Vol 1 Chapter 6 (1/2)

Episode 6 - Atelier of Machine Dragons and Enrolment Exams

Part 1

Castle town of the I roouest were sitting

Five Years Ago, April

The feudal lord of the North East froathered the resistance of every place and raised an uprising 20 days later

Coupled with the support of neighboring countries, he was ready to lead an arhts and decided to invade the Imperial Capital

To convey this very iil came

It was exactly ten days before his little sister Airi was to head to the Frontier Count

Fugil, who tightly wrapped himself in a robe from head to toe, sat on a seat at the table illuhtly stuck out his head

“Theas planned, little brother As you planned, everything is going well”

“Thank you”

Lux bowed and then put the Sword Device which he earing on the table

“I’m also ready”

“As expected of you, little brother”

Fugil who heard that nodded with admiration

“You’ve far exceeded est user in the history, you displayed your ability by gaining several hundred victories in the training and inally, that unprecedented exploit is so which should be praised all over the country and also by the E corrupted to the root”

In a voice nation, he continued further

“You’re the illegitimate seventh Prince Moreover, you’re a person who objected to the politics of the Empire No matter how much skill you have –– even if you are praised for your achievearner attention towards blood legitimacy This means that such a person can’t be a “Hero””

“I’ve never thought to set myself up as a hero Just––”

“I know”

To the answer of the calil smiled

“But, I'll ask you once again, shouldn’t you stop that way of fighting? You don’t expressly have to put yourself in danger in order to save the eneh there will be sacrifices, you can choose a safer way––”

Not even shaken by the voice of Fugil who invited him, Lux raised his face

“This way, even supposing that the plan succeeds, there will be no ”

“Most men of the ar the absolute weapon which is the Drag-Ride, they would blindly obey orders of oppression andof innocent people So, you can’t assert that they have no responsibility”

“But, they ht just be forced to execute orders which they don’t want Even the people of the army have family”

“Phew… Geez, your resolve deserves great admiration”

Fugil, somewhat amazed, smile wryly and then stood up

“Well then, see you in three days then As per your instructions, I will coive me a definite answer Whether you will cooperate with a <wyvern> and fight alongside my <bahamut>? Or––”

“……………”

“Like I thought, we should kill those guys and cut off the bad habit Will you keep asking about so for what you are trying to change? As a Prince of the Empire, if you possess the pride to fulfill it, then––”

“…I’m––”

Looking at Lux who did not change his expression, Fugil got ready to go back

And with a hand, holding back Lux who tried to stand up and see him off, he slowly opened his mouth

“Ah, which reate about About the medication and experi”

“––Yes”

To the words which were released, Lux showed a faint agitation

The trend of the androcracy which went to extremes

All the women are tools

In the imperial traditional culture, the fact that woranted

The scene where any male aristocrat irls of poor family as an outlet of his desire and manpoas not unusual

But this ti

The extre affair where the irls for a certain special human experimentation

On the surface, it was a clinical trial for ue

However, in reality, it was human experimentation for poison and weapon

With the fact that the majority of the results were either unknown after-effects or death, they returned to their family

“Young children –– A them, it seems that a subject chosen by a certain standard was the most suitable for the experiment; and this time, even several noble children seera that childhood friend of yours ho with”

“…………”

The htly stiffened

“It seems that the elder sister Relie went to the i, but, she was flatly refused And it seein within teeks at the earliest”

“Understood”

Even so, i his composure, Lux answered

“Then later, little brother I believe in your resolution”

Fugil left the mansion before one could noticed

However, there was only darkness and the sound of rain there

Part 2

Several days since Lux caht Academy

Lux was spending his first holiday in a two person rooirl’s dormitory

“––Nii-san, Nii-san! Please get up”

“Hmm…”

Feeling so his body, Lux woke up

“Airi …?”

As he half-opened his eyes against sleepiness, he first saw his little sister’s face Then, the near ceiling of the bunk beds came into view

Airi see to wake him up

“Get down quickly and co room I have to talk with you”

“Ngh… Understood”

Probably because it was a holiday, Airi wasn't wearing her school uniform, but a casual chic dress

For Lux who had hardly lived in the same place as her, with only that, deed emotions welled up within him, but––

“I wonder how many years it’s been since you have come to wake me up, Airi”

“More i of this?”

