CH 35

Two days after the dungeon investigation.

Old Trails, New Tools - Singletrack...

I am facing the golem’s core in my laboratory at the royal castle.

Beside me, a boy who looks like he could start moving at any moment is sleeping.

However, he is not human, but an artificial creation.

The outer shell of a golem.

In other words, he is like an empty husk.

“So, Freya wanted to create golems.”

“Yes.”

His Highness is also in the laboratory.

I have already explained the situation to him.

“An inheritance from the former director… huh. I’m surprised you wanted to work on it. But to put it bluntly, didn’t she have some issues? It would have been okay to just throw it away.”

“Magic tools are not to blame. Besides, I wanted to see it for myself.”

The completion of an autonomous golem is a goal that many magic tool makers aim for.

It is a realm that no one has yet reached.

I want to reach that place.

I want to know what kind of scenery I can see from there, what color it is.

My curiosity drives me forward. 

For the past month, I have been facing golems intensely.

The previous director is no longer relevant.

I am just doing it because it is what I want to do.

“I have been searching for this for a long time. A vessel that is worthy of this core.”

“Is this it?”

“Yes, it is a vessel that is so intricate that I have never seen anything like it.”

From any angle, it looks like a human being.

However, this is a creation, and although it feels soft to the touch, it has no warmth.

Although it looks like a human, it somehow lacks humanity.

It’s different from a corpse.

There’s no sense of life from the start.

Rather, it feels like something is missing.

As if——

“It’s like the soul has been removed from the body.”

“A soul. That’s surprising. Do you believe in such a concept?”

“I didn’t believe in it until I saw this vessel.”

If my soul were to leave my body, would I become the same as him?

This boy was so different that it seemed so.

“Your Highness, thank you for giving me this child.” 

“It’s fine. It’s an item that nobody can touch even if it’s stored in the kingdom. If you see potential in it, you should have it. Everyone else would say the same, right?”

I remember the end of the dungeon exploration.

When I found this boy and learned that he could become a golem’s vessel, I immediately asked His Highness.

❂❂❂

“Can you give me this child?”

“…Freya?”

I couldn’t retract the words I blurted out.

Even if I tried to cover my mouth, my voice had already reached His Highness’s ears.

“I’m sorry. I was just…”

“It’s, it’s alright. Besides, we were planning to take all magic tool-related items back to the court for investigation anyway. You have the right to it too.”

“Yeah, and it’s thanks to Freya’s quick thinking that we were able to defeat the boss easily. I think she should receive it as a reward.”

“A reward, huh? That’s a good idea.”

Everyone, including His Highness, affirmed my selfish request.

I was happy about that, and my heart was warmed.

“Thank you very much.”

❂❂❂

“Is the core completed?”

“No, it’s still incomplete.”

“How long will it take?”

“Well…it will take at least a month.”

The longer the process, the more time it takes for the stabilization to occur.

Even if you work on it every day, gradually the time when you can’t do anything increases.

“A month? Then let’s wait patiently. I also want to see the completion. I want to witness the result of what you wanted to do.”

“I also wanted you, Your Highness, to be the first to see it.”

“I’m honored. Then please let me know as soon as it’s done.”

“Yes!”

His Highness is also looking forward to it.

Filled with even more motivation, I devoted myself to finishing the golem’s core. At first, I was able to do two steps in a day, but after passing the 35th steps, I reached my limit and it took me a whole day to complete just one process.

Furthermore, the difficulty level of the granting continued to rise. Although the time for each step was short, it required several times the concentration.

To be as efficient as possible in my work, I practiced the magic of commands and their granting on a daily basis. 

It was a difficult task and there were times when the stress made my stomach ache, knowing that even one mistake could mean failure.

However, more than anything, it was enjoyable. The joy of putting all my effort into something was an invaluable asset to me.

And now, a month has passed.

“We’ve completed the final stage.”

In front of His Highness, I finished adding the core.

It took a total of 57 steps.

I programmed enough orders for it to function as an autonomous golem, and the magic’s perpetual circulation was working properly.

If I had added just one more step, the core would have exploded under the strain.

It was especially important to discern the right moment, but it worked out well.

As I breathed a sigh of relief, His Highness gave me words of encouragement.

“You did well. Lidoria-san said that there’s probably no one else in the world who can create a core like this except for you.”

“Oh, no, I still have a lot to learn.”

“At times like this, you should be proud and not be modest. You accomplished something that no one else could.”

“Your Highness…”

Something that no one else could do…and I did it.

As he said this, I tightly grasped the completed core.

My hands add their warmth and it’s faintly warm.

“I’ll put the finishing touches on it.”

“Oh.”

I approach the sleeping boy.

I pull up his clothes and check the open right chest.

If I fit it in here, the core should connect to the body.

Once the body and core are firmly connected, it will activate.

If it fails, it means that this core was insufficient.

This is my limit right now.

Please, I want it to move.

Open your eyes——

“Please.”

I prayed as I inserted the core.

Light is emitted.

The generated magical power runs through the empty vessel at high speed.

The lifeless and inhuman body takes on a faint reddish color.

The golem is activated.

No, it’s more like a person has been revived.

The boy opens his eyes.

“…”

“He opened his eyes!”

“Yes!”

It was a success.

The core and the body are connected.

Now, the autonomous golem is complete——

“Papa… Mama?”

“”…Eh?””

We were at a loss for words at the first word the boy spoke.