"Professor, the time has come."

"Uh, huh..."

Harley Hendrickson, distinguished leader of the Ground System Development Facility, maintained an air of stoic composure as he received the strange opening from the enigmatic masked figure seated across from him in their mysterious, liminal abode. The surroundings were a perplexing amalgamation of an office space and an ominous underworld, complete with ghoulish yellow wallpaper and eerie magic lighting. Though the lack of windows made it impossible to discern their exact location within the Holy Empire, Harley was no stranger to this clandestine haunt, having been visited, or rather being told to come to a random location and spirited away here on previous occasions. With each visit, he noted a subtle metamorphosis in the space's strange layout, yet he remained calm and prepared for whatever revelation the masked individual would offer next.

"Is this related to my department?" the muscular dwarf asked, lightly stroking his beard.

"Correct. Securely stored inside this chest are materials that can bring your Ground Facility to glory," the masked individual triumphantly declared, gesturing to a large chest that was already there before the only two men(?) in this room even arrived, idly sitting without care on the table's side.

"Oho? Is that so?"

"Seeing is believing, so go ahead and open it."

Harley grunted and rolled his eyes. Despite the seemingly endless variety of masks and their wearers, all these secret department agents seemed to be too fond of their theatrics. As a member of the dwarven race, said to be known for being direct, he found these performative displays to be increasingly tiresome. Such grandiose antics seemed better suited to the fanciful sensibilities of elves, or at least the stereotype of them as one might heard in those Outside Civilization Countries.

Nevertheless, Harley reached out and opened the lid to reveal its contents. When he realized what were those from its familiar color, he gave them a long stare, picked one up, and then turned back to the masked figure.

"This is..."

"Yes, Professor Hendrickson. Execute these plans well, and you will find the renown that you and your men has long seeking! I can promise you this with utmost certainty."

After taking a moment to process the revelation, Harley slowly nodded. His lips quirked into a faint smirk before he gave the masked figure a hearty laugh.

"Hohoho... I'm certainly not complaining! Tell me more about it."

It was late in February. While other R&D groups within the Ancient Ministry were enjoying a surge of innovation and progress, Harley's department seemed to be mired in a period of stagnation. Despite their best efforts, the Ground System Development Facility had failed to make significant headway on any major projects, leaving them to tinker with smaller undertakings in a desperate attempt to stave off idleness. All the while, they still anticipated the arrival of the artifacts freshly excavated from the depths of the Ancient Sorcerous Empire's ruins, but they never came.

That's why the revelation on this day was like a plot device that can finally advance their story forward. Harley couldn't help but smile as he engaged in a spirited discussion with the masked figure, who represented the shadowy forces that maneuvered behind the stage. Together, they carefully laid out the intricate details of their plans, leaving no stone unturned in their quest for success as a tribute to the original designer's ingenuity, for thanks to him, they would soon become a power to be reckoned with even more.

The dwarf, feeling that getting left behind is unbearable, was thus prompted by his own competitive spirit to play his part as soon as he was dropped off in a random clearing near the MOASEC headquarters. The moment the sun rises, Harley already proceeded to devise a plan using the materials provided, and in a similar fashion as the Alpha Edge Project, it led to the formation of the Light Weapons Development Group, combining the strength of the Holy Empire's small arms manufacturers under the leadership of the MOASEC's Ground System Development Facility.

March 3, 1615 Central Calendar

Runepolis Magic Academy Alchemy Department, Processing Plant 1

Just like how the RMA's Shipbuilding Department possesses a dockyard, the Alchemy Department maintains two processing plants as one of the many facilities affiliated with the prestigious RMA committed to the advancement of the country's magical technology. The larger of the two, the Processing Plant 1 (PROPEL-1), is located to the south of the Runepolis metropolitan area in the Caelus Province. Encompassing an expanse akin to that of a city block, it houses a plethora of facilities essential to its purpose, as well as laboratories, offices, library, and even recreational facilities as part of its supplementary amenities. Renowned for its unrivaled track record in producing excellent results, the PROPEL-1 was handpicked by the Holy Milishial Empire's government to engage in a collaborative endeavor with the MOASEC. Specifically, producing the crucial materials necessary for building the prototype Heavenly Vessel which was touted as a next-generation masterpiece fighter crafted under the auspices of the Alpha Edge Project.

