It was to be expected.
A golem that moved with its own will was an object anyone would consider magnificent.
But if there was someone who would be more affected than anyone else upon seeing it, nine out of ten people would have pointed to the professor of 『Golem Magotechnics』, Harcon Pallas.
The ego golem far surpassed the auto-golems he had designed while dreaming of the rebirth of that discipline.
If, as a mage, he didn’t lose his mind upon seeing it, that would be the strange thing.
Fernan, dragged by the crowd, brought Professor Harcon to the reception hall of the Ravidus Hall.
“It’s been a while, Professor. How are you feeling?”
Hyde brought tea and some snacks.
Normally, that job would be done by the maids or servants of Ravidus Hall, but after the catastrophe of the demon invasion, there were so many injured that there was no other option.
“Then, I’ll leave you two to talk in peace.”
As Hyde discreetly withdrew, Professor Harcon, who had been silently staring at Fernan, finally opened his mouth.
“Why did you deceive me?”
“Me, Professor?”
Fernan shook his head as if it were the first time he had heard such a thing.
“I’ve never deceived you.”
“That golem.”
Unfortunately, Professor Harcon hadn’t seen with his own eyes the more-than-ten-meter-tall golem fighting the demon.
He had fallen into Dantalion’s trap and fainted along with other professors on the top floor of Ravidus Hall.
“That golem undoubtedly has its own consciousness.”
But its performance had been recorded in countless recording orbs, as many mages, fascinated by its majesty, had instinctively captured it.
“Yes, it does.”
“How did you do it?”
“I placed a spirit inside it.”
“A spirit? Did you say spirit?”
Professor Harcon froze.
In his logic, to confine a spirit—a being that loves freedom—inside a golem was almost impossible.
“Is that even possible?”
“Among merchants, we have a saying: if you failed to convince them, maybe what was lacking was money.”
“Huh?”
“The reason no one has been able to bind a spirit until now is that no one offered them a temptation sweet enough for them to give up their freedom. And tell me, wouldn’t you have accepted it yourself if you could have such a body?”
“…Of course I would.”
Unconsciously, Professor Harcon nodded.
Spirit or not, he would never refuse the ability to switch from 3 cm to 10 m at will, withstand direct combat against demons without breaking, and even deal them fatal wounds.
It was, literally, the ideal he had dreamed of his entire life.
“No, wait, that’s not what matters!”
He shook his head.
“What matters is that you managed to create such a golem and still kept it secret. That golem—what do you call it?”
“Ego golem.”
“Ego golem, a very fitting name.”
Professor Harcon’s gaze went to Fernan’s neck.
“Then, is that golem there right now?”
“Yes.”
‘Come out, Wooden.’
At Fernan’s whisper, Wooden came out from within his clothes.
— Kyuu!
He raised his hand toward Professor Harcon.
“…Good heavens, how natural and how beautiful.”
The man clutched his chest and collapsed.
“…Are you okay, Professor?”
“I’m fine. It’s just that… I’m so happy. I never thought I’d get to see a golem like this in my lifetime. I feel like crying.”
And indeed, a tear rolled down and fell onto the table.
For a creator, having someone recognize the value of his work was an immense pleasure.
“Fine. Auto-golems are now obsolete.”
But that conclusion made him frown.
“…What do you mean, Professor?”
“What do I mean? If something superior already exists, there’s no reason to cling to the inferior!”
“Of course there is. This one can never be recreated.”
“It can’t be recreated?”
The professor tilted his head, not understanding.
“If it had never been made, I would understand. But once achieved, how can you say it can’t be done again?”
“Building a golem that a spirit willingly agrees to enter is not easy at all. Just gathering the materials is almost impossible.”
“What materials did you use?”
The professor swallowed hard, nervous, as he asked.
“Mithril was used.”
“One of the three great metals? How much?”
“Over 50 kilos.”
“…That much mithril?”
“And also adamantite.”
“…Adamantite too?”
“Over 100 kilos.”
“Ugh…!”
