第１４２９堀：更なる強化を (Part1)
Chapter 1429: Further Reinforcements
Further Reinforcements
Side: Firia
"Hmm-hmm, hmm-hmm..."
Firia hummed a tune as she worked.
Just then...
"My, you’re in high spirits, Firia-chan."
It was Narjia-neesama who had called out to her.
"Oh, was I being too loud?"
There were some craftsmen who found humming grating on the ears.
Firia wasn't exactly a master singer, so it was possible she had been bothering someone. The thought of having disrupted others filled her with a sense of apology.
However, Narjia-neesama shook her head.
"No, it’s quite alright. This is a private workshop where sound doesn't carry, and if that level of noise were considered loud, the sound of hammers striking iron in this smithy district would be deafening."
"That is certainly true."
This was the Weed smithy district.
Many craftsmen gathered here to forge all sorts of things. The sounds of creation echoed from every direction, and for those unaccustomed to it, it might even be painful to the ears.
Even Aslin and Labyris sometimes had to cover their ears.
That was why she had secured this individual room with proper soundproofing. It cost money, as some people valued the sound of iron striking iron and the vibrations that resonated through their bodies, but Firia preferred this space.
"Wait? If it's not about the noise, then why are you here, Narjia-neesama?"
That’s right. If it wasn't a complaint, why was she here?
"I heard. That you’re making ornaments for the upcoming investigation of those two countries."
"Ah, so that’s it. Yes, I am working on them."
Firia wouldn't be able to accompany the investigation into the two countries that had committed such misdeeds. At the very least, she wanted to craft something new for everyone’s safety.
"This time, I’m making bracelets."
Firia showed the bracelet she was currently working on to Narjia-neesama.
"Bracelets? Why those, specifically?"
"I don't intend to wear rings unless they were given to me by Brother, and necklaces tend to get snagged or become uncomfortable in the heat. So, I chose bracelets; they can protect the wrists and are easy to enchant."
"Ah, I see. When you put it that way, bracelets are indeed the best choice. What are you thinking regarding the enchantments?"
"Barrier deployment, poison resistance, constant regeneration, and mana storage."
"Hmm, hmm. So, support-oriented."
"Everyone has different methods of attack, so I thought this would be better."
"That is certainly true. Everyone’s combat styles differ, and even if we added offensive functions to the bracelets, they would require training to use effectively. Considering that, support is the better route."
"I’m glad."
If Narjia-neesama agreed, then everyone would surely be pleased.
"Then, I’ll get back to work."
Just as she was about to resume, Narjia-neesama sat down beside her.
"May I help? I recently obtained some excellent research data, and I’d like to incorporate that as well."
"Ah... by 'recently,' do you mean from Holy-san’s place?"
"Indeed."
Holy-san. The Demon Lord who was also a Goddess.
She was a Demon Lord who had been trying to destroy humanity there, though the reasons were something even Firia felt angry about. Because of that, she couldn't exactly say the people of the Ioa Kingdom were entirely in the wrong, but she didn't have a very good impression of them either.
However, there were things to be gained from the battle that took place there.
Specifically...
"Have the results of the live combat data from that time already been processed?"
Yes, they had obtained valuable data from what was essentially a real-world test.
The technology of Weed, led by Firia and her brother, was so advanced that it couldn't be used openly in front of others. Because of that, they were overwhelmingly lacking in data from actual combat.
For technicians like Firia, obtaining real combat data was akin to finding a treasure trove.
That said, just because the data was obtained didn't mean they could improve things immediately. It required various verifications and a great deal of time to implement improvements, but...
"Exactly. There were some glaring inconveniences, weren't there?"
"Inconveniences? Ah, you mean the mana shortage. That’s why I’m including mana storage..."
Yes, the biggest problem identified after deploying the enchanted equipment in actual combat was the low sustainability.
This hadn't been an issue before because Firia and the others had assumed the equipment would be used by high-level individuals like her brother. But when the rank-and-file soldiers—Steve’s subordinates—used them without mana supply, the enchantment would run dry after firing only ten shots.
"With such high firepower, the mana consumption is bound to be high. We originally assumed the user would provide the mana, so we didn't think much of it."
"Brother and the others told me it lacked versatility. It’s the same as a gun; if you run out of bullets, it’s useless."
"True, but bullets can be reloaded. Mana, on the other hand, takes time to replenish once depleted, and the recovery rate varies depending on the individual's mana capacity—that was the problem."
As Narjia-neesama said, magic tools didn't have the ability to instantly recover mana.
Well, cheap magic tools could treat magic stones like batteries, allowing them to be used again by swapping them out, but that was only at the level of general use.
As weapons—especially swords that fired beam-like attacks requiring high output and high mana—the magic stones available on the market were nowhere near sufficient.
That was why, fundamentally, they were designed to be used by people with high mana capacities.
"That is why I developed this: a system that constantly absorbs and stores mana. I referenced a type of magic tool that operates infinitely. Take a look."
With that, Narjia-neesama handed a document to Firia.
Firia took it and checked the contents...
"A type that absorbs and stores mana from the air and from the radiation emitted by the owner? It’s not that it doesn't exist, but while it does increase the amount slightly, the numbers are negligible, aren't they?"
What was written there was a system that gathered mana from the air, stored it, and used it to activate the enchantments.