Chapter 5

Akitushima is a maritime nation that exists separated from all other countries by the sea.

However, the number of ground troops far exceeds that of the navy, and their command structure is fragmented, with each samurai family maintaining its own system.

Thanks to the prestige of the royal family, there are no major conflicts, and the samurai families maintain a loose alliance.

There is no surplus of military strength to launch external campaigns, nor is there any imminent crisis that would force internal unity.

The current state, where there is nothing to unite the entire nation in battle, can be described as a period of relative calm.

"Ah, it's so peaceful..."

A man yawns widely as he gazes at the sun on the horizon, his hands in the pockets of his pure white lab coat. His height is difficult to discern due to his hunched back, but he is likely quite tall, as he stands as tall as the woman next to him even with his spine curved.

"There's nothing better than peace, Harto-san."

"Yeah, that's true. Lately, even the demons don't cause much trouble, and there are hardly any opportunities for real combat. It's a waste to have Renge and the suit just sitting around."

"---I am not your possession! Don't lump me in with your inventions!"

The woman called Renge has long black hair, typical of Akitushima, that reaches down to her waist. While her anger, with her hands on her hips and her narrow waist, is undeniably attractive, Harto glances at her uninterestedly before returning his gaze to the sea.

Renge is probably in her early twenties. Her face is filled with the confidence of a young person who has yet to experience setbacks.

Renge is wearing a tight bodysuit that clearly shows her body's contours. The suit is black and glossy, highlighting her feminine curves.

Notably, there is a large green stone on her chest, from which several tubes extend like veins.

This stone is a magic stone, a gem that resides in the heart of a monster when it is born and grows with the monster's body. Over time, it accumulates dense magical energy within the monster's body.

Due to this, magic stones are highly valuable for creating magical items and extracting magical power.

The value of a magic stone is determined by its size and purity. The price of this stone, which is about the size of a fist and highly transparent, would be astronomical.

The wearable body armor that Harto has been developing for about a year is officially called the Type 2 Enhanced Armament. It enhances the movement capabilities of infantry by channeling magical power from the magic stone through a circuit and infusing it with an enhancement spell.

Harto considers this armament to be his masterpiece, but its development was halted by his direct superior.

Despite this, he continued the development at his own expense until he could no longer afford it, but ultimately did not receive permission for its use in combat.

He even tried to negotiate directly with the higher-ups, but the results were not favorable.

The higher-ups in the magic research laboratory where Harto works tend to value tradition and are often critical of new things.

Officially, they claim that the project is too impractical and that the revealing bodysuit is indecent.

However, Harto knows that the real reason is that they are afraid of being reprimanded for misusing the budget.

Harto believes that any sacrifice is necessary for the advancement of magic and magical items.

To him, both his superiors and subordinates are stubborn and old-fashioned.

Harto's enhanced armament is a powerful weapon that could play a significant role in the world's military power in the future.

Harto, who successfully developed it independently, is undoubtedly a genius.

Such individuals can choose the optimal solution they believe in, but it is rare for them to share their vision with others.

This is because understanding their ideas requires the same level of talent and perspective.

Like other geniuses, Harto is not good at gaining the understanding of others.

Having incurred the wrath of his superiors, Harto was transferred from the magic item research institute, which has a significant impact on national defense and trade, to the Special Anti-Demon Armament Research Laboratory, known as Taiyo, where he now has almost no responsibilities.

He now spends his days in Bousou Peninsula, a rural area where even humans are scarce, preparing for the unlikely event of a demon attack.

"I wish a demon incident would happen somewhere. If I could just prove its effectiveness in combat, even that bald guy would have to acknowledge it."

"...Absolutely not unsealing the Yamata no Orochi. If it gets too harsh, I'll run away."

"Ahaha... That's a good idea."

"No, no! Absolutely not! Ah, I shouldn't have even suggested it!"

Since the natural magic circuits deep underground, known as the ley lines, have stabilized, demon incidents have become almost non-existent.

Taiyo, where they are, is rumored to be on the verge of being shut down and is a convenient place to transfer researchers who are out of favor.

Harto, cursing his superiors, came to Taiyo, where he met a fated woman.

This woman is his junior at work, Kujou Renge, whom he employs on a conditional basis.

She, like Harto, was transferred here after resisting her superior's sexual harassment with a punch.

Having a subordinate with the magical power and physical ability to stabilize the enhanced armament's circuit is a convenient development.

Harto doesn't know what else to call the arrival of such a person at his doorstep other than fate.

He keeps Renge's work as a tester for the enhanced armament a secret from his superiors and colleagues, paying her danger pay and various allowances from his own pocket and research funds.

