No Hesitation for a Great Assistant
Aizen had made up his mind to act like a proper assistant, so there was no reason to hesitate. He'd resolved to start building a dedicated melee golem, and a short time later, in the now-expanded workshop with its new hangar, the machine stood tall as Aizen, Mina, Noel, and Erica gazed up at it.
"It looks just like a Cyclops… Is this it?"
"Nah, this is a tech demonstrator."
Aizen shook his head at the astonished Erica.
"We could tweak things from there to boost the Cyclops's melee performance with a custom job, but first, I wanted to build a whole new frame. This one's for pulling data—testing if the tech's solid and figuring out what else we need."
Of course, just handing it a sword wouldn't magically turn the Cyclops into a melee specialist. Just like how aspiring knights here had to build strength and stamina first, the golem needed higher output too. And that was just the start—mobility and a bunch of other upgrades were on the list…
"I built this to run real ops and crunch the numbers on what it'll take to get there—and how efficient it'll be right now."
"So you really went and made a brand-new golem. But with everything else on your plate, are you sure you're okay?"
Aizen nodded reassuringly at Noel's worried tone.
"I'll just skip some sleep."
"I'm starting to get scared of this guy for real," Mina said, though her eyes sparkled with delight despite her words.
Erica soon tapped the tech demonstrator's foot with her knuckles.
"So we start by cranking up the output, right?"
"Yeah, and rework the internals while we're at it. It's gonna take a while."
It was necessary work, but honestly, nothing he could rush.
"Boosting output itself is easy. The real issue is…"
"Whether that power actually transmits through the frame?"
Simply upping the engine's power didn't mean the whole golem got stronger right away. Peek inside a Cyclops, and you'd see all those interlocking parts—so even with more engine oomph, the force spreads out across them, not concentrating into raw power. That also burned through mana water fuel faster, making high output inefficient without tweaks.
Aizen had anticipated that, which was why the Cyclops had some headroom built in—it could spike output in a pinch. Push it to Overload, and it'd go even higher, but that wrecked the internals beyond design specs, so best not mention it here.
Even that wasn't enough.
Against that one-eyed giant back then, he'd held his own at first, but once it got serious, he'd been pushed back. So the goal was matching or exceeding that monster's level.
"Real combat feedback is no joke," Erica marveled. "Keeps showing where my desk plans fall short, pushing constant improvements. Hours of theory can't touch one live run."
"…You look thrilled," Noel murmured softly.
Erica pumped her fist with a shout. "Anyway, this is where we start! I'm pumped!"
"Anything I can do to help, just say the word. I'll be waiting in the workshop lounge," said Erica, her excitement for the new machine already sky-high, while Noel had somehow claimed the lounge as her domain.
Aizen nodded to them both. Mina thought for a moment, then eyed him.
"What do you need?"
"Another consultant. For melee and swordplay, only one name comes to mind."
Professor Rodellini had vast knowledge, but she wasn't a fighter—gaps remained.
Mina got it immediately.
"She doesn't move for money."
"Think she'll consider it positively."
Aizen spoke with conviction, and Mina nodded. She'd handle it, back him up, provide support as needed.
Nothing more to discuss—Mina turned back to the machine.
"So how'd you whip this up? The old one's right there."
"Assembled it from spare parts."
Originally repair bits for the existing Cyclops, so it was quick and painless. The investor nodded sagely at the truth.
"Use 'em wisely."
"Time is money."
"My money's money too. Want me to make it up another way?"
The investor narrowed her eyes, a sly smile tugging at her lips.
Word that Aizen Arclight was building a new machine spread like wildfire.
"We splurged on Cyclops units, and he's already onto the next."
"Thought he'd refine 'em all year—guess I lose."
Evening after classes at the Vespa Royal Academy. Reina, Isarina, and Rodellini gathered at a tavern nearby for dinner and chat.
Taverns usually evoked rough, dingy vibes, but these academy-adjacent spots catered to nobles—spotless and upscale.
Reina let out a dry chuckle at the dish on the table.
"Never thought I'd see potato fries again."
"Christa Merchant Group sells the recipe now? Some shops too. How'd you know about a new spot like this?"
"I was there the day they were born."
The recipe Aizen had casually dropped in Phoenix County. Luxurious with all that oil, but it suited her taste, so Reina enjoyed it without complaint. Still, it baffled her.
"How'd that kid dream up deep-frying?"
"I've given up trying to figure him out."
Isarina didn't mean it harshly—just that Aizen's ideas were too wild for deep dives. Reina knew she secretly wanted him as a disciple.
"So, Reina—you finally got your Cyclops, but now you're second-guessing?"
"I figured it'd last a decade-plus. New model right away? Makes buying hesitate."
"Academy'll cover it."
"Dipping into public funds too often isn't great."
Reina sighed. Isarina smirked.
"At least now you can write that manual."
She voiced Reina's current goal. Reina nodded.
"Cyclops is plenty strong and dangerous. It'll reshape military power going forward."
"Gotta codify usage, safety protocols… Prep so my old squad adapts quick…"
Rodellini chewed her fries slowly, grinning.
"That delinquent's turned diligent."
"I grow too."
"Good change. Being obscure in research as a prof? Not ideal."
Reina had made her name with brute force, so the jab felt off-base—but fair too. Reborn as a dedicated prof, she lacked academic feats. The manual was ambition to leave a mark, plus care for her former comrades.
"Writing books is tough."
"Yeah."
"Costs a fortune too… Barely breaks even…"
"I know—look at our senior."
Reina teased Rodellini, drawing laughs from Isarina. Rodellini munched fries, chuckling.
"Anyway, eat up today? Your treat, Prof Rodellini?"
"I-I never said that."
"Heard you scored five days' rations. Splurge time?"
"It's all potatoes—from Aizen's fields…"
Alchemy folks all grinning ear-to-ear—Aizen must've hooked 'em up, Reina thought with an inward smile.
"Figured he'd just cause trouble everywhere. Glad he's not."
Handful of a student. As the profs bantered, she snagged more fries, muttering.
"Wonder if I'll ever snag a solid assistant for that manual."
She'd planned to lure Aizen to knight studies, sweet-talk him into it via deal. But he went alchemy—infeasible now.
Noel or Mina? Noel's in magic, Mina's saintess in divinity—both untouchable by status. Not close with divinity profs either. Erica from knights hung with them, but unlikely to know Cyclops tech deep.
"Guess I'm solo."
First time, a bit scary—but a mountain to climb. She steeled herself, imagining an assistant who grokked Cyclops inside-out, tracked new tech, and could pull all-nighters. No such luck.
She'd manage alone. Mind set, Reina tilted her glass…
"Pardon—Professor Reina?"
"Who sent you?"
Reina glared at the intruder. Then relaxed. Harmless look, dressed in standard merchant guild suit.
Right—this is a Christa Merchant Group spot?
As she clocked the venue—
"Actually, Lady Mina sent me. Aizen Arclight seeks swordplay and melee consultation… In exchange for one wish within reason…"
"Oh?"
An assistant, delivered. Reina grinned despite herself.