After playing around with the gun until the sun is nearing the horizon, I look down at it a moment thinking about making a strap to sling it across my back. Then I walk back around the building to the Workshop's door. Only to stumble across Granzine and Marel, both of whom look rather peeved about something. I raise my right hand, leaving the left to hold the gun. "Hi. Lovely evening isn't it?" Then my right hand returns to the gun, which I keep parallel to them.

Granzine tugs at his beard, muttering something under his breath before clearing his throat and speaking up. "Alright I'll just get on with it. What in Wraith's own hell was that noise?! It was like cannon fire, but higher pitched!" Oops. Guess it did sound louder than I expected it to.

Marel cuts in before I can say anything. "I know you were interested in Black Powder, but I didn't expect you to start firing a cannon near the town!" Why do I feel like a kid caught by both parents with my hand in the cookie jar? "Honestly! . . What are you holding?" He adjusts his glasses and takes a closer look at the weapon in my hands.

"It's a gun! Sorta like a handheld cannon. Also the powder in it was kept really fine, and mixed with magic dust to make it even more potent." I scratch the side of my head awkwardly. "And, I didn't put much thought towards the noise. I'll try to make something to muffle the noise. Though I'm not certain how exactly that'll work." Silencers always looked kinda plain. How do they work? Are they just more open on the inside than the barrel?

"I see, so thats what you had in mind. Adding magic dust to it is especially crazy. A normal cannon would break after a few shots like that! Next time you come up with something that ridiculous, please run it by somebody with a little common sense before trying it out." Marel interlaces his fingers and cracks his knuckles. "That aside, I am interested to know how well it works for you. Things like crossbows and cannons are known to not have their damage scale with the user's level and status."

"Eeh? That, might explain why no one came up with guns before?" My gaze falls to the gun in my hands. "Not much point in a smaller version of a siege weapon if it won't do as much damage huh? Still, it has its own status and levels, so it should get stronger just fine. Plus I got an advanced weapon skill by making it." Huh. I didn't check what that does though did I?

I bring up my status, then use Deep Scan on the Marksman skill. [Marksman: A long range combat skill that uses guns and specializes in accuracy and armor penetration. Level 1: Sure Aim: Accuracy boost on target, Hobble: Deal bonus damage on limbs used for locomotion] Oh, it lists the abilities the skill grants? I'll have to check other skills too. Of course, I immediately check my other weapon skill. [Weapon: Sword: Basic swordplay ability. Level 1: Cleave: Vitality assisted heavy blow. Level 2: Quickdraw: Speed focused slash from the hip. Level 3: Critical Thrust: A lunging attack aimed at a vital point]

"Well, if nothing else I can just make better guns, or ammo. Maybe even make some improvements to the powder. Hopefully Spirit Arms can handle the strain of stronger propellant. Or, I could make a gun of stronger material? Mmmm."

"Right. . . And when are you going to make those lights you talked about?" Marel apparently isn't gonna let that idea wait for long. But the research for the Electrical Storage Component and the Solar Power Converter are at least done. So I just need the right supplies.

"I need materials for that. Tungsten and copper I think? I might be able to use some other metals, but I'd have to test them out whereas I'm pretty sure I can make what I need from those. And glass. Well, quality sand to melt into glass. The sand in the dungeon worked for Automaton eyes, so that should be fine for what I need."

"Why didn't you say that then? We could have already sent out an order for the metals if you'd mentioned it before. And, at this point we'll have to wait till morning, since Arrowflits have poor night vision." Marel rubs the bridge of his nose, then shakes his head. "Fine fine. No need to hurry I suppose." He starts walking away then waves. "Don't fire that thing at night, and try to go further away from the town next time."

Granzine looks after him a moment, then back to me. "Well, uh. See you later kiddo." Then he jogs after Marel, slowing to a walk when he catches up, then they seem to start in on a new conversation, though they're speaking quietly enough that I don't overhear it from here.

"That could have gone worse." I turn around and head into the workshop. Just in time to find Goibniu finishing up another gun. It looks like they went with the idea of making more connectable parts. Otherwise the design is much the same as the first one. "Some progress already huh? Weeeeeell, I've got something else I want to work on. And I could use your help. Sorry for dragging you away when you just got started, but I can at least tell you some more information that I'm less certain of how to implement for guns while we work."

"If you've got more ideas, I'll work them out. So, what do you have in mind?" Ahhh, such a reasonable and amiable fellow. I nod, then take two of the Goblin Prime type Automatons out of my storage, place magic stones in them, specifically ones from the Kobolds I fought when going to the forest, the one with the Martial Arts and Dodge skills, and the one with Claw Arts and Slow Regeneration. Then I snag Soul Fragments from my Siphon and place them into the pair.

Once the pair finish animating I take off my basket and empty it out before putting it on one of the new Blanks. "Alright, to start with, we need a lot of materials, I'll start in on the stuff I can make with mana, you take these two and bring everything the others have collected here. That'll probably take a few trips, but I should be ready to go by the time you're done." They nod then wave to the other two as they walk away. The Blanks follow after them obediently.

