Let me tell you a story about a certain young woman.
In front of a man’s room, there was a woman pacing around like a bear that had failed to hibernate. Her name was Galatea Dodge.
As the youngest daughter and fourth child among five children in the prestigious Dodge Marquis Family, she always felt out of place.
Because she was an unplanned child, there was a significant age gap between her and her siblings. Some even suspected that her honey-colored skin, which was likely due to a recessive gene from her great-grandparents, made her appear like a child born out of wedlock.
Hating her family with every fiber of her being, Galatea left home the moment she discovered her talent.
She volunteered for the Magius Geanaite knights, who were often away from the city under the guise of protecting the nation and its people.
Fortunately, Galatea possessed the rare ability to connect with machine spirits, which led to her acceptance into the esteemed knighthood. They were always in need of capable warriors to protect the Canopy Holy Capital, especially with enemies approaching from three sides. While connections with the Dodge family likely played a role, she was exceptionally skilled with the Gear Caliber and proudly joined the Northern Garden Knights, an honor in itself.
There, she spent several years in happiness. Surrounded by kind comrades and a strict yet warm superior officer, she felt truly valued as a human being for the first time.
However, this happiness was short-lived. Her first battle, meant to be a grand debut, was devastated by an unexpected assault from a “nameless monster.” She lost everything she had worked so hard to gain—her fellow knights, her esteemed superiors, and her pride as a knight.
Lying half-conscious on a large cart operated by Tech Gobs, she cursed her fate for not letting her die alongside her comrades. Had she perished there, she could have proudly proclaimed herself a fallen warrior under the Machine God’s name, merely as Galatea.
She shed tears, lamenting the fickle hand of fate, for allowing her to survive as a defeated soldier.
But fate wasn’t only cruel—it also smiled upon her kindly. The mysterious being who opened the door before she could even ring the intercom was none other than Selene.
As Galatea hesitantly peeked into the room, she found herself in a spacious and luxurious main chamber befitting an archbishop. The figure sat idly on an oversized chair, swinging her legs while tinkering with some device. Her glossy black skin, unlike Galatea’s honey tone, was unmistakably metallic, resembling polished obsidian. Her stark white bangs cut straight across her forehead, partially covering her nose, exuding an otherworldly charm that fascinated the residents of Canopy Holy Capital.
Her knees and ankles were absent, replaced with heel-like structures and long tear-drop shaped forearms extending into five fingers. Cables jutting out from various parts of her body, connected to numerous devices, made her look like the magical mechanical sprite from a fairy tale.
“Um… Lady Machine Spirit… May I come in?”
“Therefore, I have a wonderful name given by Captain—Selene, please use that name when addressing me.”
“But… that seems too daunting.”
“Hmph, troublesome… but this is better than you loitering around my door. Please come in.”
Encouraged by Selene, who claimed to be a modified nanny drone, Galatea timidly entered and cautiously sat in front of her.
“Um… Lady Machine Spirit, what are you doing?”
“Improving the Captain’s equipment.”
As Selene spoke, a bulky machine in front of her released a puff of nitrogen while opening. Inside sat a single “railgun,” produced by a small 3D printer. Unlike the usual coil guns, because the Captain’s main body had its internal power source, it could now operate in conjunction with rechargeable batteries, creating a railgun.
However, this makeshift creation, designed to prioritize low energy consumption, was not exactly impressive. With its absurd structure, housing the fuse and ammunition within the cylindrical part and filling the entire grip with batteries, it could only achieve a maximum output of 12,000J even in its high-power mode—a weapon that would make a regular soldier cry.
“This is Nozomu’s new gun…?”
“His previous arsenal couldn’t penetrate Magius Geanaite’s armor, so this is a preparation for future battles.”
“But I thought it was lethal enough as it was…?”
Galatea recalled that fateful encounter and shuddered. That was the first time she had seen Nozomu with a stern expression, his gaze seemingly capable of killing, mercilessly taking down those who had intended to wreak havoc.
At that moment, if fate hadn’t smiled and sent him there, she might have lost her virtue and her life. That’s why, perhaps, the chill that ran through her at his cold gaze was also accompanied by a strange thrill.
Nozomu rarely changed his expression, often maintaining an unreadable look; but when he did, it was usually during battles or when Galatea made a request. Though she wasn’t sure why, his ability to show both gentle smiles and ruthless determination still puzzled her.
“When our enhanced knights proved too strong to penetrate, we realized the need for more firepower. With the Captain’s upgraded body, these changes seemed fitting.”
“Wow… Lady Machine Spirit, you can do anything…”
“Is that sarcasm?”
Confused by Selene’s question, Galatea tilted her head while the small modified drone sighed and shook her head.
“All I can do with this frame is to keep the Captain company in conversations.”
“But you’re making a gun…”
“That’s thanks to the main body… Though I doubt you understand.”
With a weary sigh, the mechanical body, incapable of carrying it alone due to weighing 7kg despite its small appearance, asked Galatea to help move the gun away from the 3D printer. The railgun was top-heavy and awkward to handle, making it an impressive feat that Nozomu could handle it with such precision.
As Galatea marveled at the weapon’s peculiar design, clutching it with difficulty, Selene realized with a hint of irritation that it wouldn’t even fire.
Though the machine spirit claimed no sense of smell, the faintly sweet aroma in the air disturbed her.
“So, what brings you here? Captain is currently in a meeting with the Cardinal’s aide.”
“I… Well, I thought it might be tiring for you, so…”
Responding to that, Galatea opened the box she had been carrying the entire time. Inside was a small cake, evidently homemade—a modest yet comforting cheesecake.
