---o---
The text on the light screen faded, and a new scene emerged:
It looked as though she hadn't slept well last night. Likely exhausted from the "Mechanical Fever" performance, which must have lasted late into the night, Serval dragged her slightly weary body to open the door of the "Perpetual Motion" Mechanical House.
She rubbed the two dark circles under her eyes, let out a huge yawn, and blocked the doorway, looking at Ron irritably.
"Didn't we agree you'd watch the whole 'Mechanical Fever' performance? I even saved the most conspicuous spot for you... Why'd you run off halfway through?"
"...Because I suddenly thought of a new way to combine the mobile stove and the missile launcher. I went home and drew a design blueprint all night."
Knowing he was in the wrong, Ron managed to squeeze out this sentence after a long pause, trying to change the subject. He handed the Miracle blueprint to Serval, his eyes full of sincerity.
Seeing his action, Serval rolled her eyes with a hint of helplessness, sighed, and moved out of his way.
"Come in, come in... What can I do? Big sis here is the most open-minded rock musician in all of Belobog. I get you types who only watch musicals. Just like you don't want to listen to a 'Mechanical Fever' show, I wouldn't want to set foot in the Golden Opera House either. I understand."
As if granted a great pardon, Ron immediately hurried into the "Perpetual Motion" Mechanical House, placed the Miracle blueprint on the counter, and carefully spread it out.
Serval ambled over languidly, curiously looking at the blueprint on the counter.
She wanted to see just what kind of genius design Ron had come up with that would make him sneak away and work through the entire night to turn it into a complete blueprint.
Ron promptly moved aside to avoid blocking her view.
He watched as Serval's expression shifted from curiosity to puzzlement, then from puzzlement to contemplation. She frowned, studying the Miracle blueprint Ron had drawn, her mind racing with unknown thoughts.
After a moment, Serval tapped her finger on a part of the blueprint, pointing to a strange module—a complex structure that Ron had labeled "Suspension"—and asked thoughtfully:
"...What is this part, Ron?"
"That's the anti-gravity module for the Anti-Gravity Stove Missile Launcher, Serval."
Ron patted his chest with full confidence.
"I adjusted the direction of the stove's burners and changed the flame release intensity and temperature. This allows the stove to have enough thrust to levitate while maintaining a quiet burn and low-temperature flames. I also designed a ring of jets around the stove's periphery, which is enough to give the entire unit mobility in all directions..."
Serval listened to Ron's explanation, nodding seriously and occasionally letting out a thoughtful "mm-hmm" to show her agreement.
Only after Ron had finished did Serval coolly interject with a very important question:
"So... Ron, after all these modifications, is this so-called 'Anti-Gravity Stove Missile Launcher' of yours really still a stove?"
"Uh... but it's already being paired with a missile launcher. Does it really matter if it's a stove or not..."
Ron tried to awkwardly justify himself, only to see Serval sigh and explain:
"The mobile stove with a missile launcher is a military order my little brother got for me. The goal is to provide the Silvermane Guard frontline troops with a safe, mobile cooking station, giving the cooks more ways to fight back when facing a sudden attack from Fragmentum creatures..."
As she spoke, she pointed to the exquisitely drawn and fantastically imaginative anti-gravity module on the Miracle blueprint and shrugged.
"But you've completely removed the stove's essential function. The entire gas stove has been modified into an anti-gravity module... While it's really cool that it can fly around, don't you think it's a bit impractical?"
"Its frame is too large, making it an easy target for Fragmentum creatures. It would be difficult for it to achieve any actual combat merit... If you just wanted a fast-moving missile launcher, the army has plenty of automatons that can do the job perfectly."
Serval lifted her finger from the blueprint, then her tone suddenly shifted.
"Although this blueprint has no practical application and is almost completely useless, that still can't hide the incredible ingenuity packed into your design... I really like it, Ron."
She looked at Ron and broke into a smile.
