue that had been haunting her. "Time to try again!" she declared loudly, her eyes shining with determination. In the corner of the room, Shirou, who had gone back to check the temperature of the metal in the forge, looked up and smiled at Lefiya's enthusiasm before refocusing on his work.
Lefiya crouched beside her alchemy table, picking up a factory-made inner tube stored underneath. Carefully, she felt the elastic texture of the material between her fingers, trying to understand the properties she needed to replicate. "I need to increase elasticity without sacrificing strength," she murmured to herself. She racked her brain, thinking about the slime ratio that might work for the next experiment.
After formulating a plan, Lefiya raised her hand, pointing it at the floor beneath the table. In a soft but firm voice, she began chanting, "I wish upon the name of Wishe. Ancestors of the forest, proud brethren. Answer my call and come to the plains. Connecting bonds, the pledge of paradise." The golden magic circle reappeared, glowing softly beneath her feet, surrounding the alchemy table with a magical radiance.
Lefiya began working, pouring the prepared slime into an alchemy vessel, and then adding a carefully adjusted mixture of catalyst liquid. She turned the extraction lever carefully, listening to the soft tick tick tick of the device. She watched as the material changed shape, its color slightly darker than in previous experiments. "Good," she whispered, her eyes fixed on the reaction process in front of her.
However, when the final product came out, Lefiya frowned. The material was too flexible. She tried pulling it, and it stretched like chewing gum. "Hmm… this is too weak," she said, feeling disappointed. But her curiosity outweighed her frustration. She took a small piece of the slime and blew into it gently. Quickly, the material expanded into a shiny balloon.
Across the room, Shirou, who was connecting the bike chain, glanced at Lefiya. Seeing the girl engrossed in playing with the slime balloon, he smiled faintly, amused by her antics. "You're like a child, Lefiya," he teased lightly.
Lefiya turned to him with the now fairly large slime balloon in her hands. "This is too weak for an inner tube. But at least… maybe it can be used as a toy?" she said, laughing softly as she continued blowing up the balloon.
Suddenly, a loud POP! echoed through the room as the slime balloon burst, startling Lefiya and making her jump back slightly. Her face immediately turned red, and she gave an awkward smile to Shirou. "Hehe… at least this material has another function," she said, trying to console herself.
Shirou paused his work for a moment, approaching with a soft smile. "If you make a bigger and stronger balloon, Lefiya, it could become a hot air balloon," he said, trying to cheer her up.
Lefiya looked at him in confusion, tilting her head slightly. "Hot air balloon? What's that?"
Shirou smiled faintly, then explained in a warm tone. "In my world, hot air balloons are flying devices. They're made from materials strong enough to hold hot air. With the hot air generated, the balloon can lift a large basket and carry people into the sky. It feels like floating on the wind."
Lefiya's eyes widened as she listened to the explanation. "Flying in the sky? That sounds amazing!" she said excitedly. She stared at the slime material in front of her, her mind spinning with new possibilities. "I want to try it!"
However, Shirou raised a hand, signaling for Lefiya to calm down. "Wait a minute," he said. "We need to stay focused. The inner tube is the top priority. The hot air balloon can be the next project after this is done."
Lefiya nodded, her enthusiasm still high. "Alright, Captain!" she said with a wide smile. With renewed energy, she returned to her alchemy table, ready for the next experiment.
Amid the clinking of metal that accompanied the forge's atmosphere, Lefiya remained busy with her experiment at the alchemy table. She repeated the same process, this time more careful with the slime and catalyst ratios. After the result came out, she blew into the material with hope, but more often than not, it either burst or failed to expand at all. She sighed deeply but then puffed out her cheeks with renewed determination. "Alright, one more time! I can do it!"
From a distance, Shirou, who was checking the alignment of the bike's wheel rims, stole a glance at Lefiya. He couldn't help but smile as he watched the girl act like a child playing, especially when Lefiya blew up a small slime balloon and popped it with a disappointed expression. "You're so persistent, Lefiya," he murmured softly, his voice almost drowned out by the sound of the forge's fire.
By late afternoon, Lefiya finally succeeded in creating a material that she felt was close to her expectations. This time, when she blew into the result of her experiment, the material expanded into a sturdy, elastic balloon. Lefiya's face shone with triumph. "Finally!" she exclaimed enthusiastically. She picked up the factory-made inner tube from under the table, comparing it to her own creation. It felt like the material she had made was now almost on par.
She brought her creation to Shirou, who was working on the bike's wheel rims. "Shirou! I did it!" she called out, holding the material like a trophy.
