Chapter 96

Chapter 95

Moreover, I received a report that there is a very covert movement in the main territory of the Barrietta Dukedom. Something is bound to happen soon.

“Sir David? Where are you going?”

“Do you want to come along?”

While it is essentially something that will make alchemists even more enthusiastic, it will also be quite interesting for me, a mage.

At my words, Yulius got up from his seat without hiding his expectant expression, as if he was hoping I would show him something.

“What… What is it? Take me along too!”

And, Ilina, the princess, who had decided to stick to me like a leech, followed with a humble tone.

Even if I can’t see it, it will be an entertaining scene, so it shouldn’t be a big problem.

* * *

The castle I live in is a very old and dilapidated building.

It was originally the place where my mother, Queen Reni Alisad, lived when she was young, and it was also the home of my mother’s ancestors, the Alisad Barons.

However, due to being left abandoned for a long time, the building’s lifespan had become extremely limited. The 8th Elder Gorda, who had planned to renovate and expand the castle, decided to start building a new one.

The place I arrived at was precisely that.

“Oh! Master! You’ve come!”

“It’s grown so tall already.”

“Ahem! Though I am a mere craftsman, far inferior to my master’s skills, I do have a certain level of finesse in my work.”

The new castle is much larger than the previous one.

We have plenty of materials and bought a large number of magical tools to assist in construction.

Thanks to the mobilization of many craftsmen and workers, the progress is not ordinary.

“First, there’s a basement, so I’m satisfied with seven floors. Do you like it?”

“I’ve heard a lot. I’m truly grateful for your help.”

“Hahaha!! What is my master’s business is also the business of our Yellow Rock Tribe! By the way, Gorda the old man asked about your well-being.”

“Elder Gorda?”

“He said the relic is almost complete.”

The Primordial Flash.

It is the relic of the dwarves, a spiritual pillar that has protected the dwarves for over 3,000 years.

I laid the basic framework, but the rest is their responsibility.

Thanks to my significant contribution to the completion of the relic, which had been stalled, it seems there was quite a commotion.

It also seems that the completion of the second relic, the Spark of Twilight, is only a matter of time.

“Dwarves! Now that I think about it, I’ve seen them a few times within the territory.”

Dwarves are famous for not leaving their villages.

In other words, even though the existence of the dwarves is well known, it’s not easy to meet them.

Of course, there are some eccentrics who venture out into the world, but they are rare, like natural monuments.

Unlike elves, whose existence is hidden.

“I’ve never seen one in person. I….”

The three people who followed me looked at Gorda with a curious expression.

“Hmm? Who are these people?”

Naturally, as dwarves, human titles have no meaning.

“They are my guests. And this is my younger sister, Winry.”

“Ah… Hello. My name is Winry Ol Ron.”

“Oh! So you are the one Master has been boasting about!”

Gorda, who walked over clumsily, grabbed Winry’s hand with his rough hand and laughed heartily.

“I’ve heard so much about Princess Winry from my master! What a beautiful human!”

“A… Ahaha… Thank you.”

Looking flustered, Winry alternated her gaze between me and Gorda, her face turning red.

“Then, who is this?”

“They are the Elder of the Red Tower and the Princess of the Palan Empire.”

“Hmm… Important people, huh? Well, it doesn’t matter to me! Hahaha!”

“Ugh… I’ve never felt so insignificant before.”

On the contrary, Ilina, who had been completely ignored, quietly complained about the cold treatment she was receiving.

“Ahem! This isn’t right. Should I show you the construction progress?”

“No, actually, I heard that the materials for the workshop I set up underground have arrived.”

“Oh, you mean the giant soldier. I understand. I’ll pass the message on.”

“Thank you. Don’t overwork yourself. The Hains territory aims to be a clean company.”

“Our Yellow Rock’s strong men will show their worth! Hey, you guys! Haven’t you even eaten meat? Move quickly and show our pride!”

Gorda, who laughed heartily and waved his hand, left. Yulius looked at him with a wry smile.

“Amazing. It feels like a storm just passed through.”

Dwarves have a remarkable voice.

Especially Elder Gorda’s voice is even more powerful than the average dwarf, so it’s understandable that someone seeing him for the first time might be intimidated.

“Let’s go.”

Seeing the workers running around diligently, I entered the almost completed first floor and headed for the stairs leading to the basement.

“It’s really huge… Will it collapse?”

Ilina’s anxious question echoed, but…

“Pfft, they’re dwarves. Dwarves wouldn’t build a shoddy building, would they?”

“T-That’s true, I guess.”

Princess Ilina nodded reluctantly at Winry’s words.

