16. Plan Change (3)
Wayne spread his Odd energy even wider. This was the Odd he had accumulated so far, but it was also the monster's Odd at the same time. To be precise, he was mixing his own Odd with the monster Odd he had just absorbed and scattering it like mist in all directions.
This was a unique ability evolved by a colossal serpent monster called Python to hunt prey and avoid fights with other predators—it detected the body heat of living creatures that came into contact with the Odd.
'I wonder if it can even change direction?'
The Odd energy extended through the corridors and out the windows. Wayne knew that spreading it in a specific direction he desired was more precise and allowed it to reach farther than scattering it everywhere. After all, that's how the monster had used it in his past life!
Concentrating his mind, he tried redirecting it several times, and soon the Odd began to spread in one direction according to his will. It started detecting more and more human heat signatures.
It soon probed the parlor where he had deliberately started a small fire, then redirected up the stairs to sense the heat of people climbing up.
'Fifteen people! The fire will be out soon.'
As the firefighters arrived and doused it with water, the flames extinguished in an instant. Wayne extended his Odd energy outward, scanning up to the training grounds outside the building.
'Just under 100 meters?'
He couldn't push it any farther. He replenished it bit by bit through breathing, but his base Odd reserves were insufficient, so he had to stop. Reluctantly, he recalled the Odd.
'That's impressive enough!'
Wayne revealed his satisfaction. No, it exceeded his expectations. Not only did it have an ability like an infrared detector, but he could control the search direction himself. The detection range was still short, but that would improve as his Odd grew—it was only a matter of time.
As he recalled the Odd, he felt the monster's red Odd settled in one side of his chest.
'They don't mix, how peculiar.'
His own Odd encircled the red Odd like a barrier, while the red Odd remained stably tucked in a corner of his chest. When needed, he could simply draw it up and use it right away. For now, he'd leave it at that and study the monster's Odd more later.
Looking at the shrunken monster head, now like a skull, Wayne furrowed his brow.
'What to do with this... If Adam sees it, he might suspect me.'
When he was in the acting lord's office, he had asked detailed questions about this monster head, and he knew Adam treasured it as a specimen. Naturally, Adam would suspect him first.
'Looks like there's only one way...'
He pulled out the oil and matches he had used to start the parlor fire.
"Uwaaaah! My monster specimen...!"
The next day, Adam's scream-like wail echoed through the acting lord's office. An inexplicable fire had broken out in the office, and most of his cherished monster specimen had burned away. The firefighters had extinguished it quickly, but the volatile chemicals used to preserve the monster head had left little behind.
Screeech! Thud! Thud!
A 5-meter Gigant that didn't match Dresden Territory's standards appeared in the training grounds. Wayne's eyes sparkled with anticipation as he waited.
Captain Jamie disembarked from the Gigant, and the 7th Squad's mechanics who had worked on it approached Wayne.
"Young Lord Wayne, sorry to keep you waiting!"
"Everyone, good work."
"Not at all. You saved our lives—this is the least we could do."
At that moment, Snow and the other Gigant pilots from the 7th Squad approached as well.
"I'm curious how it's been modified."
Argen wore an excited expression.
"From the looks of it, they just reinforced the Gigant's arms? Nothing special!"
Diane Garner was still prickly, venting her displeasure at Squad Leader Snow for dragging her out against her will. But Snow had wanted to show her squad the Gigant Wayne had customized.
Captain Jamie approached Wayne and chattered about something. Wayne nodded and climbed into the Gigant.
Modifying a Gigant was no easy task. Especially for an unfamiliar model without blueprints or parts, using only existing materials—and attempting something they'd never done before. But the 7th Squad's mechanics had pulled all-nighters, mobilizing every bit of their expertise. Captain Jamie had even consulted his father, Shane Marie the workshop master, pouring in their utmost effort.
'Did they really succeed?'
Hiss! Thud!
As the hatch sealed shut, Wayne focused his Odd Eyes.
Finally, Wayne's Gigant thrust its right arm forward with full force.
Clank! Shiiiing! Chaaang!
"Gasp! What is that?"
"A sword hidden in the arm!"
A 1-meter blade sprang from the Gigant's forearm armor. Precisely, the blade hidden in the gauntlet above the forearm shot out.
'They said they'd give it their all, and they delivered!'
Wayne was pleased. Despite his crude sketch of a blueprint, they had understood perfectly and even improved beyond his instructions. The blade was short, but it drastically reduced draw time and eliminated the bulk of a hip sheath—perfect for his small, light, agile Gigant.
Then Wayne's gaze shifted to the left arm. It had the same gauntlet installed.
"What's this? No way this works too?"
Wayne channeled Odd into the back of his hand and extended his left arm.
Chaaang!
"Whoa!"
Sure enough, another 1-meter blade emerged. He had specified only one sword, yet they installed two, one on each side.
Wayne quickly thrust both fists forward.
'Heh, a 5-meter Zealot is born.'
The two blades stabbed the air repeatedly, leaving onlookers agape.
"Ooooh!"
"Whoa! Whatever it is, it's cool!"
"Who knows about practicality? The blade's too short to be useful in real combat!"
Diane tried pouring cold water, but the crowd's reaction was explosive.
> [Young Lord, how is it?]
Captain Jamie asked via the newly installed short-range communicator.
> [Beyond expectations! Perfect!]
