Territory, Purchased
After hearing that he'd reached this point through repeated failures, Prince Gilford and Cardio Abatus seemed at a loss for words. Sensing no value in further conversation, Aizen slipped out of the Abatus family's banquet with Noel, and a few days passed since then.
Using the tech demonstrator with its improved arm structure, he began another mock battle. The tech demonstrator, wielding a longsword, darted swiftly across the dueling arena, while Professor Reina's Cyclops moved to counter it. Professor Reina, armed the same as last time, blocked the tech demonstrator's attack and tried to push back with sheer force. Soon, a voice echoed through the speakers.
"Definitely better than last time!"
"We can't afford not to improve on past failures, right?"
Cranking up the golem's output sent the Cyclops's arm reeling backward. The tech demonstrator's enhanced power had finally surpassed the Cyclops's.
But it wasn't as if the Cyclops couldn't respond at all. Professor Reina's Cyclops twisted its arm slightly to deflect the longsword, then tried to kick with its leg. Activating the backpack boosters for an evasion, Aizen spotted the Cyclops charging with its own boosters. As he landed, he thrust out his shield, and the Cyclops slammed right into it. The sheer size and weight of the golem shoved the tech demonstrator back.
"...It held!"
The improved arm structure, even with its coating, successfully withstood the Cyclops's body slam. Twisting the shield sent the Cyclops skidding to an emergency stop, tumbling to the ground—but it rolled with the momentum and rose again.
"Making the cockpit sturdy enough allows for this kind of thing, huh, Aizen!"
"That's a full-body bruise waiting to happen..."
Stunned by Professor Reina's superhuman resilience, Aizen briefly thought that knights might appreciate even tougher cockpits. The Cyclops swung its axe, and he parried with his sword. They locked into another contest of strength, but by deliberately dropping to one knee, the Cyclops's stance became awkwardly top-heavy and unstable.
"Now!"
Firing the boosters for thrust, he surged upward, toppling Professor Reina's Cyclops backward. As it tried to rise, he leveled his sword at its cockpit and declared,
"That's one for me."
The blade was dulled for safety, so it couldn't pierce and destroy—but in a real fight, it could have. Professor Reina's Cyclops looked up at him and nodded.
"It's not over until I admit defeat, Aizen!"
"Wait, this is just a mock battle...!"
She promptly hooked his leg and flipped him over.
"I win."
"Cheating right after the mock battle because you hate losing? That's not cool, Professor."
"Gotta treat it like the real thing."
Though she said that, Professor Reina seemed aware of her immaturity and turned away. Victory or defeat didn't really matter to Aizen, but he hadn't expected an ambush the second it ended. He'd tease her about it endlessly.
"If you forget respect for your professor and try teasing me, you'll be writing summaries of the textbook—alone with me for four straight days, all-nighters included."
"Worth it. Gotta tease you."
She immediately kicked his shin. Guess I climbed too high for a professor.
Positioning the Cyclops and tech demonstrator in the arena, they headed to the picnic mat in the corner as before—but this time, it was laden with banquet foods, unlike last time.
"If not now, when? Stuff your face!"
Watching Professor Rodellini and the alchemy students devour their meal, Aizen caught Professor Reina casually popping headache pills. Noel approached.
"Good work. You finally won."
"I won, Noel."
"...A shame you lost, Sir Aizen."
Noel deftly dodged. Professor Reina, perhaps feeling embarrassed, averted her gaze again. Mina and Erica arrived.
"Good work. Lost by that much~."
"Lost to a sneaky—no, a brilliant finishing move! Still impressive!"
"...Sorry. Just say I lost."
She could be shameless against him, but facing these three ladies made her realize how embarrassing it was. As Professor Isarina laughed and levitated food over with magic, Aizen asked curiously,
"But why banquet food all of a sudden? Where'd it come from?"
"The Abatus count's family."
What? Glancing at Mina, she grinned.
"Lots of expensive dishes made with pricey ingredients, so I swept them into a preservation magic tool."
