CHAPTER 550: COME AGAIN?

While House Kyros had the benefit of a private network to share updates and commentary, it was only those within proximity of a certain tea master who truly understood the context of what was unfolding.

And thus, Maid Kana made the most of her strategic seat beside Head Maid Gloria as they waited for their Young Lord to be ushered into the testing area.

"Kyaaah! Our Young Lord is talking to the Marshal!" someone whispered excitedly.

But Kana had other priorities.

"Head Maid Gloria," Kana leaned closer and lowered her voice. "Why exactly does that grumpy Master Allan have beef with our Young Lord? He’s so young!"

Gloria didn’t even glance away from the stream. "Because they’re stubborn mules," she replied smoothly. "Master Allan likely assumes Lord Luca is Master Quinn’s apprentice."

"Huh? Just that? He’s grumbling like someone cursed his whole bloodline!" Kana said, just as the stream zoomed in dramatically on the row of mecha masters.

"Well," Gloria sipped her tea. "It’s not a secret. You were just too young when it happened."

"When what happened?"

"Before the corruption progressed this far out, the Empire had been dependent on combination-piloted mechas. And this was the expertise of both Master Allan and Master Quinn."

"If there was something to discover," she continued, "they were the first to find it—or the ones leading the charge."

Kana blinked. "Then... what happened?"

"One of the garrison planets was breached. And at that time, Master Quinn happened to be there," Gloria said, her tone softening.

"They couldn’t fight back. And even today, it was one of the worst fights as helplessness ate at them. Unfortunately, the spread’s onset was too close to the base, making the mere activation of the mechas sufficient to attract corruption.

"Other survivors said that it was as if the corruption dined."

Kana’s eyes widened.

"All they could do was shut everything down and hide. By the time reinforcements arrived, a lot of lives were already lost."

Kana bit her lip. "Then... Master Allan was mad about the catastrophe?"

"No," Gloria said, setting down her cup. "It wasn’t that. They fought because they couldn’t agree on how to respond to the issue. And it finally came to a head when Master Quinn supported the military-wide adoption of manual mechas."

"Manual? As in the ones used by our other pilots??"

Gloria nodded. "Master Allan saw that as a betrayal. They built their careers advocating for Combination Systems. To him, going manual was like regressing into the dark ages."

"But that’s so petty! He probably wouldn’t be saying that if he experienced what Master Quinn experienced!" one of the younger maids gasped.

"Well, sure," Gloria said, waving her hand. "But imagine if the person you trusted most—your best friend—suddenly flipped on the ideals you built your entire reputation on."

Kana and a few others gasped.

"Wait, Head Maid... how do you know all this? Do you know them?"

Gloria chuckled. "It’s not hard. They don’t shut up when they drink. And back then, when people still used to gather, they drank a lot."

"Ehhh?!"

Another maid leaned in. "Still... our Young Lord barely even pilots manual mechas. And he rarely builds manual ones either. Why is he caught in the crossfire?"

"Ah." Gloria gave a slow, knowing smile. "That’s because Master Allan doesn’t know that."

"Know what?"

She chuckled. "Everything. I wonder how he’ll react after today’s exam."

Kana opened her mouth to ask a follow-up, but was promptly interrupted by someone squealing in the back.

"It’s starting! It’s starting!!"

Gloria simply sipped her drink again.

"Good," she said. "About time."

D-29 had decided that if he was going to stream this, it had to be art. Naturally, he picked the most flattering angle of Luca’s side profile and added just a touch of soft focus.

Back at the Kyros estate, a few maids clasped their hands together.

"If I ever have children in the future," one whispered dreamily, "I want them to inherit that jawline."

"Just that? If I get that nose on my baby, we are set for life."

Head Maid Gloria whacked the nearest armrest with her folding fan. "Stop it. Do not aim for the looks. Aim for the brain. If your children can function like our Young Lord while half asleep, then you’ll have something to be proud of."

The maids wilted in silence.

Achoo!

Luca sneezed.

He blinked. That was strange. He didn’t feel sick. Had he been working too hard again?

Maybe he needed more orange juice. He frowned at the thought of getting Xavier sick because he was sick. That would be terrible.

He looked toward the Kyros section and noticed several worried faces. Without missing a beat, he gave them a big smile. Immediately, shoulders relaxed, signs were raised higher, and a few supporters even dabbed at their eyes.

Then Luca’s gaze wandered to the enormous banner behind them. Thanks to his enhanced vision, he could read the handwritten messages clearly.

"Don’t forget to eat!"

"We believe in you!"

"Come back safe!"

"Sleep after this, okay?!"

Luca’s heart squeezed. He already cried earlier when he first saw it, but now he had to blink hard and cover his face again.

He had not expected so many messages from the people back home.

It really was nice to have a family.

And if they believed in him, then he needed to believe in himself. He would protect them like they protected him, even when he had been weak.

He would do his best.

A sharp beep echoed through the testing grounds.

Luca straightened. He nodded politely to the examiners and walked to the center of his designated space.

It was time to begin.

Earlier, the instructors had offered help. He was told to call so they could provide lifting support or bring in equipment for the heavier parts.

Luca declined gently. He was more comfortable working by himself.

One of the masters had warned him that there were no cranes here and the levitation pads were not strong enough for bulk materials.

Luca had nodded. But privately, he was confused. He had always done this by hand. Cranes were slow and often left unusual dents.

He flicked his hands and released his spiritual energy, which immediately reached for the scaffolds.

With smooth precision, he pulled in two full sets, placing them side by side. The supports were fixed into position, locking together with soft mechanical clicks.

Tools were arranged on his assembly table while he took out the first materials he planned to use.

And through it all, Luca calmly turned away to prepare the table surface and lay out his components.

From a distance, it looked like he was performing a graceful routine. But for those with visual resonance, the sight was enough to knock them breathless.

Spiritual tendrils.

Dozens of them.

Moving independently. All at once. Each tendril performing a unique task without hesitation or overlap.

A few spectators clutched their chests. One master inhaled so sharply it startled the entire row behind him. Even the elder whom an assistant had carried in was now on his feet, leaning forward with wide, unblinking eyes.

In all this, Master Allan, who had been grumbling since earlier, suddenly straightened, his spine rigid, his jaw slack.

Meanwhile, Luca—calm and oblivious—pulled up his holographic schematic and began reviewing the build as if nothing were out of the ordinary.

However, D-29 suddenly contemplated what to film next, as the audience was exhibiting unusual behavior. Or was that artistic, too?

"Host, is something the matter with everyone?" the little system inquired.

Luca looked up, confused by the question. His head tilted slightly.

"Huh?"

Silence.

Pure, reverent silence.

Then, from somewhere in the audience, a voice whispered, "What is he doing?"

At that exact moment, nearly everyone was standing—frozen in varying stages of disbelief. And for the first time since the exam began, the only ones still seated, entirely at ease, were the members of House Kyros.

After all, their Young Lord hadn’t even lifted off the ground yet.