“Good m, Lua.”

  “Good m.”

  As usual, I jumped into the factory in the m. And I met Lua there. But today, something was a bit different. Someone else resent, who usually wasn’t when Lua was here.

  “... so, I guess you be here at the same time as Lua, right Mia?” I asked the dy who looked like a fusion made of multiple vampire monsters.

  “Yes. It is possible now that I graded from basic to standard.” Mia firmed.

  “I also see things better.” Lua added. “Thought not a lot. The ge was bigger when your skill leveled up.”

  “Well, it is still hat both of you ow be here at the same time.” I told them. Holy, I felt a bit bad for Mia. She was basically just a processor for Lua whenever she came to the factory. … I guess I could say the same about Laura. We really don’t deserve our system supports.

  “Yes. I suppose it has its uses.” Mia agreed.

  “... so you did it?” I firmed with Laura.

  “Yes. An insuted space where time moves at the regur speed. Where the space is just like anywhere else, outside the factory. And most importantly, items from your ste be taken out and operated with. After Fantasia leveled up to level 3, it turned out quite a bit easier than we expected.” Laura told me. “We put the fe there and Kotetsu has already gotten to work. However, there are a few things of note. One, because the space follows the rules of the outside world, that includes summoning times. So the monsters only be there for two hours at a time. And they will still experience regur cooldowns, so you won’t be able to summon them during that time either.”

  “Well, of course, right?”

  “Yes. Also, Tahlia, Fantasia or I ot ehat space, as we ot get summoned like that. I doubt even you e. All we do is have the monsters summohere.”

  “’t o Queen teleport me there?”

  “That might be possible, but we will have to try that.” Laura answered.

  “Yeah. Let’s. But it’s not like I really have to ehat spad I really don’t want to be stuck there.” I told her. “So, anything we need for there?”

  “Materials. We have the silver we found while mining, and we also smelt gold and silver s for those materials. But we don’t have any iron, unless we make it with the dungeon, and that will e all of yeion points quickly.” Laura said. “Steel, iron, copper, bronze. Possibly other metals, if they are avaible. Steel and irohe most important for now, so Kotetsu and the vampires vert it into blood iron and vampiric steel. I believe it was your pn to have Rhianna’s armor turned from broo either blood iron or vampiric steel.”

  “Yeah. Sure was. What about the iron ons Paulina got from the dungeon? I do have them ie.”

  “How long do you think they will st? Not for long. We just need more. And as money is the less limited resource for us, I’d prefer if you bought some outside.” Laura said.

  “Yeah. I’ll do that. I’ll just ask where I buy steel and iron at wholesale prices. Pick up a few hundred kilos of steel and iron, if I . How badly do we actually uff like bronze and copper, actually?” I firmed.

  “It is necessary.” Laura answered. “While not for the bdes, the guards, grips and pommels of swords are often made from copper or bronze. Or other simir materials. Holy, some high quality wood wouldn’t be bad to have either. We do have the trees from the forest, but they are on the softer side, and might not work for things like sword handles.”

  “Well, more to add to the shopping list.” I said, before turning to Lua. “Do you want to e shop with me? Or should I go shopping first and pick you up after?”

  “... let’s shop together, if that is fine.” Lua said.

  “Yeah. That’s fine. I’ll have to drop by oore with Ria first, then drop her off back at the manor, and then I’ll e pick you up. Also, I know where ick up the metals we need. Well, I guess I in this case. But you ask for anything you want. I’ll pay.”

  “... then maybe some new clothes? I want something … a bit less colorful.” Lua requested.

  “Sure. We do that.” I agreed. “Even though I like what you have now.”

  After breakfast, I left the manor with Ria. We had a meeting at an armor store. After that, I would drop her off at the manor, so she could do stuff with the maids or something. And I had to do that, because of where I nning on heading with Lua.

  I ’t officially bring Ria into aown, because she isn’t deemed stable yet. Her temporary papers are only for Sawyer city. And Yuva was the best pce to pick up metal, as it is a mining town. So I was going to go shopping with her, then we would go our separate ways. She’d go back to the manor, and I would be heading over to pick up Lua.

  … don’t say it. I know what you want to say. ‘But that will break the rules, just like takio Yuva, won’t it? She isn’t allowed to walk on her own, or be separated from you.’

  Yeah. I know. And I don’t care, as I have the knight ander's permission to do so.

