// Everything isn't easy as it seems. //

I expected a fight to break out...
But the moment I came closer they ran for their lives as if it depended on it.

After taking a few moments to realize it.
I soon understood why...

They gazed at the floating "Watcher" that is following me.
I completely forgot I'm one of the so-called *Under Watch* due to my family circumstances.

They probably think I have some unknown talent like my sister as well.
But none the less I let go of the ark seal hanging around the back of my waist and ran towards the injured student after checking up on his eyes and heartbeat.

Nothing seems wrong and called for help using the watcher.
They were able to transfer him to the med bay for recuperation.

...

...

...

Location: Medic Bay.

Ah, the smell of a hospital.
Except I can feel a soothing aura of healing magic everywhere.
This place is said to generation healing magic that restores injured students from roughhousing in the academy.

Of course, fights do break out and mostly incident occurs.
But mostly a few students come here who have health conditions.

Now then let's recall these idiot face for a bit...

After gazing at his face.
Dark hair nerdy glasses and a ridiculously handsome face that is completely out of place.

This guy is named Blink Mane.
He's...

Oh, isn't he the guy who can read minds in the story.
He got fascinated by the protagonist's innocent and simple mind that he started toying with her reaction.

Potentially a male yandere...

He's basically a demi-human who can read minds.
Little are said in the story regarding what kind of demi-human he is...
He can also partially control the mind of others.

Of course this only works on human opponents, monsters are immune to it.
But the best he can do with them is simply hypnotize them into thinking an ally is a friend.

It does have a flaw though.
The reason why he couldn't react towards the punch is simply that...
He's reaction stat is extremely poor!

Reaction stat is the time it takes for a character to takes action.
While his ability is powerful the character itself takes too much time.
For why the fuck that is, balance reasons perhaps?

But still dangerous...
This guy is extremely dangerous.
Should I even bother to make contact with him?
Why did I just remember it now!

What kind of retard am I!?

"Shu-shut up!" Blink mane shouted at Baster.

"Can't a guy get some sleep." 

he groaned as he angrily said to him while holding his head.
Then Baster remembered something, as he ran away from him at full speed.

[The reason why his Reaction stats were so low and had a terrible personality.
Was not because he was a shitty character...

But simply because he is always sleep-deprived...
He has a specific medicine in the game made by the protagonist to help him ease his poor stat and recover half of his reaction stats ingame making him a reliable comrade in the story later on...

Unfortunately, most players completely ignored him due to his poor stats.
But to other players who saw how useful his ability and due to husbando reasons.
Kept him in their party only to discover a special event with him when you reach a close enough bond.

He tells them a kind of sob-story of his past and the reason why he can't sleep.
But of course, I completely forgot about it and didn't bother to read it and ditched his story as a whole since it was a male character.]

A/N:(*Baster you traitor!*)

But for now...
This should be enough for him to keep him safe.

"I should also tell Tori and Talie to watch out for this guy."

As he wanders off to meet them.

...

...

...

________________________________________________________________________________

Location: Machinist Workshop.
Time: Evening.

"You two joined the Machinists faction!?" Baster cried out in surprise.

Tori and Talie were maintaining a set of tools given as work for both of them.

「Is there something wrong?」

"No... nothing is wrong.
I was expected you two to join the Blue sphere."

『A few students did come and recommended it to us.
After all, both of us are already adept in magic, but...』

"But?"

「A group of students once said we don't belong there as well...」

『Which is why we hesitated...
Thankfully I managed to enter their library to borrow some of their history books.

「Talie, I never expected you to be interested in history.」

『It was all thanks to Nelly's mother I managed to at least gather some truths about this world.』

「But why?」she gives her a doubtful wry smile

『By reading history you can at least find out if the world we are living in is safe for us to expose ourselves.

Not mention, if this world performs an experiment on children like us, who knows a bit of magic of the old times.

What do you think will happen if this world turns us into living experiments all because of that!?』

「That sounds really disgusting and scary...」

『Right? for what we know we might get stuck in that situation.
So I took the opportunity to investigate it.』

Nelly who was moving some parts overheard it then said while passing by.

"I was pretty sure, she irritated my mother for asking some stupid questions.
Like who made this and who made that." Nelly gave her a bored expression as she bluntly said it.

『Nelly!?』she cried her name in response.

