Chrome had difficulty awakening this particular day. She felt her head spinning around, as if she had just ran into a wall. As she looked around, she recognized her familiar, messy room located in the Pocket Castle. There were still the remainders of an attempt to fuse weapons with a zombie's arms in the corner, several tools without a clear use hung above her bed, and the better part of a shelf was covered with unlabeled liquids in different bottles. As she somehow managed to get up without knocking anything, she felt something was wrong around her. She tried to find out what the issue was about, but checking her equipment proves fruitless. She ended up giving up, groaning in frustration in front of the enigma. Maybe Promestein would be able to make head and tail of something.

The little scientist made her way toward the laboratory she shared with her fellow scientists. Lily and Lucia were currently missing, while the angel scientist herself didn't look much better than her. The latter was preparing a drink, which, by the bitter smell, probably had medicinal properties. It was confirmed when Promestein took a cup of the product and drank it straight.

"Heya. How are you doing?"

Promestein didn't raise her head as she was still looking at the small installation in front of her. "Probably the same as you. I feel like that time I was in Luddite Village and had to deal with the locals."

"Do you know where everybody is?" The only other being present in the lab was Frederika, the colossal zombie created by Chrome, and she looked particularly bad even when taking into account her undead state.

"They're currently all sleeping off the travel."

"Travel? What do you mean?"

"Based on my experience, we have either changed of dimension or have just gone back in time. The pain comes from the excessive displacement of the…"

"Yeah, I got it, no need to worsen my headache." She pointed at the end of the distillation equipment. "Can I get some?"

Promestein offered another cup which Chrome gladly accepted. She nearly choked on the product and grimaced afterward.

"How can you drink something so bitter with a straight face."

"When you live in a world led by Ilias, you learn to keep the same expression, no matter how you really feel. Anyway, as I said, I think we somehow are at the beginning of Luka's adventure to defend the world." Promestein suddenly held her forehead with a hand and winced in pain. "Don't ask how I know that."

"Mmmh… In that case, now that everyone is asleep, we can finally work on our researches without being disturbed! I will be able to work on zombies without hearing how disgusting and unethical that is every other minute."

Frederika managed to get up from a corner. The zombie towered over the small necromancer, and declared in a motherly tone.

"Chrome, you should take a bath and eat properly before that."

"Nag, nag, nag! Science is calling, this will wait, I have better to do!" She proceeded to check her creation and gritted her teeth. "Also, I definitively have to do your maintenance, because I've never seen in you in a state that bad. So let's get started!"

"Unfortunately, some other people already awakened…" Promestein took down her glasses to clean them. "The castle suffered some damages and, as we're the only one currently available smart enough to understand how most makinas work, we received a few requests for assistance to repair them." She pulled out a list out of a pocket. "We also have a few people asking for various preparations to help them get better." She sighed. "Based on the quantity and the nature of some of them, I also think that more personal requests were added into the mix."

Chrome scoffed. "Why should we do it?"

"Well, Mephisto passed by and said that Luka, as well as all the other inhabitants in the castle, are the reason we have all the equipment we need. And that if we do create practical tools to, and I quote, help them in the world's defense, we will get more lab equipment."

Chrome took a look at the list. "Bah, it will take us a few hours at most! If we work together to get rid of this fast, we'll be able to start working back on our project soon enough. I'll deal with the chemicals productions while you start on the makinas."

After a while, a red clad succubus soothsayer arrived in the scientist's workshop. She was quickly noticed by Chrome who was currently filling a bottle with a strange preparation.

"Good morning Witch, do you need anything?"

"I came because I made a request for a package for Mephisto, I wanted to know if it was ready."

Chrome sighed as she pointed at the rising pile of package. "It's somewhere in there."

Witch looked at Chrome. "It looks like you have a lot of things that keeps getting in the way of your research."

The necromancer grimaced. "Don't tell me. Everyone keeps insisting on how I should turn my research towards practical applications to defend the world." She made air quotes with her fingers. "They can't enjoy some good work when they see it, they say it's up to me to orient my work rather than for them to see how what I do can be useful. As if an art needed to have use." She gestured again at the pile of various packages. "Now I also have to deliver these through the Pocket Castle. And NOW there's a request to help clean the castle, the armory, and restock the consumables." She shrugged. "This is the work of a maid, not of a researcher."

The succubus magician smirked. "Actually, why not use your zombies for these jobs? That way, you'll have some free time for yourself. I'm pretty sure the maids will appreciate your zombie's extra hands in dealing with their tasks."

Chrome pondered the idea for a few minutes. None of her zombie were smart, dexterous or obedient enough to assist her in her experiments. The more basic ones could assist the maids, while the more powerful ones such as the Cirque gifted by her sister would be able to deal with more complex tasks in the castle. After all, Zenovia used to be a Scylla maid and Titania still had some control over nature, which could make them incredibly helpful in a certain way. Furthermore, she would be free from Frederika's nagging at least for a while…

"Eh, you're right." She took a proud pose for her solemn declaration. "I, Chrome, the genius descendant of the Artiste family accept to lend the support of my creations to the inhabitants of this castle!"

"Great! In that case, may I suggest you start by delivering this package to Mephisto? It was apparently an emergency."

An hour later, every product had been delivered by Chrome's zombies. The duo was still dealing with the numerous requests, but was finally starting to see the end. Chrome had just finished crafting another product destined to the pub, supposedly a hangover cure. She sighed as she was disappointed her skills were put to use to craft things so trivial and mundane, but if Luka gifted them additional funds for equipment, she could endure the insulting work. She looked around her and found none of her usual zombies. She shrugged it off as she considered she could bring the package herself for once. It was a small way to celebrate the end of her work.

