CHAPTER 543: ENCOURAGING OVERHAUL

In the confines of the arena used for today’s exam, D-29 figured that history was being made.

But not because of how the host adjusted the weight distribution on the right arm to compensate for the pilot’s aggressive, left-dominant maneuvering.

Or how he calibrated the lower limbs to account for fatigue and replaced a chunk of the cockpit because the recorded reflex response showed micro-delays.

In fact, it wasn’t how fast Luca replaced the damaged internal wiring, the cracked conduits, or how he worked on the mecha’s external armor and finished just seconds before the timer was done.

No, it wasn’t even that. Because apparently his time was atrocious for someone labeled a "genius."

However, no one laughed.

Because the exam timer was set for repairs. Not for rebuilding an entire mecha from the inside out.

Which was exactly what Luca Kyros had done. An overhaul.

And all this was recorded by D-29 primarily because, for the first time, in the course of the repair, his money-grubbing boss did not keep track of the costs.

Not on paper. Not with his usual muttering. Not even in passing.

Or maybe he did, just mentally. But Luca, who had fretted since the beginning about the cost of being a mechanic, did not complain about this one.

And that was definitely worth recording in the logs alongside the murmurs of awe all around them.

D-29 recorded all of it, after all, the little system wanted to ensure that the host’s first empathic exam and its audience were on record. Because clearly it wasn’t just the dutiful system that was impressed with this financial feat.

If only it knew. But what could D-29, who had only seen greatness every day, know about the ordinary people when even Marianna was a hidden physician and a hacker while being an underground boss?

Therefore, the standards were raised, and only Sid, who still had his wits with him, understood a bit of Luca’s reasoning once he explained it.

The little system, which couldn’t help it, had to ask while they waited for Luca’s turn for the inspection. "Host, why haven’t we tabulated the costs to repair this mecha?"

Luca tilted his head, thinking. "Hmm... It’s not that I didn’t account for it."

"???" D-29 was unsure of the response and waited.

"It’s just that I believe the pilot deserved this much."

The little system tried to comprehend but failed and had to verify.

Luca figured as much and pulled out the data for D-29 to review.

"See here," he said gently. "The damage to the chest practically punctured the cockpit. It could’ve been fatal."

"But the pilot’s profile also indicated recent achievements for a successful rescue mission, which meant he fought to the end..."

"But host, if that were the case, why is he getting his mecha with severe damage fixed by unlicensed students? Shouldn’t the military fix it? Or is there no budget for it?"

Luca offered a quiet, thoughtful smile as he tried to find the right words.

It was something he had only begun to understand after reading the works of the master mechanics in the library. But before he could speak, Sid gently spoke up instead.

"The pilot wasn’t sure about his ability to pilot again. He likely didn’t want to waste official resources by having his mecha fixed when he wasn’t sure of his capabilities."

"But mechas are like partners. So unable to leave his partner in such a state, he was willing to let students try and patch it up."

"Huh?"

"Sid is correct."

"I think it’s the same with the mecha masters who had to give up their experiments because they couldn’t find it in their heart to use precious materials for trial and error."

"Then, host, repairing the mecha to this extent was a reward?"

"Well, in a sense, because this is really just as much as I could do for now. But it’s more like an encouragement."

"Hopefully, the pilot wouldn’t be as scared to pilot with a better-protected mecha. Maybe he’d be encouraged to give it another go."

"...Oh," D-29 said again.

And that was the end of it.

Except it wasn’t.

The moment the timer stopped, a quiet hum fell over the arena.

Then came the footsteps.

Inspectors in clean uniforms walked toward the finished mecha. Some held data slates. Others carried calibration tools. Most just looked confused.

Luca had already stepped back, quietly wiping his gloves with a cloth that now looked more like a sacrifice. He stood to the side, calm and soft-spoken as ever, waiting to be told if he had passed or not.

But the proctors didn’t speak.

