A little more time passed.
The day of the decisive battle arrived.
It sounded a little ridiculous, but at least from my point of view, it really was the day of the decisive battle.
—“Cyclops Units Two through Four, beginning production!”
Because it was the first day the craftsmen from Mina’s merchant guild would be mobilized to make them entirely without my help, using even the test frames we had built so far.
The facilities we had spent so much time building began to operate, and production started with the frames.
Several craftsmen latched on and began making the metal skeletons, something that would have taken an enormous amount of time if a single person had done it alone.
At the same time, assembly began on the two Cyclops units we had made to test the facilities.
One had been assembled up to the frame, while the other was being assembled from the frame onward.
As the frames interlocked, they gradually took on their overall shape, and as the prepared armor plates were attached to Cyclops Unit Two, which had already been partially assembled, magic tools began to be installed all over it.
Magic tools and various pieces of equipment started squeezing into the gaps between the hollow skeleton and the armor plates, and Mina, seeming slightly nervous, began tapping the railing with her fingers.
Well, she had invested the most, the results were about to appear before her eyes, and the profit she would gain from them was right there in sight, so it was only natural she would be nervous.
“Mina.”
“What?”
“So you do get nervous after all?”
I had only ever seen her acting shameless, confident, and good at buttering people up every day, so it was fascinating to see this for the first time.
Mina looked at me, then soon smiled leisurely and said,
“The only person I know who doesn’t get nervous is you, Aizen.”
“Is that so?”
I thought I got nervous quite a bit, but apparently that wasn’t how other people saw me.
It was at that moment.
—Wooooong…
The sound of the Cyclops starting up, its arms and legs moving briefly, and the mono-eye in its head lighting up for a moment.
The craftsmen must have powered up the Cyclops briefly during assembly to check its operation.
The power was soon cut again, and Unit Two returned to its state of assembly, but…
“It’s done.”
Mina said with a refreshed expression.
Noel, who had been watching quietly with a smile, opened her mouth.
“So now it’s just assembly for the next few days, right?”
“There’s a lot that has to be installed inside.”
If it were simply a matter of assembling the frame, it wouldn’t take more than a few days, but since the Cyclops had many tools inside, installation also took time.
Still, it was only a matter of arranging and installing parts that had already been made, so once they got used to it, the work wouldn’t be that difficult.
“The Cyclops is complete.”
I said while looking at the Rodelini machine gun being assembled on the other side.
From a territory that had nothing but potatoes, I had managed to create a proper mass-production factory for mass-produced units.
“I really have come a long way.”
Having reached the destination I had run toward with nothing but romance in my heart, I felt a little emotional myself.
I deliberately ignored Noel and Mina laughing beside me and smiled faintly.
****
And then word came from the count’s family that I absolutely had to attend the party this time.
“Congratulations on the normal operation of the Cyclops mass-production factory.”
“A party without the main character simply won’t do!”
Strictly speaking, it was a factory that was both related and unrelated to the Margrave of Phoenix, but perhaps because I had spent several months here, they must have wanted to congratulate me.
It was only right to express my gratitude honestly.
“It’s thanks to your consideration. Thank you.”
I bowed my head, then raised it again.
And what entered my sight were Professor Reina, Mina, Noel, and Erica looking utterly shocked.
“Aizen… knows how to say thank you…? Politely…?”
“Has an evil spirit possessed him?”
I saw Mina begin forming hand seals as if to use holy arts, while Professor Reina looked at me and tried to assume a combat stance.
Only after quite some time had passed did everyone finally calm down, and after a brief awkward silence, Noel said with a smile,
“You surprised me, Aizen.”
She was a young lady who had been so startled she had made lightning crackle.
Looking at my companions, who seemed embarrassed, I couldn’t help but sigh.
“What kind of image did I have, exactly?”
I do show courtesy to people who deserve courtesy.
…Probably.
“Though now that I think about it, I’m not sure if it was all right to come dressed like this.”
The authority of a margrave, who possessed independent military rights and defended the border with the empire, was on par with that of a duke.
So when it was said that a banquet would be held, naturally many people were expected to come, and accordingly, Noel, Mina, and Erica appeared wearing dresses, but…
I was wearing my academy uniform.
Because I didn’t have any clothes.
“I could have lent you one of my suits.”
“I would have felt far too sorry about that.”
Formalwear worn by a margrave—how splendid and expensive would that be?
If I wore it for no reason and tore it, it would be a catastrophe, so I firmly refused.
“I could have prepared a set for you, you know…”
“You’ll be called here and there from now on, so it would’ve been good to have one tailored. Want me to arrange one next time?”
Noel and Mina subtly cut in.
Seeing Mina grin, I had the feeling that if I asked her to arrange one, she would put it down as a debt.
What I was receiving investment for was related to golem production, not clothing.
But as I was thinking that it would be too apologetic to ask Noel, I suddenly looked at Noel’s face and saw her smiling at the count.
And the count, noticing Noel’s gaze, was smiling gently as well.
“A man understands men’s clothing best, Lady Nexia.”
“The basic form for a banquet partner is a man and a woman, so I believe a woman’s perspective is important too, Count.”
Their smiles were somehow a little cold.
“How bold of you. I suppose that is the age for it. But sudden relationships can be burdensome to both sides, so in this situation, it would be proper for me, as the elder, to help. There is no need to worry about it being a sign of affection.”
“I, too, am merely helping as a friend, Count.”
…It seemed using the cost as an excuse to refuse had been the correct answer after all.
