Endless Silver Machine

Professor Cocona did not allow Aika to stay up late. Although she said so, she was not lying on the bed in her room, but was still working on something in the studio on the second floor.

At the beginning of her boarding life, Professor Cocona rarely went back to her room to sleep, so she planned to let Aika use her bed directly. But even if the sheets and bedding were brand new, Aika didn't have the courage to spend a night peacefully in a room filled with girls' underwear. So Cocona had to reluctantly modify the sofa in the lobby on the first floor. Although it was not very spacious, it was enough for Aika to sleep alone, and unexpectedly it felt very comfortable to lie down on it.

After only two days of living with Professor Cocona, Aika basically understood her daily life. After opening her eyes in the morning, if she could not be found in her room, she would probably be lying on the table in the studio, with her face pressed against the surface that could not be called rough, and her hands hanging casually by her sides. Even if I fall asleep like this, I won't catch a cold, thanks to the various high-power electrical appliances in the studio that dissipate heat and the heater that works all night long. Then, shuffling lazily, she would take a relaxing bath in a hot bath. Then for the rest of the day, it was difficult for her to appear in the lobby on the first floor. Either I draw "casually" in the studio, or I stay in my room and sew some strange clothes with my own hands. Her room has a full set of tailoring equipment, which looks expensive from the looks of it.

"There's nothing to do."

When Professor Cocona was asked if she wanted to go out and relax, this is what she said to Aika. When it comes to magical machinery, Professor Cocona is indeed a genius. Even if she dozes off, dazes, and many other meaningless actions in the studio, she can always produce results that are not proportional to the time she puts in. There is not a single invalid drawing in her hand. As long as she writes, it will be It will definitely be possible to complete a work that is commercial enough. This was already incredible in the eyes of beginner Aika, but she herself seemed to be dissatisfied with many things that Aika couldn't notice, so she threw all the "unsatisfactory" drawings to Aika herself to "look at casually" look".

Suddenly the light from the second floor cut through the darkness where Aika was staring. Professor Cocona quietly stepped on the stairs extending from the ceiling to the first floor where the lights were not turned on. Aika was lying on the sofa, with her back facing the direction of the stairs. He could only pretend to be asleep when he was not asleep. Professor Cocona, who rarely left the studio, came here at this time, probably because of things that were beyond his control, and he acted lightly to avoid making any noise. Wake yourself up, it will definitely be embarrassing if you call her out now.

Aika closed her eyes tightly and waited for Professor Cocona's footsteps to go away. However, things went against expectations. When he came to his senses, Professor Cocona was already close to his back.

As if to confirm whether Aika was asleep, Professor Cocona quietly walked around the sofa and then returned behind him.

If it is inadvertent, it is not difficult for the body to remain motionless for ten minutes. But once you realize it, you won't be able to bear it for a moment. Aika is in this painful situation right now. I had no idea what Professor Cocona wanted to do, and I couldn't confirm it with my eyes. I can only guess from the occasional "rustling" sound coming from behind.

Aika felt something poke her on her side, and it took Aika a moment to realize that it was Professor Cocona's finger. If in order not to wake myself up, isn't this approach putting the cart before the horse? Even though she was full of doubts, Aika couldn't suddenly jump up in this situation. The place where he was poked happened to be the place where the nerves were most concentrated. Even when he clenched his teeth, he made a grinding sound, so Aika could only hold the palm of his hand tightly.

After two or three pokes, there was no movement behind her and her fingers were removed from her waist. Aika could finally relax her tense muscles.

"I poke!"

The next moment, Professor Cocona's finger accurately poked the red heart with a force that was incomparable to the one just now.

"Haha! Stop, stop, stop..."

Aika was so stimulated that she straightened her back and jumped up from the sofa, laughing with tears in her eyes. Cocona stood in front of the sofa with her hands on her hips, looking at him with a condescending and proud look.

"Hey, hey, I knew you must not be asleep yet."

"If you hadn't given me this moment just now, I would definitely be completely asleep now."

"Just to prevent you from falling asleep, I poke you."

"..."

"Anyway, you're awake now and I've finished my drawings. Let's just come and chat."

"If you're tired, just go and sleep. If you chat, you won't be able to fall asleep."

Aika sat cross-legged on the sofa, reaching out just enough to touch Professor Cocona's head, so he did so.

"Hey, what are you doing!" Professor Cocona was suddenly attacked by Aika, and she bent down to avoid Aika's palm. "I'm not a kid who needs you to teach me!"

"I didn't treat you like a child."

Professor Cocona snorted dubiously.

"I didn't come to you just for fun. Because you are going back tomorrow. There is something I have wanted to tell you for a long time. I was busy with my own things and almost forgot. Originally, even if you were sleeping If you are caught, I will forcefully pull you up."

"It's too much!"

"It's not too much, okay? I'm going to say something very important. Sit down a little bit, I'm tired of standing."

Professor Cocona became serious, and squeezed Aika to sit on the sofa as if it were natural.

"The sofa over there is fine too..."

"Just listen to me."

For some reason, Professor Cocona's tone suddenly became a little rougher. Did she just do something that made her unhappy?

Professor Cocona hugged her knees and sat next to Aika. She also snatched half of his blanket and pulled it over her body. The hall was not very dark. Aika turned her head slightly and looked to her side. Looking at Professor Cocona sitting in this posture from his angle, there was really no way to tell her actual age.

"I heard a little bit about the history of the Qianze family from my friends."

