With a satisfied expression, she straightened in her seat. The cleaning chamber door slid open with a mechanical hiss, and five compact drones glided out. Without wasting a second, the robots moved toward the veranda and began meticulously removing the pitch-black, sticky sludge her body had expelled. Watching them work, Elenor stretched contentedly before heading toward the kitchen.
"I can't take this anymore… I need to drink water."
She grabbed a large pitcher and a glass from the shelves. After filling the pitcher to the brim, she returned to the living room and settled back into her chair. Within seconds, she had drained the entire container—but what she felt surprised her.
'Strange… Why hasn't my thirst diminished at all?'
She had just swallowed nearly two liters of water, yet the dryness in her throat had not lessened in the slightest. Rising from her seat, she refilled the pitcher, returned, and drank again. The result was the same. Elenor's brows knit together in astonishment.
'How much water did my body lose?'
Only after consuming close to five liters did her body finally respond and relax. LYRA had absorbed the water into her system at an astonishing speed, distributing it directly to her cells. Now she felt far more invigorated. She stood up and stretched thoroughly before stepping onto the veranda. Drawing in a deep, refreshing breath, she smiled faintly.
"Mhmm~ That's much better."
Without delay, she moved to the table on the veranda. The sight of the two kilograms of ribs resting on it made a thin line of saliva gather at the corner of her mouth, and her stomach growled loudly, as if a beast were trapped inside.
"If I wait any longer, I'll lose control and eat the meat raw from hunger!"
She quickly tapped the table's touch panel. The fire pit at its center burst into flames instantly. After pressing the panel a few more times, the table's mechanism activated; charcoal poured into the pit and was soon covered with a heavy cast-iron grill. She pulled the couch closer to the table.
After arranging the lamb ribs carefully onto plates, she went to the carrier containing her belongings and retrieved bread, lavash, cheese, olives, lettuce, apples, and pears. By the time she had placed everything on the table, the fire had reached the perfect intensity. She stepped back into the kitchen and grabbed a sharp knife along with a wooden cutting board.
Just as she was about to leave the kitchen again, she suddenly stopped. Her stomach growled once more—this time far more violently—and she paused to think.
'I was thirsty enough to drink five liters of water… It's like my watch has consumed every nutrient reserve in my body. I feel as though I haven't eaten in three days. My stomach is clawing at itself… There's no way I'll be satisfied with what's already here.'
She hurriedly set down what she was carrying on the veranda, then returned to the kitchen and pulled another five kilograms of ribs from the refrigerator, carrying them outside as well. The still-frozen ribs were placed near the fire to thaw. The already-defrosted cuts she tossed onto the grill, where they began to sizzle loudly. Then she swiftly chopped the other ingredients on the table and arranged them onto small breakfast plates.
Before long, a rich, mouthwatering aroma of roasting meat filled the entire veranda. Elenor closed her eyes as if entranced and inhaled deeply; her stomach answered the scent with eager, rumbling protests.
"Mhmm~ I'm starving."
After carefully turning the ribs on the grill with a pair of tongs, she gracefully picked up a slice of apple from the table and placed it into her mouth. Though she began chewing calmly, her mind had only one focal point—to satisfy her hunger as soon as possible. Even so, out of habit ingrained over years, she took care not to abandon her elegance while eating.
As she waited for the meat to cook through, she continued snacking on the cheese, olives, fresh bread, and honey laid out on the table.
Soon, the ribs reached the exact doneness she preferred. Elenor transferred the cooked pieces onto a wide plate, then immediately opened the newly brought meat packages and arranged them on the grill without delay. The appetizing sizzling sounds rising from the meat spread across the entire veranda. After neatly arranging the ribs on her plate, she tied a cloth around her neck to protect her clothes.
'These are the only clothes I have right now. My new pajamas aren't wearable—or even cleanable—because of that strange filth my body expelled. I can't risk staining these too.'
She picked up one rib and bit into it with composed refinement, never compromising her table manners. Within minutes, she had finished the two kilograms of lamb ribs with evident appetite—yet there was not the slightest trace of happiness or satisfaction on her face. She clasped her hands together and rested her arms on the table; the watch on her left wrist reflected both the sunlight above and the flames blazing in the fire pit, its metallic surface gleaming. Her brows were drawn together in a hard frown.
'…Why don't I feel full at all? Two kilograms of ribs would normally push my limits. It used to be more than enough to completely satisfy me—and I'm not even counting everything else I ate at the table.'
With serious, questioning eyes, she surveyed what remained. Cheese, olives, honey, jam, chocolate, salami, apples, pears, salad… Nearly everything was gone, yet the hollow emptiness in her stomach refused to disappear.
'First water, now nutrients…'
She instinctively reached for the watch on her wrist to check her condition, but paused when she noticed the grease coating her fingers.
'Let me finish this meal completely first, then I'll examine the watch in detail… I absolutely need to look into LYRA's energy source. I hope this insatiable appetite is only temporary. There's enough food in the laboratory to last me a few months at the moment, but if this continues, I'll be in trouble. I need to establish a garden and begin my own production as soon as possible.'
