February 5, 1615 Central Calendar

Holy Milishial Empire, San Redentore District

Walman paced back and forth alone in the pristine hallway of the Ministry of Ancient Sorcerous Empire Countermeasures’ administrative headquarters, walking from one end to the other countless times while his mouth continued to mutter barely audible words. The squeaking of Walman’s rubber shoes that he absentmindedly rubbed against the ceramic tiles of the floor echoed in a silly attempt of warding off the silence in that section of the building.

Occasionally, the employees who passed that corridor would stop and turn to look at the brunette in astonishment, for it is extremely rare, if not downright impossible, that a young teenager was seen wearing an orange-colored Clearance Level 2 employee badge—the mark of an engineer. However, their own duties soon brought them from their stupor and they immediately walked away despite the curious sight, leaving the boy to his devices.

‘Deep breath, exhale… deep breath, exhale…’

He did it over and over again, but Walman still can’t calm his rapidly beating heartbeat. He knew that this day will happen and mentally prepared himself, but the pressure is still there.

“We already did this before, but why am I still nervous…?” he muttered to no one in particular, “Just how in the world Meteos can endure it is beyond me—hm?”

Just as Walman turned around from walking to one end of the hallway, his eyes caught the familiar woman emerging from a corner near the other end. Said woman’s expression broke into a wide grin at seeing one of her apprentices as she jogged lightly toward the boy.

“Heeey~” she greeted, waving her hand.

“Ah, Miss Robin, good morning,” Walman smiled lightly despite himself.

“Sorry if I’m late, I came here as soon as I can…! Well then? Where is Meteos? Why are you here alone?”

“He’s already inside, I’m just here because… I’m getting nervous,” he rubbed his nape with a bashful expression on his face.

“Ah… nervous, huh?” Robin repeated in understanding. “Hmm, how about we check on your friend together?”

She then reached out and gently massaged his shoulders as she ushered Walman into Conference Room 4, the place where they will conduct today’s agenda.

“O-okay.”

Walman and Robin opened the double doors to see Meteos sitting at the center of a U-shaped table, staring at a moderately-sized box-shaped device in front of him. When he pressed a button on it, a bright light shone from the device’s circular lens to the screen across the room. Meteos then picked one card-like object from a box nearby and inserted it into a slot on the device, causing the screen to display one of Meteos’ generalized technical drawings that were projected from it.

As one of the ministries of the Holy Milishial Empire government, and the most influential one at that, the MOASEC is often entitled of receiving new, state-of-the-art magic technologies before everyone else. This included this device, a magic slide projector developed by a central Milishial-based conglomerate, the ‘Tlaloc Optics.’ Even though it was not as prominent as a juggernaut such as the Aikon Corporation, this company is one of the MOASEC’s partners that also benefited from any progress that the Ministry made in advancing the Holy Empire’s magic technology, one of the Ancient Ministry’s providers of nigh-limitless resources.

As a further development of the earlier slide projection technology called a ‘magic lantern,’ this slide projector is still called such by some people in the Holy Empire. It works by using a lamp powered by magical energy to illuminate a slide that has been placed in a tray. The light is then directed onto the slide through a series of lenses and mirrors, and the image is then projected onto a screen or wall, just like what was happening right now.

Tinkering with the projector some more, Meteos swapped the slide with other slides in succession to make sure that the projector is working, occasionally reaching to a knob on the lens to adjust its focus. He was just finished setting up the device when Robin and Walman entered the room.

“Morning, my adorable apprentices! How are you doing!?” Robin greeted them cheerfully—despite the fact that she had just greeted Walman a few seconds ago.

“Good morning to you as well, Miss Robin,” Meteos nodded in acknowledgment before his gaze darted to look at Robin’s rather messy ponytail and sighed. “…You didn’t forget to take a bath before coming here, didn’t you?”

The bespectacled woman rolled her eyes, but her expression quickly turned into a scandalized one once Walman began to sniff around and glanced at her uneasily.

“Hey, what’s with that look?” Robin sputtered. “…Sheesh, I wasn’t aware my speech sounds like ‘unga bunga’ to some people. Of course I took a bath—” she insisted.

“Well…… no offense, Miss Robin, we’ve seen and heard from your friends that you’re so busy you often forget to clean yourself,” Walman said.

“—before attending meetings.”

‘Riight, so I’m the monkey.’