The skin around the eyes of Airi who smiled suddenly darkened

“Ah, no, um…”

Gently holding the cheeks of Lux who unintentionally averted his face with her hands, she glared at him with scornful eyes

“During the time I didn’t see you, you’ve beco room in less than three minutes”

“You don’t even give e my clothes?”

“Is that so? So usually, you change your clothes leisurely with your roommate around”

Turning a fleeting glance under the bunk bed, Airi said

To her cold voice, Lux could only answer “I will come at once”

“Well then, I’, so”

See amazed, Airi briskly left the room

“Haa, don’t get angry…”

“Munyah… Lu-chan”

At the sleep-talking of Philphie which could be heard from under the bed, Lux smile wryly

“I’ Phi-chan”

Part 3

The dining rooirl’s dormitory was opened even on holidays

However, since the time when meals were offered, was fixed, even if one woke up early in the et a meal immediately

So, there were al holidays

In theeach other on the seats of a small table

“It’s good to see that you’ve considerably gotten used to the acadeh”

Airi said such sarcasm as she sipped her tea

“Like I said…, that was inevitable… When I searched, the girl’s dormitory had no vacant room, and I don’t knohy, but there was no roommate in only Philphie’s room, um––”

“Hmm Thus, you may stay at the room of a female childhood friend, huh It’s indecent, extremely immoral Would you like me to tell Principal Relie?”

“I’ve already told Relie-san about it And then, she replied “I leave my little sister to you”, “it’s fine if it’s Lux-kun” with a smile…”

In the end, Lux was sent to Philphie's rooirl’s dormitory until a place where he could stay was found

Philphie, as usual with her easy-going personality, far fro it seemed to be pleased, but Lux spent every day where he could not sleep easily

It seeirls of the Triad and Airi already knew about it, but they wanted to keep this matter a secret as much as possible

“It looks like before correcting Nii-san’s common sense, I should first admonish the principal, eh…”

As her exchanges with Relie ihed

“So, what business do you have with me today? Airi”

“Ara, so I can’t talk with you if I have no business? Nii-san”

Lux’s question was returned with a mischievous smile

Unlike a long tio when she had a weak constitution, she had beco

“Well then, errr… are you doing well in the academy, Airi?”

“Yes, everyone takes good care of me, so Nii-san doesn’t need to worry about me”

“I see You’re loved by everyone, huh”

“Don’t put it like that”

He s smile

“…As expected, you’re good at dealings with things as usual”

Lux said with a wry ss

Even if she was ejected frole early, Airi was a “woman” of royalty

When her , her position became complicated in various ways; if she did not acquire a detere, she would not have been able to survive so far

When he thought so, he also thought of wanting to spoil her more as her brother, but

“And Nii-san as usual seeed only into troubles and difficulties If you need any help, please tell me”

“…Ah, it’s all right”

Without words to return co out, Lux returned a mixed smile

It looked like he was the one getting spoiled

Really,

“Do you also have jobs from now on today?”

“Yes After eating breakfast, it’s been planned that I will go to the “Atelier” in the academy”

“Is it for a request from a student?”

“I think it’s fro business”

“Without it, you would have received invitations for a date on the holiday fro ladies, eh”

“W-What are you saying!? There would be no such thing––”

When Lux got flustered as he was teased,

“Haa…, this is why Nii-san is… Though you’ve been like that since long ago Please, be a little aware of how others see you Thanks to the fact that Nii-san stood out early, I also receive a lot of requests for you, you know?”

Airi said so with a sigh

“Eh…?”

“I wonder what the young ladies here are thinking, asking to arrange a place where they can speak with Nii-san or to casually appeal for them”

“…Really!?”

