Coming of Age Ceremony (3)
Elin Lahen's plan had not been this.
Somehow I have to make peace...
Mother had spoken. The flow of the wind was reversing, with the west as its center.
Prophet Mage Sabina Lahen. Not once had her prophecies ever been wrong.
And she believed the eye of the storm might well be Robon Blædwin. That was why she had ordered Elin Lahen to improve relations with him—
"Lahen keeps using me to the bitter end, making things hard for my benefactor."
"That's not—"
"Enough. Elin Lahen. You aren't ready to apologize."
Robon declared it flatly and left with Andersen.
Elin Lahen was stifled with frustration. Had she ever bowed her head and conceded this much? She had never apologized first to anyone from any family like this.
What did I do that was so wrong?
She did not understand. She had lived her entire life that way. At the same time, she had never failed to carry out her mother's requests or commands.
That was why she was flustered. She no longer knew what to do.
"You look angry."
She turned. Arnold Lobel, attending the banquet, had approached and spoken to her.
"Those Blædwin bastards get under your skin, right?"
"......"
"Speechless, I see. Want me to help? I heard Erdin made a mistake with Lahen..., Hey! Where are you going!"
Elin left without so much as listening. Arnold's face flushed scarlet as he shouted after her, but she had already used levitation magic and was gone.
"This fucking—!! Blædwin bastards and Lahen bastards both!"
Having temporarily fled elsewhere with Andersen, I asked,
"Thanks for just now. I was kind of moved, honestly. You didn't have to go that far for me."
"Not at all. When I met the Laboratory Director at Lahen, I thought it then. The person I will serve for the rest of my life is you."
Sincerity rang clear in his words. Going this far... it only made me awkwardly embarrassed.
"But don't you need Lahen's help? Those devil worshippers or whatever—those lunatics targeting you, Andersen. Who knows what they'll try?"
"You need not worry. Did I not tell you? I am from the Demon Slayer Unit."
"You did."
"Those who worship the demons are the devil worshippers. Among us, we called them the Fallen."
Ah. So that was why those bastards were after Andersen.
"Remember the thieves who were captured with me then? Those thieves are guild members of the Mice of the Blue Night. And the guild master is my old comrade."
"Is he from the Demon Slayer Unit too?"
"Yes. Derik and I are specialists in this field. One Derik, the guild master, is worth far more than a hundred of Lahen's mages."
"...That much?"
That was unexpected. The man who had been pretending to be a farmer back then was that formidable?
"Only when it comes to dealing with the Fallen. In any case, do not worry overmuch. I have not regained the full measure of my former prowess, but mere devil worshippers who are not demons themselves can do nothing to us."
The Andersen I had known so far was not a man to bluff or lie.
If he spoke this firmly, it must truly be so. Still, the Demon Slayer Unit seemed to have been a far more impressive place than I had imagined.
"Surely not stronger than my father or anything, right?"
"No."
I let out an inward sigh of relief. If it really had been true, Andersen would suddenly have become intimidating.
Of course, strong was good—but still.
"By the way, is Wendy's birthday gift all set?"
"Of course. I checked with the engineers several times. A stage to verify the performance on the spot has been prepared as well."
"And Brother?"
"After riding a few times, he seems to have gotten the hang of it."
"Good."
I could already picture Wendy's reaction when she received the gift later. She would probably go wild with delight. Mother had earnestly told Wendy to behave demurely, that she must maintain her dignity at least in the banquet hall, but...
Somehow I don't think that's going to work, Mother.
If I was going to give a gift, I intended to give the best one among everyone present today.
Enough that every person in that hall would envy her.
"We've rested enough. Shall we head back to the banquet hall?"
"Understood."
On the central stage of the Great Hall's first floor, Wendy—the star of today's banquet—was receiving greetings from the guests.
"Hello. Thank you so much for coming. Hohoho."
"The Ice Nine Swords? Hohoho, I don't know much about such things."
Watching that thoroughly pretentious performance, laughter rose on its own. Mother had told her to act like a mature young lady for today, but I never expected her to act this well.
Wendy is pretty, though.
Young male nobles glancing sidelong at Wendy kept catching my eye.
Those little punks eyeing my sister? Just thinking it sent a flash of irritation through me.
I should just drink. Whatever.
As time passed and the nobles grew thoroughly tipsy, their spirits rising—
Head Butler Lefry stepped up onto the stage and drew every gaze.
"Everyone, please lend me your ears for a moment."
Lefry bowed his head and spoke in a calm yet gentle voice.
"Today is the day Miss Wendy Blædwin crosses the threshold of adulthood. She has now risen as a noble lady in her own right, and as a new star who will illuminate the family."
