***
We had finally returned to Leventia.
Getting off the carriage and looking around, it felt somehow nostalgic, like I had come down to my hometown in the countryside.
Of course, it was actually the countryside, but after seeing the capital, it felt even more like the countryside.
Still, it was a town that had everything it needed.
A small ambition formed in my mind: wouldn't it be quite a sight if I built a building in the center of the town when I got some money later?
Linia, too, seemed happy to be back home, stretching her arms wide and taking a deep breath of air.
“Hwaaaah! Home! I’m going to laze around all day today.”
“Laze around, and then what?”
“Home is different!”
So Linia plans to laze around.
“What about you, Raniel?”
“I’m planning to laze around too.”
“What? You said ‘and then what?’ to me, but you’re doing the same thing!”
Well, after finishing the exam and getting caught up in a terror attack, I was just a bit tired.
[Master? You’re going to laze around?]
‘Yeah, that’s the plan.’
[N-no way! Where did my Master go?! My Master is not a human who would ever do such an inefficient thing!]
What’s with her? Why is she spouting nonsense about something so trivial again?
[The moment a person becomes lazy, it’s the end!]
‘Shut up. The only one who can lecture me is the one who funds my research.’
[Huhu! Master has become lazy! But I like you even like that, Master.]
‘If you like me, then just let me laze around!’
I walked the streets of Leventia, having a typically pointless conversation with the AI.
“The air is nice.”
“It’s the countryside.”
Although the central part of the Leventia territory was like a city, the moment you left it, green mountains and fields stretched out endlessly.
Leventia, with its beautiful mountains, clear water, and fresh air.
As we passed through the center of the town on our way to the mansion, a huge old castle came into view in the distance.
It was the Leventia family’s lordship castle, which had been used since ancient times, before we lived in the current mansion decked out with magical engineering.
In terms of scale, it wasn't bad, but it was a building built so long ago that from the exterior to the interior, it was the Middle Ages itself.
Never mind a bidet or hot water, there wasn't even a proper shower room.
[So it’s a relic of the past.]
That’s right. That’s why we abandoned it, too.
[What a waste. If it existed on Earth, it would have become a tourist attraction.]
It seems like it could be used as a tourist attraction here too, but the return on investment doesn’t seem very good.
Anyway, putting aside my idle thoughts, we passed the old castle and arrived at the familiar Leventia family mansion.
At the entrance of the mansion, my family was out to greet us.
Mother, Father, Tania Unnie… wait a minute. Where did Latiell go?
At that moment, as soon as my mother saw us, she opened her arms wide and welcomed us.
“Raniel, Linia. It must have been a long and hard journey. You’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”
My mother wrapped her arms around me and Linia in a tight hug.
“No, everything was fine.”
Well, there was the minor (?) incident of the train terror attack, but there was no need to talk about it in this situation.
“We’re back, Madam. I was assisting the young master, so how could anything have happened?”
“I was relieved that Linia went with you. Thank you for always taking good care of our Raniel.”
My mother smiled and patted Linia’s shoulder.
My mother is one thing, but that Linia, that shameless girl!
Assisting, my foot! I went through so much trouble to make that blockhead a person!
After exchanging greetings with my mother and the rest of the family, I returned to my room.
Although I had been away for quite a while, the room was neat and tidy, as if Tania Unnie had managed it well.
“Alright. Shall I start lazing around now?”
With the sincere intention of lazing around, I lay down on the bed.
And a moment later.
“Put on that damn scrap metal and come out to the training ground!”
My plan to laze around was ruined as my father burst into the room.
“No, why?!”
“Even without aura, you can learn the family’s swordsmanship if you wear that scrap metal! You can’t use the excuse that you can’t do it because you don’t have aura anymore!”
“…”
It was a rather logical answer.
But I had no intention of wasting the precious operational time on useless training.
“Ah, come to think of it, I had some business to take care of at the auction house.”
“Where do you think you’re going!”