“Yes In the Old Empire, women of citizen level or beloere oppressed, and even most of the noble woe, so they apparently never felt that much close to men”

“…I wonder if it’s what you call peace”

“I think it’s a little exaggerated to say peace, but since the establishdom, there has been noit It’s only been five years since the Old Empire which laid out a tyrannical rule for many years has been destroyed I’dom, it’s still like a dream, like they are in the middle of a happy festival”

She whispered and then sipped her tea

Contrary to her cynical words, Airi’s expression did not seem that dissatisfied

“Yes, it would be good if it continues like this forever”

“For that, don’t forget our other purpose Okay, Nii-san?”

Theroom, Airi dropped the tone of her voice

“… Yes, I know”

Similarly in a lower tone, Lux replied

“Then, I can feel relieved The analysis regarding the output of that Machine Dragon will be over soon, so until then––”

As Lux nodded, Airi finished drinking her tea and stood up

“Huh? Aren’t you eating breakfast with h––”

“I’ll pass If just the two of us are seen by everyone of the class, they're likely to be jealous after all”

To Airi’s words which posed as a joke, Lux smiled wryly

“No, there’s no way that would happen After all –– we’re siblings”

“Besides, if we’re together anymore than this, I would be more reluctant to leave”

She said in a srance of tea

“Eh…?”

“It’s a joke, Nii-san Well then, please be careful so as not to draw out that sword”

Saying so at the end, Airi left the dining room

Part 4

After finishi+ng his breakfast, Lux decided to begin today’s chores

By the way, the written requests addressed to Lux, far fro as the curiosity at first disappeared, increased in number as time passed, and he had already reached a physically impossible domain Therefore, Lux settled down in the way of whether to accept the tasks judging froree of relative priority

“Well, I’ days off, so it’s fine anyway”

Rustlingly looking through the bundle of requests dropped in, Lux sighed

The jobs such as watering the flower bed, studying and helping with cleaning the dormitory were still better

Baggage carrier for shopping, help changing clothes,tea a party and the like exceeded theup of public and privateLux for a butler or so

“…I mean, about half of them aren’t jobs that I, a man, should do!?”

He unintentionally retorted to the bundle of requests

But, this was not a joke and since there seemed to be a lot of students who have written seriously, he had a headache

Be that as it iven priority, he could use them as an excuse and turned down those requests, so for now he could relax

The job which he had to do today was a request from the academy

[Workplace] Royal Knight Acadeon research and development site, Atelier

[Client] Machine Dragon Research and Development Chief

[Work contents] Machine Dragon Operation Test

The atelier was a large detached building located in the corner of the school premises

He had several ti-Rides was a first for him

He was slightly anxious about doing a job he was not fa forward to it

Originally, he intended to coons, so it elco

“Excuse me It’s Lux Acadia I came for the commissioned work”

He lightly knocked and greeted in a loud voice

“…………”

However, the answer to Lux’s greeting which was slightly tinged with tension was only silence

“Huh…?”

He once again checked by looking at his requests note and the acade clock

There was no error

Both the place and tiht––

As he tried to turn the doorknob, he found that it was not locked

“That’s really careless…”

The existence and technology of Drag-Rides should be top secret in any country

Just because it’s within the school preht

While s wryly, Lux quietly stepped inside

“Excuse me Is there anyone––”

Lux unintentionally sed his voice which he was about to utter

A large space in this brick building filled with the smell of oil and metals

At the back where innumerable parts and tools were scattered about, there was a monster

In the court of the io

Since he becaons in the Machine Dragon hangar before holding a mock battle

But––, this was totally different from them

A strange Machine Dragon which fused halves of the bodies of a <wyvern> and a <wyrm> was over there

“This is––?”

“Ngh… what the heck is it? So noisy––”

As Lux was looking at it in utter amazement, he suddenly heard a voice from the nearby sofa

“Lisha-sama…?”

Sleeping there covered with a thin blanket was Lisha dressed in a white gown on her uniform

Probably because she had stayed overnight, her whole body got slightly dirty and her hair was also slightly disheveled

Incidentally, her uniform was also very messy and her blouse was turned inside out Lux unintentionally averted his gaze

“What are you doing in a place like this?”

“…Huh? Lux, why are you here––? …Ah, I see Now I remembered, I had requested you Fuhaa…”

While rubbing her sleepy eyes, Lisha said so which he did not really understand

When Lux went out again and got tea in the dining rooulp

“Fufu You’re quite thoughtful, eh, Lux As expected of the ed!”

