Mystery is one of the rarest Development Abilities and is considered the pinnacle of a creator's expertise.
Its basic principle is to give the user the ability to create objects that transcend ordinary laws of logic or science. If an ordinary blacksmith makes a very sharp sword, an owner of Mystery can make a sword with unique magical effects or even become a magic item with specific powers.
Mystery is not magic that's shot or spoken. It's a passive ability activated during the manufacturing or crafting process, flowing "miracles" into materials and designs, transforming them into something more than just physical objects.
Only a few individuals in this world are known to possess Mystery, due to its extreme rarity. Among the famous ones:
—Asfi Al Andromeda from Hermes Familia, who can create various advanced support items like flying shoes and special smoke bombs.
—Airmid Teasanare from Dian Cecht Familia, who creates prosthetics (artificial body parts) that can function almost perfectly like the originals.
—Fels (The Sage), who has a high-ranking Mystery Development Abilities that even allows it to create Grimoires and items that can bring the dead back to life, albeit with low success rates.
Just like other Stats, Mystery has rankings from I to S. The higher the rank, the more complex and powerful the magic items that can be created. Among the three, undoubtedly Fels' Mystery Development Abilities ranking is the highest.
Charlie himself has the Mystery Development Abilities, with a not-low ranking: F. And his specialization is similar to Asfi's: creating magic items.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
In the Workshop
Charlie began creating equipment for Kei, using the best materials he had managed to collect from the market and his interpersonal network.
When his Mystery Development Abilities was activated, his hands emitted a dim golden glow—a sign that he was applying a miracle to the object being created.
"Even in this fantasy world, the law of supply and demand still applies. Prices will rise if demand is greater than supply, and fall if otherwise." He muttered while staring at the small piece of gleaming metal in his hand.
"To get this Orichalcum, I had to use Goibniu Familia's debt of gratitude to me. And the price? Just a fistful like this, but I had to pay 100 million valis."
Orichalcum was the material with the highest quality and most durable in the world. That's why Charlie chose it as the main material for the body of the object he was creating for Kei. However, the limited amount of that legendary metal forced him to improvise.
"Too bad, the amount of this Orichalcum is still lacking. Whether I like it or not, I have to mix it with Adamantite and Mithril."
Adamantite was a rare metal from the Dungeon, the second strongest material after Orichalcum. Adamantite could be found on various floors, but its highest purity came from the Deep Floors. Of course, Charlie made sure what he bought was the best quality.
Mithril was a material with very high magical conductivity, often used in making magic wands or weapons for magic users. This would be the bridge connecting magical power with the weapon's physical structure.
With full concentration, Charlie began melting and combining the three rare metals. The process was delicate and required extreme precision—one small mistake could cause the metal to react uncontrollably and be destroyed.
"Phew, the fusion went smoothly without obstacles. If it were destroyed, it would be very difficult to get replacement Orichalcum."
Charlie sighed in relief seeing the three rare metals fuse perfectly.
"It's 40% done. Then, next..."
Thanks to his Six Eyes which provided unmatched vision and perception proficiency, Charlie worked with extraordinary precision without a single mistake.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
Morning.
The gentle morning sunlight swept across the front yard of Empyrean Citadel.
Charlie was sitting in a simple wooden rocking chair on the porch, his eyes half-closed while enjoying the peace and fresh air after staying up all night in the underground workshop. His body felt slightly tired, but his mind and heart were calm.
From behind the fence covered with climbing plants, he could see a group of adventurers from various races—beastmen, humans, dwarves, elves—walking briskly toward the Dungeon.
Some looked serious, some joked lightly, all starting their day with the same goal: for wealth and fame.
However, not a single one of them glanced toward Charlie. Thanks to the illusion barrier he had set up, what they saw from outside the fence was just a house that appeared deserted and somewhat old.
"Charlie-san, breakfast is ready."
A gentle voice called from behind. Charlie turned and saw Kei standing at the doorway, wearing a simple apron over her everyday clothes. Her white hair was tied in a side ponytail, and her face radiated warmth as she called him to eat.
"Alright. I'm coming."
Charlie jumped from the rocking chair, stretching his slightly stiff body muscles for a moment, before stepping into the house.
Now, the kitchen role had been completely taken over by Kei. Charlie no longer needed to struggle with spatulas and cooking spices; he just had to sit pretty and enjoy dishes prepared with love by the girl.
At the dining table, an extraordinary sight was presented—not just the food, but those sitting there. There were three beautiful women whose beauty could make emperors and kings in ancient times wage war to make them empresses.
On one side were Aishia and Est, Spirit figures whose beauty felt so pure and unearthly.
On the other side was Astraea, the Goddess of Justice whose divine aura radiated elegance that surpassed any human standard.
Compared to the three of them who had 'inhuman' beauty, Kei was indeed still within the normal scope, but the warmth and sincerity on her face gave its own charm.
The five of them began enjoying breakfast calmly. The clinking sound of spoons colliding with porcelain plates became the only melody in that dining room, creating an extremely thick family atmosphere.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆
After breakfast ended, the atmosphere inside Empyrean Citadel turned into a picture of harmony.
Astraea relaxed on the living room sofa, her hand moving gently to stroke a large cat that was actually the manifestation of the White Tiger, one of the Divine Beast Spirits.
In another corner, Est with her calm flat expression sat quietly on the shell of a giant turtle. That creature wasn't an ordinary animal, but the Black Turtle.
Meanwhile, the view of the front yard through the large window looked like a mythological painting come to life. The Vermillion Bird with fiery feathers, the Azure Dragon coiling gracefully, and the sacred Qilin flew low alternately, accompanying Aishia who was diligently watering the flower plants.
Charlie himself had absolutely no intention of stepping toward Babel Tower or entering the darkness of the Dungeon today, contrasting with thousands of other adventurers in Orario who were risking their lives.
For him, the ambition to immediately hunt monsters had been temporarily extinguished by fatigue. His experience for a solid two years in the Kaguya-sama Planar World had drained him mentally.
For now, Charlie wanted to distance himself from the battlefield.