  … teically I don’t, but I’ve do before and he hasn't said anything, so it's fine.

  “Wele. I’ve been waiting for you.” The female dwarf, Atrea, weled us to the store.

  “Hi. Are they really ready?” I asked, as this was two days earlier than I was expeg the armors.

  “Yes, they are.” She answered. “Let’s have you try them on and if nothing is wrong, you take them with you.” As she said that, she opehe closet behind the ter and revealed two leather jackets. Well, they were actually leather armor, with metal ptes, but they looked like jackets at a quibsp;

  The white snakeskin with the red streaks in it looked wonderful. It really came out a lot better than I was expeg.

  “Don’t just stare, try it on.” She said, as she handed me my new armor.

  I tried it on and it fit perfectly. With my hoodie u, it was just a bit tight, but without, it erfect. My armor was oh rger ptes. One in the front, one in the back, two smaller ones on each side and the oo cover the outside of my arms. It wasn’t perfect, as it would lead you to be vulnerable at cle, but it was the best for le fighters, as it wasn’t as heavy as ohat covered more area, while still being able to protect the wearer from most led attacks.

  Of course Ria’s was different. Hers had smaller ptes, partially attached together and c almost every part of her upper body. But to keep the weight down, the ptes had to be thinner, making the overall prote arguably worse. But holy, the major differenes from the materials. Mithril just is that much better than Ria’s bronze. But don’t worry, I’ll turn it into vampiric steel soon.

  “Thanks. These are perfect.” I said to Atrea

  “Of course. We only make the best.” She answered. “Now for the features. Yours is ented to resist ratacks, like arrows and magic. It was also lightened, as per your request. Both of them are also naturally fire resistant, because of the crimson boa skin used for them.

  Hers is ented with extra tougho make it more durable. But still, the bronze will eventually give away, so you o keep an eye on it. It be mended, if it doesn’t break too badly. Other than that, we also added a lightening entment, so it won’t slow her down as much.”

  “Thanks. For reference, is the metal ihe part that holds the entment, or is it the boa skin? Just in case I ask someone else to make rept metal parts for her armor.” I asked. Of course that was the reason, but I also really wao know.

  “The boa hide holds the lightening entment for both of them, and the metal holds the sed entment.” Was the answer.

  In total, I paid 210 gold s for them today. And that bined with the 230 I paid earlier, the total cost for our armor was 440 gold s. A bit less thaimated, which was 462, but still expensive. … well, depends on how you cssify expensive.

  I signed off on the order form, so that the papers said I had received my armor. I then took Ria’s armor into my ste for … safe keeping, as well as the remaining snake skin and we left the store. There wasn’t much of the snake ski, but it could be used for patch jobs iure, so I was happy to have it. Not that I think I’ll o patch up my stuff as ste will keep it in perfect dition.

  And I totally didn’t take Ria’s armor so that I could upgrade it, okay? At least Ria doesn’t o know that.

  I summoned Overdrive, dropped Ria at the manates and headed for the west gate leading out of the city. Because I was going to be bringing someone in, I left the city the usual way. Aka. I actually went out from one of the gates, instead of just flying over the outer walls. After getting outside the city in Overdrive, I summoned Gradius and flew over to the vilge.

  “Hi, Lua.” I said to Lua after I nded.

  “Hello. I love the new jacket. It's from that snake skin Ria gave yht?” She ented.

  “Sure is, we just got them today.” I said. “Ria also has one. Well, it is with me at the moment, but still.”

  “Yes, I heard you got Ria one as well. … you make one for me?” She asked.

  “Sorry, but there isn’t enough. But I think we use the sword-horn bull hide for something.”

  “... I guess that will suffice. But holy, I’m kind of gd that you are wearing something more fshy like that. It will hopefully take some attention away from me.” Lua muttered.

  “Or we will get even more stares.” I ented. I guess worth noting is that Lua was dressed in her Grimson dress.

  “So, are you ready to go? Anything else you o pack, or do?” I brought us ba topic.

  “No, I already prepared yesterday, so I’m ready to go.” Lua answered. “But we should go say bye to everyone.”

  “This isn’t a farewell you know. We’ll e again the day after tomorrow to deliver blood, won’t we?”

  “Oh. Yes. I guess we will. But I still feel like we should say something.”

  “Of course. And even after we leave the vilge, we just fly back whenever we feel like it. It won’t take that long.”

