Amused that this received so much less of a response than the silly oneshot I did. Guess it's not too surprising though. Easy to get into something bite sized like that, compared to a more serious story which needs to build momentum.

Best to just keep going.

I had a readymade excuse to skip training the next morning.

Unfortunately, Nicks was ahead of me.

"Not this time, Leon," he said as he caught me with an arm around the shoulder. Thus stymied from my early morning jog to father's gravesite, I was dragged in a different direction by my older brother, "If you are to be ready for training in time today, you're going to need to head right away to the Green Wings armor detachment. Let me go with you. As support."

"B-But…I visit dad's grave first thing," I eventually worked out, trying to get away without not looking like I was doing so.

Nicks was not fooled and instead said, "You can visit him later, during lunch."

"But I prefer first thing in the mornings. I'd feel guilty to not do so."

"If you feel guilty for missing a single morning, you're going to make me feel bad," Nicks claimed, his grip not slipping.

"Not my intent," I said, shoulders lumping as I gave up being able to escape.

Nicks sent me a refreshing smile as he felt my surrender, making me feel irritated.

I still found myself forced to head to the area of the docks the Green Wings' had been loaned for their use when they first arrived. Every force needed someplace off their ships for certain tasks. The primary purpose of this one was Armor repair and maintenance. Just a few warehouses for them to use instead of trying to attempt it on cramped airships.

Honestly, just looking at the Armors now on every side still gave me mixed feelings. When it had been a game, the odd mix of fantasy and what appeared to be mecha had just been one of the peculiarities of the setting that was never explained but was easily overlooked because it was kind of cool. Now living in this world, I was occasionally pestered by the idea that there must be some sort of explanation why the most advanced magic was arguably in the direction of mechs.

If there was such an answer, I still hadn't been made aware.

So, I was just left dealing with the fact that this world had mecha. Oh, they were reliant primarily on magic over any technology, but they were still mecha to any former Japanese person. They could be three meters, being much closer to power armor, or larger and much more robotic looking. Not even in a human shape. They handled duties from heavy combat, to transporting cargo, to some even created for resource extraction.

"Excuse me, do you know where Artisan Warrick is?" Nicks asked to a passing figure, who pointed the way. It didn't take much longer for us to make our way to the older man that headed up the Green Wings' Armor detachment. Nicks quickly called out to the man working on another Armor, "Ser Warrick? Might we have a bit of your time?"

"Not really a request I can deny, although I guess this is as good a time as any. Mainly just ensuring everything is ready to be moved back onto the airships," the man said in response, tone sounding more irritated than he probably actually was. He soon turned to us both, revealing his wrinkled and -admittedly epic- mustached face. "I was expecting visitors as well, this morning. You all want to check the condition of the Armors we're leaving behind, yes?"

"It is only proper. The Green Wings have generously provided them, and you have done much work on them. We need at last take this seriously," Nicks said with a respectful nod.

"It would be troublesome if we missed something as well," I add much less respectfully. It earned me a smack on the head from Nicks, but Warricks simply snorted and otherwise didn't react.

Grumpy old men didn't need reasons to be grumpy.

"It would be, but you'd have deserved it if you weren't willing to do this much," he said bluntly, turning and waving us on as he started moving. "Well, come on. I'll show you everything you need to know before we leave."

He soon led us to a half dozen Armors that were lined up. Standard, mass produced model. Roughly three meters tall, a rifle in one hand. Relatively lightly armored, and roughly shaped like a human. Varying metallic colors for different armor plates that spoke of a lack of care towards appearance.

"The repairs were simple enough for these ones. General local style of construction, so just needed to swap out and replace any damaged parts," Warrick explained. "You want to do a quick test run?"

"I don't think that is necessary, Ser Warrick. I trust you know-"

"Come on, Nicks," I quickly said, clapping him on the back hard enough to send him stumbling towards one. "He's offering, and this is the last chance to get in some basic practice without needing to pay for the fuel ourselves."

"You're so cheap, Leon," Nicks hissed at my words.

"That he is, but he also isn't wrong," Warrick quickly said, just sending me a look that I shrugged at. "I did do a little bit on the power system draw though, and it is best explained with some demonstration. So, get it."