Robin gave her apprentices a glance before shaking her head in embarrassment. She then shrugged it off with a laugh, turning to face Meteos with her arms spread wide and her smile returned in full force, this time with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

“If you don’t believe me, then come here, you can take a sniff yourself and you’ll know just how clean I am.”

“Uh……”

“…Okay, I believe you. So I’ll just pass.”

Now it was Meteos’ turn to roll his eyes. It was hard to believe that this quirky woman is the daughter of Candee, the mage famous for her beauty magic and overall ladylike attitude. However, he refrained from saying anything about it because that would be a low blow.

The room was filled with awkwardness and silence for a brief moment before all three of them burst into laughter. For Walman, seeing Robin trying to break the tension with her weird sense of humor helped ease the anxiety that came with the meeting that will be held this day. He can already feel the nervousness that plagued him earlier melt away with Robin’s infectious laughter.

“Huh… I’m feeling better now. Thank you, Miss Robin.”

“Oh, is that so? Good for you, then!” Robin turned to look at him with a grin.

Then she faced the seated Meteos again.

“The attendees will be coming soon, is everything ready?”

“No problem. I’m just done adjusting this projector. We are ready at any time.”

“Heh, such confidence,” Robin muttered.

“But… I can’t thank you enough for arranging things and allowing us to have this meeting, Teacher. I and Walman owe you a lot,” Meteos thanked Robin earnestly without hesitation.

“Oh, it was nothing. When the upper management heard about the new inventions that you boys created, they immediately told everyone to let you two go and present the designs. I just helped to make sure things move smoothly. Don’t worry about it.”

Since today is a weekday, Robin didn’t come to her apartment. Instead, she slept on a mattress inside the Aerial System Development Facility’s drawing room so that she can respond to any requests as fast as possible from the Alpha Edge Project without going back and forth from the apartment, which is located quite far away from the headquarters. Still, from the perspective of Walman, who was clueless about her real affiliation’s backdoor maneuvers, she can somehow still help them set up things for introducing their new inventions while being extremely busy.

Walman nodded, but he raised a question, “But I’m still wondering, is it really okay for the Alpha Edge Project to let some of its personnel go?”

In the Alpha Edge Project, which is an ambitious and high-stake project requiring utmost perfection and commitment from all involved in it, these two boys worked in alternating shifts, while Robin was there nearly all the time. However, this meeting was held in the morning of a weekday, in what was supposed to be Meteos’ shift. But here they are, holding a meeting to present what could be called a ‘side quest’ of the Alpha Edge Project.

Of course, Robin can’t tell that this was allowed to happen because of the secret department’s intervention.

“Well, it’s not like the entire Alpha Edge Project is filled with incompetents that the absence of three engineers for one day will matter much. Besides, it was the upper management who gave the green light upon hearing the proposal.”

“I see.”

“Mm-hmm. You know, ever since that day we first met, we at the Ancient Ministry are putting our expectations on you two, and you two further proved it by presenting more interesting things even as academy students. So… you really needn’t worry. If anything, we will make sure that you will not be denied of anything in your quests,” Robin finished with a wink.

Walman looked at Meteos, who opened his mouth with a carefree smile.

“To be honest, I didn’t expect it to start and go that far. But if you say so, and that is what the upper management wants, we’ll strive to live up to their expectations, don’t you think so, Walman?”

“O-of course!”

“…Also, just for confirmation, Miss Robin, whenever I or Walman or anyone else come up with new ideas worth presenting, the Ministry’s leadership won’t hesitate to arrange things, yes?”

“That is indeed true. Be reassured,” Robin nodded. “By the way, did I just hear you say whenever, not if, earlier?”

“Yes, Dear Teacher, you did. I mean what I say. These GP designs? This is just the beginning,” Meteos said as he held up a slide in his hand.

Hearing Meteos’s statement, Walman gulped. His friend had always been confident in himself, even as a child. On top of having great intelligence, he had also shown himself as someone who never wavers in front of others. In contrast, Walman was very timid. He is envious of him sometimes. He wished he can be like Meteos too, someone who doesn’t get flustered, and someone who can keep his cool even in situations where others would panic.

“Hahaha! Interesting! That’s glad to hear!” Robin giggled. “What about now, Walman? Are you still worried?”

“No… not anymore. I guess I’m worrying too much about things,” he replied.

“Don’t sweat it, alright? Let’s just focus on the presentation for now.”

“Okay.”

Walman nodded with a newfound determination.

