It was the autumn of my first year.

Unfortunately, long-term leave of elementary school only lasted half a year, and was only available to those who were in their fourth year onwards.

For this reason, there were no long-term holidays for freshmen.

However, since classes were easy, I wasnt troubled.

In fact, we were just watching a large holographic video for todays lesson.

The three-dimensional image showcased the humanoid figure of mobile knights.

Robots donned in full-body western-styled armour were were doing battle.

They look powerful and interesting, but their movements are too slow.

The first years in the auditorium were cheering, but I didnt find it amusing at all.

Unfortunately, sitting beside me was my first underling Wallace, who had just lost a bet with an upperclassman and was currently holding his head.

I LOST EVERYTHING!!!

This guy was an idiot.

By the way, Ive been giving him an allowance every month.

It couldnt be helped because I was his patron.

I didnt really mind too much because it was a small amount, but I wasnt pleased with his use of it.

You sure are stupid, Wallace. This is because you only bet on the big and unexpected upsets.

Kurt was laughing.

He was a smart guy who didnt aim for the big wins.

I just wanted the reverse my losses with one bet. If I won even once, Id break even.

So you bet everything that you had?

Dont say it out loud! Ahh all of my savings are gone

My underling directed his gaze my way, but I didnt have any reason to give him more money to spend.

As I ignored him, Kurt spoke up while the next match started,

There are a lot of personal mobile knights participating.

Starting from their third year, students were allowed to participate in mobile knight tournaments.

Most of them participated with training machines rented from the schools, but particularly rich individuals could bring in their custom mobile knight.

Wallace furrowed his brow as he looked at the people who used their own personal aircrafts.

Its disgusting to overwhelm others by abusing the difference in performance. Not many can afford a custom mobile knight, not even I have one.

Even though he used to be a prince, apparently the only mobile knights hes ever piloted were the training models.

so its possible to participate with your own custom machine?

Looking at these boring matches, I thought itd be fun if I could trample these guys using Avid it was an idea that I believed that could make this mundane school life a little more interesting.

The match was over.

The winner seemed to be a baron from the frontier named Derrick.

Apparently the children of a Count house were also participating, but it looks like he was a follower of meritocracy and disregarded status during battle.

But that was convenient for me.

With an overwhelming difference in strength, itd be nice to see such a powerful individual bend the knee.

Even so, despite winning, Derrick didnt look very strong.

Well, this was probably the most you could get out of elementary school anyway.

I activated my terminal and started a call that projected an image into the air.

the person I had called was Nias.

Her eyes opened wide as she listened to my request.

Lord Liam, are you serious?

Naturally. Is Avid still undergoing maintenance?

Maintenance is over and Avids been transported to storage. However, your request to strengthen it is unreasonable. In the first place, it would be extremely difficult to accomplish. Itd be harder than completely rebuilding it from scratch.

Do it anyways, Ill pay you.

Nias was a really annoying person who cried for me to buy battleships everytime we met, but she still refused my proposal.

This isnt a money issue. No matter how much you give us, no more renovations are possible. We need an exorbitant amount of rare metals and materials in order to do so.

Rare metals like orihalcum?

They were staple materials in a fantasy universe.

However, they were scarce and difficult to secure.

I heard that even if it was inefficient, itd still be possible to collect them if I put out the money.

Orihalcum, adamantium, mythril all of it is necessary. In addition to that, an elite staff team would be needed. This would be a long-term investment, in total itd cost more than buying a small fleet.

In the first place, youd have to spend an exorbitant amount just to process the rare metals.

Itd be much more efficient to buy a fleet considering the amount of materials, money, and human resources required.

But this was a mans romance that was more important than efficiency.

I have the money, so Ill prepare everything.

Thats still an unreasonable request. Before that, why are you so particular about Avid? Why dont you just buy a new model instead?

I dont want to because I like Avid. The mainstream aircrafts of today are too fragile and I dont feel safe using them.

