CHAPTER 61: NEW DRONE DESIGN

Lucius woke up completely refreshed, finally the headache and everything that came with it was... gone.

His body felt light as if all the weight that had pressed on his chest had simply lifted. His mana pulsed smoothly through his veins, responsive and calm.

He could finally use his magic again.

He hadn’t opened his eyes yet, choosing instead to savor this peace.

But then something strange disrupted it.

Something streaked across his face — soft, tickling strands of hair.

And there was a weight in his arms.

Lucius froze.

’Wait. Why is there weight in my arms?’

He shifted carefully. Someone was curled against him, warm and breathing softly.

His arm was wrapped around them, holding them protectively.

His mind calmed.

’It’s going to be Elara.’

Of course.

She always clung to him like a kitten seeking warmth.

It made sense.

He took a deep breath, expecting her familiar scent.

But no.

He smelled nothing of Elara. This scent was different, after all it was a good perfume.

He knew exactly who it belonged to.

And he refused to believe it.

Slowly, Lucius opened his eyes. Crimson hair spilled across his vision, vivid even in the morning light.

And beside him, mumbling softly in her sleep, was Vanessa.

Lucius’s mind went blank.

’Ain’t no way.’

Surely he hadn’t expected this — the older woman was lying right there in his arms. His grip on her waist was firm, as though he’d pulled her close during the night.

’Did I do that?’

He searched his memory, but after he’d taken Villy’s medicine, everything was gone.

He sighed internally. Whatever the reason, this was the reality.

Vanessa stirred. Lucius panicked and squeezed his eyes shut, feigning sleep.

Her lashes fluttered as she woke. At first her gaze was unfocused, but then she looked at him, really looked, and her entire face reddened.

"...He looks cute while he sleeps," she whispered.

Lucius nearly lost control of his act.

But he remained still, chest rising and falling in a perfect imitation of sleep.

"I need to get out of here now," Vanessa muttered. Carefully, she began prying his hand off her waist.

She moved with painstaking delicacy, like she was defusing a bomb. Finally, she slipped free and rose from the bed.

At the door, she paused, her expression softening.

"Thank you..." she whispered, almost too quietly to hear, then scurried out, shutting the door quickly behind her.

Lucius cracked his eyes open, then sat up and rubbed his head.

"...Did something really happen?"

The question lingered in his mind long after she was gone.

...

An hour later, Lucius finally emerged from his room. He’d spent most of the time soaking in the tub, trying to relax and think.

While he wanted to think about how cute Vanessa was today, he had other priorities. His fans were waiting.

He needed content.

The next stream had to be big — something worthy of all the anticipation.

"My lord."

He turned to see Villy waiting dutifully, her posture perfectly straight, her tone respectful.

"Are you feeling better now?" she asked.

"Yes, Villy. Far, far better than before," Lucius replied. He flexed his hand, feeling mana surge through his veins with an ease that thrilled him.

He could already sense the improvement in his casting speed. "I want to talk to Vanessa."

He needed her consent for his next mission. Ideally another dungeon break, or maybe a raid. Risky, yes, but his instincts told him it was the right move.

And if he could drag the Harrison brothers along? That would spike his viewership sky-high.

He hated their stupidity, but damn were they marketable.

"Mistress already left early," Villy said. She had seen Vanessa rush through her morning routine, taking a quick shower before literally running out the door.

Her movements had been oddly... embarrassed. "But she asked me to relay her words. Your next mission will be a raid, since you’re promoted to D-Rank. She’ll personally select the team to escort you."

Lucius’s lips curled into a grin.

"Nice."

Villy frowned faintly. In her eyes, he wasn’t ready.

Raids were brutal, nothing like the skirmishes he’d handled before. But Lucius didn’t waver. If he said he would do it, he would.

He stroked his chin. Things were falling into place exactly as he wanted. The raid would be perfect.

All he needed now was to push for the Harrisons, and his rise would continue without pause.

"Do you know where Luna is?" he asked.

"Yes. Lady Luna is in the basement."

The basement buzzed with activity when he arrived.

Luna stood over a cluttered workbench, surrounded by scattered tools and half-disassembled machinery.

Her hair was tied back in a messy bun, goggles perched on her head, grease smudged across her cheeks.

On the bench rested a drone unlike anything Lucius had ever seen.

It was sleek, deadly in appearance, nothing like the drones he had seen in the air.

Four rotors extended from folding arms for speed, each blade was thin and sharp, shimmering faintly with mana? He knew there were mana alloys but this was surprsiing.

The central body was compact, shaped like the chest of a bird of prey.

Along its surface, engraved circuitry pulsed faintly with blue light — mana channels woven seamlessly into the machine’s frame.

The front bore a single glowing eye, angular and predatory, with a lens capable of zooming and shifting spectrum.

Tiny stabilizer fins adjusted themselves with mechanical precision, compensating for every shift in balance.

Beneath, modular sockets allowed attachments: grappling hooks, light projectors, even small defensive emitters.

It was a true hybrid of technology and magic.

Luna tightened the final screw with trembling fingers, her excitement palpable.

"...And done."

She pushed her goggles down over her eyes and slipped on the augmented glasses linked to the drone.

Her heart thudded.

"Alright... testing."

The drone hummed to life. It lit up, the rotors spun, and with a faint whoosh it lifted gracefully from the bench.

Luna’s eyes widened. It hovered perfectly, responding to her mental commands with sharp precision, that was the way she had designed it.

The camera eye swiveled, scanning the room.

But then, a faint spark jumped along one rotor.

The drone jolted, the balance breaking. Suddenly it spun wildly, tilting sideways, buzzing dangerously toward the door.

"Ah! No—!" Luna cried, scrambling forward.

The basement door opened completely at that moment.

Lucius walked in, smiling.

The drone whirled toward him like a predator gone berserk. But instead of flinching, he simply raised his hand.

Mana pulsed from his fingertips, syncing instantly with the engraved circuits.

The wild turbulence stopped in an instant. The drone froze midair, then drifted obediently into his waiting palm, as if it had always belonged there.

"Whoa," Lucius said, studying it up close, eyes gleaming with admiration. "Cool design."

Luna stood frozen, her mouth hanging open. "...H-how did you...?"

Lucius smirked, stroking the drone’s sleek frame. "What can I say? It likes me."