The professor collapsed again, overwhelmed.
“So even if you knew the method, Professor, you could never do it alone.”
Even if he had the skill, he’d never have the resources.
“But, who knows. If you were to make about a hundred auto-golems that satisfied me, I might guarantee you full support myself.”
“…A hundred auto-golems?”
“Yes. And of course, the funding for those resources would be secured.”
“……”
Professor Harcon swallowed hard again.
Perhaps, in his mind, the phrase was already repeating: “If I make a hundred, I’ll use the profits to gather the three great metals for my own ego golem…”
“…But making a hundred isn’t easy…”
“For that, go to Ahgrot. There’s a village of dwarves under House Pellenberg’s protection.”
“An entire village…? Then maybe it’s possible…”
‘He took the bait.’
The start was with a hundred, but no plan ever went without deviations.
The three great metals weren’t easy to gather, and in the meantime, he couldn’t just sit idly by.
‘With a thousand golems, monsters wouldn’t be a problem anymore.’
Fernan smiled with satisfaction, though Professor Harcon, lost in thought, didn’t notice.
***
“I heard it’s yours.”
He had barely gotten rid of Professor Harcon when a new visitor arrived. It was Ludger.
“What are you talking about?”
“The golem.”
Fernan nodded.
“You created it to prepare for the demon invasion, didn’t you?”
It wasn’t true. The ego golem had been Fernan’s ideal since childhood. That it coincided with the arrival of the demons was mere coincidence.
But Ludger didn’t wait for a response and continued speaking.
“You already knew the demons would descend, didn’t you?”
Ludger bit his lip. Fernan had been wearing that pendant for quite some time. Even before the appearance of Kimaris, the first demon to manifest.
That meant Fernan had foreseen the descent of the demons from the very beginning.
“That’s why you changed your attitude, isn’t it?”
Originally, Fernan and the Pellenbergs had maintained a cordial relationship with Schwaben.
But all of a sudden, Fernan began openly supporting Aint Armian.
Naturally, the distance with Schwaben widened.
At the time, Ludger didn’t understand why Fernan and the Pellenbergs had made such a reckless decision. But now he did.
Fernan and the Pellenberg family had foreseen the future—not just the threat of the corrupt, but a great war sparked by the descent of demons.
And they had concluded that in that war, Armian would inevitably rise.
‘Damn it… What a terrifying man…’
Ludger watched him, trying hard to stay calm.
Those who could foresee war and create a golem capable of fighting demons—if they were also determined to push Armian forward, that meant they had the confidence to raise him to the imperial throne.
That’s why Ludger doubted that simply stealing a sword technique could allow him to surpass Aint.
No matter how hard he looked, his brother didn’t seem superior to the current Aint.
“Either way, what does that have to do with you?”
Fernan spoke slowly.
“A lot. The demons already attacked the Academy. They won’t stop there.”
That was obvious. Even a child could say that now.
“And if, in a moment when all humanity should unite, the Empire becomes divided, wouldn’t that be the same as marching toward self-destruction?”
“So what you’re saying is…”
“That you should stop right now.”
“Stop what?”
“Stop supporting Aint and Armian.”
Ludger stroked the now-cold teacup and continued.
“I heard Armian’s been recruiting troops for a while. And that he’s spending money like crazy. No need to ask where the money comes from. Without Pellenberg, it’d be impossible.”
“Giving money to a small shop in town versus giving it to a major merchant guild—you know better than anyone who uses it better, don’t you?”
“If you had invested in Schwaben, it would’ve been far more efficient.”
“That’s right.”
“Then think about this.”
Fernan gently tapped the table with his fingers.
“Wouldn’t it be even more efficient if Pellenberg spent the money directly instead of Schwaben?”
“…You…”
“If you’re only going to spout nonsense that convinces no one, you’d better leave.”
“Do you really believe Aint Armian is the only hope?”
Ludger bit his lip. He wanted to reveal it, but held back.
It was ultra-classified information that couldn’t come to light yet—that Schwaben possessed part of Armian’s power.