Nicks acquiesced while trying to look resigned, but it was rather obvious by a bounce in his step that he was excited for the chance. My words were rough, but truthful -I was always truthful-. Armors were arguably little more than metal frames with numerous magic systems embedded into them. It allowed them to function, but naturally meant they required a supply of magic power. Far more than most people had. They were instead powered by draining magic stones of their power. That made them expensive to use even for practice, and even for us it had been a rare event to pilot an armor.

Yes, our Barony did have Armors despite the lack of any airships. The former were still cheaper since they could be bought individually. Also critical in defending the land if ever attacked. Armors could fly -despite certainly not looking like it- enough to engage any warships that got in the direct airspace of the island, even if further out required proper airships. They were better maintained than practiced with though, considering the cost of any use.

After the Green Wings arrived, the Barony had provided sixteen Armors to assist them against the Sky Pirates. Four of the pilots had been killed the battle, my father and maternal grandfather included, with an additional four Armors damaged to the point that they'd been repaired here alongside the replacements the knights had provided from those captured by the sunk and destroyed sky pirates ship.

Climbing into the Armor Warrick had pointed towards, Nicks slipped his limbs through the appropriate holes to guide the limbs as the opening closed to seal him inside. Straightening from the at-rest crouched position, he started going through the basic movements. Getting a feel for it, to account for the long time since his last time in one.

"Take to the air," Warrick called, having led the moving Armor outside. Nicks did so, even more gingerly this time. He quickly got the feel for it though, and managed to do whatever Warrick called out.

"What other weapons will be available?" I asked, eying the gun that appeared its only weapon.

I loved guns. My preferred weapon, even. As they should be for anyone who didn't want to get closer to danger than they needed to. Ammo was expensive though, especially armor scale. There was a reason we all focused on training with melee weapons though. It cost nothing to slam an axe into a monster's head, and so was preferred over using a gun if one could safely do so.

I was also a fan of backups, and only having a gun in a battle wasn't smart when there were maniacs who preferred to try and get close with swords.

Maniacs were scary, and should be met with a sharp weapon of some sorts if they tried to get close.

"I've got a standard collection of Armor scale swords, hatchets, lances, shields, and even other variety of guns," Warrick answered my question easily. He then yelled back to Nicks without paying me anymore attention, "There should be a magic circle on your right. Activate it."

"All right," Nicks called through the speakers, and after a pause his movements sped up. Nicks quickly exclaimed, "It's so much faster, but….ugh, it feels heavier."

"The tests I took weeks ago showed your magical capabilities allowed you to take a higher burden on yourself than the average Armor pilot," Warrick answered to that comment. "I put in a secondary configuration for the power draw. Greater burden on you for greater power output. There's a secondary magic circle under the first. It will keep the power draw from you the same, but lessen the Armor's output for efficiency."

Armors were magically powered, yes, but they were also connected with their pilot for control and to supplement the main power. There was a burden that a pilot had to be able to meet. The Armor provided several times the power, but a person not able to contribute a meaningful amount simply had no talent as a pilot. The Armor would be weaker if they were only using their magic to control it. Even increasing the Armor's draw on its own power to compensate would cripple its fuel efficiency. This all meant that some nobles, who generally belong to lines possessing magical talent, will occasionally be told that they simply aren't suitable for piloting Armors.

That naturally meant the reverse was true as well. Some people had more talent, and were able to contribute more power. Increase the output of the Armor compared to an average pilot. Or keep the power output the same, but increase fuel efficiency. It just wasn't comfortable to take such burden, but was obviously of use at times.

"Isn't that great, Nicks?" I called out with a smile. "Take that burden to increase the fuel efficiency, and you can practice more than the rest of us."

"Of course you act as if I should do this all the time?!"

"Are you going to let a little bit of extra hardship make you turn away from gaining an advantage?" I asked, drawing a growl from my brother.

"Don't worry," Warrick called, before sending me a scheming look. "We aren't done with all that I needed to show you."

It made me nervous, and I couldn't help mutter, "I don't like the way you said that."

A few minutes later after Nicks disembarked his Armor, Warrick had led us to another that was of an entirely different style.

This Armor was larger, and thicker. Five meters tall compared to the three meters, with thicker limbs and torso. It was also human shaped, but this one would be more similar to someone short and thicker built, wearing heavy armor. A non-standard one. Not just pumped out in as efficient a form as possible.

