Huh?
What?
Whether it was Tsubaki, the Amazon sisters, including Aiz, or Eina who was still outside the shop at this moment, a giant "?" popped up above their heads.
None of them had ever seen the thing before them.
The brownish-yellow and dark blue steel surface reflected a faint cold light, and a deep red glow shone from its head.
Blue flames spewed from its back and feet, acting as the power source for it to fly in mid-air.
"So cool!!"
She was almost instantly captivated by the steel robot before her.
As the younger sister, Tiona almost jumped up to hug it, and then grope it all over to observe it carefully.
For a girl who grew up loving all kinds of fairy tales about heroes and knights, this kind of "steel can" offered almost no resistance.
"Empyrean's most basic... no, most elite combat unit, equipped with artificial intelligence that can distinguish friend from foe, auto-target enemies, and is armed with twin-linked missiles and a six-barrel machine gun."
"The weapons all come with the fire attribute and will cause explosions. It can perform long-term patrols, reconnaissance, or long-range support..."
Of course.
Most importantly, the self-destruct device had been turned off by El.
Also, these basic war machines were all quite "ancient" antiques to El.
Since they were outdated, he could show off this old technology.
"Besides this, there is another model."
He snapped his fingers again.
Blue light emerged, and another humanoid machine, also nearly two meters tall, entirely gray with golden striped paint, appeared once more.
"Air Combat Mech: Gale."
Compared to the "Tempester" from just now, the "Gale's" body was much more "bloated" overall. It wasn't as slender and lacked that streamlined aesthetic, but its chaotic wires and modular body made it look incredibly imposing.
"It excels in long-range, large-area fire coverage. It is equipped with a six-shot Light Burst Missile system, which can inflict an additional electrocution effect on enemies."
El's words.
The Amazon sisters, Aiz, and Tsubaki didn't understand a single word.
"Huh?"
The women wore almost identical expressions, staring blankly at the two large robots currently floating in the air.
"You mean... these things are weapons?"
As the older sister, Tione was the first to react.
"That's right."
"Then... then how powerful are they? What level of monsters can they deal with roughly?"
She struggled, trying to keep up with El's train of thought.
Tione couldn't understand things like "artificial intelligence," "auto-targeting," or "machine gun missiles."
But as weapons.
They should be able to fight monsters, right?
So, what floor's monsters could they handle?
"Hmm... That's a good question."
El hadn't tested them either.
As a rigorous Mechanic, he naturally couldn't just spout nonsense.
It was even more impossible to directly demonstrate the power of the missiles and machine guns equipped on the two Air Combat Mechs to the women right there on the spot.
"You can go test them out."
"Huh?"
"I mean, you can try them out first. If you're satisfied, we can proceed with further transactions."
El said, quickly borrowing a pen and paper from Tsubaki, and just like that, he started writing a simple "contract."
"The trial period is completely free. You can take the two mechs back right now. Of course, after the period ends, you also need to return them completely intact."
"The cost of the weapons and ammunition consumed during this period will be borne by you. If long-term cooperation is needed in the future, then the maintenance and upkeep will also..."
"There's no helping it, I'm the only one in the whole world who can maintain these things."
"If you are satisfied, we can sign a long-term cooperation agreement, like this... and then... also... add... that should be about right..."
Very quickly.
A contract appeared in El's hands just like that.
"So, sign your name, and the deal is done. Right now, we will even give you an EX-S Viper for free. It also has an auto-targeting function and can be detached to change positions."
"This is a huge discount!"
"..."
Tione was completely dumbfounded.
She couldn't understand what El was saying at all, and the "contract" before her also made her dizzy. She didn't dare to make a decision at all.
But...
"Sister, sign it quickly!! I want this one!!"
The younger sister, Tiona, was practically hugging that large robot, refusing to let go.
"It's free! It doesn't cost any Valis!!"
"How is it free..."
"The trial period is absolutely free. At most, you only need to pay for the weapons consumed. Even if you shoot all the ammunition loaded on it, it'll only be a few hundred thousand Valis."
El fanned the flames, and it quickly took effect.
A few hundred thousand?
That was indeed not expensive.
For the Loki Familia, the cost of preparing for a single expedition was at least in the hundreds of millions. If the steel constructs before them were truly useful, then...
Wait, these are clearly brand new weapons, right?
Taking them back to show the Captain would be good too. Anyway, it would only cost a few hundred thousand at most, she could even pay for it herself!
As for the "damage compensation," "installment rental fees," "breach of contract penalties," and so on that would arise after the one-month trial period stipulated in the contract ended.
Tione didn't have the time to think deeply about them.
"Hmm... Aiz, what do you think?"
She couldn't count on her younger sister at all. The fact that she wasn't rolling on the floor throwing a tantrum for it meant she had "grown up and become sensible."
Tione could only look at the girl beside her, Aiz.
"Not bad."
Aiz nodded.
However, the girl's gaze always remained on the white-haired boy, El.
The so-called "Air Combat Mechs" before her didn't give her any sense of danger; they were quite ordinary things, and she wasn't interested.
On the contrary.
This boy named El seemed to constantly draw her attention.
[Since he came in, he hasn't looked at me.]
As a girl who had grown up being the center of attention.
Aiz had always been very sensitive to the gazes of others, or rather, the attitudes others had toward her.
She had clearly noticed.
Since entering the shop, El's attention hadn't landed on her, or even Tione, Tiona, or Tsubaki.
It was as if these few beautiful girl adventurers renowned throughout Orario were just ordinary passersby.
How strange.
"Then... see you later, pleasure doing business."
El clapped his hands.
He quickly confirmed the contract with Tione.
Then.
He just waved his hand at everyone directly and prepared to turn around and leave.
Isn't that a bit too decisive?!
However, right at this moment, the [EX-S Viper] that El had just brought out as a so-called "free gift" suddenly emitted a deep red glow.
"Warning! Warning! Warning! Warning!"
"?!"
"?"
"What's the situation?"
Amidst the women's shock, El suddenly slapped his forehead as well.
Fuck!
The self-destruct module of the newest EX-S Viper model had been removed.
But...
The one he just brought out as a "free gift" was an older model, an old version of the "Viper" that was equipped with a self-destruct module.
"It's going to explode, get down quickly!"
El exclaimed, and then subconsciously tackled Miss Eina, who had been standing at the door waiting the whole time.
"Kyaa!!!"