Chapter 86 : Golem
Chapter 86: Golem
Golem.
An artificial giant created using a core and magic circuits. The essence of magi-engineering.
It was the thing that Berje had wanted Roger to build.
“Th-that’s orichalcum!”
Roger shouted.
A soft brass glow. The golem was made of the magical metal Orichalcum.
It was a metal so hard that it could not be forged without a highly skilled expert and special techniques, and when mana was infused, it reacted and became even harder. Because of that trait, it was occasionally used for the outer walls of special fortresses or top-tier armor.
That metal formed the bodies of the five golems.
“No way, did they really use that precious stuff whole? No… seeing that subtle rainbow sheen, they must have mixed it into an alloy with other metals or coated the surface… My god, as expected of Arkan.”
“It looks excellent.”
“Well, of course anyone would say that after seeing something so amazing— Ah, no, forget it!”
Regardless of Roger’s admiration, the golems faithfully carried out their assigned roles.
They propped up collapsing walls with their own bodies and raised them back into place. Even in the pouring avalanche, they protected the humans’ encampment.
Of course, all they managed to do was endure, but the point was that they did endure.
“...So they were hiding something like that.”
He had hoped the avalanche would inflict considerable damage. What a shame.
“Still, it seems the damage isn’t completely nonexistent, my lord.”
“That’s true.”
Just as Krutu had said, the hastily erected barrier couldn’t fully cover the entire encampment, and snow that flowed around the wall infiltrated part of the camp.
Of course, calling it ‘damage’ would be generous—it was extremely trivial. Nearly half of the magic tents and formations were blown away, but there were no casualties.
“Roger.”
“Y-yes?”
“That’s what I want. You can make something like that, can’t you?”
“Uh… hmm…”
“Your answer isn’t reassuring.”
“I do have some knowledge of magi-engineering, but that is a masterpiece even most specialized golem artificers struggle to create.”
The difficulty of creating a golem rose in proportion to its size.
The larger a golem was, the more power it needed to move, the more weight it had to support, and even with such a heavy body, it somehow needed to retain speed, destructive force, and durability.
To achieve all of that, it required magic circles so advanced that ‘mandatory’ was an understatement.
And if its body was made from orichalcum alloy—one of the hardest materials to handle—then all the more so.
“So you’re saying you can’t?”
“I’m not saying I can’t. I’m saying if you bring me at least one expert, I could somehow make it happen.”
“An expert?”
“There are plenty right over there, aren’t there?”
Hehe. Roger pointed with a bright smile at the mage controlling the golem.
This brat—had he completely forgotten he was a Hero?
“If possible, I’d like to take that golem apart too. I feel like I could get an incredible amount out of it.”
The same madness flashed in his eyes as when he said he wanted to dismantle the Tower.
“I’ll do that for you if the opportunity arises.”
But now wasn’t the time to claim trophies after victory—this was the time to overcome the immediate obstacle.
“What shall we do?”
Krutu asked.
“If golems like those are holding the line, most monsters will have their heads blown off the moment they stick them out.”
“And so?”
“Let them all blow up.”
The mountain was wide, and the monsters were many. Even if a few died, it would cause no real problem.
Even if the orcs managed to hold them off safely, the hordes of monsters attacking every day would chip away at their sanity.
Eventually, wouldn’t a sharp method for bringing down those damned golems emerge?
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
“....”
“Roger.”
“Y-yes! I’m coming!”
* * *
The avalanche instilled caution in Arkan.
“Is there a possibility the Demon King intentionally caused the avalanche?”
“I’ve never heard of such a Demon King.”
“Then was it just coincidence?”
“That also cannot be stated with certainty. The mountain called Ergest has never been conquered for a very long time. We do not know exactly what monsters live here nor what kind of environment this place holds. And intentional or not, what we must do does not change.”
Cain nodded at the words of the Commander of the Blue Meteor Mage Corps.
“Well, whether the Demon King caused the avalanche or it happened naturally, what we need to do is the same—we have to stop it.”
Arkan resumed their advance. But because of their heightened vigilance regarding avalanches, their speed inevitably slowed even more.
And as they crawled along like turtles, they naturally became targets for monsters seeking prey.
“Ground Hounds!”
Beginning with the wolf-type monsters over three meters tall that traveled in packs—
“Trolls! Block them!”
“A Twin-Head Ogre appeared!”
Familiar monsters.
“Damn it, a Peul Gorgon!”
“Deploy the golems!”
“Never clash head-on!”
Even monsters that originally lived in plains or plateaus but had adapted to the snowy mountains—giant, fur-covered beasts resembling enormous cattle.
It was like a storm.
“Peul Orcs appear from time to time, but they don’t launch direct attacks. It feels like they’re purposely herding the monsters.”
