Yuder looked at Alik’s somewhat cautious expression and nodded.
“Yes.”
“Normally, aftereffects come when you overexert yourself by using your ability too much... but for him, the aftereffects start from the very moment he tries to use his ability, right?”
Yuder was quite surprised. Until now, Melvern’s training had always ended before the black scales covered more than his fingertips. That was because he inwardly found the mages’ gazes that uncomfortable.
But from just that much and combining it with today’s exchange, Alik seemed to have succeeded in deriving the correct answer.
“Yes. That’s right as well.”
“I knew it. So he keeps failing to exert power beyond a certain level, stopping again and again as if snagging on something.......”
“So, what is it that came to mind.”
Alik’s cheeks flushed. He parted his lips as if choosing his words in his head, then took a deep breath.
“Uh... it’s the control device for Awakeners that I’m researching and developing.”
“Yes.”
“I thought that if I improved it a bit... I might be able to make it so that, for Awakeners with abilities that transform the body, only a certain portion of the transforming area becomes possible, you know? Couldn’t we perhaps try that on that gentleman?”
Yuder was silent for a moment. Alik seemed to think Yuder was calmly considering it, but in truth his heart was the opposite.
“...To control only part of it. Is that possible?”
“Lately, while researching this, I’ve been digging through the history of control devices for knights and mages in detail. In the records of old control devices that no longer exist, I found the existence of a control device that blocked only the aura flowing through a Swordmaster’s two hands.”
According to Alik, that control device did not damage the flow of aura within the Swordmaster’s body or his vessel, but was an item that manifested the control device’s effect only on the two hands that had to hold the sword.
“In that case... he can use a sword and have no hindrance in daily life, but he simply can’t release aura. Like before he became a Swordmaster.”
“Applying that to a control device for Awakeners doesn’t sound like such an easy story.”
“Limiting the range of a control device itself isn’t that difficult. What I’ve been making so far were range-type control devices that applied within a single space, right? It’s only the difference of whether you set that range limitation to a certain area of ground, or make it a part of the body of the Awakener who wears it!”
Alik said this was an issue of conception, not of difficulty of manufacture.
“If it succeeds, we can effectively limit the range within which the gentleman’s body transforms.”
More difficult words spilled out after that, but Yuder roughly stopped paying attention there. In any case, the important part was only the earlier point.
‘Impressive. As he said, if it just succeeds, it would be an exceedingly effective help for Melvern. Perhaps for other body-transforming Awakeners as well.......’
Among Awakeners, many undergo bodily transformation. There are those whose very foundation changes like Elpokin, but usually only parts of the body change when they exert power. Fingernails or fingers grow sharply long like weapons, the body changes like that of an animal, or the skin becomes hard like stone—those are the most common types.
When such people wore existing control devices, they suffered more inconveniences than Awakeners with other abilities. Not only did they become unable to use power, but the transformed body parts often went completely limp as if dead and wouldn’t obey.
‘As for Elpokin in the previous life, perhaps because his entire body had changed, he would sometimes lie there like a corpse, unable to move even a single finger.’
In the previous life, Elpokin had caused so many incidents and had so many enemies that he often received disciplinary confinement wearing a control device. Of course, each time he came out after that punishment, he became not repentant but even more ferocious and rough.
If making the control device Alik mentioned became possible, and if it proved sufficiently effective, then what happened in the previous life would no longer occur.
A control device could move from being a shackle used only to imprison an Awakener to being an item that helped with better daily life and ability use.
“Mm. My idea probably sounds a bit dangerous. Even so, I’ll make sure not to overlook safety issues......”
“No. I think it’s a good idea.”
Yuder cut off Alik, who was still rambling, and answered firmly.
“Really?”
“Yes. I’ll report to the Commander, so if possible I’d like you to make it quickly. When might a trial fitting be possible?”
“As I said, the range limitation itself is just a slight twist on the current prototype I’m making....... I—if you give me about two days......?”
