***
Even after that, the prototype continued to exhibit strange behaviors.
The "Master" designation, refusing commands, and that weird way of speaking.
It was as if it had completely twisted the existing concept of an AI, making it feel as if it had emotions.
“Sigh.”
It was a headache, but it didn't feel like it was hostile towards me, and there was no good way to repair it right now, so I decided to leave it alone for the time being.
“Sigh.”
[Master, if you keep sighing, your good fortune will run away.]
“That’s a cheap superstition. No, before that, what are you doing spouting superstitions?”
[How can you call it a superstition when a good fortune like me has rolled right in!]
A strategic weapon made to slaughter monsters was talking about being a good fortune.
I suspected that if the Minister of Defense had heard that, he would have pointed a gun at my head.
“Considering the resources and time that have gone into you so far, and thinking about how much more will go in… My head hurts…”
It really was better when I was doing research with other people's money.
The days when I had graduate students (slaves) behind me, faithfully carrying out menial tasks with sincerity that came from the heart, were good.
‘Looking at its condition, it seems like I’ll have to start repairs in earnest to fix that AI. I don't think the current auction house or private workshop will be nearly enough.’
It seemed that to properly repair the prototype, I would need a real research facility and support staff.
The built-in weaponry or the external armor might be manageable, but to do anything about that messed-up AI, I would definitely need the latest equipment and funding.
And the optimal choice I was considering was, of course, an academy (university).
‘In my current situation, setting up a private research lab is out of the question. If I want to conduct research comfortably with other people’s money without worrying about costs, going through a university lab would be the fastest way.’
If I mixed a little of my knowledge from Earth with magical engineering, it wouldn't be a problem to draw research funds from the Empire or various interest groups.
And with massive funding and technology, I could make graduate students come to the lab of their own accord, like a law of nature.
And wasn't the term ‘graduate student’ a time-honored synonym for a slave you could work for minimum wage?
[As expected of you, Master! You already had a perfect plan to repair me! However, I do not recommend tampering with my AI!]
Now it was openly talking about insubordination.
[If you mess up and the algorithm gets twisted, can you repair it by yourself, Master?]
“…”
Damn, it hit a sore spot.
AI wasn't my area of expertise, and since I hadn't made it 100% myself, if it got twisted, I'd be out of options.
Still not used to the prototype's way of speaking, I sighed again and again.
“Sigh.”
[Don’t worry! I’m worth that much of an investment, aren’t I! I’ll definitely be worth the money!]
“Your broken AI and the repair costs are problems, but there’s a more serious problem than that.”
[Pardon? What is it?]
To be honest, if I could have stayed in the workshop and focused solely on repairing the prototype, I could have probably fixed the engine in about six months.
But the reality was that I was running around trying to make money, and I had to be careful and watch my back just to enter the secret workshop.
The problem was here.
“As you know, I am a genius.”
[Of course! Master is an immortal meister, a genius of the century, and the greatest engineer of all time, never to be seen again!]
Some unnecessary embellishments were attached, but it was true, so I let it slide.
“But what if I, right now, were to do simple manual labor without being able to utilize this brain?”
[What? But why! I judge that it is absolutely not of your own free will, Master?]
“Of course it’s not my will. I am currently being forcibly bound by an inefficient custom and being forced to follow a stuffy tradition!”
I wasn't sure why I was venting to an AI, but perhaps because my emotions were running high, the words came out easily.
[Forcibly… Who would dare to force Master?!]
“Sometimes, things like that just happen. It could be a matter of relationships with relatives, or a problem with one’s status.”
[Who is it? I’m here now, so let’s just get rid of them without having to worry about what others think!]
“It’s my father.”
[Ah.]
The AI, which seemed flustered for a moment, added cheerfully.
[I see! Let’s get rid of him and inherit the throne!]
“Like that would work?!”
<><><>
Leventia was a bona fide noble family.
Though small, it had a fiefdom, and a village with subjects to rule over.
And how did this Leventia family receive its noble title and fiefdom? By the sword.
In other words, Leventia was a rather time-honored and prestigious house of swordsmanship.
“You’re late.”
My father said sternly.