“It seems certain now that the Demon King is commanding the orcs.”
With five golems and Cher, the Titan Chimera leading at the front, Arkan repelled the monsters far more easily than expected.
But perfection was impossible, and damage and fatigue accumulated little by little.
And in that situation—
“There’s a lot.”
“Use them.”
The only one excited was Lavinia Arkan.
“No.”
“Use.”
“No.”
“Use.”
She rummaged through the monster corpses staining the white snow red. Hearts, bones, hides, even tendons—everything useful was sucked into her subspace.
“Cher, stronger.”
Uwooooh—
Satisfied with the harvest, Lavinia smiled brightly.
Her companion, Titan, raised both arms and let out a roar of triumph.
No matter how kindly one tried to view her, Lavinia—covered head-to-toe in monster blood while dismantling corpses—was not someone who could be called pleasant to look at.
“...My apologies if this is rude to ask, but… are all Princesses of Arkan like that?”
“...My sister is a bit unusual. Thanks to her, we now have a way to find the Demon King’s Tower, so perhaps a good thing is simply a good thing.”
Ahem.
Cain awkwardly avoided Granada’s gaze.
* * *
Banquets held by the Hero Guild were special.
Countless heroes were invited, and to see those heroes, powerful figures beyond nationality or race gathered together.
‘And the star of all this is me.’
Though part of it had been manufactured by the Demon King, the rest was entirely the result of his own abilities.
‘Besides, if not for me, no one else could have achieved this.’
The Demon King had merely assisted.
“Oh, welcome!”
After passing through a long corridor, he stood before the doors of the banquet hall. The knights guarding the entrance recognized Hillan and lit up.
“It is an honor to meet you, Sir Hillan.”
“Thank you.”
“To think I would be the one to announce your entrance.”
“You flatter me. I am but an ordinary hero.”
“No one would dare call the man who slew two Demon Kings an ordinary hero.”
The herald from the Guild cleared his throat. And announced loudly:
“Having defeated the former Lust Demon King and destroyed the Demon King’s Tower, and having defeated the Beast Demon King and destroyed that Tower as well, and having protected the Second Princess of Berfht from the new Lust Demon King— the great hero! Sir Hillan Cargill enters!”
After the long introduction, the doors opened. The sweet melodies filling the banquet hall paused. Every gaze turned toward him.
Hillan Cargill stepped forward slowly, one stride at a time. Enjoying the eyes that devoured him, he accepted the wine glass offered by a passing attendant.
At the same time, his eyes swiftly scanned the crowd.
‘That one is Marquis Avronic of Iasince.’
‘Count Galleon of Arkan, Count Guros.’
Count Tomhal of Korzen and Marquis Killian of Horton.
And that was only mentioning counts and marquises—there were far more barons and viscounts.
And on top of that, the numerous heroes.
“Greetings. I am Ferdal Killian.”
The first to approach Hillan was a middle-aged man with an impressively groomed mustache.
A high noble of the northern great power, the Kingdom of Horton.
“Hillan Cargill.”
The two clasped hands.
“I’ve heard of your fame until my ears are sore.”
“Have I done anything worthy of such fame?”
“Your humility goes too far. Having slain two Demon Kings, you may proudly claim yourself the greatest among all living heroes.”
Even if his current skill was not the greatest, in the future, he would inevitably become so.
“Thank you.”
A short exchange followed.
“Ah, what of how you rescued Louise Berfht? How did you know beforehand that the Lust Demon King intended to abduct her?”
“It was a coincidence. You know I was sent as a Hero Guild envoy to the kingdom.”
“Well, I assumed as much. Still, what an extraordinary coincidence.”
Ferdal laughed heartily.
“I hear the Lust Demon King lost her tail? It is a pity I could not witness that wretch fleeing with my own eyes.”
“There was nothing impressive about it. Except that, much like a human, it was pathetic.”
“Kehaha, so the Demon King threw away all semblance of dignity. Ah, look at me.”
Ferdal shook his head.
“I’ve monopolized the celebrity too long. Others will scold me.”
“Not at all.”
“Before I let you go, may I introduce just one person?”
“If it is someone you recommend, gladly.”
“Your Highness.”
A murmur rippled through the crowd. The wall of people surrounding Hillan naturally parted.
Through that opening, a woman walked forward.
Golden hair cascading to her waist, blue eyes. At the same time, a well-trained body.
“Seeing you in person for the first time. A pleasure.”
Hillan knew who she was. But this was the first time seeing her directly.
“Ah, it seems I’ve committed rudeness in a first meeting.”
“It’s fine. Please speak comfortably. I am Hillan Cargill.”
