Chapter 19

First Report On the Newest Recruit’s Problems and Plans Moving Forward “This place really feels like a foreign country, don’t you think?” Toudou and her party have arrived in First Town, a small village at the entrance to Golem Valley. It also just happens to be the region’s biggest town. The homes are converted from boulders, which make up for the scarcity of workable land. It’s unlike anything Toudou has ever seen before. Nearly everyone in the streets is a mercenary or merchant wielding a sword or staff. The village itself can be traversed on foot in a matter of hours. After enjoying what the town has to offer, Toudou returns to the inn, a far less classy lodging than anything in the Kingdom’s capital. Even so, it has everything a weary traveler needs. The toilet and shower rely on magical implements, and the room’s size and amenities are nothing to sneeze at. The doors and furniture are wooden, but the walls and floor are hewn from cream-colored boulders. To Toudou’s eyes, it’s almost painfully fresh. Aria lays down her sword and changes out of her armor into casual wear. She notices Toudou’s gaze and says, “This place has quite the local flair. Around here, rocks are the only available resources.” “Hmm… I wonder how they make all this?” “They likely use earth-based elemental spells, I bet. There are…a lot of earth spirits nearby.” Limis takes off her robe and sits on her bed. Her contracted fire spirit, Garnet, nods in agreement from its spot perched atop Limis’s head. Toudou suddenly closes her eyes upon hearing Limis’s explanation. When Naotsugu Toudou was summoned as the Holy Warrior, she received the divine protection of the Three Deities and Eight Spirit Kings along with their associated elements: fire, water, earth, wind, wood, metal, darkness, and light. The divine protection from these sovereign spirits gives her a heightened sense of awareness toward all spiritual beings. If she concentrates hard enough, she can recognize any spiritual power resonating in the area around her. “Everything’s explained by magic, huh?” “If it wasn’t for the spirits around us, the world as we know it would not exist. I can’t even imagine the kind of world you came from, Nao.” “We didn’t have spirits in my world, but if the miracles of spirits and gods did exist there, maybe it would’ve turned into a place like this…” Toudou’s words are filled with an indistinct nostalgia. That said, she can’t return to her world at this point, so there’s no use in wondering what if. Aria notices her expression and attempts to change the topic. “Golems are well-known for their rigid armor. Magic works on them far better than swords do, I’ve heard.” “Hmm… I can cast a few spells, but not enough to be truly useful.” Two months have passed since the party set out on their journey. Toudou has been fighting with a sword the entire time, but it’s not like she’s neglected other pertinent skills. She’s learned elemental spells from Limis, and she can also use basic-level holy techniques. However, she’s barely had a chance to actually cast anything. Toudou recites a chant quietly to herself, and a small flame appears on the tip of her finger. It’s hardly adequate for real combat, and Limis manages a fatigued smile. “Hmph. No matter how much divine protection you have, if you don’t contract with any spirits, you’ll never be able to cast powerful elemental spells.” Toudou becomes sullen. Even after two months, she still hasn’t managed to enter a spirit covenant. An elemental spell’s power is directly proportionate to that of the spirit you enter a covenant with. Therefore, one can’t afford to simply contract with any old spirit. “At any rate, we’re here to focus on raising our levels. None of us would stand a chance in our current state against a monster as strong as Gregorio. We need to reach level thirty, then our resistance will increase significantly.” Recalling the strong conviction hidden within the face of the young female priest they left in Purif, Toudou responds cheerfully, “…We have to keep up with Spica. Let’s work hard to get our level up!” Toudou’s party knows the golems are a handful, but they aren’t exactly chumps, either. She realizes that Limis, who is sitting on the bed, doesn’t look like her normal self. Her skin has always been quite pale, but it now has a sickly pallor, and her movements are somehow languid as well. “? Limis, are you feeling tired?” “…My body just feels a bit…heavy right now.” Limis is always sharp, but her response is listless. Aria looks at her with concern. “Are you okay? We’ve really been pushing ourselves lately…” The Great Forest of the Vale. Battling the undead in Yutith’s Tomb. Add to the mix the time they’ve spent on the road, and the party has barely had time to catch their breath. “Maybe we should’ve taken some time to rest.” “Yes, we should have… Mages have comparatively less stamina than the rest of us…” It’s true that Limis’s stamina isn’t up to par with the party’s vanguard. Limis appears faint as Aria approaches her gently and puts her palm to Limis’s forehead. “…You seem to have a bit of a fever.” “…Should I cast recovery on her?” “No… This is likely a result of her stamina being simply depleted. She just needs to take a thorough rest.” Toudou stares at Limis with intense