…Hm? Wait a minute, this situation… isn’t it quite dangerous?
Just as I realized this, Mashiro gave a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
“…Oh my? Why does Ouga-kun also smell so much like Alice-san…?”
What followed happened quickly.
My shoulders were grasped even more firmly than before, and the free hand grabbed my belt tightly.
This effectively prevented me from even standing up.
Of course, Alice, who would never abandon me, remained motionless.
…Kukuku. So this is what they call a predicament.
It’s more terrifying than I had imagined.
“I’d really like a full explanation of what’s going on here.”
“…Yes, I’d very much like to hear about this too.”
“We have plenty of time until we reach Encartón, right, Ouga?”
“…Ouga-sama…”
And so, the interrogation of Alice and me by the three continued as promised until we reached Encartón.
To state the conclusion:
They found out that I had slept together with Alice last night.
[Ouga-sama is not at fault. It was my weak heart that was to blame… Ouga-sama was merely comforting me when I rashly tried to cut off my arm to take responsibility.]
[Mmm… when you put it that way, we can’t really say anything…]
Although the circumstances were what they were, I was ultimately forgiven.
By the way, I kept quiet about the fact that I had wanted to sleep next to Alice from start to finish, as that would obviously cause trouble.
Somehow Mashiro and the others’ flames of jealousy were extinguished, and we were supposed to head to the workshop! …Or so I thought, but I’m walking alone on the road to the workshop recommended by Kabunika san.
“…I never imagined I’d be going alone…”
Mashiro and the others, who had been so looking forward to sightseeing, are nowhere to be seen.
As soon as we arrived at the airport, they said:
“We four have an important discussion about our future, so could you go to the workshop alone, Ouga?”
“We’ll leave our luggage at the inn we’ve reserved, so please join us there once you’re done with the negotiations.”
“Depending on the circumstances, it could affect our future…”
“Lord Ouga… I’ll be fine. It’s something I thought we’d have to talk about eventually… I’ll definitely survive this battle.”
And with that, we went our separate ways.
I couldn’t understand why they were talking about life and death when it was just supposed to be a discussion, but there was no way I could help.
The four of them headed straight to the inn where we were staying, without even glancing at other facilities.
…This is just my guess, but they’re probably going to talk about Alice’s feelings.
Sleeping next to Alice, which had never happened before.
She had always clearly drawn the line as master and servant, so they must have sensed that something had changed in our relationship.
Even without that, she had been noticeably overprotective since I damaged my right arm.
There’s no way Mashiro and the others hadn’t noticed this change.
“…I guess I can’t keep hesitating forever…”
This situation happened because I hid the fact that I slept with Alice.
Like the incident in the carriage, I felt guilty towards Mashiro and the others.
If I had told the three of them earlier that I wanted them by my side, this situation wouldn’t have happened.
In the end, my weakness was the reason I made excuses and didn’t step into the realm of romance.
Past trauma had prevented me from developing romantic relationships.
Alice gave me an incredibly powerful blow to break down my walls.
Think about it.
You can’t always express your feelings. The battle with Floné… in the worst-case scenario, I might die.
Before that, I want to tell the four of them. I have to tell them.
“…I’ll tell them when I get back to the inn.”
Not all at once, but face to face with each of them.
“Ugh… the moment I decided, my heart started pounding unusually hard…”
I feel an increasing urge to finish the business at the workshop quickly.
But if I rush the negotiations, I won’t get a good prosthetic arm.
Since this is the most fundamental part, I need to concentrate the most during these interactions.
Trying to suppress my impatience, I walked towards the Luludan Workshop, as recommended by Kabunika san.
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The workshop, said to be the symbol of Encartón, was a massive building that made my neck hurt just looking up at it.
Surely with this scale, they could make the best prosthetic arm for me.
The question is when it will be ready… but I need to talk to them first before anything can start.
My father told me not to worry about the budget and to get something I’m satisfied with.
The battle with Floné… in other words, it’s a matter of my life.
I intended not to hold back and to pursue the best performance. That was the plan, but…
“Considering the waiting time for reservations, your requested prosthetic arm would be completed in ten years. How would you like to proceed?”
“…I’ll have to reconsider.”
“Understood. Please note that if you visit us again, it may take even longer than this time.”
As expected of the largest workshop in Encartón.
I never imagined it would take this long… it was beyond my expectations.
In ten years, Floné would probably have already conquered this world with force and vice.
…I’ll take a walk around the workshop to organize my thoughts and decide whether to ask again.
As I walked, I started thinking about other options.
“But to think that even Kabunika san’s letter of introduction meant nothing… this city seems to be extremely strict.”
In the Kingdom of Rondism, Kabunika san’s letter of introduction would probably grant free access even to the royal castle.
That’s how influential he is, but in this city, he’s just another customer.
No more, no less.
Thanks to the will of the people in this city, I can walk around freely without disguise, but…
“What should I do? Should I try other workshops?”
But if that results in lower performance, it would be troublesome.
I don’t want to compromise on this prosthetic arm.
The Luludahn Workshop, which even the discerning Kabunika san uses, is undoubtedly better than any place I could find by searching randomly.
“…Should I just tell them that the peace of the world depends on my right arm?”
Even then, they probably wouldn’t agree.
That’s understandable. There are many strong individuals in countries other than the Kingdom of Rondism.
From the perspective of the people of Encartón who don’t know the circumstances, what difference could a single student make?
It’s natural to be perceived this way.
“…In that case, I guess I have no choice but to make a reservation and hope for some kind of miracle—”
“—Waaah!?”
“…Hm?”
An alto voice suddenly interrupted my thoughts.
I raised my head, which had been lowered, to see a girl with navy blue hair tied on one side lying in the middle of the road.
Next to her stood a burly man wearing a welding mask… he was so big that he might have been close to two meters tall.
“I told you I won’t hire you at my workshop, you brat!”
“Why not!? There are worse mechanical engineers than me!”
“I’m the boss of this workshop, and I decide! No matter what reason you have, if I say you’re not accepted, then you’re not accepted in our place!”
“T-That’s unreasonable!”
“That’s how it works in my workshop. If you understand, go find another workshop to hire you.”
“Ah, hey! Wait a minute! I’m not done talking, you stupid father!”
…Have I stumbled upon an incredible scene?
From the conversation I just heard, the giant man must be Dude Luludahn, the head of the Luludahn Workshop and also the representative of Encartón.
And the side-ponytail girl is his daughter. And she’s hungry for work at the workshop.
…This might be a stroke of luck from heaven!
“Hey, that’s enough! Let go of me, you stupid daughter…!”
“Ah—”
As she desperately tried to keep Dude in place by pulling on his work clothes, his thick arm swung towards her cheek.
However, his hand never struck her.
Because I stepped in between them and caught it.
“Isn’t this going a bit too far?”
“Huh?”
Dude Luludahn and his daughter, who hadn’t stopped at his daughter’s restraint, both turned their gaze towards me.
Good, good, I managed to stop them for now.
“I’m sorry for the sudden interruption. I overheard a bit of your conversation.”
“Then you should have just walked away quietly. Outsiders shouldn’t interfere in family quarrels.”
“You have a point. But I just happened to have some business to discuss. I’d like you to hear me out.”
“…What are you trying to say? Are you trying to sway me with that?”
Dude Luludahn glared at me and rolled up his sleeves, showing clear hostility.
An ordinary person might do that, but I won’t let him underestimate me.
This genius won’t step on such an obvious landmine.
In the first place, such interactions often backfire with craftsman-like people.
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