The Royal Military Academy's Impostor Owns a Dungeon [BL] novel Chapter 543

Chapter 543: Encouraging Overhaul

In the confines of the arena used for today’s exam, D-29 figured that history was being made.

But not because of how the host adjusted the weight distribution on the right arm to compensate for the pilot’s aggressive, left-dominant maneuvering.

Or how he calibrated the lower limbs to account for fatigue and replaced a chunk of the cockpit because the recorded reflex response showed micro-delays.

In fact, it wasn’t how fast Luca replaced the damaged internal wiring, the cracked conduits, or how he worked on the mecha’s external armor and finished just seconds before the timer was done.

No, it wasn’t even that. Because apparently his time was atrocious for someone labeled a "genius."

However, no one laughed.

Because the exam timer was set for repairs. Not for rebuilding an entire mecha from the inside out.

Which was exactly what Luca Kyros had done. An overhaul.

And all this was recorded by D-29 primarily because, for the first time, in the course of the repair, his money-grubbing boss did not keep track of the costs.

Not on paper. Not with his usual muttering. Not even in passing.

Or maybe he did, just mentally. But Luca, who had fretted since the beginning about the cost of being a mechanic, did not complain about this one.

And that was definitely worth recording in the logs alongside the murmurs of awe all around them.

D-29 recorded all of it, after all, the little system wanted to ensure that the host’s first empathic exam and its audience were on record. Because clearly it wasn’t just the dutiful system that was impressed with this financial feat.

If only it knew. But what could D-29, who had only seen greatness every day, know about the ordinary people when even Marianna was a hidden physician and a hacker while being an underground boss?

Therefore, the standards were raised, and only Sid, who still had his wits with him, understood a bit of Luca’s reasoning once he explained it.

The little system, which couldn’t help it, had to ask while they waited for Luca’s turn for the inspection. "Host, why haven’t we tabulated the costs to repair this mecha?"

Luca tilted his head, thinking. "Hmm... It’s not that I didn’t account for it."

"???" D-29 was unsure of the response and waited.

"It’s just that I believe the pilot deserved this much."

The little system tried to comprehend but failed and had to verify.

Luca figured as much and pulled out the data for D-29 to review.

"See here," he said gently. "The damage to the chest practically punctured the cockpit. It could’ve been fatal."

"But the pilot’s profile also indicated recent achievements for a successful rescue mission, which meant he fought to the end..."

"But host, if that were the case, why is he getting his mecha with severe damage fixed by unlicensed students? Shouldn’t the military fix it? Or is there no budget for it?"

Luca offered a quiet, thoughtful smile as he tried to find the right words.

It was something he had only begun to understand after reading the works of the master mechanics in the library. But before he could speak, Sid gently spoke up instead.

"The pilot wasn’t sure about his ability to pilot again. He likely didn’t want to waste official resources by having his mecha fixed when he wasn’t sure of his capabilities."

"But mechas are like partners. So unable to leave his partner in such a state, he was willing to let students try and patch it up."

"Huh?"

"Sid is correct."

"I think it’s the same with the mecha masters who had to give up their experiments because they couldn’t find it in their heart to use precious materials for trial and error."

"Then, host, repairing the mecha to this extent was a reward?"

"Well, in a sense, because this is really just as much as I could do for now. But it’s more like an encouragement."

"Hopefully, the pilot wouldn’t be as scared to pilot with a better-protected mecha. Maybe he’d be encouraged to give it another go."

"...Oh," D-29 said again.

And that was the end of it.

Except it wasn’t.

The moment the timer stopped, a quiet hum fell over the arena.

Then came the footsteps.

Inspectors in clean uniforms walked toward the finished mecha. Some held data slates. Others carried calibration tools. Most just looked confused.

Luca had already stepped back, quietly wiping his gloves with a cloth that now looked more like a sacrifice. He stood to the side, calm and soft-spoken as ever, waiting to be told if he had passed or not.

But the proctors didn’t speak. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Instead, one of the lead instructors squinted at the joints.

Another leaned into the cockpit, gasped, then called two more over.

Soon, even the test proctor was waving his arms, asking for backup, which got the attention of Instructor Moore, who had been seated in the back with his arms crossed and a knowing look on his face.

"...Check the calibration logs," Moore said suddenly.

"What?"

But no one was laughing. Okay, maybe Instructor Moore and a certain mop were.

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