「Talie...」 she was now giving her a disappointed expression.
Her face was now bright red from embarrassment as she covered her face from Tori's sharp gaze.
Baster simply laughed at the scene of someone who just got their secret exposed.

...

...

...

『Well?』 Talie was eagerly waiting for Baster's answer.

「If you join with us, we can have work and classes together.」

Baster sighed.

"Sorry, but I'm kind of fine right now."

「Eh?」

『Eh?』

「Weren't you the one who told us to find a faction group to join!」

『Yeah, what is all this none-sense from you all of a sudden.』

"Well, I want to join but I like to explore more of the other studies...
It's not like I dislike being with you guys.

It is simply the fact that having no group simply allows me to learn of the other professions."

「Baster...」

『What profession are you after?』

His cheeks went red and said.

"Sky explorer."

『Your quite a masochist aren't you...』Talie retorts.
Baster, on the other hand, looks away while pouting.
Tori simply gave him a wry smile.

「Well, flying an air-ship of your own does sound like an incredible dream.
Especially now we live in a world where island floats.」

『Just don't look down and sink on the way,
The deep blue ocean full of sea monsters and lethal lands seems to be below us.』

As she went back to her work, Tori followed...
Baster was observing their maintenance work on a few rifles the students carried.

"This reminds me of home," he said with a calm smile.

『Which reminds me, there is a letter.
Regarding the repairs on our air-ship.

The Arkwright family seems to have lent us a hand.』

"No way!?"

「Yup...」

But as soon as she said those words.
 Ms.Lotte enters the room with a gloomy expression.

"Ugh... I can't believe this is happening."
she groaned while walking towards Tori and Talie.

「Miss Lotte? is there something wrong.」

She gazed at her then tightly hugged her.

"Which one of you is Talie?"

Tori pointed at Talie while Talie raised her hand.
"I see..."
A few seconds later she then grabbed her and gave her a big hug.

『Guweeh!?』

"Talie!? my dear...
I have a bit of a problem.
Would you please do me a favor!?"

...
...
...

________________________________________________________________________________

Day 6: Saturday.
Weapon Mastery Class.
Talie's Pov:

It's been a long time since I rode this thing.
Her vision was full of numbers and are now outside the campus.
Large buildings can be seen at a distance while trees and the green of nature surrounded her.

"Please, participate in a certain tournament using our machine."

『Eh!?』

"I made a mistake...
I completely underestimated your family's infamy that many of the nobles whom,
We made deals with have started pulling away from us.

 It's making an impact on our profit you see...
With our backers suddenly pulling away from our business.

It's only a matter of time before it affects us in the academy."

 

"「『What!?』」" 3x.

All three of us cried out.
At that point we were all ears into helping her but...

...

...

"Alright...
Talie,
Let's begin weapon testing."

Arcane machines.
Large mechanical tools made of stone and metal.
Its shape is made partially like a human but as heavy as a tank.
I was now moving this giant thing as every step mowed the earth.

Currently, my body feels normal...
Though, everything is completely abnormal because...
I'm currently possessing this thing through magic.

Truthfully, this feels like myself possessing Tori during her past-life.
Except for the fact that this time...

It's a giant Big Ass Machine.

Apparently, they aren't very popular since.
This world is a place where the sky is basically the only way to get by...
And using this thing is technically very difficult to carry along with the fact that it is extremely expensive.

"Talie, can you hear me." Baster's voice echoed in my head.

Talie then said.

『Gross, don't talk to me...
Otherwise, your voice is going to stick to my head.』

"What is that supposed to mean!?" he retorts.

『It mean's shut up!
You are giving me a headache.

Where the heck is Tori!』

The voice then changed to Lotte.

"She's testing out Prototype Four."

『Don't tell me, You have another one!?』

「TALIE!」her voice echoed in a different direction.

She was...
Riding a smaller version of the machine.
About half its size about 700cm.
This thing I'm riding in is technically 1400cm based on the specs.

I ended up laughing at her.

『Pfft...』

「Talie.
Did you just think of something rude just now?」

[That's right, even in a machine she was still a shorty.
But something was off about it.]

『No... pfft.
I'm not.』as I walked forward I soon understood the reason why...

The humming of her machine was smooth yet faster than mine.
I see, so they sacrificed weight and power for speed and capability.
Perhaps that size is better and much more efficient.

