The heavy steampunk atmosphere made Ailolin feel that even if a giant robot suddenly appeared the next second, it would not be strange at all.
Of course, that was merely Ailolin's personal impression of the architectural style. Whether this world actually had steam engines was another matter entirely.
"Lin, what's that?" Likaro pointed in a direction.
There was a plaza there, and in the middle of it stood a massive machine, with quite a few teachers and students in uniforms tinkering with it.
At the same time, Ailolin noticed that several people wore uniforms vastly different from those of the Engineering Academy, and all of them carried staffs.
"Should we go take a look?" Ailolin suggested.
"Mm."
As they drew closer, Ailolin saw the enormous machine and roughly guessed what it was.
Could that be an Airship?
"Who are you? Please keep your distance from the testing grounds."
A student stopped the two of them from approaching.
"We just want to know what this is."
"No. Please leave. This is an Empire secret."
The student refused to budge. Just as the two were about to leave, a person in uniform holding a staff walked over.
"The thirst for knowledge is precisely what drives humanity forward. Your Engineering Academy believes in that as well, does it not?" He gave Ailolin and Likaro a slight nod, then said to the student, "Besides, those who have obtained permission to enter the Imperial Engineering Academy need not be suspected of leaking secrets."
As a military academy, the Imperial Engineering Academy had never been open to ordinary people.
In other words, anyone who could enter was definitely no ordinary person.
"My apologies, Professor Hailaine."
The student apologized to him.
"There's no need to apologize. After all, you aren't my student."
Hailaine watched the student return