Author: Eltria	Original Source: Syosetu
Translator: Mui	English Source: Re:Library
Editor(s): Robinxen

Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

“Now then, I’ve already secured permission to use the university division’s workshop. The equipment has been moved in, so you can begin working right away.”

The Professor said this while pointing out the areas we would be using for our work.

“That Hiraishin, and now Arkecius… Your originality and keen insight never cease to amaze me. I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of Mecha Soldier you’ll create.”

For our work, we had been assigned the university division’s Mecha Soldier workshop, located in a corner of the hangar. Though it was called a workshop, its slightly cluttered appearance made it feel more like a research lab. According to Romeo, the workshop was funded by Hephaestus, a Mecha Soldier manufacturer, which meant that it was well-equipped with ample aether tanks for activation tests—making it a first-rate facility.

Several Mecha Soldiers in the process of being built stood lined up, secured in specialized fixtures known as Mecha Soldier hangars.

“…I’m surprised. Aren’t those Legion and Lemures from yesterday?”
“I had them moved in while we were waiting, forsooth.”

In other words, this section, where Legion and Lemures were secured, was the workspace assigned to us. It seemed we had free access to heavy-duty cranes and Subordinate Units for labor.

“So, what should we start with?”

Romeo, looking eager to begin, asked the question.

“First, we need to disassemble Legion. Before we can modify it, we have to remove the outer armor.”
“Unfastening the armor bolts and peeling off the panels one by one with the crane seems like the quickest approach, forsooth.”

Isaac swiftly made a suggestion in response to my comment. Romeo nodded in agreement and gestured toward the work crane.

“I’ll handle the crane. My family runs a magic tool factory, so I’m used to this kind of work.”
“As expected of Sir Romeo! A splendid assist, forsooth!”
“I haven’t even done anything yet, Isaac.”

Isaac flashed a grin, giving a thumbs-up as his sharp canines peeked through. Romeo, looking slightly embarrassed, chuckled.

“I’m counting on you, Romeo.”

Romeo nodded and immediately began operating the crane to remove the exterior panels. Meanwhile, Isaac, the Professor, and I stepped back slightly to observe and plan the next steps.

“But removing the armor completely…?”
“I want to change the internal structure—to make it easier for Hom to operate.”
“I see…”

Isaac folded his arms and nodded, seeming to grasp my intentions.

“Lady Hom excels in martial arts, forsooth. In that case, it might be best to prepare something to replace the armor.”
“Something to replace the armor? I was planning to put it back after modifying the internals…”

My original plan was to restore the armor after adjusting the internal structure, but from the way Isaac spoke, there seemed to be a problem.

“Fifth-generation Mecha Soldiers all share a unique trait—none of them have an internal skeleton, forsooth. This generation of machines uses a monocoque structure¹, meaning the outer armor itself serves as the frame that supports the entire body, forsooth.”

As he spoke, Isaac gestured toward Legion, now stripped of its armor.

“I’m done. How does it look?”

Just as Romeo finished his work, we moved closer to the machine to continue our discussion. Upon closer inspection, I could see that there were indeed no skeletal components inside.

“So basically, there’s no ‘bones’—the machine is supported only by its shell.”
“That would make it pretty unstable.”

Inside the now-exposed Legion, there were only magic compression muscles and the power pipes used to cool them.

But why had the fifth-generation Mecha Soldiers adopted such an unorthodox monocoque design? Previous generations had internal skeletons, and the technology to produce them still existed.

“Why did they go with this design?”

Careful to avoid revealing knowledge from my past life, I chose my words cautiously as I posed the question. Isaac, still folding his arms, studied Legion’s internal structure before answering.

“Legion was developed by the Empire in preparation for war with the Holy Kingdom, forsooth. At the time, Mecha Soldiers could only run on the ground, which meant they could not keep up with land battleships that hovered across the terrain. They ended up as little more than easy targets, forsooth.”

Ah, now that he mentioned it, I might have learned about this in war history class. During the industrial revolution in the 500s of the Holy Flower Era, technological advancements had drastically improved the performance of land battleships. It was an era dominated by the doctrine of massive warships and overwhelming firepower.

“So, the Imperial Army came up with the idea of equipping Mecha Soldiers with jet propulsion systems, forsooth. By using jet-assisted jumps and high-speed maneuvers to outmaneuver and close in on the Holy Kingdom’s massive fleet, they utterly crushed them in battle, forsooth.”

