DS Extra 10

When Twilight Kisses the Star City (1)

Late autumn, Aslan Star City District Three.

White Jade Palace of the imperial palace, underground mecha training ground.

“The attack values have been roughly determined, send them to the chief according to this. Also, there’s some issue with the smoothness of the mecha’s foot joints, adjust the data and let me see it.”

On the observation deck, several researchers were holding their optical computers, their ten fingers tapping non-stop, seriously calculating the data.

One of them fiddled around for quite a while before lifting his head, covered in sweat. “……Boss, the data shows no errors. The joints must have just been destroyed by His Highness, it’s not a problem with the body itself.”

The researchers from Black Shark Base all fell silent at once. Beside them, the Empire’s highly respected Old Marshal Chen Hanke was stroking his chin.

After pondering for a long time, the old marshal suddenly rubbed his head and said, “Little Highness seems to be in a bad mood these past few days.”

Following the old man’s line of sight, on the field, an intense battle was taking place between a mecha and a person.

Boom! The humanoid mecha forged from alloy heavily stepped diagonally, its mecha arm fiercely punching out with a “whoosh,” stirring up a sharp gust of wind as it cut through the air.

Class A mecha “M-Powerarm,” a newly developed attack-specialized mecha from the base. It was said that this one punch could rely purely on strength to smash Class B crystal bones and below into powder.

The fierce wind swept all the way to the opposite side, blowing open platinum-colored hair, and the deep red headband was also lifted.

The young crown prince’s expression was indifferent, standing proudly straight. Those emerald-green eyes like gemstones were like a pool of lake water, reflecting the rapidly enlarging mechanical arm.

Bang!!

The super S-class rose-gold crystal bone suddenly materialized.

The mecha’s tremendously heavy punch was steadily caught.

Immediately following was M-Powerarm’s second punch, still striking the crystal bone. Crack… Ryann’s feet sank down—it was the ground being cracked by the tremendous force.

The fifteen-year-old youth’s shoulders weren’t particularly broad, but at this moment they tensed up, letting the rose-gold crystal bone cover his skin and clothing.

“Mediocre.”

The crown prince suddenly spoke.

“The force is not as good as the M-Earthfire from the day before yesterday, the movements are clumsy, the defense is fragile. For this model, my suggestion is……”

Ryann’s eyes turned fierce, and he suddenly burst out with a low shout, “Back! To! The! Forge!”

His crystal bone instantly swelled more than twice its size, gripping the mecha arm in reverse, and he actually swung M-Powerarm up!

Chen Hanke’s expression changed. “Your Highness!”

He saw the mecha’s alloy feet struggling violently, dragging out two strings of sparks and deep grooves on the ground.

Immediately after, accompanied by the pilot’s scream, this mecha that stood as tall as two adult men was flung into the air and crashed thunderously into the training ground wall!

“……”

Ryann was breathing heavily, the violent energy in his eyes gradually dissipating.

After a long moment, he silently looked at the smoking mecha and the pilot limping out of the cockpit, then turned his eyes away.

“Sorry, didn’t control the force well.”

“No, no, no, it’s this subordinate’s insufficient ability……” How could the pilot dare accept an apology from the crown prince? He shook his head repeatedly in panic.

Ryann turned and walked off the field, taking the towel handed over by an attendant to wipe his sweat, then opened a bottle of water to drink, his gaze casting toward the observation deck.

“Your Highness, please concentrate.” Old Marshal Chen said helplessly, “You were distracted just now, weren’t you? Too dangerous……”

It was truly dangerous. When normal people get distracted during training, they risk serious injury; but when their Little Highness got distracted during training, there was a risk of seriously injuring the opponent……

Ryann kept his mouth shut and said nothing.

Old Marshal Chen: “Your Highness has something on your mind these past few days. What were you just thinking about?”

Ryann gloomily pressed his lips together, casually setting down the towel and water bottle to the side, “Nothing.”

He looked again toward the corner of the field, where more than a dozen new model mechas were piled haphazardly, every one of them beaten to pieces.

Now, the auxiliary robots were dragging the smoking M-Powerarm over as well.

Clang! One more member added to the pile of scrapped mechas.

Ryann felt no guilt whatsoever as he pointed at that pile of scrap metal. “All the mechas requiring evaluation have now been tested once. I think I can leave.”

Old Marshal Chen said with a chuckle, “Of course, Your Highness, please go ahead.”

The researchers from Black Shark Base immediately breathed a sigh of relief, almost weeping with joy.

——Even though the chief had said all losses from this evaluation would be fully reimbursed by the military department, personally watching mecha bodies with development costs of several million coin points being dragged one after another to the scrap pile—that really fucking hurt!

