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Chapter 28
“ I have a good idea.”
All eyes turned toward me at once.
“How about using a steel golem?”
“A steel golem… isn’t that a beast from legends?”
“Yes, but it actually exists. It’s just that so few of them exist that they’re rarely seen.”
The body of a steel golem is as hard as orichalcum, and when properly refined, it produces a result as light as mithril.
“I think I read about it in an old book. Even though it was thousands of years ago, there are records of people who witnessed a steel golem.”
“If we use a steel golem’s body, that should solve the armor issue… but even if we find one, would it cooperate?”
“Don’t worry about that. Golems have very strong bonds with their own kind. Even if they’re different species.”
I have Golsuni, and I also have the token given by the golem leader.
[Kyuu.]
Golsuni proudly stretched its body forward.
Kaisers asked me,
“Can you find its habitat?”
“Of course.”
I am the author, after all.
I know where the habitat is.
“Steel golem? A beast? I want to go! I’ll come too!”
Eden, who was listening, lit up and started bouncing with excitement.
“I’ve never seen a steel golem before. Huh? Contractor!”
He’s already excited at the word “beast.”
“Then shall we go together?”
“Yeah! Contractor, you’re the best!”
“No, I’ll go.”
Kaisers intervened, grabbing Eden by the back of the neck as he cheered.
“…Your Highness?”
Suddenly?
“The place where the steel golem lives is quite far. Are you okay with leaving your territory for several days?”
“I can’t risk sending a black mage and a demon together. And this demon still has work left to do.”
He gestured toward the village that had been turned into a mess.
Eden’s eyes widened.
“Then we can just fix it before we go!”
“That’s not allowed.”
“Ah, why! Who are you?”
“Oh my, I’m the final decision-maker of this territory. Better remember that now.”
Kaisers smiled slyly, teasing Eden.
That’s quite bold for a child.
…Wait, he’s 200 years old, so maybe he’s not a child? But mentally, Eden seems far younger.
I was seriously pondering this strange scene when Kaisers turned to look at me, standing there silently.
“We’ll depart in five days. Make sure everything you’re doing is finished by then.”
“Your lord, John X, doesn’t seem right to me.”
“I get it. He’s a bit self-centered and arrogant, but he’s not a bad person.”
“Pick either a compliment or an insult.”
Eden grumbled while using his power to repair the damaged wall.
“Ugh, why is this never-ending?”
“Then why did you summon the griffin?”
“It was to show my authority…!”
“Yeah, yeah. Eat your bread while talking.”
I fed Eden a fluffy cream-filled bread as he huffed again.
Chewing quietly, he asked,
“But seriously, who are you? Some famous person I don’t know or something?”
It had been only thirty minutes since we entered the village to restore it. My hands were full of various breads, fruits, and snacks—gifts quietly given by the villagers.
“Everyone you meet is just desperate to give you something.”
“Yeah, they like me, huh.”
Even as I said it, it felt strange.
When I first arrived at the duchy, everyone called me a witch and avoided me like a disease. Now, not just the duchy staff but even the villagers approached me warmly, calling me ‘Mage.’
I realized how much my situation had changed.
“What’s with that face all of a sudden? Getting all teary-eyed.”
“It’s touching.”
“Contractor, aren’t you a noble? You must have received bigger gifts than this. No need to be so moved…”
“No, it’s the first time.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve never received anything like this.”
Both Charlotte’s life and my real-life had been far removed from a life where someone was loved.
Eden looked puzzled but didn’t ask further. He’s 200 years old, so even if he looks young, he probably understood the meaning.
“But Contractor, are you really okay going to the steel golem’s place with just that lord?”
“I’m a little worried too, but if necessary, I can borrow your power. So it should be fine.”
Honestly, in that dungeon, my precious magical battery was the only thing I could rely on.
The reason steel golems hadn’t been discovered by humans for thousands of years was that they slept deep underground in an ancient dungeon.
“You never know what’s in an old dungeon. It’s dangerous. Wouldn’t it be better if you went with me? You won’t even need to lend your power—I can handle it all.”
Eden’s eyes shone brightly again.
Regardless of Kaisers’ incredible skill as a Swordmaster, ancient dungeons were full of wild traps and ancient magic.
Even I didn’t know exactly what awaited inside.
“Leave the useless humans out. I’ll be more helpful than that sword-waving guy.”
“Why don’t you say that to Kaisers directly? I’m curious what he’d do.”
“…I still don’t like Your Lord John X.”
You can see that words alone won’t work. I agree.
“He just makes me do boring labor while he goes off to fun stuff? What a cheap and petty human.”
Ah, our adolescent demon is really angry.
I fed him another cream bread to calm him down.
“Wow, aren’t you the mage?”
At that moment, a tall woman carrying a basket greeted us warmly.
“I’m Mary. My husband told me that you replaced the chief of security, right? He’s been troubled by the previous chief for a long time while working in the security.”
“It’s nothing, really.”
“I wanted to personally thank you. I should give you something…”
“It’s fine. As you can see, I’ve already received a lot.”
I shook the gifts in my hands to refuse. Mary finally nodded in understanding.
“Then at least accept this. It’s not much, but my family has been working with metal for generations.”
She pinned a brooch she was wearing onto my coat. I couldn’t refuse, so I smiled helplessly. I literally had no free hands to refuse.
“And this person is…?”
“Oh, now you finally see him?”
Mary’s gaze turned belatedly to Eden.
It seems the ordinary villagers have no idea he caused the griffin incident.
“This is my assistant, Eden. He’s the one who restored this village.”
“Oh my….”
Mary whispered in admiration.
“Then is he your younger brother? You two look a bit alike.”
She pointed between my curly silver hair and Eden’s pure white hair.
Now that I notice, our hair colors are somewhat similar.
I wasn’t bothered, but Eden’s pride seemed hurt, and his face scrunched up.
“Hey, human. Watch your words…”
“You’re amazing! You’re so young and already use high-level magic! Are all mages this incredible? Amazing.”
Eden closed his mouth tightly. His lips twitched uncontrollably.
“What? Ha, I can solve this wall with my power anytime. Watch!”
Whoosh!
Eden leapt and began dramatically repairing the collapsed wall.
Why is he suddenly spraying a rainbow into the air? That’s not usually part of his power.
Mary kept exclaiming and clapping like a seal at the dazzling effects.
“Ha! Do you see how amazing I am now?”
“You’re really amazing!”
“Hmph!”
So simple-minded.
“Ready?”
“How many times are you going to ask?”
“I told you. It’s an ancient dungeon. I don’t know what traps are inside. It must be extremely old magic. So…”
“Okay, I promise not to let my guard down. So shall we finally depart?”
Maybe I nagged too much. But being careful isn’t bad.
[Kyuu!]
I held Golsuni in my arms and cast some magic with my other hand.
A blue magic circle flashed brightly beneath my feet.