"It looks damn near unrecognizable from after the battle," I remarked.

"I had to replace many of the armor plates, but that was at least straightforward," Warrick claimed. "The workings that were damaged have proven more difficult."

"How so?"

"It's mechanical engineering doesn't follow the standard methods of the local area," Warrick explained. "Not sure who provided it to the pirates, but they're either not from the surroundings nations or someone went through a lot of effort to use a foreign style to not be traced."

Yes, this was an Armor the pirates had held. The most troublesome. It wasn't rare for sky pirates to have some such goodies. While some pirate groups were 'natural', created by criminals stealing ships or mutinies, sky pirates were also often used as deniable raiding forces. Criminals pulled from jails or even soldiers willing to do it, given airships and armors to use, and then sent to either raid a rival or simply gather funds illegally that the sponsor would get a cut of.

"The type of magical engineering? Too high brow for me," I finally claimed lightly, shrugging with a 'what can I do' type expression. I then patted the armor though as I commented, "I like the colors though. The black with white highlights is cool."

At least now that the skulls -which were literally put on damn everything they had- that had previously constituted the white highlights were replaced by more sensible designs.

"Exactly what I want from my armors. That they appeal to your aesthetics," Warrick said scathingly, then shooing me off as he added, "Get in it. Quick. There's business that needs doing."

I just sighed, looking back at Nicks before suggesting, "You sure you don't want this one, Nicks? I really wouldn't mind."

"Nope. It's yours," Nicks declared, joining Warrick in shooing me into getting in it.

"I just don't think I deserve this."

"It's not about deserving or not," Warrick added. "With the damage, not just anyone can pilot these this thing. It's quite convenient that your family seems to have enough talent for Armor piloting. We can find a pilot for the one that was less damaged, but it only makes sense to provide it to those who can actually use it. Plus, your father did enough to earn at least this."

I grunted in annoyance, but there wasn't much I could say to that. Our family was magically quite ordinary, but did have very good levels of pure magic power. That didn't tend to help with regular spells as those typically relied on magic quality or control over quantity, but it was a talent with Armors since they drew the pilot's magic automatically and wanted sheer magic power.

The second part too wasn't something I could counter.

The pirates had fielded two of these Armors as they tried to retreat, and they had caused the majority of the casualties and damages on our side. The Green Wings had swamped one, but my father had faced one since he was a better-quality pilot than most due to said magical talent. Pushing his armor to the limit, he'd scored a mutual kill.

This wasn't that armor, thankfully. While some people in this warrior's culture might think little of using a trophy of an enemy that one's father had died to defeat, it was definitely not for me. Who wanted to use an Armor that had killed their father, no matter the quality?! The Green Wings had been more than willing to instead provide the other example to us, since it had been more damaged of the two.

"Okay, okay. I'm getting in," I called, climbing into the cockpit. It was a bit harder with this size of Armor, but still manageable. I then slipped my limbs into the appropriate slots, while commenting, "Nice, a direct interface control. Figured with this size, it would be impossible."

There were a variety of ways to control Armors. Direct interface involved coordinating the Armor's limbs to the pilot's, matching movements. Some methods involved using levers to move them. Sometimes even on-the-spot spell work. The kingdom had grown to favor direct interface, which allowed more natural movements and allowed pilot skill to really make a difference. The issue was that direct interface usually required smaller Armors, or notably larger ones. Smaller ones allowed one to simply slip their limbs into the Armor's, while larger ones allowed a cockpit allowing the pilot full movement just in the chest compartment. The former was the more efficient and economical, so kingdom Armors tended to be smaller than some countries. A five-meter Armor like this was basically right in the middle of the two sizes to easily allow direct interface control though, so I hadn't expected it.

"It's the reason for the broad torso design," Warrick said. "Go through a basic motion range check in the cockpit."

I did so. My entire arms fit in the 'upper arms' of the Armor, even bending my elbow possible in the frame. The Armor matched my shoulder, elbow, and wrist, and even rough finger movements. The legs worked the same way, although this time there was a platform I had to stand on that provided feedback.

