Matter Forging… a Unique Skill?
The words thundered through his mind, each one reshaping the boundaries of what he could do. Copying had been powerful—but this combination of mana and matter? This was true limitless.
A slow, sharp grin curved his mouth. The game just changed.
"Piers-sama!"
Luci's voice cut through his thoughts like a blade. She was staring toward the goblin bay, one arm outstretched.
"They're retreating! Look!"
He blinked, snapped back to the now, and followed her gesture.
Below, the Swarm that had been clawing its way upward moments ago was in chaos — green bodies scrambling down the walls, slipping over one another in frantic retreat. The feral hunger was gone from their eyes, replaced by something far sweeter: fear.
A low chuckle rumbled up from Piers's chest.
Mutou stepped closer, his tone calm, tinged with respect.
"What are your orders, Young Master?"
Piers glanced around. Liel leaned heavily against the stone, sweat plastering her hair, hands trembling faintly even as she tried to stand straight. Battle's heat faded, leaving only exhaustion.
"Rest for now," he said, voice steady.
"We've earned it."
Her shoulders sagged with relief, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
A small, knowing smile curved Piers's lips as he glanced at the two battle-worn figures.
"Girls," he said to Liel and Luci,
"Come with me. I've made something for you."
They traded a puzzled look — curiosity flickering in their tired eyes — and followed. Their footsteps echoed against the crystal floor as Lein and Gyuunyuu darted ahead, giggling they already knew the secret.
When Liel and Luci stepped into the new chamber, they were stunned.
A massive bed of woven giant leaves sprawled across the center, thick and springy, its surface inviting them to sink in forever. The floor beneath shimmered softly — smooth white crystal that gave off a gentle warmth underfoot. In one corner, a strange device showed bright, moving images, casting playful colors on the walls — the "TV" Lein and Gyuunyuu had been glued to earlier.
"This is not all," Piers said, his smirk widening as he led them farther in.
They turned the corner — and stopped again.
A large, elegant tub waited there, carved from black crystal with subtle floral etchings along its rim. Steam curled lazily from the crystal-clear water already filling it, carrying a faint, sweet scent that drifted through the cavern.
Liel tilted her head, brow furrowing.
"Piers-sama… what is this for?"
Luci brushed her fingertips along the tub's edge, almost wary.
"And… how exactly do you use it?"
Piers folded his arms, voice calm but amused.
"It's called a bath. You get in. The hot water will wash away the aches—think of it as a reward for working so hard.
They blinked at him, then exchanged a look.Both nodded.
Before he could react, clothes rustled, water splashed, and they were already in the bath.
Piers jolted, face heating, spinning so fast a swirl of dust jumped at his feet.
…Okay. Definitely did not think this through.
Behind him came two very different sighs:
"Ahhh…" Liel melted into the water, eyes closing in pure bliss.
"This… this is the best thing I've ever felt."
"My exhaustion is already gone," Luci murmured, the steel in her tone softening.
"Thank you, Piers-sama."
He nodded, satisfied.
"Enjoy yourselves," he said, already striding toward the gate.
But then—water rippled as Luci stood, rising from the tub with her usual commanding presence.
"Piers-sama. Join us." Her voice left no room for argument.
"It's relaxing. You've been working hard too."
Liel's cheeks pinked, tone sweet and coaxing.
"Yes, please, Piers-sama," she added, tilting her head in that gentle way that could disarm an ogre.
Piers didn't slow down.
"Nope." One word. Flat. Final. He kept walking.
Luci's pout was instant; Liel peeked over the water's edge, eyes warm and adoring, blinking slowly like memorizing the moment.
Meanwhile, behind a jagged stalagmite, Mutou and Lein crouched like guilty schoolboys, eyes wide, straining to see without being caught. Their faces were a perfect mix of curiosity and badly hidden mischief.
Floating boldly in front of them was Gyuunyuu—arms crossed, tiny bottle-body squared like a miniature bouncer. She hovered right between their line of sight and the bath, blocking as much view as her size allowed.
"You two! Honestly!"
She hissed, scandal dripping from her voice.
"Have you no shame?!"
Both men shook their heads in unison, utterly unapologetic.
Gyuunyuu sputtered wordless outrage as they craned around her.
A short while later, Mutou and Lein were sporting fresh, visible bumps on their temples.
Piers, mildly exasperated, addressed them:
"Go bathe. And rest."
Thog, on the side, had a comically large sweatdrop sliding down his temple—the universal sign for "this group is too much for me."
Eventually, Mutou, Thog, Piers, and Lein eased themselves into the bath. Warm water melted muscle aches, leaving soft sounds of quiet sighs and dripping water.
