First Words and the Magic Tower Heist

"…Hamel. Explain yourself. Why'd you stop fighting and pounce on that woman instead?"

"Lululari. Lulula. Lululara."

"Right. You can't talk… I must be an idiot."

Freira chewed on her lower lip, glaring daggers at Elise. Elise, looking utterly innocent as if she'd never been rude, was now shamelessly munching on cookies.

"Oh, did I startle you? I'm a cutting-edge model, so I can even eat food. These cookies are delicious."

"…Yeah."

"For your information, I can handle cursed fruits or lubricant just fine. The Grand Duke's lady would drop dead on the spot, though."

Freira was so flabbergasted she couldn't even respond.

"My processing power rivals an entire magic tower. I'm as close to perfect as it gets."

"Hamel. Wanna take a stroll along the wall?"

She might've just decided to shut it all out.

There was a reason Elise was chattering nonstop. She was about to lose her voice soon.

I'd convinced my junior in the most rational, logical way possible.

Moments later, Elise handed me a small conical device.

This must be the vocalizer… Looks kinda weird.

I slipped it into an empty module frame where Freira wouldn't see.

The system log began verifying the module. Compatibility confirmed. Then the manufacturer's name popped up.

?

Aren't these guys the poster children for black companies? Everything they make skirts right up to the edge of illegal.

As I wondered, the module verified.

"…."

I stared at her, and Elise pulled her lip up with a finger.

"Fooled ya, VV."

A few solid forehead flicks later, she was crouching and clutching her head.

"You shouldn't hit a delicate girl. Pet me and I'll forgive you."

"…."

"If you don't pet me, I'll scream."

"…."

"Kyaaah—"

I ruffled her hair until it was all fluffy.

I snatched the cube-shaped device from her hand and slotted it into my body.

Hold up. I didn't see this coming… Am I stuck mute forever?

System log for the win. Let's roll with this.

It seemed insanely risky and inefficient, but that's how you treat machines anyway.

Ah, the trustworthy Argent. Their slogan alone absolves a thousand sins.

The module Freira and I had longed for was finally in hand.

Looking at it, their naming sense is off too. Whatever—time to babble.

"…."

"…."

I gazed soulfully at her, and Elise gave me a thumbs-up. From now on, she wouldn't be able to speak.

You can get a new one when you get back. Cheers.

I rushed to the lady and politely grabbed her collar.

Freira. I got a mouth now.

I'll build more trust with Alsanna later and tease her mercilessly in my real voice. When she starts sniffling and bawling, I'll comfort her tons.

Freira turned her head and puffed out her cheeks a bit.

"Huh? Hamel… You didn't do anything weird with that Argent girl, right?"

You're the only one for me, Lady Freira.

Perfect. Historic first babble achieved!

For real? No, don't bullshit me.

Opening one mouth drains the core that much…?

So it's like buying a car, but parts don't fit so it's running on sheer willpower?

I muted it. Don't try to sell me that crap.

Having called her out only for me to stand there like a mute fool, Freira tilted her head.

"…Got it. You wanna hang out with me?"

"…."

Silent as ever.

Sorry, Freira. I wanted to surprise you.

For some reason, the Grand Duke's lady insisted on playing chess with me. Probably planning to practice and fleece Alsanna later.

"Hehehe. Now I've done more with you than Alsanna has."

"Coffee?"

I had no idea what that meant, but at least I had work to do.

I approached Elise, who'd been peeking around the parlor door for an hour.

Opening the panel at her nape and plugging in the cable made her flinch.

Tsk. No dice.

I'd trash the half-burnt core from all the abuse anyway. Time to snag a new one.

The sun dipped slowly beyond the horizon. I faced Elise in an empty room.

I'd returned the vocalizer to her first. Gotta have a plan.

I praised her on purpose, and she struggled to hide her expression.

But I could tell. She was thrilled.

How to handle a tsundere pup, step one: Butter her up.

Then the request goes through easier.

First, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I had her write a letter to Freira. She'd be gone from the residence for days at least. This'd ease her worries.

Elise took dictation, puzzled but compliant.

Does she know she's the heroine in one? Probably not, so I skipped it.

Everyone knows cores roll around in there like pebbles—even goblins.

I positioned Elise at the back gate and stepped into the garden.

Freira stared at the central statue. Sunset light on her icy hair made it look like melting snow.

"…."

"Lady. Lady. Lady."

"…Huh? Y-Yes! What?"

No inflection, but calling her made her beam.

Our bond had grown; she treated me like a friend now. She'd be way happier with my real voice.

I conveyed my intent politely.

"The bathroom is that way. The bathroom is that way."

Freira must've caught on by now.

Mentioning the bathroom meant I had business. Twice meant I'd be gone a while.

I bowed and headed to Elise, footsteps resolute.

"Do automatons use the bathroom too? …Oh, a joke? Pfft."

Something rustled behind me.

Northern Grand Duchy border.

A sharp spire pierced the dusky sky—one of the empire's scattered magic towers.

Two guards at the outpost yawned lazily. A peaceful day—until the clank of armor reached them.

The guards called to the approaching silhouette.

"Halt. This is the Northern Magic Tower boundary from here."

"The tower lord isn't receiving visitors."

No response. One guard irritably raised a torch.

Now they saw the emblem embedded in the armor.

The wall defying frost.

House Karstein's crest.

"A k-knight from the Grand Duke's house… at this hour?"

"…."

The black-haired knight didn't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠answer.

Suspiciously buff build. Nobly handsome face, but those inscrutable eyes—like a machine devoid of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠emotion.

"…Maybe an automaton?"

"Idiot. Who knights an automaton?"

This was the duchy border tower. Regrettably, the guards weren't up on current events.

"Uh, well, if you're from the Grand Duke… that's different."

The Northern Magic Tower lord was Baron Mathias Graupel, sworn vassal to House Karstein for generations.

No visitors, but Grand Duke's people were exempt.

"Sir Knight? May I ask the purpose of your visit?"

"…."

Still no answer. But his eyes narrowed slightly.

As if annoyed by the situation.

As they pondered this midnight bolt from the blue, the tiny woman beside him spoke.

"This is Hamelrn, knight of His Grace Duke Karstein."

"Hamelrn…?"

"Wait. Sounds familiar."

It didn't. Just a bluff to get past.

"His Grace issued Knight Hamelrn a secret directive. Regrettably, the objective is classified."

The guards eyed each other.

Karstein crest couldn't be faked, so legit knight. Must be some noble intrigue.

"Let 'em through."

"Tower lord'll chew us out."

"Duke outranks baron."

The guards stepped aside smartly. One last probing question, just in case.

"Uh… and the lady? What's her relation to Sir ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hamelrn?"

Plain clothes, no crest—squire, maybe?

Click. The silver-haired woman proudly thumbs-upped.

"His wife. We're super compatible. Right, honey?"

Her other hand subtly groped the knight's butt. The black-haired knight flinched.