If I were to compare my request to my previous life, itd be like demanding someone to renovate a classic car to have the same performance of a new one.

Itd be like telling that person to install a new navigation system and convert it into an electric, all while adding a variety of new functions of course theyd ridicule such a request.

If thats how it was going to be, itd be way easier just to buy a new car.

But this was a matter of taste.

I wasnt going to compromise on this.

Ill send you a list, so please contact us once you gather the necessary materials and budget. Also, you need to prepare a test pilot.

A test pilot?

Yes, someone that has skills equivalent to yourself no, someone who could at least pilot Avid. If you can clear all these conditions, then well accept the responsibility of Avids renovation.

She was taking an attitude that said, because thats impossible, just buy a new model already.

This girl, did she seriously forget all the times that Ive left her crying pathetically?

But thats okay, if thats how she was going to be, then I was going to take this seriously.

you promise, right?

Of course. Please contact us once youre ready. Well, Id prefer it if you just gave up and bought the newer models and battleships instead though.

I disconnected and immediately called home.

Amagi was displayed on the projection.

Just that sight alone made me feel like I was going to have a great day today.

What is it, Master?

Amagi, gather everything on this list as soon as possible. Any rare metals we cant gather can be supplied using that. Once collected, send it all to the Seventh Weapons Factory.

When Amagi checked the list, we were missing a few materials.

But they were all things we could obtain with money.

Are you sure about this?

Of course. Once I return to the territory, I can always prepare more.

if theyre just renovating Avid, then the amount of materials listed here is abnormal.

Is Nias really picking a fight with me? Well, send it anyways so that she wont be able to make excuses. Im looking forward to hearing what kind of face she makes.

Understood.

Also, send Marie to the Seventh Weapons Factory.

She was a knight I saved during my rampage in Baron Exners territory.

Ive been told that shes somewhat useful.

You mean [Marie Sera Marian]?

Has she been discharged from the hospital yet?

A few months later.

Nias was trembling as she stood in front of an enormous pile of materials delivered to the Seventh Weapons Factory.

no way. He really gathered them.

A woman with straight silver hair that had a purple tint to it was standing behind the pile of rare metals delivered from the Banfield house.

Her uniform was purple, but the arm guards and heels she wore were black.

There was a sharp and strong glint to her purple eyes.

She had clear white skin, and wore fresh purple lipstick.

Her body was slender, and she had a well-shaped chest.

Hanging from her waist were two sword handles that had extendable blades.

She was one of Liams knight candidates [Marie Sera Marian].

Marie Marian, reporting in as the test pilot for the renovated Avid. Im looking forward to working with you, Technology Captain.

Huh? N-no, thats

In front of the confused Nias, Marie had placed her hands on her cheeks and started to squirm shyly.

This is the first mission Lord Liam has appointed me to accomplish. Ill do anything to make sure this is a success.

The tall and cool woman was acting like a young maiden.

(Or rather who are you?)

Nias has been in and out of Liams mansion many times, but she had never seen a knight like Marie before.

Thats when the craftsman behind Nias spoke up.

He was a very old and strong craftsman.

Marie? Marie Marian? I remember hearing that name somewhere before

But he couldnt remember.

Nias didnt really think Liam would actually clear her conditions.

Then there was Marie.

Nias was suspicious if she could actually control Avid.

She was too slim and beautiful to be a knight.

She looked more like a model or an actress.

Hey, can you really control an unassisted aircraft? There arent many people in modern times that can control mobile knights without auto-assist, you know?

Marie smiled when she heard that,

In my time, the knights who needed the auto-assist functions were half-assed. I understand that Avid is a difficult aircraft to pilot, but you dont need to worry. I never used those functions in the first place.

She was so ecstatic that her cheeks flushed while saying, Lord Liam is leaving his personal machine in my care Ive never been so happy.

(What the hell is with this person?)

