Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

I felt reluctant to leave him behind, but in the end, I followed everyone else into the training area building.

Past the locker rooms and shower area, we walked down a corridor about ten meters long and pushed open a pair of thick, massive, rugged double doors. Inside was the training area. It was roughly thirty by thirty meters, about the size of two indoor tennis courts laid side by side.

Lined up neatly on the ground were around twenty objects that looked like backpacks.

One of the knights was wearing one, shifting his shoulders slightly as if checking the fit. He had gauntlets and greaves on, and a leather jacket as well, so it was obvious he was a member of the knight order. Magritte called out to him.

“We’ll be starting the operational test now! Master Causburt, please come closer!”

She raised her voice and beckoned Marsh forward.

“Tony, you may start.”

Fred, who had been checking something behind the backpack, spoke, and the man called Tony gave a short nod. Looking closer, the backpack definitely wasn’t normal.
Was it even made of cloth? It didn’t sag at all; if anything, it looked far more rigid. Honestly, it reminded me of a spacesuit’s life-support pack. On the left side of the pack, a sword, probably a knight’s sword, was mounted upright.

(Isn’t that position awkward to draw from?)

The shoulder straps were much thicker than usual, and the chest strap was wide and heavy, too. Where it crossed the left shoulder strap sat a large circular component. Looking closer, I noticed that at its center was a magic orb. No, wait. It was actually a Control Bead.

The waist strap was thick, metallic, and bulky. Kind of like a Rider belt…

Just as I tried to step closer for a better look, Djimon stopped me more than two meters away. “Please wait here.” Fred stepped back and nodded toward Tony.

“Heavy Mobile Magic Armor. Setup!”

Tony placed his hand over the Control Bead on his chest and spoke. The bead flared to life as Mana flowed into it.

At the same instant, a cyan-blue light flooded the room, the backpack, no, the unit, burst open, splitting into multiple parts that flew into place around Tony’s body!

Chest! Abdomen! Thighs! Waist! Arms! Shoulders!

In moments, his entire body was being encased in heavy armor! And finally, the head. Crusher-like segments extended from both sides and snapped shut over his mouth. More parts layered over one another, sealing his face inside what looked like a full-face helmet.

When the light faded, a knight clad in full plate armor stood before us.

(WHAT-THE-HELL-IS- THAAAAAAT?!?!?!)

My mind was completely blown!

A kite shield was mounted on Tony’s left arm, its pointed end toward the elbow, the wider end toward the wrist. From the back of his left wrist, the hilt of a knight’s sword protruded from the shield. He calmly drew it with his right hand and slashed through the air. After demonstrating a few sword techniques, he came to a stop.

My mouth had been hanging open so wide it felt like my jaw might dislocate. My eyes were stretched so far open they hurt.

I’d made Bibi and the others pull this face plenty of times, but I never imagined I’d be the one doing it! I knew this expression was completely unladylike! I knew that! But, listen!

This was the Type Four? The Kai-Two? Was this even real? Was this even allowed?

(This, no matter how I look at it, is a bona fide Power Suit! That transformation was totally like that famous American comic hero with the iron suit! Or the teachers wearing those ceremonial burning red rose ribbons. Where in the world did all of the fantasy go?!

I mean, okay! The finished form does look like proper, heavy full-plate armor! And sure, there’s a glowing blue Control Bead on the left chest. But still!)

“Hm… a beta alloy of mithril and magic titanium,” Marsh muttered, tapping and rubbing the armor thoughtfully. “Mithril sourced from the Mine east of the capital, I see. Keeping costs down with nearby ore, then?”
“Yes. We lowered the material grade slightly, but we’ve raised Mana conductivity to eighty percent of the original,” Fred replied. “That’s more than sufficient for practical use. And with this, mass production is finally viable.”

They launched straight into a technical discussion.

Apparently, to everyone else, what had just happened was completely normal. The only one standing there in stunned disbelief… was me. (Seriously?!)

“Are you surprised, Princess?” Magritte asked gently.
“Unlike the Heavy Guardians who form the backbone of base defense, our Mobile Heavy Cavalry is constantly advancing across frontlines and border regions. We cannot afford to wear a full plate at all times. Without sacrificing mobility, this armor preserves a knight’s combat capability. That is the purpose of the Heavy Mobile Magic Armor.” Magritte explained.

The gloves and boots the knights normally wore became gauntlets and greaves. Their pilot-style jackets and leather pants functioned as padding beneath the armor, dispersing impact.

Marsh was still deep in conversation with Fred. At last, I managed to pull myself together. Staying any longer would just get in the way, so I excused myself to Magritte, but then Marsh suddenly called out.

“Hey, miss! Sorry to ask, but can you tell Howard that I’ll start maintenance today? Tell him I’ll have it back in active service by tomorrow!”

He asked me to deliver a message to Papa Howard. Marsh mentioned he’d be staying here for two or three days, so there likely was more work to do elsewhere.

Ah, right. It was already time to start preparing lunch. I’d pass the message along to Papa Howard when I delivered the meal.

After thanking everyone for letting me observe, I left the training area.

Even as I closed the massive doors behind me, Marsh and Fred’s excited voices echoed inside.

***

“Ughhh… I’m critically low on vitamin Su…!”
“Didn’t you just finish your trial? And now you still can’t come to school for a while?”
“Well, it can’t be helped. The village is in a tough spot right now… and that girl is a hard worker.”
“This is the perfect opportunity! For her to finally gain proper awareness of her role as the Amukham head’s daughter!”
“Mm… maybe? She’s never really cared about that kind of thing, and she’s pretty dense.”

“Ughhh… Su… I wanna hug her…!”
“Right?! Sigh… looks like we still have to cover for her.”
“Either way, supporting the head is the duty of the Three Houses, isn’t it?”
“Well! That’s true, but still!”

“Ughhh… Su… I wanna squish her…”
“Besides, out of us all, you’re the one Su trusts the most, Bibi. She relies on you, Bibi, so the least you can do is help her out.”
“I suppose you’re right. S-She really does rely on me. If she’s relying on me, I can’t exactly refuse… a-and it is the duty of the Croque house, after all!”
“Bibi, your face is totally melting. If you’re happy about being relied on, just say you’re happy! Hahaha!”
“I- I’m not melting!!”

“Ughhh… I wanna sniff Su so bad…”
“You haven’t wavered at all, have you?”
“Ughhhhh…. Suuuuu….”
“…Oh, by the way! When we had dinner together yesterday, didn’t she say she’d have some free time this afternoon?”
“Oh? …Yeah, you’re right. Then why don’t we ask the teacher for permission and go see Su this afternoon?”
“Oh! Nice idea! I wanted to get a closer look at the Knights of the Royal Capital! Alright! Let’s go, let’s go!”

“Ugh… Su… Huh? What? We’re going to Su’s place? I’m coming too! I’m coming!”
“Yeah…! We can do a morale visit, help out a bit… and right now, extra hands definitely won’t hurt.”
“It’s decided, then! I’ll go ask the teacher for permission!”
“Let’s head out right away after lunch!”
“Alright! Hehe, now I’m really looking forward to this afternoon!”
“Yeah! Su, wait for us! I’ll hug-squish you the moment we get there!!”
“You really haven’t wavered at all.”