We moved from the lively center to a quiet residential area.
Past many fine buildings, she led me to Enkalton’s edge — right against the fortress wall, a shabby hut.
She seemed the lone resident; she tossed a cushion from a closet.
“Drink? Only water though.”
“Not thirsty. No.”
“Sure. Cold water hits the spot when you’re heated.”
She drank straight from the bottle, puhaa like a beer-drinker, wiped her lips.
No alcohol scent — really just water.
“Self-intro time. Yueli Lurdan. Twenty this year. Independent (free) machine engineer. From the fight you overheard, Dude Lurdan’s only daughter. Confident in skill!”
Across the low table, she flexed.
Tank top and hot pants — minimal coverage; tomboyish.
I struggled with where to look, then introduced myself to avoid suspicion.
“Ouga Veret. From a ducal house in Rondism Kingdom.”
“Noble. How’s it? This city must be hard for you.”
“Not at all. The best environment for me.”
Until now I hadn’t been a public figure, so my face was unknown — but in Rondism I’m now [Saint] Ouga Veret.
A celebrity, say.
That draws good and bad.
The recent letters are a good example.
But her reaction confirms — few in this city care about me.
Even [Saint] title hasn’t reached.
So I might be able to act freely here without minding others’ eyes!
“I’ll say it…… you’re weird, mister noble.”
“Take it as praise. And call me kid instead.”
“Sure! Easier for me, thanks!”
Yueli laughed boisterously and slapped her thighs.
“So? What do you want made, kid? Sword? Shield? Anything goes.”
“An arm.”
“Arm……?”
“Yeah. A combat prosthetic.”
I placed my right arm on the table.
“This right arm can’t be used anymore. I’ll soon amputate. I want you to make a replacement.”
“Amputate……? Kid, how much have you overdone it at your age?”
“It was necessary for upholding my conviction.”
I stared at Yueli.
My words are honest.
I want no pity or worry.
My resolve, no one can deny.
“No regret, no excess.”
She widened her dark eyes, lifted her lips to bare her canines.
”…… I’d thought of trolling you a little. No one suddenly commissions an unknown me. Was sure you wanted the old man. ……Changed my mind.”
She stood, pulled a large wooden box from the closet.
Placed it on the table. Inside, magical implements lined up.
“All magic-implements I’ve made. Each a confidence piece. For weapons — this hilt.”
She drew what looked like a swordless sword.
A hilt with a guard. Just the grip.
“Channel mana, swing!”
Blades connected within shot out, forming a katana.
“Lock unlocks, the folded blade emerges. Compact, anyone can use. Cutting edge guaranteed.”
She stabbed the katana into the table.
The blade pierced clean.
“Everyday use, how about this? Channel mana — four blades rotate, generate wind. Small, mana-dependent, so wind output is limited.”
A handheld-fan-like magical implement.
A breeze now, but with my mana, much stronger — wind-element-level wind.
The ideas are all interesting; quality seems no issue.
To produce these takes heat (passion).
”…… You did this presentation for a reason?”
“Two reasons.”
She raised an index finger.
“One. Contracts are mutual. I wanted you to see my work before deciding.”
Middle finger.
“Two — if you commission the prosthetic, I could install such gimmicks. Boys your age love that.”
”…… Heh heh heh. You understand.”
“Same when I was small. I want to bring those childhood ideas to the world.”
She put the katana away, set the box on the floor.
“Up front: making a prosthetic is a first. Constant adjustments — money and time will be substantial. Without your cooperation, impossible.”
“Naturally. Spend money and effort. Just shorten time as much as possible.”
“Selfish, you. Fine. Kid — pick me, and I’ll deliver the finest prosthetic, promise.”
She held out a hand.
Shake it, mutual agreement, work begins.
I looked at her eyes.
Burning strongly.
The heat reached me without words.
“Yueli, may I ask one?”
“Sure. No is uncool.”
“Tell me…… what’s the ultimate magical implement you aim for?”
“Strong enough to slay a demon dragon.”
The name surprised me.
Demon dragons — top-tier rare monsters; flying threats.
Only magic counters them; countless villages destroyed by them.
“My damn dad repelled a demon dragon using magical implements once. That achievement made him this city’s representative.”
A commoner driving back a demon dragon without magic — feat undeniable.
If such implements exist, the city’s ability to live amid monsters makes sense.
“So I’ll surpass the old man. Not repel — kill a demon dragon. That’s the ultimate implement.”
The fire in her eyes grew.
”…… I see. Thank you for answering.”
Entrusting this to an unknown new engineer might seem reckless.
But every great craftsman started without track record.
What they all had: overflowing passion.
I sensed that in her now.
So my action is clear.
”…… Decisive for your age, kid.”
Looking at her hand gripped in mine, Yueli grinned wide.