Author's Notes: Chapter edited and corrected by Scott Fellman.
"Keeping the electrons in an ambiguous state so you can use them in a solid form, and then fire it as fast as possible. It's brilliant. Being completely solid, you can ignore most magical defenses. The destructive power would also be impressive." Ajuka said, his eyes shining. I nodded in excitement.
"I know! It's a shame that its usage cost is actually the highest of all my magic. By the way, I call it Meltdowner." I said regretfully. Ajuka nodded in confirmation.
"Apt name, I suppose you'll have to settle for using it as an ace in the hole. The railgun certainly isn't a bad option. A muzzle velocity of 1030 m/s, a deviation of 18.9 mm, and with the coins you're using, I'd say an effective range of 50 meters before the coin melts? With your portals, it's quite a lethal combination." Ajuka said, impressed. I whistled lightly.
"Awesome, you got all the numbers right. Yes, I am indeed improving it. I'm working on a version that I'm calling the 'Liquid-Proof Railgun.' I'm thinking of coating the coins in a special way so they can melt in a specific way. Instead of the coin melting due to friction, the ablative coating removes the heat from friction and cools the coin." I began excitedly.
"The potion coating will explode like steam and further accelerate the coin-"
"That will cause the railgun to gain speed as it flies! With the friction bottleneck neutralized and additional acceleration beyond the initial launch, the normal limits on speed and distance of your railgun would be eliminated! Given enough distance, it could catch and outpace the Meltdowner! That's incredible! I can't wait to see it!" Ajuka said as he interrupted me, his eyes shining like a kid at Christmas.
"The potion is still on the workbench. Creating an ablative liquid isn't easy. I'm still working on the evaporation part. It's a highly delicate and precise process." I said with a grimace. Ajuka nodded.
"I see. I'll wait to see the final result. I'm really excited," Ajuka said with a smile. "I must say, I'm really impressed, even more so because you're doing this all through alchemy, a method discarded by humans. You've made it completely your own and extremely functional." He added, sounding thoroughly impressed. I smiled.
"I guess the tattoos were too obvious?" I asked with a proud smile. Ajuka nodded.
"Yes, the symbols are easily identifiable once you know what you're looking for, though there are certainly several things I'm overlooking. For example, you have tattoos for using specific alchemy, but you can use different magic without it, which I've also identified as alchemy. I must admit I'm somewhat confused," Ajuka said honestly.
"Ah, yes, transmutation circles and the corresponding matrices are indeed necessary for the alchemy I handle and for all alchemy, without exception. However, I subjected my body to a ritual I designed so that my body could replace them internally. By joining my hands, the transmutation circle is formed where the magic is transmitted, and I use my body as a matrix."
"I still have to work out all the 'mechanics' behind the transmutation circle within my mind and with my demonic power, but this way, it's sped up greatly," I answered honestly; there really was no reason to hide it.
"Ah, I see. From what I researched, you'd need a different circle and matrix for each transmutation, making it impractical. By doing it that way, you can use it in battle. Tattoos should be a cheap, fast, and powerful way to use that magic. From what I saw, you don't need to clap or put in extra effort to use them."
"Right on target! Impressive!" I said honestly. Ajuka smiled amusedly.
"And about the giant circle?" Ajuka asked curiously.
"Ah, that's a special form of alchemy! I call it Alkahestry, designed to utilize and manipulate environmental and world magic. Theoretically, it should be able to achieve the same results as normal alchemy, except the consumption and cost are reduced by utilizing ambient energy."
"But it also serves a much more specific purpose. By manipulating ambient magic, I'm able to manipulate it so that I'm able to transmit MY magic through ambient magic and push the effects from one circle to another." I said excitedly. Ajuka's eyes lit up.
"Distance magic! And we're not just talking dozens of meters! It could easily transmit magic and attacks from kilometers away with preliminary calculations!"
"Wait! The huge circle! The circle on your arm connects to the circle on the ground. You can manipulate everything inside it as long as they're connected. You're able to attack any point within the circle in a split second without any effort on your part! You can create a field that you're the complete master of!" Ajuka said excitedly. I grinned wildly.
"Exactly! And that's what I'll use for our 'little' project." I said, my eyes shining brightly. Ajuka's eyes widened before he burst out laughing.
