Night of the Slave

"Let's call it a day for now."

I said, watching the westering sun dip below the horizon.

"Understood. I'll prepare for the night."

"Ah, wait."

I stopped Rirya from moving.

I pulled out my DORECA, called up the menu, and used the save-and-load function to trigger emergency production with magic.

A house appeared where nothing had been moments before.

Not just any house. A tall, vertical one.

We went inside, Rirya and her mother following.

At first glance, it looked like an ordinary house—table for meals, bed for sleeping.

But in the middle stood a ladder, leading up to a long, narrow upper section.

A loft.

"There's a ladder."

"Yeah. Wanna climb up?"

"Going up! I'll be back!"

Arisa scrambled up the ladder with her short legs, stepping carefully—staying just below her, ready to catch her if she slipped.

Rirya came up beside me.

"There's a room up there too....A room?"

"More like a loft. Ever seen one of these before?"

Rirya shook her head.

"No, I haven't."

"Right. There used to be places like this back in the day. Looks like a regular room from outside, but there’s an extra room stacked on top—feels like you’re getting something for free."

"I see."

"Also..."

She paused, looking up.

——Magic power charged: 5,000.

Arisa, having climbed the loft, leaned forward with eyes sparkling like a child.

"It’s amazing! A second floor, even though it’s inside the room!"

"Feels like a secret hideout, doesn’t it?"

"Just like Papa-sama said!"

Arisa bounced with excitement. Rirya narrowed her eyes, amused.

The loft seemed to be getting pretty high marks.

☆

After dinner, I made some paper and a pen, then sat at the table, scribbling away.

New weapon ideas.

A new weapon—something to replace the Eternal Slave.

I was thinking about what kind of thing it should be.

Can’t come up with anything solid, so I’m going back to basics. Writing down the conditions on paper.

First, it has to be something related to slaves.

Obviously. I’ve got twelve cute slaves right here, grinning at me like it’s nothing.

Turning that into power? Into a weapon? No choice. If it’s gonna be the successor to the Eternal Slave, even less of a choice.

Next, I’d prefer to develop it from scratch.

Not just copying whatever DORECA gave me. I want to build something original, like this lofted room—mixing parts, making something new.

There are other little conditions, but these two are the most important.

“Onii-chan.”

Rirya descended the ladder and knelt beside me.

“Did Arisa go to sleep?”

I asked, glancing at the loft.

“Yes, she did. She was so excited, she’s sleeping deeper than usual.”

"Always going up and down for no reason."

I chuckled a little, remembering the scene.

"What are you writing, big brother?"

"New weapon designs. Rirya, got any ideas?"

"Your weapon, big brother? Hmm..."

She tilted her head, thinking.

"Copy Rirya and Arisa. Use them as tools."

"…What?"

What in the world is she saying now?

"Make lots of them, like today's zombies. That's your weapon."

"Like a summoner?"

"Kind of."

"Still doesn't click."

"Exactly..."

Rirya slumped her shoulders.

She’s disappointed—so that was serious.

That’s actually pretty wild.

"What’re you even thinking, big brother?"

"Various things. First, a gun."

"A gun?"

"Yeah, make a base spell-gun, then craft ammo as consumables. Use something of yours as material. Probably each of you’ll get different effects—unique special rounds, I’d say."

"Ah, I see."

I’d just laid out the idea I’d come up with so far to Rirya.

Didn’t feel quite right myself, so I was watching her reaction.

She listened, gave various responses—some even said “Good!”—but still, something was missing.