Rayish
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Chapter 93
🕑 Added 2025-01-28 10:02:03 +0000 UTCAfter exiting the item drop room, Shirou turned the key he had projected into the door until he heard a soft "click." He made sure the door was securely locked before converting the key back into prana.
However, Lefiya, who had been waiting behind the counter with her hands on her hips, immediately greeted him in a playful tone. "Hey, locksmith! Next, please open the equipment room. Hurry up, we don't have all day!"
Shirou chuckled softly and shrugged. "Looks like I've got a new job," he said as he approached the equipment room door. He placed his hand on the doorknob and performed Structural Analysis again, quickly scanning the lock mechanism. After that, he projected a plain key, using Alteration to make it fit the keyhole. Within seconds, the door opened easily. "After you, Miss Lefiya," Shirou said, holding the door wide open.
Lefiya stepped inside enthusiastically, even though her shirt was still damp and sticky from the earlier slime carcass. "Thanks, locksmith," she muttered with a wry smile before investigating the room's contents.
Shirou followed, his eyes drawn to the various racks filled with combat equipment. The room was packed with weapons, armor, shields, and other gear, neatly organized by category. The sharp scent of metal filled the air, mingling with the smell of freshly tanned leather from some of the camping equipment.
From a distance, Shirou touched a sword on one of the racks and used Tracing. He quickly realized that most of the equipment here was crafted by artisans from the Goibniu and Hephaestus Familia, two renowned groups known for their high-quality goods. "Impressive," he murmured softly, admiring the detail and precision of the items.
Meanwhile, Lefiya continued searching for something at the back of the room. "Aha! Found it at last!" she exclaimed, pointing to a small rack in the corner that seemed untouched for a long time. The rack contained alchemy equipment, though it looked a bit dusty.
Shirou approached, observing what Lefiya had found. "This seems like it hasn't been used in a while," he commented, touching one of the small bottles filled with a strange liquid.
"True," Lefiya replied as she dusted off the tools. "But this is more than enough for what we need. I'll use these tools for the slime experiment later."
Shirou nodded. "Alright, let me copy all of this first." He began using Tracing on each piece of alchemy equipment—tubes, burners, mortars and pestles, and various bottles of liquids. He meticulously copied every detail, ensuring that if Lefiya needed them later, he could project them without having to return to this room.
Once finished, Shirou turned to Lefiya. "Everything's ready. We can start the experiment whenever you're prepared."
Lefiya smiled brightly, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Great! Then let's get out of here before someone notices we've been inside too long!"
After they exited the equipment room, Shirou locked the door again with his projected key before dissolving it back into prana. "The locksmith's job is done," he said with a small grin.
Lefiya chuckled lightly before walking ahead of Shirou toward the exit of the underground storage room. This time, it was Lefiya's turn to take out her keychain and lock the main storage door. She did so deftly, then let out a long sigh once her task was complete.
Once outside, Lefiya glanced at her damp shirt and wrinkled her nose. "Ugh, this is disgusting," she complained, lifting one end of her now sticky white shirt, which was covered in slime residue. "Look, Shirou," she said, showing him the stains with a slight pout.
Shirou glanced at Lefiya and, for a moment, noticed that her white shirt had become transparent, faintly revealing a pink bra underneath. He immediately felt awkward, clearing his throat softly to mask his surprise. "Uh, Lefiya... maybe you should change your clothes first," he suggested calmly, though he slightly turned his face to avoid staring longer. "Let me carry the bag. You must be uncomfortable."
Lefiya stared at Shirou with a confused expression for a moment before realizing what he meant. Her face turned bright red. "Ah, you're right. I didn't even notice!" she said sheepishly, handing the slime bag to Shirou. "Thanks for telling me... I'll change in my room. Wait for me outside the manor, okay?"
Shirou nodded as he took the slime bag from Lefiya. "Sure. Take your time, I'll wait," he replied with a faint smile.
After Lefiya hurried to her room upstairs, Shirou shook his head while looking at the slime bag in his hand. "How careless of her," he muttered. He then headed to the kitchen to grab the lunch he had prepared earlier. His face still bore a small smile, though his mind was slightly troubled by the earlier incident.
In the kitchen, Shirou opened the cupboard and took out the lunch he had prepared. Two lunch boxes contained mushroom fried rice, their aroma already wafting out as he lifted them. He also grabbed a thermos filled with iced tea, making sure the lid was tightly sealed to keep the drink fresh. The lunch boxes, thermos, and the slightly sticky slime bag were carefully placed into a medium-sized bag that he now carried on his back.