For some reason, their conversation felt terribly uncomfortable.
Until yesterday, they had been talking softly, like a daughter’s friend and her friend’s father, but today it felt as if they were holding weapons and probing each other.
“…An academy uniform is treated as formalwear, so it’s fine. There’s intention behind it, too. If anything, that’s better, Aizen.”
Professor Reina said so with a sour expression.
Like me, she didn’t seem to have anything like a dress and was simply dressed neatly.
“To think I’d feel a sense of kinship with you, Professor.”
“I choose not to. It is not that I cannot, you rude brat.”
I almost got scolded for acting friendly for no reason.
The party continued, and as the host of the banquet, the count expressed his gratitude to the attendees while formal greetings began to be exchanged.
Then the count raised his glass and shouted,
“For the glory of Vespia! Our respects to the young pioneer who will open the future of the kingdom!”
I saw the count tilt his glass in my direction.
Perhaps because I had revealed that this was my first party, he didn’t force me onto the podium, but he had asked for my understanding, saying he would make sure I received attention.
Noel and Mina had also advised me that it was necessary, so even if I disliked it, I should endure it.
I nodded and raised my own glass as well, and soon people began clapping or offering glory to the count too.
Before long, the atmosphere of the party colored the people there, and I saw them gathering in small groups to chat or going to greet Erica, Noel, and Mina.
‘They’re popular.’
I could see the three of them smiling as they talked with people.
Come to think of it, one was the young lady of a ducal family, one was the daughter of a margrave, and one was my sponsor—no, a saintess.
All three had considerable social status, so of course people would flock to them.
Me? I had participated because they said I was the main character of the party, but perhaps because I was an untitled noble, not many people approached me.
‘Well, I should eat.’
Even after coming here, I had been working, so most of my meals had been steamed potatoes. Honestly, it had been a long time since I’d eaten meat.
Unlike an ordinary banquet, cooks were preparing food on one side, and people took it directly from them.
I thought there was a buffet here too, but I heard that it was a method used only by House Phoenix when the scale was small.
The hall was so full of people it made my head spin, and yet they called it a small party attended only by the vassal families of House Phoenix or so.
I put meat on my plate as it was, then took some of the fried food being noisily fried beside it.
—“What on earth is this? Putting potatoes in oil?”
—“They say it’s called fried potatoes. Apparently, aside from this, almost anything tastes good if you fry it, but the count seems to have taken a liking to this.”
I could see the fried potatoes the count had praised a few days ago sitting on the nobles’ plates.
Because of the oil, it would become a special dish here eaten only by nobles.
I wonder how Mina plans to sell that.
“I’m planning to fry it in the middle of the street and gather people.”
“What?”
I looked back and saw Mina there.
She wore a dress with bold exposure and a shawl that stood out.
She was confident even under the gazes of men.
“…But is it all right for a saintess to dress like that…?”
“It’s unique, so it’s good.”
Mina said simply, drank her beverage, and came closer.
“As expected, this place is more comfortable.”
“Why don’t you go back and have more fun?”
“I’m tired. I hate smiling while talking about things I have no interest in.”
Mina, who had been smiling like a painting until a moment ago, said listlessly.
Then she looked up at me, smirked, and said,
“I think dancing with you, Aizen, would be more fun instead.”
“I don’t know how to dance.”
“Then just pick me up and spin me around.”
I thought that wasn’t really it, but from the look on her face, she seemed to think it would be fun if I did.
“If that’s the case, then perhaps I could dance with you too, Aizen.”
“You came too, Noel.”
“This place is more comfortable after all.”
Noel, who had quietly stood beside me, said with a smile.
“It’s no ordinary effort to keep smiling and play along with conversations I have no interest in.”
“Mina just said that a moment ago.”
“I’m sure everyone thinks the same thing. Erica is sneaking away too.”
“You were all here! As expected, this place is much more comfortable!”
Before I knew it, Erica had joined us as well.
Soon, with me between the three women, they began talking to me, asking my thoughts, or chatting among themselves.
As I tilted my glass and gave appropriate responses while picking at the food I had brought, I gradually began to feel gazes on me.
—“A ducal family, a margrave’s family… He looks ordinary, but really…”
—“I wouldn’t say he has a bad face, but to be popular to that extent…”
There were many people saying rather strange things.
Of course, there was nothing like that.
It was simply that, by the time I came to my senses, everyone had gathered, and because they said this place was comfortable, we ended up chatting together.
Just as I, too, felt more comfortable beside people like Mina and Noel.
“You have a strange look on your face, Aizen. Did you hear something?”
“Someone said I seduced you all with my face.”
“We need to sell eye drops, so tell me who said that.”
Rather than circling around each other and keeping one another in check, this kind of casual exchange of nonsense really was better, I thought.
Noel was also smiling as she listened to my conversation with Mina, and Erica turned her head as if she were seriously trying to find who had said it.
I enjoyed this peace while confirming that the count was watching from afar with a satisfied expression.
And then.
—“Wh-what? What’s this all of a sudden…!”
—“Excuse us.”
Knights were urgently coming in from outside.
Seeing the familiar face at the very front among them, the count immediately spoke to that knight.
“Galed, what is the matter?”
“My apologies, Count. There was an urgent matter I had to report.”
After speaking briefly, Galed approached the count and explained the current situation very simply.
Since I happened to be nearby, his voice reached my ears.
“Monsters are advancing on this castle.”
That was the sound of the party ending.