Then—GROOOWL.
Lein's stomach broke the peace like a war drum.
"I'm hungry…"
he whined, clutching his belly, face scrunching in misery.
Mutou, calm as ever, turned to Piers.
"Young Master, what shall we do about food?"
Piers leaned back against the tub's edge, eyes narrowing in thought.
A quiet, deliberate pause. He weighed something he didn't entirely like.
I have… one solution left. Not ideal… and something I should discuss first.
"Once we're all done here," he said aloud,
"We'll gather and I'll explain."
Mutou dipped his head. "Very well, Young Master."
Not long after, freshly bathed and wrapped in dry rags, they regrouped near the crystal-floored chamber.
All eyes turned to Piers, waiting.
They watched as Piers tried—and failed—to reach the absurdly high leaf-bed. His jumps were… tragically pathetic.
"Master, let me help!"
Gyuunyuu chirped eagerly.
Before he could argue, she zipped under him, giving a surprisingly strong boost—Boing!
He landed like a dropped potato, pose… not exactly heroic, but sold with a smug flourish.
The others clapped.
Some were genuinely impressed.
Others were definitely laughing at him behind their hands.
Piers cleared his throat, letting the moment settle before his expression turned serious.
"We have a problem," he declared. That alone was enough to draw everyone's focus.
"The food situation. And the only solution…"
He paused, milking the suspense.
"…is to eat what we have."
The crew leaned forward, murmurs spreading—curiosity mixed with uncertainty.
Then, with a subtle nod from Piers, Thog stepped forward… and presented his "offering."
A dead goblin.
The reaction was instant. Liel, Luci, and Lein recoiled in perfect unison.
"Eeeew!" they cried, faces scrunching in synchronized horror.
Only Mutou and Thog stayed impassive — like they'd seen and eaten worse.
Gyuunyuu crossed her tiny arms, hovering above the "meal."
"Well?" she shot back, flat as stone.
"You wanna live or not?"
Her tone brooked no argument.
Liel, Luci, and Lein exchanged queasy glances—their protests drowned by hunger.
Food. Any food. Their bellies screamed: eat or die.
They shared one last desperate look… and grimly nodded.
Piers watched them, his expression a mix of empathy and that unspoken yeah, this sucks, but we're doing it.
"Alright," he sighed, "let me help."
Liel wrinkled her nose, voice small but hopeful.
"Piers-sama… Do you, by any chance, have anything else we could eat?"
He shut his eyes, mental shrug.
"Nope. Seriously, this is all we've got."
Luci's voice cracked with desperation.
"Then… will you at least cook this… dead goblin?"
Same expression. Same flat delivery.
"Nope." Too much effort, not worth it.
Lien threw his arms wide.
"Then what, Master?! Are you seriously going down there to catch something else for food?"
No blink. No smile. Just a deadpan,
"Nope."
The three of them groaned in perfect, unified disgust.
"Then what are you going to do?!"
A small, knowing smile finally curved Piers's lips. "Just watch."
He pointed at the goblin corpse.
"Thog — tear that into seven roughly equal pieces."
Thog dipped his head and began the grisly work. Trio faces cycled through a whole gallery of disgust:
Eww.
Ugh.
Oh gods, I'm gonna hurl.
And finally, the thousand-yard stare of someone trying to mentally delete what they'd just seen.
A minute later, the "preparation" was done… and the smell hit them.
Piers took a steady breath, that new, dangerous glint in his eyes.
Alright… this is it. Let's see what you can really do.
He lifted his hand.
"Unique skill: Matter Forging."
Golden light flared, warm and sharp like molten sunlight, flooding seven grisly goblin chunks.
When the glow faded—no gore, no bones. Just seven steaming plates of plump, green-speckled balls.
Lein blinked.
"Uh… master what are these?"
Piers's lips curved faintly.
"Probably… takoyaki."
Lein's face went blank.
"…Tako… what-y?"
He looked at the plate like it might explain itself.
Gyuunyuu froze midair. Nose twitched. Then—zip—she was over a plate, inhaling like her life depended on it.
"Maaaster… this smells amazing!"
Before anyone could stop her, she bit into one. Her eyes went wide. Every muscle locked.
Midair. Motionless. Silent.
Liel's hands flew to her mouth.
"Oh no… Gyuunyuu…! I—I should've stopped her..."
Luci's eyes widened, then softened in slow acceptance.
She gently closed Gyuunyuu's tiny eyelids.
"…She was too pure for this world," she whispered, solemn as a priest at a funeral.
