Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Chapter 31 - Iron Horse #2
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The first emotion Luther felt upon seeing the Iron Horse rise with its red eyes flashing was bewilderment.
He never imagined it could actually speak—no, wait, that it was a real Iron Horse.
‘It wasn’t just a metaphor?!’
What stood tall inside the sarcophagus was unmistakably a horse.
A massive black steed at that.
Its build was far superior to that of an ordinary warhorse, and with its steel body and glowing red eyes, the impression it gave was intensely powerful.
[Its mane is a silvery white, close to silver.]
“Oh, it matches your hair color, Integra.”
[It feels oddly subtle.]
Thanks to the bit of small talk, Luther and Integra regained their composure and examined the quietly standing Iron Horse once more as they conversed.
“For now... is it like an android? You know, a robot horse or something.”
[According to the sarcophagus data, yes.]
[However, the AI itself seems extremely basic.]
“Uh... so it can’t talk or anything?”
[Yes, it can do basics like coming when called... but complex communication is beyond it, you could say?]
“I see.”
From what he heard, it was better to think of it as a pure mount rather than a companion.
[The AI is so simple that controlling it should be easy.]
[I could pilot it by merging it with the drone.]
“Oh, so it’s like an extension of the Air Striker?”
[You could view it that way.]
He had needed to repair the Air Striker after it was completely wrecked in the recent battle, so this was a perfect replacement.
[It seems to have as many secrets as Clairheim Morr.]
[I’ll try analyzing the data for now. Please wait a moment.]
With that, Integra attached a small drone to the Iron Horse’s head and closed her eyes in concentration.
She was attempting a hack, just like with Clairheim Morr.
Luther watched her for a bit before turning his gaze back to the Iron Horse.
It looked strong at a glance, which he really liked, but staring at this horse-shaped Iron Horse started bringing practical concerns to mind.
‘But... can this thing fly?’
To truly replace the Air Striker, it needed to be able to fly.
Yet its appearance was that of a pure horse, so he wondered if it was even possible.
‘It’d still be useful for ground use... but since Integra’s more likely to pilot it than me, it probably needs to fly.’
Luther himself had Night Wing, so he didn’t strictly need a flying mount.
But viewing it as an auxiliary unit piloted by Integra, flight capability was preferable.
He had operated the Air Striker like a ‘giant drone’ from the start, after all.
‘Still, as one of the Eight Divine Relics, it must have some special ability?’
Recalling Clairheim Morr’s ultra-vibration blade, Luther began examining the Iron Horse more carefully.
Its broad shoulders, slender waist, four powerful legs, and flowing pure-white mane like flickering flames.
Luther slowly stroked the Iron Horse’s back.
The smooth metallic texture was distinctly felt even underwater.
[The rough analysis is complete.]
[Like Clairheim Morr, many parts are currently locked.]
[But basic operation should have no issues.]
[With time and persistent attempts like with Clairheim Morr, we can unlock more parts.]
Integra opened her eyes slowly and spoke in a somewhat subdued voice.
Guessing the reason, Luther tried to lighten the mood with a deliberately upbeat tone.
“Oh, so it has something like Clairheim Morr’s ultra-vibration blade... that kind of function?”
At Luther’s question, Integra nodded slightly and continued with a faint smile.
[There are currently two usable functions.]
[One is camouflage for now.]
As Integra snapped her fingers, something astonishing happened.
The steel black horse transformed into a real black horse in an instant.
“W-What?”
As the startled Luther let out a surprised voice, Integra chuckled and pretended to stroke the black horse’s neck as she said,
[Camouflage, literally—disguise.]
[The Iron Horse has far more nanomachines than Clairheim Morr.]
[Using the epidermal nanomachines, it can disguise as a real horse like this, change colors, alter textures, and blend into surroundings.]
[Try touching it. You’ll be surprised by the feel.]
At Integra’s suggestion, Luther touched the Iron Horse’s back again.
“Wow... it’s even warm?”
Not only did it have the soft fur texture of a real horse, but he could feel its warm body heat too.
