After finishing our inspection of several villages, we returned to the capital city and decided to make a detour to the workshop to check on the progress.
When I knocked on the heavy iron door, the usual peephole opened.
“Master! Lord Ainzich has arrived!”
“Idiot! How many times do I have to tell you!”
With a thud, the door slowly opened.
“Sir… my apologies.”
“No, it’s fine…”
I couldn’t help but let out a wry smile. Behind the workshop master, a boy was rubbing his head, looking as if it hurt.
“Well, please come this way.”
Guided by the workshop manager, I entered the workshop gates with the knights in tow.
On the workbench, several prototype prosthetic arms and legs were lined up. Around the table, soldiers who had been injured and were the intended recipients stood still.
When they noticed me, they hurriedly tried to kneel, but I stopped them with a gesture of my hand.
I turned to the table, picked up one of the prosthetics, and examined it.
Hmm… it seems to be looking quite good, doesn’t it? I don’t know all the details, but…
I glanced at the soldier standing nearby.
“How does it feel to use?”
The soldier gave a confused expression, as if to say, “Huh? Me?” But realizing he should answer, he nervously spoke up.
“Honestly, it’s a relief that no one gives me strange looks just because of the appearance. Gripping things is difficult, but it’s also helpful that the prosthetic can be switched out for different uses.”
Indeed, gripping objects is tricky. Mechanically speaking, even in simplified prosthetics, changing the tips allows for some tasks to be done, but reproducing the motion of gripping is surprisingly complex and requires advanced manufacturing techniques.
“However…”
At that, the soldier gave a troubled expression.
“If there’s something bothering you, please say it.”
Their feedback is important and will be used to improve future designs. I couldn’t afford to miss anything.
“To be honest, even just this one prosthetic is quite costly, and for common folk like us, it feels like a waste.”
It wasn’t just him; the others behind him also had expressions that seemed full of guilt.
Well, these aren’t mass-produced items, and since the technology is still in development, they are expensive. But hearing them worry about it made me feel rather pitying.
I gently placed a hand on the soldier’s shoulder.
“It’s my responsibility for ordering you to fight and for the injuries you received during it. Developing these prosthetics is, in a way, my way of atoning… though it might be self-satisfaction.”
“That’s not it! We’re truly grateful to you, Duke. Even after we were injured, you’ve taken care of us.”
The soldier hastily denied it.
“Well… our roles may be different, but I hope you’ll continue to support me from here on.”
I answered with a bit of a joking tone.
I hoped that both they and I could recover and be active again. There would be other ways for them to contribute, even if not on the battlefield.
I could feel the tremble in his shoulder where my hand rested.
“I will, for sure.”
“Ah, I’m counting on you.”
I smiled as I responded.
