#the mechanical puzzle scene is genius omg

[laxmiree]

[CN] 5th Anniversary - Lucien (Creative Workshop)

⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!! ⚠️

This post contains a detailed spoiler for a story that has not been released in EN yet! Feel free to notify me if there are any mistakes in the translation~

I was surprised and delighted to pick up the "gift" that was left in it- a pink and purple gemstone.

“It's so beautiful… I discovered that it looks a lot like your eyes.”

“This seems to be a poudretteite, one of the rarest gemstones in the world.”

“He knows very well that this box is difficult to crack, so the person who can unlock it-”

“-must be worthy of this precious gift.”

✧ 5th Anniversary Event | Prologue | Creative Workshop (You’re here!) | King Fuk Street | Wonderland | Star Plaza | Final Day- Heart Rain Lake | Roast! | Truth and Dare Pinball Machine | Random Event tidbits

MC: Oh no, I think I left our camera in the hotel room!

MC: (⁠╥⁠﹏⁠╥⁠) What's wrong with my memory? I obviously thought about it before I left the hotel!

Lucien: Rather than memory, I would say that MC is now a bit confused

MC: I'll go back and get it now, so don't follow me around.

Lucien: I actually have a quicker way to do it, but it requires some small payment.

MC: What about… Mua! Will this be enough?

Lucien: This payment is slightly more than expected, so let me help you find it directly.

MC: Is it possible that you already helped me...?

Lucien: My confused lady, please look down.

Lucien: It's always hanging on your chest.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MC: There seems to be a street full of DIY craft stores -

Lucien: They are creative workshops.

Lucien: This place is focused on DIY creativity for tourists to "create freely".

MC: This "Mr. Tour Guide" is very impressive - his language is simple and straightforward.

Lucien: So the next time you have a similar question, you can ask me directly.

MC: Then the almighty Professor Lucien… please recommend a handicraft store for me~

Lucien: There are many options. After all, MC's craftsmanship is always very good.

Lucien: Like the cute shaped bento, ceramic couple mug...

Lucien: Or some small ingenuity that appears at home from time to time.

Lucien: So I think it's a good idea to visit every store and try it.

MC: I've been complimented so much, so I really need to show off~

Along the way, Lucien familiarly took me to experience a lot of creative handicraft shops, which made me suspect that this person secretly did his homework before coming.

However, the emerging suspicion dissipated in the lovely handiwork-

A pair of chubby little fox and rabbit crystal key pendants looking crystal clear under the sunlight.

MC: I now seem to appreciate the charm of DIY~ it has an extraordinary power to make things unique.

MC: Like both of them, each outline can't be reproduced a second time.

As I said that, I held up the little cuties and shook them.

Lucien: I agree, but I have another interpretation.

Lucien: Very often, a unique presence emerges first, and then something different and unique is derived from that presence.

Lucien: For example, because of you, there are them.

MC: And to cite another example, it is because Professor Lucien brought me here that they are here.

Lucien: My student seems to be getting smarter and wiser.

While talking, he inadvertently slowed his pace, and a small wooden store broke into my view.

The display window is filled with boxes made of different materials and in different shapes

Wooden Luban locks, steel triangular cones, and nearly a hundred other strange objects occupied my eyes.

Lucien slightly leaned down and looked at the various delicate boxes with me.

Lucien: This store seems to be more special than other creative stores. Should we go in and take a look?

I nodded and walked in with Lucien. This is a small store specializing in the production of mechanical boxes. According to the guidebook, the fun of deciphering is up to five stars

Considering that I had a highly intelligent genius with me, I confidently jumped at the chance and dragged Lucien to the service desk.

A store clerk dressed in a professional style enthusiastically introduced us.

Clerk: The machine boxes you see now were designed by previous customers.

Clerk: Experience the process of choosing the box of your choice, unlock the mechanism, and get the gift left by the last customer…

Clerk: Then modify the box, design your mechanism, and put in the gifts you want to leave behind.

