Volume 8 Chapter 11 (2/2)

”One stone, three birds, huh.”

Upon hearing my reaction, Rorono shook her head.

”Four birds, actually. The magic power gathered in it will also fuel the [Hardening] enchantment, making their already impregnable defense even better. This child will have both the ultimate spear and the ultimate shield. Offense, defense, speed, they'll have it all.”

Not fit for prolonged battles, lack of turning ability, weak in long distance battles… these were just some of its weaknesses. Even so, there truly was something romantic about taking down an enemy no matter the cost.

”If the development of this armor becomes a success, it'll revolutionize the Avalon-Riiter. It'll be more a leap than a step.”

”…Mhm. But the problem in building the new Avalon-Ritters is that it will require a great deal of focus and time. I think I'll need about three weeks to finish and make it.”

That made sense.

There was no way such a technological marvel would be made so easily. In fact, three weeks was a very short time for such a task.

While thinking of such, Tiro had approached without me taking notice. It would seem Kuina too didn't notice that her pillow had snuck away.

”Gururuu”

She petitioned something while looking at both Rorono and I with what I could only describe as puppy dog eyes.

At that, Rorono smiled wryly and patted Tiro in the head.

”I know, Tiro. I'll give the [Talaria] maximum priority. I'll finish it in a week.”

”Gaugau! ♪”

It would appear that when Tiro heard the new Avalon-Ritters were going to take three weeks to make, she had feared that the development of her own toy would have to give way.

Now relieved by what Rorono had said, Tiro lied on the ground, showed her belly, and invited Rorono to brush it.

…I sometimes think this, but can Tiro actually be the most cunning and sly of all my monsters?

As though fully aware of her charm, Tiro changed positions until she could be properly and completely petted.

”Master, I'll finish Tiro's [Talaria] in a week. And then, I'd like to devote myself completely into the development of the new Avalon-Ritters for three weeks.”

”Devote yourself completely? May I hear your reasoning? You're a very integral part of Avalon's war potential and three weeks is a long period of time to spend on just one project.”

Rorono could do a lot of other things in three weeks. While the new Avalon-Ritter's design that she had shown seemed amazing, there wasn't any guarantee yet that it would be. Without that guarantee, I couldn't approve quite so simply.

”Those three weeks won't be spent on just one child. Alongside the close-range one that I've shown you, I will be developing and making two other variants: a long-range specialist and an all-rounder. Making all the parts for them all at the same shouldn't increase the total project time. Perhaps the most important point of all, I need to do this to be able to see how mass production will be feasible. Because as of the moment, I just can't.”

The prospect of mass producing those prototypes excited me.

Avalon's war potential would increase by a grand margin just from this.

My worries still remained, but it was going to be well worth it.

”I understand. After finishing with Tiro's weapon, I order you to devote yourself into making those new models. Do not worry about us; Avalon will figure out a way to make do without relying on you.”

”Thank you, master. I swear by my pride as the world's best blacksmith, I will exceed your expectations.”

I had high expectations of Rorono, and yet here she was, saying she would exceed even that.

”I'm excited, then. Once you're than with that, I'm thinking of giving you a reward. Another date, perhaps? I did say before that we'll have another one.”

”Mhm. I've been really, really looking forward to that. I'll definitely work my hardest now! Just wait for the red, white, and black knights—the three musketeers—that will protect both Avalon and you, father! They will be amazing!”

Rorono said so with a blinding smile.

In response, I patted her head.

”Now, I think it's about time to go to bed. Sorry to keep you up all night just to watch a movie with me.”

”Don't be. I love spending time together with you like this, father. In fact, I find just sleeping to be a bit of a waste. But then again, I am starting to get sleepy.”

I then stood up and linked arms with Rorono. Like that we headed to the bedroom to sleep while Kuina and Tiro headed to theirs.

Tomorrow was another day of hard work, but for now, we would sleep soundly.

I feel like I'm forgetting something though. Ah, the letter!

Before finally closing my eyes, I attached a letter I had written earlier to a blue bird monster and sent it flying.

With the golem corps receiving a significant upgrade, I thought the aerial corps should too. And so, I had written a proposal to Stolas on how to strengthen both of our aerial corps.

Surely, Stolas will see the advantages of my plan and accept.

Note: Previously, Burst Drive was described to be the cores working in tandem with a battery instead of a capacitor. This is extremely trivial in the grand scheme of things, yet I felt I needed to point this out.