In other words, the development of fifth-generation Mecha Soldiers put them back at the center of the battlefield. The Holy Kingdom, following the Empire’s lead, also developed its own fifth-generation models. This led to a prolonged, grueling conflict—a seven-year-long era of war.

“However, at the time, the technology required to equip Mecha Soldiers with jet propulsion systems meant they had to significantly reinforce the structural integrity of the units, forsooth. Otherwise, the machines would not be able to withstand the strain of jumping and would break apart mid-air. That is why the monocoque structure was adopted, forsooth.”
“…I see.”

Isaac’s explanation finally made everything click. During the mock battle with Farah the other day, something had felt off about the way Legion moved with Hom piloting it. Its movements lacked sharpness, and now I understood why—the monocoque structure was the culprit.

In martial arts, the interplay between bones and muscles is crucial. But Legion had no bones. The absence of a skeletal frame, which would typically serve as a core axis of support, must have made movement feel unnatural for Hom.

“A jet propulsion system would definitely be advantageous in combat. But since this machine is meant for Hom, we need to rebuild its structure to allow for movements as close to human as possible…”

The fundamental issue with Legion’s internal structure was making Hom’s movements sluggish. Because of its monocoque design, it lacked an internal skeleton. This meant that even something as simple as a kick required a completely different way of shifting the supporting leg.

This difference in skeletal structure was fundamentally incompatible with Hom’s martial arts-based fighting style. Fixing that had to be the top priority.

“We need to obtain a skeleton…”

As soon as I muttered those words, I realized how challenging modifying Legion was going to be.

“…So, what’s next? I can still help with dismantling if needed.”
“Legion has its structural issues, so for now, let’s prioritize working on Lemures.”

There was no time to waste standing still. We had to move forward with what we could do first.

“How are you planning to modify Lemures?”
“I’m going to remove the cumbersome movable armor on its back. One side is already broken, and I can’t picture Alfe using it anyway. Also, since I want to enhance its magical combat capabilities, I’ll replace the scythe with a staff.”

Lemures’ core performance was already excellent. All that was needed was to refine its functions and improve its maneuverability.

“If I may ask, Leafa, what are you planning to do about the staff?”
“Of course, I’ll forge one myself to suit Alfe.”

As soon as I shared my plan in response to the Professor’s question, Isaac and Romeo both widened their eyes in shock.

“You’re even making a Mecha Soldier’s staff?!”
“Lady Leafa’s abilities are absolutely astonishing, forsooth!”
“Well, that was the plan all along.”

When it came to alchemy, there was no longer much point in hiding things—especially after everything that had happened with Melua. That said, if they probed too deeply, I might slip up, so I decided to steer the conversation in another direction.

“…Professor, we should keep the scythe, right?”
“Indeed. Let’s store it back in the hangar later. If necessary, you could even use it as a base for the staff.”
“If I run into issues while forging the staff I have in mind, I’ll consider that.”

The Professor always gave precise advice while keeping future possibilities in mind. I hadn’t thought of that option myself, but it was good to have as a backup plan.

“Alright then, I’ll go ahead and remove Lemures’ movable armor.”

Romeo skillfully operated the crane, detaching the armor from Lemures’ back. He had gotten used to the work, so it didn’t take long—but by the time we were done, the sun had already set.

“Alright, next up—”
“By the way, the cafeteria closes in less than an hour. Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

The Professor asked, chuckling at Romeo’s eagerness.

“What!?”

Isaac and Romeo exchanged glances before simultaneously pulling out their pocket watches and letting out cries of despair.

“This is a disaster, forsooth! Lady Leafa, we must hurry to the cafeteria before we perish from hunger!”
“You idiot! Cleaning up comes first!”

Even in moments like this, they still made sure to look out for me. I appreciated that. But cleaning up was something I could handle on my own, and even if the cafeteria closed, I could always stop by the shopping district and prepare a late-night meal.

“…I’ll take care of the rest. Thanks, both of you.”

As I saw Isaac and Romeo off, I realized just how much I had been enjoying this work.

“…Leafa.”

The Professor, who had remained behind, suddenly spoke as if recalling something.

“What is it, Professor?”
“This year’s students are truly fascinating. Would you mind if I stopped by to observe from time to time?”

Adjusting his glasses, the Professor gave a slight bow before walking away. He was an enigmatic person, but perhaps he was a more caring teacher than he seemed.

⇐ Previous

Next ⇒

⌈ Index ⌋