As these plans ran through her mind, she transferred the newly cooked meat from the grill onto her plate and resumed eating without hesitation. Her elegance remained intact; even alone in a shelter, she refused to devour her food like a starving animal. After gently blowing on the steam rising from the hot meat, she took a composed bite. The taste spread across her tongue pleasantly—yet something was missing.
'I wish I'd added some spices, but I was too hungry to wait or search the kitchen for ingredients.'
She chewed slowly until the texture of the meat completely broke down in her mouth, in no hurry whatsoever.
'My body and brain must fully register that I'm eating. Eating too fast is inefficient; swallowing without chewing each bite at least thirty times won't help suppress this hunger.'
She wiped the grease slipping from the corner of her lips with her fingertip, tore off a piece of bread, and ate it as well. Within minutes, she had consumed another five kilograms of ribs. Leaning back with visible fatigue, she remained still for a while, staring blankly at the ceiling.
'…I still feel hungry… There's a slight sense of fullness, but it's incomplete. This situation is truly not good. If my appetite remains at this level, I'll exhaust all my provisions within two months.'
Rising with heavy steps, she cleared the table. After placing the dirty dishes into the machine, she carefully washed her hands and brushed her teeth. When she returned to the veranda, the drones inside the house were still in the midst of their cleaning cycle.
'Now it's time to fully analyze this new toy.'
Elenor reclined into a comfortable chair. Ignoring the strange dead weight she felt in her body, she raised her left arm into the air. She navigated swiftly through the menu options and selected the heading she was looking for.
[Altarez Legacy]
• L.Y.R.A. – Lifelink Yoked Reprogramming Activator
• Mecha Project: 4th Generation Blood Queen Garuda
• Armor Project: 6th Generation Combat Armor PLT-01
• Gift for My Granddaughter: Silver Wolf
• Gift for My Granddaughter: Nano Suit
• Mana-Powered Heavy Crank Cannon – 5th Generation
• Sky Heavy Battleship Anka – 3rd Generation …
Elenor stared in astonishment at the hundreds of different projects where her grandfather's mechanical genius had clearly been unleashed.
'I wouldn't expect anything less from you, you rotten old man.'
Originally, she had intended to examine the technical specifications of the watch first—but when she noticed the "gifts" section in the list, her curiosity overpowered her discipline. She clicked on the first item:
[Silver Wolf].
The moment Elenor tapped the [Silver Wolf] heading appearing on the hologram, her eyes lit up with excitement at the design displayed before her. A smile she could not suppress curved across her lips as she murmured to herself.
'So that's the name of my beautiful new baby that arrived in the giant cargo.'
The screen in front of her displayed the full technical specifications and a three-dimensional model of the silver motorcycle she had seen inside that enormous package in the cargo bay. Elenor began examining each line meticulously.
[Silver Wolf]
• Design Purpose: To create a gift that my one and only granddaughter would love and be able to travel with safely!
• Length: 3 meters
• Width: 90 cm
• Height: 1.4 meters
Elenor let out a low whistle when she saw the figures.
It's really much bigger than ordinary motorcycles… I suppose I didn't observe it carefully enough at first glance. The moment I noticed it inside the package, I practically fell in love at first sight. I was so overwhelmed with excitement that I couldn't gather my thoughts to examine the details.
Her gaze slid swiftly to the next line:
• Speed Limit: 500 km/h
Elenor's eyes gleamed once more. Unable to conceal her astonishment, she reacted out loud.
"A 500 speed limit?! This thing is the fastest monster in motorcycle history! And now it's completely mine! Grandfather, I forgive at least half of the horrible suffering you put me through!"
However, within seconds, her logic reasserted control, and her exhilaration gave way to a flicker of concern. She analyzed the situation internally.
"But there's no way my body could withstand that speed… Riding that fast without protection would be outright suicide."
With growing curiosity, she continued reading:
• Impact Resistance: Extremely durable
• Defense Module: Energy barrier
• Fuel:
o Mana crystals
o Solar energy
o Electrical energy
o Petroleum / Gasoline / Diesel / All kinds of natural fuels
Seeing this versatility, Elenor let out a soft chuckle.
"So it's not easily damaged, it can deploy an energy shield to protect both itself and me, and it can be charged with almost any type of fuel. My new baby is magnificent in every sense of the word… But not being able to use it right now hurts even more…"
She scrolled down the screen and moved on to the additional features and modes:
√ Silent Mode: A system developed to regulate the engine's noise level. When switched to full silent mode, the sound level drops to near zero.
√ Climbing Mode: The wheel structure transforms, allowing the motorcycle to climb vertical and flat walls.
√ Terrain Mode: By subtly altering its structure, the motorcycle ensures smooth travel across rough roads, forests, and mountainous regions.
√ Computer System: The motorcycle is not merely a vehicle but a walking computer and intelligence network. It can establish satellite connections and supports internet access, communication, location tracking, music, and film playback.