Nias couldnt help but think that there were many strange people among Liams knights.

However, standing in front of the prepared materials, the soul of the developer inside her had been ignited.

(Even though I cant really use these wonderful materials in luxury, with this much I can play around with things Ive never been able to before, I can get a lot of good data.)

She realised that she was unconsciously drooling, and wiped her mouth.

Lets get started right away.

Nias, faithful to her desires, began to strengthen and renovate Avid.

The story of Marie becoming one of Liams knight candidates began with the elimination of the pirates in Baron Exners territory.

Marie was involved with the rebellion in the Empire that occurred two millennia ago and was petrified.

After that, she just waited.

Changing through the hands of many owners, her body was slowly destroyed, her living consciousness had fallen into despair as she could only wait bit by bit as she fell apart.

Marie, this is your punishmentor so the Emperor had told her.

(Anyone is fine, just kill me already. I dont want to slowly decay like this!)

And so Marie was currently in the possession of pirates and was used as an ornamental decoration.

Before she had become a stone statue, Marie had built quite the reputation.

Maire Sera Marian she was a legendary imperial knight who foolishly rebelled against the Emperor.

But in truth, she never had any intention of rebelling at all.

She never considered such a thing.

However, the Emperor at the time was suspicious demon, and in his paranoia had Marie petrified.

They had used magic to keep her consciousness awake, and sold her as a beautiful stone statue.

The pirates had lost, but her days of misery had no end in sight.

Soldiers had entered the room.

Marie thought,

(Once again my owner will change. I wish I could be destroyed already, without leaving even a single piece of dust behind)

But the soldiers started shouting,

Hey, over here!

Its just some stone statues.

wait, seriously? T-this room really is filled to the brim with statues!

The pirate who owned Marie was a man who liked stone statues created from petrifying actual people.

He was a man who had the horrible hobby of petrifying beautiful people, storing them all in the room that Marie was being used as a decoration.

The soldiers called more people over and had the statues carefully carried out.

Thats when she met Liam.

All of these were originally human?

He was talking to a doctor in front of her.

Yes, theyve been petrified. Whether it was by drugs, magic, curses, or one of various other methods, theyve definitely been petrified.

He turned to Marie,

The treatment requires an elixir.

Elixir, if they didnt use the all-purpose magic medicine, itd be impossible to cure her.

In other words, he was pretty much saying itd be impossible to save her.

Both in the past and present, elixirs were valuable and rare.

(Because its impossible, just end it already.)

Maries wish was to be shattered by Liam.

Understood, send them back to my territory and have them treated.

Then Liam left.

Marie couldnt understand what he was saying.

However, a short while after, her petrification was dissolved, and regenerative treatment to restore the limbs that were crushed and destroyed was performed.

After a few years of rehabilitation, she was fully cured Marie swore from then on shed become one of Liams knights.

The Imperial Capital.

Tia, who was currently working as an official, was reviewing Maries data from the palaces records.

Although it was a top secret document, she had obtained it in order to confirm her identity.

Marie Sera Marian an imperial knight from nearly two millenia ago.

Maries records were erased.

However, there were still a few records that remained in the older documents.

Marie, who was petrified because of the Emperors paranoia, was actually one of the best knights in the Empire at the time.

Her achievements were tremendous, eventually earning her the title of one of the legendary three knights, who at the time had greatly contributed to the Empire.

It looked like she was very capable.

But Tias brows started to furrow the more she read,

A relic from the past is trying to snuggle up to Lord Liam

Marie, who was planning to become Liams knight, was immediately given work from him because of her original ability.

Her first job was to be the test pilot for Avid, Liams personal machine.

For Tia, Marie was her enemy.

And Marie felt the same way about Tia.

The reason was because Marie was aiming to become Liams head knight.

its okay. Ill make sure to let her know whos suitable to be Lord Liams head knight.

Tia closed Maries file.