Chapter 36

"That's... a golem!?"

Selena said as she looked down from the corridor.

Soon after, rocks passed over our heads.

The rocks that hit the wall with force shattered and rained down on us.

"──《Transfer》"

We immediately 《transferred》 to the entrance side.

Not only Elysia, Selena, and Yurii, but also the armor clan did.

"It's not strange for golems to appear in a mine... but this number is"

As Yurii said, golems kept coming out of the tunnels. There seemed to be more than ten visible ones.

Elysia asked me.

"What do you want to do? We can close the door immediately if you want."

"Running away is an option, but we can't use the mine unless we defeat them... Selena, let's fight."

"Ha! Then──《Flame Spear》!"

Selena made a spear of flame float in her hand and threw it at the golem climbing the stairs to the corridor.

The golem threw a rock to intercept it.

But the flame spear shattered the rock, pierced the golem, and crushed it.

"Oh! Wow!?"

Just as Yurii rejoiced, countless rocks thrown by the golems approached.

"Leave it to us!"

The armor clan spread out to protect us, Yurii and me.

The armor clan, who received the rocks with their bodies, did not flinch at all.

"Thank you, everyone... but, if we keep this up..."

Looking down, I saw the golem that Selena had just crushed reviving.

If the magic core is not destroyed, the golem can gather rocks and revive indefinitely.

Selena shattered golem after golem with several 《Flame Spears》, but they quickly revived.

"Damn! Their magic cores are hard."

"The magic cores might be made of magic ore..."

Like the guardians, it's difficult to destroy them from the front.

However, their magic cores are not being controlled by someone else. Golems are always hostile to others.

...No, wait. If I can control the magic cores instead...

But due to the influence of the magic ore that houses magic power, it's difficult to locate the magic cores. To direct my magic power to the magic core, I need to visually capture it.

"Selena! Tell me which golem to defeat next!"

"Ha! Then I'll defeat the one below! Ha!!"

Saying that, Selena threw another flame spear and shattered the golem.

I immediately spotted the red stone in the golem's remains.

"Is that it... I'll wrap the magic core in dark magic..."

I willed it to obey me.

Then the magic core stopped gathering rocks.

"Good, it worked! Selena, keep it up!"

"Ha! If it's your command, my lord!!"

Selena said and continued to throw 《Flame Spears》 at the golems one after another.

I also sent magic power to the magic cores that had fallen among the golem's remains and began to control them.

Eventually, when the last golem fell and I took control of its magic core, the surroundings became eerily quiet.

"Phew... We managed it. Hmm? What's wrong, Selena?"

I called out to Selena, who looked somewhat bewildered.

"Eh, ah, I'm sorry! I didn't think I could attack so quickly myself."

"Ah, you fought really well... Maybe your magic power increased because you became my familiar."

"Indeed! 《Flame Spear》 is a basic magic, but if it becomes 《Flame Hell》, it will be amazing!"

"I want to see it and I don't... Anyway, well done, Selena."

When I said that, Selena showed a proud face.

Yurii looked a bit regretful.

"I should really... learn lightning magic too."

"Well, I'll leave the fighting to Selena. More importantly,"

Elysia's voice made me nod.

"Let's confirm if the magic cores are really under control."

"Yes!"

We descended the stairs from the corridor and headed to the remains of the golems.

The floor was covered with shattered rocks.

But among them, there were also red, gem-like objects visible.

"Is this the magic core?"

I picked up one of the red stones.

The magic power I had sent earlier was still lingering around the magic core.

"Good... Can it take a humanoid form?"

When I said that, the magic core floated and gathered rocks to form a golem.

It didn't show any intention of attacking us.

"It listens well... But I've never heard of taming golems."

Golems, being fearless, never obey humans. Subjugation magic doesn't work on them.

But my magic power successfully made the golems obey.

I must have recreated the same magic that controlled the guardians.

If I were to name it, it would be 《Magic Control》. It's not a pleasant magic to use...

The guardians, without being told, gathered the magic cores of the golems for me.

Selena nodded.

"To make golems obey, you modified the magic cores of the destroyed golems to create the guardians' magic cores... You really know a lot about magic and monsters, my lord. Even though you're only seven..."

"Well, I studied a lot before... Before the reset, I studied monsters and magic thoroughly. It was completely useless knowledge for a shut-in like me."

But now that it's useful, maybe it was for the best.

"Anyway, it seems I can control them as familiars. But,"

I'm also curious about what will happen if I make them my familiars.

"Since we're at it, let's make them my familiars."

I willed the magic cores gathered by the guardians to become my familiars.

"Well, what will happen?"

The magic core was enveloped in light... and when the light burst, it remained unchanged.

"Looks like it didn't change in appearance. Just like slimes."

Can monsters not take human form?

As I was thinking this, a voice came from the magic core.

"...Master. Your command?"

"Oh, you can speak now."

Ordinary golems don't speak, so this is helpful.

The magic power I had cast had completely disappeared, and they seemed to obey without the need for magic.

Yurii said, her voice slightly trembling.

"Can we really make golems our allies... But, golems are also good at crushing rocks."

"Good at mining, you mean."

Elysia's voice made Yurii nod.

"Then we can get a lot of magic ore! But... then we don't need to call our companions."

"No, Yurii. I want you to call our companions. The more craftsmen we have, the more we can help each other."

"Yes! Then we'll proceed as planned!"

I nodded.

"Right. Then, let's have the golems mine the magic ore. The slimes will gather it here. The armor clan, please continue to be on guard for any new golems."

Everyone followed my orders and took action.

And so, we began mining the magic ore.