Special Note: The headlights can project holographic images. Thus, my granddaughter can comfortably watch movies outdoors.
Elenor was thoroughly impressed by these details of comfort and advanced technology. Yet the next heading made it clear that things were becoming far more serious:
√ Weapon Systems: I cannot allow my granddaughter to step into the world defenseless! Especially while creatures called men lust after her perfection! I have integrated a weapon system powered by mana crystals, capable of converting mana energy into lethal energy rounds. Designed based on plasma and laser technologies. It can also be powered by solar and electrical energy.
By the time she reached this point, Elenor had already surrendered her heart to the vehicle. But upon reading the explanation of the weapon systems, her eyebrow twitched involuntarily. Her grandfather's overprotective tendencies could sometimes reach truly absurd extremes.
'…Grandfather, I understand that you installed the weapon systems to keep me safe, but… you and Uncle Omar are men too. With that explanation, aren't you insulting yourselves as well?'
As if to scatter those thoughts from her mind, she gave her head a light shake.
"Ah, whatever. In the end, I now have a highly equipped vehicle that will be incredibly useful."
She continued following the list:
√ Flight Mode: I have mounted foldable wings to the front wheel section. With the help of these wings, the motorcycle can fly; thus, my granddaughter will be able to traverse distances through the air when necessary.
Elenor's eyebrows rose in astonishment.
'Wow! I truly wasn't expecting that… Flying would be such an intriguing experience. But I must be careful; if I ascend too high, I won't withstand the pressure. And traveling through the air at that speed could be quite problematic as well.'
Her mind immediately began evaluating alternatives at high speed.
I need to make an emergency outfit… Wait a second, I had another gift. The Nano Suit… Could it have been designed precisely for situations like this?
Her hand drifted instinctively toward the watch on her wrist, but she stopped herself midway. She shook her head lightly to refocus.
I should finish reading my baby's features first. There's no need to rush.
√ Underwater Mode: The wings and body transform, turning the motorcycle into a small submarine. It can travel both on the surface of the water and beneath it.
'…Grandfather, you truly are overdoing it.'
√ Autonomous Mode: The motorcycle can instantly detect LYRA's location and independently move toward those coordinates.
√ Remote Control: The vehicle can be operated directly via LYRA through remote command.
When Elenor finished reading, she realized that the technological marvel before her was not merely a means of transportation, but a companion capable of enduring and overcoming any hardship alongside her.
'Two more extremely useful features.'
√ Security Protocol
The motorcycle requires three keys: DNA, facial recognition, and LYRA. Without these, it will not operate. If someone attempts to start it by force without them, or tries to take the motorcycle without possessing any one of these authentications, it will protect itself by discharging high voltage. NO ONE WILL TAKE MY GRANDDAUGHTER'S GIFT AWAY! HAHAHA!
Elenor's eyebrow twitched. Her grandfather was still a narcissist.
But the good part is that Silver Wolf is completely mine. No one but me can ride it. No one can steal it.
She continued reading.
√ Radar Systems
Detects whether there are living beings nearby as well as rift monsters, displaying them instantly on the map. If monsters are close, it can warn my granddaughter in advance.
√ Spy Drones
I have added two armed spy drones to the motorcycle, allowing my granddaughter to scout the areas she plans to explore or stay in beforehand.
Elenor's eyes sparkled brightly.
My adorable Silver Wolf far exceeds the motorcycle of my dreams! Grandfather, this time you truly prepared the best gift!
Her mind immediately shifted into analytical mode.
This motorcycle would be invaluable even inside the rifts. From a strategic standpoint, it has countless applications. If I enter a rift, I'll leave this baby right beside the rift gate. If the interior isn't a sealed space, I can summon it with my watch.
With visible reluctance, Elenor exited the Silver Wolf interface and turned to her other gift.
[Nano Suit]
• Purpose of Production
√ It is an outfit integrated with the features of Silver Wolf. The suit has also been designed for my granddaughter's developing body. I investigated the reason behind Elenor's abnormally increasing height and the growth of her chest and hip measurements. As a result of my research, I discovered that her physical development was caused by a medication I administered to her when she suffered a severe illness in the past. Recently, I gave her a suppressor drug; it will halt the growth, but her current body measurements will now remain fixed. Unfortunately, due to mutations in her tissue structure and fat composition, reducing them is impossible! If I had not injected the suppressor, the growth would have continued. The estimated upper limits I calculated were two, even three times her current measurements.
My beautiful granddaughter would have been forced to become a giant. Thankfully, I was able to diagnose it early. The consequences would have been catastrophic. Her body should now have stabilized, but having clothes made at these measurements must be troublesome. So I created clothing for her using nanobots. With this suit, she will be able to use the motorcycle's features comfortably and will no longer have to worry about her outfits.
Elenor's eyes widened. Her eyebrows twitched wildly as she lowered her gaze and looked at the two large mounds beneath her vision, then returned to the Nano Suit's description. She rubbed her eyes slowly, as if hoping the words would rearrange themselves into something less absurd.
"…So the culprit was that drug."