As I stealthily tried to slip away, my father bellowed, but he didn’t stop me.
“Tsk tsk, you insolent boy!”
Leaving my father’s clicking tongue behind, I left the mansion.
“Sigh, I guess lazing around at home is out of the question.”
[It’s for the best, since lazing around doesn’t suit you, Master!]
“Whose side are you on?”
[The Master’s side, of course!]
Yeah, right, my side.
Since I had crawled out of the house and had nothing to do, I went out into the streets.
<><><>
The city was nice, but perhaps because of the years I had spent here, the streets were quite affectionate and familiar.
And in the center of those streets, I saw a strangely familiar object.
A black, battered lump of scrap metal.
[Master, it’s me! I’m over there!]
A statue carved in the image of the Prototype stood proudly in the center of the town.
Who carved such an eyesore in the center of the town?!
[An eyesore?! It’s because the damage is severe, but once I’m all fixed up, I’m quite a beauty, you know?]
Did the word ‘beauty’ come to mean a hideous appearance that would make kids passing by at night wet their pants?
[It’s an appearance that you made with a generous helping of your own taste, so if that’s not beauty, what is?!]
It did have a generous helping of my taste.
It was well-made, looking like it could chew up and spit out monsters and everything else.
Anyway, the statue itself was quite elaborately and well-made.
The image of it holding the High-Mass Blade and slicing up goblins was quite lifelike, so it seemed to have been carved by a skilled artisan.
<Statue of the Warrior in Black Armor, the Savior of Leventia>
In front of the statue, even its name was written proudly.
“The Warrior in Black Armor…”
“It’s not a warrior.”
At that moment, someone answered my muttering.
I looked around but couldn’t see anyone, so I looked down and saw a silver-haired kid muttering while looking at the Prototype statue.
“In my eyes, this is a creation made with magical engineering.”
“…?”
“Here, look at this video. At a glance, it may look like the skillful swordplay of a warrior, but the form of this energy! No matter where you look, an aura of this form has never been confirmed!”
The silver-haired kid played a video on her tablet, held it up high, and continued her explanation.
I didn't have any particular thoughts about her explanation and was about to just let it go.
But the passersby who heard it approached with tilted heads.
“Excuse me, young lady. I think I heard something strange as I was passing by, but what are you talking about?”
“Haven’t I said it several times? In my eyes, that is not a warrior but a creation made with magical engineering…”
“So you’re saying that the benefactor of our town, the savior who saved all our lives, is a fake?”
“…”
Intuitively sensing a crisis, I stealthily moved away from the kid, as if to appeal, ‘We don’t know each other! We are definitely not together!’
“No, there seems to be some misunderstanding. What I was saying is…”
“Anyway, you’re saying that our benefactor is not a person, right?”
“According to my analysis, that is…”
At the villager’s words, the kid shrank back.
It didn't seem like they were trying to threaten her, but the kid seemed as timid as she looked.
“Townspeople! Look over here! My goodness, some outsider young lady, huh?! Is calling our benefactor, the Warrior in Black Armor, a fake!”
“What?”
“Is that true?!”
“Someone is insulting our benefactor of Leventia!”
The townspeople gathered in a crowd.
“Hey, little lady. You shouldn’t talk so carelessly!”
“Is that true? Did you really insult our benefactor of Leventia!”
“N-no. I… O-old man! Old man, where are you!”
I didn't know who she was desperately looking for, but in the end, the person was not there.
The kid’s gaze, which had been sending out pleas for help in all directions, turned to me.
“Hey! You there, boy!”
“Huh? Me?”
“Yes! That’s right! You there, boy! Yes! I mean you!”
As the girl shouted desperately, the gazes of the crowd surrounding her also shifted.
The people who had gathered took a couple of steps back and cast curious glances.
“Young Master Raniel? I thought you went to the academy, when did you get back?”
“It’s Raniel-hyung! Hyung!”
“Did you do well on your exam, young master? Well, the young master may be terrible at physical stuff, but his head is good, so it should be no problem.”
