Bab 64: Oni Mask

[Day 26]

Today I felt fine when I woke up. My back was a bit sore but besides that, I felt completely fine.

As I crawled out of bed I saw that all of my wives disappeared. Assuming that they already woke up and were going about their day, I walked to the bathing room. I asked one of the maids on the way to the bathing room to help massage my back just so I'm in peak condition today.

Today was pretty busy since I wanted to get Homura her ring while seeing if my scythe is done. I'm expecting it to not be finished as well as with both of my clothes sets since she has to figure out the structure of the things I describe.

The one thing I'm hoping to be finished by today is the mask since I'm hoping to start the venom jar today. I don't want the recruits to get used to the feeling of comfort just yet since most will be killed off.

Probably while I'm at it today, I'm going to ask Akio to make an adventurers guild. We have adventurers but they really are just hunters that acquire food for the kingdom.

Oh speaking of adventurers, I want to check on Akito since Aika said he evolved. If I had to assume what he evolved into it would probably be a high elf. That's the only logical answer but he might become a variant of an elf-like how Kumo is a Moonlight Crawler.

Shrugging my shoulders, I told the maid that the massage was enough. I left the bath where I then entered the changing room and changed into something new. It was a black slightly big long-sleeved shirt with white squares scattered throughout it. My pants were slightly baggy and were half white and half black.

"This isn't really fitting of a queen," I said out loud accidentally.

The maids that were helping me change flinched before continuing. A drop of sweat ran down most of their cheeks while the maid right next to me asked,

"D-do you not like it, my queen? We can change it if you'd like," she said.

"It's fine, this is a nice change. Perhaps I could see my kingdom through the eyes of a normal citizen like this," I say.

Hearing all the maids in the room sigh in relief, I let out a smile. Not long after I finished changing and put on all my jewelry besides the crown since I wanted to act like a citizen.

Leaving the room, I made my way to the dining room where I saw only Homura eating. I sat down next to her as the maids brought out a delicious breakfast. As we ate, I told her my plan for today.

I knew she was happy that she got to spend more time with me due to her tails wagging back and forth.

About 45 minutes passed and we left the castle. We first made our way to Aimis clothing store due to it being the closest.

"W-welcome," stutters the receptionist as she greets me.

Ignoring her, I make my way to the back room where Aimi was working. As I opened the door I saw Aimi working on my sweatshirt. The threads that came from her fingertips flowed out like silk and then were finely manipulated into the form of the sweatshirt.

The sweatshirt wasn't rushed, as the silky threads slowly intertwined themselves to create something durable and strong while keeping the soft and silky texture.

『Status』

[Name: Aimi]

[Race: Elf]

[Status: Direct Subordinate]

[Level: 48/50]

[HP: 80/80 MP: 100/100 SP: 40/40]

[Strength: 10]

[Defense: 10]

[Magic: 30]

[Speed: 25]

[Luck: 1]

[Charisma: 10]

[Skills: [Body Enhancement] [Wind Magic] [Thread Manipulation] [Concentration]

[Titles: [Direct Subordinate] [Thread Master] [Fashion Designer]

…

Seeing that she was so absorbed in her work I decided to leave her alone.

Walking back through the store I saw the receptionist bow before we left. Taking a left, we made our way towards Aisos blacksmith where I hoped the ring and mask were done.

As we walked past the usual line of customers I made my way to Aisos blacksmith which still felt like 1000 degrees. Homura didn't flinch at all once she entered due to her having [Fire Immunity].

I saw Aiso working on a scythe that I presumed to be mine due to it looking like how I described it. Every time he swung down on the heated metal, sparks flew through the room and then slowly dissipated once they hit the ground.

We were slightly entranced by the display he was showing us. We both couldn't help but stare at him working. Even though we were standing practically right next to him, it seemed like he didn't notice as I checked his status.

