The End of the Workshop Battle
A month or so had passed since Aizen's Cyclops felled the one-eyed giant, bringing that battle to a close. In the region bordering the Argent Empire, a small-scale monster incursion had erupted, and the Phoenix Count himself had joined the fray.
"Then let's begin."
From atop the walls, the Count murmured quietly, and the gates swung open. Two steel giants marched out beyond the walls, formed up in line, and immediately unleashed their machine guns on the monsters.
The rounds weren't refined yet—the production process hadn't stabilized, leaving them as little more than massive lumps of metal—but with their sheer weight and volume hurtling forward at tremendous speed, the destructive power was more than sufficient. The attacking monsters didn't even reach the base of the walls before they were pulverized into oblivion.
One Cyclops stood guard outside, holding position while a small squad of soldiers slipped out to scavenge anything useful from the monster remains. The other returned inside the walls, knelt down, and its cockpit hatch popped open. The pilot emerged and climbed back atop the walls, where the Count nodded approvingly.
"Splendid work, Sir Galred. You've mastered it quickly."
"Yes, my lord."
The knight who had once clashed violently with Aizen was a far cry from his former self. Gazing at the Cyclops, Galred said quietly,
"The controls were smooth, and it was equipped to protect the pilot from injury even in a mistake. He's the real deal."
"The man who opposed it most vehemently is now singing its praises. Tomorrow, the Empire might just wave a white flag."
Galred turned his head, cheeks flushing with embarrassment. The Count spared him further teasing.
"Have you apologized, Sir Galred?"
"I went prepared with advice in hand, but he just said, 'Oh right, that happened,' like it was an afterthought."
"He seemed rough around the edges, grown wild by circumstance. Considering his background, you've probably been forgotten amid far ruder encounters."
That was the Count's assessment after investigating Aizen more closely since his arrival. Smiling, the Count eyed the Cyclops.
"Treasures turn up in the barren wastes now and then. Guess it applies to people too."
"If I may be bold, we should bring him into the Phoenix family if possible. With no close blood kin but that worthless cousin of his, we could even..."
"Your enthusiasm is admirable, but you sometimes forget my position."
It wasn't accusatory. The Count usually saw it as Galred's flaw and strength in equal measure, so he let it slide. But this time, it had highlighted the downside.
"I'll correct it."
Galred said earnestly. The Count chuckled.
"Sure you will. You can't even fix that sloppy attitude toward anyone but me. Just keep working hard—that's what fueled your loyalty to Phoenix before, so I'll say no more."
"I will correct it, without fail."
This incident seemed to have been a bitter pill even for the territory's stubborn, rough-edged knight. Smiling, the Count spoke again.
"It's so quiet without that kid around."
While Aizen stayed here, the place had been noisy every day. He had to tinker hands-on to vent his energy, so explosions rang out like clockwork, and people worked through the nights. Now, all that was gone.
"He must've reached the Academy by now."
Right after completing three Cyclops units and having the Phoenix craftsmen learn the techniques from the saintess's merchant guild artisans, the rowdy academy group had departed like the wind. A strange loneliness had sprouted in the void left by the familiar clamor, but the Count hid it well. Or rather, he worried about that noise.
"Both the Kingdom and the Empire will have their eyes on Aizen now."
That was the Count's greatest concern. Sir Galred nodded silently in agreement.
"The Abatus bastards will get even bolder with their schemes. Their bio-weapons couldn't match that performance and stability."
"Artificial chimeras, eh."
The Phoenix Count uttered the name of the weapon the Abatus family had unveiled. It wasn't strange to predict that the noble house, which had sabotaged Aizen behind the scenes, would now step openly onto the stage for a full assault. As Galred said, Aizen's war machines had proven superior to their painstaking creations—and Abatus still hadn't demonstrated stability.
Luck played a part, sure, but on stability alone, no chimera could surpass a golem, in the Count's and his knights' view. And stability was one of the paramount virtues in battlefield weapons—a gap not easily bridged.
"By the time Abatus fixes their stability issues, Aizen will likely have something new. They'll keep lagging behind."
The Abatus family knew it too. That's why they'd target Aizen himself to tear it all down. And there were other enemies besides.
"The Empire's Sword Saint surviving is a problem too."
Reina had apologized gravely, her face clouded with regret, but it wasn't her fault. Her pursuit had forced him to use that monster-summoning magic tool as a last resort, and learning of it was a major intelligence coup. But it didn't change the fact that the Empire now knew of the Cyclops—and Aizen.
"We didn't lose out entirely, but..."
It stung that any information had leaked to the Empire. And since it all traced back to Abatus interference in some way, the Count sighed.
"The Abatus family might as well have joined hands with the Empire."
Of course, as a loyal Kingdom house—and with the current Queen from their ranks—they hadn't outright aided the Empire. But from the Kingdom's broader perspective, Abatus and the Empire together cast a shadow over Aizen's future.
"Even united, it's tough—and now internal rot too."
The Count grumbled in exasperation. Galred said quietly,
"You could openly declare your sponsorship of Aizen, my lord."
"The moment a border count with independent military authority meddles in politics, blood flies from all sides—you know that."
Galred nodded silently at the Count's words.
"My apologies for speaking out of turn."
"Ears are everywhere. Hot blood to the head, eh?"
As Galred floundered, the Count chuckled. One of his most trusted men was growing wiser through this.
"Indirect support is easy enough, though. Keep buying Cyclops units, for one."
"Our investigations suggest friction with the palace over his contract with the saintess."
"That saintess pulled a clever trick. It'll be fine. Even without it, we'll reach an amicable deal."
The Count disliked merchants on principle, but Mina's ploy had amused him. No one would lose out this time anyway.
"Otherwise, mimic the Nexia Duke family."
"Haven't the Nexias made any moves?"
"Would the duke's lady act entirely on her own?"
There might be personal fondness, but the Count recalled Noel shielding Aizen when he'd shown favor.
"The duke is signaling support subtly through his daughter."
With Abatus under the Queen's protection, even the duke tread carefully. But Aizen had enemies aplenty, and so did Abatus. Soon, the Phoenix family would join those ranks.
"Our fourteen fallen comrades will rejoice."
"Yes. I haven't forgotten."
Galred's lapse this time had wounded the Count too. Royal mediation had smoothed it over, but he was ever ready to make Abatus a foe.
"With the Empire at our gates, we can't move openly. Leave it to my daughter."
The girl who'd returned to the Academy with Aizen would protect him well. Galred asked cautiously,
"...If things come to it, will you truly welcome him into the family?"
"I'm fine with it."
Galred swallowed slightly. Then, very carefully,
"A suitable woman among your retainers..."
"Those kids have futures too. If I'm to push, it has to be someone it's feasible for."
He phrased it with regard for his vassals' pride, but the intent was clear. For Aizen, it was lightning striking out of the blue—a border count offering his daughter, no less. But...
"Does that boy even know romance? I told her to serve him with utmost sincerity, but..."
The Count said half-joking, half-worried. Galred considered his own station, temperament, and oaths before replying quietly,
"That'll be tricky."
"Yeah..."
The family head and his once hot-headed loyal knight sighed in unison.
Vespa Royal Academy. In the dorm room bearing the nameplate "Aizen Arclight."
"He said to serve with utmost sincerity, so sharing a room makes sense! Twenty-four-hour protection—ah, I'll sleep on the floor!"
"Get out."
Aizen Arclight and Erica Phoenix waged their workshop battle across a single wooden door. By the time Reina came sprinting from afar, the door lay in splinters.