Chapter 17: Test Firing
Reina had been nursing a different kind of headache lately. 'Do nobles really need to be this shameless to survive?'
After Aizen's overwhelming victory over Gilford, a flood of letters had poured into the academy. Nobles who had sided with the defeated Gilford, high-ranking palace officials who supported him— in short, the forces that could be called the "Down with Aizen" faction were sending rude, presumptuous demands. They wanted the academy to arrange meetings so they could cozy up to Aizen and maintain good relations.
'Not unreasonable.' That duel had severely weakened the anti-Aizen faction. What they feared wasn't Aizen himself, but the ripple effects from the golem he created. Proving it was no big deal had been their top priority... but the golem's superior mobility and precise control had shocked even the academy professors. Gilford's side, who had prepared countermeasures as best they could, ended up utterly crushed instead.
'Honestly, I thought he might lose.' Despite all the pressure, she'd tried to make the conditions as fair as possible, but it had been pointless. Feeling guilty for letting such a dangerous duel happen, Reina had sorted through the proposals, picking out the ones worth considering.
But one nagged at her.
'The Abatus family.' She stared intently at the envelope from them.
"What should I do?"
"Don't reply right away. Take it slow. That place is the most dangerous for the kid."
Reina looked up as Professor Isarina entered her office.
"Thanks for handling it, Isarina. What did the dean say?"
"He approved. Said it was worth dragging you on as a professor."
Reina let out a deep sigh, her face turning bitter.
"Worth the investment in that rascal."
"The dean's covering it from the budget."
"We can't misuse public funds. I'll investigate as much as I can first, draft guidelines, get them approved, and then submit the paperwork."
She glanced at the documents on her desk, bearing her signature and Saintess Mina's.
"You'll be the first in the Vespa Kingdom to buy a Cyclops."
"Followed right after by the Phoenix family with three units."
Remembering Erica Phoenix charging in at breakneck speed, Reina chuckled softly.
"Didn't plan it, but I snagged first place for once."
"She's quick on the draw. You okay with this? As a knight, doesn't it sting a bit?"
"Failing to adapt to change is a knight's disqualification."
Reina stood from her seat.
"A single Cyclops opens up endless possibilities. It can defend a territory from most large monsters, and those precise hands could contribute to civil engineering or construction."
"Easily handles the work of ten men."
According to what Mina had let slip, as long as you supplied mana water on time and maintained it properly, it could last forever. Some exaggeration, no doubt, but the durability was clearly impressive.
"This could change the world. The academy can't just teach us to sit back and watch."
"So you're saying you'll research piloting techniques and tactics to teach?"
Reina nodded. She'd pilot Aizen's golem herself, devise tactics, and instruct the students.
"My own adaptation to change."
Isarina nodded with a grin.
"A bit of an apology too? Since the duel was stacked against him, after all."
"I'm not denying it."
Isarina's smile widened.
"Want to go encourage him? As the first buyer and a professor, you must have some advice."
"He'll probably be intimidated after all the punishments I've handed out."
"The kid doesn't seem fazed by that stuff."
Reina nodded. True enough—this was a chance to encourage him and gradually steer him back to normal sensibilities.
"Alright, let's go."
She had an excuse with the letters anyway. Plenty of reason to vi—
-Rat-tat-tat-tat!!
"Professor Reina! Big trouble! Aizen's riding a golem and rapid-firing some weird cannon at Mainis Gate! We have to stop him...!"
"That damn crow bastard Aizen!!"
The warm atmosphere shattered with the urgent report. Isarina watched Reina dash off, popping headache pills, with an awkward smile.
****
The pride of the Vespa Royal Academy, Mainis Gate, stood firm as ever today.
"Thought a prototype might at least scratch it."
"No way the continent's strongest guardian barrier breaks that easily."
"The power and speed are solid, though. Why not just mass-produce it as-is?!"
"Three sleepless nights paid off. Excellent craftsmanship. Alchemy's impressive as always."
"Hands up straight, Aizen. Before I smash your head in."
I quickly raised my hands under Professor Reina's icy glare. Mina, Erica, and Professor Rodellini averted their eyes, while Noel bowed her head beside Reina.
