Bike (1)
A coming-of-age ceremony was never merely a celebration that Wendy Blædwin had become an adult.
It was a kind of business—and the fallout was fierce.
"The ceremony ended ages ago. Why are there still so many nobles hanging around?"
A full day had passed since the celebration wound down.
Yet the castle remained packed with nobles who refused to leave.
As if Vulcan’s offer and the power-supply problem weren’t already enough of a headache.
High-ranking houses and border nobles alike found every excuse imaginable to linger in Iron Hall and Blædwin Castle.
"You really don’t know why you’re asking?"
Erdin Lobel crunched a cookie beside Robon and stared out the window.
"It’s all because of you."
Light. Light bulbs. And the bike.
That combination had produced exactly this result.
Watching Burgess and Wendy tear across the grounds, the guests had surely imagined themselves in the riders’ seats.
And looking at those two, another thought had crossed Robon’s mind as well.
A knight order on bikes… Yeah. That sounds cool.
Knights who rode motorcycles instead of horses—wasn’t that the romantic picture he’d only ever dreamed of?
Aunt Sophia’s proposed transport venture was something to consider only after bikes entered general use.
With present technology, that was still a long way off. If they had no choice until proper roads were laid, maybe they ought to build bicycles as a stopgap.
For now, we go luxury.
Decent horses already sold for staggering sums. By that measure, building a bike was actually cheaper.
Warhorses ridden by knights typically ran from fifty gold to as high as a thousand.
Insane prices. If I sold a 300cc bike for a thousand gold, nobles would still line up by the truckload to buy one.
Not that he intended to. Blædwin’s knights came first.
"Ugh, I’m exhausted…"
Worrying about everything while he was conscious made his head throb.
"You drank a lot yesterday. You’re going to die over that little bit? Tsk. Body’s that fragile?"
"You go home to your family already. How long are you planning to stay?"
"I’d love to, but the nobles won’t leave me alone."
"You?"
"Yeah. All thanks to you."
Erdin was drawing nearly as much attention as Robon. Every house in the principality knew that, of the Four Great Families, Blædwin and Lobel got along the worst.
But once word spread that Robon Blædwin and Erdin Lobel were close friends, a new reading of the two houses’ relationship began to circulate.
Everyone expected Gain Blædwin to become the next family head. No matter how extraordinary Robon’s inventions were, Blædwin remained a house of knights.
That did not mean Robon’s influence was small. His mere presence had transformed Blædwin beyond recognition in a single year.
Whether he became head or not, it was obvious he would wield enormous power within the family.
Robon Blædwin had become as important a figure as Gain Blædwin himself.
Erdin Lobel, by contrast, had once been a successor with almost no influence in his house—until a string of recent successes raised his standing and made him a genuine contender for the next headship.
And if Erdin Lobel and Robon Blædwin joined hands?
Erdin’s odds of becoming the next Lobel head would soar overnight.
Most nobles still thought the second son’s chances slim, but a few sharp-eyed ones had read the strange new atmosphere and started approaching him.
"People who wouldn’t even glance my way before now want to socialize with me."
Erdin clenched his teeth.
"Planning revenge?"
"…If I can."
Robon, sprawled on the sofa, clicked his tongue.
"That’s all useless."
"What do you know? You have no idea what I went through—"
"You think I wouldn’t know?"
Robon Blædwin’s image had changed so completely that people forgot the old rumors: that he was a wastrel.
Wastrel. Hopeless. Talentless.
Those were the labels that had trailed him. Bottom-tier talent for both sword and magic, willful and useless to the family—a lost cause.
If anyone had endured more scorn and dismissal than Erdin, it was Robon.
"…How are you so unbothered by it?"
Robon hesitated a beat over how to answer.
Well, because I never lived through it myself.
He could hardly say that. And even if he had lived it, he wouldn’t have thought the way Erdin did.
Don’t regret what’s past. Focus on what the present you can do and achieve.
That had always been Noh Bo-jun’s motto.
"Unbothered? I endure it. That’s how I see it. If the vow of revenge helps me, I use it. If it doesn’t, I throw it away."
"…Use it if it helps, throw it away if it doesn’t?"
