"I’m lost..."
No way...
I was heading toward the academic office to complete my enrollment procedures, but I’ve gotten lost...
Ah, I should’ve taken a picture of the sign I saw earlier!
Even if I wanted to go back to where the sign was, I don’t even remember the way there... This place is just too big!
Ugh... I should’ve just secretly followed that high-handed young lady...
Even if I try to check the map on my phone, I still can’t find the academic office... I guess I’ll have to ask someone.
But there hasn’t been anyone around since earlier... Is today a holiday?
I was able to pass through the security system at the school gate with my student ID, but there weren’t any guards there either.
I’ve been wandering the halls for a while, but there isn’t a soul in sight. Huh? Could it be that everyone’s in class? No, it’s spring break, so there shouldn’t be any classes.
It’s understandable that there are no students since it’s spring break, but surely there should be some teachers or staff around...!
As I mumbled complaints, something small and silver hopped down the hallway in front of me.
Huh? What was that?
In a hurry, I turned the corner and saw something about the size of my waist, a silver object walking on two legs. It noticed me and turned to face me.
It had a round face, round ears, small hands and feet, beady eyes, and a ribbon around its neck.
It was a Golem. A mechanical magic puppet. I wonder if this is a Bear... Golem?
The bear-shaped Golem tilted its head as if to say, "What’s wrong?" Ugh, it’s so cute.
If this is a Golem, it should be able to understand human speech.
"Um, I’m a new student, but I’ve gotten lost... Do you know where the academic office is?"
The Bear Golem tilted its head again. It seems like it doesn’t know.
"Hmm... Then, could you take me to where there are people?"
When I said that, it nodded eagerly and started hopping down the hallway again. It stopped and turned around, waving its arm. Was that a signal to follow?
The quiet hallway echoed with the sound of my footsteps as the Bear Golem led me toward what seemed like a covered walkway, which then led to an open courtyard.
"Huh, what’s that...?"
In the wide open courtyard, surrounded by school buildings, a large, stout suit of armor, decorated in white and gold, was crouching as though sitting down.
The thick armor had its front wide open, revealing a seat inside.
That’s an "Armed Gear." A humanoid, two-legged, work-oriented magic mechanical device. It’s said to be a smaller version of a Frame Gear, born from an armed Golem.
As expected of the Mechanics Academy; it’s only natural that they would have something like this.
Suddenly, I noticed someone working on the back of the suit of armor, which was out of my view.
"Hmm... The magic power from the spirit reactor is still unstable... It’s so unreliable. It won’t even move unless the magic sensitivity is quite high..."
A muttered voice came my way. I paused, wondering if the person was dangerous, but the Bear Golem hopped over to that person.
"Looks like I’ll have to reduce the output... Huh? Paula, what’s the matter?"
The person working on the Armed Gear noticed the Bear Golem tugging at their clothes and popped their head out from behind the machine.
They looked about fifteen or sixteen years old. They had golden eyes and long white hair styled in twin side-up braids. They wore a black, gothic-lolita style outfit, and it suited them very well.
What surprised me most was that they had butterfly-like wings on their back. They were translucent, glowing faintly, and appeared and disappeared as they moved.
"Fairy tribe..."
This rare race is said to live in the Great Tree Forest to the south. I’d heard of them but had never seen one before.
Maybe this person is a senior here. Realizing I had been staring, the fairy senior walked over to me.
"Ah, are you a new student?"
"Ah, yes! I’m Nero Silhueska from the Elfrau Kingdom, and I’ve enrolled for this year!"
"Silhueska?"
Huh? Did I say something wrong?
The fairy senior looked a bit surprised.
"Is something wrong...?"
"No, it’s just... It’s a rare family name, that’s all. Are you from a noble family in Elfrau?"
"No, I’m just an ordinary commoner. My grandmother said we were once nobles from the Refreese Empire, but I don’t know if that’s true. In Elfrau, commoners can use family names too."
Most commoners don’t have family names, but it’s common for the descendants of fallen nobles to carry on their family names. They often have hopes of reviving their families.
As for me, since I don’t know my origins, there’s no revival or anything like that. I’ve just been using it because it’s what’s always been done.
"Refreese... I see."
"Is something wrong...?"
"Oh, no, nothing. So, why is a new student here?"
"Oh! I... I was supposed to go to the academic office, but I got lost..."
"Ah, I see. No worries, I’ll show you the way. Let me finish adjusting this first, then I’ll take you."
"Y-Yes!"
With that, the senior went back to adjusting the Armed Gear.
At the Babylon Mechanics Girl Academy, there are classes on mechanical maintenance. You’re supposed to understand the structure and workings of the machine you’ll ride.
Some people, who enrolled aiming to become Mechanism Troopers, get drawn to magic engineering and end up becoming Magic Engineering Masters.