"I'm sorry, Professor. I should have stopped them more firmly..."
"...Noel, what could you do against these idiots."
Reina sighed deeply, glanced our way, then narrowed her eyes at Mina, Erica, and Rodellini.
"Saintess Mina. I get wanting to mess around, but there's a line, isn't there?"
"Hehe, it looked fun."
"Erica, even if you wanted to test the Cyclops's performance, there's a time and place."
"But it's fast, so isn't that good?"
"Professor Rodellini, don't tell me money swayed you?"
"...She shared a bit of mana metal, and I got excited..."
Reina sighed, rubbing her temple. A faint mutter escaped: Is Aizen's mindset contagious...? Then she turned to me.
"Fine, the three of them I get. But you. You knew you'd get chewed out for starting something like this without reason. Any excuses?"
"Then let me explain convincingly."
I lowered my arm slightly and stood.
Pointing to the weapon in the Cyclops's hands.
"The Cyclops is powerful, but right now it's just the base frame. Its size and weight alone make it strong..."
"Get to the point."
"We successfully prototyped a versatile ranged weapon for the Cyclops—the Rodellini Machine Gun—and test-fired at Mainis Gate to avoid damaging academy buildings."
"Good. Head smash."
Reina said coldly, then looked back at the Cyclops. She caught the oddity late and turned to me.
"Wait, what was the weapon called?"
"Rodellini Machine Gun."
"...Senior?"
"Not me! I'm innocent!"
Professor Rodellini denied it frantically, but it was futile. Mina slyly pulled a contract from her bosom.
"Per the contract from three days ago, consultant fees plus naming the weapon after the professor upon completion..."
"Blinded by money and fame again, Senior?"
Professor Rodellini hung her head at Reina's words.
And then.
"What's wrong with chasing money and fame!"
Professor Rodellini exploded.
The mood suggested no more punishment was needed, so I straightened up discreetly as the ugly spat continued.
"...Professor's salary alone can't cover research costs! You think alchemy works without materials?!"
"Senior, you do side gigs on other projects, so you're loaded! More seniority means more pay than me!"
"You just hoard for your wedding fund! I'm different! Nobles have dignity upkeep costs! I starved the three days before payday?!"
"That's your extravagance!"
"Extravagance my ass! You gotta dress up to beg for research funds! You gonna fund someone in rags?! Should I just wear rags?!"
Professor Rodellini had a lot pent up. Watching the professors bicker over pay was less funny than exhausting. I didn't care about their personal finances.
"The Cyclops has a lock, so no one can take it. I'll sneak off and retrieve it later."
"Sounds good. It'll take a while."
Professor Isarina had approached unnoticed.
"Don't worry. Professors Rodellini and Reina are close. Cousins, actually."
"Cousins?"
"Reina's common-born but was adopted into nobility for her knightly exploits. Legally cousins, so they're tight. I join them for drinks often."
She added they'd squabble now but grab dinner later.
Gazing up at the Cyclops, she said,
"Heard you caused a ruckus testing the weapon. Can't praise targeting Mainis Gate, but you spared other buildings, so I'll pass. Done?"
"Honestly, tricky. Wanted distance for ranged tests, but couldn't."
The academy was vast, but for max range and accuracy, it felt cramped. Fine for humans, but the Cyclops's size made it tough.
"If we keep firing, issues like aiming comfort, handling..."
"Not sure, but here you can only test if it fires at all, right, Aizen?"
I nodded at Professor Isarina's words.
The Cyclops wasn't built overnight. Broadly, research started in childhood, through the Caterpillar Golem, accumulating data to birth it. Armaments were the same—no instant results. Without Rodellini's help, it might've taken months more. Her consulting saved serious time; better use her often.
"Then you need a spacious test site easy to manage Cyclops at."
"Anywhere like that near the academy?"
Glancing at Rodellini and Reina still at it, I asked. Isarina shook her head.
"But a candidate comes to mind."
"Where...?"
Isarina looked at Erica.
"The academy supports off-campus activities. Skip classes with professor approval, counts as attendance."
Outdoor training, basically.
"A message from the Vespa Royal Academy dean for you, Aizen."
Isarina met my eyes steadily.
"Take the Cyclops to Phoenix County."