Leaving the kitchen, Shirou walked through the manor hallway, now bathed in the morning sunlight. Fresh air greeted him as he stepped out the front door. He stood in the manor's courtyard, watching the sun peek over the horizon. The sky was a soft orange, and the morning atmosphere was peaceful, accompanied only by the chirping of birds.
Not long after, Shirou heard light footsteps approaching. Lefiya emerged from the manor door with a small jog, now wearing a dark-colored shirt clearly chosen to avoid transparency like before. She smiled brightly, though her face was slightly flushed from remembering the earlier incident. "I didn't keep you waiting too long, did I?" she asked, wiping a bit of sweat from her forehead.
Shirou shook his head casually. "No, you're right on time. So, are you ready to continue our project?"
"Absolutely," Lefiya replied with a smile. They began walking together toward the forge located behind the manor. Their steps were accompanied by a light conversation about how bright the morning was, though Lefiya occasionally threw in small jokes about the 'wet shirt incident,' making Shirou smile.
Upon arriving at the forge, the room was already filled with the familiar scents of iron and wood. The morning sunlight streamed through a small window, adding warmth to the atmosphere. On the main worktable, the nearly completed frame of a bicycle stood sturdy. The metallic sheen reflected the light, making Shirou feel satisfied with their progress so far.
However, Lefiya walked over to another table in the corner. "Shirou, I'll start preparing the experiment with this slime. Can you project the alchemy tools we took earlier?"
Shirou nodded. "Of course." He set his bag on the floor and then stood in front of the empty table. With full concentration, he summoned each piece of alchemy equipment he had traced earlier. A test tube appeared, followed by a crucible, tongs, a mortar and pestle, and various other small tools. Each item was neatly placed on the table, ensuring everything was ready for use.
Lefiya watched with sparkling eyes. "Thanks, Shirou! This makes things much easier than carrying everything by hand."
Shirou smiled faintly as he adjusted his bag. "Glad to help. So, what's the first step for this experiment?" he asked, looking at Lefiya, who already seemed full of enthusiasm in front of her alchemy tools.
Lefiya stood in front of her alchemy table, directing her gaze at Shirou. "Shirou, can you project the slime carcass next to these tools? I want to start the experiment right away," she requested eagerly.
Shirou nodded and raised his hand. However, instead of immediately summoning the slime carcass, he first projected a large bucket. The bucket appeared with a soft sound, and Shirou promptly projected the slime carcass into it. The green, slimy mass filled the bucket, wobbling slightly as if still alive before finally settling.
Lefiya looked at the bucket with a slightly disgusted expression. "I'll use the slime from your projection for the initial experiment. Once I've figured out the right way to turn it into tire material, we'll use the real slime from the bag," she said, pointing to the bag on the floor.
Shirou smiled faintly. "Alright, but if you need more slime, just call me. And, Lefiya, be careful not to get wet like this morning."
However, instead of heeding his advice, Lefiya scooped up a handful of slime from the bucket with her bare hands. Her face showed a mix of bravery and disgust. With a quick motion, she smeared the slime on her own shirt. "If I'm going to get dirty anyway, I might as well get used to it," she said jokingly.
Shirou was startled. "Wait, are you serious?" he asked, his eyes widening slightly.
Lefiya nodded confidently. "Of course! Look at this!" She puffed out her chest toward Shirou, showing her dark-colored shirt smeared with slime. "At least this shirt isn't see-through now, right?" she joked with a small laugh, trying to mask her awkwardness.
Shirou watched her for a moment, and although her shirt wasn't transparent, the wet slime made the fabric clinging tightly to her body. Her silhouette was more visible, and Lefiya's chest, quite large for an elf, was now more pronounced. In his mind, he couldn't help but compare it to the size of Sakura's chest, his junior from the past, who had a similar build. However, he quickly dismissed the perverted thought, feeling it was inappropriate in this situation.
Trying to keep Lefiya from feeling awkward, Shirou shifted his attention. "Alright, then I'll continue forging the bike parts over there," he said, pointing to the worktable on the other side of the room.
