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chapter 61
Golems are classified as magical creatures, but calling them “living beings” is an exaggeration. They are absurdly simple entities. Without any life activities like metabolism, they are merely clusters of inanimate matter given mobility.
Because of this, the natural appearance of golems often raises questions about the definition of “life.”
Why do only golems made of wood, stone, or soil appear naturally? Why don’t golems appear daily, but only at specific intervals? And why do golems, which do not perform any life activities, display aggression?
The answers proposed by wizards are as follows:
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Wood, stone, and soil golems appear most often because they are more numerous and sturdy, allowing their cohesion to last longer than golems made of other materials.
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The flow of mana in the atmosphere is influenced by a combination of factors such as wind, terrain, and mana currents.
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Golems display aggression to respond sensitively to external stimuli, preventing their cohesion from being disrupted by outside interference.
These explanations were convincing enough. People understood them and did not question further.
However, a few highly inquisitive wizards wondered:
What would happen if a material far stronger and more dangerous than wood, stone, or soil were placed under conditions favorable for golem creation?
“Are there such materials in this city?”
At Tio’s question, the one-legged undead Brain moved his staff-like hand and replied,
“Of course. You will be able to see it as well, Tio.”
“Where exactly…?”
At that moment, Tio’s eyes widened.
He turned his head to look down at Brain, and clear astonishment shone in his eyes.
“You’re not… saying that’s possible?”
“It’s not impossible.”
“You were at most a skilled wizard. This… at least needs to be on the level of the wizards in the mage tower…”
Tio’s shock was justified. Anyone who realized what Brain was about to do would be astonished.
Brain glanced at Tio sideways and let out a laugh that sounded like crumbling sawdust.
“A discarded servant must possess the value to return to its master.”
“Value…”
Tio bit his lip.
Brain, and his two other brothers, were originally failures—the failed creations produced during the process of making the ultimate undead Tio. Yet now, they no longer looked like failures at all.
Meanwhile, the ultimate undead Tio was still repeating foolish mistakes.
“…Finish quickly and get out.”
Brain fell silent in the face of Tio’s anger. He continued the incantation a little longer.
Finally, the spell activated.
Of course, as with most magic, the changes were not visible to those without magical perception. But for the undead, who sense the world differently from humans, the evil mana enveloping all of Casteltina could be felt vividly, like it was pressing against the skin.
“It’s done. I will take my leave now. May you achieve what you wish, Tio.”
Brain floated once again into the air. Standing atop the light emitted by the teleportation magic’s circle on the ground, he removed his tattered hat, bowed politely, and disappeared.
Tio, left alone, bit his lip firmly.
He had to set aside personal emotions—that was what Dorothea expected of him and the other undead.
Now that Brain had arrived in time to assist, there was only one thing left to do.
He would climb over the city walls with Brain’s help and guide Isabel, the owner of the cursed sword, to Dorothea’s mansion.
From the east, west, and south, the massive advancing golem forces were clearly visible to Jane, who was atop the central spire of Casteltina.
Jane and the other five wizards were tasked with sending magical waves from the spire to lure the golems toward them.
As they alternated maintaining the magic, those not actively sustaining it leaned against the spire’s railing and watched the invasion of the enormous golems.
Then, suddenly…
Jane, having just finished her turn and about to hand off the magic to the next wizard, was shocked to see all her comrades frozen in astonishment.
“What’s wrong?”
“There… there…”
While concentrating on luring the golems, Jane floated a mana sphere above her hand and scanned the area. Nothing seemed unusual—so she cast a detection spell using multiple incantations.
Then she felt it.
A terrifying magical presence sweeping across the entire city.
“Someone is casting large-scale magic…!”
Casting large-scale magic usually requires stabilizing mana so that it doesn’t affect the surroundings.
But sometimes, large-scale magic can be cast without this process—typically when the situation is urgent, or when there’s no need to protect the surrounding environment.
To create an artificial golem rather than a natural one, one must first consolidate mana and then undergo complex refining processes. But in the special terrain around Casteltina, those steps could be minimized.