Shirou turned, leaving his work for a moment. He took the material from Lefiya's hands and examined it with interest. "Alright, let me check," he said, closing his eyes briefly. Vwoom, his magecraft energy enveloped the material as he used Structural Analysis. When he finished, Shirou opened his eyes, a faint smile on his face. "Great work, Lefiya. This is almost perfect."
Hearing the praise, Lefiya felt her heart skip a beat. The young elf's cheeks turned red, but she could only laugh softly to mask her joy. If it's like this, I can become even better just to earn his praise… she thought, imagining Shirou's smile every time she succeeded.
Shirou handed the material back to Lefiya, patting her shoulder gently. "Now, use the real material. I'm sure you can do it," he said confidently.
"Alright!" Lefiya replied enthusiastically. She took the bag of real slime from the table. With more practiced movements, she began the alchemy process again. Her hands moved deftly, pouring the catalyst with precision while keeping the magic circle stable. The golden glow of her magic circle seemed brighter as if supporting Lefiya.
When the final material was ready, Lefiya blew into it once more, and this time the result was perfect. She laughed softly, feeling relieved and proud. "Shirou, I'm done! This material is ready to use."
Shirou, who had just finished installing the bike chain, approached, carrying a special mold he had prepared earlier. "Good. Pour the material into this mold," he said, handing the inner tube-shaped mold to Lefiya.
Carefully, Lefiya poured the material into the mold. The process required concentration to ensure the material was evenly distributed. When she finished, she let out a relieved sigh, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "Now we just have to wait for it to dry," she said with a smile.
Shirou nodded in satisfaction. "Great job, Lefiya. With this, the bike is one step closer to completion."
Lefiya then sat on a small wooden chair not far from the alchemy table, watching Shirou as he busied himself installing the bike's brakes. The soft clinking of metal echoed each time Shirou tightened a bolt or adjusted a cable. His deft hands moved with focus, making Lefiya feel amazed. "He's really meticulous," she thought, resting her chin on her hand.
"Done," Shirou said suddenly, snapping Lefiya out of her reverie. He clapped his hands to dust off the metal shavings. "Now all that's left is to install the wheels," he added, glancing at the two wheel rims lying on the floor.
Lefiya followed his gaze and immediately understood. "The last step, right? Because the tires need to be installed first," Lefiya said, half asking.
Shirou nodded. "Exactly. Then let's check if the tire material has dried," he said, walking over to the table where the inner tube mold had been left to dry.
He touched the material, confirming its texture was solid. "Seems ready," he said with satisfaction. Shirou picked up a factory-made inner tube from under the table and held it in one hand, while the other hand held the slime inner tube. With a familiar motion, he focused his energy. "Trace on," he murmured softly. A soft light enveloped the slime's inner tube, gradually altering its texture until it resembled the factory-made one.
However, as Shirou held the tire, he noticed something. "Hmm… it still feels a bit soft," he commented, lifting the inner tube for a closer inspection.
"Then let me blow it up!" Lefiya immediately volunteered enthusiastically, standing up from her chair.
Shirou stifled a laugh, the corner of his lips curling up. "You want to blow up this inner tube?" he asked, amused.
Lefiya nodded firmly, though her face turned slightly red as Shirou seemed entertained by her offer. "Y-yes! I can do it!" she replied with confidence.
Shirou simply smiled. "Alright, but I have a more efficient way." He took out a valve he had prepared and attached it to the inner tube. With smooth movements, he inserted the inner tube into the outer tire, making sure everything was neatly fitted. Then, he projected a small pump, which he immediately used to fill the tire with air.
"Pffft… hsss... hsss…" The sound of air flowing into the tire filled the room as Lefiya watched curiously. When Shirou finished, he pressed the tire with his hand, ensuring the pressure was just right.
Lefiya also touched the tire, feeling its texture. "Wow... this feels no different from a factory-made tire," she said in awe, her eyes sparkling.
"And that's why our brand is... Faker," Shirou said with a small grin. He lifted the tire and began installing it onto the wheel frame.
"Faker is a fitting name," Lefiya smiled faintly, slightly amused by the name. She helped Shirou install both wheels, now equipped with tires, onto the bike frame. They worked with enthusiasm, and finally, the bike stood complete with all its parts.
As the sun began to set on the western horizon, casting a golden-orange glow that painted the sky, Shirou wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at the now-completed bike. "We did it," he said softly, but with deep satisfaction.
Lefiya looked at the bike with pride, then glanced at Shirou. "Yeah... we did it," she replied, a sweet smile gracing her face.