To be honest, Walman thought that Meteos could have done all these things alone. He could have left him in Leiden while he embarked on his new adventures as an inventor working for the most elite ministry in the Holy Empire. But he didn’t do that. Meteos reached out to Walman, who shared the same dream and helped him realize it together. Even now, when technically they were about to present Meteos’ old drawings that he just pulled out of storage, he never heard him say, “These are mine, remember that.”

Is that what is called friendship? If it is, then what a great friend Meteos was.

The young Roguerider had said that this is just the beginning. Walman vowed then and there to himself that he will not let his friend down, and to become someone worthy of walking by his side.

After that, the three of them discussed the technical details of the presentation and some more to wait for the other participants of the meeting.

“But this is going to be a long one…”

Naturally, after retrieving his ‘GP’ package, Meteos immediately informed about its contents to Robin, who in turn reported to her superior in (what is publicly known as) the MOASEC’s General Affairs Department. From here, unbeknownst to Walman, Robin’s report was passed to her real affiliation, the Ancient Arms Analysis Tactical Operations Department and Director Arsene Lippin himself. And thus, while they were preparing the materials for the presentation, the secret department pulled the strings behind the scenes to ensure that no obstruction will hinder their Person of Interest, Meteos, and his friend Walman in presenting their new creations as smoothly as possible.

Meteos, who succeeded in creating the Ancient Sorcerous Empire’s conductive magnetic radar with nothing but factory tools, had caught this secret department’s attention. This secret department, in turn, does all kinds of backroom maneuvers to fulfill its own agenda, which is using Meteos’ brilliant mind to try to better the Holy Empire. That’s not to say that its treatment toward Meteos is exclusive, though; they will do the same for every potential individual they can find.

This time, there were fifteen GP designs plus one magic revolver cannon design for a total of sixteen, and upon receiving them, the upper management made it clear that they wanted Meteos to explain all of them. There will be no trouble with the first eight: the magic revolver cannon and the Designs GP-11 to 17. However, the rest is tantamount to introducing several new concepts and technologies in a single run, something that can hardly be called easy.

But the success of this meeting will further boost Meteos and his friend’s value as individuals within the Ancient Ministry.

This all happened just like what Meteos had envisioned. By appearing to be their biggest catch, striving to be the so-called child prodigy of this era, he managed to make the Ancient Ministry and its nigh-unlimited resources, which he knew like the back of his hand, dance on it.

Meteos is looking forward to being spoiled rotten and chuckled.

…………

Several minutes later, the presentation’s attendees began to stream into Conference Room 4. Again, Walman can’t recognize these people, but for Meteos, he was greeted by familiar faces that also served to confirm his suspicions. They took their seats on both sides of the U-shaped table, picking up the materials that were distributed beforehand.

‘Well, well, well, what do we have here? Secret department agents? Looks like the Ancient Weapons Department is truly at play here.’

All of the attendees this time were Meteos’ senior agents in his past life. Their appearance, their dress style, everything is identical to how they appeared in his memories, except for the fact that those who were not elves or dark elves looked two decades younger. Despite they belonged to the Ministry’s elite, when unmasked, they cannot be distinguished from other employees; be it an administrative staff who might happen to live next door in the apartment, an excitable technician from the workshop, or a grumpy janitor of the museum. And that’s not even counting those who infiltrated the society outside this headquarters.

However, remembering most of his interactions with them made the silverette sigh in disappointment, more to himself rather than to these people.

He shook his head briefly and turned to Robin who nodded and stood up before speaking up.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for taking your time to gather in this room. My name is Robin Calvello from the General Affairs Department, this time I will be acting as a moderator for the presentation which will be conducted by our friends, engineers Meteos Roguerider and Walman Falkenhausen today. As you may have already known in advance, these two are our newest and youngest members, graduated from the Runepolis Magic Academy by skipping grades and were recruited through an invitation by the Ministry’s leadership. Today, they will be presenting the interesting designs that they have come up with to you all.”

Robin smiled, watching Meteos stand up with a determined look. In his hand is a slide of the Design GP-11.

“Thank you, Miss Calvello, for the introduction. Today, we will be explaining the following inventions. Let us start with the first design, please refer to the fourth page of the document—”

Inserting the appropriate slide into the magic projector, the screen displayed the general design drawings of the GP-11, a handgun. For the next eight hours, Meteos and Walman provided the explanation of the materials, with the attending agents surprisingly listening to them intently with a man who appeared to be their leader taking notes of everything. But when they were given the chance to ask questions, they did so thoroughly, giving the two of them an impression that they were undergoing an intense interrogation than a mere presentation.