Captain Jamie sighed in relief.
Wayne maneuvered around the training grounds for a while, repeatedly thrusting and swinging the sword, then dismounted.
"A sword emerging from the arm—quite an innovative idea. It seems highly practical."
Snow offered praise.
"What matters isn't the idea. It's the people who made it real. Right?"
Wayne gave a thumbs-up to Captain Jamie and the mechanics.
"Yes!"
"Exactly!"
The mechanics beamed with pride at the finished weapon.
"Fortunately, we completed it before our unit deploys."
"Right! You're leaving the day after tomorrow?"
"Yes."
A pang of regret hit Wayne. The 7th Squad were the only ones in the castle he could truly open up to, and now they were all leaving at once, leaving him alone.
"But how do you retract that sword? I couldn't figure it out."
Captain Jamie swallowed dryly.
"That's... we ran out of time and couldn't make it."
"What?"
"For now, we'll have to use a maintenance Gigant to disassemble the top and chain it back in."
"That's a bit disappointing..."
In other words, it couldn't retract on its own.
"That's why I'm staying behind."
"What?"
Captain Jamie gave an awkward smile.
"I'm the one who knows this machine best. With me here, we can maintain the Gigant and finish the incomplete sword ejection mechanism."
"That's great for me, but..."
Wayne glanced at Snow, who gave a slight nod. It seemed the discussion was already over.
"There are other mechanics staying, and when the unit returns to base, we can use their maintenance teams and officers. No need to worry about us."
"Ah! Thanks. I owe you big time."
"Not at all. It's the least we can do for helping our 7th Squad."
Wayne thought once more that bringing the 7th Squad on the orc subjugation had been the right call.
From time immemorial, the worst plans were those set in stone. With his situation changed, his plans had to adapt as well. Since he had no grand schemes beyond survival, devising a new one was straightforward.
[Acting Lord's Temporary Office]
Seeing the few remaining monster specimens, Wayne felt a twinge of guilt inside. Most of what was left was charred black, and Adam had been trimming the monster fur with scissors for days.
Snip! Snip!
"I want to deploy too."
Adam's snipping stopped at Wayne's words. He turned to look at him.
"Deploy?"
"Yes! I want to go to the battlefield."
Adam smirked, reading Wayne's intentions.
"You can't go with the 7th Squad."
"Pardon?"
"Father's there. If he finds out I sent you to the front lines, I'll be the one reprimanded. If you go behind my back, I'll issue a wanted order—your choice."
Adam already knew from reports that Wayne's Gigant skills were surprisingly proficient. If he shone by the marquis's side, he might catch Father's eye. And knights who fought together on the battlefield often formed unbreakable bonds. Becoming lord was a given for him, but if Wayne later split off and took those friendly knights with him...
Adam pondered that far.
"You misunderstand. I'm asking to be sent to Enok Fortress in the Great Forest."
"What? Enok?"
Adam tilted his head at the unexpected request.
In truth, battlefields weren't limited to the empire's hegemonic wars. Traditionally unusual, but the Great Forest—fought over for centuries—was the empire's true, endless battlefield.
"But if Father finds out I sent you there..."
That was Adam's concern—how his father would react.
"No one will know if you don't tell him. Even if the marquis finds out, just say I insisted."
"Hm..."
"In exchange, let me form my own squad and take them."
"A squad? You mean lead troops?"
"Nothing grand—just three Gigant cadets."
"Cadets?"
"Yes. No need for extra Gigants. I need riders to share mine."
Adam sank into thought. The Dresden 3rd Armored Brigade was stationed at Enok Fortress, with third son Pike Stein as brigade commander for three years now. Officially, Pike had volunteered, but really, he had fled under pressure from Adam and Bran. Yet Wayne wanted to go of his own accord. Whatever his scheme, it wasn't forced by Adam, and he was volunteering— not a bad deal.
"Fine! Tomorrow morning, I'll assemble the Gigant cadets. Pick three and take them."
"Yes! Thank you, big brother."
Then Adam eyed him suspiciously.
"But why the sudden urge for Enok Fortress? Did you start that fire in my office?"
"Gasp! No, absolutely not. I'll take my leave."
Wayne bowed and scurried out.
Watching him go, Adam grew even more suspicious.
'He let me go without question—did starting the fire pay off?'
Wayne chuckled slyly.
Snow opposed Wayne's sudden decision to head to the Great Forest but couldn't break his stubbornness. When he mentioned picking three cadets, she came out to help.
But upon seeing the assembled cadets, she looked puzzled.
"Huh? That's odd."
"Why?"
"None of the top-performing cadets are here."
As a squad leader, Snow paid close attention to Gigant cadet selections. None of the ones she had her eye on were present—no top-tier prospects likely to become true Gigant pilots.
"I know."
"...?"
"I saw the acting lord take the excellent ones on a territory inspection this morning."
"So he did it on purpose."
Snow shook her head at Adam's pettiness. The thought of such a man becoming their lord, to whom they'd pledge their lives, filled her with frustration.
"Doesn't matter. I wasn't planning to pick top scorers anyway."
"Then what's the criteria?"
"Ones who sync well with me!"
"Pardon?"
He had never intended to pick those with lots of Odd from the start. Nor was it about talent in handling Odd. Precisely, Wayne wanted cadets whose Odd meshed best with his own. That way, he'd find them easier to train!