"I still think it is hard to believe for this facility to receive NMC-22s in large quantities, let alone processing them into materials for an extremely important project. It's just too absurd," a mage who headed this facility remarked in the control room as he monitored the facility's operation.

Shara, an elf from the main RMA Alchemy Department laboratory assigned there after the commencement of the project, chuckled at those words.

"It is absurd, indeed. But we are making good progress. The absence of magical properties in the NMC-22 turns out makes it easier for us to process it from the ore to its pure form in the elemental separator. We can also save money because we don't need catalysts and additional processes! As long as the supply from the mines continue to flow consistently, we will comfortable able to fulfill the Ancient Ministry's demand, am I right?" he said, making the chief nod with a sigh.

"Well, maybe you're right. It's absurd, but not necessarily in a bad way, I guess."

As they speak, the facility has continued to process the NMC-22 into a new type of alloy as per the MOASEC's instructions. This undertaking gained momentum with the influx of substantial shipments of golden red stones, *1 rusalkites, *2 and other minerals containing NMC-22 since last year. Prior to this, the Holy Empire had limited its processing of this material to modest quantities in smaller plants for research purposes. Shara's assignment to the PROPEL-1 was multifaceted. Not only did he conduct inspections, ensure stringent quality control measures, and made reports to the RMA, but he also sought to disseminate the RMA's research findings concerning the properties of NMC-22 and the properties of the alloy produced from the process. The MOASEC's request had impelled them to undertake these endeavors on a grander scale, and at least for the duration of the Alpha Edge Project, they will treat this as part of their research activities on this material.

The elemental separator mentioned by Shara earlier is an advanced magical technology currently owned solely by the Holy Milishial Empire. Taking the form resembling a furnace, it consists of a central core encased in a metallic frame, with numerous pipes, valves, and chambers branching out from it. While the dimensions can vary, the version housed within the PROPEL-1 occupies an entire building.

At the heart of the elemental separator is the core chamber housing an array of magic circuits inscribed on special conductive materials to facilitate the flow of mana throughout the machine. It is fed with the minerals through conveyor belts that deliver the ore into the initial pre-processing chamber, where it undergoes an initial treatment to break down larger rocks to achieve the desired particle size and remove excess impurities. Once the ore is adequately prepared, it is transported through a network of elemental separation chambers dedicated to separating a specific impurity from the ore. Usually, various catalysts will be introduced to the chambers to induce chemical reactions to aid the meticulous process of separating magic-conductive impurities from a magic-conductive ore. However, since the NMC-22 is a non-magic-conductive material by nature and thus will not react to the magic circuit's spells, the operators happily skipped this process knowing that they won't have to waste money on those expensive catalysts. While the separated impurities are guided out of the machine through valves and pipes, the purified NMC-22 concentrate continues through the system to undergone additional purification process to further enhance the purity before eventually reaches a final collection chamber.

Usually, the next process is the elemental enrichment, in which the materials coming from the elemental separator enters a chamber filled with catalysts to target the remaining impurities in order to further purify the substance and increase its content. But the elemental separator did its job in producing purified NMC-22 better than expected, so the operators also skipped this process and proceeded to the alloying and casting it into desired shapes. The resulting alloy, tailored to meet the MOASEC's Alpha Edge Project specifications, is just referred to as the Grade AE alloy by the PROPEL-1 workers.

They did not know that this easier and cheaper production process than usual placed them above certain otherworldly interlopers in terms of extracting the purified form of this material directly from its base mineral. This is a fact that they will never know in the original timeline until it was too late.

Contrary to conventional expectations, the unconventional material in question proved to be the long-awaited solution to the MOASEC's persistent obstacle in developing a high-performance aircraft engine. With astounding swiftness, within a span of approximately two weeks from now, the Holy Empire's first magic turbojet engine, the AM-J-01, will undergo testing within the Aerial System Development Facility. Whispers and speculations also about within the inner circles of the MOASEC that the NMC-22-based alloy, with its remarkable properties, is being contemplated as a prospective substitute for the materials that were originally utilized in the excavated engines of the Ancient Sorcerous Empire. This revelation underscores the profound impact of this innovation and its potential to reshape not only the immediate realm of aviation but also the realms of ancient relics and magic technology.

