Chapter 100. Pulsation (2)
“Yes?”
Elena asked with her brown eyes wide open. Her response was quite unexpected.
I slightly tilted my head.
“Is there perhaps a problem?”
“Ah, no. There isn’t a problem.”
Elena waved her hands dismissively.
And then, in the same posture as when she had rushed over earlier. With her hand on my chest, she smoothed her cool-toned brown hair behind her ear and added.
“However, usually when you sign a sponsor contract, they first produce the Unique Magic Gear that the leaders of the Follower Family squads will use. It was just a little unexpected.”
“I see.”
Come to think of it. While it would usually be common to produce one's own first. I didn't have any applicable items.
Elena shook her head worriedly and said.
“As you already know, even for a sponsor, the number of tickets given is limited. Furthermore, even if you have many tickets, you can only request one production order at a time.”
“I know.”
I slowly nodded my head.
Before going to the outer district, I had already thoroughly read the contract that Elena presented when she offered sponsorship.
Only one custom order request was possible at a time. From the start, it wasn't like I had Elena as an unofficial supporter. Even Mages who had officially signed a sponsor relationship with the corporation, the rule wasn't much different.
Because there were regulatory restrictions on the quantity and usage of tickets issued by SIEG Industry.
“The minimum production period was said to be one month, wasn't it?”
“Yes, that's right. That's because custom-ordered products made by the corporation are crafted with great care. It usually takes that much time.”
I nodded my head.
Certainly. It did feel like it took a bit long.
However, what SIEG Industry's custom products were famous for were high-ends created with craftsmanship through sufficient time and testing.
As much time and effort were put into making the products, the restrictions on ticket usage were also understandable. It would be the corporation's own contingency plan for unforeseen circumstances.
“It's alright. I know enough.”
I briefly looked to my side.
“And while I currently have enough equipment to use. My Follower Family does not yet possess proper artifacts or Unique Magic Gear.”
“Ah, Sir Sirocco was a Beast-kin...”
The Beast-kin, who had been considered dangerous until now.
However, as they had been isolated within the Empire until now. It seemed Elena was not unable to guess their circumstances.
Looking to the side, my eyes met Sirocco's.
“...Hm.”
Pricking her ears on the reception sofa right next to me. She was staring intently at me.
For some reason, Sirocco was quietly watching and observing me with ruby-like red eyes.
Indeed, it might be natural for her to be interested since Elena was strangely stuck to me. It was certainly unusually close in proximity.
“It's something I've felt before.”
Saying this to open the topic, I glanced down at Elena, who was stuck to my chest. She looked up with a slight smile, raising her eyes, then tilted her head.
I became a little curious and asked.
“Towards me, the distance feels a bit strange.”
“Ohoho, perhaps you don't like it?”
She laughed as if playing a mischievous trick. Then she took her hand off my chest and slightly curled her smooth fingers. I lightly shook my head.
“No. Not particularly.”
Of course, including Lien and Sirocco, the unique individuals I had met until now were a truckload. I might have developed some immunity to eccentric individuals by now.
Thinking that, a wry smile formed inside me.
However, it would be a lie to say there wasn't a slight bewilderment.
Clearly, Elena in the original work didn't have such a personality that she would interact with anyone so casually.
‘Still, it's not something to worry about.’
Anyway, as long as Elena wasn't hostile towards me, there was no reason to refuse a show of goodwill. It wasn't like her pressing close made me feel bad either.
“Anyway. Sir Enoch wishes to custom-order equipment for Sir Sirocco with this ticket, is that right?”
“Yes. As she trusted me and became a Follower Family member...”
I looked at Sirocco for a moment and said.
“...I want to give her a corresponding reward.”
“...!”
Sirocco swung her tail back and forth upon hearing those words. There was a hint of joy in her tail.
“Really?”
I just nodded my head at Sirocco's question. Of course, nurturing her as a Follower Family member was essential, but those words just now were also the unadulterated truth.
“Well, I'm strong even without something like that, though!”
For now, I casually let whatever Sirocco was saying triumphantly go in one ear and out the other, and I glanced sidelong at Elena again.
From the start, no matter how good an item I possessed. It was impossible to use high-output Unique Magic Gear or artifacts exclusively for Mages.
Furthermore, if I were to request a custom product, I would have to reveal detailed information like my magic or combat style.
That is, it might lead to a situation where I would have to reveal to Elena that I wasn't a Mage.
That wasn't particularly desirable.
The utility was also low.
Therefore, this was the correct answer.
“Alright. However, it's a little disappointing.”
Elena looked up at me with slightly raised eyes, sounding a little regretful. And then, she let out a slightly sweet sigh and said.
“Actually, I was looking forward to what kind of dedicated Unique Magic Gear or artifact Sir Enoch would use. I've been a little curious about what kind of magic you use ever since I heard the previous rumors.”
“I apologize if I disappointed you.”
“Ah, no. Disappointment, you say!”
She shook her head as if it was absurd.
“You also safely transported the blueprints, and expressing gratitude wouldn't be enough. It was merely personal curiosity.”
Elena cautiously added, “In the first place, among Battle Mages, there are many who don't reveal their main magic for security reasons.”
And then, she glanced at me and asked.
“By any chance, was what I just said impolite?”
“No. Not particularly impolite.”