Lefiya nodded without suspicion. "Okay! If you have any ideas about the bike design, let me know, too!" she said, refocusing on the bucket of slime in front of her. Shirou smiled faintly before walking over to his worktable and letting Lefiya immerse herself in her alchemy experiment.
Lefiya began her experiment by taking the bicycle tire left in the forge the previous day. She slowly opened the supporter bag where the tire was stored and took out both the outer and inner tires. She felt the surface of the outer tire, noting its rough yet elastic texture, which felt strong under her fingers. Then, she pressed the inner tube, feeling the soft pressure beneath her fingertips.
"Hmm... the outer tire seems easier to recreate," she murmured, placing the tire under the alchemy table. Lefiya decided to focus on experimenting with the outer tire material first, as it seemed simpler than trying to replicate the inner tube, which required a balance of air pressure.
Lefiya stood upright for a moment, her mind drifting to memories of learning alchemy in the school district. She recalled her alchemy teacher, an old sorcerer who always began experiments by chanting a spell to activate a magic circle. The teacher never completed the chant but only summoned enough energy to create the circle beneath him.
Lefiya smiled faintly. "Then I'll try it too," she said to herself. With a slow breath, she began chanting softly but with full concentration.
"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."
Her chant stopped there. Lefiya didn't intend to fully summon her Elf Ring. Instead, she directed her energy to form a glowing golden magic circle beneath her feet. The light slowly expanded, surrounding her alchemy table with intricate patterns that shimmered like intertwined tree roots.
The sound of metal clinking from the other side of the room stopped. Shirou, who was forging a metal bar into a pedal shape, turned to Lefiya with a raised eyebrow. "What are you doing, Lefiya?" he asked curiously.
"Hehe," Lefiya giggled softly, feeling satisfied with the result. "I'm using my magic circle to make it easier to apply alchemy to the slime carcass later," she replied confidently.
Shirou nodded, intrigued by Lefiya's method. "That's an interesting technique. Where did you learn it?"
"Of course, from my school days," Lefiya answered with a proud smile. "Our alchemy teacher was amazing, and I'm adapting their methods for my experiment."
Shirou smiled faintly before refocusing on his work. "Alright, good luck. If you need help, just call me," he said, returning to forging the pedal with concentration. Meanwhile, Lefiya took a deep breath, ready to proceed with the next step in her alchemy experiment.
The glowing golden magic circle around Lefiya's alchemy table gave her confidence. Though she knew her magical abilities couldn't compare to Shirou's Structural Analysis, the circle was helpful. The energy from the circle made Lefiya more sensitive to subtle changes in the materials she was working with, a crucial advantage in alchemy experiments.
On the table, Lefiya began working with the tools Shirou had projected. First, she took a glass retort and poured a transparent liquid she had prepared earlier into it. She added flakes of the projected slime carcass into the liquid and then used a metal stirring rod to mix the ingredients. Slowly, she heated it with a small blue flame from a burner.
"Must be careful," she murmured softly, trying to maintain focus. Thin smoke rose from the retort, leaving a sharp acidic smell. The liquid in the retort turned a deep green, indicating that the initial reaction was proceeding as planned.
However, problems arose when Lefiya tried to pour the liquid into a flat mold to form an elastic layer. When the liquid cooled, instead of forming a solid, flexible material like an outer tire, it cracked like brittle glass.
"Ah, failed again!" Lefiya groaned in frustration. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, trying to maintain her concentration to keep the magic circle active.
She repeated the process several times. This time, Lefiya adjusted the temperature more carefully. She added additional ingredients from small vials, hoping for a more stable chemical reaction. However, the results were still disappointing. Each time the liquid cooled, it didn't meet her expectations—sometimes too hard, sometimes too sticky.
As time passed and the sun rose higher, fatigue began to set in for Lefiya. Her energy was drained from maintaining the magic circle and focusing intensely on each step of the experiment. She lowered her head, staring at the pile of failed attempts on the table, feeling desperate.
"Can I really do this?" she whispered to herself, almost giving up. However, when she lifted her head, her gaze fell on Shirou.
Shirou stood tall on the other side of the forge, his body moving consistently as he forged. Sweat dripped down his face, but he remained focused. The rhythmic clanging of the hammer against metal served as a reminder that hard work never goes to waste. Shirou didn't complain, even though his work seemed exhausting. He simply continued his task with unwavering determination.
Seeing Shirou's spirit, Lefiya's heart stirred again. "If Shirou can keep working hard without giving up, then I should too!" She clenched her fists, forcing herself to rise again. This time, she approached the experiment with more meticulous care.