With a behavior unlike a Princess’, Lisha showed a happy smile

She probably caht

“GoodBy the here is the chief of the atelier?”

As Lux asked after cal down,

“Here, here, right before your eyes”

Lisha pointed at her small face and said

“Yes?”

“You still haven’t noticed? It looks like I need to soht! I’ that I’m the chief”

“…Eh?”

No, she’s certainly wearing a gohich seems to be for work, but…

Honestly, it only looked like a child’s playing attire

The heed on the floor

“Whew You’re very good at provocation All right, I’ll ride on it”

As Lisha proudly laughed, she drew out the tord Devices hanging on her waist at the same time

“…!” “––Co wedge against Heaven and Earth <chimeric wyvern=””>!”

At that on which could be seen at the back of the atelier turned into photons, and was transferred behind Lisha

“This is––!?”

“A connection should not be necessary All right, go back”

Lisha simultaneously wielded her tord Devices and put them in the sheath

Then, the Machine Dragon which was suht particles, and went back to the depths of the warehouse

“…What is it, that thing?”

Staring in wonder at it, Lux muttered

“How’s that, were you surprised?”

Lisha, as pleased with Lux’s reaction folded her arms and stuck out her chest with pride

“<chi-Ride which I’ve developed”

Lux doubted his ears

“––!?”

Drag-Rides were ancient weapons excavated in ruins

Since they had been discovered o, their concrete principle even now reree of either installing the existing parts or replacing them could be performed

A reon like this should existed nowhere in the world––

“If you can process the Mithril Dite and Force Core, there sees which can be produced Afterward, the performance and output of that body are quite impressive, but it’s a little neck that one has to use tord Devices for the activation”

He had never heard about the fusion of two kinds of Machine Dragons and dual wielding Sword Devices

If she had coinal irl concealed an uniineer

“Um, who are you really, Lisha-sama?”

“Fufu Did you get a better opinion of me?”

S contentedly, Lisha sat on the chair before the work unit and looked up at Lux

“Praise me more You know, it isn’t because I have the position of the Princess of the New Kingdo you adave results enough to be entrusted a personal atelier at this age How’s that, are you surprised?”

“By the way, at the back there, there is so which looks like a serious burn h…”

As Lux pointed at the room kept opened as the door was broken and asked,

“…Failure is the mother of success”

Holding down her slight agitation, Lisha asserted

Not inquiring any further, Lux asked

“Perhaps is this research the reason why you always sleep during class?”

“That’s half correct But, I do properly listen to lectures and I can’t really be half asleep during the practical training Instructor Raigree is also totally merciless to on’s training or don’t take it seriously, I’ll have a hard time She really deserves respect”

Lisha was not sarcastic; she really admired her

“Then, what about the other half?”

“Take this, it’s your Sword Device”

Not answering the question, Lisha took the Sword Device which was on the desk and handed it to Lux

That which Lux received was undeniably the swordhis <wyvern>

“If I’m not mistaken, I should have asked the mechanic for the repair of this––”

“Yes I’ve fixed your Drag-Ride here”

As she smoothly said so as if it was a matter of course, Lux doubted his ears

A Machine Dragon’s repair, maintenance and adjustment were so difficult that an expert other than the user was required

Lux’s <wyvern> was partially destroyed in the fight with the Abyss, so he thought it would take quite the time and money to repair it, but––

“Is it true!?”

“It’s the Machine Dragon of the hero who saved the school You don’t really have to be surprised But, I stayed up all night several days and finished it just this ”

“Thank you very much!”

Lux unintentionally boith a smile

She was skilled to the extent of taking apart two Machine Dragons and building a new Machine Dragon

For a naturally gifted engineer like Lisha, this ht be simple

But, even Lux could easily iirl alone to repair a Machine Dragon built of a large, heavy metal

“H to see you so happy… P-Praise me more; if y-you can even pat my head––”

Lisha suddenly blushed and lightly scratched her head

And looking at Lux who asked back “eh?”, she cleared her throat confusedly

“W-Well then, test it at once to see whether it moves properly”

“Yes”

Lux drew the Sword Device hung on the belt of his waist and muttered the pass code

“––Coon which is the symbol of power Obey my sword and fly, <wyvern>”

Light particles gathered before Lux and it instantly transferred –– summoned beside him

There, his blue Machine Dragon which should have been destroyed was completely––

“Huh…?”