Renge, who initially complained about being subjected to combat-style tests despite being a researcher, now accepts the work as long as her financial security is assured.

Harto is willing to sacrifice anything for the sake of his research.

Given the uncertainty of when the next suitable candidate might come along, he has never looked at Renge in a sexual manner.

Their relationship is strictly professional, which allows them to interact without unnecessary formalities, making it an ideal boss-employee relationship.

"If only we had a sponsor. Hey, Renge, are you secretly a wealthy lady from a noble family?"

"Stop it, that's ridiculous. If I were from a wealthy family, I wouldn't be doing such a dangerous job."

"True, you don't look like you're from a good family."

"...What do you mean by that?"

Harto's research funds have been depleted by the creation of a single enhanced armament. Pulling more money from the research institute is difficult and requires a lot of effort to justify.

While he believes that weapons are only meaningful when used, Akitushima is currently at peace, and there are no opportunities for combat.

Harto is officially a member of the technical department of the Yoshizawa family, a samurai clan, but he is a low-ranking researcher with no particular rank.

Leaving his job and going somewhere else is not particularly difficult.

Of course, he cannot leak military secrets, but fortunately, the enhanced armament is entirely his own creation and not subject to such restrictions.

If he were to leave Akitushima and go to a conflict zone on the mainland, the enhanced armament would have a higher chance of being recognized.

While Harto has no intention of staying in Akitushima just to suffer with the fools, there is a reason he remains.

---He cannot leave his frail mother alone.

The Iizuka family was originally a noble family, but due to his father's mistakes, the family was dissolved.

His father squandered the family's wealth and died young, possibly due to overeating.

His mother, who was born into a noble family, has not been in good health recently, possibly due to the prolonged poverty.

Harto cannot imagine his mother, who was once a pampered noblewoman and didn't even know how to dress herself, living alone in her current condition.

If he had the means to hire a housekeeper to take care of his mother, he would consider leaving the country, but there is no one who would place such trust in him at the moment.

"Ah, I wish there was someone out there who could pay me a better salary. Hey, Renge, do you know any rich people?"

"No, I don't. I'm not from a good family, after all."

Harto mentally reviews his contacts to see if there is anyone who might be a potential sponsor, but as he has done this many times before, there is no one suitable.

Harto has no connections abroad, and as an employee, it is not easy for him to travel overseas.

Thinking about the foreigners in Akitushima, he recalls something.

"By the way, the princes from Reinsgaya are here, right?"

"Prince Todd, Prince Takuru, and Lady Miyahi are here."

Akitushima and Reinsgaya are considered equal in status.

Therefore, matters related to the throne and titles are treated similarly.

Miyahi, although she has already married into another family and has no succession rights, is the third daughter of the royal family of Akitushima.

While she herself has no succession rights, her son Takuru is a legitimate heir to the throne.

The purpose of their visit is unclear—whether it is just a tourist trip or something else.

"Excuse me, can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Renge, we have a guest. Please handle it."

"Sure, sure, you're so demanding... Wait, what?"

Harto, who was so focused on his thoughts, had not even looked at the man who spoke to him.

Renge, exhausted from a day and night of testing, forced her body to turn and look in the direction of the voice... and froze.

Then, with a creaking sound, she turned back to Harto, her face expressionless.

"Harto, did you do something terrible again?"

"Huh? Well, I do fudge the research funds and keep a secret ledger, but..."

Renge's face, with its strange formality, was a smile that clearly conveyed her anger.

"---You! How can you do such things without considering how much I have to deal with and bow down for you!"

Renge, her eyes twitching, shook the hem of Harto's lab coat.

The enhanced armament's power was fully demonstrated, and her strength, which should have been much less than his, was incredible.

Harto couldn't help but grin at the performance of the enhanced armament, which almost broke his neck.

"Hmm... That suit is interesting. It seems to have many uses."

"Ah, I'm so sorry, Your Highness! I must look terrible!"

(Your Highness...?)

Harto, who had been so focused on his thoughts, finally turned his head to see who had spoken.

A young boy, about a head shorter than him, with golden hair, stood there. His well-tailored clothes and the presence of a stern-looking knight behind him indicated his high status.

From Renge's words, he deduced that this was likely Prince Todd of Reinsgaya.

Todd Al Reinsgaya, the first in line to the throne, the future king of his country.

(The fact that he is interested in the enhanced armament I developed... This is a huge opportunity! Probably a once-in-a-lifetime chance that I can't afford to miss!)

Harto's eyes sparkled with the promise of a bright future and ample research funds.

While it was strange for a prince from another country to be in such a remote place, the opportunity presented before him quickly dispelled any doubts.

[Shinko's Request]

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