To summarize the presentation, the ‘GP’ designs consisted of the following items (these are the revised versions made just before the presentation):

- GP-11 – Semi-Automatic Pistol featuring a delayed blowback system and a unique squeeze-cocker mechanism that Meteos designed, which allows the user to cock the weapon by squeezing the grip, rather than pulling the slide back. This mechanism also serves as a safety, as the gun cannot be fired unless the grip is squeezed. The GP-11 was designed to hold up to 8 rounds of 9mm Imperial Pistol Ammunition fed from a single-stack box magazine, which means that the rounds are arranged in a single column, rather than being staggered.

- GP-12 – Machine Pistol using a roller-delayed blowback action and closed bolt firing the 9mm Imperial Pistol Ammunition with a magazine designed to hold up to 30 rounds. Designed as an improved successor of the M1600 Self-Loading Carbine, the GP-12 will become this world’s first true submachine gun. It has selective fire capability, meaning it can be set to fire in semi-automatic or full-automatic modes.

- GP-13 – Automatic Self-Loading Rifle that Meteos proposed as a successor to the venerable service rifle of the Holy Empire, the M1591 bolt-action rifle. A new type of firearm, the GP-13 is designed as a magazine-fed weapon that uses a roller-delayed blowback action, chambered in 7,62×51mm rimless ammunition that Meteos also designed to accompany the design (GP-13-1). It was also designed with a selective fire capability, and with the application of even inexpensive materials with correct magical treatment (such as iron bamboo), it can be made to be relatively light while staying durable, something that a magicless civilization like Mu will struggle to solve. Since the attending agents were most impressed with this design, Meteos personally had a high hope for the GP-13 to be approved for further development.

- GP-14 – General-Purpose Machine Gun designed to be used as a support weapon and vehicle-mounted weapon. It is a recoil-operated air-cooled design chambered in the same ammunition as the GP-13 and uses a continuous belt of linked ammunition to feed the weapon or alternatively a drum magazine. Compared to the HME’s machine gun in service, the GP-14’s design looked sleeker and lighter. Other design features include a barrel designed to be able to be quickly changed and its very high rate of fire.

- GP-15 – Heavy Machine Gun design chambered in 12,7mm ammunition that is mainly used today as Heavenly Vessel’s magic light gun ammunition. The GP-15 is a belt-fed, air-cooled, recoil-operated design.

- GP-16 – Basically an attempt at introducing the concept of an anti-materiel rifle under the name of Anti-Armored Dragon Rifle and despite its name, it is claimed to be able to destroy the core of a rock golem in a single blow if used right. This semi-automatic sniper rifle-like weapon is chambered in 12,7mm ammunition, fed through a detachable box magazine that holds 10 rounds. Meteos also designed it with a fluted chamber and a muzzle brake to reduce recoil.

- GP-17 – Handheld Anti-Armor Grenade Launcher that Meteos designed to provide the Holy Empire with the concept of a weapon that can take on enemy tanks and other armored enemies. It consists of two blueprints, the GP-17-1, a launching tube designed to be fired from the shoulder-mounted position, and the GP-17-2, a fin-stabilized shaped charge warhead that is designed to be effective against fortifications and armored monsters. If the Ancient Ministry approved this design for further development, this will be the known world’s first rocket-propelled grenade. And typical of magically-powered ammunition, it can produce a myriad of effects other than flaming explosion.

- GP-01 – The only presented design made in the present day and is closely related to the Alpha Edge Project, the Magic Light Revolver Cannon. Designed as a single-barreled 20 mm autocannon, the design is activated using magical energy and is operated by the leftover energy from firing the bullet, rotating the five-chamber magazine running parallel to the barrel in order to give it an unparalleled rate of fire. Although Meteos knows that a rotary cannon such as the Pal Chimera’s Atrates outperforms it in every way, this design is less complicated than that to allow easier research and development, not to mention still very much overkill against Muish flying machines, Emorian Wind Dragons, and other country’s wyverns. However, the Holy Milishial Empire’s enemy was, is, and will always be the Ancient Sorcerous Empire.

“Before we proceed to the next item, are there any questions regarding the materials so far?” Meteos asked the audience.

A hand quickly shot up.

“Yes?”