"Don't let the order's requirements limit you. Every piece we mechanics create is a part of ourselves. That part of ourselves shouldn't be constrained everywhere just for the sake of money. It's better to follow your heart and make it the best it can be..."
She took a new sheet of white paper from a nearby cabinet, spread it open, and stepped aside, giving the space to Ron and allowing him to draw freely.
"Unleash your creativity, Ron... Let me see what your truest ideas will form."
The scene on the screen faded, and new lines of text appeared:
[You introduce your Miracle blueprint to Serval. She highly approves of it, because your design is filled with fantastic ideas and successfully treads a path no one has ever considered.]
[You have successfully designed a simple and cleverly constructed anti-gravity module. Although it is still very crude, it is indeed part of a Miracle—]
[You have a faint feeling that the anti-gravity module designed in your Miracle blueprint is a branch of the tech tree that the Belobog Academy of Sciences would not have been able to develop for centuries...]
[No one ever paid attention to this field, until you, in a flash of inspiration, drew this small "Miracle," successfully lighting the starting point of a tech line that would have otherwise remained unlit.]
[With the passage of time, as long as someone is willing to devote themselves to researching it, they will eventually follow this tech line to its end and receive the true gift of a "Miracle."]
[Although this is the beginning of a legendary undertaking that will benefit ages to come, you have to admit a small fact—your blueprint is utterly useless for the original design's requirements.]
[You feel a little disappointed by this, but Serval's change of tone makes you completely forget this minor setback.]
[She has realized that your design ended up this way because it was constrained by the requirements.]
[If you were allowed to create freely, without being limited by design requirements, you might be able to draw a new design that is truly astonishing...]
Looking at the text, Ron thought for a moment and came to a simple understanding.
"It seems that while this Miracle blueprint is worthy of being called a 'Miracle,' it's not actually a very good design, otherwise Serval wouldn't have reacted this way..."
"So, the reason this blueprint constitutes a 'Miracle' is actually because of the design my simulated self used in a flash of inspiration... that 'anti-gravity module'?"
Ron stroked his chin, looking at the text on the screen with confusion. He found it a bit difficult to understand.
Isn't this so-called "anti-gravity module" just a very rudimentary flying device?
Although he couldn't comprehend how his simulated self managed it, even if it was jet-propelled, it was still just a simple flying device. There was nothing special about it. How could that be called a "Miracle"?
Was it just because it lit up a branch on the tech tree that Belobog would never have developed under normal circumstances for hundreds of years?
As Ron pondered, the text on the screen faded, and new options appeared:
[Serval senses that you seem to have other designs swirling in your mind. She wants to see what sparks your unrestrained thoughts can create, to see what form your fantastic ideas will take on a design blueprint...]
[Faced with her request, the familiar, wondrous feeling from last night when you drew the Miracle blueprint resonates within you. You are eager to start on the blank paper before you, but you are not yet sure in which direction to channel this inspiration—]
[1. Combat-Oriented.
You know that the source of this Miracle comes from your anti-gravity module design, and the Silvermane Guards are likely in great need of a batch of high-speed combat drones...
You will channel this extremely rare inspiration toward a "Combat-Oriented" design. There is a very high probability you will design a high-speed drone driven by an anti-gravity module, which will become the sharpest new fangs of the Silvermane Guards.]
[2. Civilian-Oriented.
You know that the lives of the people of Belobog are far from perfect. In order for the people to live better lives, you decide to contribute your meager strength to improving their livelihood.
Although the anti-gravity module has great potential for civilian applications, the one you have designed is only in its infancy. While it possesses an intellectual beauty, it is still too crude...
You will channel this extremely rare inspiration toward a "Civilian-Oriented" design. Because the current anti-gravity module is too crude, this inspiration is unlikely to forge a useful blueprint. There is only an extremely small chance of creating another Miracle.
Because the probability is so low, the potential researchable blueprint cannot be predicted.]