A hush fell over them. Even Lein looked rattled.
Piers stared, a muscle twitching in his cheek. …Do they really need to be this dramatic over takoyaki?
…Chew.
…Chew.
Then—
Gyuunyuu jolted upright like someone lit a fire under her. She buzzed at hyperspeed, clutching takoyaki like divine treasure.
"OOO-WOWW!" squealed, mouthful muffled bliss.
"This is INCREDIBLE!"
Luci froze mid-tragic pose, blinking. Liel blinked.
"…Oh," Luci muttered flatly, retracting her finger. "Never mind."
The trio stared like she'd swallowed poison.
Then the smell hit again
Rich, savory, impossible to ignore.
Stomachs growled in humiliating unison.
Finally, Lien—shoulders squared, jaw tight, like heading to execution—muted,
"Fine… let's just do this."
He shut his eyes, popped one ball in his mouth.
He chewed.
"Mmmphh-hhhmmm…" Flat as a dead rat.
Gulp.
A pause. One… two… three seconds.
Everyone leaned in, holding their breath.
Then—BAM.
Eyes shot wide, tongue coiled like a spring, face warped between horror and ecstasy.
Liel jumped, clutching chest.
"Wha—?! Don't do that!"
he kept chewing, eyes squeezed shut as if unlocking some deep, forbidden truth.
Gulp.
Then, with his mouth still half-full, he mumbled thickly between bites,
"Master—mmph—wow! I can't believe—nom, nom—this goblin. It's… yummy-dum-dum… soo good!"
Already reaching for a second, bliss written all over his face.
Piers's brow twitched.
"Eat first, Lien. Then talk."
Watching him, Luci's hand inched forward toward the plate—then froze midair.
Her crimson eyes flicked to Piers's face.
If I don't eat… Piers-sama might not even notice me…
Her jaw tightened, the thought setting her heart hammering.
I have to do it. For my beloved.
Resolve solidified. She lifted a green-speckled, highly suspicious ball, fingers trembling slightly.
Slowly—almost ceremonially—she lifted it to her lips.
One bite. Then another.
Eyes softened, cheeks flushed pink, puffing slightly, savoring each molecule.
By the second bite, lids drooped into half-moons of bliss, corners curled in a smug little smile.
She looked like someone personally blessed by the food gods.
"This is… wow," she murmured, dreamy. "I never thought I'd say this but… thank you, Piers-sama."
Lien and Liel stared, half impressed, half concerned she might ascend.
Thog polished his plate with surprising delicacy, bowing deep toward Piers—comical for someone built like a walking fortress.
Mutou hadn't touched his serving, but noticed hunger smoldering in Thog's eyes. Without a word, he slid the plate across.
The big man froze half a heartbeat, then let out a rumble—thick respect. Dug in quietly.
For a moment, Mutou simply watched. His flame dimmed to a softer glow.
"It would seem you had the greater need."
Piers watched, chewing slowly.
Well… even if it's goblin, it doesn't actually taste half bad.
He popped another takoyaki into his mouth, deliberately ignoring the mental slideshow of green-skinned corpses.
Just… block out the whole 'once alive, grotesque' part. Focus on the flavor. Easy.
He leaned back, chewing slowly, and let his thoughts drift to his skill.
Huh. Well it's working exactly the same as before. So the upgrade didn't actually do anything functional, just changed the name. Matter Forging... Modal Maker... whatever.
Now that everyone had finished eating except Liel, all eyes turned to her. A heavy silence settled over the cavern, their collective stares bearing down like a physical weight.
Liel's lips tightened. stubbornness flaring brighter with every second of silence.
Finally, sharp, reluctant surrender:
"Aghh—fine! I'll eat."
With a grimace, Avoiding their eyes, she snatched up her skewer and bit down with the air of a martyr walking to execution.
The reaction was instant, savory filling hit her tongue, her whole face crumpled.
Tears welled up, spilling down her cheeks. A tiny, broken sob slipped out. Between gulps and gasps, she blurted,
"It's… it's so good—hic—how can something so awful taste this amazing?!"
Everyone chuckled softly at her melodrama.
"You okay there, Liel?" Piers asked with a small, teasing smile.
Gyuunyuu floated over and patted Liel's trembling head with all the gravity of a priest blessing a mourner.
"Don't worry. It's a common reaction to Master's cooking."
That earned a round of quiet laughter — not mocking, but warm, tired, shared.
As the last echoes faded and the cavern grew still again, drowsiness settled over the group like a blanket. One by one, exhaustion finally claimed them.
…But beyond the cavern walls, the labyrinth did not sleep.
* * *