The hand belonged to a rather creepy-looking man with chin-length wavy hair that almost covered one of his eyes. From the silverette’s memories as a reincarnator, this man would be Azar Khosrau, who normally works as an administrative staff in one of the Ancient Ministry’s branch offices. However, when he dons a mask, everyone refers to him as “Dantalion.”

Azar’s pale-yellow orbs stared at Meteos with an indescribable look before leaning on the backrest of his seat and speaking.

“These series of designs, ‘GP,’ as you called it, were created by you?”

“Yes. With the exception of GP-01, which was jointly designed with Walman here, all fifteen of them are my work.”

“Well they seem solid, so I’ll leave the details to others. But I still find that’s hard to believe that someone your age made all of these. You must have prepared these for a long time, when were these designs created?”

Meteos smiled slightly.

“I started in the year sixteen-o-five, initially as nothing more than simple drawings. As I learned more, I improved and modified them until they became the drawings they are now. I started intensifying my efforts about a year ago, by the way.”

“How old are you now?” Azar asked further.

Walman was getting uncomfortable listening to the creepy man’s tone.

“Fourteen years old, sir.”

“That would mean you first started as an elementary school student,” the man mused.

Meteos shrugged, trying to act indifferent.

“I am an aspiring engineer who is fascinated by the Ancient Sorcerous Empire’s technology. Mister Birkburn’s book is what inspired me to start drawing these. To join the Ancient Ministry, the pillar of the Holy Empire’s technological advancement is an engineer’s greatest dream, including mine and Walman.”

Across from Khosrau’s seat, a female dark elf with striking red hair arranged in a dreadlock ponytail chuckled and sighed, “Ah, to be young and innocent again.”

Another agent raised blurted without raising his hand, a bit too snide to Walman’s comfort, “I don’t know what the people in the Navy think, but it’s still hard to take you seriously. This whole presentation feels like a child wanted to show off his crayon drawings to the adults. Don’t you think so, friends?”

Murmurs erupted at those words.

Unperturbed, the silverette replied, “Then please just look at my work instead of my person and try to find the best in it. Just like my previous inventions, I believe that they will be useful in contributing to the Holy Empire in her great struggle against the Ancient Sorcerous Empire… But you are not wrong, in a sense, I am indeed a child who wanted to show off my creations to others. The GPs, the magic turbojet engine, the magic torpedo, and even the conductive magnetic radar…”

Meteos did not hesitate in listing his achievements to make his point. Besides, as secret department agents, everyone attending this meeting (minus Walman, of course), should be aware that it was not Meteos who came to them offering his services, but the other way around. If anything, he took this comment as a secret test of character or something. Glancing at his side, he saw his poor friend was on the verge of sweating bullets already. Walman in his past life would have burned this sorry sod to death in anger, but Meteos hoped that it will never come to pass in this new world.

A green-haired man sitting next to Robin stared at him silently, no doubt an avian beastman from his hair color which is improbable to any other sapient race. His expression was blank, like a sculpture frozen in place, even as his and Meteos’ eyes made contact. But his gaze was filled with intent, a gaze reminiscent of a predator sizing up its prey.

‘Well… that’s to be expected from him…’ Meteos thought, before continuing.

“…If you think that it’s frivolous, there are others who have far nobler desires and did nothing to achieve them, no? What really matters is the length one takes to commit to their desires and make them real, it’s a fair game, after all. I did just that.”

The green-haired man wanted to think that this Meteos kid is motivated by greed judging from those words, but something told him that it was not the case. But in the end, people who are committed to their desires are the ones who will move this world and paint it in their image. Even the Holy Milishial Empire itself and the prosperity they enjoyed now will not exist if someone in the ancient times wasn’t greedy enough to unify the Middle Lands.

‘Committing to one’s desire, huh? This kid would’ve gotten along with Victor Legendorga just fine. Continue to amuse us, then…’

He then decided to speak up.

“I think that’s enough. Roguerider and Falkenhausen have already more than proven themselves. What matters is that they present the design that they have created to us. Let’s continue.”

Meteos gave the green-haired man a bright smile, “Thank you, sir. Then, I shall proceed with the next item, Design GP-18…”

Up to this point, the GP design took the form of complete technical drawings of the new proposed equipment. But from the GP-18 onwards, it will be quite different. Walman was even more unsure of how the attendees would take these increasingly outlandish and never-seen-before ideas devised by his friend, but since they were requested to present everything, they did so anyway.

