Demonic Dragon: Harem System

"Listen closely, girl," Baskev began, his voice deep and authoritative as he hammered a glowing piece of metal on the anvil. Sparks danced around him, illuminating the cramped forge perched atop the mountain. "If you want me to craft those skeletons for your homunculi, you'll need more than promises and smooth talk."

Scarlet, arms crossed and an expression of calm determination on her face, watched the dwarf as he worked. The heat of the forge was almost suffocating, but she showed no sign of discomfort. She was here to get what she wanted, and nothing would deter her.

"Tell me what you need, Baskev," she replied, her voice steady. "I can get anything."

The dwarf stopped hammering, looked up at her, and grunted. "Confidence is good, but I need results. First, I'll need celestial steel as the base. Nothing less. It's strong, flexible, and imbued with magical properties. Perfect for the kind of bodies you're planning to create."

"Celestial steel," Scarlet repeated, thinking. "That won't be a problem. Continue."

"Good," Baskev replied, satisfied. He grabbed a pair of tongs and plunged the metal into a bucket of water, causing a loud hiss and a cloud of steam. "Next, I'll need filaments of crystallized mana. The skeletons need to conduct magical energy, or those homunculi of yours will be nothing more than fancy armored dolls."

Scarlet nodded, mentally noting the items as the dwarf continued.

"Now, listen carefully, because this part is tricky," he said, gesturing with his hammer. "The joints. I want golden mithril for the articulation points. It's incredibly light and durable, plus it regenerates with magic over time. That'll prevent wear and tear on the skeletons during use."

"Golden mithril won't be a problem either," Scarlet said, her voice calm but her eyes gleaming with determination. "What else?"

"Alright, on to the delicate part." The dwarf approached, wiping the sweat from his brow with a dirty rag. "The bones need to be sculpted with precision. I'll need blocks of arcane obsidian. It's an enchanted stone that absorbs and stores magic. Perfect for handling the kind of energy you're planning to infuse into these artificial bodies."

Scarlet raised an eyebrow. "Arcane obsidian isn't exactly easy to find."

Baskev shrugged. "None of this is easy, girl. You're asking me to create beings that defy the laws of nature, not a set of pots and pans."

Scarlet smirked slightly. She appreciated the dwarf's bluntness. "Go on."

Baskev returned to his workbench, grabbing a piece of old paper and scribbling something while he spoke. "I'll also need secondary alloys to reinforce the weaker areas. Pure orichalcum would be ideal for the ribs and the skull. It's one of the few materials that doesn't lose integrity when exposed to high levels of magic."

"Pure orichalcum..." Scarlet murmured. That would be tricky, but not impossible. She already had a plan in mind to obtain it.

Baskev continued, his tone growing more serious. "And finally, the most important part of all. I'll need fragments of dragon hearts. Not large pieces, just enough to infuse the skeletons with vitality and raw magical energy. Without that, these bodies won't stand a chance of housing powerful souls."

Scarlet narrowed her eyes. "Fragments of dragon hearts?"

"That's right," Baskev replied, pointing his hammer at her. "You want something that surpasses the limits of possibility? Then you'll need something that surpasses the limits of reason. And nothing does that better than a dragon's life force."

"You know how rare that is," Scarlet said, her voice lower, almost a whisper.

The dwarf let out a deep laugh. "Of course I do. But you're Scarlet. If anyone can get it, it's you."

She smiled faintly, appreciating his confidence. "Very well, Baskev. Celestial steel, crystallized mana filaments, golden mithril joints, arcane obsidian, pure orichalcum, and fragments of dragon hearts. Anything else?"

"No, that should do it," he replied, putting his tools away. "But I'll need time. Even with the right materials, crafting these skeletons won't be simple."

"How much time?" Scarlet asked.

Baskev furrowed his brow, thinking. "Depends. If the materials arrive quickly, maybe two months. But that's optimistic. Don't rush the process, or the results won't be as good as you expect."

Scarlet nodded, satisfied with the answer. "Consider it done. You'll have everything you need soon."

Baskev raised an eyebrow, studying her curiously. "You seem pretty determined. What exactly do you plan to do with these homunculi, if I may ask?"

Scarlet smirked slightly but didn't answer directly. "Let's just say they'll be crucial for the next phase of my plans."