At this level, even up close, anyone would mistake it for a real horse.
[It’s one generation behind invisibility mode tech, but being able to pass as a real horse is camouflage’s strength.]
Integra’s face lit up with a bright smile, delighted by Luther’s joy.
Luther stroked the back a few more times before asking excitedly,
“What’s the other one?”
The remaining function out of the Iron Horse’s two.
Instead of answering right away, Integra gave a coy smile, pretended to pat the Iron Horse’s back, and said,
[Get on first. Okay?]
What kind of function could make her act like that?
Feeling pleasantly curious, Luther mounted the Iron Horse. Integra, with her mermaid tail, sat in front of him and set it in motion.
‘Oh, it’s moving.’
As the Iron Horse lightly pawed the ground with its four legs, its body floated up momentarily due to the water.
But could a four-legged horse really swim underwater?
Just as Luther had that doubt,
[Transform, Aqua Beetle!]
Integra suddenly shouted, and the Iron Horse’s entire body shuddered before instantly shifting from a jet-black horse to a pitch-black jet ski.
“Wha-what?”
The change was so sudden he couldn’t even track what became what.
The handsome rear head of the Iron Horse right in front of him had become the jet ski’s handlebars gripped in his hands.
“Tr-Transformation?”
[Correct!]
[The Iron Horse has a transformation function, allowing three modes.]
[Aqua Beetle for underwater mobility, Land Beetle for ground mobility, and finally Sky Beetle for flight!]
[For reference, horse mode is Land Beetle.]
At Integra’s explanation, Luther blinked and looked the Iron Horse up and down.
He could kind of see how it changed upon closer inspection, but it was no ordinary transformation no matter how he looked.
“Like Night Wing, where the form itself changes?”
[It’s composite.]
[And since it’s 7th-gen nanomachines, it can’t transform freely like Night Wing—only the three forms I mentioned.]
But the Iron Horse served a different purpose from Night Wing anyway.
So Luther felt no disappointment, and Integra showed no regret either.
“Anyway, it’s amazing. So it can fly too?”
[Yes, and like with the Air Striker, combining it with parts I make will allow even more uses.]
[We can boost its combat power too!]
Imagining the Iron Horse loaded with all sorts of armaments, Luther couldn’t help but smile.
Just thinking about it was fun.
“Great, perfect.”
As expected of one of the Eight Divine Relics.
He didn’t yet know what Clairheim Morr’s ultimate form—True Star (Divine Thunder)—was, but even without the ultimate form, it was an incredibly useful mount—no, divine tool.
[Do you like it?]
“Yeah, I love it. Really.”
[Hehehe.]
Integra beamed happily, as if Luther’s joy itself delighted her, and lightly tapped his chest as she said,
[Then, Master, let’s name it.]
[Calling it just Iron Horse feels off, right?]
She was right.
So Luther pondered with an unusually serious expression.
“Tr... ombe? No, that’s too much. Copyright issues too.”
[Master?]
At Integra’s questioning what he meant, Luther muttered to himself again before furrowing his brow and saying,
“Schwarz? Or Blitz?”
[Black and lightning?]
At Integra’s question, Luther asked back with a slightly unsure face.
“Yeah... What do you think, Integra?”
Integra burst into laughter at his cute, hesitant glance-seeking, then giggled and said,
[I like Schwarz better.]
[Yeah, Schwarz.]
[I love it.]
As Integra grinned widely, Luther let out a relieved breath and smiled awkwardly.
He wasn’t confident in his naming sense.
‘But if Integra likes it, it must be good.’
Integra would bluntly say if it was lame, even if he named it.
“Phew.”
As Luther sighed in relief again, Integra giggled once more and said,
[Anyway, Master, let’s head back now.]
[We rushed out of the temple saying it was urgent without proper explanation, so there’s probably an uproar.]
“Yeah, you’re right. Let’s hurry.”
Not only had he saved the capital, but also the king—an archangel rushing out like that would make them worry something bad happened.