"It's actually pretty good. Some of my shoulder range is impossible, especially if I'm shifting both shoulders at the same time. The shoulders are just a slight bit too far apart. Don't think anyone smaller than I could really use it," I commented as I moved. "I like the fact that I don't reach the forearms too. Won't even need to do a panicked pullback if I'm about to lose the forearm to not lose my actual hand like in smaller Armors."

"Glad to hear."

"What's with this heaviness though," I declared in a more disgruntled voice as I started moving the Armor. "Is this burden a joke?"

"No, it isn't, and I'm not sorry," Warrick quickly claimed. "It was extremely damaged, and I wasn't able to fix it all in the time I had. Thus, its efficiency is low, and it was already heavier since it is armored far more than the average Holfort Armor. I needed to calibrate that much burden on you just to make it only a bit slower than an average mass-produced model."

"I do like the armor," I muttered, trying to find an upside of what I was just told. More protection was something I'd be a fool not to like. Most standard issue Armors always came across to me as tin cans liable to bend at any strike or damage. Some might argue that their speed more than compensates, but I preferred a good bit of armor between me and any attack as insurance.

Overwhelming power and defense for the win!

"Good."

"This burden is still too heavy though," I called out, still irritated as fatigue started to set in as if I had a weight on my back and every limb now.

"I put in another power configuration, like I did with Nicks'," Warrick said in response. "Try it."

"Sweet. I'd prefer an easier ride," I said, finding an activating the magic circle to alter the power draw. Despite my hopes though, it suddenly felt like I had added a few extra kilograms of weight to each limb. "Why did the burden become more!"

"I figured it only smart that I make it so that, if necessary, you can at least match the speed of the standard model," Warrick said, stroking his mustache to make him appear dignified - instead of internally laughing at me!

"Why would I ever use this?!"

Nicks smiled as he asked, "Are you going to let a little bit of extra hardship make you turn away from gaining an advantage?"

Damn! My own words used against me. How unfair.

Trying to go at another angle, I questioned, "You said it was the damage it received. How much still needs to be fixed? Can't you just rush it? Are you really going to give us damaged goods?"

Still brushing his moustache, Warrick admitted, "Quite honestly, a good 30% of the magical engineering is still damaged."

"30%? What the hell is that?" I asked at hearing that.

"It's still running isn't it?"

"Yeah, but I thought you were supposed to be a 'Artisan' for Armors?" I remarked, immediately setting in with a mocking tone. "Is this the limit of your ability? Can't fix this? I guess I expected too much from you."

"I'm not a bloody teenager. Your opinion means squat to me, brat," Warrick said coolly, my provocative words brushed off. It made me grit my teeth at the failure as the man explained, "I told you that they used a different style. I can't replicate it from knowledge, and utilizing a different style creates issues in resonance and flow. To prevent this would require recreating all the embedded magic in local standard, or studying till we can fill in the damaged portions with foreign style. Neither is simple. The calculations and adjustments necessary to create full efficiency from the mixed styles isn't that hard in comparison, but is tedious. Time consuming as well. You figure it out."

"I don't want to figure it out. You just said it's tedious and time consuming."

"Well, I'm not going to do it," Warrick said with a shrug. He then sent me that mischievous grandfather look as he added, "Plus, you strike me as the type that needs something troublesome as consequence to force you to act."

Nicks proved himself a traitor when he nodded immediately and declared, "He's got you pegged, Leon."

Dammit!

"Are you leaving?" I asked as I joined Nicks in walking into the mansion.

The two of us had been called by Zola two days after the Green Wings left. I was actually surprised it took so long, having expected her to become more active in asserting herself once they were no longer around wishing to talk to her. Apparently I had overestimated her, based on the bags being packed

"Of course I am," she immediately declared as if it was obvious, looking at me like I was a dullard simply for asking. "I stayed in this hovel for so long after Balcus went and got himself killed because I didn't trust those Green Wings to. They're gone now though, and I have actual important places to be. I'm not meant for places like these. That's why I'm allowing you all to stay around and take over all this pedestrian business."

Yep, I definitely overestimated her.

At least I would be glad to see her leaving.

"We shall ensure the smooth running of the Barony in your absence then, Lady Zola," Nicks said with a bow, able to be far more respectful than I could be after she did irritating shit like refusing to allow our mother to even enter the mansion.