[GP-18: Rocket Artillery]

Relatively simple in Meteos’ opinion. It consisted of various design concepts for rockets and rail launchers. Even though rockets, especially early ones, are less accurate than artillery guns, this design is cheap, simple, easy to mass produce, and effective in delivering a large blow over a wide area. This is especially deadly to the other countries’ armies where massed formations are the norm or against a horde of lumbering monsters in a flat plain. The design allowed it to be mounted on ordinary trucks, allowing it a high degree of mobility, as well as on other platforms such as trains or naval vessels.

It just so happened to the agents handling it that this rocket design eerily reminded them of the top-secret guided magic bullets, and it also happened that Meteos had already an air-launched rocket design in mind already. But that’s another story.

[GP-19: Proximity Fuse]

As someone known in this timeline as the boy who successfully made a functioning conductive magnetic radar, this was seen as his attempt to take the research even further. The GP-19 is a design concept of proximity fuse, a type of fuse that is designed to detonate the warhead of a projectile when it is close to the target rather than on impact, which is the Holy Empire’s current mainstream fuse. This can be achieved by various means, but the GP-19’s method is to use a small radar to detonate the shell.

When Meteos planned this years ago, he did not account for the existence of Manadriver, an amazing device that can shrink and simplify magical mechanisms so early in this new timeline. This worked in his favor by allowing the Holy Empire to quickly develop a small conductive magnetic radar for say, anti-aircraft shells.

Again, unique and creative, but an overkill invention. However, the Ancient Sorcerous Empire is a thing, so there’s no need to hold back.

[GP-110: Night Vision]

Being able to see the enemy without being seen is key to night operations. What Meteos proposed in this GP-110 is to develop a device that can enhance ambient visible light and converts near-infrared light into visible light, a process known as image intensification. Once again, the existence of Manadrivers made this plan easier to execute, as one now only needs to input the right spell components and a desire to realize this miracle. However, if one wants to use such a brute force method, one might need all spells known to man and input them into the Manadriver to see what will happen next and study what principles are applied in the process. However, once they know what is needed to make the effect, the Holy Empire can make a small, helmet-mounted NVD or night vision scope in an instant.

What a cheat, but life is hardly fair. Meteos would rather misfortunes to go away and land somewhere else rather than in the Holy Empire, though.

[GP-111: Armored Personnel Carrier]

Meteos claimed that he was inspired by the land dragons endemic to the Philades Continent and envied Parpaldia for having it (a lie, of course). Basically, this is a concept for an armored combat vehicle designed and equipped to transport soldiers, its armor giving them protection from hostile attacks compared to the vehicles used for the Holy Empire’s motorized infantry. Unlike the Parpaldian land dragons, however, an APC does not need to eat a load of food and create excrement that will cause trouble.

The GP-111 is the concept of an APC featuring wheels, by the way.

[GP-112: Continuous Track]

A type of propulsion system consists of a series of metal plates or belts connected together and looped around a pair of drive wheels or sprockets. This system provides better traction and stability than wheels, allowing vehicles equipped with it to navigate difficult terrain more easily. They are also able to distribute their weight more evenly over the ground, which can help prevent them from sinking into soft soil or getting stuck in the mud (not that this is a problem since mages can just command the terrain to stop being muddy with their magic, now much, much easier thanks to the Manadrivers, but on the other hand it is harder now to convince the agents to give the GP-112 some consideration).

Something called an ‘Endless Railway’ has actually invented two decades ago by a certain farmer, but it remained an obscure invention because of the lack of interest in it. If it’s possible, Meteos wished to use his current influence to reach out to that inventor. His talent was too precious for the Holy Empire to ignore.

[GP-113: Tracked Suspension]

Somewhat related to the GP-112, the GP-113 feature two wheels mounted to a framework to form a bogie, which shares a coil spring running horizontally between the tops of the crank arms.

[GP-114: Fire-Type Engine]

Originally the design concept of an engine designed in a way that it is capable of accepting high purification level magic fuel with the intention of making a magic engine powerful enough to move a land vehicle with heavy armor. However, the invention of Manadriver which can realize a much smaller engine but with the same or even higher power output made the GP-114 pretty much obsolete at this point.

With an appearance that looked suspiciously similar to a certain V12 petrol engine, if the government gives Meteos permission, with a slight modification, he can make a profit by opting to sell this design to another country. For example………

Magicaraich Community.