“No, but do you know that young lady?”
Taking advantage of the moment the townspeople were focused on Raniel, the silver-haired girl scurried over.
In an instant, she moved behind Raniel, tugged on his clothes, and whispered with a pitiful gaze.
“Please help me. Just say we know each other and help me…!”
“For free?”
“Is there something you want?”
“Money!”
Honestly, is this even a situation that requires help, crisis or not?
It’s not like those simple-hearted country folk were going to harm her in the first place.
Still, if someone was asking for help, it was only human to extort money from them!
The kid nodded her head vigorously, and thus the deal was struck.
I grinned and looked around at the townspeople.
“Now, now, everyone. There seems to have been some misunderstanding. This child is a young lady who has come as a guest of our family. So please clear up the misunderstanding, and I will take her with me now.”
“Hyeong! At least tell us what the capital was like!”
“Did you pass the exam, young master?”
“I’ll tell you the stories later. For now, I have to attend to my guest, so I’ll be on my way.”
I quickly retrieved the kid and left the scene.
“Young master! Stop by the shop later!”
“Hyung! Tell us about the imperial capital later!”
I made my exit, receiving a multitude of welcomes, as befitting my home ground.
I led the silver-haired kid, who was trotting behind me, to a suitably deserted place.
<><><>
As soon as the people around us disappeared, the silver-haired kid asked with a much-improved expression.
“You are Raniel Leventia?”
“I am. Do you know me?”
“I have heard the rumors about you. I heard that there is a craftsman with excellent skills in Leventia.”
Well, even though Leventia is in the countryside, I had heard that the items sold at the auction house here are often traded in the capital as well.
So if one were interested in magical engineering, it was plausible that they would know my name.
But I used an anonymous name at the auction house?
It seemed that personal information leaks existed in this world too. I'll have to be more careful with security from now on.
“Oh, right. I am El.”
That aside, the kid who introduced herself as El clearly looked like she was from a noble family.
The fact that she didn't mention her family name probably meant that she didn't want to.
Well, if she doesn't want to reveal her identity, then it’s only human for me to take the money and disappear quickly.
“First, how about we settle the matter of the money we talked about earlier?”
“Of course. Here you are.”
Jingle.
When I held out my hand, the kid unhesitatingly placed a money pouch in my hand.
Isn’t this a bit much?
I didn't say it out loud. If she was giving it, I should take it.
Jingle.
Jingle.
Jingle.
But why does she keep giving me more? Even for me, this is getting a bit burdensome.
“Isn’t this a bit excessive?”
“My ransom is not small. And while we’re at it, I’d like to ask you to be my guide here as well.”
“No, I’m busy, so…”
Jingle.
“Are you trying to buy me with money…”
Jingle.
“…There is no one who knows this region as well as I do. A rational choice.”
It was too much money to refuse.
“So it would seem. You also seem to be respected by the people.”
The kid named El, with a calm expression for a kid, placed a few more money pouches in my hand.
I glanced at them, and they were all gold coins.
My god, how much is all this?
[Master’s lips are slowly curling up.]
‘Wouldn’t yours, if you were me?’
[I prefer parts over money.]
‘I plan to buy your parts with this money.’
[That is very good news!]
Well, that’s that. It’s a matter of taste, so there’s nothing to be done about it.
It seems I like money.
I first straightened my lips and stealthily pushed the money pouches into the Dimensional Hangar.
“You said your name was El? You look like the daughter of a noble family, but since you didn't reveal your family name, I suppose there’s no need to be formal, right?”
“That’s right. We are the same age, and it seems we will see each other at the academy anyway, so you can call me comfortably.”
“The academy? I don’t think I saw you at the entrance exam.”
“There is a system called early admission.”
Hmm, early admission.
[It’s like an early decision applicant in Earth terms, right?]
‘That’s right. Well, the difference is that here, you don’t take the exam early, but you have to be of a certain rank.’
