Wait!
I haven't made anything yet!
I won't let you go!
I won't let you go, my robot!
Ernie's so soft...
I know what this is.
I dozed off and Addy grabbed me,
and then she fell asleep again.
Ernie...
Addy, wake up.
I can't move.
You're so warm, Ernie.
I'm so happy.
Stop it, Ernie!
You're so mean!
That's not true!
I can see Laihiala.
That tickles!
After the Casadesus Incident came to a conclusion,
Ernesti and the others returned to Laihiala.
Meanwhile, the Telestale was sent to the nation's greatest research lab,
the Silhouette Knight Laboratory.
You're so slow!
A little kid built this!
How long can it take to analyze?
But this Strand-Type Crystal Tissue,
and the arm-like things on its back...
They're different from anything we've ever seen.
He even altered the Magius Engine...
And you call yourself a proud member of this lab?
Chief, you mustn't yell like that.
Director Olver!
You complained that you sat in your chair so long you set down roots,
so what are you doing here?
Of course, I want to see the new unit.
It's been a century since we've had anything like this.
It would be even better if you were to give me your analysis of it, Chief Gaizka.
At another time.
I'm very busy today, so I'll be going.
Oh dear.
This lab's been stuck in a rut for so long that this may have been a bit too much for us.
His Majesty can be meaner than he looks.
Or is this intended to shake us up?
That stupid brat!
He sucks up to the king and now thinks he's the cock of the walk!
But I'll show him!
If I can use that new unit as the base for a new mass-produced model,
it'll be my name that goes down in history!
I see. So he's back at Laihiala.
Chapter 6:
Indeed.
We need their power.
Things have been getting complicated lately.
That's right.
But those raiders...
I believe that someone from the Occident sent them.
The Occident is the name given to the countries to the west of Fremmevilla,
on the other side of the Aubigne Mountains.
It's only because we fight off the demon beasts that the west remains at peace.
It's probably the work of someone who forgot that.
Regardless of who it was, we must respond.
Knut, I'm putting you in command of the Order of the Azure Hawk.
Atone for your failure at Fort Casadesus.
I promise I will, sire!
Now, what else does that little boy have in store for us?
I can't wait to see!
As you say...
Knight Commander?!
Yes, that's right.
I'm now the commander of the newly-created Order of the Silver Phoenix.
But I'll still continue to be a student until graduation.
No, wait...
I think his majesty will send an official notice eventually,
but I'm going to use the Academy of Knight Runners' facilities as our base.
I see.
That's wonderful.
Yes.
So at last, you took over the school, huh?
I wasn't really thinking about it when I agreed,
but I guess we're a knightly order now, huh?
You happened to be there, boss, so it's better for you than me.
I ended up back here while I was unconscious.
You looked so sad when you were saying, "They might not let me in!"
That's not true!
Well, it's getting interesting, at least.
It should be fun to follow our commander.
You're all here, right, everyone?
Perfect timing!
What's going on here?
How's Bat using a Gear?
That's the selling point for this new Silhouette Gear!
It's got a miniaturized Magius Engine in it,
so even I can use it!
A miniaturized Magius Engine?
Where the hell did you get that?
The government!
I asked and they gave it to me!
Gave it to you?
Wait, aren't Magius Engines...
Yeah.
They're not as tightly-controlled as Ether Reactors,
but they're not something you can just ask for.
And they just handed it over, huh?
Since Bat can use it,
so can you and the rest of the Knightsmiths, boss!
We can, huh?
That's gonna make the work go quicker!
Hey, Ernie!
Big news! Big news!
Well, isn't this a sight?
I am delivering two companies of Kaldatoahs at the orders of Marquis Dixgard.
Received.
You might be tuning up my partner at some point, too.
I'll make sure to be useful to you then.
Well, there's definitely no backing out now.
This really is hard!
You sure look happy, though!
That's right!
And so, everyone, it's time to make our down payment.
To whom?
I'm kidding.
But it's time for us to fulfill our duty.