Someone had exploited this and created a new golem capable of destroying Casteltina—from inside its protective walls.
“Ah, that!”
From their high vantage point, everyone could clearly see it.
The steel walls of Casteltina were disassembled and reassembled into a massive golem.
From above, the spectacle looked like deconstruction.
From below, it was an earthquake.
Everyone instinctively recognized it. The steel walls surrounding Casteltina were violently shaking.
And they were all horrified.
The walls were constructed with large curved bricks coated in steel, layered meticulously.
Crafted by renowned blacksmiths and wizards, these walls were the city’s pride and had withstood dozens or even hundreds of golem attacks without ever collapsing.
Thus, everyone was frozen in disbelief as house-sized steel bricks lost cohesion and floated into the air, disassembling one by one.
“My god…”
“Ah…”
Strictly speaking, only about half the bricks floated away. The remaining walls rose while maintaining their long, curved shapes, dumping anyone standing or leaning on them to the ground.
People fell like insects rolling off leaves. Few tried to catch their falling companions, too stunned by the horrific sight to act.
And this phenomenon wasn’t isolated—it was happening simultaneously across the city.
Three walls self-destructed: east, west, and south. While reorganizing themselves to form arms and legs, houses, farm tools, and fences got caught and crushed.
So, all anyone could do was watch the steel bricks inside the walls disassemble and reassemble.
“R-run!”
Fortunately, those caught up in the disassembling walls were all combatants blessed by Isabel, so they escaped with minor injuries.
But still, what could be done about this situation?
Evan, the bishop of Casteltina, watched the walls of the city he had grown up with float into the air and disassemble, feeling utterly powerless.
“God…”
The northern wall remained intact. The eastern, western, and southern walls had all disassembled, allowing citizens to see beyond the walls for the first time.
The scattered steel bricks slowly reassembled and expanded in size.
Soon…
They formed a steel golem as large as two colossal giants combined, lifting its head slowly.
Then—
Boom.
With a thundering sound, the steel golem wobbled.
Everyone watching sensed immediately:
“It hit its head…”
Isabel’s pillar of light, the divine shield pouring from it—the golem struck its head on the glowing dome above.
It was like a signal flare. The massive collision caused all citizens to scream and flee in the opposite direction.
“Help—!”
“That golem formed inside the shield! Run!”
Not only the citizens but also the combatants who had come to defend the city fled.
Naturally. Who could possibly stand against that massive figure?
Those watching from afar would not realize that when the golem first fully stood upright, the surrounding ground sank beneath its weight.
Even without a direct fight, those who had faced giant golems before lost all morale.
“What… what is that!”
Lyz, lying on a crate next to Isabel, jumped up.
Steel bricks all around were floating and assembling into a golem in midair.
The distance from where they were to the walls was considerable, yet the golem appeared at least the size of a medium golem.
“If we got closer… how enormous would it seem?”
Lyz froze, but one thought came to her mind: maybe Isabel could stop it.
But the situation looked much worse.
Isabel had enveloped the city in a divine shield. Yet the walls transforming into golems were happening inside that shield.
Judging by the direction, it was from where the three colossal golems had advanced. Even if Isabel could stop it, lifting the shield even momentarily would allow the other three golems to surge through the destroyed walls.
The city was already in chaos. If that happened, disaster would strike.
“Isabel! Now—”
Lyz turned and saw Isabel’s expression for the first time.
Isabel looked afraid.
Lyz didn’t understand. Isabel wasn’t afraid of the golems.
She was recalling the events of her first run: the demon army’s assault, the undead parade, the rampaging dragons, the swarm of poisonous insects.
Death never comes quietly. It always carries a horrific stench and brings chaos.
It shatters the belief that life will continue as normal, as Tio had believed today.
Even more than the 60-meter-tall steel golem born from the collapsed walls, Isabel feared seeing the citizens panic and flee.
Amidst this massive chaos, Isabel wanted to protect people.
Then, as now.
