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The bazaar, known as the Dragon Temple square market, was held on Sundays, coinciding with the day of worship.

Since it was a rare holiday for my father, who had been leading a busy life, he generously offered to act as my wallet. Considering the long period of our lives where we had been somewhat distant, it seemed like the right choice. My father, who had been living a somewhat separate life from me, probably wanted to strengthen his connection with his daughter, and my mother seemed pleased with the decision.

“Hello, Leafa’s dad.”

Alfe greeted my father with a smile.

“Alfe, you’ve grown into a fine young lady.”
“Leafa is the older sister between us. Isn’t that right, Leafa?”

Alfe’s response indicated that she had become quite adept at adjusting her way of speaking. While she mostly communicated with me, it seemed she knew how to articulate herself appropriately in front of adults.

“We’re the same age, so there’s no need to call me older sister or anything…”
“Well, you always had a mature side to you, Leafa.”
“…Have I, Father?”

While I felt reassured that he never pointed it out before, it seemed that, from my father’s perspective, I might not be quite ordinary. In response to my question, my father continued with a laugh.

“It reminds me of Natal’s youth. You’re truly our daughter.”

I see, so that’s how it is. It’s really helpful to have a mother who is such a wise person.

◇◇◇

The Dragon Temple square market, adorned with colorful tiles, displayed numerous mats. On these mats, an array of alchemical items, ranging from small trinkets to large subordinate units, were tightly packed, dominating the space.

Separately, the sweet scent of confections prepared for the evening prayer permeated the air. During the prayer, people would bring Dragon Tree branches or sweet offerings. Surprisingly, the confections were far more popular. It was said that the Black Dragon God had a sweet tooth, and this belief led people to enthusiastically choose sweet treats.

After the prayer, the confections offered to the Black Dragon God would be distributed to children in orphanages operated by the church.

Given the multitude of people visiting the Dragon Temple, both for the afternoon and the upcoming evening prayer, the bazaar had attracted a considerable crowd by midday.

“Alright, what do you want? I’ll buy you anything you like,” my father enthusiastically conveyed, his voice resonating with excitement more than Alfe and me combined.

“With this many options, it’s a bit overwhelming, Father.”

In response, I continued my search for the desired items. Father nodded, and his gaze followed mine, scanning the various stalls.

At the very least, I needed parchment for scrolls and alembic. They weren’t available in Mother’s atelier, and obtaining them elsewhere would require dealing with antique-level items. This might be the only chance to get them.

While contemplating these thoughts, Alfe tugged at my sleeve.

“Leafa, there’s a subordinate unit over there.”
“A subordinate unit?”

To my surprise, there was a discarded humanoid construction machine displayed as scrap. It had a distinctive cylindrical head and torso, reminiscent of the subordinate units they used during my time as Glass.

“Oh, an Arkecius¹…?”
“Leafa, you know about it!?”

My unintentional muttering surprised my father, who exclaimed in astonishment. I hadn’t expected to be asked about it, so I was the one taken aback.

“Oh, um… I read about it in the library’s books.”
“…I see, that makes sense.”

Seemingly satisfied with my response, my father mused and stroked his chin.

“Well, well. It’s my first time seeing the real thing. It’s quite deteriorated, but the fact that it still exists is a miracle.”

My father’s interest had shifted from me to Arkecius. This was an opportunity to understand my father’s perception of contemporary Arkecius better.

“…Is it really that rare, Father?”

Asking a non-controversial question, my father politely explained the situation.

“Most of the body is crafted with alchemy, and even if you try to fix it, it will take quite a bit of effort… Scrapping it wouldn’t be useful either, as it won’t be compatible with the parts of active subordinate units or mecha soldiers.”
“I see.”

As expected of an active military person, my father provided the information I wanted. With this knowledge, I looked at Arkecius again. If my father’s words were accurate, this unit would likely be relatively inexpensive. If it had any artistic value, it probably wouldn’t be left in such a deteriorated environment. Becoming an alchemist would require fieldwork, and finding this seemed like a great discovery.

“…Father, I have a request.”
“What is it? Do you want that Arkecius?”

As if he had been waiting for me to bring it up, my father smiled. I nodded and presented my reasons for needing Arkecius.

“Yes. I’ve been thinking that fieldwork will be necessary in the future if I major in alchemy for the elective courses starting in the third year.”
“I see. In that case, it’s a cheap investment. …However, it seems like an antique, and it’s practically junk. Are you sure about this?”

Actually, this antique-like Arkecius seemed more manageable for me. So, with confidence, I nodded in response to my father’s inquiry.

“Yes. I’d like to make use of the knowledge I’ve gained at school.”
“You’re the type who would go through the trouble to repair it. Alright, let’s consult a maintenance specialist I know about gathering parts and repair methods.”

The mention of a maintenant acquaintance likely referred to a military maintenance specialist. That would be helpful and quite reassuring.

“Thank you, Father.”

While I might have more knowledge about the era when Mecha Soldiers were crafted with alchemy, modern Mecha Soldiers operated differently, and incorporating those differences could be beneficial. Consulting with my father’s maintenant acquaintance would provide valuable insights, especially if I aim to optimize it by adopting liquid aether as a power source for improved fuel efficiency.

“I’m glad for you, Leafa.”

Having overheard the conversation, Alfe, who was beside me, hugged my arm.

“By the way, Alfe, aren’t you going to shop?”

Even though she invited me, Alfe seemed like she wasn’t particularly looking for anything. In fact, she seemed to be staring at my face the whole time…

“I just love watching you looking at the things you like, Leafa.”
“…So that was your goal from the start, huh?”

Alfe seemed to be getting the hang of handling me. Certainly, without Alfe’s invitation, I might not have come here with my father. Thanks to that, spending a meaningful holiday with my father and Alfe was truly appreciated.

1. Lore! Wiki link! Click here?