I turn to the back of the room and approach the Gem Binder, I pour twice as many gems as used for a normal brain into it, along with a Soul Jet to make it a Tier Two item. Once I'm done putting that together I move on to the Heart spinner. "Alright, we've got some work to do, you and I." I chuckle and place my hands on the panel. I start pouring mana into it to whip up an Automaton's Heart, but even after it would normally be done, I keep it running.

Once it's around three or four times the normal size I finally stop. "That should be plenty for a test, I think." I set the giant Heart and giant Brain aside, then remove the Star Obsidian. I quickly fashion a strap for my gun, set it aside, and start printing out large pieces of synthetic muscle.

When Goibniu and the Blanks finish their task I set the muscles aside. "Getting kind of dark, but I have an idea for a light we can use." I stop and think for a minute or so, then draw out a large portion of my mana and split it into two parts. The first I convert to Wind Mana and disperse into the air in a sphere overhead, and the second into Fire Mana in a focused point at the center of the Wind Mana.

"O Wind hear my call, condense oxygen and isolate it from other gasses. O Fire hear my call, consume the oxygen and burn bright. Luminous Combustion!" An intense blue flame erupts overhead, casting light throughout the room. [Fire Magic 1›2] "And, for a little staying power, a soul fragment!" I grab a fragment from my Siphon and throw it up into the fireball.

The soul sinks into the flame, causing it to flare even brighter, then, a moment later the fire, emerges from itself? Or rather, it is more like the original blaze was an egg and a new shape is growing beyond it? It takes the shape of a vague quadrupedal creature. Short and squat, kind of long. I suppose, it's like a small lizard? It keeps floating in the air where it was born. Scan.

"Ohhhh, Lesser Combustion Elemental? If I had only used Fire Magic, would it have been a Lesser Fire Elemental instead?" Having already used half of my current stock of Soul Fragments, I decide not to test that out just now. "Ah well. Looks like it's bright enough either way. So for now, lets move on to what I'm really intending to make." 

I turn to face Goibniu. "You know how to reproduce the body I'm using now right? We're gonna scale it up." With that, I get to work making the parts. "For now I'll make the pieces, you watch and assemble them. Feel free to put it together in a supine pose that'll probably be easier to accomplish than constructing it upright."

"How much bigger are we talking here?" Despite the question they are quick to bring materials over as I need them.

"Ahh ha~ You'll see soon enough. Or, you'll work it out by looking at the bones of the project." They don't catch on from the foot parts or the tibia, but their eyes start to go a little wide when I make a femur almost as tall as I am. As more of the skeleton comes together the scale of our creation starts to dawn on them quite clearly.

Once the skeleton is complete, I help attach the synthetic muscles to it, as well as printing out more when needed. During that process Crimson enters the building, their companions following just behind and hauling a goblin with a mechanical right leg. When Crimson spots the giant skeleton they run over. "I'll need a lot of mana threads to make clothes for them."

"I'm not planning to animate this. I will probably try it out myself, but I don't expect it to be very practical yet. Besides, this is more of a mid-point for something else I want to make." I look it over, considering all the things I already know I'll need. "Definitely needs to be bigger, like ten meters at least. Hopefully twenty. Plus we'll need a cockpit and some kind of control mechanism so we don't have to change bodies, just climb in. And we'll need to incorporate weapons." The other two bring the goblin over at a more reasonable pace. "For now though, I suppose it's a fine time for a quick break to look at that."

Having left the floor in the workshop as bare dirt, there's little reason to care about the goblin's blood making a mess. So when they set it down I get right to it. I grab hold of the mechanical leg with my right hand, and hold the body down with my left. Then I simply, tear the leg away from the bulk of the goblin.

The first thing I notice, is what looks like thin red threads burrowed into what is left of the goblin's natural leg. They don't seem like mana threads, not even ones made from Fire Mana. They look almost like sutures made of blood. Most of them are short, likely just there to anchor the replacement limb. But several of them are much longer. Some kind of nerve connection maybe?

Scan just shows the goblin's status, even after the leg is separated. I decide to continue by stabbing the point of my sword into the leg, and prying it open for a better look. Overall, the design on the inside is much the same as the Musculoskeletal system I'm using, but with synthetic muscles comprised of the odd red material.

"Uuuee? If all the parts the dungeon is spawning as loot are like this, we might not be able to use them quite so easily." I prod at the red muscle, pouring a bit of mana into it in an attempt to move it. Unsurprisingly, it doesn't react to the mana at all. I shrug, then pick up the leg and set it on one of the workbenches. "I'll look into that more later. For now, I've got a big bot to make."

Crimson makes a gesture I don't know to their partners, a backhand swipe with two fingers held up, then points to the goblin. The two of them nod, then carry the corpse away. I watch after a moment, then look over to Crimson with my head tilted slightly. They shrug and tap their Assassin's kit. I take it that that is something they learned from their Assassin friend in the guild.

I turn my attention back to my latest work. "Alright, I'll finish up the Muscles. Goibniu, could you make the armor plates?" They nod and head for the forge while I get back to printing out and connecting the synthetic muscles to the skeleton.