Clerk: If you're interested, pick a box you like.

He guided us to a wooden shelf. Looking at the different shapes, I had difficulty choosing. I glanced at Lucien and saw that he was seriously surveyed.

MC: Why are all these boxes open and clawed?

Lucien: Perhaps because the designers have different personalities, the appearance of the presentation will be very rich.

MC: That's right... Then I must look for a new one~

I said as I carefully scanned the shelves, and suddenly my eyes lit up- In one corner of the wooden shelf was an extraordinarily simple, unadorned square box.

Maybe because of the minimalist style is particularly conspicuous around here, I have a kind of inexplicable good feeling about it

Lucien: Ah, looks like MC has chosen?

MC: Um, it feels like the most eye-catching!

MC: And I have a hunch that although this box looks simple, something may be hidden inside that makes people want to explore it!

As I was fiddling with it and ready to start unlocking the mechanism, I suddenly thought of something.

MC: Lucien, don't you want to choose?

He stood calmly as if he had already prepared.

Lucien: I already had my choice long ago.

He pointed to the mechanical box in my hand.

Lucien: I want the box you designed.

Lucien: I'm only interested in your box. I don't care about the other boxes.

The floor lamp mixed with the remaining sunlight, reflecting those eyes that were like deep water.

MC: Oh? Does it mean… that Professor Lucien is very confident that he can solve my modified mechanical box?

He looked at me quietly, with a look of certainty.

MC: Hmph! Just wait. I'll make it difficult for you!

However, after a few minutes, I don't know if it was because I was too slow to open the box or the store was too hot, but my palms were sweating.

MC: Uh...

There are very few buttons, but no matter how I fiddled, it did absolutely nothing.

It seems that I am not wrong about this ordinary box. It truly hides...

There was always a glance falling on me, and I curled my lips in frustration and buried my face in Lucien's coat.

MC: Ugh! Lucien, I reasonably suspect that the person who designed this box did it on purpose! They simply don't want the next person to solve the puzzle.

The chest beneath my cheeks vibrated slightly as if he were suppressing laughter.

Lucien: Doesn't that just mean you've stepped into his trap?

I blinked in puzzlement as I looked at his face.

MC: What does that mean?

Seeing that he smiled but did not say anything, I held up the box and repeatedly turned it upside down, trying to find a flaw. But except for a few switch-like buttons, it was almost seamless.

MC: I don’t see any trap… But there must be a reason for so many buttons, right?

Lucien's eyes flickered, and he raised his hand to smooth out my bangs.

Lucien: I think it's supposed to… fascinate you and get you into his rhythm.

MC: …You mean, instead of thinking about the design logic of the other party, it is better to slowly decipher it according to my own rhythm?

Lucien did not say anything, just smiled. I thought about it and once again lowered my head and started tinkering.

Although I haven't figured out the pattern yet, I believe that if I patiently try every possible answer in every combination-

I would be able to discover its true side.

I don't know how long it took, but when I pressed the button for almost the 1000th time, with a "click", the box in my hand instantly fell apart into pieces of springs, iron, and small steel balls.

At the same time, there was a beautiful twinkle of light.

I was surprised and delighted to pick up the "gift" that was left in it- a pink and purple gemstone.

MC: This man is so generous. How can he give a precious gem as a gift?

I took the gemstone and held it out in front of Lucien. His deep eyes were slightly twinkling within the translucent gemstone.

MC: It's so beautiful… I discovered that it looks a lot like your eyes.

He smiled, and his fingertips pointed to the gem that I was holding.

Lucien: This seems to be a poudretteite*, one of the rarest gemstones in the world.

MC: This gift is too valuable!

Lucien: I think it shows that the man really valued his own design.

Lucien: He knows very well that this box is difficult to crack, so the person who can unlock it-

Lucien: -must be worthy of this precious gift.

MC: Then I have to cherish it properly, not only because it is precious, but also because it is proof of my hours of effort!

