Deal (1)
The Mainis Gate, the symbol of the Vespa Royal Academy and one of the prides of the Vespa Kingdom, lived up to its reputation. Its strength was no joke. Stepping out of the half-destroyed golem's cockpit, it looked like I'd slammed into the school gate and bounced back inside from the repulsion. The fancy flower beds and paved paths were smashed, but who cared? I ignored them and stared straight at the gate.
"Guess it's still too much for now..."
I'd charged at full speed with the repaired golem, but all I'd managed was a tiny scratch on the gate's pillar. True to its fame as the continent's strongest barrier, the barrier itself was unscratched.
Just as the rumors said.
I'd gathered plenty of data on the caterpillar's utility, speed, control systems, and more, but it still wasn't enough. The dream of true bipedal walking was still far off.
"Still, the shock absorbers worked great, so that's plenty!"
My vision was still red-tinged, my head spinning, legs and arms numb—but screw it. If it held up to that impact, the cockpit's durability was solid for now. More than that, it meant room for improvement, a wall to overcome. What was there not to love? Staring at the gate, I shouted.
"One day, I'll build a golem that smashes that thing without breaking a sweat!"
"Grab that lunatic right now!!"
Knights poured in from all sides, charging at me. By the time I wondered what the hell, they already had me pinned.
"Got him! The golem's quiet! No auto-guardian function for its owner!"
"Drag him away! Hurry!"
The knights, faces grim as death, bustled me off. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a woman with a cane approaching the golem, but they yanked me around before I could get a good look.
***
A few minutes after they hooded my head like a sack of potatoes. Were they treating me like some wild colt that calms down blind? Then the sack ripped off roughly, revealing a crowd of assorted folks staring down at me.
Where the hell am I now?
The room had strange blue stone floors. The air felt crisp and pure, giving it an otherworldly vibe, so I scanned around. I was at the lowest point, surrounded by circular tables where people looked down on me like some scarred lightning-boy wizard on trial.
The highest seat was empty.
"In the hundreds of years of Vespa Royal Academy's history, there's never been a case like this!!"
A brown-haired woman at the front seethed with rage. Tall, with muscle outlines peeking through her clothes—she screamed warrior class. Next to her sat a light-purple-haired witch obvious to anyone, and a pink-haired woman in glasses. There was a balding guy, a dude with an epic beard, and...
...they all look pretty old.
Vision still red, head still dizzy, but I pieced it together. This was the academy. Enrollment ceremony today. No parents here, so these must be professors. The empty seat? Probably the principal or someone stuck at the ceremony.
I got the gist. Then I dropped my gaze to the floor.
But what's with these stones?
The air shifted the moment I entered—special material, maybe. Should I chip a piece for analysis?
"This punk's gonna smash the floor?!"
"Th-that's expensive blue stone! Stop him!"
I crouched to check if it'd work for golems, but professors and knights yanked me upright in a panic. Too bad—I'd planned to use it on the wrecked one. I clicked my tongue unconsciously. They sighed in relief, cleared throats, then glared again.
The brown-haired woman fixed me with a stare. "So, answer. You. State your name."
"Aizen."
She checked the roster, tilted her head, then spotted it and bellowed. "Aizen Arclight! You bastard! Hiding your family name so word doesn't get back? You think you're some kid?!"
"...Ah."
She only asked for my name, so... Plus, my family ties felt fuzzy lately. My bad.
The professor rubbed her temple like it hurt, flipped through the roster, then glared fiercely. "There you are. Mark Arclight. You're his cousin... No title, but your house just got a rank-up. Figures. Your family barely reported your enrollment. Know that?"
"Was I supposed to be reported?"
I blinked, confused. She scowled. "You think the academy's a joke? This is where the kingdom's future talents train post-coming-of-age! Not a place for unidentified randos!"
She jabbed a finger at me, yelling. Then, head spinning visibly, she clutched her forehead. The purple-haired witch patted her soothingly, murmuring something. The woman deep-breathed, calming, then spoke.
"...Hoo. Fine. I was too harsh. But here's the deal: You're on the roster, but your family didn't report you. No guarantor for your identity. Got it?"
She shot me a glare. "Straight talk: Anyone to prove you're Aizen Arclight? Right now, it's more believable some imposter forced entry. Bear with us."
Her gentler tone suggested she was nice deep down. Then she sighed again.
"Anyway, no guarantor. So, why smash the gate? Could be seen as foreign spy—kingdom law says jail. Answer carefully."
I nodded. Gotta be careful.
"Wanted to test my golem against the continent's strongest guardian barrier. Crash-test, basically."
"I said carefully, you maniac!"