The gears have started to turn even more.

As Shara beheld the sights unfolding before him, a rush of memories flooded his mind, evoking recollections of a certain young boy who had once graced his laboratory with his peculiar request. Contemplating his tender age and witnessing the remarkable advancements and innovative avenues of research that had flourished in his wake, Shara experienced an overwhelming sensation akin to watching a mountain sprouting legs and walking away. This realization evoked a whirlwind of emotions within his being. At one moment, an effervescent sense of anticipation bubbled within him, envisioning the limitless possibilities that the future held in store. However, in the next instant, a poignant pang of regret enveloped him, acknowledging the missed opportunity to engage in research endeavors alongside the enigmatic boy. It was an absurd notion, as the chief had aptly described, yet not necessarily negative in its implications.

"Well... I don't think it's that absurd. A Heavenly Vessel don't need active magical reinforcements unlike magic ships, so if they discovered NMC-22 to be a perfect material for their project, then I think it's good for them."

"But man..." the chief replied. "The Ancient Ministry's request is so troublesome. The moment their notification comes in, we scrambled to replace the circuits in the separator chambers. They're lucky we also process iron clays *3, otherwise I'm going to punch their rep in the face if they ever show up here."

"Now, now, don't be so grumpy. That means you don't have to change too much of the circuits, right? Besides, I heard you still made a lot of fortune from selling those irons," Shara said with a smile, eliciting a wry laugh from the chief as he mentioned one of the businesses undertaken by the PROPEL-1.

They then looked back beyond the control room's window where the minerals continue to flow into the elemental separator. After a brief silence, Shara opened his mouth again.

"You know, chief. I think there might be a solution to that problem."

"Huh? Really?" the chief raised an eyebrow.

"Mm-hmm. I heard from the professors back at the capital that the Aikon Corporation is starting to introduce the Second-Generation Manadrivers—ah, that device that allows you to done away with troublesome incantations and throw magic spells as easy as breathing."

"Oh, that thing? Where in the world did you see it can help material processing?"

The chief looked skeptical.

"Sheesh, chief, let me finish! I heard that because of its inbuilt computer, just by inserting spell components for three simple spells, you can order a fist-sized Manadriver to be able to conjure tens of thousands of different magic effects! Now imagine a Manadriver the size of a separator array... connected to this central control room... where you can adjust them depending on your needs..."

Hearing Shara's assertion, the chief's eyes lit up as he thought about it.

"Ooh... OOOOHHH! I see! That would certainly make things more convenient when it comes to the capability to adjust to different materials... but isn't a computer system like that quite pricey? Are you sure it will be worth it in the long run?"

"Um... well... I think I will bring this to a discussion when I get back first. But I plan to do it! I will make a proposal and show them its potential! Just you wait!" Shara exclaimed enthusiastically.

"Whoa... c-calm down..." the chief was taken aback by Shara's outburst.

For Shara himself, he was unsure why he felt this way. However, ever since that boy visited his laboratory and then proceeded to left him in the dust, Shara decided that he has to make an effort. He has to do something!

It's as if he owes a debt for that silver-haired youth. And so, he made up his mind—he must act. If a mere fourteen-years old can accomplish such an extraordinary feat, then where there is determination, a path shall surely be forged—he too is capable of achieving the same. To fall short of such a pursuit would be undeniably disgraceful.

Several days later on March 8, Shara took advantage of the Sunday to return to Runepolis and reported his proposal to his higher-ups. Armed with the idea and conviction, Shara in the end managed to convince them to grant their approval and bestow the greenlight upon the proposal. The PROPEL-2 was designated as the test site while the Aikon Corporation, a company that just happened to be aggressively pushing the boundaries of their technological prowess, was chosen as the manufacturer tasked with bringing this visionary system to fruition.

There is also the Aikon Corporation's desire to promote the widespread use of the Manadriver technology. As the Ancient Sorcerous Empire never needed a magic spell assistant due to their innate mastery, the emergence of the Manadriver held a special place within the Aikon Corporation's President Victor Legendorga's heart as the truly original technology of this country and not a result of copying.

