“All Systems online. How are you feeling Peppers?” Ayse, who was making the final adjustments on her portable console, checked on her friend.
“I feel disgusted with this metal vest attached to me. Not to mention all these wires that are protruding around the vest itself. I feel like I am some prisoner!” Peppers screeched as she shook the vest around because of how stuffy the vest was becoming.
“Hey, at least you are able to move about despite your ‘prisoner’ status, I am ordered by Master to stay put. Floating. Hovering. Not to move unless ordered to. I am the one that should be called prisoner!” Mr Derpy argued back right beneath them, and Ayse’s pieces of machinery shook as he moved his mouth.
“Do not talk! Whenever you move your mouth, your entire body vibrates as well! My equipment is sensitive to such movement! You do not want things exploding on top of you, right? So, stay still! Please!” Ayse ran to hold on to her equipment in case they were toppled over.
Mr Derpy sighed wearily as he rolled his eyes backwards and fell into a state of deep hibernation before abiding by Ayse’s requests to remain motionlessly.
For once, Mr Derpy obliged the request of his master.
Similar to a deal with the devil, the replica of Lord Dagen was promised to an all you can eat buffet of the fattest Porkcupines by Jin. Requirements? To act as a floating platform for Ayse’s equipment.
Mr Derpy accepted it in a jiffy since it was his opportunity to get out of his home instance and breathe in some fresh air. It was better to be doing something rather than be stuck in the Sanctum of Worlds doing nothing. Upon seeing his underlings working hectically for the Farming World and Goblin World’s finances, Mr Derpy also wished to contribute to his master.
In addition, Shadow Dagen had been feeling restless ever since he heard the announcement of the new Open Dungeon Instance during the Christmas Feast. The notion of lurking freely and swimming under the ocean once more was so enticing that he was willing to do anything to get it as soon as possible. Jin never knew that Mr Derpy had such desires for the Open Dungeon Instance until the Deep Ones reported their concerns to him.
Although a portion of Jin’s minions were already moving their belongings to the new island home instances, Jin had yet to transfer the Deep One Home Instance to the new Open Dungeon instance. This was mainly because he needed the upgrade from the Mechanical Titan before he was able to kickstart the Open Dungeon’s ecosystem up.
Furthermore, it was meant to be a long term endeavour, and Jin did not want to screw the open dungeon instance by hastening the process unless he knew that it was working as intended.
Despite Shadow Dagen’s insistence of his master to grant his wish, he was surprisingly cooperative to ensure that such a reality would come true earlier. But as a fragment of the almighty Fish God Dagen, he too had his pride and always acted unwillingly even though his intentions were obvious even for Jin.
“Okay, the readings from the machines are good…- HEY! Why did you take the vest out?!” Ayse shouted at Peppers who was frantically plugging out the wires from the vest and removing it.
“I do not need to wear this stupid thing! It’s cramping my style as the infamous Demonic Queen Sage!!” Peppers said as she threw the vest back to Ayse.
“But according to my analysis, you will not be able to do more than two Legendary Grade Scan Spells of this scale and do I have to mention the necessity to fire off those explosions spells whenever needed? Don’t be a spoiled girl now and wear the vest!” Ayse scolded Peppers, but instead of listening, the Mage Bellator aimed her staff towards the Orc Head Researcher.
“I am not as weak as you think I am.” Pepper threatened to blow Ayse off the floating platform if she was being forced to wear the experimental vest once more. However, before Peppers could even cast her spells via her wooden staff, a large raven swoop right in front of her face. It scared her momentarily, allowing the other raven to forcefully grab the staff away from her.
“As much as I like to believe you, we cannot risk failing the whole operation when other lives are at stake.” Que Er suddenly appeared onto the platform and intervened between them.
“So, be a good girl now and wear the vest. In return, I’ll get Zhi Nu to make you a new combat outfit which should increase your magical powers.” Que Er smiled as she swung the staff skilfully like a rhythmic gymnast before returning it to Peppers.
“Heh! You won’t be able to create a good outfit without my analytical data!” Ayse wanted a comeback from the conversation since losing was not really her style. (Especially when she should be the one understanding Peppers’ attitude.)
Regardless, she was secretly thankful that Que Er was able to coerce some sense into the stubborn Peppers.
Being the older one between the three of them, Que Er took a step back and agreed to Ayse’s argument. “Then, I shall see Zhi Nu consult your data before she starts creating Peppers new outfit.” Que Er said as she absorbed the beautiful scenery around her. After all, the view from Mr Derpy was indeed breathtaking.
“Fly now, my birds. Take this portion of the sky as your playground.” Que Er said as she used Muninn and Huginn to open a purplish portal right in front of her. A murder of crows continuously flew out of the portal, making it looked like a swarm of bees from afar before they were spread out into the open.
While Ayse was fixing back the experimental vest onto Peppers, the little mage Bellator realised that there was something different with the wooden staff when Que Er returned it to her. She then noticed that there were minor bird emblems meekly glowing in blue on her staff’s shaft.
Peppers then remembered that Que Er was a manipulator of the magical arts as well. Those minor bird emblems could potentially offload the burden she might incur from the continuous casting of spells.
Thus, the Mage Bellator comprehended that what Que Er said was truly sincere. The Magpie Queen really wanted this operation to go well for some reason even though Peppers did not really know her intentions, nor did she wish to find out more.
Because to the Demonic Sage Queen, her only concern right now was that this particular task that would definitely hurt her.
Physically and mentally.