After I said that, I carefully put the gem into my bag. However, looking at the parts scattered in front of me, I was in a dilemma.

MC: The whole thing is scattered. How do I modify it?

Lucien reached out and took a spring scattered all over the table.

Lucien: I guess he set up an automatic disassembly mechanism after opening, so it cannot be put back once successfully opened.

Lucien: It seems that the designer only wanted one person to unlock it. Unfortunately-

He changed his tone and blinked at me a little worriedly.

Lucien: What should happen to my gift?

MC: Eh?

He pointed to the scattered parts, and I reacted immediately, poking his palm with some embarrassment.

MC: But the box is impossible to re-assemble now…

Lucien: But that was an uncontrollable accident. The gift MC promised me shouldn't be affected by this, should it?

He silently caught my finger and softly hooked it as if he had been greatly wronged.

MC: So, according to Professor Lucien, now I owe you a gift, right?

He winked slyly and nodded as a matter of course.

Lucien: Yes, and I'll remember to ask for it.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(t/n: IT DOES LOOKS LIKE HIS EYES. Poudretteite is one of the rarest gems known. It was named after the Poudrette family, owners and operators of a quarry near Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada where the mineral was first found. It is a rare borosilicate with hexagonal crystallograpphy, with price around $3,000 per carat)

[naradreamscape]

I'm so sorry it's just I really liked your answers from the AB ask! This time 6,13, 5 And another 8 ( I am so sorry...) from the same ask! Thank you!!

Omg no, don’t apologize! I love talking about Astro Boy!

5. How long have you been a fan?

Ever since I was 13! In the mid-1990s, watched the 1980 anime on TV in its now-super rare Canadian version, but I didn’t get fully into it until I was 13. I had begun remembering pieces of the 1980 series, and that was around the time when Anchor Bay released a best-of DVD called “Greatest Astro Adventures.” I saw it at a Walmart when my family was visiting relatives in Ontario, and something compelled me to buy it for myself. It’ll be 11 years since then as of this July!

6. Favorite episode?

I’m gonna limit myself to 5 per series, since I do have a ton of favourites:

1980: Robot Circus, Frankenstein, The Light Ray Robot, The Time Machine, Uran Falls in Love

2003: Into Thin Air, March of the Micro Bears, Old Dog New Tricks, Shape Shifter, The Final Battle

8. Any headcanons? (pt. 2)

Dr. Tenma is Christian; I think what really cemented this headcanon was the funeral scene in Atom Tanjou no Himitsu

Dr. Emil never programmed Denkou with any sort of gendered presets, focusing more on Denkou’s ability to shift visibility. He likely figured that his robot could decide something like gender on their own

As well, Dr. Emil is raising Denkou like his own child back in Switzerland, letting them to go school and have a (protected) life in the village while developing their abilities

As-as well, Dr. Emil is Jewish. I have a lot of feelings and thoughts around Denkou

Jazz & Blues’s real names are Nathan Nujowitz and Raphael Kuma, respectively. (A friend and I had actually named them Nooj and Kuma long before I found out they had canon names)

Hamegg has at least five alter-egos on the go at any given time. You can never tell which ID he’s going to pull out in any incident

Astro loves jigsaw puzzles. Since he primarily sees things mechanically, he likes the task of rebuilding something through a specific pattern. He’s super fast with them, though

Guiss was super, super slimy, to the point that Skunk regards him as probably the worst guy he’s had to work with. He was a genius in robotics, but he spent the royalties on multiple paramours and questionable substances

This is what Hamegg sounds like in my head

Bonus: Jay, my boyfriend and Skunk’s actor, thinks Skunk totally had a crush on adult Atlas

13. Pro Tenma redemption or anti Tenma redemption?

Definitely pro-redemption. I’ve always seen him as someone who’s majorly screwed up with his actions, but still has the potential to become a better person. I see him as someone who’s never had the chance to properly deal with his trauma, and I know he could become a good person again if he was brought into healthier surroundings.