"Right. You use it too. Grow. And if, when that day comes, the anger toward them still hasn’t cooled—then decide. Whether to take revenge, or keep using them."
Erdin felt as if he’d been struck over the head. At the same time, irritation surged at how small his own heart had been.
"Thanks."
"For what?"
"Everything. All of it. And the Lobel nobles who came to this ceremony—their thinking’s changed a lot after seeing Blædwin."
"I imagine so."
How could it not? Anyone who looked at Blædwin and stayed the same simply had no interest in the world.
"Everyone looked properly stunned. It was extremely satisfying. Heh."
"Good for you."
Erdin pulled on his outer coat.
"Lobel’s going to push hard for trade with Blædwin. All you have to do is take what’s offered."
"I’d prefer they hurry. I need a lot of money."
"Don’t worry. I’ll bring good news. Oh—and the five cultivators. I’m taking those with me. That’s one less thing to fret over, thanks to you."
"Go make a fortune."
Erdin snorted at the casual send-off and left the room.
Robon sank into thought—how to handle the nobles waiting for him outside.
A little later.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Rachel tapped on the door.
"Come in."
"Young Master, I’ve brought you tea steeped with angelica."
"Thanks. You didn’t sneak this one, right?"
"Heh. Of course not. These days when I say it’s for you, they practically shove more at me."
Robon felt anew how completely his standing in the family had shifted. In the beginning, Rachel had walked on eggshells just to bring him angelica.
"I’ll enjoy it."
"Ah—and the head of House Helek is waiting. She says she wishes to speak with you."
"…The head of Helek?"
"Yes. Will you go?"
She hadn’t even spoken to him at the banquet.
He’d thought she wasn’t interested. Apparently not.
If it was the head of Helek calling, he could hardly ignore it.
"I’ll finish this and go."
"Yes, Young Master."
Robon drank his tea, ordered his thoughts, and headed for the reception room where Agatha Helek waited.
Inside sat a middle-aged woman with brown bobbed hair.
"You’ve come."
Round glasses, an unusual air. This was Agatha Helek, head of House Helek.
"What is this about?"
"Director Robon Blædwin of RMEL. Don’t you need personnel?"
Polite, yet at ease—quite different from the other family heads.
"I do. I need them."
"Our house has some rather bright children. They came to the ceremony with me."
Only then did Robon understand why she had come.
"You’re asking me to take them in?"
"I am. What work you assign them is entirely up to you, Director."
"Why should I bother?"
A gleam flickered behind the glasses as she adjusted them.
She took a leisurely sip of tea and answered.
"Because someone like you will not appear again."
Slurp—
Unexpected—and at the same time, immediately convincing.
"I believe you know it yourself—how exceptional you are."
Agatha Helek had been certain of it from the moment she entered Blædwin territory.
Electricity and light. Unknown forces ordinary human strength could never touch. To give those forces concrete form and pour them into ordinary lives was not something just anyone could do.
It had been shocking. Wondrous.
That such thoughts were possible. That such things could be made real.
The impact rivaled—perhaps surpassed—the day she first discovered the Tesleia relics.
"I hope it never happens, but if some unforeseen accident befalls you, or the day comes when you can no longer move, your achievements and knowledge will weather away with time and vanish."
Robon nodded.
He had understood her intent from the first words she spoke.
"I know. But that doesn’t seem like something we need to worry about yet."
As if she had expected that answer, she set a heavy pouch on the table.
"This is the deposit."
"A deposit?"
"Exactly three thousand gold. Thereafter I’ll provide an additional three thousand gold every half-year."
She parted the mouth of the pouch. Gleaming gold light flashed.
The corner of his mouth twitched of its own accord. Another major sponsor was always welcome.
"…In light of the sincerity, then."
Robon casually scooped up the pouch and hung it at his waist. The Helek head’s smile widened.
"No matter how much they learn at your side, under your presence they will never stand out. Right now you need talent that can support you from behind, don’t you?"
Looking at her, it seemed the Helek head had anticipated exactly this. She was naming the very worries currently occupying Robon’s mind.
"Very well. If they survive the probation period, I’ll take them on as full researchers at my lab. They’ll be able to learn everything I know."
Her eyes widened slightly.
Then one corner of her mouth lifted.