worry. She’s much smaller than Toudou, yet always tough as nails and full of composure. Right now, she looks utterly helpless. Limis barely opens her eyes and whispers with a nod, “I’ll be fine… I’m just a bit tired.” Her voice is frail and limp. Aria strokes her head with pity and says to Toudou, “Let’s keep an eye on her for two or three days. It could just be that she’s exhausted. Plus, Limis is the lowest leveled of all of us…” “Yeah… You’re right. I really hope…I get better soon.” Limis’s head wobbles as she slowly lies down on the bed. She gropes among the covers on her hands and knees and sinks into them, giving one last glance at Toudou. Garnet leaps down from Limis’s head and curls up near her pillow. “I’m gonna…sleep.” “Sure… Take it easy. Is there anything you need?” Limis shakes her head slowly back and forth and closes her eyes. “I will look after Limis. Nao, please inform the Church that Limis is incapacitated.” “Yes… Understood. I’ll see if we can get her a doctor, too.” “Now that I think about it, perhaps we should’ve done that before we left the village. Let’s make sure we get ourselves into top shape here.” Toudou looks down at the small mage who will be relying on them for some time, and then quickly stands up to leave. Before anything else, we need to consider our system moving forward. The three of us gather in a single room of the inn to speak face-to-face. Up until we reached Purif, Amelia and I had functioned together, joined at the hip. In general, I conducted all the fieldwork, and Amelia was my backup—a relatively flawless setup. But adding any hindrance throws a wrench into all that. “Amelia, mind if I leave everything with Stephenne to you?” Amelia is totally silent at my query and looks miffed. Finally, she replies, “……You’ll owe me big-time.” “Sir… Um, I mean, Ares… I did actually come here to work, you know— Uh, never mind, forget it.” Stephenne had started to interject, but Amelia shot her down with an icy gaze, and she trailed off. …Yet, when I think about this rationally, Amelia was completely right. Every single thing about this is all my fault. “…Stephenne, I have to ask—what is it you’re capable of?” “Ares?!” Stephenne’s eyes widen at my question, and she immediately beams at me. “Ares, please call me Stey. All my friends do.” “…Stey. Just what are you capable of?” “Ares, you look a bit crazed… Are you all right?” Cut the chitchat and answer me! Stey begins to count off the things she can do with a huge smile on her face, practically in singsong. “I can clean, I can do laundry, and I cook!” “…Looks like she’s got you beat, Amelia.” Except not. That’s not the kind of capacity I’m talking about. The heck? Amelia said the same thing before. Are housework skills really that crucial for holy casters?! Amelia is glaring at Stey like she’s going to strangle her to death. This is bad. I can’t tell if she realizes how Amelia’s looking at her or not, but Stey keeps talking with the same dumb smile on her face. “And also… I can cast most basic holy techniques. You can count on me if you’re ever injured!” “Most… You mean through intermediate level?” Holy casters are a truly elite breed. A priest who can cast intermediate-level holy techniques is extremely valuable. Stey’s expression remains interested as she cocks her head to the side like a small animal and says, “? Um, no, I mean advanced level.” “…What the heck, Amelia? She’s more talented than you.” “Ares, would you mind keeping the commentary to yourself?” But, I mean… Seriously. What the heck? Pondering my options, I glance between Amelia and Stey. Sisters of the faith generally don’t lie. That means that Stey, who got lost in five seconds and tripped on absolutely nothing, is an extremely talented cleric. Most likely the top 1 percent. I scratch my head wildly. I can’t believe that Stey being an extremely valuable priest is what’s torturing me right now. She smiles like she truly believes in the goodness of this world from the bottom of her heart… Or to put it coldly, she looks like she’s got nothing going on upstairs. Maybe that’s the kind of thing the God of Order is into? As I try to convince myself this is all normal, Stey drops an even more explosive bomb. “Also… Ummm—I’m about level seventy.” “…What?” Seventy? Did she just say she’s level 70? There is simply no way… Dumbfounded, I put my hand out to touch her head and gauge her level. I can hardly believe my eyes when I catch sight of the amount of life force inside her. “No goddamn way… Level…seventy-two?!” Amelia is level 55, so that puts Stey a whole 17 levels above her. A 17-level spread is highly unusual. More than anything, she’s a higher level than can be reached here in Golem Valley. She could probably make it all the way back to Church headquarters herself! Damn, Amelia—you’re losing to your friend Stey on all fronts. And Amelia is definitely a high-class professional herself… As I remain dumbstruck, Amelia waves a hand in my face and tells me, straight-faced, “Ares, I know what you want to say. That being said… It’s impossible.” “And why is that?” “The only reason Stey’s level is so high is because it was determined she’d probably end up dead otherwise.” “I don’t…understand this. Seriously, I just don’t!” “You don’t have to understand… Just accept