Lux cocked his head in puzzlement

Completely –– the appearance was different fro

Aons, the <wyvern> was the Machine Dragon with the flight ability

Lux had the ht ability) as a base and put on a thicker armor, but…

“Hey, what is this!?”

There was a strange dragon with an abominable appearance there

Breath Guns linked on both shoulders and an injection port for flight in the back and legs

Although the large-sized blade which he was using before reree, more than half of the thick armor was chipped off and became sharp like the blade of a naked sword

“Ah, while I was repairing it, it was interesting in various ways So I remodeled it a little”

“This is beyond the level of ‘a little’!? You’ve even installed so like a drill on the left hand!? What is this!?”

“Oh that? It’s cool, right? It’s a rare parts even a those found in the ruins”

To Lisha who looked happy, Lux was at a loss for words

He recalled the bad things about the engineers and crafts his previous odd jobs up until now

“To begin with, it’s weird That Drag-Ride which you were using, that is”

Before he could speak, Lisha began to talk

“In addition to the basic air fra stuck here and there Things like uselessly thickening the arht are stuff that a complete ainal perfor from the appearance, it’s too lame”

“No, I don’t think appearance has anything to do with it…”

To Lisha’s angry look, Lux, though restrained, rebutted But,

“Are you an idiot! Concerning Drag-Rides, functionality is first, and the coolness is the secondat this, I will becoainst such a quack Machine Dragon!”

“…………”

It’s a cruel way of putting it…

Lux thought so and sighed

“Us But, could you return it to hoas? That was the handiest for me and I was also used to it, so––”

What Lisha said was not off the mark

No, it was apainfully true, in the first place, it was all as she said, but––, even so Lux had a reason for why he didn't want to change it

“…No matter what?”

“Yes, please”

He bowed his head

“It can’t be helped, eh Even though this re took a lot of time…”

Rather, didn’t it take ti?

Lux could not help but think so, but Lisha, while grumpy, somehow compromised

“It’s all right if the ar the ers and Wire Tail the sub-weapons I will thicken the whole armor mainly with the PL – 12 type, I'll also raise both the barrier and output, and as for the roar generator of the head, with a high output possible type––”

“Yes, please”

As Lux answered, Lisha proan the maintenance with practiced movements

“But you know, it’s weird after all This Drag-Ride…”

Lisha muttered so with an expression which was not somewhere lively

“It’s really strange; the balance is obviously a problem If you want to crush your opponent by endurance and firepower, it will be better to use a Ground-type Machine Dragon whose gross weight could be raised; in a Flying-type Machine Dragon which has high then the defense Rather, it will become heavy and slow, it will unnecessarily increase the burden on the user too, –– are you a masochist?”

“…………”

“Well, it’s fine There are also things which only the human user can understand after all It’s none other than your request”

Lux was relieved inwardly

Any ordinary Machine Dragon ruity to Lux’s <wyvern>

He could not talk about the reason and he could not let the reason be noticed, either, but––,

“Hey, Lux”

“…!?”

Suddenly being called to, Lux’s spine slightly shi+vered as he was taken aback

“By the way –– may I leave only the drill?”

With her loveliest smile so far, Lisha said

“You can’t”

“You’re really stingy, even though you’re just a former Prince!”

“That has nothing to do with it”

With that last exchange, the silent work continued for a while

In the early afternoon, Lux’s Machine Dragon was completely restored

For the tion was repaired

Lux felt relieved so, but,

“All right, then it’s tio”

“Eh? Where?”

“Isn’t it obvious? What do you think I stayed up all night to repair this for? Of course, it’s for your neorkplace”

Seeing Lisha with sparkling eyes, Lux got a bad feeling about this

Part 5

Even in the afternoon of the holiday, a part of the school facilities was opened