Three minutes later, Ryann walked out of the mecha training ground, his eyes somewhat vacant.

For the past half month, he had been dragged into combat special training——nominally his training, but in reality it was hard labor, providing various data evaluations for the base’s newly developed mechas.

It was finally over. Actually, although he had to admit that the base researchers staring at data and the mecha soldiers getting beaten up all had it tough, he also worked quite hard smashing mechas every day……

As for what he was just thinking about?

He was thinking: this was the last mecha he had to beat up.

After it ended, he could go find that person.

So that person’s appearance floated up, clearly an event from half a month ago, yet the image in his mind was as clear as yesterday.

That day he had just gone to watch a small competition. The mecha competition’s advertisement board flashed with neon lights, the audience seats rang with continuous cheering, mixed with the collision sounds of mechas on the field, a complete hubbub.

The first thing he saw upon entering was the black-haired, black-eyed military academy student. Relying on the fact that he was wearing a concealment device, he nonchalantly walked forward and sat down in the seat beside him.

Jiang Jianming looked back in surprise, “Your Highness the Crown Prince?”

Ryann: “……?”

Seeming to see his astonishment, the black-haired military academy student imperceptibly raised his hand and pointed at his cufflink——

Ryann’s brow twitched, and he immediately realized the problem. He had worn these cufflinks during a public appearance, and they had actually been remembered……

Since their chance morning encounter at Aslan Library, they had met a few more times.

But basically they were all formal occasions like “His Highness Crown Prince Ryann visited the Empire’s First Military Academy to inspect and encourage the new students to study diligently and train courageously, to serve the country in the future,” where they couldn’t say much. This kind of private chance encounter today was actually the first time.

And now, Jiang Jianming was sitting right beside him. In front of him was an open light blue virtual screen and keyboard, and the military academy student was very seriously watching the mecha competition on the field, occasionally lowering his eyes to type.

Ryann couldn’t help but look twice more, saying indifferently, “Do disabled people understand mechas too?”

“What?”

“Very few disabled people are interested in mecha competitions, especially this kind of non-performance technical confrontation matches.”

Jiang Jianming’s fingers paused, his expression showing no change. “And very few noble children wear concealment devices to watch this kind of lowbrow and crude civilian competitions.”

He smiled mildly, his eyes deep. “With Your Highness’s noble status, shouldn’t you be sitting in the palace, waiting to appreciate the mecha performances arranged by the military department during holidays?”

Ryann’s expression immediately turned cold, sneering, “What prejudice.”

Jiang Jianming looked at him lightly.

Just this one glance made the crown prince’s scalp tingle for two seconds, suddenly realizing this person had deliberately baited him into saying something to block his earlier words.

Ryann’s eyes darkened slightly, thinking to himself: Is he angry?

Disabled people were fragile and sensitive, naturally having no connection to mechas—this was originally an objective fact. That remark of his couldn’t be considered harsh.

But somehow, when the black-haired military academy student’s calm gaze swept over, it actually made the noble crown prince feel guilty, as if he had offended the other party.

A new round of competition began. Jiang Jianming continued to seriously type on his keyboard, seeming to completely forget that the Empire’s crown prince was sitting right beside him.

Ryann’s heart grew even more irritated, completely unable to focus on the competition. He asked casually, “Which side do you think will win?”

Jiang Jianming said calmly, “Red side.”

“Why?”

“In terms of maneuvering skills, blue side is slightly better, but in terms of the body itself, red side is far stronger than blue side. Some things are very difficult to make up for through personal effort, don’t you agree?”

Ryann choked for a moment, belatedly raising his head to look toward the field.

He hadn’t even looked at what mecha models were on the field just now, how would he know…… Could it be that Jiang Jianming thought he was mocking him for being a weak species yet lacking self-awareness?

This misunderstanding had gotten big, but with such an awkward atmosphere, how could Little Highness bring himself to explain? As a result, Jiang Jianming didn’t react much, but he himself first got so frustrated he couldn’t stay. Rising and flinging his cape, he just left his seat like that.

Later, after calming down and thinking it over, he felt regret.

At that time, he should have at least apologized.

The aircraft descended from the air lane, stopping at the library entrance. It was already quite late, with mottled clouds in the distance—a very beautiful dusk.

Ryann absentmindedly maneuvered the aircraft to park, then began spacing out again.

He had come, but could he really find the other person here?

If he found him, what should he say?

The crown prince didn’t want to cause a commotion, so he put on a concealment device, used his wrist device to swipe a backup identity card to enter. The echo of his footsteps made the surroundings seem very empty.

At this time, there weren’t many people in the library.

Very quiet, and very comfortable.