This experiment to integrate the elemental separator machine with the Manadriver technology will be met with a resounding success, compelling other companies within the field to follow suit to try to integrate the Manadrivers into their own manufacturing machines. The RMA and its affiliated institutions, as well as the Aikon Corporation, also seized on this opportunity to further improve their magical machines and incorporate new technology to further elevate their capabilities. And Shara will be credited as the esteemed innovator of this system. But will he prove to be one to be contented with this achievement, or not, only time will tell.

March 10, 1615 Central Calendar, 01:00

Arsenal de la Dorada, Valiante Province, Holy Milishial Empire

The naval shipyard, nestled near the Valiante Province's capital city of Cielo Dorado in the southwestern part of the Holy Milishial Empire, reverberated with a symphony of progress on that early spring night. Illuminated by artificial lights, punctuated with the resonating clank of metal, and resonating with the fervent shouts of diligent workers, the shipbuilding yard resonated with the spirit of advancement. While this facility was typically dedicated to the construction and repair of the Imperial Navy's warships, what was laid down at one of its slipways that night wasn't a magic battleship or other smaller ships, but something altogether different.

Standing at the edge of the shipyard, Commander Armando Olteca watched with keen interest as the construction crew worked newly laid keel. Beside him stood Gormes, a technical officer who came from the capital city. This young man was the visionary behind this venture, having riding the wake generated by the triumph of magic torpedoes, and now presented a new method of striking the enemy where they least expected it.

"A vessel capable of diving into the ocean... an undersea boat, huh. I don't think ever seeing anything like it," Olteca said.

"Yes, Commander. This is the culmination of the study we conducted after witnessing the performance of those magic torpedoes. The high command seems to be very interested with the idea of a ship that can move underwater and hit an enemy with torpedoes from its blind spot undetected and authorized us the project to construct this 'U-boat.'"

A smile tugged at the corners of Olteca's lips. "Heh, that's the Navy for you. Bold as usual. But I have to admit, looking at the technical details you gave me, I think I can understand why the higher-ups are so eager to see the U-boat added to their disposal. It's really a technological marvel."

Gormes nodded in agreement. "Indeed. One of the reasons they cited is the considerable advantage the U-boat will bring in a hypothetical war with our rivals, especially Mu who possess metal ships. There is also the aspect of advancing technological development."

"Ah... anything to escape the boredom of stagnation, I suppose."

The advent of the U-boat not only introduced a groundbreaking concept but also fostered novel ideas that the Navy perceived as the path to naval technology's future, if not its strategy. In truth, the Navy's interest seemed to extend beyond the U-boat itself, encompassing the potential innovations that could emerge from its introduction, such as the notion of detecting objects underwater by sound. The magnitude of their investment spoke volumes; the Navy perceived this endeavor as an absolute win.

"By the way, Gormes," Olteca called out. "Do you think that the Ancient Sorcerous Empire possesses a weapon similar to this U-boat?"

"About that, sir... we still uncertain. Among the relics unearthed thus far, there is nothing looked like it. Assuming that they have same idea of attacking enemy from underwater, there is a possibility that the Ancient Sorcerous Empire might develop their own distinct form of technology and methodology, different from the U-boat."

"There's also the possibility that we don't find enough relics to know about that. Come to think of it, I hear that the Ancient Sorcerous Empire can use monsters, what's to say that they might have use some sea monsters to do their dirty work underwater?"

"Yes. We simply can't dismiss that possibility entirely. Assuming that the Ancient Sorcerous Empire really possess them, then wouldn't it make fighting underwater something that we should learn and master as well?"

"Indeed."

As the construction workers continued to play their part in the genesis of the Holy Milishial Empire's first submersible military vehicle, the U-boat, Olteca and Gormes continued their deliberations, exploring a myriad of subjects with unyielding dedication.