Oh, yes.

It is a sufficiently advanced magical civilization that’s unique in its own way because it also incorporates some of Mu’s mechanical technology to improve its national power. It has a relatively good relationship with the Holy Milishial Empire, and had Magicaraich’s influence been slightly larger than Leifor or Parpaldia, they could have had a chance to contest the superpower title from both empires. It’s an interesting country, which also happened to be his friend Walman’s ancestral homeland.

If it really happens, Magicaraich’s northern neighbor, the Kingdom of Mu, will never see it coming. In the first place, since the Holy Empire never bat an eye to mechanical technology, Mu will never expect an advanced mechanical-looking engine so familiar to them to come from someone in the Holy Milishial Empire, of all countries. It would be an insult of unparalleled degree.

Mu’s pride of being the sole mechanical civilization, built by generations upon generations of hard work in developing technology that doesn’t use mana to work, will be undone in an instant, all because of a single invention of a snot-nosed brat who is not even seventeen.

As a comparison, Mu’s strongest internal combustion engine in the 1610s is a V8 engine capable of producing 150 horsepower. Meanwhile, a modified GP-114 can easily achieve 1.300 horsepower, which is a Gra Valkas-tier mechanical technology. It could be used to power a propeller-driven monoplane capable of reaching 600 kilometers per hour.

However, the ramifications of someone in the Holy Empire selling a mechanical engine will not just stop there for them. Mu, as the second-strongest country in the known world, is naturally looked down upon by the strongest, which is the Holy Milishial Empire. In addition, their mild manner and pacifism in a world where dog-eat-dog caused other countries to sometimes not take them seriously. Leifor often had its vassals launch minor skirmishes on their borders because of this.

After the conclusion of the 1592 Sol Island Dispute, Mu, the so-called ‘Blue Lion of the West’ which conceded to the Holy Empire without a fight, had reduced to a meek and obedient pet of the August Star of Heaven, barely surviving by scrounging for scraps untouched by the Holy Empire. And if this decision of selling a mechanical engine more advanced than their own set sail, Mu’s prestige will crumble to dust even more.

However, Meteos believed that Mu will somehow find a way to catch up. His experiences with the Muish told him that they were passionate and curious people with spirit. If Mu is really the second superpower and a worthy rival to the Holy Empire, they will find a way. If they have greed, that is.

But what he didn’t realize is that Meteos had subconsciously overestimated Mu’s capabilities.

Hmm… decisions… decisions…

Meteos shook his head, deciding to let such far-fetched thoughts slide for now and focused on the task at hand. Finally, they came to the last item presented today.

[GP-115]

The star of this session, also claimed to be inspired by the Parpaldian land dragons. The GP-115 is the design concept of a heavily armored combat vehicle incorporating the designs GP-112, GP-113, and GP-114 in it, armed with a cannon mounted on a rotating turret as its main armament. That’s right, this is the design concept of a sensha, or stridsvogn. Ravernal’s armored golems may be still out of reach, but mankind doesn’t necessarily have to follow every single one of the Light-Winged Devil’s steps in order to gain power.

Roderick and Meteora, Meteos’ parents, called this drawing an ‘iron mastodon,’ while Meteos, who was rather fond of this design, gave the GP-115 a codename, “Imperializer.” Despite the boy claimed to be inspired by the Parpaldian land dragon, which was the megafauna used in a way similar to tanks in this world’s contemporary era, when it comes to using heavy animals for combat, what the Milishian people relate more is actually proboscideans, enormous creatures with tusks and long, muscular trunks.

During the Warring Kingdoms Period some 3.000 years ago, contenders to the unification of Middle Lands used them in their armies, which was featured in modern Milishian history books.

The Kingdom of Caelus tamed the big, but short-legged ‘mastodons’ that live in the plains near their territory as a force multiplier, adding to their already powerful magic guns and cannons to finally overwhelm all invaders and unite the fractured land into one, making them the direct predecessor of the modern Holy Milishial Empire.

To the south, the ancient dark elven kingdom called Vallarge marched into battlefields riding their ‘rubaws’, creatures smaller than mastodons with four tusks that shaped like shovels.

And the most formidable of them all is the four-tusked ‘mumak’ (plural ‘mumakil’) whose habitat is near the eastern coast. Living close to a high concentration of magic stone deposits caused the mumakil to evolve into hulking behemoths twice as large as a mastodon with thick skin that was resistant to arrows. Their presence on the battlefield was feared by other kingdoms of that era because not only they were covered by additional iron armor, the tower mounted on their backs were manned by powerful mages, making each of these mumakil an army of one.

