Adrin spent the next few days buried in his work. Emilia and Nerina continued to go to the academy as always, but he refused their proposal to join them. He just couldn’t see the benefit of going to class because he already had everything he wanted.

Pretty much all the tools needed to make the first prototype mechanical marvel were already in his hands, so to speak. The magitech motors powered actuators for the mechanical muscles became possible with [Enchanting], and [Metallurgy] had already proven to have the capability to make all the essential metal parts.

However, the combination of these two skills still wouldn’t be enough. It was one thing to make the metal limbs move on command, but it was a whole other thing to make it combat-worthy.

A golem was a shortcut to a working combat-worthy control system, or he could simply learn something useful from it. It would also be a good camouflage to those who didn’t know any better. Another card he could keep under his sleeve. He would trade the green flame with the knowledge of making a golem if he had to for these reasons.

For now, he was happy with the first prototype exoskeleton arm. He had a choice to use either pneumatics or motor-based actuators, and for this project, he had chosen the latter. It was a clear choice when it was easy to make durable and powerful tiny magitech motors.

To be honest, Adrin just preferred the cleaner design and the embedded nature of actuators compared to pneumatics. He would have cylinders and pistons jutting out of his design when it was needed. If it was needed.

The actuators to move the fingers were placed inside the palm, the first, and second segments of three-segmented metal fingers. The metal fingers would articulate back and forth by turning the geared joints using the motors.

The real breakthrough was the flexible crystal cables he had made by playing around with [Crystal Meld] and mana marbles. Protected by segmented metal covering, these crystal cables would be the veins that would supply mana to the magitech motors.

All it left was to connect everything to the Synaptic control system he had previously developed and the first prototype was complete. The whole piece didn’t appear any different than an oversized medieval gauntlet and vambrace, but that was the point all along.

Adrin slid his hand into the oversized metal arm. He uttered the famous words as the magitech motors accelerated to move the metal fingers.

“It’s about time,” he chuckled.

He took a piece of wood with his robot hands and closed the fingers. The metal hand crushed the block of wood to pieces easily. Next was to tune the arm’s fine controls. He didn’t want to accidentally crush anyone’s hand anytime soon.

“Young Master, it is time to prepare for the feast,” Lily’s voice came from outside the door.

The door was located just before the stairs of his newly constructed underground lair. Meld to shape with the [Crystal Meld], this place would be the beginning of everything. It was where he had spent most of his time other than eating or taking a bath.

These past few days reminded him of the times he had to sleep in the office just to finish up the crucial software project in time. The only difference was he enjoyed every second in his lair.

Adrin sighed. He didn't know why it took the family three days just to prepare a feast. Did they intend to invite the whole kingdom to a dinner?

He had a bad feeling about this ‘feast’ but he had no choice but to brave it anyway. The family and whoever in power would only cooperate if he followed their costume. Trying to use old-world logic in another world would be a futile effort.

His right hand was also aching lately, but that was probably because of overwork. The girls would have dragged him away if he didn’t act as grumpy or as busy as he had.

They probably just wanted to talk it out, but that was his biggest weakness. Talking to people. He also knew that he couldn’t avoid them forever, but his brain just kept making excuses for him.

After Nerina’s kidnapping, he realized that there was no way around it. The feast was the place where he would put his foot down, for better or worse. If things got bad, he would just fly away with or without the girls towards the beast-kin territory of something. They would have to make their decision then and there if they were willing to follow him or not.

The maidservant helped him to be presentable as if it was up to him, he would go with whatever clothes he could find. As long as it was clean and comfortable. He felt sad for Lily if push really came to shove but the family would surely find another capable master for her.

The carriage and the girls were already waiting when he walked out of the door. Unlike them, Adrin didn’t feel nervous as Nerina or excited as Emilia. Because to him, it would be no different than the times he had to endure social parties in the old world.

“You two look gorgeous,” he offered his compliments. The girls were excited to hear that and he wasn’t lying about it. They were stunning in their choice of dresses.

During the long ride, he noticed that Emilia wanted to say something as her eye dashed between him and Nerina. The green-haired girl caught her friend by the hand and shook her head. Emi pouted in response but she didn’t say anything about it. Instead, the girl resorted to staring at him like she used to do when she wanted him to confess something.

Adrin groaned inside. By this time, he was both the old man from another world and the boy who grew up in this world. A confusing mix sometimes even to himself. The [Awakening] might be great but it was not without drawbacks.

It felt like he had amnesia for seventeen long years before remembering everything about his other life. The memory felt unreal and it was tricky for him to adapt. He couldn’t even say he was still the same old David or the boy who grew up in a nasty environment. He was both and not one in particular if that made any sense. It would be a lot easier if one of him was dominant or there was a clear distinction like others he had read about.

But he didn’t think he could stomach disappointing the girl who had made his life easier during his lowest moments. The girl had selflessly taught him this world’s written language, the important key to his success. Emi already had a special place in his heart whether he wanted to or not.

“I’m sorry if I’ve been cold to both of you,” he said after much deliberation.

