| Author: Eltria | Original Source: Syosetu |
| Translator: Mui | English Source: Re:Library |
| Editor(s): Robinxen | |
After our promise, my father acted swiftly. Aligning with the next break, he promptly arranged coordination with mechanics and military personnel, guiding me to a corner of the military zone on the west side of our home.
“The area beyond this point is off-limits, but feel free to explore inside this hangar. Daddy will be a little away, is that okay?”
“No problem, Father.”
It was beneficial for me as well, as I could freely explore. I nodded to assure my father that I wouldn’t cause any trouble and handed him a list of parts needed for the remodeling and repair of Arkecius, which I had prepared in advance.
“You’ve organized it well. Alright, I’ll go talk to the chief mechanic about the parts1.”
Father praised me after looking through the list. Both my father and mother often praised me, but for something like this, it was only natural since it was related to my own matters. It was a bit embarrassing, but I’ve grown somewhat accustomed to it lately, especially with the teachers at St. Salaius Elementary School treating me the same way.
Judging by Alfe’s reaction, maybe I should show a more delighted response, more typical of a child. When greeting and interacting with the mechanics I meet in the hangar, I need to be mindful of acting more childlike than usual, so as not to provoke any strange rumors.
Surveying the vast hangar, I estimated where to begin my tour.
The hangar, about the size of two elementary school auditoriums, contained more Mecha Soldiers and Subordinate Units than I had imagined. Most of the Mecha Soldiers were either in the midst of maintenance or waiting for it, with only a few appearing ready for operation after repairs. At the edge of the hangar, many Mecha Soldiers were covered with cloth, adopting a parked posture similar to a human sitting with knees drawn up. Surely, the cloth was meant to prevent further damage, and perhaps there was consideration for visitors like me, a child, who might come for observation.
My father rarely discussed his work, and I didn’t inquire, but being a military man, there would be ‘such things’ involved. However, seeing such considerations, it crossed my mind that the soldiers in Torch Town—probably fathers—might be trying to shield children from witnessing harsh realities as much as possible.
Nevertheless, not all damaged units were covered with cloth. In the center of the hangar, there was a Mecha named “Löwe” undergoing disassembly and maintenance. The pronounced dent in its chest was distressing, but it seemed they weren’t aiming for a completely brand-new condition.
Observing the mechanic, who was using a Subordinate Unit as a makeshift platform, I noticed they were cleaning the vernier thruster on the back of the Löwe with a deck brush. It seemed that this maintenance would be completed soon.
“Captain’s daughter, it’s a bit dangerous there, could you step back a bit?”
The mechanic called out to me as I was intently watching the vernier.
“…Are you going to boot it?”
“Yes. It creates quite a strong wind, and it can be dangerous.”
The mechanic, with a hint of anticipation in my question, guided me to a safe distance. Once I retreated to a safe zone, the mechanic, with practiced ease, began connecting cables from the Subordinate Unit to the vernier thrusters.
Soon, the test run of the vernier thrusters commenced, and a strong wind swept through the hangar. According to the mechanic, in reality, it could generate winds several times stronger, capable of lifting the entire Mecha off the ground.
I see. It seems they continuously release compressed air using a simplified formula, using it as the propulsion system for the Mecha. It wasn’t something we had when I was Glass, but with this, it seems much more convenient than extending the entire length of the Mecha by extending the legs or arms. If used as an aid for jumping, it might even be possible to cross small rivers or valleys.
“…You’re an interesting child, showing interest in the mechanics of Mecha at your age. How about taking a look at the underwater-type Karkinos? We have one in maintenance.”
Another mechanic approached me while I was watching the test run of the vernier thrusters with interest. I nodded, deciding to check out the underwater Mecha Soldier, Karkinos, undergoing maintenance in a corner of the hangar.
“This Mecha, you know, is the one Captain Rudra has been using lately.”
Ah, so that’s why they wanted to show it to me. I accepted their explanation and observed the introduced Mecha Soldier. Perhaps due to it being a military Mecha, I hadn’t seen this type in the city, and it wasn’t in the materials I had researched beforehand. However, its distinctive appearance would be unforgettable. The base colors of the Mecha were yellow and navy, making it stand out even from a distance.
Karkinos featured arms resembling crab claws and yellow underwater propulsion devices on its back and shoulders, giving it a sturdy and somewhat squat humanoid impression.
According to the mechanic, they were in the process of replacing the magical contraction muscles. Observing the black oil-like substance flowing from the Mecha’s forearms, it seemed the mechanism for the magical contraction muscles, where a magical oil called “black blood oil” is poured into the internal components for operation, remained unchanged.
This black blood oil possessed a nature that reacted to the pilot’s aether, similar to the human body’s reaction. Like the muscles in the human body, the fine network of tubes within the magical contraction muscles was supplied with energy for expansion and contraction as the black blood oil circulated. This enabled the Mecha, with its eight-meter stature, to operate effectively.
From the looks of it, there seemed to be some changes in the materials used for the tubes of the magical contraction muscles, but the fundamental mechanism appeared largely unchanged from the time when I was Glass.
As I observed and took notes, the mechanics concluded the replacement of the magical contraction muscles and began wrapping silver cloth-like material around the joints of the arms and elbows.
“Um, excuse me, what is that cloth for?”
Though unfamiliar, the fabric seemed like an alchemical product. Curious, I asked the mechanic, who kindly cut off a piece from the surplus fabric and handed it to me.
“It’s waterproof tape. It has an adhesive substance on the back, and when you wrap it, it prevents water from getting in.”
The mechanic explained while leaning out from the high-level platform. The smooth surface seemed to repel water. It had a certain level of elasticity when pulled, and it appeared to have minimal impact on movement when wrapped around joints.
Considering Torch Town was located by a lake, having Mecha capable of operating underwater seemed essential for protecting the town. I should take note and learn from it for Arkecius to be amphibious.
After observing the maintenance process, I had a few detailed questions, and after expressing my gratitude to the mechanic, my father returned from the depths of the hangar with a cart loaded with parts.
I requested additional items such as small vernier thrusters and adhesive fabric for waterproofing, in addition to the armor plates and magical contraction muscle tubes of sizes suitable for Arkecius, as listed beforehand. We loaded these onto the steam-powered vehicle and started the journey back.
“The mechanics seemed impressed2. They might expect you to pursue a career in maintenance in the future.”
My father, driving the steam vehicle, glanced at me through the rearview mirror as we set off. Relieved that the interaction with the mechanics was positive, I mimicked my father’s expression and nodded.
“If I can be of help to you, Father, that might be a good path to consider.”
“Hahaha. I’ll have to be careful not to break any Mecha and avoid getting scolded by you, then.”
Whether he was serious or joking, I couldn’t tell, but my father laughed, looking unusually cheerful.
“If I can have you ensure your safety, I’m sure Mother would wholeheartedly approve.”
Responding this way, I could easily imagine my mother’s reaction in my mind. I had wondered what would happen when I was born, but it seemed I had become quite accustomed to this family.
While nothing about the future was decided, there might be such options to consider.