“Then that's a relief. I was really nervous that I might have said something wrong...”
I tilted my head slightly at Elena's words.
“Nervous?”
“Yes, well.”
She hesitated a little, then added, blushing her cheeks.
“Actually... it's my first time. Having someone I personally sponsor in SIEG's name. Honestly, my heart is pounding a little.”
It was a careful tone, as if confessing something. Thinking, 'Was that why she seemed so excited?', I slowly nodded my head.
“You two. Aren't you too close?”
Just then, Sirocco rested her chin on the sofa armrest beside me and sharply asked. I felt a somewhat haughty gaze.
At that, Elena laughed playfully.
“Oh my, it's just an extremely ordinary expression of friendliness?”
The words, 'It's probably not ordinary,' came up to my throat and got stuck. But it didn't seem necessary to say them out loud, so I didn't.
I only realized later, after hearing Sirocco's next reply, that I had thought wrongly.
“Hm, is that so?”
“...?”
Glancing to the side, her haughty eyes were wide open. Her expression, as if she had gained some new knowledge, was a little frightening.
‘She believed that...’
I held back the wry expression that was about to spread across my face. Come to think of it, did Sirocco mention before that she used to hunt alone even in the tribe?
After hearing that, I did think that she surprisingly didn't get along well with other people within the tribe, but
I didn't expect it to be this much.
“Then it seems things are decided?”
Perhaps thinking that the general direction of the conversation had been decided. Elena smiled sweetly once, then turned around with a flourish and suggested.
“Then, shall we first go hear the details for the artifact you wish to order?”
***
I took Sirocco and rode the elevator. After going up a few floors in the building, the door soon opened with a soft electronic sound.
As I went down the corridor where the elevator stopped with Elena. At the end, a door appeared with [Personal Design Studio] written on it.
As Elena stepped forward and scanned her ID card, the door smoothly slid open to the sides.
“Welcome, Sir Enoch.”
As I stepped inside, the lights turned on from the front towards the interior. Soon, as the entire floor became brightly lit, I was surprised by its size.
The interior looked like a full-fledged production workshop.
Beakers and flasks were lined up on the shelves. On the walls, disassembled firearm-type Unique Magic Gear and slim staff-shaped Unique Magic Gear with mechanical designs were lined up.
On the transparent whiteboards set up instead of interior walls visible as I walked inside, complex blueprints and formulas were drawn with a black marker.
“It's my personal workshop!”
Elena puffed out her chest slightly with pride, placed her hand on it, and introduced the place.
I looked around and was slightly impressed.
Despite being similar in age to me, was she drawing the corporation's blueprints or designs here?
Although I knew because she had explained it earlier, seeing it directly seemed to double the wonder.
Sirocco subtly asked from beside me.
“Are all the complex drawings here drawn by you?”
“Yes! I've drawn many designs here for the corporation's supply products. However, it's my first time drawing designs for personal custom orders.”
Elena slowly approached me and asked.
“So, Sir Enoch, what kind of artifact or Unique Magic Gear do you wish to have made for Sir Sirocco?”
“There is something I have decided on first.”
Saying that, I took something out from my chest. It was a piece of paper I had written myself before coming here.
Elena, who took it and read the contents for a moment, tilted her head.
“This is... But, why?”
To her, who seemed to not quite understand the contents written on the paper, I slowly elaborated.
“I don't know the exact principle, but I believe there is already Unique Magic Gear with similar functions in the Empire. And I believe the production will be the fastest.”
“Yes, that's right, but...”
I said to the momentarily hesitating Elena.
“First, I would like you to create a suitable prototype in this form of product for Sirocco.”
At those words, Elena looked at me for a moment.
“Alright. Then, the first product you will request is this, is that correct?”
“Yes.”
I calmly nodded my head.
“Because there is nothing else besides that.”
It was certain. There likely wasn't anyone who knew Sirocco as well as I did. At my unwavering confirmation, Elena looked at me for a moment, then smiled sweetly.
“Sir Enoch truly cares for your Follower Family, don't you? Seeing you request the production of this kind of item.”
“Because it will be more convenient if she adapts to this first.”
Elena nodded her head as if it was a correct statement.
“Then, as you said, I will prepare for production.”
“That's good.”
“Then, um...”
Elena said, her cheeks tinged slightly red.
“...Due to the nature of artifacts worn on the body. First, including Sir Sirocco's full body measurements. I think we also need to have some slightly sensitive discussions. If it's alright, would you mind resting downstairs for a bit?”
However, the one who answered before I did was Sirocco.
“Hm, I don't really mind?”
“Yes? That...”
Sirocco, speaking nonchalantly as if it were very obvious.
Elena, who heard that, opened her eyes wide.
It seemed she was flustered by Sirocco's tone, which genuinely sounded like she didn't care at all, without an ounce of embarrassment, even though full body measurements might require taking off clothes.
Thinking, 'Come to think of it, that was her personality,' I inwardly let out a slight wry smile.
Soon, I slowly nodded my head. I didn't really intend to stay here anyway.
“Alright.”
For some reason, I felt a premonition that the conversation would be long, and I was tired.
Perhaps because the adrenaline from finishing the battle was finally wearing off, a sense of fatigue was sweeping over my entire body.
It seemed.
It seemed best to slip away for a moment now.