"That's what I'd expect. If you fail at it, I'd lose what little respect you'd managed to garner in my eyes by quitting the Academy as you did like a dutiful son," Zola said, appeased slightly by Nicks' attitude. I knew that wouldn't last though, and I proved right as she huffed before continuing after slapping her fan into her hand to make a noise, "So, what is this I hear about you renting an airship?"

"We have been discussing the future defense of the Barony with the knights under us, and have set upon a plan of action over the next year that will require some travel," Nicks explained.

"Humph, what nonsense. The court is sending forces to defend us. You're just wasting time, and spending money in a way that I might feel necessary to intervene," Zola retorted.

"Those forces will not defend us forever."

"No, but I have allies in the capital. Just listen to me, and I can earn favors or make deals."

"Or we can come to defend ourselves," I broke in. When she sent me a look though, I retreated in the face of her anger -and the glares of her elven exclusive servants- and smiled anxiously before adding, "After all, running the territory to free you up from needing to handle things is our jobs. Isn't that what you said? If you give us some time, we'll make it so you don't even need to do that."

"Listening to orders and doing your duty is a good habit, but this is a pointless avenue. I have a better one to put such compliance to," she claimed, flicking out her fan again to block her face as she fixed her gaze on me. "I have deemed it better that you marry one of my associates."

"Marriage?" I immediately blurted out, even knowing she'd mentioned it to Nicks before. "I know the Academy is impossible now, but I'm still just fifteen. Why the hell would I be getting married now?!"

Zola clicked her tongue in irritation, slapping her fan down again as she retorted with a sneer, "Irritating brat, go back to being compliant. I'm doing you a favor to get you married to one of my associates. You'd just be trying to do the same in the Academy. It's even better for this land, as irritating as it is for me to have to do this for this rural place. She'll be able to help me make those deals, and will even ensure you get into a knight order."

"If I'm to join a knight order, I'd prefer the Green Wings."

"Hah, and you prove yourself fitted for this land," Zola huffed mockingly. "A proper knight order. Even if you're fitting for a joke like the Green Wings, you're indirectly related to me and would be married to one of my friends who is properly embedded in the capital instead of a place like this. You should be thankful that's enough for us to try and get you into a prestigious order, like the Golden Chevaliers."

I gritted my teeth as I tried to hold in what I really wanted to say in favor of, "I thank you for that consideration, bur I believe then Barony is better served by my assisting here in improving our defenses."

"And I do not care for your inane opinions or objections," Zola sternly declared, now outright glaring at me. She even then turned it towards Nicks. "I'm the one having to deal with all the real issues since Balcus went and got himself killed. Now my Rutart is going to have to come run this rural island once he graduates instead of spending time in the capital working to get a proper job and ranking in the court. I do not want to deal with you all getting ideas and thinking that what rural nobles like you do at all matters compared to the workings of the capital and court. You are to just do as I say, and keep this place shambling along as it always has been till I put everything in order."

"We, including the knights of the Barony, still believe there is something we can be doing, Lady Zola," Nicks said with another bow, respectful body language at odds with the stubborn note in his voice. "We are simply working for the continued safety, and thus prosperity, of the Barony."

"Tch." After clicking her tongue in annoyance at that, she eventually responded, "Your efforts are pointless, but below my attention. I expect your 'ventures' to not affect the incomes. Should I find money missing, I shall not contain my displeasure. Also, don't get yourselves killed. My plans would be inconvenienced if you did. I assume you don't want your little brother taking your place, Leo? I also suggest you watch yourselves as well, Nicks. You might be inclined to keep you around to serve as Rutart's helper, but you are no longer attending the Academy and the work to run this farm is so simple that I might find it more beneficial to arrange your marriage as well."

There was absolutely nothing there that didn't piss me off, but I still joined with Nicks in thanking her since we at least got her not outright opposing our plans.

"Now carry my bags to the airship I rented to return me to the capital," she ordered.

It was irritating, especially with the condescending looks her elven exclusive 'servants' sent us as we gathered her heavy bags, but still nothing we hadn't come to expect of Zola. It was also worth it. After all, doing it meant one of the greatest rewards in this second life. I got to watch Zola leave.

"Bitch," I added as well once the airship carrying her was off.

"No matter what you or I think of her, we have to deal with her. At least until Rutart graduates at the end of this year," Nicks said back.