As we entered the basement with the three people, a wide underground corridor lit by embedded magic stones appeared.

-This cost you a fortune. It’s what people call a money splurge…

‘A large personal workshop is a dream of a tech enthusiast. Don’t belittle it.

I spent a lot of money on the workshop, but I don’t regret it!

The interior, brightly lit by numerous magic stones, was over 10 meters high and quite spacious.

“Is it possible to build a building like this?”

Ilina muttered anxiously. Indeed, with ordinary construction techniques, such a risky design would collapse.

“With alchemy, magic, and dwarven construction techniques, anything is possible.”

Automatic regeneration magic array, automatic repair magic array, increased strength, shock absorption, earthquake resistance!

With considerable depth, it’s practically a natural bunker!

With confidence soaring, my nose naturally rises.

-Tsk…

Rumble!!

As I activated the switch on the tightly closed door, the gears turned smoothly, and a green orb slowly rose, emitting a green light.

-Decepticon Squadron Workshop. Opening.

A smooth voice, as if recorded, flowed from the orb, causing a shiver to run through the surroundings.

Originally a recording magic tool, it can also serve as a guide when used properly.

“Wow, a futuristic workshop. It always gives me a thrill.”

-Isn’t that what they call a money splurge?

If you pour your soul and passion into it, there’s nothing you can’t do. Everything is possible.

* * *

Rumble!!

The automated workshop. The place, in the form of a huge hall, was truly a massive space.

Various tables lined the walls, stacked with numerous vials and piles of paper, and on one side, tools that had been used but not properly organized were visible.

Rumble! Rumble!

Even after the door was fully opened, there were still things changing.

The three people couldn’t erase their dazed expressions at the sight of the internal structure moving busily.

Indeed, even for a mage or an imperial princess, such an absurd space is hard to come by.

It’s a space that I’ve put a lot of thought into.

A space filled with the desires of a tech enthusiast.

While it may not be particularly efficient, the attempt itself is quite commendable.

-Hum…

-Workshop opening complete.

The voice, as if recorded, sounded again.

A system that makes a recording magic tool play a certain voice when the door opens and closes, but it has a certain charm.

Of course, recording magic tools are not cheap, so it’s what people call a money splurge, but…

Who can say anything about spending money on my hobbies?

That’s my true intention.

“Wow… I’ve seen various workshops, but…”

“This is quite impressive…”

The faces of the three people, who were admiring without a hint of bias, were filled with curiosity and interest.

“Oh! Master! You’ve come.”

“I’ve been waiting!”

Finally, the door opened and closed, and a few dwarves who were working inside came towards me, beaming.

Originally, Gorda is responsible for managing this place, but he is a busy person with many other responsibilities.

“Yes, I heard the materials have arrived.”

“Ahem! We were just about to start the outer processing, would you like to see it?”

One of the dwarf craftsmen proudly pointed to a large pile of cloth on one side.

“Sir David, what is that… exactly?”

“It’s a Guardian.”

“A Guardian… a golem?”

Yulius, trying to understand my words, opened his eyes wide.

Golem.

A formidable weapon created by the combination of a mage’s magic array and an alchemist’s skills, usually made from solid clumps of clay or steel.

Indeed, some countries operated small golem units during wars.

“A golem of that size is a Class 1 golem! The maintenance cost would be comparable to half a year’s income of a decent territory…”

“Was it that expensive?”

Thanks to the elimination of unnecessary labor costs and the reuse of materials, it didn’t actually cost much.

Where did I get the materials from?

The parts of the magic golem from the cave with the medium of the curse became the components of this one.

All I did was a bit of modification, reinforcement, and adjustment.

Finally, as the cloth was removed, a giant sculpture came into view.

At first glance, it looked more like a sculpture made of a unique metal than a golem.

“Hmm? Isn’t that just a sculpture?”

“Is that what you think, brother?”

“I haven’t named it or painted it, but the name should be given by my master.”

“That’s true. Let’s name it Prototype Megatron.”

“What a terrifying name! Master, your naming sense is truly exceptional!”

He said this, chuckled, and climbed up the giant sculpture using a ladder.

“I’ve added some small armor, but I haven’t tested it yet, so it’s been left idle.”

Climbing quietly to the top of the sculpture, he placed his hand on the head and drew mana, causing a large amount of mana to flow and changes to begin.

Squeak!! Clank! Clank!

“Oh my…”

“Is that… a golem?”

The surprised voices of Yulius and Ilina echoed.

Indeed, the sight of a statue-like sculpture suddenly creating dozens of cracks and slowly transforming would not be easily forgotten.

Clank!! Clank!!

Finally, each metal part covering the sections moved, forming a giant human shape.