  “Speaking of, I see you used the small ship today. Why?” Lua asked.

  “Because Gradius is just a bit more fun to fly than Big Core. It’s also faster, as I go supersonic with it, uh Big Core.”

  “... I see. But what is supersonic?”

  “It means flying faster than the speed of sound. If you do that, it normally causes a soni. But Gradius has ways of mitigating the sonis, whereas Big Core doesn’t.”

  “... I’m not sure if I got it, but alright.”

  “I’ll show you ter. It is easier to show you an example than trying to really expin it.” I said. “And we’ll have to go to the town of Yuva for some of the stuff I need, so I wahe faster ship.”

  “Oh, okay. The’s go say ‘see you ter’ so we leave.” Lua said.

  “Please take care of our Lua.” Rosemary said, as we were saying bye.

  “Of course. I promise.”

  “Take care.”

  “e visit us again.” The others added.

  “Yes. We will.” Lua promised everyone.

  We got into Gradius, and I took us up to the sky.

  “Wow… I had no idea it could be that fast…” Lua muttered as we nded a little over a kilometer away from the walls surrounding Yuva. I didn’t know this town, so I’m not going to fly straight in or something like that.

  “Yeah. Amazing, isn’t it?” Gradius might not be the stro in bat, but it is nearly unrivaled in mobility.

  “Yes. Usually it would take two days on a carriage to reach this town from Sawyer city, but we got here in minutes.”

  “Have you visited before?” I asked.

  “Yes. A few times. We would e here as adventurer escorts wheal icked up.”

  “I see. Well, let’s head in and see if we find our stuff.” I said, as I took Lua’s hand and began to walk towards the town.

  “... yes.” Lua said, and came after me, tightening her grip on my hand a bit.

  For the rest of the way, we talked about Lua’s unique skill. Mainly what was different with it now that it was level 2. It came with a few perks. One, she could now put only parts of her princess dresses away, like her on or mantle. She did tell me about that part earlier, as she could do it in the factory even before the skill was level 2, but now she do it outside as well. She could also mix and match her outfits now. So she could wear her bck dress and take the crimson ma with it if she wao. Her Dhampir Order and Thrall Creation are also now more powerful, so that is a nice addition.

  The one new part was Blood Familiar. It allowed her to use only blood, either her own or any other blood, to create a bat shaped familiar. She could unicate with the bats, but she couldn’t do something like vision sharing. At least not yet. Oh, and the unication is shed only. No system support voice messaging for that. But she could still make a few bats, have them scout an area aurn to her to report their findings.

  Sadly, the bats wouldn’t st for that long, and would break apart quickly. Well, depending on the blood used. Something like goblin blood bat would st only for little over 10 minutes, whereas the blood from a D-rank monster would let it stay for about 45 minutes. But that was all Lua knew for now, as she didn’t have time to experiment with the skill that much.

  “Did you walk all the way here?” The gate guard asked us as we were getting in. I hadn’t brought out the medal I got from the Earl or anything, we were just getting in as a pair of adventurers.

  “Yes.” I simply answered. I had actually e up with a lie about being on some carriage which would have kept going south, but Lua shot it down, saying that for a carriage to not stop here would be more strahan adventurers just walking.

  “Alright. Well, wele to Yuva. Do you need dires to anywhere?” He asked. I have to say, these gate guards are always extremely polite. At least in my experience.

  “Yes. We are looking for the metal wholesale store owned by the Hill family. Could you tell us where it is?” I asked.

  “Eh. Sir, that store only sells to nobles and high ranking merts. Are you sure that is where yoing?” He asked, probably looking at us as if we were two morons who were trying to get to a store we had no business getting into.

  “Yes. That is where we are going.” I said. “I do have a letter of introdu from Earl Sawyer and I also have this, so I think it will be fine.” As I said that, I revealed my Founder’s terminal that was usually hidden by my sleeve. Of course revealing it from under my new armored jacket was a bit different, but thanks to the slit added to the left sleeve, it could be done.

  “I… I apologize, Sir. Of course. It is…” The guard quickly told us which way to head, a us through.

  e on, I’m not a . You don’t o get that scared. And even if I was, I wouldn’t try to get you in trouble. You gave us first css service. Well, at least good quality service. What would I pin about?

  With my hand in Lua’s, we walked into the town.