"It was fun dodging the servants to snag them."
While he and Noel traded barbs with Cardio in a political skirmish, these two had been pilfering party snacks.
"You're not hurting for money—aren't you embarrassed?"
"Banquet food's seventy percent waste anyway. Better put it to good use."
"Yeah, packing a bit of food in a preservation tool is pretty common."
Even so, it wasn't like they could rob enough for another party. But Mina was brazen.
"It's a shame, it's fun, and it screws them over."
"Can't argue with that."
Slightly needling the Abatus family while having fun—what was wrong with that? Noel smiled awkwardly, and Professor Reina emptied her headache pills naturally, but it'd be fine.
"Preservation tools are pricey, but they keep food fresh for about a week. Merchants' best friend."
After a week, the effect wore off, apparently. In a world with magic that preserved even warmth, one thing immediately came to mind...
"...Depending on the method, this could be useful."
With the right principle or application, it might even enable beam weapons. Time to shake down Professor Rodellini later. As he noted that mentally, Mina grinned while slicing cake.
"Amid all the gloomy crap lately, there's some good news."
"Good news?"
If it was good for Mina, it was probably good for him too. She beamed happily.
"Factory's complete."
"Finally."
The factory in Phoenix County, refined through research, was done. Mina waggled her fork excitedly.
"Planned a groundbreaking, but skipped it to avoid sabotage. Once the current batch finishes, we'll ramp up on ordered Cyclopses."
"The current... Ah, got it."
It was for the royal delivery. While he dealt with Abatus mind games, Mina had sealed the deal through her own channels.
"Gotta move fast before Abatus pulls any tricks."
"Father helped too."
With Phoenix border count's backing, the mass-production factory would handle royal Cyclopses on contract. The current build proved it possible.
"Frees us from the palace contract."
Once delivered, they'd just collect what the palace owed. Noel smiled quietly.
"In a way, the Abatus family fixated on you, Sir Aizen, and missed Lady Mina's moves."
"With Noel moving with Aizen, their focus shifted there."
Abatus excelled at sly politics, but after overreaching, they'd hesitated—Mina had struck then.
"The palace will send someone for a formal presentation soon, but it's just procedure now. Delivery leads straight to the ennoblement ceremony, so no more politics for a while."
"Thank god. Tired of tongue-fencing with those Abatus punks."
Aizen sighed in relief at being done with the palace obligations. Noel chuckled.
"You must've been pretty stressed about Abatus, Sir Aizen."
"They kept interfering—had to. Honestly, I'm sick of them."
Recalling his talk with Cardio brought instant disgust. Noel asked quietly, seriously,
"What was it like for you, Sir Aizen? Cardio Abatus."
"Not human."
He sighed lightly. He sensed those around them—chatting or eating—perking up to listen, but it wasn't unspeakable, so he continued softly.
"Weapons are for killing people, sure—but is it okay to say that so casually?"
He acknowledged the truth himself, one they couldn't hide forever. But Cardio's flippant attitude about taking lives? Sickening.
"Heard he's the socialite star, women's idol, tons of female fans... but I can't like him."
Hephaestus had been cautious, but now Aizen was certain: Abatus was untouchable.
"They'll interfere again for sure."
Mina murmured. He nodded, then grinned.
"Forget those mood-killers—once I'm a baron with a territory, where do you think it'll be?"
"The ceremony's soon, but you're already thinking about it?"
"Can't I?"
"No reason you can't."
Noel added it was natural to wonder—the contract included a territory. As he pondered inwardly, Noel and Erica spoke up.
"Nexia territory nearby would be perfect—close and all."
"Heard the county supports economically if you're near."
Both offered immediate aid. Mina smirked wickedly.
"Already decided."
"What?"
"Where our factory is."
As he opened his mouth to ask why she knew—
"You'll get the mine."
Mina added matter-of-factly, like it was obvious.
"Lobbied for it."
Seems his investor had bought his territory too.