She exploded. The purple witch jumped in quick. "Professor Reina, calm down. Blood's trickling from his head, eyes shaking—he's concussed from the crash..."
"It took that hit and I survived! Tweak the design a bit, and we can minimize pilot injury!"
"We get you hit your head hard, Aizen. Please, shut up."
The witch sighed. Professor Reina slumped, shoulders heaving. An old professor muttered quietly.
"No matter how you slice it, guy's just nuts."
"Professor Conder's right. Reject his enrollment, no?"
"No guarantor, family didn't report..."
Professors murmured. Reina, calmed, spoke up.
"Fine. But we can't trust you now. Might have to detain and hand to royal knights. Know that."
"Why?"
"You're... Never mind. No energy to explain. Hope you're not serious."
She looked drained. The witch patted her. Reina straightened.
"...Even if you say you just wanted to crash for fun, I'd almost believe it. But answer: Why come to the academy? Who sent you?"
Head clearing a bit. Who sent me?...
"An old guy I met at the palace told me to come."
Yeah, after customs and knights dragged me there. Then silence fell. Head settling, Reina asked quietly.
"Don't mess around."
"For real."
"Palace sends no word?"
"...Ah. He said deliver the letter."
Late realization—I patted my pockets. Empty. Then it hit.
"Dropped it in the golem during the crash-test, probably."
"What?!"
Reina reared to yell.
"Excuse me."
A voice boomed through the room. Reina scowled; an old professor shot up, shocked.
"That voice..."
"Noel Nexia of the Nexia Ducal House. I have an urgent request for the academy professors. May I enter?"
Couldn't pinpoint the source, but my eyes widened. I scanned, spotting a magic stone on the ceiling.
"...If that broadcasts far, could repurpose for golem wireless comms..."
"Entry granted. And you—shut your trap."
Reina facepalmed. A door creaked open far off. Metal tapping stone echoed for a bit.
Then a familiar woman entered my view.
"Ah."
The cane woman from the golem. Soft golden blonde hair, gentle green eyes—striking.
Reina bowed quick. "My apologies, miss."
"Rise. Royal blood or not, I'm a ducal daughter and mere student here, Professor."
They knew each other. The woman smiled at me.
"I interrupted the hearing because I found what seems to be this one's item and brought it myself. Forgive me."
She pulled a letter from her bosom. Familiar.
"Ah, that's it. Dropped in the golem, huh."
"That must be the famous golem in the rumors. Peeking inside was intriguing."
Noel Nexia smiled. Magic? The letter floated to Reina, who read it, eyes trembling.
"...Impossible."
"Professor?"
"Noel—er, Lady Noel. You know what this letter means?"
"I wouldn't foolishly open a letter sealed by the royals."
Reina nodded at her courtesy, sighed deep, pondered. Shoulders shook, then she gathered professors, tore something—seal, probably.
Moments later, stunned professors. Reina eyed me.
"...The palace vouches for you—not an Argent Empire spy. You're clear."
"Argent Empire?"
"You don't... Never mind. Details later. Go. Dorm assignment soon."
Ah, her edge was anti-foreigner caution. Knights released me; I wobbled, nearly fell.
Steadying on the floor, Noel approached with her cane.
"Lucky. Cleared of academy terror plot by the Empire. Tensions rising daily. Academy's extraterritorial, but not soft on invaders."
That explained the sharpness. My crash-test looked like an Empire attack.
"Never been to the Empire."
"I see. You're quite the character."
Knight eyes glazing over. I glanced at my hand.
As I turned to bolt, Noel's voice.
"Rumors about you are already flying, Aizen. Care for a chat later...?"
"I'll visit later."
Sorry, but gotta split. Leaving dazed Noel, I eyed my hand. Floor-chip swiped—time to analyze...
"Wait! Why's the floor cracked?! You bastard!"
"Faking the stumble to smash it!!"
Someone leaped; I bolted.
***
Quick dorm assignment from admissions. Door reached fast. No ceremony for me, and with today free post-enrollment, students were out—campus quiet. Cleaners chattered; probably all at bars. Academy felt more like college, age-wise.
"Should be safe now."
They assigned without hassle—identity cleared for arrivals.
First, analyze this new material. Or golem redesign. Or...
Ideas swirled joyfully as I entered.
And spotted the intruder right away.
"About time."
Shoulder-length black hair, red eyes.
"Hate long talks. Time is money."
She rose casually from my bed.
"Confirming: The golem that tried smashing the gate—yours?"
"Yeah."
Wary of the unknown, I answered. She thrust paper like that ended it.
Before I read, her name rang out. Looking up, she grinned.
"That's me."
She added, approaching with an inscrutable smile.
"Here for a deal."