Yesterday — Alice was rattled by an indirect kiss and knocked out.
When I explained, the three were oddly relieved: “So even Alice has a weakness……”
That said, again I lost the chance to reciprocate confessions.
Today, beside Karen, I headed to Lurdan Workshop.
We waited in the same private room for Yueli.
“Sorry. Precious date and I drag you here first.”
“No. The planetarium I want to see runs in the evening, and I’d like to meet the engineer once.”
She held my right hand.
“Speaking of which, you only said Dude Lurdan’s daughter.”
Learning from yesterday, I’d told her the engineer is a woman beforehand.
Hiding such things invites suspicion.
With logical reasoning, my women all understand.
“Coincidences aligned. Her skill is guaranteed.”
“If you say so, I’m reassured. What kind of person?”
“Sorry to keep you! Energetic as ever, kid!”
“This kind of person.”
“Ah…… I see……”
Better seen than explained — Yueli arrived at perfect timing.
She gets higher tension daily — worrying?
Same clothes as before.
Did she pull an all-nighter……?
“Oh, brought a girlfriend, kid.”
“No. Not girlfriend.”
“Ouga……?”
“Fiancée.”
“Ouga……!”
“It’s hot enough — don’t add heat please!”
Yueli grumbled, but it matters.
Karen, recovered, stood and greeted politely as a ducal daughter.
“His fiancée, Karen Lebetsenka. Thanks for taking care of my husband.”
“In under a minute, congrats on marriage! Yueli Lurdan, the engineer on his prosthetic.”
“Wait, Yueli. Don’t let it slide — push back harder.”
“Unmarried, no affair! Be at ease!”
“Glad. More bride candidates would trouble me.”
“By the way, how many now?”
“Including me, four.”
”…… You’re not a kid; call yourself Playboy.”
”…… Absolutely not.”
Imagining being called Playboy, I instantly refused.
“Where’s Dragon Vanisher Model 2?”
“That…… today, come to the workshop. Mana-stone implements are hard to transport.”
Mana-stones are precious. Implements using them have huge value; only top-quality available.
I’m having Yueli make a mana-stone-implement because of massive funding — her environment is special.
“Are outsiders allowed inside? We might steal techniques?”
“No worry. Old-man-monitored.”
“I see. Suspicious move and we’re done.”
Dude Lurdan is the city head.
If he permits, no complaints; if he says capture, we can’t escape.
But for a daughter he’d just kicked out, he goes as far as monitoring to admit us……
This parent-child fight might be a huge misunderstanding.
Not my place to butt in.
Outsiders meddling helps nothing.
They must face each other.
“From here, don’t touch anything else. Promise. Break it and your marriage is canceled.”
“I’ll guard it with my life.”
The threat with current best efficacy got Karen’s fast reply.
Inside the workshop, we kept tight behind Yueli to avoid suspicion.
The workshop was cleaner than imagined; easy to breathe.
Looking up, multiple large vent fans rotated.
Top-tier workshops manage worker environment too.
“Here, my spot.”
“Heh, here it is…… well-organized.”
“Naturally. Tools mistreated, you can’t enter here.”
A gruff voice from the entrance.
People who’ve achieved something carry presence; he’s clearly that side.
”…… And there at the entrance — my damn dad.”
”…… Dude Lurdan.”
Standing face-to-face — his size surprised me.
Log-thick arms. Steel-firm pectorals. Shark-sharp eyes.
A childhood nightmare face, but undeniably Enkalton’s top, Dude Lurdan.
”…… You’re the one who commissioned my idiot daughter……”
“First time meeting, Ouga Veret.”
“Karen Lebetsenka. Excuse the intrusion.”
“Veret…… Lebetsenka……. I see — letting you commission freely makes sense.”
So Dude knows our identities.
Even without caring for nobles, he watches world affairs.
“I thought you young’uns were just patronizing my idiot daughter for amusement…… that isn’t it.”
Knowing our names means he knows my [Saint] title.
That [Saint] commissions her right arm.
World fate rides on it, arguably.
He should understand it’s not idle.
“Hey, damn dad! Don’t hog my customer!”
“Whose workshop are you using? Get out, I said!”
“I keep saying it must be your workshop!”
“——No. Never.”
”……!”
His outright refusal warped Yueli’s face.
…… I see. Bit by bit I see what Dude is thinking.
“Vibes bad?”
“Full parent-child fight.”
“For real…… really okay to entrust this? Being exploited?”
“No problem. One side’s like tsundere.”
“Doesn’t look like it……”
While Karen and I whispered, Dude and Yueli’s argument heated.
“How long will you keep this attitude! Look!”
She carried in something same-shaped as Dragon Vanisher 1.
Mana-stones added — that’s the change.
“Now, kid! Channel mana! Should withstand full power!”
“Got it.”
I received it, integrated [mana circuits], flowed in incrementally.
“1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10……”
10 — full uniform body distribution [Gear Change] level — bears it.
First hurdle cleared.
Knowing my techniques, Yueli observed closely.
“Karen. Step back a bit.”
“M-mn……”
She moved several steps back; Yueli donned the welding mask.
Now to test [Gear Change · Hard].
10 mana to one point — 0 to 100.
If it can’t bear this, no practical use.
A technique I need to fight Floné.
“Whew……”
Deep slow breath, focus.
First use since that day.
To not fail, gauging timing internally——
”——[Gear Change · Hard].”
All mana to the fingertips.
The finger parts couldn’t bear the surge; they snapped at the base and dropped.
“Ah……”
Yueli’s voice rang in the silent forge.
Experiment failed. The prosthetic still has room.
Producing this much at the second iteration is admirable.
”…… No issues on my side. Mana flowed as before. With mana-stones, mana movement was clearer than Model 1.”
”…… A-ah. ……Thanks for the feedback……”
I handed the broken Vanisher to her.
Stunned, she still scribbled user feedback.
But her goal is surpassing Dude.
Failing in front of him — she wanted to avoid.
She wanted to prove how much she’s grown.
That expression of frustration says it.
”…… See now? Why I won’t hire you.”
”……!”
“Out of mercy I lend you the forge. Only until this job ends.”
”…… Why!? I want to be like you, dad……!”
Tears fell. But meeting his gaze, she couldn’t bear it and ran out.
She feared.
His look might have shown disappointment.
Chasing her isn’t right.
She has to overcome this herself.
“Ouga, all right?”
“Mn, no issues. The remaining date is fine.”
“Not what I meant, geez……”
Karen patted my shoulder.
Joking reply reassured her.
Heavy air loosened a little.
”…… Ouga Veret.”
“Yes?”
“If you wish, I could make your prosthetic top-priority. You need it before battle.”
The world’s top engineer Dude Lurdan offered.
Anyone would nod without hesitation. I would have — before meeting Yueli.
“No. I commissioned Yueli Lurdan. I’ll have her make it.”
“If you refuse now, no second chance.”
“My answer doesn’t change. Your daughter — next time, she’ll complete it without fail.”
“Hmm? She might quit the commission herself in that state.”
“Don’t say what you don’t mean. You’ll see.”
No need to linger.
Without Yueli, no reason to stay.
I thanked Dude, took Karen’s hand.
”…… [Saint]!”
Just before leaving, my title called loudly.
…… I dislike being called that.
I turned and waited.
”…… Work her hard.”
“Without being told. Until I die.”
”……Heh.”
Understanding the meaning, Dude smirked faintly.
◇ Names like Dragon Vanisher — I like that slightly dorky chuuni feel. ◇