The development of a new unit, right?
Yes.
His Majesty has given us a greater goal of making the best machine possible,
but that's not all.
The message from him I just received said this...
Ten months from now, we're to have a mock battle with a unit developed by the lab.
What?
A mock battle?
A battle with the lab?
How exciting!
A worthy opponent!
That's right!
Let's make something that will blow the pants off of the Silhouette Knight Laboratory!
Yeah!
Building on what we learned from the Casadesus incident,
I want to make a mech that's got superior speed.
Speed... mobility?
Yes.
And this is what's going to do it.
Um...
Isn't this...
We're just making one new unit?
I think it's going to take a lot of effort.
But we can prepare Option Works for the fight.
Option Works?
Equipment that will allow us to use new tactics!
For example, a flexible coat.
If the back weapon is a sub-arm that holds a weapon,
this one will hold a shield.
There're lots more!
Let's take it one at a time, right?
Yes.
That may make your dream come true, huh?
Yeah.
I still can only get glimpses of it,
but there's a robot that's mine, just for me, and made by me!
The new unit and the Option Works are all stepping stones toward that.
I couldn't reach it in my dreams,
but this is reality, and I can grab it with my own hands.
The new Silhouette Gear vastly improved the efficiency of the Knightsmiths,
drastically speeding up the work of the Order of the Silver Phoenix.
Time passed.
I can't believe I won't be able to enjoy this softness anymore.
Um, Stephania...
But I'll come any time I get the chance, okay?
So never change!
You're on him too much, Sis!
Graduation time came and went at the Laihiala Academy of Knight Runners,
and the Order of the Silver Phoenix welcomed in new students.
Listen up, new kids!
I'm gonna put your asses to work straight away!
Be ready!
Boss, you're just threatening them.
As of this year, all facilities at the school
have been handed over to the Order of the Silver Phoenix by order of the king!
You are students, but you are also our knightly order's apprentices. Remember that.
And this is our commander, Ernesti Echevalier.
Thank you very much.
Commander? Him?
So small...
A girl?
I see.
So you're...
Nora Frykberg.
On paper, I'm a new student here at the school.
Have there been any developments in the case?
I've dealt with all the suspicious persons in the school.
I've deployed personnel all around Laihiala and put up a barrier,
so this won't happen again.
But we still don't know who was behind the Telestale incident.
We lost track of the attackers at the Aubigne Mountains.
So you think there's a good chance it's the work of another country?
Yes.
Thank you.
Espionage is the Order of the Azure Hawk's specialty,
so we'll leave this to you.
Understood.
What were they talking about in there all by themselves?
They were in there a while.
Maybe they were having fun?
Maybe Ernie likes cool women like that?
Ernie!
Addy, what's wrong?
I want to pilot a Silhouette Knight, too!
That's great! Perfect timing!
Really?
But there's something I want some help with first.
Okay, it's all attached.
Thanks!
I wonder if they'll get mad at us later...
I mean, we're using a brand-new Kaldatoah without asking.
It's all for the benefit of new technology!
You three, observe and take measurements!
Okay!
Let the prototype test begin!
What the hell?
Ow...
That was bad.
Ernie...
Ernie!
Ernie! Ernie!
Ernie!
Good, he's awake!
I can't believe you're okay.
It's a miracle that all that did was knock you out.
No, that's not what happened!
The mech stopped!
It devoured all the mana instantly, drained the mana pool, and stopped.
So...
Ernie, calm down!
Yes, I know!
This equipment isn't going to work.
It's not out of the question, but it needs serious work.
Ernie...
For that...
Think about what just happened!
Okay.
It really is too dangerous, I think.
Why don't we just work on something else?
Why?
We learned how much power it can output!
I'm done thinking about what happened.
I see the issues.
Let's experiment more later, after some improvements.
We can re-examine the scale and output power of the spells,
and put in a control system that lets you adjust it for certain situations.
We can deal with the mana issues by altering the machine first.
Wait.
Before that...