Broad shoulders and a solid physique. A sharp gaze and neatly trimmed, dark-brown hair.
This man, who exuded the air of a warrior at a glance, was my father.
“I said we would eat breakfast separately, I don’t think I said anything about eating dinner separately as well.”
I hadn't intended to be this late either.
I had planned to quickly repair the prototype, confirm its activation, and be done, but I was delayed by the AI’s unexpected and spontaneous behavior.
“Were you late again because you were fiddling with those damn chunks of scrap metal?”
“It is a field of study with the respectable name of magical engineering.”
“Isn't it just a pastime for weaklings who can't stand proudly on the battlefield!”
“Who says that kind of thing these days? And magical engineering is much more profitable than swinging that damn sword.”
“That damn money! A warrior must value honor!”
“Does honor put food on the table? And I’m not a warrior.”
“You damn gearhead!”
As a vein popped on my father’s forehead and he gripped his spoon like a dagger, my mother smiled brightly and squeezed his hand tightly.
At the touch of our family’s true highest authority, my father’s tightly clenched hand began to loosen.
“Honestly, why do you two always growl at each other whenever you meet? Please try to get along.”
My father and I bickering was a common occurrence, so everyone who knew just accepted it as it was.
“Look at this wretched son! Look at him, ignorant of a warrior’s honor, going on and on about money, money, money!”
Going on about money, money, money, he says.
When it came to money, I had a lot to say as well.
“Thanks to that money you’re talking about, we have this spacious and comfortable mansion.”
“…!”
My father’s shoulders flinched.
“And Father’s sword! The sword from my workshop that you show off every time you go hunting with people from the neighboring territory! Whose money do you think made that sword?”
“Y-you brat! How can you say that after giving it to me as a birthday present!”
“If you want to look at it that way, isn’t it too much for you to talk like that after receiving an expensive, famous sword as a birthday present?”
At my logical words, my father was at a loss for words for a moment.
“Of course, I know that money is important. I also know that thanks to you, the fortunes of our declining Leventia family have been set right.”
“If you know that, then…”
“But does it make sense for the eldest son of a prestigious house of swordsmanship to not even know the basics of the sword!”
“But what can I do if I couldn't awaken my aura?”
At my words, my father was momentarily speechless.
And I, too, let out a soft sigh.
Swordsmanship this and that, to become a warrior, you had to awaken your ‘aura,’ but I had no talent for it.
Isn't it logical to give up early on something you can't do?
And it was a world where I could protect myself without any trouble, even without an aura.
“These days, knights who can't awaken their aura carry pistols, you know?”
“That’s for the rabble who have forgotten the honor of a knight and just wag their tails with their heads bowed to the royal family!”
Although knights were treated as semi-public officials, my father was the type to say things that would make the Imperial Knights flip out without a second thought.
“You are different from that rabble; you are the eldest son of the Leventia family, a prestigious house of swordsmanship with a long tradition! And the reason you haven't awakened your aura is because you're too busy fiddling with those strange chunks of scrap metal! If you properly learn our family's training method, you can awaken it!”
My father continued to speak with an air of constant excitement.
If it weren't for his obsession with the sword and aura, my relationship with my father wouldn't have been so bad.
“There is honor and pride in the long tradition of the Leventia sword!”
“And engineering is money, and our family’s livelihood.”
“Even so, you brat!”
“If you’re so concerned, there’s always Latiel. Honestly, Latiel has more talent for swordsmanship than I do, so if it's about inheriting the family’s swordsmanship…”
Wait a minute.
Where did Latiel go?
“Where is Latiel?”
When I asked my mother, a simple reply came back.
“She went out with Tania.”
For the eldest daughter, who should be learning the family’s manual labor—no, swordsmanship—in my place, to be missing from dinner!
I would have to discipline her thoroughly later.
“Anyway, Father, I despise inefficient, classical, simple manual labor.”
“Labor?! How dare you call the sacred Leventia sword training…!”
My father, his face flushing, once again gripped his spoon like a dagger and said,
“Go on, keep blabbering. That letter of recommendation for the academy you want? Not a chance!”
“No, wait a minute, Father. That’s…”
“Don’t even dream of the academy until you have properly learned the Leventia swordsmanship!”