Thunderous applause and cheers erupted throughout the banquet hall. Wendy, dressed in a lovely gown, wore a smile full of tension and excitement.
I could hear those who knew Wendy's true self whispering among themselves.
"That's the Wendy who used to swing her sword out of nowhere? That person?"
"Yes, Vice Captain."
"No way. Is it someone else?"
Hector, who had entered the banquet hall late, muttered and then met my eyes.
I quietly raised my index finger to my lips.
Hector nodded.
"It is now time to receive the gifts prepared by our honored guests at this coming-of-age banquet. These are gifts filled with the hearts and blessings of each family. I hope Miss Wendy may truly feel those precious intentions."
When Lefry gestured lightly, servants pushed out a large table draped in velvet cloth.
Upon it, already beautifully wrapped gifts were neatly arranged. Sparkling ribbons, leather boxes, and wrapping cloths embroidered with gorgeous crests caught every eye.
"Now then—first is the gift prepared by Viscount Marco of the Roseil family."
A refined young man walked forward, smiling as he presented his gift. Viscount Marco's offering was a pair of luxurious leather gloves.
"They seem to suit the lovely Miss Wendy perfectly. Would you accept my gift?"
"What beautiful gloves. They're as stylish and luxurious as Viscount Marco himself. I'll use them gratefully."
Viscount Marco put on a deliberately cool expression, knelt, and offered her his hand.
Wendy inclined her head slightly in thanks and lightly kissed the back of his hand.
Instantly, goosebumps prickled across the back of my own hand. I wasn't even the one who received the kiss—so why was I the one getting annoyed?
He descended from the stage with a regretful look. It seemed he had more he wanted to say, but the eyes of those around him forced him down.
"He's looking at your sister with the eyes of a man who's fallen in love."
When had she gotten next to me? Siena laughed as she joined the applause and cheers.
"Viscount Marco?"
"Yeah. The guy whose head spins so fast when he's researching is a complete dud at this."
"Must be a misunderstanding."
"Heh. Want to bet? Whether Viscount Marco asks Wendy Blædwin to dance after the gift presentation ends or not. Loser grants a wish. How about it?"
Honestly, I wasn't confident. Even setting this life aside, in my previous one I had buried myself in research for over a decade and never once thought of romance.
So how would I know? My romance cells were all dead, past any hope of revival.
"No. By the way, what gift did you prepare?"
"It's not my gift—it's what Vulcan prepared. You'll be surprised when you see it."
"From Vulcan?"
"Yeah. It's something I've been developing this time. Nephew."
From behind, Aunt Sophia approached and rested a hand on my shoulder.
"When did you get here?"
"Just a bit ago. I've been rather busy lately."
"I'm looking forward to it."
"I'm looking forward to your reaction too. But I heard you also prepared a gift?"
"Really?"
Siena stared at me, wide-eyed with surprise—eyes that seemed to demand I reveal what the gift was right then and there.
"It's my sister's coming-of-age ceremony. Of course there has to be a gift."
"What is it? What is it?"
"See later."
"Tch. Fine. No matter what, it won't be better than our gift this time, right?"
What on earth had they prepared to be this confident?
"Then want to bet? Whose gift gets the better reaction."
This time I turned the challenge back on Siena. She looked flustered for a moment, then her eyes soon blazed with competitive fire.
"Call. Loser?"
"Grants a wish. How about it?"
"Call!"
Siena answered boldly. Why did this feel like déjà vu? Was it just me?
"Do you even know what I'll make you do?"
She stared hard at me, then her face gradually flushed red.
"W-w-what are you going to make me... do? N-no!"
"What are you thinking? I was going to ask you to lend me some materials I need from Vulcan."
"I wasn't thinking anything?! Fine. Is that all right? Master?"
"Yeah. Instead, if you lose, make us that gift you're giving Wendy too."
"How do you know what I'm giving?"
"Seeing how confident you are, you must have made something novel again."
As expected, experience could not be ignored. So sharp. If I won and took my gift, Vulcan would go completely wild.
If I won, that is.
"Alright."
A little later, Vulcan's turn arrived.
Something fairly large sat covered beneath velvet cloth.
"This time, let us see the gift brought from the center of the Principality's magic engineering—Vulcan!"
Aunt Sophia lifted the cloth. It was a vest. More precisely, armor in the form of a vest.
"Oh..."
Even I let out a brief murmur of admiration. A circular power source was set into the center of the chest, and a steel frame with modular joints that could be separated front and back.
"How is it?"
"Wow! It fits perfectly!"
A flexible function that tightened perfectly to the wearer's body as a result.
It was reminiscent of Iron Man from the movies.
But more surprising than that—
"Try using aura."
"Okay."
