"Oh... this is actually better than I first thought!" I say.

Melody nods and swishes her hair as if to say 'well duh'.

"I had several ideas with regards to the mathematical precision of ballistics and the efficiency of constructing efficient attack devices when the war first started. It is unfortunate that production of them is so low." She explains, scratching nose and puffing out her already bulging chest.

Err... ahem... It’s easy to forget this buxom girl is also a genius for her time. Scary.

Well, in any case, if there was anything worthy of the title 'super-ballista', it’s this. Melody has created a monstrosity with metal strings, precision sights, a pulley-based crank reload mechanism, and winch for drawing new bolts in from a hopper. There are probably other parts I don't understand as well, as I was never much of an artillery guru.

"Why wasn't this deployed when the demon attack occurred, Mel?" Aria asks, looking cross.

"Ah, yes, I did enquire into that..." Melody crosses her arms. "It seems that whilst I was unconscious, this was forgotten about and languished in storage. Unfortunately, the palace quartermaster died in the attack, so this decision couldn't be questioned in retrospect."

Aria still looks cross, but accepts the explanation. It’s understandable. After all, if something like this could cover a choke point, wouldn't it have bought more time for Aria's brother and father?

"Well, it will get used to cause some damage to the other side now, at least." I say.

"That is my hope, yes." Melody smiles. But there is bloodlust in her eyes too. Scary.

Then she raises her brows, and suddenly, Aria is at my side in a strangely defensive posture. Melody laughs. I feel like something just happened that I don't fully understand.

"You need to stop that, Elijah, jeez..." Aria whines.

"Uh? Stop what?" I ask.

"Hoh? I see now." Melody chuckles. "How precious."

Then she taps her cheek with her index finger, and explains "It’s quite simple, Etranger. You say what you honestly mean. And you have a remarkable talent for saying the right thing at the right time."

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

I suppose my boss used to say the same thing in the old days. Even though I was a middle-man pen-pusher, I didn't spend long in the lowest ranks.

It never worked on women for me before, though... I just usually got flagged as that 'nice/funny guy finishing last' and discarded by all but the queerest of girls.

I nod after pondering for a moment.

"Also being at the right place at the right... well... okay, maybe not. I should've been at capital to help I suppose."

"You're doing it again." Aria sighs. "If I didn't know better, I'd have thought you were trying to flirt with Mel this entire time..."

She gives me the stink-eye. I shrug and she sighs.

"It’s not the intent, I assure you. I've said before I don't fully understand it myself. And you know best of all how much I've come to fall for you." I say.

She puts her hand on my cheek and smiles bashfully.

"How cute." Melody says with a hint of annoyance.

"Eeek!" Aria jumps. Apparently, she temporarily got lost in the moment.

"You really are too easily swayed, Aria. I don't understand how you ever managed to survive so long."

"Something something super strength, I think." She grins.

Melody rolls her eyes and whispers 'muscle-head' to herself.

"In any case, next stop is the royal alchemist's workshop, yes?" She continues.

I blink.

"Y-you have one of those?" I ask.

"We do now. The market workshop was destroyed, as was its master. But his apprentice and most of the equipment was salvaged. I read the reports about you using some kind of concoction and thought it wise to research into it. Let’s go."

Aria looks gobsmacked as Melody marches off.

"Eh? This strangely hardworking Mel is really scary..." she says.

I pat her shoulder.

"I think everything changes when exposed to things like war."

She sighs, and we walk after Melody.

...

"Well, it is indeed better equipped than what I used up until now."

I mean, that’s actually a serious understatement considering I had portable glassware in an inn as the standard, with Rishya's dad's old hobbyist equipment as a highlight.

The workshop also has several guys toiling away at their own mixtures.

"I had them start on some of ingredients you provided earlier." Melody says.

It’s actually pretty strange, in retrospect, how much support I'm getting here compared to before. They basically shipped me off with nary the clothes on my back before.

Well... I also see what Melody is doing here, of course. I'm sure all these helpers will be prying into the technique I'm using.

If I was a real clever guy, I'd probably worry about the implications of being the one to deliver the knowledge of gunpowder to this world's humanity. But alas, I'm just a fool being carried along by the whims of fate.

"Well, I guess I should get started, then."

I give Aria a quick hug.

"What are you going to do?" I ask, releasing her.

"Training. Of course. I've been negligent the last few days. But I have to be at my strongest, right?" She answers.

"Isn't what you've done until now enough, Aria?"

"It's never enough, Mel." She forces a smirk. "There's always something stronger."

Melody looks briefly morose; but then nods.

I share a final look with Aria, then spin away from her.

Well. Here we go, this is it, the biggest project I've done yet.

Impromptu shells, now with blasting caps, mounted on ballista bolts, coming right up.

"Yay! Do we get to make it?" Aeris suddenly chirps in my head.

I crack my fingers.

Yes. Yes, we do.