“Yes. I do. What, do you think differently?”
“The imperial family is Schwaben. In the end, unity will form around Schwaben.”
“You may be right.”
Fernan nodded without hesitation.
Although Aint was beginning to gain renown and Armian to expand its power, the gap between the two was still wide.
“And even so, you’ll lend your hand to Armian?”
“Yes. Even so, I will lend my hand to Armian.”
“Do you want the Empire to split?”
“No. I don’t wish for the Empire’s division.”
That’s why I make this proposal.
“What if Schwaben stopped opposing Armian and joined us?”
“…You think that’s something you can just say like that?”
“It’s a joke. Schwaben would never do it.”
But even so.
“What if you came alone? If you want, I can invest in you too.”
“…If you weren’t my friend, I’d have cut your head off by now.”
“And I was being serious. How unfair.”
Ludger stood up abruptly.
“It’s clear now that we can’t talk. Don’t regret it later. This is the decision you made yourself.”
“After all that’s happened, I already regret plenty. I can’t regret any more.”
With that, Fernan was left alone in the reception room. He lit a small flame in his palm and reheated the cold tea.
“If he hesitated for even a moment, that means not all is lost…”
Steam rose once again from the cup.
***
The most luxurious room in the Academy’s infirmary.
Aria was half-sitting up, receiving a visitor.
“The head of the family sent me in his place. How are you feeling?”
It was Adolf Fridian, the elf, peeling an apple.
“Fine—except for the pain in my arms, legs, shoulder, chest, and nose.”
“Then you’re not fine.”
Crunch. The apple Adolf brought was delicious. The difference between elven fruit and human fruit was insurmountable.
“I heard Andrealphus descended. That must’ve been rough.”
“It wasn’t Andrealphus that hurt me.”
Aria narrowed her eyes and stared intently at Adolf.
Normally, she would’ve pretended not to know anything, just as she had agreed with Fernan.
She would’ve let it pass to see how involved Adolf really was and how much he knew.
“Anyway, since the Academy will be closed for a while, why not go home and rest? Elves should be near the forest… Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Do you know how I got hurt?”
“Wasn’t it from the battle with Andrealphus?”
“You’re wrong. I didn’t even get close to Andrealphus. In fact, I couldn’t.”
“What are you saying?”
Adolf was another ticking time bomb. At any moment, what happened at the Academy could repeat itself in Fridian.
And in that case, they wouldn’t endure it as well as now. The demons and corrupt ones who failed this time would return with more rage and effort.
“All my injuries were caused by Aint.”
“Aint Armian? Are you saying he attacked you?”
“I attacked Aint. I was controlled by a demon.”
“……!”
Adolf’s expression hardened.
“Both the professor Nania and I were manipulated by a demon to attack Aint. He had no choice but to subdue us. These are the wounds I received in that process.”
And do you know who manipulated me?
“Professor Dominique. A professor I trusted quite a bit. He also had a connection with Professor Nania. He had even helped me several times before. This time too, it seemed like he wanted to help me, and that’s when I fell into the trap.”
Because that man was a demon.
“…Are you serious?”
“Yes. If it hadn’t been for Aint and Senior Fernan, who managed to contain him, the disaster would’ve been much worse.”
It wasn’t just that they had been manipulated. When the demon descended, she had tried to kill Aint. If that truth came to light, she’d be buried instantly.
Even as a member of the Fridian family, now that the Academy lay in ruins, people were consumed by fear and anger.
“I almost ruined the family.”
Aria forced a cheerful smile.
“So you be careful too, brother. You never know where the corrupt or the demons might be hiding.”
“…Understood.”
Adolf exchanged a few more words and left. His expression, still hard, never softened.
‘Please…’
Aria could only hope that Adolf would realize it on his own.
That there could be no “mutually beneficial alliance” with demons or the corrupt.
That it was the same as boarding a runaway cart heading straight for a cliff.
And that the only sensible decision for Fridian was to sever all ties with them completely.
____
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