Aren't they going to get really mad about this?
You fool!
I knew it...
Not only did you destroy a valuable Kaldatoah,
you almost got yourself killed?!
What the hell were you thinking?
Yes, I've given it a good deal of thought,
and put together a report on improvements.
Then you didn't think about it enough!
You just stay put for a while!
Got it?!
Okay.
Oh, wow!
Ernie's so cute when he's sad!
Huh?
Boss, that's enough.
Nothing good happens when I give the kid some time off.
Let's get the new machine finished for now.
About that new machine...
I'd like Kid and Addy to be the Knight Runners!
What?
So the new one's a two-seater?
Nobody told me that.
I just said it!
Hey, now.
This is a unique mech,
and its controls are very different from what's come before.
So I'm splitting the control systems in two,
so that two people can handle the task.
And since they're working together,
they need to be able to work in harmony.
That's why you chose Kid and Addy?
Yup!
Okay! Okay! Okay!
You're loading it with two Ether Reactors?
This new unit is a monster, huh?
Addy!
Are you okay?
The armor's in pieces.
It was only temporarily attached, after all.
Ernie, I'm sorry.
It's not your fault.
Don't get so down.
The size of the machine and the mana it burns are on a whole different level.
There's room for improvement, huh?
You boys!
How long are you going to let that girl be covered in soot?
Let's go, okay?
This feels good!
But is it okay for us to do this while everyone else works?
It's fine.
Let the boys handle the grunt work.
It's a great opportunity to wipe the sweat off, too!
I should've invited Ernie!
Are you serious?
You can't bathe with a guy.
What are you saying?
Ernie's not a guy!
What?
Ernie is Ernie!
I see.
Why are we the only ones who have to...
This is a knight's job.
Edgar, can I have a word?
Here.
A silver dagger?
You can use it as a weapon,
but it also has a certain Emblem Graph on it.
It's paired with the Emblem Graph inside the depression.
I see.
It's a key, huh?
Right!
Without that silver dagger, you can't control this mech.
Wonderful.
Now we won't see a repeat of the Fort Casadesus incident, will we?
Correct!
So the Order of the Silver Phoenix and the Lab each prepared their new Silhouette Knights.
And there were only three days left until the date given by King Ambrosius.
Looks like we got it done, silver kid.
That's right!
Now, let's go astonish the King!
Order of the Silver Phoenix, we're off to the capital!
How strong they look!
What powerful strides!
So they've summoned the Aruvans from Althusser?
We've prepared the best pilots we could find for this tournament!
And that's the next-generation mass production unit created by the Silhouette Knight Lab,
based on the Telestale's technology.
These are early-stage prototypes of the design, called the Kaldatoah Darsch!
They look similar to the Kaldatoah,
but inside it's almost completely new.
We've decreased the amount of Strand-Type Crystal-Tissue as compared to the Telestale,
so power output compared to the original model is...
Ahem, only 30% greater.
Thirty percent!
That's amazing on its own!
However, we've added additional Capacity Blame,
improving defense and solving the mana pool drain issues!
We've added two Silhouette Arms as a back weapon,
making it mobile, easy to control, and powerful!
This is the greatest creation our lab has ever produced!
Splendid.
I see once more that the Silhouette Knight Laboratory's reputation
as my country's finest group of Knightsmiths is well-deserved.
You honor me.
And now, everyone,
I have prepared a worthy opponent for the Lab's new machine.
You've all heard of the one who made the Silhouette Knight the Darsch was based on.
The ones who, by my order, formed a new knightly order!
Enter, Order of the Silver Phoenix!
What are these footsteps?
Is that a Silhouette Knight?
This is...
He breaks the rules even more than I'd heard.
We are honored to be here, Your Majesty.
This is our latest prototype, the Tzendolg,
two Telestale derivatives equipped with Option Works,
and the Guair Custom!
The Order of the Silver Phoenix is here!
Next time: "New & Old!"
Chapter 7:
They're calling me and telling me to burn bright!