March 12, 1615 Central Calendar

MOASEC Aerial System Development Facility, San Redentore District, Runepolis

The hangar serving as the test site was filled with an air of excitement and anticipation. Under the bright magic lights, the engineers scurried around, making final adjustments to the metallic cylinder placed on a mount known as the AM-J-01 magic turbojet engine. The atmosphere was charged with energy as the engine section crew members prepared for this very moment. Also present is Professor Robin Calvello and her two apprentices, as well as the head of the Aerial System Development Facility himself, Marco Rossi. The studious-looking gentleman was speaking with the engine section's leader Emilia Giovanna during the preparation process.

"Woooh! Here we go, boys! The moment of truth!" Robin exclaimed to her two apprentices, excitement clearly plastered on her face.

"I'll be lying if I don't anticipate this," Meteos replied, smiling.

"But this is not like Meteos' miniature magic turbojet... I hope everything goes well," Walman said with a hint of concern.

"Yeah... let's pray for their success."

Not only them, but several engineers can also be seen forming huddles and praying to their respective patron deities. Meteos decided to point this out to his anxious friend.

"Look, Walman. Different people are praying to different gods and goddesses for our success. With so many deities behind our backs, how can we afford to fail?"

Walman was speechless after hearing his words. He never thought that way, especially in the context of the 'unity in diversity' concept that he was being taught since elementary school. Realizing this, he struggled to hold back a laugh as he replied to his friend.

"......Damn... Y-you're right! Looks like I owe you one this time."

"Ah, no sweat, friend."

Robin smiled, but a voice she didn't hear for a long time intruded on this wholesome moment.

"Yo! Robin, is that you? Long time no see, eh?"

When she turned to look in that direction, the visage of a male in his twenties came into view. He sported an unbuttoned white collared top over a white undershirt, accompanied by white trousers and even white shoes. The only deviations from this monochrome ensemble were his skin color and his haphazardly-slicked back medium-length black hair, with a few strands hanging over his hazel eyes. Approaching the bespectacled professor with a mischievous grin, his wide smile revealed a set of sharp teeth.

Impeccably clean teeth, mind you.

"You..." Robin deadpanned.

"Yeah, me!" the man chirped.

"What brings you here?"

The man shrugged playfully before answering. "Well... the big shots are too busy to attend, so the Director orders the Chief, who in turn orders me to come here to observe this test of yours."

"Oh...? Not here to reunite with an old acquaintance, I suppose?" Robin sarcastically retorted.

"If you'd like, we can do that too," he responded with a smirk.

"Heh."

As the two locked eyes, seemingly on the verge of tension, Robin's apprentices noticed the newcomer and turned their attention to them.

"Teacher, who is this?" Meteos inquired.

But before Robin could answer, the man jumped in front of them and exclaimed, startling Walman.

"Oh! These two must be your apprentices! Right, Robin? Gorogijisogi. Hey, what are your names?"

"Hey, can you not...!" Robin started to get irritated at the man, but he immediately put his hand up to stop her.

"My bad, my bad, I was getting too excited."

"Tch!" Robin clicked her tongue before proceeded to properly do the introduction. "Yes. These two are my apprentices. Meteos Roguerider..."

"Hello."

"... and Walman Falkenhausen."

"Uh, hi."

"And you two, this is my... old acquaintance..." Robin resisted an urge to pinch the bridge of her nose. "Go-Daguva-Zeba..."

"Just call me Daguva, kids," the man helpfully provided additional information.

'Oh, that name, Robin's reaction, and that language just now, an Uqbarese, huh. There must be some history between these two,' mused Meteos.

This fellow could very well be someone Robin encountered during her previous assignment in Uqbar, assuming she truly is Agent Flamberge. How did Meteos arrive at this conclusion? It was based on Daguva's name. While anyone could be a Sheban, someone with a name like his is likely from Uqbar.

Within the Sheban cultural group exists a tribe now known simply as the 'Uqbarese people,' who adhere to a unique three-part naming scheme. The first part of their names historically denoted their rank within the tribe's hierarchy. However, over time, the tribe's practices—which apparently involved a 'game' of killing the members of other tribes for fun—underwent significant changes in the centuries after the Unification of Middle Lands. Consequently, most of the tribe's traditions faded away, and their naming convention was altered under the ruling authority. It is believed that the name "Go" stems from an ancient warrior class. The second part of the name represents their personal name, while the third part signifies the clan to which they belong. In Daguva's case, his name ends with "Zeba," a clan (used to indicate 'tribe' in the Holy Milishial Empire's trinomial nomenclature system for beastmen) consisting of stag beetle demi-humans native to that region.