Though the crew of the “Inanna 12” had brought many livestock to sustain the people alongside the maintenance of the Canopy, cows remained their most numerous and versatile addition. Despite the high costs of breeding them within limited space, their multiple uses ensured their popularity in cloning, and consequently, on the ground.
Because of this, cheesecake was a common treat in the Holy Capital. People spread cream cheese on bread, nibbled on it plain, or melted it over meats, making it a daily staple.
Even though it was clearly a beginner’s creation, the soft and airy texture of this particular cheesecake was unmistakable.
After staring at it for a while, Selene abruptly extended a cable toward it.
“Here, I thought something sweet might help with the fatigue… Lady Machine Spirit?!”
“Analyzing sugar content, density, and composition…”
“Why would I poison anyone?!”
“Nevertheless, the Captain is pretty picky about food, so I thought I’d evaluate it beforehand.”
“Because of THAT?!”
Selene referred to Nozomu’s peculiar eating habits. He simply nibbled on calorie-dense nutrition bars and sipped from a seemingly endless water bottle, never indulging in proper meals even after joining the Holy Capital. And lately, not eating anything at all was a new development due to his mechanical body.
Realizing this, Galatea worried. Though Nozumou was clearly a machine, to her, he looked human—so much so that she brought this modest offering in the hopes of making him taste it.
“Because he doesn’t need to eat, it makes it even more important to ensure the quality”.
“Ah…”
Though a mere hobby, Galatea wasn’t a professional chef. Despite entering the kitchen without permission during her carefree upbringing, her cake was the result of trial and error.
The simplicity of this soft cheese sponge cake resulted from relatively easy access to ingredients and baking adjustments in the Holy Capital’s kitchens. After creating it, she began to worry if this offering might be considered disrespectful, thus pacing outside the door.
Furthermore, as a Saint, he might soon be surrounded by more pious individuals, like holy maidens serving as his attendants.
Thinking of this, Galatea felt a pang of jealousy that left her breathless.
Knowing she could never compete with the machine spirit, chosen by Nozomu himself and connected to him for so long, was a truth she accepted immediately when hearing their story. Saints were special beings, blessed by the Machine God itself, even capable of resurrection. Having the mechanical spirit by his side felt as natural as the moonlight reflecting on a serene pond.
But when thinking of others… human competitors…
The mechanical spirit’s faint sigh and Galatea’s inability to catch the sentiment echoed her unspoken feelings.
“Plain and simple, it’s quite delicious. The inclusion of wine-soaked raisins adds a nice touch, which the Captain might appreciate”.
“R-Really, Lady Machine Spirit?”
“Indeed… though it still doesn’t compare to my synthetic creations”.
Missed in her excitement over Selene’s approval, Galatea didn’t notice the subtle irritation in her tone as she celebrated her successful offering.
“Ah, is that you, Galatea? If I had known you were coming, I would have prepared some tea.”
Just then, Nozomu returned, holding a binder with several documents, indicating he had acquired new tasks.
“Nozomu!”
“Phew, I’m glad you called my name and not my title. Being referred to as a Saint would have made me lonely.”
The mechanical man effortlessly sat beside Galatea, his keen eyes spotting the cheesecake right away.
“Ah, is this a gift?”
“Yes, well… Along the way, I haven’t had many chances to cook, and since you haven’t eaten anything in this body…?”
“Thank you, I love cheesecake! Fluffy texture, just perfect.”
Excitedly, Nozomu prepared plates for everyone, cutting and serving the cake with apparent delight. Seeing him savor the simple treat made Galatea wonder if his apparent disinterest in lavish meals at grand feasts was just an act. How could someone with his divine status reject such grandiose banquets?
“Let’s dig in then!”
“Would you have any, Lady Machine Spirit?”
“Not now, but I appreciate the thought”.
Swiftly setting up three portions, Nozomu took his first bite, a blissful smile spreading across his usually ambiguous face. His genuine warmth mirrored the happiness he showed Galatea.
Realizing how much her simple gesture pleased him, Galatea felt a mixture of joy and restraint swelling in her 23-year-old heart. Though a devoted knight, she knew little of romance.
The organic conversion furnace inside his mechanical body came to life through fusion power, enjoying its first meal since the transformation. The slight tangy sweetness of the cheese melted in his mouth, offering a unique texture that couldn’t be fully appreciated in virtual spaces. The tangible indulgence, despite the extra effort involved, made it all the more luxurious.
“Mmm, delicious.”
“Good… I’m glad”.
Relieved, the young woman watched as their small tea party progressed. When it came to an end, Nozomu slowly retrieved the binder.
“I have something to discuss. There’s another place I’d like you to accompany me.”
“Me? Really? But there are so many holy maidens…?”
“What would I do without you?”
Confused by Nozomu’s words, Galatea felt her heart leap as if struck by lightning and momentarily lost her balance.
“I don’t like this part of the Captain’s personality.”
“Huh?! Se-Se-Se… Did I say something inappropriate?”
“No… Just don’t overfeed a caught fish.”
“That fish never existed!” Selene countered with a snicker to the mechanical man’s oblivious nature.
Meanwhile, our metaphorical fish pondered if being one wasn’t so bad after all…
【Planetary Exploration Note】Mechanized humans developed a hobbyistic appreciation for eating, ensuring most of their prosthetic bodies were equipped with capabilities for consumption. The compact organic conversion furnaces, though functionally minimal as backup systems to their core mechanisms, highlighted a subtle remnant of their human nature. No one deemed this feature “wasteful” among their kind.
We sincerely apologize for the delay in updating this morning.
The next update is scheduled for around 6:00 PM on August 7, 2024.