"Which might not be much of an improvement," I commented, thinking of my older half-brother that had done little to show he was anything more than Zola's son. A different, more urgent thought came to me though. "Wait, she mentioned marriage. What the hell? And what was that about the Golden Chevaliers?"

"I heard of them in the Academy," Nicks claimed, looking awkward as he rubbed his neck and looked away.

"If Zola was mentioning them, they can't be good."

"You're really just coming out and saying it outright, huh?" Nicks asked, giving me an exasperated looks.

I just shrugged, saying, "Prove me wrong."

"I would be able to ask around if I was still at the Academy. We're only talking about what I remember hearing occasionally," Nicks reminded me, before continuing. "They're a court knight order. Prestigious and popular in the capital. They're known for their bravery and willingness to face combat…Put a different way, they're a war-hungry order. Always going to wherever conflict in occurring, and even gladly volunteering to aid the kingdom's foreign allies in wars."

Ugh. How stupid. I couldn't understand people who willingly waded into battle. While our own plans involved putting ourselves into combat, that was an unfortunate necessity. Even then, I had to contain grimaces at the mere idea. I had to question the mentality of those who willingly waged their lives for glory or other less necessary reasons.

"That's not a knight order I'd like to be anywhere near," I said as summary of my thoughts.

"There's more as well. At least in rumors," Nicks said, apparently deciding my current distaste wasn't enough and seeking to ruin my mood even more. "Their reputation is bad among rural nobles. The court provides some benefits and they are primarily sponsored by court nobles, but it's rather well-known that a lot of non-heirs of barons or viscounts can be pressured to join them in marriage agreements due to their good benefits. The rumors claim that the Golden Chevaliers don't place them as officers though. That they claim they need to earn that respect, and instead put them as soldiers under the command of court nobles for at least several years. They're also rather infamous for only recognizing officers."

"That…sounds terrible," I muttered.

Fighting sucked. Truly. To extraneous sons who didn't have lands waiting for them or sibling with a place for them, it wasn't at all uncommon for joining knight orders to be the main avenue awaiting them. The casualties were never pretty. Nobles didn't serve as mere soldiers manning a warship's cannons, usually having the magic talent or combat training to serve as front line combatants. That was a risky job. For any commoner who showed the talents to qualify, just several years as a frontline combatant was enough to potentially earn an inheritable knighthood for themselves and their descendants. It was just that dangerous. To landless nobles though, not even several years would be enough to provide any reward that wasn't 'officially' a step down from their title. It was just a dangerous job that a good number wouldn't survive.

And that was with the average knight order.

To join one that sought combat.? Didn't even make them officers, but under the command of others? Removing the chance to make their own tactical decisions on the battlefield? With the officers commanding them receiving any achievements?

It'd likely be a culling.

"If it wasn't already our plan, I'd probably be tempted to do something drastic," I commented, not able to help felling some fear. "As it is, I guess that is more motivation for me."

"Which I'm sure will help us," Nicks said, slinging an arm around my shoulder. He spoke slower though as he continued, "Don't worry, Leon. We'll figure something out. We're all in this together. Once we do, we'll be able to properly do something to stop Zola from marrying you off."

It felt weird since I was a mentally older than him, but it was reassuring to have an 'older' brother saying such words to me.

"I'll make sure we manage somehow," I finally said back, trying to appear aloof. "After all, like hell I can trust that woman to leave Colin alone. We need leverage over that woman."

"You always have to phrase it in such ways, don't you?" Nicks said with a resigned sigh. "I don't disagree with the core of what you're saying though. I already arranged a deal with a airship captain to transport a dozen or so of us, alongside several Armors just in case. We'll need to leave in a day or two. There's no reason to delay anymore, and we're just losing time."

I still wasn't happy at the idea of setting off to delve into dungeons, fight monsters, and all that. It was necessary though. The conversation with Zola proved that.

Also

…

I guess even I still had a part of me that could get a bit excited at the prospect of delving into dungeons as part of a quest to foil the plans of some evil witch.

Definitely feel the first half of the chapter loses some something without the pictures I'll have with the version on QQ.

I can admit this is not the most exciting chapter though. Just some extra preparation and information. The required Zola scene. Next chapter will have them set off, and hopefully a bit of the first dungeon and combat. Hopefully more engaging to read, even if chapters like these are still important to set things.