The dwarf huffed but didn't press further. "I know when not to stick my nose in someone else's business. Just make sure my part is worth it."

"Oh, it will be, Baskev. You can count on that."

She turned and began descending the mountain. The cold winds didn't bother her, and her mind was already calculating her next steps. Gathering those materials would be challenging, but Scarlet relished a good challenge. After all, once everything was ready, she would create something no one in the world could ignore.

...

[Scarlet's Mansion]

"Evelyn, let's get to the point," Strax began, his voice firm as his gaze remained fixed on the communication orb glowing with a faint blue hue. "You've completed the research, right? Tell me what you need to create the muscles, skin, blood, and everything else necessary to make the homunculi function perfectly."

On the other end, Evelyn's melodious voice echoed with excitement. "Oh, Strax, I can hardly believe we're finally starting this project! I'm thrilled to bring everything to life. Alright, let's go step by step."

Strax nodded, adjusting his posture. Though he appeared calm, he knew this phase would be as challenging as the one with Baskev.

"For the muscles," Evelyn began, "I'll need something called Beast Fiber. These are highly elastic and durable fibers extracted from ancient magical creatures. Not only do they mimic natural muscles, but they also conduct magic efficiently. Without them, the homunculi would be slow and fragile."

"Beast Fiber," Strax repeated, already mentally noting it. "Sounds troublesome, but nothing I can't acquire. Next?"

Evelyn chuckled softly. "You're always so confident... Alright, for the skin, it'll be a bit more complex. I'll need Lunar Lotus Essence. It's a rare component that regenerates tissue and gives the skin an almost human-like glow. Additionally, it allows the homunculi to sense and respond to external stimuli, which is essential for them not to look like mere statues."

Strax frowned. "Lunar Lotus? Isn't that the plant that only grows on the edges of mana lakes?"

"Exactly," Evelyn confirmed. "Hard to find, I know. But I trust you're the type of person who solves these problems."

Strax sighed, a weary smile forming on his lips. "Of course, I always end up solving them. Go on."

"The blood," Evelyn said, her tone turning more serious. "This is the most delicate part. I'll need something called Dragon's Blood. It doesn't have to come from a living dragon, but it must be pure and magical enough to circulate vital energy through the artificial body. Without it, the system simply won't work."

Strax raised an eyebrow. "Dragon's Blood... You do remember I'm a dragon, right? That's the easiest part!"

She let out a nervous giggle. "I know, I know."

Strax rubbed his temples. "Alright, that's the easiest. Anything else?"

"Yes, the last part: the fat," Evelyn replied, her voice taking on an almost professorial tone. "The bodies need a protective layer between the muscles and the skin, right? For that, we'll use Vital Resin from a thousand-year-old tree. It's a magical substance that mimics fat while also protecting the artificial organs. Without it, the skin and muscles won't have enough flexibility. But don't worry about this one! I'm the best at finding things like that."

Strax remained silent for a moment, processing everything. "Ancient Beast Fiber, Lunar Lotus Essence, Dragon's Blood, and Vital Resin from a thousand-year-old tree. Well, aside from the Dragon's Blood, I'll have to figure out the rest on my own..."

She laughed, clearly amused by the situation. "Oh, Strax, you didn't think this would be easy, did you? We're trying to create something extraordinary. Nothing less than perfection will do."

"You talk as if it's simple," Strax grumbled, though his tone showed he was fully committed. "Alright. Now tell me: how long will you need once I gather everything?"

Evelyn paused, as if calculating. "If I have all the materials on hand, I can start immediately. Creating the biological components will take about a month, maybe less if everything goes smoothly. However, integrating the tissues with the skeleton Baskev is making will require a union ritual. That will demand high-level magic, and that's where you come in."

Strax raised an eyebrow. "Me? Why does it always fall on me?"

"Because you're the only one who knows the souls you'll be using," Evelyn explained. "Your connection to the souls makes the integration process easier. This is more than just science or alchemy, Strax. It's art."

He huffed but couldn't argue. "Fine. I'll prepare everything. Anything else I should know before I go running after all these impossible things?"

"Don't get yourself killed! I mean, I know you're strong, but still, be careful! Oh, and Lyana and I are preparing to join you soon," she said excitedly.

"Yeah, yeah, let's get to work," Strax said with a smile.