By the time the first light of dawn touches the roof of the workshop, the giant body is completed. I scan it to see the stat adjustments. [Custom Automaton: Defense +60, Attack +40, Strength ×3, Vitality ×2, Agility ÷2, Wisdom +20%: A handmade Automaton body of great size that draws clear inspiration from organic life] "That is a huge difference. Sucks that it cuts Agility, but I guess that makes sense. Either way, might as well test it out." I sit down leaning against a wall then stand up and out of my current body.

I approach the massive form and just step into the center. I sink down into the body, it takes me a bit to reorient myself. {Body saved as Custom Automaton 002} I carefully sit up, Goibniu, Crimson, Patch, Mend, and the two nameless Automatons who were working with Crimson watch on. I place one hand on the ground and roll over, then set the other down as well to push myself up. Once I'm standing the room doesn't seem quite so over sized, though there is still plenty of space.

I am about sixteen feet tall, made primarily of magic iron, giving me a dark gold coloration overall, with sheer black eyes, and just for a bit of fun, a pair of oni like horns and broadly grinning fanged mouth. The horns and fangs are coated in water iron, giving them a vivid blue color.

I didn't bother to give this giant body a voice box, so I don't say anything as I go for a walk around the room. After completing a full lap at a relaxed pace I check my status. Specifically looking at my SP. It's at 245/260. Which is, unfortunate, to say the least. A casual walk burned through fifteen points? Well, more than that really, gotta account for the recovery rate too. Suppose I'll need to add batteries to it if I want to use it at all.

I lay back down and emerge from the giant body. Funnily enough, my spiritual form seems to have thinned out even more to fill out the size of the larger body. I shrug it off then approach my main body, reaching a hand down to it and pouring myself into it.

"Whoa, that thing is a ride. Didn't really do anything with its strength, but I bet it'll be great in a fight. As long as I don't need to be fast." I stand up, and decide to go ahead and make some Electrical Storage Components for it. "Alright, lets start with one ESC, to see how big they are." {Use Star Obsidian to produce Electrical Storage Component(Y/N)} "What does that? . . It decided to make batteries with crystallized magic instead of metal and acid? Or Lithium? Which, I guess we don't have any of that stuff. Does my skill's research function only account for things we already have access to? Would that mean more options as we find more varied materials? Mmm. Anyway, go ahead. Gotta see what they're like."

I jolt into motion and retrieve the Star Obsidian rod. My skill starts exuding mana in two types. Wind and Water. It's coiling the two attributes as a dense bundle of almost wire like threads with the two running in parallel. The bundle seems much denser and less malleable than a heart. It eventually finishes with Wind and Water, and switches over to Earth. The Earth mana condenses into a hard, plastic like shell covering the bundle. Though there are a pair of the Wind and Water wires sticking out of the top at the center of one end. All told, it's about the size of a soda can.

"Ah huh. And how much energy can it store?" When I regain control of my body, I turn the strange thing over in my hands a couple times. "Lets, go ahead and make four more now." I set the first one aside, then instead of leaving it to the skill, I go ahead and do it myself since it seemed so simple. Once I finish with that I hold up the Rod and ponder. "Probably need this for the Solar Power Converter too huh?"

{Use Star Obsidian to produce Solar Power Converter(Y/N)}

I make a noise like a scoff, then simply nod in response. My skill takes control again, once more it starts with Wind and Water. They're still created in a wire like state, though this time they are laid out in a sheet. Then instead of Earth, it uses Dark Mana for the outside of this creation. It ends up producing a black sheet that looks rather similar to a normal solar panel. It also has a pair of Wind and Water wires hanging out of one corner, though they're much longer, with a length of about three meters.

I set the Converter aside and hold up one of the batteries. "Alright, go ahead and integrate this one." I lift my robe up as my chest opens and several threads from my heart reach out to grab the ESC. Once the part disappears into my torso I drop the robe back down and wait to see if I notice any changes.

After a few seconds I feel. Hungry? It seems similar to what I remember of that sensation anyway. As if something within is empty and shouldn't be. Though contrary to typical hunger I can feel the sensation slowly fading? Likely my SP being used subconsciously to fill the battery. After a moment I nod. Then I turn my attention back to the Star Obsidian in my hand.

"Alright, then lets try to make a divider to charge all four of those batteries with the SPC." I keep it simple, by printing out a cord of Wind and Water with four pairs of wires on one end and one pair on the other. Then I attach the single end to the Converter and the four other ones to the batteries. Then I set the batteries on top of the Converter and carry the lot outside. Once there, I set the batteries on the ground and set the Converter against the east side of the building so the face of it is angled towards the rising sun.

Chaos_Sinner777

That chapter name is just the punniest innit? Did you think the "Mecha" genre was there just because of the Automatons? Nope! Knight's & Magic is one of my favorite isekai anime, so the idea of using magic/fantasy world rules to make giant robots is very much an idea I love. Also, I decided to go ahead with my idea to run two stories. So feel free to check out Mythic Monster Typhon, which I'll be posting the first chapter of right after this. If you'd like to see my take on an OP, but maybe not so bright Isekai Protagonist.