The New Gate

“So, you do know them, huh? Among the materials we’re researching, there are also ones that we don’t know how to process or, like just now, ones that explode.”

“I’m sure you’re already doing this, but when testing new processing methods, you should prepare equipment with heat-resistant processing or gear that can deploy barriers. High-ranking monster materials are tough to obtain in the first place, and when you try to process them, they fight back. Seriously, I wish they’d give us a break.”

In reality, explosions were just one of the many hazards. Some materials inflicted various status effects, while others found creative ways to deal damage. Researching new material processing methods was a life-threatening endeavor.

Right now, Shin had high resistance to status effects and overwhelming defensive power, so he didn’t need to be overly cautious. However, even he couldn’t afford to be careless when experimenting with new materials.

As soon as they entered the building, they were led to a conference room.

Tables and chairs were arranged to facilitate face-to-face discussions, and six people wearing work uniforms were already seated on one side. They were probably the department heads that Kluck had mentioned.

When Shin and his group entered the room, everyone stood up.

“Welcome to the Black Faction. First, let me express my gratitude for accepting our invitation. I apologize for the setting, but please have a seat.”

The first to speak was a dwarf with black hair and black eyes. His sturdy arms and broad build were characteristic of the dwarves Shin had seen in other nations.

“Let’s start with introductions. I am Druk Yulk, the head of the weapons department. To my left, starting from the closest, is Yura Egin, head of the production department; Bordo Mar, head of the agriculture department. To my right, starting from the closest, is Budd Dakas, head of the civil engineering department; Shima Larmain, head of the marine department; and Vank Tenorg, head of the unexplored technology department.”

As Druk introduced them, Shin moved his gaze accordingly.

Yura, the head of the production department, was a woman with long brown hair tied at the back of her neck. She looked like a human in her twenties, but she could also be a Lord or a dwarf.

Bordo, the head of the agriculture department, was a classic game-style elf with blond hair and blue eyes. His well-proportioned face and long ears left no doubt about his race. His features were so refined that it was hard to tell his gender, but he was probably male.

Budd, the head of the civil engineering department, was an elderly man. From his appearance, he was likely a human or a dwarf. His short-cropped black hair and sturdy build resembled Kluck.

Shima, the head of the marine department, was probably a beastkin. Her semi-long, almost white-blue hair reminded Shin of Arno, the mermaid he had met in the ocean city of Barbatos. Since she likely operated underwater, her race was probably suited for such an environment.

Vank, the head of the unexplored technology department, was a bespectacled man in his forties with red hair. He had no particularly distinguishing features, but he was likely a human, dwarf, or Lord. His slender frame and slightly nervous expression stood out.

“Thank you for the detailed introduction. I’m Shin. And these are my companions—”

Shin then introduced his party members. Just like in other cities, the famously known Schnee was introduced under the alias “Yuki,” while Yuzuha and Kagerou concealed their true races.

It seemed that Shin’s status as a blacksmith had already been conveyed, as Druk took the lead in questioning him—asking what kind of things he crafted, the best piece he had ever made, and whether he had any technical inquiries for them. The conversation started with simple topics but gradually veered off course.

When the discussion shifted from technical challenges to magic-powered joke equipment, Druk’s expression changed.

It was like that of a child who had found something fascinating—though in his case, his expression was a bit more intense, yet still undeniably gleeful. Apparently, some aspects of magic propulsion technology had already made their way here, and they had attempted to integrate it into their equipment before.

When Shin mentioned that he had once tried flying using magic propulsion, Druk eagerly pressed him for more details, his excitement evident.

The other department heads, meanwhile, exchanged exasperated looks, as if to say, Here we go again. However, the fact that none of them immediately intervened suggested that they had indulged in similar experiments before.

“—Druk-dono. I believe that’s enough for today.”

Seeing that the conversation showed no signs of ending, Kluck interjected.

“M-Mmm… You’re right. We have prepared rooms, though they may not be as comfortable as an inn. We got carried away with our discussion, but considering the time, we can at least give a brief explanation of the accommodations. Kluck, I’ll leave that to you.”

“Understood. Everyone, please follow me.”

Leaving behind Druk and the department heads, who seemed reluctant to part ways, Shin and his group exited the hall and entered a container-like structure.

After about ten minutes, they arrived at what appeared to be a lodging facility.

It seemed to be a guest accommodation, with each person assigned their own private room.

Though the rooms were somewhat compact, they included toilets, showers, and high-quality furnishings. While the design was simple, the overall quality was comparable to a high-end inn.

Although only Shin had been formally invited, all of his party members were treated as guests.