Clank! Zing—!
The central power source rotated half a turn and reacted with the aura. Mana circuits flared with light, and—
Whoosh...!
In that instant a translucent blue membrane bloomed in the air and wrapped around Wendy.
"Wow...!"
Wendy's eyes flew wide.
"It's a mana shield vest. Activate the power source with aura or mana, and a shield forms matching the body structure."
At Aunt's explanation, every noble present broke into cries of astonishment and admiration.
I'll admit this one.
If it had merely been a matter of adding magical functions to existing armor to produce a mana shield, I would not have reacted like this.
The crucial point was that the vest recognized Wendy's body structure and deployed the shield to match that size.
That was the core of the technology.
It contained the pure essence of magic engineering I still could not implement myself.
Seeing it, my heart suddenly seemed to beat faster.
Another reason to gather research funds quickly had just been added.
She said she was busy... so she was making this.
Aunt looked at me with a victory smile. With the crowd's explosive reaction, she could hardly help it. Even if I were Aunt, I would think I had won.
"How about it? Insane, right?"
Siena was the same—already drunk on victory and grinning. I wanted to quote the Korean proverb about not drinking kimchi soup first, but I held my tongue.
"Thank you, Aunt. I'll use it well."
Wendy took both sides of her dress hem and offered a demure curtsy. At that thoroughly uncharacteristic behavior, Aunt also flusteredly stammered, "Uh, uh... yes," and stepped down.
"Next...! The person receiving the most attention in this hall after Miss Wendy!!"
When Lefry spoke those words, every gaze swung toward me.
Finally, my turn had come.
"Young Master Robon Blædwin will present a gift for Miss Wendy!"
Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap! Clap!
The entire banquet hall erupted in applause and cheers. Even though nothing had been revealed yet, the atmosphere was hotter than at any previous moment.
"My gift is outside."
Instead of mounting the stage, I cut through the guests. Then I threw open the great doors at the banquet hall entrance.
Rumble!
In the dark night, a U-shaped halfpipe of unknown installation time stood in the Great Hall courtyard, and—
Vroom!!
—at its far end stood Brother Burgess astride an enduro bike of elegant form: the Robon Bike RB 300.
"Everyone, come outside! There will be a demonstration ride of the bike newly developed by Laboratory Director Robon Blædwin!"
"You will witness together the glorious first ride of the RB—Robon Bike—300!"
RMEL's engineers worked the crowd as they guided the banquet nobles outside.
It had already been arranged with the family. Only Wendy had been left in the dark.
Wendy burst out between them first, and nobles who could no longer contain their curiosity poured after her in a rush.
When I judged the audience sufficient and signaled Brother Burgess—
Vroom!!
Brother twisted the throttle hard and fired the engine.
With a sharp exhaust note the RB 300 announced its presence, then ran up the U-shaped halfpipe.
The halfpipe was a wooden track I had asked Uncle Amos to build, shaped to draw a long, gentle curve.
A disposable pump track for a simple show.
Large wheels gripped the surface as it descended the slope.
Speed building. In an instant Brother Burgess reached the opposite end and used the momentum to soar into the air.
"Whoa......"
"It... flew through the sky?"
"Oh my."
In that state he completed a full rotation and landed back on the track.
"Cool...!"
Wendy murmured in open admiration.
An enduro bike revealing a charm utterly different from any automobile. Being an off-road machine, its wheels were large and its action rough.
Bwaaaang!!
This was no ordinary enduro bike. It was an upgraded version with instant acceleration boosted by a mana engine.
Brother soared skyward again from the opposite side; this time he spun three full aerial rotations before landing hard and riding down the track.
"Wow......"
Even I let out an involuntary exclamation at the incredible skill. Hard to believe this was his first time on it.
The nobles were all captivated by that mystical acrobatics and could not tear their eyes away. Some of the younger ones had their eyes sparkling like children faced with a coveted toy.
Coming off the track, he raced a wide lap around the garden, fully displaying that free-spirited swagger.
When Brother lifted the front wheel nearly to ninety degrees, gasps poured from every direction.
A kind of mechanical horse, I supposed. A horse could rear on its hind legs, but it could not run while reared up, could it?
The knights who saw this would probably lose their minds.
Screeech—!
Having delivered a proper performance, Brother drifted to a stop right in front of Wendy.
Then he dismounted and met my eyes—a look that seemed to say, How about it? Did well, right?
I threw him a thumbs-up and walked over to Wendy.
"Enduro bike, RB 300. My first bike. It's a gift."
Wendy's eyes filled as if moved; then she threw herself into my arms.
"Brother, thank you!!"
From the nobles, cheers and applause poured forth as if they might wash the entire banquet hall away.