"So you have confidence."
"The Mardan Principality is entering a transitional period. Accelerating development will require far more talent and manpower."
The two of them rose and clasped hands.
"And my standards are rather high."
"Don’t worry. Our house’s scholars are quite clever."
"Clever alone won’t cut it."
What mattered was whether they could endure RMEL’s murderous workload.
"Blædwin nights have gotten longer than they used to be."
After the ceremony, while remaining in Blædwin to investigate one matter after another, Sophia and Siena noticed something strange.
"It’s already evening, and they’re still open for business?"
In the pilot district of Iron Hall, where streetlamps and light bulbs had been installed, quite a few stalls still kept their awnings up along the stretch from the central plaza to the eastern gate, even late at night.
In Eidras this hour would already have grown quiet, yet people still thronged the streets.
"Having light means they aren’t afraid, I suppose?"
"People are out at night, so the shops can’t close. It’s a good sign."
Sophia pursed her lips and let out a soft murmur of wonder. It wasn’t only the commercial streets—many lights still burned inside noble residences as well.
At this hour everyone ought to be asleep. What were they doing this late?
The situation at Blædwin Castle was much the same.
After investigating late into the night, the two women returned to the castle to find it still lit as bright as day.
"Hah!"
"Your cut is unstable. Don’t only mind your arms and legs—mind your eyes as well. It’s this bright, and you still aren’t looking properly at your target!"
On the training grounds, Blædwin knights were still drilling with their swords deep into the night.
"Lady Sophia and Young Lady Siena have returned. If you need anything at all, please call without hesitation."
Servants still hurried through the vast manor, busy with chores.
In the annex where guests stayed, yet another drinking party was in full swing. The moment they spotted Sophia and Siena, the young nobles swarmed them with abrupt requests.
"If it isn’t Young Lady Siena and Director Sophia! Perfect timing. We’ve all been talking about the RB 300 Lord Robon Blædwin built."
"Does Vulcan have no plans to produce that enduro bike?"
"Money is no object. Build one for our house as well."
"I’ll give you my entire fortune. Lady Wendy said she has no interest in anyone without a motorcycle…"
"There’s talk that Lord Robon Blædwin and Lady Siena are close—is that true? Could you introduce me as well?"
Sophia nearly unleashed a torrent of curses and barely held them back.
This was Blædwin. She was a guest; she couldn’t very well cause a scene.
Siena felt the same. Flustered as she was, she smiled and fielded their words. They were, after all, scions of fairly good houses.
"I was heading to the laboratory anyway. I’ll go speak to him now—wait here."
"Truly?"
"As expected of Lady Sophia!"
"In Blædwin they said she was only close with Robon Blædwin. So it was true?"
Sophia didn’t bother answering. She simply hauled Siena out. The clingy pests had her temper rising, but she endured for the sake of the transport venture still in preparation.
They climbed to the laboratory for refuge—and found the engineers outside taking a break.
"Oh? Lady Sophia? Good evening."
"Young Lady Siena as well."
Dark blue shadows hung under the eyes of the three engineers drinking tea.
"No need to stand. What are you all doing here without sleeping?"
"You look exhausted."
At their words the engineers tilted their heads.
"Pardon? How long have we even been working, to sleep already…? There’s still a mountain of work. Hahaha."
"We don’t sleep until the Director does."
"What? You don’t sleep until Robon does?"
Siena asked again in surprise.
The three engineers nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Doesn’t Vulcan work overtime?"
"Why even ask? Of course they do overtime."
"Who leaves while the Director is still there?"
They were still looking up with pure, curious faces when—
Clack!
Robon shoved the door open and barked,
"What are you all doing? Get inside! When do you plan to finish the engine circuits?"
At his roar the engineers scrambled back into the lab. Sophia and Siena stared at him with their mouths hanging open.
"Oh? Aunt? Siena? What are you doing here at this hour?"
"……Aren’t you going home?"
"Huh? It’s not even midnight yet."
At Robon’s utterly sincere answer, Sophia and Siena understood at last.
Now I know why Blædwin developed so fast!
So that’s why Robon made the light bulb first!
This was the difference between them and Vulcan.
And they needed to import this excellent system into Vulcan as soon as possible.