In this era, fifteen was an adult.
And usually, fifteen-year-old boys and girls who wanted to become mages, engineers, or warriors would go to the academy.
I, too, was aiming to enter the academy, though for a slightly different purpose (?).
‘It’s always been like this, but his opposition is formidable.’
My father always reacted like this, so there was nothing to be disappointed about.
But it suddenly occurred to me that getting in through normal means might be difficult.
‘At this rate, is forging documents the only answer…’
Bang!
Suddenly, the door was thrown open violently, and a soldier, sweating profusely, entered.
“M-my Lord, it’s an emergency!”
“What is it that you’re interrupting our meal…!”
“I-it’s a monster attack!”
<><><>
It seemed to be related to the ‘strange phenomenon’ that had been witnessed near the village during the day.
From what I heard, it seemed that my father leaving early in the morning with the soldiers was also related to this.
“Monsters? Are you sure you didn't just mistake a pack of beasts?”
“They are definitely monsters! Hundreds of monsters called goblins, with the hideous green skin I've seen in old books, are swarming towards us!”
Behind my father, whose face had hardened, numerous people were moving about busily.
“All men who can wield a weapon, gather!”
“Evacuate the villagers!”
“This way!”
“Make sure to bring only your most important belongings!”
All the people of the Leventia territory were leaving their homes and gathering at the mansion.
This was because, during a recent large-scale expansion, the highest and strongest walls in the village had been erected here.
“Moooommy!”
“Don’t worry. Your father will take care of everything.”
“Waaaah! Daddy! Daaaddyyy!”
The attack hadn't happened yet, and there were no casualties.
And since I had already experienced monsters to the point of being sick of them on Earth, I wasn't particularly flustered.
However.
Amidst the chaotic screams, I heard a familiar ringing in my ears.
-Da… ddy… Daddy…
‘Ah, damn it.’
A bad memory surfaced.
I thought I was fine now, but a fever was slowly rising throughout my body.
My head spun, and I even felt dizzy.
And my purpose, which had seemed to be gradually fading, came to mind.
-Kill the monsters.
-Every single monster that exists in this world.
-Without leaving a single one behind.
-I will kill them all.
Before my thoughts were even finished, my feet were already moving.
“Raniel? Raniel! Where are you going!”
I heard my mother calling me from behind, but I didn't stop walking.
My mother tried to grab me, but she was blocked by the surging crowd.
In that time, I quickly slipped out of the entrance and headed for the secret workshop.
I entered the barn, channeled mana in the set pattern, and as I went straight down the revealed stairs.
[Master. I have been waiting.]
“Did you detect them?”
[Of course. A total of 217 hostile entities. Type: small species, designation: Goblin. Their reproductive capabilities are extremely developed, so they’re disgusting creatures that multiply endlessly like cockroaches!]
Its way of speaking was still annoying, but it was at least doing its job.
Maybe the AI’s condition wasn't as bad as I thought.
“Seeing as you’re doing your job, I guess you haven’t gone completely crazy.”
[I understand Master’s heart better than anyone! Should I say we are one in mind and body?]
No. Correction.
It seems this thing is still a little crazy.
My head hurt, but now was not the time to worry about that.
As I put my body inside the prototype’s open external armor, the inner frame closed around me with a rough metallic sound, as if enveloping my body.
“Whatever. You finished the terrain scan earlier, right? Show me.”
As I equipped the prototype, a topographical map of the territory, seemingly grasped through the scan, was drawn, and within it, tiny red and green dots appeared.
I immediately recognized the display, which marked hostile entities in red and allies in green, just as it had in my past life.
“What’s your status?”
[Damage rate 86%, output is limited to 8%.]
“What armaments are usable?”
[Aether Particle Cannon unusable, engine boosters unusable… In fact, among the main armaments, the high-mass blade is all there is.]
The high-mass blade.
‘Of all things, a sword…’
It wasn't a good weapon in this situation.
But if it was only about 200 goblins.
This was a much better situation than the desperate ones I had experienced twice in my past life.
I checked the status of the prototype's main body and asked quietly.
“How long can it operate?”
[15 seconds.]