Drawing from this information, Meteos can reasonably infer that Daguva is a beastman with the Therianthropus lucanus zeba trinomen.

Yes. Despite not looking like an insect and his sharp teeth may lead you to think otherwise, Daguva is actually an insect demi-human.

"Hmm... very well," Meteos spoke, striving to maintain cordiality. "Speaking of which, Mister Daguva... to which section you belonged? You don't seem to be working around here."

"I usually run errands for the Chief—Andreas Birkburn, I mean, outside the town. He recently told me to come here, so yeah."

"I see."

While the four of them engaged in light talk like that, Emilia was being spoken to by her superior, Rossi. It seemed to have greatly surprised her from the reaction she gave him.

"Eh!? M-me, sir?"

Rossi arched an eyebrow. "Why not? You are the one who leads this team, right? It's just a couple of inspiring words, no big deal."

"No big deal!? With all due respect, sir—"

"Now, now, Miss Giovanna, if this test is a success, you will have to make more speeches like this in the future, so this is a good start now that it's only your close associates who attend this event."

Emilia pouted upon hearing her boss's words, but she knew there wasn't much she could say back to him. Instead, she simply offered him a respectful bow.

"I'll do my best, sir!"

"Excellent. I am counting on you, Miss Giovanna."

Rossi looked at the assembled engineers and gave the signal to go ahead with the test. As the room grew deathly silent, with everyone waiting for the moment, Emilia stepped forward to give an address while trying to calm her nerves. Among the audience, she could see Robin giving her a thumbs-up and a cheeky grin.

"L-ladies and gentlemen, after many days and night of tireless work and dedication, we are finally come to this day, which marks the maiden test of what we call our country's first magic turbojet engine. This is different from his is a great leap forward in our aerial capabilities, and I couldn't be prouder of each and every one of you..." 'How's that? Did I do that right?' "Now, let's move to the observation room and proceed with the testing."

The moment Emilia finished giving her speech, the assemble swiftly moved into position. The engineer manning the control panel operated a lever and announced, "Activating magic barriers."

As a safety precaution, the area between the engine and the observation room was installed with magic circuits that upon activation, it conjures multiple layers of powerful magic barriers to prevent the debris from explosions caused by the engine failure to hit the personnel. The air shimmered with vibrant blue particles before a solid translucent barrier materialized before the watching eyes of the attendees.

"Commencing the first testing run of AM-J-01! Engine, start!"

The deafening sound of the turbojet in operation filled the site as the engine roared to life. The entire team watched, holding their breaths for the moment they had been working hard towards. While Meteos harbored confidence in its success, the other engineers, whose past experiences were haunted by failure after failure, initially dreaded the outcome. Although there were ample materials available to construct a new engine in the event of failure, the tight deadline necessitated a threefold increase in efforts with even less time to spare. The engineers, who nearly forget to eat and sleep, were already on the brink of exhaustion even if they regularly switch shifts with other employees. However, a small part of them was also filled with hope. Whatever their desire would be, from genuine wish to see mankind reach new heights, a sense of duty, a completely materialistic one, or fear of the consequences if they fail to deliver results, all prayed to the gods to let this be a success, even if just this once. It all lead to this moment.

For the team, the triumphant roar of the AM-J-01 was their long-awaited roar of awakening.

Not only did the AM-J-01, constructed with the Grade AE alloy, remain intact and flawlessly execute its run, but its recorded performance also stunned everyone present. It managed to achieve a maximum thrust four times greater than that of the Chant-Powered Light Magic-Compressed Air Engine used in Alpha-1 and Beta-1. However, it fell short of the Alpha Zero engine's true performance, attaining only about 80% of its capability. Although unaware of the latter comparison, the Milishians were rapidly closing the gap, but there was still considerable ground to cover.

"Look! It's alive!"

"Finally!"

"Hell yeah!"

"Those fuckers will never call us losers again!"