it.” What sort of world exists where someone needs to be level 72 just to keep from dying?! Stey is clearly unperturbed by our frantic back-and-forth as she stares out the window. …You’re telling me this klutz is more than double the level of Toudou, the Holy Warrior?! “Ares. Take all your expectations—and toss them aside. Don’t deem her as capable based on her abilities alone.” “Hey, my expectations are long gone— What do you say we dispatch her to join Toudou and the others?” “Ares… Do you intend on destroying the Holy Warrior’s party?” “…You’re right. Terrible idea.” I should definitely listen to charming, whip-smart, li’l old Amelia. I heave a sigh and look back to Stey. But she’s not there. “…I see… So this is how she disappeared.” Her need for secrecy must be as high as her level. Without me realizing, she’s moved to the window and opened it, gazing down below. How dare she stand up while I’m talking to her! There’s no chance she’d hack it in Toudou’s party. Amelia rushes over to Stey and grabs her by the nape of the neck. “Eep?! A-Amelia?! Please, I’m not a child!” Stey struggles against Amelia’s grip as she tries explain herself. So don’t act like one, then! In all honesty, I can’t be bothered to look after her any longer. My job is explicitly limited to supporting Toudou and his party in defeating the Demon Lord. “Amelia… I’m leaving all matters regarding Stey in your hands. I’m going to focus on the issue of getting Toudou’s level up.” “I have one condition: Buy me a drink soon.” “Ooh… Amelia, I wanna drink, too! I can really hold my liquor, Ares!” This must be what they mean by “God does not give with both hands.” It seems the God of Order has bestowed every gift possible unto Stey but has forgotten one thing, the most critical gift imaginable… Like, order. Amelia puts her hand to her forehead, a rare gesture for her, and begins to speak in a dark tone. At that very moment, I feel a strong sense of camaraderie with her. “Ares, you must never give Stey alcohol. One sip and she completely loses it.” Amelia is the same way—absolutely wasted after one sip—so I wonder what she means by “completely loses it.” If anything, maybe a good stiff drink would send her around full circle and back to reality. If she could manage that, I have a host of ideas on how to make use of her. “…Amelia, we haven’t seen each other in so long. Don’t you think you’re being a bit mean? I was really looking forward to this, too.” Stey pleads with Amelia and clings to her tightly, looking up at her with puppy-dog eyes. Calmly, Amelia gives Stey a single command. “Stey… Stay.” “Y-yes, ma’am!” Stey instantly springs upright to attention. Wait a minute. Is Stey’s nickname actually—? Forget it. Let’s just ignore that for now. I can’t think too hard about it, or I might keel over from the stress. Keeling over after vanquishing the Demon Lord is one thing, but there’s no way I’m letting this klutz get the best of me. Golem Valley is essentially designed for the purpose of leveling up; the elevation is high, and there aren’t any other towns nearby. The valley is within the realm of the Kingdom of Ruxe, but it’s a remote region, and the royal household hardly meddles in affairs here, although it’s within reach of their sovereignty. The townspeople around here change drastically every few years for this reason. Mercenaries and monster hunters don’t settle down in one place anyway, and anyone sent to this harsh terrain on assignment to manage the town comes begrudgingly. There’s a constant flux of people—I hardly recognize anyone still here from when I last came to level up. The only things that haven’t changed are the town’s layout and the priests who oversee the local churches. I head for the only church in First Town in order to formulate a plan. My mission to support the Holy Warrior from the shadows is a top secret one. Nobody can learn of my actions, and the Church is one of my few allies along the way. The father who supervises Purif’s churches is just your run-of-the-mill aged cleric, but the priest in charge of the churches here in Golem Valley is an esteemed woman well-known throughout the entire Church. In a sense, she’s a bit like Golem Valley’s elder. I’m here to review the state of affairs, replenish supplies, and potentially communicate information to Toudou’s party through the Church. I require nothing else. I need to remain vigilant regarding any demon movements. This region is famous for leveling up. In the Great Forest of the Vale, a similar area, fearsome followers of darkness laid a trap for the Holy Warrior. If the same demons have extended their reach to Golem Valley, it would come as no shock to receive word of abnormal disturbances here, too. Mercenaries and monster hunters are by nature the most perceptive about such information. However, I’ve decided to head for the local church instead, as Golem Valley’s lead cleric is one of the few veterans around here. She had already been in charge for more than twenty years by the time I first visited Golem Valley. She’s watched over this place for longer than anyone else in history, and her presence alone is enough to loosen the lips of any mercenary or hunter. The church is located in the town center, next to the headman’s estate. It’s a relatively small building