"I'm really impressed, Serena! I'm looking forward to seeing the finished result!" laughed Ajuka.
" Ahem!" Sirzechs interrupted us both. We both tilted our heads and looked at Sirzechs.
""Yeah?"" we both asked at the same time. Sirzechs gave us a long-suffering look before looking around. I was still hugging Ravel as my hands roamed over every patch of bare skin on her body. Everyone else stared at us with a completely blank expression, not understanding what we were discussing. ""Ah."" we said at the same time. We got a little carried away.
"We can finally talk about how she was able to use Harpe!! That thing hurt and prevented my regeneration!!" Riser exclaimed once again.
"...I agree with my son, if you don't mind, Lord Beelzebub, we are truly curious. I'm sure you must be as well." Lord Phenex said. Ajuka looked at them and shrugged.
"I mean, not really. She already explained everything. I'm satisfied with her explanation. It's completely logical. I'm sure there are extra steps and additional things behind the exact mechanics of that magic. But I suppose she'll want to keep that part a secret. But go ahead." Ajuka said, dismissing the question. I chuckled. Of course, Ajuka wouldn't mind my Unlimited Blade Works too much.
"As Lord Beelzebub said, I've really said all I can about that magic. All I can say is that I call it Unlimited Blade Works," I said simply. "Next, the weapons I used were chosen for their usefulness. Beowulf's Hrunting is an excellent projectile, and its ability to chase down enemies is impressive."
"Rho Aias, the shield of Aias the Great, the only one capable of stopping Durindana from the great hero Hector in the Trojan War, is sublimated into a conceptual weapon designed to be an absolute defense against any thrown weapon. It is formed by seven layers, each layer possessing the defensive power of a wall... although the term wall can vary and it can be made more resistant."
" Then there is Harpe. Like I said, I chose it for the ability to inflict wounds that can only be healed through natural healing. Regeneration is really annoying to deal with." I said simply as if it were a normal thing. The Phenex wrinkled their noses.
"...Can you... give them to other people?" Lord Phenex asked slowly. Ah, I see. I looked at Sirzechs, whose eyes began to shine. I hummed softly and hugged Ravel tighter.
"You mean to ask If these can be stolen? No, I can undo any copy I want at any time. If you're asking, can I offer them freely? Then yes," I said honestly. I'd already let my Schiavos use a group of Hrunting, and I might need other people to use my weapons in the future, so there was no point in lying about that.
Lord Phenex narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth slightly. Sirzechs tried to hide his smile.
"Lord Phenex is going to want to change the contract," Lucius said mentally.
"Will there be any problem with handing over the territory to us tomorrow?" I asked simply.
"No, simply because he can't. Everything's already signed. Those territories are practically ours. He'd have to break the engagement if he wanted to avoid it. And only Ravel can do that, but she won't do it." Lucius said, oozing confidence
"Okay, then let's leave it aside until he comes to insist," I said simply.
"Lord Lucifer is calculating how much he can spend to buy you a replica of Harpe for his sister." Lucius stated the obvious.
"Yeah, that would make me look horrible to the Phenex," I said dryly. Lucius laughed lightly.
"You could always give him another weapon? A little-known one and give it to his knight, the boy with the Sword Birth, he can claim he was inspired by you to create it." Lucius said with a wicked smile.
"Ah, that's a good idea, let's say... Gáe Buidhe and his mortality curse, the spear reduces the maximum life limit. I could even change it to look like a sword." I said distractedly. Lucius nodded.
"Yeah... it could work. The curse differs from Harpe's, so they can't accuse you of anything, and Gae Buidhe and Diarmuid aren't as well-known as other weapons and heroes. They shouldn't make a connection easily." Lucius confirmed, I nodded.
"It's a shame they're inferior to their original versions," Ajuka said with a smile as he paid attention to the conversation again, I pouted in his direction.
"Do you know how difficult it is to replicate something like that?" I complained to Ajuka, who just laughed in amusement. "Even with all the passes I have to accomplish, the information I can glean from studying weapons without their original is deficient, an inferior copy." Ajuka hummed.
"If you had the original, could you replicate a perfect version?" Ajuka asked curiously.
"Of course, but it would take time." I shrugged.