Instead, one of the lead instructors squinted at the joints.

Another leaned into the cockpit, gasped, then called two more over.

Soon, even the test proctor was waving his arms, asking for backup, which got the attention of Instructor Moore, who had been seated in the back with his arms crossed and a knowing look on his face.

"...Check the calibration logs," Moore said suddenly.

"What?"

"The calibrations," he repeated. "Just check. I thought I was hallucinating the first time I saw it, too."

It didn’t take long.

One of the senior inspectors accessed the recorded logs and began scrolling. His mouth parted slightly.

"...This can’t be right."

"Then confirm it," Moore said. "Rerun the diagnostics if you think you have to."

Another technician did. Then another. And another.

By the time the fourth one came to the same result, someone muttered, "He practically rewrote the optimization thresholds."

"What?"

"That’s... That’s ridiculous."

But no one was laughing. Okay, maybe Instructor Moore and a certain mop were.

But for the rest? That was impossible.

Not when the mecha’s responsiveness tests came out showing better-than-standard results.

Not when the pilot logs began syncing at higher efficiency rates than ever recorded for a student, heck, even higher than those recorded by licensed mechanics.

Not when the old mecha master who’d been quietly observing from the side walked forward, lowered himself to one knee, and ran a hand across the frame like he was touching a divine relic.

But if he were being honest, many of them had wanted to do it from the moment they saw the materials laid out by that student. Since when had they seen so many high-grade materials?

Silence filled the bay.

Meanwhile, high above in the stands, Advisor Arlow leaned over the railing.

She couldn’t hear what they were saying in the enclosed arena. But something was clearly going on.

It started with how the inspectors were moving. Then came the sudden flood of instructors into the bay. Even the arena staff, usually composed and bored, were now leaning forward in their seats.

"What’s happening?" she asked no one in particular.

The student next to her, a second-year mechanic, adjusted his glasses. "I... I think he just replaced the calibration channels and realigned the power grid distribution."

Another scoffed. "You can’t be serious. That’s just—he couldn’t have done that. Not without preparation!"

"Then what were you watching?" someone shot back. "Were you blind the entire time? Did you not see him tracing the systems with his spiritual energy? The whole time he was diagnosing."

"But his energy is ranked C!"

"Then explain it! Because I saw it with my own eyes. That’s not something you fake unless he came in here prepared to glow with some lightstick!"

"But how?! He never even took a single mecha manufacturing class!"

"Pssh. He’s a Kyros! Who cares if he didn’t take the classes here? For all we know, he’s been learning since he was two."

"Oh. That’s true."

"Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if that whole scandal about him being a spoiled philanderer was just a cover-up. Maybe it was to hide how talented he really was."

"Right? Because what if someone tried to assassinate him for being a genius or something?"

"Hey, it sounds like a conspiracy, but did you see the materials he used? Just how much would that total?"

"And you wonder why they’d have to keep it a secret? What if they attract pirates for all that wealth?!"

"Sure, I get it. That’s good and great. But did anyone think about the luck of that mecha pilot?"

"I mean, of all the candidates that could be assigned to him, he actually got the student capable of performing an overhaul?! And that’s free, right?"

Now that seemed to attract the attention of the students and guests, because clearly they’d forgotten about the lucky pilot who was going to end up with practically a new mecha.

Arlow listened to all of it. None of it made sense. But at the same time... maybe it did.

Because when she looked down at the floor again, the elder mecha master was still kneeling, hand pressed to the frame like he was in prayer. It’s just that now, there were three of them.

And Luca?

Luca stood a little ways off, smiling shyly at the machine he had "repaired".

Like he hadn’t just shocked the entire division.

Like he hadn’t just redefined what it meant to pass.

People began to mutter about career choices.

And Ollie?

The proud cheerleader was already reaching for his next snack.

Because his brother wasn’t just passing the exam.

He was breaking it in the most gentle way possible.

Oh, but it was just the first exam.