In fact, some people even enter the academy specifically to become Frame Gear Magic Engineering Masters. Well, it’s the fastest path, after all.
This senior seems to be one of those people.
"This is an Armed Gear, right?"
"Yes. This is the new model, 'Achilles.' I had some trouble with the adjustments, so it’s a bit hard to move right now."
A new model in development... That’s amazing. Even as a student, they can work on something like this.
"You’re amazing, senpai..."
"Senpai? ...Ah, I suppose I am, huh."
The fairy senior chuckled quietly, and I wondered what was so funny. Huh? She’s a senior, right? She can’t be a classmate.
Anyway, what a beautiful machine. The Armed Gear I saw in Elfrau was much more rugged-looking.
Well, that one was probably a construction machine.
This one is white, with gold decorations here and there. It looks like a machine made for nobles.
"Is something wrong?"
"Ah, no. I was just thinking that this is a beautiful machine... And there’s something unusual about the armor..."
"Oh? So you can see the good points of this machine. Achilles is engraved with magic spells on its armor that you can’t even notice unless you have a strong magical perception..."
At that point, the senior placed her hand on her chin and pretended to think.
"Hey, would you like to try riding this?"
"Huh?"
"Just riding it, nothing more. You’ll ride an Armed Gear during the academy's lessons anyway. I don’t think it’s bad to experience it a little early, just for the feeling."
When she said that, I became a little interested. I’ve seen Armed Gears a few times, but I’ve never ridden one before.
I’ll probably have to ride one during class eventually, but as a first-year student, I might be given an old model that’s okay to break. Hmm, I was debating whether to do it when the senior whispered a devilish temptation.
"I’ll let you move it a little, just a little."
"I’ll ride it!"
Darn it. I couldn’t resist the temptation...
That being said, it’s my first time riding an Armed Gear. I feel a bit giddy about it.
"Put your foot on the step there... Yes, just like that."
Following the senior’s instructions, I sat in the Achilles seat. The seat was soft and quite comfortable. This must be a machine made for nobles, right...?
"Use the lever next to your seat to adjust the height. The foot pedal is at your feet. Step on it alternately, and that will make it walk. The direction you face will determine the direction it walks in."
Following the senior’s words, I looked down and saw a sandal-like foot pedal that you hook your feet into. When I moved my foot left and right, the Achilles’ ankle moved in the same direction. I see. This is how you make it walk.
Afterward, she showed me how to move the arms as well, and I finally closed the front hatch of Achilles. Wow, it’s dark in here. The only light is coming through the gaps in the armor...
Now I understand why Armed Gears are called "iron coffins."
"Now I’ll start it up. Don’t worry, I can stop it anytime if anything happens."
"Understood!"
"Spirit Reactor, activate!"
I heard a sound from the back of Achilles like something was being detached, followed by a low hum, "Fooooooo..."
Slowly, light began to spill from the gauges in front of me. The external view from the camera appeared on the front display. Amazing!
"Magic synchronization will now begin."
"Wa-wait, it spoke!?"
I was startled by the sudden voice. I felt something warm flow through my back, and then it quickly disappeared.
"Now, move it slowly while channeling magic."
I heard the senior’s voice from the speakers inside the machine.
Uh, like this...?
I pressed the right foot pedal. Huh? This feels heavy!
"Ugh...!"
Following the senior’s instructions, I pushed down hard while channeling magic, and Achilles’ right leg stomped forward with a loud "Thud!"
Then, I pressed down on the left foot pedal, and the left leg moved forward. This is so heavy! It feels like I’m cycling up a steep hill...!
"Heh, heh... This is quite the find."
"Huh?"
"No, I was talking to myself. Can you move your arms?"
I stopped and tried moving my arms the same way I moved my feet. I could move them, but... they’re heavy. It feels like I’m swinging around a heavy dumbbell. Moving an Armed Gear really requires strength...
As I kept moving, it started to feel lighter. Maybe the power reactor warmed up, and the output increased?
I tried running for a bit. I can actually run pretty fast! Jump! Wow, I can jump higher than I can on my own!
"Huh...!? You’re already adapting? No way, that’s too fast...!"
"Huh? Did you say something?"
"That’s enough! I’m stopping it!"
Just as I was enjoying moving it, the senior forced me to stop.
I heard a "Pshhh" sound as air released, and the front hatch of Achilles opened, letting in the cold outside air. It was surprisingly stuffy inside.
I stepped down from Achilles and landed in the courtyard.
"Are you okay? Is something wrong?"
"I’m fine! I’m not... huh?"
As I answered the senior, the scene in front of me spun, and everything went dark as I felt my body fall to the side.
Ah, I must have fallen, I thought, in a detached way, and then I lost consciousness right there.
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