“Then I’m relieved. I am Jessica Horton.”
A hero who had reached the rank of Star, yet one who served as a knight of the Kingdom of Horton.
All heroes belonged to the Hero Guild. Many maintained unofficial connections with various nations, but none could be officially affiliated with a kingdom.
But she was one of the few exceptions recognized even by the Hero Guild.
A princess of Horton, a hero, and the Commander of the White Rose Knight Order—Jessica Horton.
“It is an honor to meet the great hero who defeated two Demon Kings.”
“It is I who am honored to meet Your Highness, whose renown is well known.”
Horton was one of the three kingdoms bordering Ergest. Naturally, not a day passed without monsters descending from the mountains, and the knights of that land fought every single day.
Standing at the very front was Jessica Horton.
She was a great hero and knight who had defended the kingdom for over a decade in the land of extreme cold.
“I hear you negotiated a treaty allowing equipment supply from the Dwarven Kingdom? A remarkable accomplishment.”
“You flatter me. All I did was purchase them with money.”
“Regardless, the fact that those arrogant dwarves agreed to deliver a fixed monthly amount to the Guild is itself extraordinary. The kingdom has high hopes because of it.”
Equipment supplied to the Hero Guild naturally went first to the heroes. And although she served Horton, she had an advanced priority as a hero of the Star rank.
“Ah, this isn’t the main topic…”
She scanned the surroundings. Those who had tried to approach Hillan hesitated and shrank back before Jessica’s presence.
“I apologize as soon as we’ve met, but may we speak privately for a moment?”
“To have a private audience with Your Highness would be an honor.”
“Your tongue is sweet. Let us go to the terrace.”
Jessica gave a faint smile. Hillan followed her out onto the terrace. The cold night breeze brushed pleasantly across his face.
“It may be a strange thing to ask upon first meeting you, but… have you heard the rumors about the northern snowfields of Zespine?”
“If you mean the northern snowfields, isn’t that the land of the barbarians?”
“And at the same time, the domain of the Frost.”
So it involved the Frost Demon King.
Hillan searched his memory as best he could. But since adapting to the Hero Guild had been his top priority, he hadn’t had the leisure to pay attention to the far northern snowfields.
“Somethinc has happened in the snowfields?”
“Yes,t has. Whether large or small is debatable, but it is significant. Do you know Gillian Aint?”
“The Star who leads the White Eagle.”
“It seems he tried to do something against the Frost Demon King. It didn’t go well, and perhaps angered the Demon King—monsters and beasts reportedly wiped out several barbarian tribes.”
“...My god.”
Hillan wracked his mind desperately.
He had never heard this from Berje. Had Berje intentionally withheld it? Or did Berje not know either?
“You know Gillian Aint and the White Eagle are originally from the northern tribes, yes? So now, the snowfields are practically a battlefield.”
But if anger alone could solve everything, the Demon King would have been slain long ago.
Gillian Aint alone could not withstand the power of a Demon King.
“He asked me for help.”
The snowfields where Gillian operated and the northern region of Jessica overlapped considerably. They had interacted often and supported one another.
“I wanted to help him, but unfortunately, more and more monsters have been descending from the mountains. I cannot possibly leave my post for an extended time.”
“You want me to go to the snowfields in Your Highness’ stead and help him?”
“It may be a strange request to make of someone I’ve just met, but yes. I ask this of you.”
She nodded lightly.
“I have received much help from him as well. It is time for me to repay him. But circumstances are poor, and naturally, you came to mind.”
“...This is a little troublesome.”
Hillan had many duties at headquarters. Having only just gone to Berfht after becoming Argan, he didn’t want to disappear again for an extended period.
“I understand. I know very well how absurd a request I’m making.”
It wasn’t entirely absurd. Heroes existed to fight Demon Kings.
Anyone could ask Hillan, the hero, to fight for the continent.
“I’m only asking you to consider it. And I am not asking for this favor for free. If you accept, I will do everything I can within my power to reward you. But I won’t force you. If you cannot, simply say so. I’ll harbor no ill will.”
Hillan dipped his head slightly.
“I cannot answer immediately. May I have some time to think?”
“As much as you need. I’m grateful already that you’re willing to consider it. To be honest, I thought you’d refuse on the spot.”
“For now, I’d like to enjoy the banquet.”
“Oh dear, I’ve kept a busy man far too long.”
Jessica tapped his shoulder lightly.
“Shall we go back in?”
“Yes.”
‘I need to contact the Demon King first.’
Jessica Horton was beloved not only among heroes but also among the general populace. Helping her and building rapport could only benefit him—never harm.
‘I’d rather not lose this opportunity if possible.’
For Hillan, reputation—and the connections that shaped honor—
were more important than anything.