“And?” Emi asked with crossed arms as if he could read her mind.

But he could guess because of the old-world memories. At least, he had an idea.

“And I’m glad I was able to get to you in time, Nerina, and no, I don’t hate it or regret it.”

“Not even a little bit?” Nerina asked.

“No, silly girl, I will do the same if I can travel back in time.”

The girl placed her hand above her attention-stealing chest and breathed in relief. She looked up to say something before the carriage slowed down to a stop. Adrin could guess what she was going to say to him and he felt glad for the bad timing.

He got out of the carriage first before holding the door for the pretty girls. Emilia was smiling from ear to ear when she got out with Nerina in tow.

He could choose to ignore the opposite gender entirely but reality would never allow it. Not everyone would ask for his permission to do the things they wanted or thought were right.

Nerina took his left side rather than continuing to hold on to her friend. She embraced his arm as if he would disappear at any moment. Any barrier a girl always had kept towards a man was gone between him and her. It told him a lot about her disposition and it only troubled him.

She might not have noticed this herself but she was a clear example. Everyone would have their own wants and strive towards them.

However, he had realized something crucial. Ignoring what other people wanted would only result in unwanted things happening. It would pull him further away from his objective.

A moment of epiphany struck him as Emi took ownership of his other arm.

A smooth sail to his goal could only be achieved by aligning his objective with what others wanted. The people around him had to have a clear image of what they could get by helping or allowing him to get to his goal.

He almost forgot this key point in team management which he had learned in the old world. It had helped him in many successful projects in his past life, and surely it would be able to help him to navigate this world’s politics as well.

Adrin had a hunch that he would learn what others wanted from him in this feast. The important part was not to miss it because of other distractions.

He couldn’t afford to be shortsighted anymore.

Foresight acquired,

Wisdom +1 per level,

Wisdom: 3.

Adrin chuckled. He called out his status for a brief moment as they made their way towards the huge mansion.

Name: Adrin || Age:17 || Mage [level 5]

Life: 85/85 || Stamina: 150/150 || Mana: 60/?

||

10 attribute points remaining.

3 skill / spell points remaining.

||

Strength: 13 || Intelligence: 19 || Agility: 9

Willpower: 20 || Perception: 3 || Dexterity: 5

Endurance: 4 || Vigor: 5 || Wisdom: 3

||

--Affinity list--

Metal [73], Crystal [54], Lightning [59], Magni [45], Life [86],

Fire [89], Air [78], Ice [35], Water [51].

||

--Ability list--

Bodybuilding [4], Arithmetic [5], Melee weapons [3], Spearfishing [1],

Marksmanship [2], Mana Sense [8], Crafting [3], Cooking [1],

Farming [1], Lascivious [1], Mathematics [2], Martial Art [4], Foresight [1].

||

--Skill list--

Hack [4], Throw [4], Aim Assist [2], Sneak [3], Metallurgy [6],

Crystal Meld [6], Mana Meld [8], Spell Scribe [4], Enchanting [5],

Lightning Flux [3], Magni Flux [8], Life Touch [2], Blazing Hand [3],

Wind Touched [2], Freezing Palm [1], Deluge [1].

||

--Spell list--

[Cleanse], [Shell], [Candle], [Torch], [Fireball], [Bolt]

Everyone might go crazy the moment they learned about his progress. There was no way he could achieve all this without his old-world knowledge. He sent his thanks to all of the scientists who had done all the hard work while he reaped the benefits.

How [Awakening] worked was still a mystery to him, but if he had to guess, the potential of learning skill probably already existed in the folds of his otherworldly memory. He had only needed to realize its existence and reach for it. Maybe he should ask someone about it later after all these political shenanigans settled down.

As he walked, Adrin imagined, to these people, finding someone like him was like finding a very rare, but large deposit of resources. Plutonium, maybe, but it became obvious that he had to be handled carefully as they didn’t know if he had the potential to harm them. Just like the material, he promised them power and the feast would decide if the juice was worth the squeeze.

To his surprise, the gorgeous future Matriarch herself was waiting for him by the door.

An idea came to him. He pulled Emilia closer, and with a single exchange of looks, the girl already knew what he was up to. At least, it was what her eyes were telling him.

Adrin kissed her head to her surprise and he did the same to Nerina. This showed that he cared for them more than just friends with benefits. If he should use the much modern term.

The redhead and the maids who were watching should spread the rumor nicely. At the very least, there should be no talk about girls offering themselves as collateral for whatever the other esteemed guests wanted out of him.

He had enough romance for a lifetime.

Adrin led the flushed girls towards the waiting people.

“I’m honored, but what makes the future Matriarch herself wait at the door to greet me?” Adrin asked as he got close.

Ana hesitated for a moment before answering. “I’m afraid the secret about the blue flame is already out.”

Adrin was surprised to hear that, but then again, he should have expected it. More importantly, was how the secret got out without the girl suffering from nightmares. She didn’t look like she was suffering from insomnia.

“You must tell me how it came to be,” he said to the girl.

The redhead seemed to be surprised to hear that.