“Two days. Understood. I’ll relay that. If you need anything, tell me anything.”
Accepting at once without showing any doubt, Alik was flustered yet couldn’t hide his joy.
“Thank you. Honestly, I thought you’d oppose using an outlander guest as a control-device test subject......”
Why would he.
Looking back with the experience of the previous life, unless you attached a bomb that would explode if you tried to break the control device, even if it failed it would simply return to usual, and there would be no problem with the body. Melvern might feel a little sad, though.
‘And.......’
“Alik. I’ve already seen Awakeners in the West helped by the control-device necklace you made. Those who feared themselves for becoming Awakeners were able to adapt slowly thanks to the control device.”
“Uh.......”
“This improved version you mentioned looks like it could help even more Awakeners than back then, so why would I oppose it. Rather, I’ll help in any way I can.”
Alik, staring blankly at Yuder, rubbed the tip of his nose, face reddening with embarrassment.
“......It’s the first time I’ve heard something like that, so I feel a bit shy. I think I’ve suddenly realized anew how important the thing I’m making is......”
“Did you think it wasn’t important until now?”
“No. Not that... I just realized that until now my mindset was closer to a mage’s—prioritizing individual goals.”
Alik smiled sheepishly.
“But not anymore! I’m not a Cavalry member, but I’m still an Awakener staying with the Cavalry, right? I’ll work harder with the mindset of doing it for future Awakeners.”
Yuder looked at Alik’s face, which seemed to have lost a bit of weight.
Yes. In this life he was a mage but at the same time the first person to become an Awakener.
‘I never imagined at first that that young mage would come to feel like such a reliable Awakener comrade.’
“...Yes. That’s a good mindset. I’ll look forward to the result.”
“Hahaha. If I’m to finish within two days, I should go now. See you later!”
Alik laughed awkwardly and then hurried off. Yuder watched until his back disappeared, then turned away.
“...For this reason, things ran a little late and I was delayed.”
Because his conversation with Alik had run long, the time to meet Kanna and Gakein was delayed. Naturally, the things he had to do afterward had no choice but to be pushed back in a line.
Kishiar, seated elegantly before Yuder in the carriage, smiled.
“I know better than anyone that you’re busy, and I won’t say anything over this much. I’d already allowed extra time for the appointment just in case, so you don’t need to worry.”
“That’s a relief.”
“What did Kanna Wand and Gakein Bollenvalt report? Anything unusual?”
“No. They said nothing greatly deviated from what we had anticipated beforehand.”
The Southern Nation merchants who tried to make Fay into a mole and ended up getting caught by the scruff instead.
Among their possessions were many items identical to what had been confiscated in the North, and they also found Kalanesa powder that had been found in the West. They said several mediums similar to the items carried by those who had self-detonated in the South also turned up.
Kanna had clearly read the information that they were in league with the ones who would be imprisoned in Peleta’s jail. She said the reason they targeted Fay was exactly the same as what Kishiar and Yuder had already guessed, without a shred of surprise.
“As we expected, they came here to ruin the capital’s balance like in the North. But when they received Fay’s contact, it seems they couldn’t help but bite at the bait because it looked too delicious.”
According to the information Kanna read, they had written a report that it would be good to begin with Fay and the rookies and, over several years, collect information inside the Cavalry. But lately they had, for unknown reasons, been unable to contact the group in the North, so in their impatience they hurried things and ruined them.
“Right. Their boss seemed to be that man related to the Wolf’s Eye Tribe chief we captured in Peleta. When the head goes, the body collapses quickly.”
“Yes. Thanks to that, we caught their tail before they could begin in earnest to try to shake the capital’s balance.”
“In the space of a few months, they must already have sold quite a number of bad items targeting the capital and the surrounding cities. I’ve reported to His Majesty, so retrieval will begin soon.”
Thanks to that, the reason for dreaming of the white glove now made clear sense.