"Can you replicate Sacred Gears?" Ajuka asked again, and I stood still.
"I... have no idea," I said, completely baffled. "The only thing I can't replicate reliably are... Divine Constructs. The authorities of the gods and the divine materials used in the creation of said weapons make it nearly impossible to replicate them exactly. There are... some exceptions, but almost all of them are the norm."
"I have no idea which category Sacred Gears fall into. It's something created by the Biblical God—" we all grimaced at the mention of it "—but I don't know if it's just the distribution and maintenance system that's imbued with his authority or if each and every individual Sacred Gear is as well…I'd have to see one to find out."
"I do know that replicating the Longinus of the Celestial Dragons is impossible. Most of their powers are based on the souls sealed within. It's impossible to replicate that," I said honestly. Ajuka hummed lightly.
"Interesting. I'd like to try it when you have time. But I guess we should leave this conversation for later. I think we've already monopolized too much of your time," Ajuka smiled. I sighed. Damn, it was more fun to stay and talk with Ajuka than to go through the whole group of devils again. Still, I nodded slightly.
"Then we're off," I said with a smile. I greeted the group once more with Ravel before walking with Ravel glued to my body. It was a little difficult but possible.
"This really doesn't bother you," I said in an apologetic tone of voice once we walked away. Ravel shook her head.
"No, I meant it. I… knew what I was getting into. I wasn't lying when I said that I read all the information I could find about succubi. You just took me by surprise. I wouldn't mind a little… public affection. And there won't be any devils who will actually complain." Ravel said with a smile.
"Yeah, well, Riser keeps glaring at me," I said dryly, practically feeling Riser's gaze boring into my skull. Ravel laughed lightly.
"He can sulk all he wants. It doesn't matter. He's the least likely to complain about me being groped in public. He's done worse," Ravel said mockingly, almost vengefully.
"Mmm, I'm sure he's upset about losing too." I said with a mocking smile. Ravel hummed.
"Maybe, but then again, he'll get over it. I think he'll still be bothered by the way he lost. Using Harpe is a step up from knocking him out with potions, but it's still the same thing." Ravel said mockingly. I fake gasped.
"I don't know which of my two abilities they're insulting, but that was offensive," I said with mock indignation and a smile.
"Exactly." Ravel laughed lightly. "By the way, did you have another plan if Harpe didn't work out?"
"A lot of holy water and holy weapons?" I shrugged. Ravel stopped and looked at me curiously.
"Your weapon copying ability… can you make sacred weapons?" Ravel asked. I nodded.
"Of course. As long as I've seen and studied some of them, it shouldn't be a problem. Well, besides self-harm when I use them," I said dryly. Ravel grimaced.
"...can you replicate Excalibur?" Ravel asked almost immediately.
" Gah! You just chose one of the few holy swords I can't replicate." I grumbled and pouted in her direction. Ravel laughed lightly.
"I didn't know Excalibur was... a divine construct, you said?" Ravel asked. I hummed. Mmm, that was a good question.
" Hmm, maybe not now, the original Excalibur was, but the Excalibur fragments? Maybe I can replicate them." I said lightly before putting on a muffliato. "But if we're talking about another Excalibur, one that I took from another world," I added. Ravel looked at me, surprised.
"Wait, is it okay for you to tell me that?" Ravel asked, confused. I looked at her in confusion.
"Why not? You're part of this now, Ravel. Sooner or later, you'll find out about everything. I really have nothing to hide from you, and I won't. You're going to be my wife; why would I hide anything from you." I said completely honestly. Ravel looked at me surprised before smiling. She grabbed my collar, forced me to bend down, and kissed me as she stood on her tiptoes.
"Good answer." Ravel said with a delighted smile before walking again while dragging me along. I smiled foolishly as my hands wandered dangerously close to sensitive areas. Ravel barely flinched.
"Fine, let's get on with it," I growled angrily. Once we got outside the group of Phenex and Satans, the devils practically ran in our direction. Instead of focusing on Ravel this time, they started talking directly to me. As if the previous encounter several minutes ago had never happened.
Ravel definitely noticed the difference in treatment. She still had a smile on her face and participated in the conversation at all times. But the disgust and annoyance in her eyes was easily noticeable to me.
Now we'd both have to suffer this ordeal once again.
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