Anyway, this kid named El seemed to be no ordinary noble daughter.
But I had no intention of being polite if she herself didn't want it.
“Now that I’ve received the money, I have to earn it. I think you asked me to be a guide earlier. Where do you want to go?”
“Hmm, if I had to say, it would be closer to finding something rather than going somewhere.”
Well, she wouldn’t ask for a tourist guide in this small, uninteresting country fiefdom.
“Are you looking for someone?”
“The statue we saw in the square earlier. I would like you to search for the creator of that black armor.”
As I thought, she didn't just want a tour of the town.
But the creator of the black armor?
That would be me.
[That’s easy, isn’t it? Since it’s you.]
That’s true.
However.
“I have no idea.”
“Is that so? A pity. I thought you might know.”
“I don’t know what you saw that made you think I would know, but what I don’t know, I don’t know.”
This kid.
On the outside, she looked like a mere child, but she not only had the aura of a high noble but also seemed to have some knowledge of magical engineering.
And someone like that came all the way down to the countryside to look for a magical engineer?
‘This feels like I’m about to get caught up in something 100% troublesome.’
[As expected, the world can’t just leave a genius like you alone, Master!]
Shut up.
Right now, I need to quietly gather research funds and finish your repairs first!
Some crazy high-ranking general could lose his mind, kidnap me, and try to start a world war by mass-producing the Prototype.
Until the Prototype’s repairs are complete and I am 100% safe, I cannot publicly reveal its existence.
Of course, I don’t think there’s anyone other than me who can make a top-class powered suit like the Prototype, but there’s always a ‘what if,’ so I should be careful.
“Hey, why are you so quiet?”
“Ah, just a moment. I have something to think about.”
“So you do have an idea!”
“No, I just have no idea where to even start looking.”
I wracked my brain for a moment and organized my thoughts.
And the situation when the kid was surrounded by people earlier came to mind.
Good. In times like these, it’s best to just be brazen.
“In the first place, the black armor you’re talking about isn’t a creation of magical engineering, it’s the benefactor who protected the town.”
“Hmm.”
The kid, her tearful expression from before gone, smiled with a slightly sly look in her eyes.
She hasn’t noticed something, has she?
“Well, anyway, I actually wanted to search the Leventia family first. But since you, the eldest son of the family, say you don’t know, I’d like to look elsewhere first. Is there any place worth looking?”
“How about the old castle? If you’re hiding something, it’s a perfect fit in terms of scale.”
“Hmm, that’s a good idea. I will follow your suggestion.”
That castle, which was just unnecessarily large, would take more than a day or two to search.
She would probably get tired and give up quickly just from running around in circles there.
<><><>
A small pub in Leventia.
It was time to start preparing for the evening business, as they sold food during the day and alcohol at night.
But the owner of the shop had put up a [Closed Today] sign on the door early on.
Then, he quietly moved through the back alleys of the town, pulling a small cart.
“…”
“…”
He didn’t attract much attention moving through the back alleys of the town.
But here and there, there were people watching him with meaningful glances.
One of them muttered as if to himself.
“Is today already the day?”
At the man’s muttering, a frivolous-looking person next to him laughed.
“Kehehet! Time flies, doesn’t it?”
“There will surely be those who have forgotten. Let’s split up and spread the word.”
“Of course. I’ve been waiting for this day, how could I just let it pass. Kikikik.”
At the frivolous man’s laughter, a man with a short beard said coolly.
“Refrain from laughing. You are not unaware of how much secrecy and security this matter requires. Your careless laughter could ruin the great undertaking.”
“I… will be careful.”
After finishing their conversation, the two men split up and spread notes throughout Leventia.
-Tonight, we go to the ‘castle.’
Those who received the notes, as soon as they confirmed the contents, secretly burned them.
And all of them covered their bodies with robes or hoods and hid in the darkness.
And just as the pub owner had done, they began to walk along the deserted back alleys of the town.
As if on a pilgrimage.
And so, something unknown began to happen in Leventia.