“Alright, Integra. Show them your skills again.”
Muttering that, Luther gripped the handlebars and accelerated, launching Schwarz.
He’d been surprisingly skilled driving the Air Striker before, and he was just as proficient now.
[Was Master a driver or racer on this planet before coming here?]
Thinking that to herself, Integra glanced at Luther focused on driving and felt her cheeks flush slightly.
His serious demeanor looked newly cool.
And so, after about twenty minutes.
With the support AI’s rose-tinted glasses a bit thicker, Luther and Integra—and Iron Horse Schwarz—arrived at the Sea Temple.
* * *
“Luther!”
The moment they reached the Sea Temple, they were met by none other than Aru.
She had been pacing anxiously at the temple entrance, and upon spotting Luther, her face lit up as she swam over.
“Luther! You vanished so suddenly, you scared me!”
Aru passed right through the invisible-to-others Integra and hugged Luther’s neck as she said that.
Her slightly reddened eyes showed she’d been truly frightened.
[There are people here too, you know?!]
With Integra puffing her cheeks after being ‘phased through,’ Aru clung to Luther’s chest and continued.
“I thought you’d just left. Like in stories... or legends’ protagonists.”
Hearing Aru, Luther finally understood why she’d worried so much.
Story protagonists often vanished after resolving events, after all.
‘Like in Westerns.’
Recalling the silently departing cowboy from a classic Western, Luther gave a wry smile without realizing.
It was too old-school.
Having understood Aru’s concern, Luther lightly patted her back and said,
“I won’t just vanish, so don’t worry.”
He’d properly said goodbyes even when leaving the west for the south.
‘Come to think of it, I wonder how Karen’s doing.’
And Max too.
As Luther briefly thought of Karen and Max, Aru looked up at him with slightly downcast eyes.
It sounded to her like he’d leave eventually.
“Aru?”
“Mm... No, anyway, Luther. Thank you so much for saving Father. You’re a benefactor to Malkuth Kingdom. And to me, of course.”
Aru’s bright, typical smile of gratitude resembled a fully bloomed flower.
“I just did what needed doing.”
“You always say that. But that’s part of your charm.”
Giggling, Aru turned to look at Schwarz, which Luther had ridden in on, and asked,
“Luther, what’s this?”
“One of the heavenly divine tools.”
“Wow... really?”
As Aru’s eyes sparkled, Luther was reminded anew that she was a huge fan of Sword Emperor Clausewitz.
So instead of saying Schwarz was the Iron Horse—one of the Eight Divine Relics—he changed the subject.
“Aru, are the others with His Majesty?”
“Yes, Luther, hurry and go. They’re all dying to thank you.”
Grinning playfully, Aru began tugging Luther’s arm toward the temple.
“Got it. I’ll park this guy and come. Wait for me.”
He couldn’t strut through the temple on the Iron Horse, after all.
At Luther’s words, Aru nodded once, then suddenly bit her lip and stared at him.
“Aru?”
“Luther.”
“Yes, Aru.”
The moment Luther replied,
Aru leaned in and planted a quick kiss on his visor.
“Just... because I’m thankful.”
Blushing as she giggled ‘ehehe,’ Aru spun around and swam toward the temple without looking back.
Her retreating figure seemed a bit like she was fleeing in embarrassment.
‘She’s shy, huh.’
Recalling Aru’s face just before turning, Luther unconsciously smiled and touched the spot on his visor where her lips had touched—but only briefly.
He felt Integra’s sullen gaze on him.
“Ahem.”
[Ahem.]
Feeling awkwardly embarrassed, Luther cleared his throat pointlessly, and Integra mimicked him exactly before saying with a very prim expression,
[The stables are that way.]
[Let’s hurry.]
[For the record, I’m not sulking at all, so don’t misunderstand. Got it?]
“Y-Yeah.”
She seemed to be emphasizing her sulk with full effort, but if she said so, fine.
Instead of dwelling, Luther set Schwarz in motion again, and Integra pouted her lips once more.