arc2 · 080-ch80

Chapter 80: Asahi Returns

Note: Due to various circumstances, I have changed the ages of the two Indomitable members from fifty-five to sixty.

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Today is finally the day Asahi's reinforcement finishes. I've been so restless since morning that Mom told me to settle down.

To distract myself, I was checking the D-rank party request details I'd looked over yesterday when the phone sitting next to my mouse started ringing. The displayed name was Yamamoto President.

"Hello? This is Soramine! I've been waiting for your call!"

I picked up on the first ring. The benefits of leveling up show up in unexpected places...

"Hey there, Soramine-kun. Thanks for waiting. Asahi's reinforcement is done. Want to come pick it up now?"

"Of course I'll go! I'll go right now! Heading out immediately!"

I'm already shutting down my computer while having this conversation.

"Haha, I get how you feel, but Asahi isn't going anywhere, so please come carefully at your own pace"

Even through the phone, Yamamoto President could tell how frantic I was, so he was trying to be considerate, but by this point I was already grabbing my bag and putting on my shoes.

"I'll be over right away, so talk to you later!"

"Okay, I'll be waiting"

After hanging up, I jumped into the elevator and rode down to the first floor. Then I left the condo, got into one of the taxis waiting at the stand, and headed for Yamamoto Electronics.

▽▽▽

"Well well, you're fast! I'm sure you don't want to hear small talk, so let's go see Asahi right away. I want to explain some additional features too, so I'll be showing you in the factory area today"

Did the sound of the taxi arriving alert him? Yamamoto President came out of the office to greet me. So he's explaining in the factory instead of the office this time. The words "additional features" made my excitement skyrocket.

"Please do!"

I followed the president into the factory behind the office. This is where they manufacture drone bodies and drone parts. There's also a secure area for flying drones, and Asahi was placed right in the center of it.

"Whoa! Is this the new Asahi!?"

I spotted Asahi and couldn't help but rush over. The shape hadn't changed much, but the body cover and frame were all made of magic iron. Plus, there were cylindrical objects attached to the left and right sides of the body, and they had capsule-like things inside them.

"Let's start with the body itself"

As I picked up Asahi to examine it, Yamamoto President, who had walked over, began explaining.

According to Yamamoto President, the durability has more than doubled due to the generous use of magic iron. It's apparently a bit heavier because two additional units were added. He said the speed and maneuverability are somewhat affected, so I should test it out while operating it.

He also mentioned that since it's now made of magic iron, a dungeon material, it should be able to deal damage if I body-slam weaker monsters at full speed. However, he doesn't recommend this since we don't know how much damage it would deal without testing, and more importantly, there's a risk that Asahi itself would be destroyed.

Then we moved on to the explanation of the additional features.

"As you can see, I attached two additional units to Asahi. The one on the right is a capture net. There's a switch inside Asahi. When Soramine-kun operates it, a capsule launches from this turret and the net spreads out from inside"

No way!? The first auxiliary unit is a capture net!? I never would have thought of that. It's called a capture net, but it probably can't restrain things for a long time. But if a monster caught in this net is defeated by allies, I'm sure to get contribution credit!

"Next is the unit on the left. Inside this capsule is adhesive liquid. It's quite strong, so it should be able to seal a monster's movements for a little while too. For monsters smaller than the net's mesh or liquid-type monsters like slimes, this might be more effective. Also, it's useful when escaping"

Oh!? The left unit is adhesive liquid! I never would have thought of that either. Two restraint tools that I can use depending on the situation. Amazing! As expected of Yamamoto President!

"Yamamoto President, thank you so much! I'm really glad I left it to you! You've installed two amazing units I never would have come up with—I'm so grateful!"

In my excitement, I impulsively grabbed both of the president's hands and shook them back and forth enthusiastically. The president watched with a smile. This person really is the best!

"However, one thing to be careful about is that these can only fire one shot each. If you replace the capsules, you can fire them multiple times, but you can't rapid-fire, and unless you're there too, you'll have to leave the resupply to your allies"

I understood that from the structure, but the president is right—I need to be careful how I use them. I can't hit my allies, and I might need a little practice.

The president seemed to have anticipated my thinking. While I was checking Asahi's additional units, two mannequin-like things were brought into the flight area.

"Why don't you try it out with these? I want to see if they work properly, and you should probably try using them once too"

"Thank you! I'll try right away! Wake up, Asahi!"

I was so worked up that I raised my right hand and blurted out a totally chuunibyou-style line. Feeling my face turning red with embarrassment, I tried to play it off by flying Asahi around in every direction.

"Seeing it in person, you can really tell it's being operated completely freely... amazing"

Yamamoto President seemed impressed watching my operation. When someone this amazing recognizes me, it makes me happy too.

"Here goes! Capture Net!"

I focused on my target and concentrated on the right switch. The attack name was something I improvised and shouted. Asahi doesn't have a communication function, so I'll probably just be shouting in my room...

The capture net was fired with almost no delay from when I concentrated.

THWACK!

A square net that looked to be about three meters per side perfectly covered one of the mannequins. Good good, right on target!

Hearing impressed voices from around me, I moved Asahi behind the other mannequin and tried the adhesive liquid this time.

"Sticky Bomb!"

I shouted another name I'd just come up with and focused on the left switch.

SPLAT!

Yellow-green liquid was scattered all over the mannequin's head.

"Hard to believe that's your first time using it. Such accuracy. Is this what it means to control a drone at will?"

Yamamoto President murmured, not really speaking to anyone in particular. Hearing that, I felt anew how useful my skill is.

After completing the test run perfectly, I received ten spare capsules of each type from Yamamoto President. Then when I mentioned the landing pad, he said Arihara-san had already requested it, so it was being built in a corner of the premises. He's even going to set up a charging station—so attentive.

I'm supposed to properly cover the cost of this work myself. On top of that, it seems the Dungeon Agency is providing subsidy funds as well, so the president was happy that this job would be profitable. I'm always the one receiving favors, so I hope I can at least repay him a little in places like this.

"By the way, I was wondering—what happens to your summoned drone when your magic power runs out?"

"Ah, actually I tested this before going to sleep, but when my MP runs out, Hayate disappears. Asahi's connection cuts off too. It seems like without magic power, I just become an ordinary person. Oh, but the stored items stay as they are"

I told Yamamoto President the results of my test. I do this so I can get good advice from him.

"I see, so even when Asahi loses power, Hayate disappears, right. Managing your magic power seems pretty important for you. It's a bit pricey, but you should carry mana potions with you. Of course, drink them before you hit zero"

Hmm, I see, mana potions. I don't have those. I should go buy some sometime.

In the end, we left the factory right after that. I actually wanted to talk to the president more, but because of this development work, their regular operations were apparently running behind schedule, and I was forced to give up when I came face to face with a grim-faced Sasaki-san.

Well, I had a packed schedule afterward anyway, so maybe it worked out. Also, I decided to leave Asahi here for a while. The landing pad would be ready soon, so the president happily accepted. This should reduce the worry about my identity being exposed a bit too.

I thanked Yamamoto President and everyone again, then left Yamamoto Electronics.