Schnee and Tiera had extensive knowledge of plants, while Sety possessed a fair amount of production-related skills. Milt was well-versed in poisons. In this world, such knowledge and abilities held significant value.

Sety had already declared her intent to negotiate for an information exchange.

𑁋

After the group dispersed, Shin lay on his bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. It was then that Yuzuha spoke to him. She seemed to be in her “adult mode” this time.

“Something on your mind?”

“Not exactly… No, maybe so.”

After a brief hesitation, Shin voiced his thoughts.

“When I saw it from the sky, I noticed magic cannons along the outer edge of the island. What I’m wondering is whether they’re being manufactured here, or if they’re just repurposed from guild facilities.”

Weapons used for guild houses were on an entirely different level in terms of range and power compared to regular cannons that relied on gunpowder.

Ordinary cannons weren’t always effective against monsters, which was why few cities even bothered installing them. But, if these were guild house magic weapons, the situation changed drastically.

During the game era, there had been restrictions in place due to game mechanics. However, in this world, no such limitations existed. If used incorrectly, such weapons could lead to devastating consequences.

“Guild house magic weapons aren’t like normal weapons. Just being a blacksmith isn’t enough to learn how to make them. I started wondering… what if FunkyFunky infiltrated the Black Faction to steal the knowledge of how to craft those weapons?”

Any player would naturally know about magic weapons and their manufacturing techniques.

And yet, FunkyFunky had gone so far as to infiltrate the Black Faction.

“I don’t know how advanced his skills are. But considering the weapons he’s supposedly created, I don’t see why he’d need to come here to learn more.”

“So, you think he came here to investigate magic weapons?”

“I’m not certain, but that explanation makes the most sense.”

While staying within the Black Faction, Shin intended to investigate what FunkyFunky had been up to.

As he pondered how to approach the subject, he closed his eyes—only to feel his head being lifted and placed onto something soft.

“Yuzuha?”

When he opened his eyes, his vision was filled with the white fabric of a shrine maiden’s robe.

The sensation at the back of his head, the sight before him, and the gentle hand near his ear all pointed to one thing—Yuzuha, in her humanoid form, was giving him a lap pillow.

“Don’t take on too much. If it’s not a technology that’s exclusively controlled, then it’s only a matter of time before it spreads. This world has plenty of people with past knowledge, just like you. Information is everywhere. And it won’t necessarily be used for evil, right?”

“Yeah… I suppose you’re right.”

If used properly, it could serve as a defense against monsters. That much was certain. In fact, that was its intended purpose in the first place.

Shin could only hope that such technology wouldn’t be misused.

“Thanks for cheering me up. I feel a little lighter now.”

“Once in a while, I should act like a proper partner monster, right?”

She let out a soft chuckle.

Unfortunately, because of her ample chest pressing up against her shrine maiden outfit, Shin couldn’t see her expression.

Now that she was regaining her power, she had started shifting between her child and adult forms while in human shape.

Even though she hadn’t fully regained her strength, her beauty and figure were already breathtaking.

“If Schnee saw this, she’d probably be mad.”

“In that case, I’ll let her have her turn. I don’t feel like competing or fighting.”

One of Yuzuha’s swaying tails flicked against Shin’s nose.

Just as he sneezed and his head lifted slightly, she must have pulled away, because his head dropped back onto the pillow with a soft thud.

Yuzuha, now in her fox form, curled up next to his pillow as if nothing had happened.

She had said she wanted to “act like a proper partner monster,” but Shin suspected there was more to it than that.

Among intelligent monsters in this world, some were still bound by the roles they had been assigned in the game era.

Shin recalled how Yuzuha had once told him about a monster that had sparked chaos in the eastern island nation of Hinomoto.

In the game, the Element Tail had been set up as a being that tested and guided humans.

The wise advice Yuzuha sometimes gave reminded Shin of that old role.

(But from what I’ve seen, that doesn’t seem to matter anymore.)

Perhaps there had been lingering influences back when she first interfered with the ley lines.

But, after all the time they’d spent together, Shin no longer thought of Yuzuha as just a game character.

There were moments when she still felt like one, but that was merely an impression.

To him, she was now an entirely separate existence from any in-game entity.

His turning point had been when Millie, a Beast girl who had escaped an orphanage in the Bayreuth Kingdom, sought his help.

Back then, Shin still hadn’t fully grasped the nature of this world. He had met Yuzuha by sheer coincidence—or perhaps it had been fate.

(At this point, it doesn’t even matter.)

By now, Yuzuha had become an irreplaceable part of his life.

Whether their meeting had been accidental or destined, it was no longer something he cared to question.

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