[3. Development-Oriented.
You know that the current anti-gravity module is merely a product of your late-night whimsy. Although it is a wondrous design born from a stroke of genius, it has not been polished and is far too crude.
You will channel this extremely rare inspiration toward a "Development-Oriented" design. You will upgrade the existing anti-gravity module. There is a 100% probability that you will design an upgraded version that surpasses the current anti-gravity module in every aspect, significantly reducing its weight and consumption.]
Looking at the options, Ron stroked his chin and, without hesitation, chose the third option.
The second option had virtually no chance of success. When other options offered sufficient rewards, Ron wasn't going to bet on the ethereal 1% chance of a Miracle event, so he immediately banned option two.
If this were before, Ron might have hesitated between options one and three, because the first option would definitely produce an extremely useful piece of tactical equipment that could greatly enhance the Silvermane Guards' combat effectiveness...
But in this simulation, Ron had to avoid being discovered by Sampo at all costs. If he drew this blueprint and gave it to the Silvermane Guards, Bronya would probably be at his door the next second, and Sampo's gaze would naturally follow...
Low profile, low profile... In this simulation, Ron just wanted to remain anonymous. He wouldn't touch a design that required contact with the Guards, no matter how good it was.
It was better to choose the third option and upgrade the anti-gravity module. Although it didn't seem to yield immediate results, this was climbing the tech tree. If he kept at it, he would eventually reach the end of this tech line...
With these thoughts, Ron watched as the option box on the screen faded and new simulation text appeared:
[You decide to use your inspiration to upgrade the anti-gravity module.]
[You grab the pen, its tip dancing across the white paper. As you lose yourself in your work, countless elegant lines are drawn under your hand, forming a beautiful design.]
[The new design looks similar to the anti-gravity module on the Miracle blueprint, but it is completely different in various subtle details, several times more refined and elegant than the previous crude design.]
[You make the final stroke, shake your slightly sore wrist, and look up, only to find the sun tilting west. It is already evening.]
[You have been engrossed for an entire day, drawing this upgraded anti-gravity module design.]
[Your skill "Mechanics" has increased to Lv. 50.]
[You hand this blueprint to Serval. After looking it over, she praises it effusively, stating that this is the kind of beautiful design you can create without constraints.]
[She believes this upgraded anti-gravity module can be used in all sorts of designs and asks to borrow it. She hopes you will authorize its use so she can apply it to other designs she feels are suitable, in order to complete various orders for the workshop.]
[As payment, you, the provider of the anti-gravity module design, will receive 50% of the profits from every order.]
The text on the screen faded and was replaced by an option box asking for a "Yes" or "No." Ron scratched his head, feeling this choice was completely meaningless.
A technology buy-in for half the profits? Splitting it fifty-fifty right off the bat? Such a good deal actually exists in this world?
Wasn't this a no-brainer "Yes"?
He casually tapped "Yes." The option box disappeared, and new simulation text appeared:
[You have authorized the use of the anti-gravity module design to Serval and the "Perpetual Motion" Mechanical House.]
[After receiving your authorization, Serval goes full throttle, drawing up numerous blueprints. From small daily-use items to large military contracts, there are applications for the anti-gravity module everywhere.]
[Half a month passes in a flash. Although only a short time has passed, the workshop has already completed several orders. You have received a small sum of money from your share, enough for you to live lavishly for a whole month...]
[During this time, you continue to act as Serval's assistant, learning from her mechanical knowledge every day. After half a month, you have completely squeezed her dry; she has nothing left to teach you.]
[Even so, you still go to the "Perpetual Motion" Mechanical House every day, using the workshop's tools to create new designs...]
[Today, you head to the workshop as usual. But just before you arrive, you notice a large, intimidating group of Silvermane Guards surrounding the building.]
[They carry a stern aura, their formation is orderly, and they wear the crest of Qlipoth Fort—the same identification you wore when you were a guard there.]