『Status』

[Name: Aiso]

[Race: Elf]

[Status: Direct Subordinate]

[Level: 45/50]

[HP: 80/80 MP: 100/100 SP: 40/40]

[Strength: 10]

[Defense: 10]

[Magic: 30]

[Speed: 25]

[Luck: 1]

[Charisma: 10]

[Skills: [Body Enhancement] [Wind Magic] [Concentration] [Fire Magic] [Blacksmiths Strengthen Arms]

[Equipment: [Blacksmith Gauntlets] [Blacksmiths Twin Hammers]

[Titles: [Direct Subordinate] [Master Blacksmith] [Intermediate Idea Creator]

…

He probably hasn't noticed us due to [Concentration]. This is to be expected since [Concentration] is much stronger compared to [Intense Focus].

Another minute passed by as Aiso swung down one last time with all of his strength sending thousands of tiny sparks flying throughout the room. Both I and Homura had to shield our eyes otherwise we could've gone blind from how bright the finishing blow was.

[Concentration] soon deactivated as he noticed the both of us standing right next to him.

"Ah, my queen. I am making the finishing touches with the scythe. It should be done by this afternoon if not, in the evening. I'll be sure to get somebody to deliver it to your castle once it is done," Aiso said.

The scythe was still piping hot as it glowed a bright red with a ting of orange-yellow. The handle seemed to be almost finished, but it needed a grip on it made from something like leather.

"Well, I really came for the last ring and the mask. If it isn't done then let me see it so I can see if you're using the design that I asked for," I said.

"No need my queen, I already finished both of them. I actually was able to create 9 more masks than the ones you asked for since it was so easy to make them," Aiso says before going to the backroom.

Seconds later he comes back out with 1 arm carrying 10 masks and the other, 2 rings that have a dark blue gem on top.

[Ore - Sapphire]

[A rare gem found only in the [Mountain of Twilight]. This type of gem would have been classified as a treasure, but it can also be used as a catalyst for magic making it a national treasure if big enough.]

[Equipment - Blue Ring of Twilight]

[+10 Strength (+5) (+10)]

[+10 Speed (+5) (+10)]

[+10 Magic (+5) (+10)]

[Enchants: [Haste] [Boost] [Empower] [Larger Presence] [Greater Mana Flow]

…

First, he hands me the rings which I slip onto Homura first and then myself. Homura's eyes sparkled as she saw the ring. Her tails were wagging insanely fast as she gave me a hug and kiss on the cheek.

I hugged her back and then broke free from her slowly tightening hug.

Aiso who was looking away brought his head back and handed me one of the masks. As I inspected it a grin crept onto my face by how detailed and sturdy it was.

[Equipment - Oni Mask]

[+25 Speed (+5) (+10)]

[+25 Magic (+5) (+10)]

[Enchants: [Haste] [Boost] [Blocked Mana Detection] [Greater Mana Flow] [Acute Presence]

...

The mask was just like I described it. A face mask that covers the entire face and has the design of an oni. The face was detailed with a nose and mouth that allows nothing to go through. The holes for the eyes were so tiny that you couldn't see them unless you placed your eye right in it.

The oni mask was a dark red with 2 white long tusks pointing out to the side from where the mouth is carved. 2 shorter white horns were placed on the top pointing away from each other. It really looked like an oni mask from ancient japan and I was satisfied.

The way to make it stay on your face was easy since it had a small DNA-shaped chain for you to tie around your head.

Something that surprised me was that there was one extra thing… A rope on the side of the mask. It was about 2 inches thick and dangled down the side of the mask. It looked like it was woven with different straws found in the wild, giving it the tan color.

On each end of the rope was another woven red straw that held both ends of the rope together and to the mask.

"What's the rope for?" I ask.

"Oh forgive me for doing this on my own but I thought it would be a necessary addition. Even though I have the [Master Blacksmith] title it's hard to make equipment that gives you a significant increase in stats while allowing it to be enchanted many times. Especially with these advanced enchants that Ava did the mask would've shattered.

This actually the reason it took so long to do this since I felt these enchants were necessary. I thought and thought and figured that I could add an extra piece that isn't really part of the equipment and enchant it.

I got Ava to enchant it separately and once I hammered it on, it actually fused with the equipment so this is a loophole I'm going to be using for your scythe," Aiso says with an 'I'm so good at this' grin.