Lefiya adjusted the amount of materials she used, changing the proportions of slime liquid and additional ingredients. She slowed down the heating process and ensured the temperature remained stable. Every step was done carefully, ensuring no mistakes. The magic circle beneath her feet grew weaker, but Lefiya didn't care. With burning determination, she pressed on.
Finally, after hours of trying, Lefiya stared at her final result with sparkling eyes. On the flat mold, a black, elastic layer had formed. Its texture resembled the outer tire she had studied earlier—flexible, strong, and with the desired durability.
"I did it!" Lefiya exclaimed enthusiastically, lifting the layer from the mold. Her smile was wide, her eyes shining with pride that was hard to hide. She glanced at Shirou, who had paused from his work, turning to her with a faint smile.
"Great job, Lefiya. I knew you could do it," Shirou said calmly. The clanging of his hammer stopped briefly, paying tribute to Lefiya's hard work.
With a light heart, Lefiya wiped the sweat from her forehead, feeling that all her efforts had paid off. This was just the beginning, but this small success was proof that she had the potential to go further.
Shirou stepped closer, examining Lefiya's successful experiment. He touched the newly completed elastic layer, and then quickly activated his Structural Analysis. His gaze focused as if assessing every tiny detail invisible to the naked eye. After a few seconds, he nodded slowly, looking satisfied.
"Good work, Lefiya," Shirou praised with a faint smile. "The structure is stable. Now it's time to try using the real slime, and this time in larger quantities."
Lefiya hid her fatigue behind a cheerful smile. "Ready, Captain!" she exclaimed, trying to sound enthusiastic even though the magic circle she had maintained since earlier was starting to drain her energy.
Shirou observed her face for a moment, then frowned slightly. "Lefiya," he said softly but firmly, "if you're feeling too tired, we can continue later after resting. I don't want you to push yourself."
However, Lefiya quickly shook her head. "It's fine, Shirou. This time the process is simpler. I know the steps, so I can do it faster. Really, it's no problem," she said with a reassuring smile.
Shirou stared at her for a few seconds, then nodded slowly. "Alright, if you're sure. But if you feel unable to continue, just say so."
Lefiya smiled brightly and immediately took the bag of real slime from the bag Shirou had brought earlier. She poured the slime into a measuring container, this time in a much larger quantity than in previous experiments. While holding the container, Lefiya carefully noted the ratios of additional ingredients, ensuring everything remained balanced as in the earlier trials.
With full concentration, Lefiya began her alchemy process. She poured the slime into a large retort, adding the catalyst liquid slowly while continuously stirring with a metal rod. The blue flame beneath the retort burned steadily, heating the mixture to the right temperature. The acidic smell filled the air again, but Lefiya remained calm.
The golden magic circle beneath her feet glowed brightly, emitting energy that helped strengthen her control over the complex chemical process. With a gentle flow of energy, Lefiya felt the slime changing. The thick liquid began to solidify, transforming into a more solid yet still elastic material.
However, maintaining the magic circle while controlling the temperature and mixing the ingredients required full concentration. Sweat began to bead on her forehead, but Lefiya remained focused. With trembling hands, she poured the material from the retort into a second mixing container to perfect its texture.
"Just a little more," Lefiya murmured to herself, motivating herself to hold on.
Finally, after several tense minutes, Lefiya let out a relieved sigh. The elastic liquid she had created was ready to be poured. She turned to Shirou, who had prepared a round mold shaped like a tire that he had projected earlier.
"I'm done," Lefiya said with a proud smile, though her face showed signs of exhaustion.
Shirou nodded, appreciating her hard work. "Great job, Lefiya. Now, let's pour it into this mold."
Carefully, Lefiya poured the elastic material into the round mold. Shirou helped ensure the mold was evenly filled. As they completed the process, Lefiya stepped back slightly, looking at their work with satisfaction.
"This looks more perfect," Shirou said, giving a nod of approval. "You've really done an amazing job today."
Lefiya smiled weakly but happily. "Thank you, Shirou. I couldn't have done it without your help."
Shirou simply smiled and said, "This is all thanks to your hard work. Now, how about we take a break? You must need some time to recover your energy."
Lefiya chuckled softly, finally agreeing. "I think that's a good idea."
Comments
striker James
Great chapter