After that, Lefiya looked at the finished bike, which was still plain metal, and frowned, thinking for a moment. "Should we paint it?" she asked, tilting her head as she looked at Shirou.
Shirou smiled faintly and answered casually, "It's up to you, Lefiya. After all, this bike is yours."
"Eh?!" Lefiya was startled, her eyes widening. She looked at Shirou in disbelief. "Mine? You mean... I get to keep it?" she asked in a half-whisper.
Shirou nodded lightly as if the decision wasn't a big deal. "Of course. If I need a bike, I can just project one. But a projected bike only lasts three days before turning back into prana. This bike is different. It's a real bike we made together, so it's better for you to have it," he explained calmly, unaware of how much his words affected Lefiya.
Lefiya lowered her head, a wave of emotion filling her heart. He made this for me she thought, feeling her cheeks warm. Her feelings for Shirou grew deeper, but she tried to hide them.
Meanwhile, Shirou walked to the corner of the forge and picked up a few cans of paint neatly arranged on a wooden shelf. He opened the lid of one can, revealing a bright color inside. "What color do you want?" he asked, looking at Lefiya.
Trying to mask her rapidly beating heart, Lefiya shifted her focus. "Pink!" she suddenly exclaimed with enthusiasm, louder than she intended. Her face turned red as she realized how eager she sounded.
Shirou raised an eyebrow for a moment, then chuckled. "Alright, pink. Seems like you're really excited about this bike," he said, preparing the brushes and paint.
Night had fallen, and darkness slowly enveloped the forge. Shirou projected a magic lantern that emitted a soft glow, illuminating their workspace. Together, they began painting the new bike.
Splashes of paint stuck to their hands, but they were too engrossed to care. "Hey don't forget the handlebars!" Shirou called out, pointing to the bike's handle.
"Yes, sir!" Lefiya replied enthusiastically, though the redness in her cheeks hadn't fully faded. A warm and joyful atmosphere filled the small space.
Finally, Lefiya took a small brush and carefully wrote something on the bike's body. "Faker II," she wrote in neat letters.
"'Faker II, huh?" Shirou read the writing in a low voice. He smiled contentedly. "Looks great. Now this bike is truly yours."
Lefiya nodded, hiding her emotions behind a bright smile. The bike wasn't just an ordinary vehicle to her—it was a precious memory she had created with Shirou.
After putting the finishing touches on their bike, Shirou placed the paintbrush into a water container on the corner of the work table. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at Lefiya with a satisfied smile. "That's enough for today. It's time to rest."
Lefiya looked at the pink bike they had just built together. She bit her lower lip, feeling a little disappointed. "But... I want to try it out first," she said softly.
Shirou turned off the magic lantern illuminating the forge, letting the light slowly fade into prana particles that dissipated in the air. He stepped outside and turned to Lefiya. "If you try it now, the paint won't be dry. Your clothes will get even dirtier," he explained, pointing to the paint stains already adorning her shirt.
Lefiya followed Shirou outside, still with a slightly disappointed expression. She pointed to her dark shirt, now covered in splotches of slime and pink paint. "This shirt is already dirty. So it doesn't matter!" she protested, half-jokingly patting her shirt.
Shirou chuckled at her pouty expression. "Still, it's better to let the paint dry first. Besides, I have another plan to celebrate our success today," he said, looking up at the night sky now filled with stars.
"What plan?" Lefiya asked, her voice full of curiosity, her steps light as she followed Shirou toward the Manor.
Shirou put his hands in his pockets and answered casually, "I want to treat you to dinner. To celebrate our hard work today."
Lefiya's eyes sparkled at the offer. "Really?! I'm in! But... where are we going to eat?"
Shirou paused for a moment, thinking. "Hmm, it's been a week since I last went to the Hostess of Fertility. How about we eat there?"
Lefiya fell silent for a moment after hearing the name of the restaurant. She felt like there was something important, something she should remember, but her mind was too tangled to grasp it. "Hostess of Fertility..." she murmured softly before shaking her head. "I feel like I'm forgetting something, but I'm not sure what."
Shirou looked at her, slightly confused. "If you've forgotten something, maybe you'll remember it on the way," he said, trying to comfort her.
Lefiya shrugged, trying not to think too much about it. "Yeah, maybe. Alright, Hostess of Fertility! I'm starving," she declared cheerfully, pushing aside the curiosity in her mind. It's probably not important, she thought, unknowingly forgetting her promise to Ryuu.
Comments
Gabriel Vega
El capitulo que se viene
