Chapter 20 - A World Where Everyone Benefits

Cyclops and Caterpillar Golem could somehow be accommodated. "Sometimes I forget I even have magic."

The Arclight family's magic was earth-attribute. Manipulating stone and soil made punching holes or passages in walls a breeze. He'd been munching on real french fries made from the recipe he'd provided when the idea suddenly resurfaced, so he'd wolfed down the rest of his meal and twisted the ramparts open with magic to create a temporary entrance. Of course, the count had laughed and given permission if he thought he could pull it off. Naturally, the ramparts were reinforced with magic tools to prevent ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠casual twisting by spells, so it took more effort than expected. Still, they managed to open an entrance and house the golems.

Yeah, this is better.

The count's recent words about spies and assassins crawling around came to mind. Even if they wouldn't specifically target Cyclops knowing what it was, if thieves were prowling, it was wiser to drag the Cyclops and its materials inside, no matter the hassle. It took about an hour just for that, but once the work was done, everyone's faces showed relief.

"Nothing pisses you off like dropping your luggage and losing it." Mina looked relieved, apparently having been more anxious than she'd let on. He'd thought she'd just shrug it off if it got lost, but her sigh suggested she'd been holding back the urge to insist on hauling it in.

"...The professors' evaluations weren't off the mark."

"If he'd put that effort into something else, he could've made a name as a knight or mage. Even I have to go all out to catch him..."

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"...You have to go all out? You, one of the kingdom's top knights?"

He overheard the count and Professor Reina chatting, but there was nothing worth eavesdropping on, so he stood Cyclops up.

-Thud.

Cyclops, which had been lying in the trailer, rose with smooth motions and heavy footfalls, planting itself in the castle's training grounds. Its hand carefully extended like a bridge between the cockpit and him, and Noel emerged cautiously from inside.

"Good work."

"Ah, no big deal. I'm used to it now."

He lifted Noel down from the cockpit like he was carrying her, then climbed in himself. Manipulating Cyclops's arm, he gently set her on the terrace. Mina and Erica caught her and helped her down, then he straightened the slightly crouched Cyclops.

"Now that I think about it, these ramparts are tall."

The locals had a habit of building walls as high as possible... or rather, it reflected how frequent wars with the Empire had been. At least this meant Cyclops wouldn't be visible from outside. Hiding everything completely would be tough, but it meant they could research while keeping things as concealed as possible.

"Perfect for mass-production facilities and building more Cyclops units."

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That was his take. He moved Cyclops forward. Looking down from the terrace at Cyclops's chest height, he asked the count via speaker.

"What would you like to see?"

"I want to see it in action! Start with walking, lad!"

A customer's request was law. He walked the training grounds, jogged, did light jumps. Then, at further requests, uprooted a tree or lifted a bundle of knights' weapons they'd apparently prepared.

Soon the count himself climbed aboard and marveled. "One eye, yet... I can see outside..."

The count in the cockpit sounded awestruck. Squatting beside him, he explained the controls, and the count maneuvered Cyclops himself. Being the first try, it bumped the ramparts or toppled three times.

"Falling from this height and not a scratch?"

"We did collision tests against the academy gate to ensure safety."

The cockpit stayed intact even after falls, and the impact was less than expected, so he explained to the astonished count. The data from full-speed body-slams against Mainis Gate hadn't been wasted.

The count quickly got the hang of it and soon piloted solo. His serious face gradually lit up, and as Cyclops nailed tough maneuvers, it clearly grew on him. By test drive's end, he looked torn between dignity and delight. But as a count, his self-control held; he dismounted regretfully.

"Splendid. It follows thought so precisely."

"That's Cyclops's greatest strength," Mina chimed in, and the count nodded.

Time for him to chime in. "Runaway malfunctions or engine explosions are risks, but we've maximized safety measures and plan ongoing reinforcements."

"This level's fine already, but if costs rise further, I'd have to think twice."

Even a border count had budget limits, Phoenix Count noted.

"It's sufficient now, but if we're raising the price anyway, something like this would be nice."

"Like what?"

"A way to shake off or deter approaching knights."