However, despite the power and awe that these creatures inspired, mumak’s reputation was a bit tarnished in the history books and academic circles due to their association with the ancient Kingdom of Rusalka, a massive Ravernal-worshipping cult led by a heretic king.

Their important role in the Warring Kingdoms Period is what inspired Meteos to call the GP-115 “Imperializer,” meaning ‘the instruments that make an empire.’ It is the proboscidean cavalry of the modern era. However, that’s still up to the higher-ups to decide.

Anyway, after this session ended, Walman thought that not even the military officers would be so aggressive in their inquiries. He might be exaggerating, but it might be a miracle that he and Meteos can survive the session. And after returning to the apartment, the accumulated exhaustion caused the brunette to make a perfect impression of a log.

…………

20:13

MOASEC Apartment Complex

“…So, you’re heading back to work.”

To Meteos’ pointed statement, Robin answered with a sheepish smile as she rubbed the back of her head.

“Ahaha… well, there’s no shortage of chores for someone of my position…”

‘Both in Alpha Edge Project and as a secret department agent, yes. That’s for sure.’

The boy smiled and nodded in understanding, “I see. I wish you could rest some more, though.”

Robin chortled at this, “Hey, hey, hey! Look who’s talking!” But her expression quickly softened as she spoke, “The same goes with you, though. You two have worked especially hard today.”

The two shared a quiet laugh for a moment before Robin bid her student goodbye and left the apartment on her scooter. Now that the sideshow is over, Meteos hoped that this day will be productive even if it’s only one. Judging from the personnel who attended the presentation today and Robin’s call to work. The secret department must have convened to discuss the GP designs before passing them to the government.

“Huh, speaking of secret agents… now that it had occurred to me, I wonder what would be Robin’s codename be?”

Currently Publicly Available Information

MONSTERS OF THE WARRING KINGDOMS PERIOD

During the tumultuous Warring Kingdoms Period (2186-1400 BCC) the three prominent factions in the later period were known to train members of the proboscidean order for combat. Generally, they were used to charge the enemy, break their ranks, and instill terror and fear. The binomial name of these creatures was given by the Holy Milishial Empire’s Astra ed Luminem Institute of Biological Research.

The smallest of the three, rubaw (Gomphotherium meritum), was used by the Kingdom of Vallarge which occupied the southern Middle Lands. It had four tusks, two on the upper jaw and two on the elongated lower jaw. The lower tusks are parallel and shaped like a shovel and were used for digging up food from mud. An adult rubaw can measure 2,5 meters tall and weigh 4,5 tons.

The modern word for this species, ‘rubaw,’ came from the Vallargian word “ꜣbw” which can mean any animal with tusks and trunks. Vallarge deployed rubaws extensively during their expansion period, but had a hard time using them in expanding northwest due to the rubaws’ inability to swim deep rivers.

Mastodon (Mammut milishianum) lives in the plains in the northwestern Milishial, close to the modern-day location of the capital city, Runepolis. Its name means ‘breast-tooth.’ A mastodon has a robust body, but with rather short legs. The average male mastodon can grow up to 3 meters tall and 11 tons in weight.

Used by the Kingdom of Caelus in their unification campaigns, the mastodon itself would normally be armed with thin plate armor and would bear a large crenelated wooden carriage on its back, occupied by a group of proto-gunmen wielding handheld magic air guns. During the late campaigns of the Middle Lands unification, the Caelian army experimented by mounting a large version of the magic air gun on a mastodon to use it as an ancient mobile artillery to try to outrange the Rusalkan army.

The largest of the three, mumak (Stegotetrabelodon gigalomania), originated from Area B7R, an area rich in magic stone deposits on the southeastern coast of the Holy Milishial Empire (modern-day Cassandane Province) and was tamed by the Kingdom of Rusalka when they conquered the region. Due to living in a magic-rich area, the mumakil developed a gigantic physique reaching 6 meters tall and 20 tons in weight, or around twice the size of a mastodon. It has four tusks, with longer and curved upper tusks and shorter lower tusks.

Due to the Kingdom of Rusalka’s method of training, the mumakil were known as blood-lusted monsters. In addition, due to their size, the Rusalkan army is able to erect war towers on their backs to place combat mages and archers.