"Engh~! Tanny… I think you should use your middle name, Sera, as the name for your n.o.ble house. It fits well." Penelope's blus.h.i.+ng face took a little away from the seriousness of the suggestion, prompting Tanya to smirk and softly chuckle under her breath.

"My my… your idea is quite good. How about your house? I've always wanted to know what surname you will choose… perhaps mine~?" Tanya lewdly curled her lips and leaned her chest forward, placing her palms on top of Penelope's.

"Hmmph! I might now be your lady in waiting, but do you think I will allow you to be so shameless with me?"

"Of course~ don't worry, I will make sure to fulfil all of your desires when you take the surname of Sera." Tanya just could not relent. It did not matter, Tanya would not let Penelope get off that easy.

"All of them?" Penelope smiled warmly.

"Of course."

"Hmmm… I will think about it. Your grades have been excellent the last semester, just be sure to keep it up. I heard that there will be opportunities found in war soon enough, so prepare yourself as a military power."

"You make it sound easy~" Tanya indeed thought it would be relatively easy. She already had an excellent idea within her mind for a loyal force that could not be swayed by the likes of money and power. Her grin of course could not escape Penelope's attention.

"I only make it sound easy because it is easy. I see that look in your eyes, I know you have plans. I love it when you smile like that.

SMOOCH

A little red mark was soft imprinted onto Tanya's forehead, masked slightly by her fl.u.s.tered expression.

"Did you say 'I love you?'" Tanya grinned.

"I love you?! When did I-"

"Mmm… you said it again~" Tanya easily defeated Penelope in this miniature game of mental warfare, claiming her lips as the prize.

SMOOCH

"Tanya, again with the tongue… you are being so shameless because you are hungry? I cannot believe you can not control yourself…" Penelope placed her palm over her blus.h.i.+ng face.

"If I am unable to control myself, you would already be in a bed so wet that not even all of the rice in the world can dry it~"

LICK

BADUMP

Penelope's heart skipped a beat as she felt a hot sensation in her left ear.

"Tanya~!" She shouted in embarra.s.sment.

"Pfft…! Penny, I always appreciate the time I spend with you. Knowing that you love me makes me feel so warm inside~ unfortunately… I cannot stay any longer today… My army is waiting to be built." Tanya wiggled her finger into Penelope's lips and playfully let out a wonderful grin.

SUCK

"Come on… let me go…" 

"No."

"Fine… I still have an hour to spare…"

Two hours later, Tanya found herself in a secluded area of the forest. Within a camouflaged tent, she sat down with a single barrel that looked as if it would store fine wines.

BANG

Tanya opened it by blasting off the top of the barrel with the strike of her sword's pommel, sending various dark metallic gears and plates in all directions.

"No issue whatsoever… even B+ strength cannot destroy these parts." Tanya smiled, looking at all the scattered pieces of metal on the floor.

"Today I will be creating a most wonderful subordinate. The magic involved is relatively basic, but it was incredibly difficult to develop in my last life. My top imperial magician spent a century just conceiving the first half of the formula. Now, I will be able to do the same with just my meagre second ascension power."

Tanya quickly threw down a piece of parchment which was inscribed with various crimson colours text. Along with this parchment, she threw down a seperate sheet which contained a magic circle unlike anything ever seen in this world.

"From steel to flesh, from oil to blood. Gear to mind, from command to soul. As my will is eternal, your will too. Burn into being, my legend."

BOOM

The tent exploded as a pillar of light engulfed the plates and gears, sending them all towards the light and erasing them from view. The might of the magic shone into the night sky, attracting many eyes. Alas, Tanya would soon be finished.

"Let's call you Alpha." Tanya smiled, still watching the light.

"Alpha is my name, Master. Do you have a directive for me?"

A blue haired human-like figure came out of the light immediately, kneeling on one knee and bowing their head to Tanya. It's face was flawless and it's hair was beautifully long. However, Tanya knew that it was neither male nor female. It was without s.e.x.

"I spent a week covertly transporting these materials to this tent… I did not think that I would be so well versed in these covert operations. I should train her some more…"

"Master?"

"Ah yes, Alpha. My directive is to replicate and create an army. How long do you believe it will take?"

"Master, to create a sizable squad of 10, Alpha will need a week. From there, we can replicate and create a hundred in a week. Although, I do not believe that the resources required for replication can be gathered as per requirements. At most, I can replicate myself at first ascension level. This model will have the same potential but will require combat training and education to be able to serve master."

"I am currently at the second ascension job of [Swordsman 5]. Therefore, I am able to train each replicated soldier until they reach [Warrior 10]. I apologise for my incompetence, Master."

Tanya sighed as she realised that finding high cla.s.s materials like the ones used just now would be a terrible ha.s.sle. She had no choice but to start from the ground up.

"Alpha, there is nothing to apologise about. Grand Steel is indeed too expensive to use for every replication. I permit you to utilise Dark steel for the production of more soldiers." Tanya patted Alpha on the shoulder, attempting to calm the soldier.

"With the time included for training and the procurement of materials, it will take a month to create 10 [Warrior 10] combatants, Master. Shall I proceed?"

"How will you even obtain the materials?" Tanya asked, clearly confused.

"I have detected a large deposit of raw materials deep in the mountain range 10 kilometres south of this location. It is unoccupied, so I will obtain the materials there."

"Very well, once you have finished creating the first squad, find me discreetly so I can issue new orders." 

And so Tanya's Homunculus army began there.