It was something he'd considered during the last duel. Cost issues had shelved it, but from the count's frontline perspective, it was a glaring gap. Hands could swat them away, but he wanted something more reliable.

Still, the count's expression was bright. "Power source and maintenance are ongoing costs, but the performance justifies it."

"Armament's unfinished, so no sales yet."

"Worst case, slap on a sword or axe for that size."

Just swinging would pressure foes, the count said.

"In short, my daughter's made a fine catch. Excellent work, lad."

"The three ordered units will be built here via collaboration with your artisans and me, while we pursue mass-production, mana water facilities, armament R&D, and more."

Staying here wasn't just to sell Cyclops. It was for research tough at the academy. This place offered immediate needs and space.

Other spots might work, but friendly and fitting? Only one choice.

Of course, he'd offered terms in trade. "Phoenix family aids land and facilities for research, and we leave the peripherals behind when done?"

Phoenix Count's eyes sparkled as he asked. He nodded.

"Maintenance and power production need to be near the frontlines anyway."

No uprooting whole buildings. Simply put: He got facilities for mass-producing Cyclops and future golems, plus armament research. Phoenix got three Cyclops, maintenance facilities, and starter mana water production. Mina provided funds. A world where everyone won.

"We have spare land here, so once ready, shift there and start. In a sense, Cyclops's first dedicated factory."

Phoenix Count seemed genuinely excited, eyes urging haste.

"Then let's begin now."

"No breathing room, lad? How about a feast tonight?"

"Pass. I've held back this long; I want to start now."

He winced at how rude it sounded, but the count laughed.

Apparently bluntness appealed. "Indeed, Aizen."

He nodded at the count's words.

"Then off to work."

"I'll round up the kids."

"If there's anything I can—"

Mina and Noel followed immediately, descending to ground level at Noel's slowest pace.

Wait. Did he just call me by name for the first time?

If not mistaken, he'd used "lad" or vague terms before. Now his name.

Whatever.

Maybe he'd finally memorized it. He descended happily. Research started now.

Watching Aizen depart, Phoenix Count smiled faintly. A grave expression, hard to square with his boisterous demeanor moments ago.

"You like him a lot, Father."

"Yes, you've got an eye for people."

He nodded at Erica's words, then turned to Reina still nearby. "Rumors are half right, half wrong. I figured a madman impossible to reason with from hearsay."

"Filter out half beyond the professors' assessments."

The count sighed at Reina's words. "All those schemes at the academy."

He sounded exasperated. Reina ventured carefully. "Abatus family wants Aizen gone at any cost."

"They should've stuck to what they knew instead of pure malice. Those schemers."

The count sighed. "What do you make of Aizen, seeing him yourself?"

"Felt like looking at you in your early knight days. Rude, prioritizing his work."

Reina flinched, and the count chuckled. "But he doesn't ignore others entirely. Hm... best way to put it."

"What?"

"An adult who's not forgotten a child's heart."

Was that bad? As Reina looked troubled, the count chuckled. "I'm calling naivety a virtue. Not rudeness from ignorance. He knows how not to offend, at least."

The count spoke quietly. "Better than some half-baked adult posturing. A man with a child's pure heart makes you think that way. He gets compromise and deals, too."

His gaze fell on Cyclops and the once-rumored Caterpillar Golem.

"At least he knows what he can and can't do now."

Aiming straight for Cyclops from the start would've failed. Rumor had it Caterpillar—track-legged—was his first. Even desiring something, he didn't obsess; he built step by step from the doable. Obvious in hindsight.

"Even if detoured, he kept eyes on the goal with persistence. Possible only because of childlike purity."

"High praise."

"Yes. High praise. Making exactly what's needed mutually, no greed for more. Maybe he doesn't grasp border count limits."

The count pulled a pipe from his pocket and lit it.

"Dealing with him beats greedy Abatus. Feels good."

The count fell silent. After a moment, Reina asked carefully. "...Abatus's bioweapons... knights sacrificed to artificial chimeras..."

"14. 'Progress demands sacrifice,' they say. Packaging won't change us dying to enemy weapons. Look good?"

Puffing smoke, Phoenix Count closed his eyes quietly.

"Worth remembering names, unlike those scum."

He drew a document from his pocket. "I'll bet on this."