Why did this prayer feel a little strange? Theus frowned.
As Chloe chanted, the blazing flames in the fuel-filled boiler surged up in an instant, scorching Gaia, who was holding a brazier and preparing to pour its contents in, and making her stumble. The dark-red burning coals in the brazier spilled toward her.
Monica's expression shifted. She activated Flesh Magic, swung her entire body around, and used her snake tail to shield Gaia from the coals.
Chloe quietly withdrew her hand and let out a sigh of relief.
She then looked at the steam engine that had begun to run, her eyes brimming with delight. "It actually worked. We succeeded!"
Monica and Gaia, who was still in her arms, froze. Their eyes widened. "S-Succeeded?"
"We really succeeded! Silly... Silly answered me! Sob... it finally agreed to acknowledge me!"
Monica threw herself against the steam engine's boiler chamber and clung to it as she cried her eyes out. Gaia got to her feet as well, a heartfelt smile appearing on her face.
This was the first time the three of them had successfully communicated with a machine soul.
"Yes!" "Wow, little Monica is amazing! She actually did it!" "Gaia! Incredible!" "As expected of the chief!" "Oh, oh, oh!"
Cheers erupted from outside the room, startling Gaia into shrinking back. Theus took the lead in applauding, and before long, the cramped room was filled with thunderous claps.
Gaia's face turned crimson. Only then did she remember that they had been watched the entire time. Embarrassment shot from the tips of her toes straight to the top of her head, and she crouched down with her head in her hands.
Beside her, Chloe acted like an actor taking a curtain call, dramatically saluting the crowd. Then she planted her hands on her hips,