The Mech Touch novel Chapter 1208

Spiritual fragments were valuable and very hard to obtain. To get Ylvaine’s spiritual fragment, Ves not only had to steal a culturally-important relic, but also perform several dangerous spiritual techniques.

Ves did not relish repeating the experience every time he designed an Ylvainan mech or adapted his other mech designs to the local market.

He began to consider if he should turn Ylvaine’s spiritual fragment into a communal design spirit. It would be great if it could encompass every mech his company sold in the Protectorate’s mech market.

While his understanding of spirituality was too shallow to know the answer, he seriously entertained the notion. The convenience of sharing a single design spirit over multiple designs was too great for him to ignore.

Naturally, this didn’t mean he decided to become lazy and reuse his old design spirits all the time. He merely wanted to apply this solution in cases where the costs outweighed the gains.

Cases where the LMC adapted his future mech designs to the Protectorate’s mech market definitely applied in this case.

If he couldn’t arrange a solution like this, what else could he do? He doubted it was easy to steal another relic, especially if it used to belong to Prophet Ylvaine. One theft already alarmed the Protectorate. Another theft would probably make the Ylvainans go berserk!

"It’s just a nutrient pack wrapper." He muttered. "What’s the big deal?"

A wave of disapproval emanated from Ylvaine’s spiritual fragment.

"Pff."

Ever since the fragment settled in his mind and underwent an evolution, it started to take note of what Ves was doing. Each time he did something that maligned the Ylvainans or their faith, the fragment emanated a pulse of disapproval.

"It’s like living with a priest in my mind."

Actually, it was worse than that! Hosting a remnant of the founder of the Ylvainan Faith was probably a dream for most Ylvainans, but Ves hated the experience!

More than one time, Ves contemplated whether he should fabricate a miniature mech or something in order to temporarily house the fragment.

However, if he did something like that, then the object was at risk of getting stolen. Perhaps his Ylvainan guards might confiscate the miniature because they perceived its holiness somehow.

At the very least, hosting the fragment in his mind allowed him to shield most of its aura and keep it within reach if it ever wanted to escape.

"You’re not going anywhere."

Another reason prompted him to retain the fragment in his mind. He hoped to develop a bond with the fragment through their constant interactions.

While they held very different beliefs and outlooks on life, Ves hoped that he could earn its respect. As long as the spiritual fragment appreciated Ves, it was much more likely to pay along with what he had in store for it in the future.

This was because Ves wanted to reuse it in other mechs and designs tailored to the Ylvainans.

He originally intended to use it for his upcoming hero mech design, but why should he limit its usage? The fragment was very strong but also very versatile. Ves hadn’t specifically limited it to a single mech type or mech design.

Its strongest component was its purity and absolute faith. The fragment didn’t offer much else besides that. This made it particularly suitable for augmenting other mech designs with their own design spirits.

As long as they could play along, Ylvaine’s design spirit could act as a kind of holy seasoning for every dish he cooked for the Ylvainans.

"This is the best solution."

He was glad that he didn’t add too much complexity in the image he formed out of Prophet Ylvaine. He was also glad that he didn’t employ the Triple Division technique and attempted to lock the fragment into a specific mech type. Its current universality was an essential trait if Ves wanted to realize his current plans.

When Ves carefully proposed his ideas to the spiritual fragment, it answered with confusion and befuddlement. It didn’t understand the context of what Ves wanted to do. It hardly even knew anything about mechs, as Prophet Ylvaine never lived to see the transition to the Age of mechs.

"Maybe I have to present my proposal in a different way."

Ves thought about the essence of Prophet Ylvaine’s life. The man believed he received extraordinary revelations and thought he had the duty to spread them. Ylvaine defined himself as a messenger who wanted to spread his gospel to as many people as possible!

His eyes lit up. While Prophet Ylvaine was already dead, the remnant of his spirituality could take over this mission!

"Think about it! The more mechs you encompass, the more in touch you’ll be with your originator’s followers!"

Ves imagined a future where millions of mechs produced by the LMC proliferated in the Ylvainan mech market. While each of them carried their distinctive traits, they all shared something in common.

They were all connected to the same design spirit!

Not only would the design spirit get in touch with more Ylvainan believers, but it could also spread its influence throughout the Protectorate and beyond!

"The more mechs you are connected to, the more you’ll be able to spread your message!"

While Ves didn’t know if this was even possible, the vision he presented was compelling enough to earn the spiritual fragment’s approval!

Ever since then, the fragment behaved a little more at ease with its current circumstances. As long as Ves delivered on his promises, the fragment would be able to continue the mission of its source.

It continued to cast judgement over Ves, though. Its nature hadn’t changed at all.

Ves ignored the constant pulses of approval and disapproval and turned his attention back to his work. At this stage, Ves and Ketis had done all they could to finalize their draft and vision for their hero mech.

They were ready to proceed to the next step in the design process and pick out the parts that best complimented their vision.

"We should proceed to the mech workshop that Madame Cecily has reserved for us." He said. "Although it’s rather risky to travel back and forth, it’s much better to develop a mech design over there than at home."

Ketis nodded. "Before we go, isn’t it about time we name the design? I’m tired of calling it ’our hero mech design’ or ’our Ylvainan mech design’."

"You’re right. It’s about time it gets a name."