Applause erupted throughout the test site, mingled with cheers, excited chatter, and occasional exuberant swearing. Witnessing her work surpassing all expectations, Emilia felt like she is going to faint from all the pressure being lifted off her chest. The other attendees shared a similar feeling of joy, and even Robin could not contain herself as she clapped wildly at the accomplishment.

A proud Rossi turned to Emilia with an extended hand and a smile.

"Congratulations, Miss Giovanna."

Emilia took his outstretched hand in return. "Thank you, sir. But all of this cannot be accomplished without them..."

She trailed off and gazed at the two youngsters who were being teased by their mentor. They looked happy enough with themselves, and as the three made eye contact with them, the two adults smiled as well.

Even though they all basked in the victory at the moment, they all knew that this was just the beginning. The Alpha Edge Project hasn't even taken flight, and the last thing they want to see is that its wings being clipped before it can even take off the ground.

As a side note to everything, it finally came to the Milishians' attention that the NMC-22 is quite a mouthful to pronounce. When the Ministry of Education conducted a naming competition to give it an official name, two contenders arose as the ultimate finalists: "titanium" by the MOASEC and "gracium," advocated by Shara of the Runepolis Magic Academy. Accompanying their proposals were essays explaining the philosophies underlying their chosen names. Ultimately, the discerning judges considered Shara's essay to possess a deeper resonance, thus designating gracium as the official appellation for the NMC-22.

…………

"Gratia, huh?"

As Meteos Roguerider found himself reading the Ministry of Education's verdict, he, the very proposer of the name 'titanium,' allowed a gentle murmur to escape his lips while seated at his working desk. Strangely, a wide smile embellished his face despite the fact that it was supposed to mark his first time to encounter defeat within this second life.

But gratia is a good name. It's an old Caelian—somewhat fitting to come from an elf—which means "grace," "mercy," and "elegance," and the origin of the modern Milishian word of "grace." For Meteos, who entered the competition half-heartedly, he'd rather see "gracium" win rather than his proposal, which he borrowed from what a certain otherworldly nation of Japan call NMC-22.

He already hoped that his proposal would lose from the start.

"My, my. Meteos, you look way too happy for someone who just lost a competition," Robin commented as she leaned on the doorway, holding a mug of hot chocolate. Walman, who silently watched, gave a nod.

"What?" the silverette turned to face her. "Are you expecting me to go sulk in the corner?"

"Uh, no," Robin shrugged. "That would be immature of you."

Meteos chuckled, then inwardly decided that it was time to spout some bullshittery as his countenance turned somber.

"......If a person does not taste defeat every now and then, how will he know how to fight a victorious battle? In this world, there is no such thing as an ever-victorious man. There are only men who do not give up after a defeat, who grow stronger from experience, and who eventually emerge as victors. In a way, failure is a good thing. It teaches us how to succeed... It's the same with being an Ancient Ministry member. If it's not for learning from all your failures, I will not devise all the things you're working for in the whole Alpha Edge Project as good as what we're working now. I was also able to improve upon my GP designs because there's a mountain of your failures for me to step on and make it a success."

"........."

His two friends went silent, seriously ruminating at his words. Then, Walman opened his mouth to speak.

"Hey, uhh... hearing that, I'm suddenly thinking... what if... the Alpha Edge... uhh—"

"No."

Meteos immediately interrupted him, his eyes turning fierce.

"You have failed enough. This time, I will not let it happen."

The two didn't know that the 'you' in his declaration extends to beyond just the Alpha Edge Project.

Currently Publicly Available Information

RUSALKITE

A mineral composed primarily of the oxide of NMC-22 (later known as gracium) and iron oxide, first discovered in the Rusalka Province of the Holy Milishial Empire and commonly found as accesory mineral in metamorphic and igneous rocks. It has a black to dark gray color and a metallic luster when polished. With a hardness of 5 to 6, it is relatively durable.

With the commencement of the Alpha Edge Project, rusalkite becomes an important source of gracium, which is a non-magic-conductible metal but is discovered to have exceptional strength, low density, and excellent corrosion resistance.

Other major deposits of rusalkite includes the Meerky Kingdom and the Altaras Kingdom.