The rich sunset hung by the window, the evening glow like strips of cut silk. By the innermost reading table, there was a silhouette sitting against the light.

Jiang Jianming was still reading, his black hair reflecting the evening light. From this angle, one could see the youth’s lips and his beautiful jawline.

He was immersed in the sunset glow, like a huge oil painting.

Really beautiful.

Ryann thought this in a daze, approaching step by step from behind.

He saw his own shadow stretch long, first falling on the chair where Jiang Jianming sat, then climbing up along the slender spine line beneath the white shirt, finally enveloping the other person.

Snap.

The military academy student gently closed the book. His hand was fair and beautiful, fingertips resting on the hardcover brown cover.

He turned his face, the temperament between his brows gentle and peaceful, his eyelashes fluttering in the lingering twilight glow, like a close-up shot from an old movie.

“Your Highness the Crown Prince?”

In the quiet library, the two stood and sat.

Ryann walked to Jiang Jianming’s side, the sound of his boots striking the floor clearly audible.

The crown prince removed his concealment device and slowly asked, “Why can you always recognize me?”

“Your presence is very special.”

“We should have only met a few times.”

Jiang Jianming stood up holding his book, his eyes and brows curving. “Your Highness naturally doesn’t recognize me. But I am a subject of the Empire, how could I not be familiar with Your Highness?”

His Highness said nothing more, so the military academy student thought he was just passing by. The black-haired youth lowered his head slightly, adding with a smile the etiquette due to royalty, “The library is about to close, please excuse me for leaving first.”

Just as the two were passing each other, Ryann gritted his teeth with determination and suddenly grabbed Jiang Jianming’s wrist. The latter stopped in surprise.

“About last month……”

The platinum curls swayed as the young crown prince lowered his head and said in a low voice, “I was wrong. I apologize to you.”

Jiang Jianming froze. “What?”

Ryann’s eye twitched. He glared angrily at Jiang Jianming who clearly showed a puzzled expression, thinking to himself: Is this person doing this on purpose?

But immediately after, a look of realization appeared on Jiang Jianming’s face. “Ah……”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “So many days have passed, yet Your Highness is still concerned about it. Please don’t be like this, it wasn’t a big deal to begin with. If you hadn’t mentioned it, I would have long forgotten.”

The crown prince didn’t believe it, saying coldly, “You’re lying. That day you were clearly unhappy.”

He stubbornly stared at Jiang Jianming. “Why say it’s not a big deal? Since I came to apologize, you can…… you can be angry.”

……Jiang Jianming was stunned into silence, standing there with his book for several seconds in bewilderment.

He considered himself someone with fairly large courage, able to face the powerful without servility or arrogance, but no matter what, he never imagined there would be a day when he’d be cornered in a library by the Empire’s crown prince telling him to be angry.

He said hesitantly, “Your Highness, you are the crown prince of honored status, and moreover a new human who personally guards the nation’s borders, while I’m just an ordinary military academy student. Both emotionally and rationally, I wouldn’t hold your thoughtless remark against you. Surely you’re not expecting me to scold you?”

“So it’s because of my status? Do you truly not mind, or do you not dare to mind?”

Ryann stepped closer, “When you face me, your expression has never shown flattery or fear. I thought you were different from many people.”

The crown prince blinked calmly, “I thought if I could meet you today, you would say more to me.”

Jiang Jianming said softly, “For example, what could I say?”

“Whether it’s urging that civilian mecha competitions henceforth unify the models used by contestants, or giving disabled people more opportunities to access the mecha field—for me it’s just a matter of one sentence. Don’t you want that?”

“……”

“Or, simply say one sentence: I forgive you.”

Click-clack, click-clack. On the wall, the second hand and minute hand of the antique-style wall clock simultaneously pointed to twelve.

Dong——……

The heavy bell rang—closing time had arrived.

The twilight all over the sky kissed the buildings on the surface, and Star City’s lights lit up one after another.

Jiang Jianming stood between the bookshelf and reading table, looking at the handsome youth standing obstinately before him, looking at those deep emerald eyes rippling with gold and red patterns from the sunset light.

He suddenly remembered how his father once said his temperament was indifferent. Yes, Jiang Jianming acknowledged that from childhood he had never fanatically worshipped anyone.

But at this moment, he suddenly understood why the existence of this little crown prince before him would be the white moonlight of the Empire’s people.

Truly incomparable.

Truly possessing a magic that made one’s heart and spirit kneel in submission.

And his real personality seemed to be much more adorable than he had imagined.

After a long standoff, Jiang Jianming curved the corners of his eyes. He adjusted the book in his arms and walked toward the front desk for borrowing books. “In that case, may I take up a bit of your time?”

“Just as Your Highness wishes, let us talk more.”