「Hmp! that reaction.
Your thinking I'm short again!?」

『No... seriously... pfft.』

「Uuugh...」

She soon walked ahead of me as we practiced using these things.
But...

"Tori...
Your machine is reaching its limit."

「Eh!?」

『Eh!?』

"I don't know why, but stop moving.
Your test is over."

What they said were right though...
After zooming in, into her machine there was a bit of smoke coming out of it.
The cockpits opened and I saw her come out of it while scratching her head.

Hey, wait?
Since she broke it does that mean, we are supposed to be the one to pay for it?
But it looks like a malfunction than anything else.

So, probably not...

In the meantime, I moved this thing as steadily as she goes...
I'm much more afraid of breaking this thing than anything else.

The numbers reach beyond millions of Hav.
I don't even want to think about how much that is.

Hav. is the name of the currency in this world.

Well, it's not surprising since most of the things here are named to the kingdom's capital name Havel.

After walking around for a few minutes, Tori was picked up by a hoving vehicle while I was still stuck inside this thing.

"Let's test out its weapons."

『How exactly do I use the weapon?』Was the real question.

"Give us a moment, I'm reading the commands required for it."

...

A few minutes pass by...

"Ah, it appears there's an Ai inside it."

『AI?』

"It's the machine that possesses consciousness.
It's experimental and quite versatile...

Try calling it out by saying.

Activate: Ark AI."

『Activate: Ark AI.』

A voice soon entered my head as it said:

Command Accepted.
Activating Ai.

System Nominal.

Its voice then said.

"Ah, you must be my master.
A pleasure to meet you, I am Ardent."

『Ardent?』

"Yes, that was the name specified for my creation.
What do you seek my lady?"

Uwah... being called my lady already?

『I think you should refrain from calling me that.』

"Then would you prefer the name little girl or mini-master."

Like a sharp arrow, it stabbed me, even though I'm not Tori.
These words were quite vicious and painful to hear.
Tori would probably be shouting by now if she was the one controlling this thing.
But I'll refrain...

"Master I felt a disturbance in your psyche...
Are you perhaps disturbed by my words?"

『No... I am NOT.』

"I detected sarcasm in your way of speaking.
*beep* analyzation complete.

You truly were affected by my words.
I will refrain from calling you mini or little and simply call you lady."

My face twitched with annoyance as I soon tried to contain myself.

『Well then... Ardent,
Please use what weapon we have on that rock over there.』

I pointed at a large rock.

"I still detect a disturbance in your psyche.

But I suppose weapon testing must be the purpose of my activation.
I will now process the procedure for your attack."

『Huh?』

"Right now, the ark seal implemented.
Is Volt, Ignis, Frigid, Gale.

Which one would you prefer?"

Volt, Ignis, Frigi, and Gale.
Looks like spell names similar that other student used during exercises.
Let's see, I saw someone use Frigid which is ice magic.
I'll try that.

『hmmm, use Frigi.』

"Roger, processing ark seal please aim both of your hands towards the target."

I did as it told me and raised my hand towards the rock, the machine follows it sluggishly but...

A giant circle the size of the machine appeared.

『Oi!? Isn't this too big!』

"Firing in 3... 2..."

『Hey wai-』

While I panicked at how large it was...
A gigantic Sphere of ice came out of the circle and moved to envelop the large rock.
But of course, it wasn't only the rock that was affected.

Due to its insane amount of power, the whole forest around the machine was now frozen in ice.
Even the machine itself had its legs wrapped in ice.

HECK, I CAN EVEN FEEL IT INSIDE THE MACHINE!
What the fuck!

"Spell Craft Success...
Master, unfortunately, our legs appear to have been frozen as a result.
Also at this rate, master you are going to catch a cold at the sudden change of temperature in the machine.

Would you like to use Ignis to break free from this Cold Circumstance of ours."

My mouth was shivering and I can feel it even-though,
I'm possessing this machine.
Isn't this seriously bad!?

『Brrrr...
Get...
GET ME OUT OF HERE!』

I cried out while my body was chafing from the cold.

The Ai answered with "Roger, Emergency Cockpit Ejector Activated."

『Wha?-』

I heard a *beep noise* Then...

A sudden force disconnected me from the machine

At that point, I felt and knew...
That was the sound of the cockpit being thrown in the Air and myself in tow with it...