Professor Cocona went straight to the topic. When Aika heard the name of a family that was famous throughout the Bis Empire, she was not as excited as she imagined. Aika put a hand on her knee and quietly waited for Professor Cocona's next words.

"Aren't you interested in this kind of topic?"

"No..." Aika replied calmly, "The Qianze family, this family name may indeed have something to do with me, and it has brought me a lot of trouble, but just like that, I still can't find the real feeling. I I only learned about this family name after I left home. Maybe there was just some misunderstanding and it had nothing to do with me and Luo Luo. It is also possible."

"Nothing can be said absolutely. Your idea is indeed correct...forget it, let me finish my words first. The magic equipment of the Qianze family and the Heinz family, compared with other recorded magic equipment, the comprehensive data is not the same. Not the most outstanding one. But why are these two families the only ones known to the world as the 'Twin Towers of Bisi'? Can you guess the reason?"

Cocona denied the major premise from the beginning. Putting aside the power of the magic equipment itself, if there is anything else that will affect its evaluation...

"Is it because of the users of these two families...?"

Aika can only consider this aspect.

"Well... the answer is correct..." Professor Cocona frowned in confusion, because she originally planned to reveal the correct answer herself, "A magic equipment can only be used by one person in the family. This way is like Some kind of contract. In other words, a magic outfit is a unique existence. Can you understand this explanation?"

"Um."

Aika nodded and Professor Cocona continued.

"In this case, even if all the magic equipment in the entire empire were collected, there would not be more than twenty types. But the magic equipment did help mankind to win in the 'cross-border war'. If you think it is realistic, this may ?"

"It seems possible if a magic weapon can control a battlefield."

"I'm talking about Aika, do you think war is too simple... Moreover, other races also have power that is no less powerful than magic equipment. 'Magic equipment' is just a term used in the Bis Empire. You should really take care of yourself Go out and learn about the world. If your vision is too narrow, there will be many disadvantages."

"You don't have the right to say such things when you stay at home all day..."

Because she was rarely exposed to the sun, her skin was as white as porcelain, adding a childishness to her already petite body.

"I didn't have time to go out because of research, and my vision is not narrow. Even if you look at me like this, I know much more about all kinds of messy things on the mainland than Xiaoyin and Xiaoxi!"

Saying this proves that Professor Cocona has realized that she is a homebody, and just to maintain face, she will forcefully move out to a place that she can be proud of.

"Do the clothes you make yourself also incorporate styles from different countries?"

"Why did you suddenly think of that? The clothes I made were all for myself to wear, but I don't have much chance to wear them now."

When she was studying in Professor Cocona's laboratory, Aika had never seen her outside of wearing a large white shirt.

"Hey, don't interrupt! I'm going to sleep after this!"

"Okay, please continue..."

"Ahem. So, the historical records are too vague. Teacher Philia has experienced the 'cross-border war'. If you have the chance, you can learn about the 'cross-border war' from her, but most of them will not tell You."

"Is it because the Gods require secrecy?"

"No, there is no need to keep this kind of thing secret. It's just that for people of our generation, she doesn't want to bring up the past again. Principal Phyllis is a person who values ​​the present. Those old things are too important to us. It’s useless at all, so of course I don’t want to say it. But if you ask, you might be able to reveal something.”

"Then let me find an opportunity to visit the principal's office."

"Okay, now let's get to the point. What I heard from my friends is that the Chise family and the Heinz family came up with a plan during the war, which was to mass-produce magic clothing."

"Can magic equipment be mass-produced?"

Aika suddenly cheered up.

"Listen to me first." Cocona stretched out her hand from the blanket and pushed him back, who had unconsciously squeezed him. "Of course mass production of magic equipment is impossible, so the plan must have failed. And in After that, the Chise family completely disappeared from history, and the Heinz family appeared less and less in records. It's hard not to connect this plan with the decline of the two big families. Do you think Woolen cloth?"

Cocona didn't say anything further, but turned her head and stared directly at Aika. It was obvious she wanted some answers from Aika about something. But unfortunately, Aika let her down.

"I have no idea……"

The only answer Aika could give was an answer that anyone could easily say.

"Anyway, that's all I know." From Aika's misty tone, Cocona could tell that he didn't want to continue the topic, so she didn't continue to ask, "Go to bed early, they will meet tomorrow Came to pick you up.”

"Professor Cocona, thank you for thinking of me like this."

"You are my student, and you will have many things to thank me for in the future!" Professor Cocona patted Aika on the shoulder with a great look, "So you don't need to tell me about little things like this in the future. 'Thank you."

She is caring about Aika in her own way. After saying this, Professor Cocona jumped off the sofa and returned the space to Aika.

"That's it...ah!"

Before he could finish saying goodbye, Professor Cocona suddenly fell to the floor.

"It doesn't matter..."

When Aika reached out to pull her up, she realized that the blanket dragged from the sofa was entangled in her feet.

"Woo..."

It seemed that Professor Cocona was not injured anywhere, but her little nose seemed to have been in direct contact with the floor, and the tip of her nose was a little red.

Holding Aika's hand, Professor Cocona stood up unsteadily. She glanced at Aika with a somewhat aggrieved look, and then shook off his hand.

"S-go to sleep!"

Saying this, he ran back to the second floor angrily. The light coming from upstairs also disappeared as the ceiling closed.

Darkness returned to the hall. Aika scratched her hair and lay down on the sofa again.

The place where Professor Cocona had been sitting just now still had her body temperature.

It's late at night now. Surrounded by this sense of comfort, Aika's consciousness quickly sank deep into the depths.

…………