Let me state the conclusion.
Last night’s sleep-beside-Alice was exposed.
Circumstances being what they were, I was eventually forgiven.
For the record — that I’d wanted to sleep beside Alice from start to finish stayed buried, since it would be fuel.
The jealousy-flames sank; now to the workshop……! — but I’m heading there alone.
”…… To think I’d go alone……”
The Mashiro-and-others who’d looked forward to sightseeing — absent.
The moment we landed——
“We four have important things to discuss; Ouga, could you head to the workshop alone?”
“We’ll drop bags at the reserved inn first; come join us when negotiations end.”
“This might affect our future together depending on the situation……”
“Lord Ouga…… I’m all right. There are things I must one day speak of…… I will survive this battle without fail.”
—— They went separately.
I couldn’t fathom why a talk would invoke life-and-death, and I couldn’t intervene.
The four headed to the planned inn without looking at any other facility.
…… My guess: they’ll discuss Alice’s feelings as a group.
Alice’s never-before sleep-beside-me. The overprotective behavior since my right-arm break.
No way Mashiro and the others missed those changes.
”…… I can’t keep moping forever……”
This situation arose because I hid the sleeping-beside-Alice fact.
Same as on the carriage — I felt guilty toward Mashiro and the others.
If I’d told the three sooner that I wanted them beside me too, this wouldn’t have happened.
In the end, excusing myself, not advancing in romance — that’s my weakness.
Past trauma blocked romantic progression.
Then Alice broke through with a huge blow.
Think it through.
Feelings can’t always be conveyed later. Worst case in the Floné fight — I die.
Before that, tell the four. I must.
”…… I’ll say it when I return to the inn.”
Not all at once — one by one.
“Gh…… my heart leapt the moment I decided……”
I want to finish the workshop talk fast.
Suppressing impatience, I jogged toward Cabunika’s recommended workshop — Lurdan.
The workshop, called Enkalton’s symbol, towered enormous.
A scale that could build me a top-tier prosthetic.
The remaining question — when. Have to talk first.
Father said don’t worry about budget, get a satisfying one.
The Floné battle…… ties to my life.
I planned to push performance to the limit. But……
“For your desired prosthetic, accounting for wait, completion would be roughly ten years.”
”…… Let me take this back.”
“Understood. Next visit will likely take even more time, please note.”
As expected of Enkalton’s largest workshop.
I hadn’t expected such a long lead time…… way beyond expectation.
In ten years, Floné would have ruled the world.
…… As I walk a lap around the workshop, I’ll organize thoughts and decide whether to re-request.
I considered alternatives while walking.
“That Cabunika-san’s introduction letter had no effect…… this city is thoroughly independent.”
In Rondism, Cabunika’s letter is essentially a free-pass even into the castle.
That influence yet here — just one customer.
Nothing more or less.
So I can walk this city without disguise……
“What do I do? Try other workshops?”
If performance drops, that’s bad.
I refuse to compromise on the prosthetic.
Better than random searching — Cabunika uses Lurdan. Has to be it.
”…… Should I claim world peace rides on my arm?”
They’d still say no.
True. Strong people exist outside Rondism.
Enkalton folk wouldn’t see a single student changing anything.
This perception is understandable.
”…… Then I’ll have to hope for some miracle to reserve a slot——”
“——Uwaaa!?”
”…… Hm?”
A high-pitched voice interrupting my thoughts.
I looked up — a navy-haired girl tumbled in the middle of the road.
Next to her stood a hulking man wearing a welding mask…… maybe 2m tall.
“I told you I won’t hire you at my workshop, you brat!”
“Why!? There are machine engineers worse than me!”
“The decider’s me, the boss! No matter the reason — if I say no, you’re not in!”
“Th-that’s unreasonable!”
“That’s the rule at my workshop. Go beg another.”
“H-hey! Wait a sec! Damn old man——!”
But despite her protest, the giant returned inside.
…… What a scene I stumbled on.
Recapping the exchange — the giant is the head of Lurdan Workshop and Enkalton’s representative: Dude Lurdan.
The side-tail girl is his daughter. Hungry for workshop work.
…… This may be heavenly fortune!
“Damn……! Fine……! Like you said, somewhere else…… whoa!?”
She’d been engrossed in the spat and hadn’t noticed me; recoiling comically.
”…… You all right?”
“Owww…… y-yeah. Just bumped my butt……”
She rubbed the spot, took my hand, stood.
“Sorry for surprising you.”
“My fault, don’t mind. You here means you’re a customer?”
“Not officially yet.”
“Heh. Well, you should pick here. We’ve got skilled engineers.”
“But I just heard engineers worse than me……”
“Ah…… you overheard our fight. Sorry to show that ugliness.”
“No, I don’t mind. One question — you mean you’re skilled enough for Lurdan?”
“Of course! Machine engineering since I was small. Different from regular folks.”
She spoke confidently.
Her words alone weren’t credible, but the fight earlier:
“There are engineers worse than me!”
“The decider’s me, the boss!”
Dude didn’t deny her claim.
He acknowledges her skill — Lurdan-level.
And currently free…… decided.
“Well, I’m off. Entrance is the other side, don’t get lost, kid.”
“Would you take my request?”
“——I’ll do it!!”
In less than a second, she answered.