She made her way through the Pocket Castle's hallways. When she reached the pub, she could see Barbun already standing behind the counter, even if the room was currently absolutely empty. The bunny girl was rubbing her head was grimacing in pain. Chrome held out the package to her, which she gladly accepted.

"Thanks Chrome." Her expression turned into an awkward smile. "Also, we appreciate the support of your creations, but they lack the dexterity to properly serve in the pub. And a few of them reeks too much to remain accepted around.

Chrome made a dismissive gesture. "Bah! It was just a temporary test! I will need them soon for something bigger anyway!"

However, at that precise instant, she realized the real issue at hand. If she did react poorly to the travel that happened, her creations were probably not in a great shape either and would have been in a dire need of maintenance before being let loose in the castle.

As she was starting to make her way back to the laboratory, she noticed Zenovia, the undead Scylla queen gifted by her sister. The undead monster turned toward her mistress as soon as she saw her.

"Greetings Chrome, I tried to assist the maids as you asked, but aIas I cannot currently control my slime's production, I ended up making a mess." She looked downward. "It appears this body would require maintenance from you."

Chrome swore under her breath. It looked like she would have even more work to do before being able to resume her researches.

"Yeah, yeah, get to the lab, I will help you when I have free time."

The undead Scylla bowed before going on her way. Chrome started walking again when she froze for a moment. Zenovia had left a huge slime stain everywhere she passed by. A few seconds later, one of the succubi hanging out upstairs was looking at her.

"Hueugh, there's slime everywhere. Chrome, would you kindly get your trash cleaned before someone slip?"

"Argh, I'm busy, I'll clean it later!"

Just as she started making her way back to her laboratory, one of the Scylla maid slithered to her while holding several arms in her tentacles.

"You may want to stitch those back. I found them in the provision stocks." Her words were soft, but her undertone was sounding extremely threatening. Chrome was already seeing in her head a vision of her getting spanked by the maid's tentacles for her zombie's shenanigans. She chuckled awkwardly and accepted the arms. She only made a few steps when another voice boomed in the castle.

"Why are there zombies parts in the armory?" It sounded like Salamander. "Who thought using zombies to tidy up bladed weapons was a good idea? Chrome?"

The small necromancer kept walking toward the laboratory, half ashamed. She decided that bringing the zombies in her room for maintenance was imperative now.

When she finally managed to reach her laboratory, the night was starting to fall and she was completely out of breath. Promestein looked at the small succubus as the latter fell down on her chair like a puppet whose strings got cut. The angel scientist raised an eyebrow while she was still working on crafting and repairing several products.

"I suppose we have to report our work on our current project."

Chrome's muttering was barely audible. "…Tomorrow. We'll start tomorrow."

Promestein opened her book and checked various formulas. Well, at least she would have more time to properly check her maths before starting the experiments themselves. As she flipped through various pages, something crossed her mind, and she eventually called out to the ex necromancer.

"Chrome?"

The necromancer face planted on the desk. "Huuurgh, what is it?"

"You know how Mephisto took the charge of managing the castle in Luka's absence?"

"Yes. So what?"

"And how her and Witch are good friends?"

"Yeah, why is it even relevant?"

"Nothing…" Promestein resumed her work on a makina.

Chrome tried nodding, but with her face still stuck on the table, it only made her chair move back and forth a little. After several minutes, she started connecting several dots… Mephisto and Witch were good acquaintances, so the former would probably have talked about the zombies to the latter, so why did the succubus soothsayer suggest that Chrome use her zombies? They still required a lot of daily maintenance and had a tendency to make a mess of wherever they were going. Mephisto was more than aware of this issue, as it had been made obvious when the team travelled in cities in the past in her presence, so she definitively was aware of the problem… And yet Witch, one of her close friend, just asked to do it again. Why did she accept? A feeling of kinship with the fellow succubus?

The more she was thinking about it the more she realized what happened would make sense only if Mephisto wanted to make her lose time. There were several other monsters who had been trained in using makinas and item crafting, but they were the only two to have to deal with a heap of requests. The yoma teacher surely wouldn't waste their time with a prank, would she?

In the bar, Mephisto was drinking tea in the company of Witch. The succubus was calmly stirring her drink with a small spoon, her eyes close.

"Really, you are quite wicked to play Chrome and Promestein like a fiddle. Indirectly heaping requests on top of the poor girls through your friends… This is simply wicked."

Mephisto chuckled. "I just wished to remind Chrome that she has the same responsibility toward her creation one would have toward her children. And I wanted Promestein to remember that science also can have a practical application."

Witch sipped her tea and chuckled. "Is it not rather because you're afraid leaving them alone could result in them accidentally starting the apocalypse in their chase for science?"

The yoma feigned being surprised. "Surely you would not consider I would step so low and so petty rather than make the rational decision to talk to them directly?"

"I would… If I wasn't myself in need of your assistance to deal with a problem in your line of work."

"Is this going to involve getting you some help to recover energy?" She smirked. "I think you would have no need for my skills considering the sheer amount of perverts roaming the world."

Witch made a dismissive gesture. "Nothing like that. Although, you are right in this case, since I only have to use a harpy feather to succubus village to get all the energy I want. But even then, it's true the hero's is particularly tasty." She took another sip of her drink. "Actually, the request I have on this peculiar matter would sound petty, in a certain way, but I feel the future of our race may depend on it."

Mephisto brought her head closer. The succubus moved to whisper to her. "Get Succubus to stop growing an excessive amount of potatoes. Please."