Volume 8 Chapter 4 (1/2)
After leveling Tiro up, we returned to my estate.
Tiro's strength was far beyond what I expected, making me excited about the growth she would have.
That being said, her fights had shown few of her weak points.
Whenever Tiro was exited the other dimension and appeared in this one, she exhibited no velocity. That was fine when she appeared on the ground, but for when she appeared mid-air and was attacking, she first needed to accelerate herself to reach her target. And even if she could already reach her target, without any speed, her attack wouldn't have as much power.
For example, if ever she chose an acute angle in Kuina's shotgun as her exit point, she could appear suspended in mid-air, and that was the worst because she needed to land first which would cost her some time and perhaps even the attack. If someone like Kuina was the enemy, a punitive counter-attack was imminent.
I intended to discuss such things with Rorono. Hopefully, she could find a way to help Tiro accelerate even when in mid-air.
That would doubtlessly lead to Tiro becoming even stronger.
”You girls head back to the estate first. I'll go order something to be delivered there. We're gonna eat luxuriously today.”
”Yay! Looking forward to it!”
”Gaugau!”
”Patron, don't forget about the booze!”
Kuina, Tiro, and Ruhe, all seemed merry, and I was happy for it.
This was going to be Tiro's welcoming party, so going all out on the luxury was definitely the way to go.
That being said, even though I knew Kuina and the others' favorites, I had no idea for what Tiro might like.
For the meantime, let's get her some meat. She's a dog, so maybe some bone-in roasts.
◇
After ordering a home delivery service at a favorite shop of ours, I headed home.
While waiting, Rorono and I studiously watched Tiro's fights.
These footages were recorded earlier via the digital camera I produced using my [Creation].
At the moment, it was just me and Rorono in the room. In order for Rorono to concentrate more easily, the others were asked to stay in another room.
After a while, we had gone through all of the recorded fights.
”So, after watching, what do you think Tiro needs after watching how she fights, Rorono?”
”Hmm. I want to give her a way to accelerate even in mid-air, or maybe a weapon that'll demonstrate tremendous power even from up close and without any wind-up.”
”My thoughts exactly.”
As I thought, Rorono also found it troubling that whenever Tiro exited the other dimension, she had zero velocity.
”However, the restrictions this time are pretty severe. Firstly, Tiro can't use hands in battle. Secondly, she uses her speed as a weapon, so as much as possible, I don't want to give her any heavy equipment. Furthermore, her skills by themselves use a large portion of her magic power already, so I also need to avoid anything that will consume more of her magic power. It's quite troubling.”
Rorono said so and then took out her laptop computer. Seeing that she was opening and browsing through many concept notes, I guessed she was choosing which was the best for Tiro.
As she was currently, she didn't need any advice from me. It might seem she was consulting with me, but in reality, she was just voicing out her thoughts and organizing them.
I had complete faith that she would find the best possible answer. She was the world's best alchemist, after all.
”Using both gunpowder and a magic power source will provide firepower without consuming the remainder of Tiro's own magic power. A generator that used golem cores are no good because of the weight restriction. The battery made of Kuina's fur might work… It won't be much help in prolonged battles, but at least, the magic power and weight criteria has been solved.”
Rorono chattered so as both of her hands moved quickly to type in notes and make diagrams on her laptop.
”The foundation will be firearms, but because it is intended to be used from zero distance anyway, range may be safely ignored. How about shortening the gun barrel? That might lead to not enough time for combustion. Then, using only gun powder… if instead I change it to a mixture of that and mithril powder, it might work. But in the first place, does it have to be a gun? No. A pile bunker? Hmm, interesting. If the metallic stakes it shoots out can be used again, enchanting the stakes themselves might increase the performance. Put those enchanted stakes into a revolver-type weapon and have it be fired using mithril powder and explosion magic. Tiro doesn't have hands, so fastening it to her underbelly and implementing an activation method……”
Rorono was deep in her thoughts.
She did pros and cons of the ideas she had, while still entertaining other approaches.
After about 30 minutes of staring at the screen of her laptop pc, Rorono raised her head.
”Master, I've finished a draft. I'll need perhaps a week to make a prototype out of it. If Tiro is pleased with that, I estimate another week to make an improved—hopefully perfect—version.”
”Will this development process be new and all from scratch? If so, isn't a week too short to come up with a prototype? Will you be alright?”
”Mhm. Thanks to your consideration of me before, the top priority projects have been finished already. Kuina's new weapon was finished. The increased population counter-measures, the infrastructure development plans, and other basic plans have also been finished. I have entrusted the rest to the Dwarf Smiths. All the Avalon-Ritters have been repaired too. So, it's fine, you can leave this to me.”
Rorono had done that much work in such a short span of time.
She was reliable as always. I was truly proud to count her as one of my [Monsters of the Covenant].
”Sorry for the hardships I have given you, Rorono.”
”It's fine. I don't mind it. I actually enjoy them. Like with Tiro's new equipment this time. It seems like it'll be an interesting project. Look forward to it, master.”
”I will.”
Her face grew red when I brushed her head, so she tried to cover it.
A moment later, she decided to lead on me.
”Father, I think I'm a little tired, after all. Let me rest like this for a little while.”
”Rest as much as you want to.”
”Thank you.”
I answered her like that and then wrapped my arm around her shoulder.
If it meant Rorono's fatigue faded away, I didn't mind staying like that for as long as she wanted.
◇
After watching the videos and then the break Rorono had, we headed to the living room.
Upon entering the room, I noticed the large quantity of dishes lined up.
It was the home-delivered meals I ordered in the city earlier.
Kuina and Tiro, who were looking at the food, were unsurprisingly in high spirits.
”Wooaaaahhhhh, this bone-in meat is bigger than Kuina's head! And there's one for each of us!”
”Gaugau!”
Kuina was looking at the roasted spare ribs of a gigantic boar called Tyrant Boar.
The size of each one was so ridiculous, it might come off as a joke, but their flavor was the real deal. It was thoroughly cooked in a stone stove, so it was moist, juicy, and above all, delicious.
Originally, one of such was enough to feed an entire family, but due to the girls' rather big appetites, I ordered one for each girl.
”There are large shrimps too. You remembered that I said I liked them, master?”
”Yeah, you were in a daze eating them before, right? It's sautéed with chili sauce which is a popular seasoning in the south.”
The shrimps were as big as my arm. The dish was made by peeling off the shell, slicing it up, cooking it with chili sauce, and then putting it back into the peeled off shell.