compared to that of the Vale Village, but the front doors are wide open, with merchants, priests, and wounded hunters lined up at the entrance. I know the ropes around here. I shoot a sidelong glance at the crowd gathered at the front and head around to the back door. It’s unlocked, and when I step inside, I’m greeted with a familiar scene that’s remained unchanged for the past several years. The cramped study contains a few bookshelves, a dirty wooden desk and chair, and, quite unnecessarily, a bed and sofa. A large man is crouching with his back to me, casually pulling books from one of the shelves. He must have heard the door open, as he suddenly turns back to look at me. Everything in here looks pitifully tiny next to him. Actually, everything in here really is tiny. Even crouched down, his head is well above the bookshelves. He wears a gray robe that covers his entire body. His shoulders are twice as wide as mine, and he’s almost double my height. Even among the legendary mercenaries of yore, there are few human beings who meet his incredible stature. His arms and crossed legs are thick like tree trunks. Even completely still, it’s not hard to imagine the incredible power he possesses. He doesn’t look like a priest at first glance; his head is massive in comparison with his body, his dark brown hair cropped close. The earrings hanging from his ears show his rank. It’s been a while since I last saw my friend, the half giant Wurtz Beld. I immediately state my purpose. “Wurtz, long time no see. I have something to discuss with the madam. Take me to her.” “Ares… I see. So it’s true— You’re the one in charge of that mission.” Wurtz’s brown eyes widen in surprise, his voice sonorous even at a whisper. Carina Capp—that’s the sixty-something-year-old sister who still oversees the churches in this region. In fact, she’s renowned as the warden of every church in all five of Golem Valley’s villages. She was assigned to this area at the very beginning, back when there was only one church here, and has continued to maintain this house of worship as a sanctuary to all mercenaries who enter. The local inhabitants refer to her respectfully as “Madam Carina” or simply “madam.” Though mercenaries flock to Golem Valley to raise their level, it’s also part of the Ruxe royal knights’ curriculum for leveling up. For this reason, Madam Carina’s influence within the Kingdom of Ruxe cannot be overstated. The madam looks exactly the same as the last time I saw her a few years ago. She is both wide and tall in stature, bearing the number of wrinkles you’d expect from a woman of her age. I would be hard-pressed to say her expression is soft, yet her large eyes shine amid the wrinkles, emitting a powerful life force. She doesn’t have a single gray hair in her vibrant purple mane, and earrings that indicate the same episcopal level as myself hang from her ears. Truthfully, she looks more like a witch than a priest. She has refused orders of promotion to the Church headquarters on multiple occasions, instead choosing to remain on the front lines—the “Great Mother.” I approach the madam and stop about one meter in front of her. She looks down at me with the utterly nostalgic, slightly intimidating glance I know well. “Madam, please forgive me for intruding. I presume you’ve received word from His Eminence, but I’m here regarding the same matter.” Madam Carina most certainly knows about the Holy Warrior. At any rate, I’ll need her help before I get started on anything around here. She remains silent until I finish speaking and then twists her lips into a wry smile. “Heh-heh-heh. You haven’t changed, young Ares. Not so much as a greeting, eh? Of course I’ve heard the rumors. Apparently, you’ve been doing incredibly well. That boy I once knew—I hear they now call him Ex Deus. Is that so?” Her dry old voice rocks my brain—a voice that can only be taken for malice upon first meeting. Most are completely helpless at the sound of it. I smile at the madam and shrug my shoulders. “All thanks to you, Madam. And that nickname of mine isn’t something I came up with myself.” “Heh-heh-heh. You’ve also attained the gift of gab, I see. Though you haven’t shown your face here even once ever since.” The madam puts her palm to her lips and stifles a laugh. There isn’t a hint of concealed rage beneath her soft expression. Madam Carina looks intimidating, but she’s a genuine intellectual. It would normally be presumptuous for me to evaluate a priest who is far more experienced than myself, but that is simply how well I know her. I get to my point without hesitating. “I do apologize for that, Madam… However, I would still appreciate your assistance.” She slaps the armrest of her chair and cackles in response. “Always the workaholic, eh? Heh-heh-heh… Quite remarkable that you would come through my doors yet again, already in need of this old woman’s help… God certainly works in mysterious ways.” She couldn’t be more correct. In this age of all-out demonic warfare, warriors are not guaranteed to live long based on their prowess alone. Crusaders have a particularly high mortality rate. The madam said that I haven’t come back to see her once, but when I last left this place after leveling up, I told her my good-byes. Surely, meeting again under these circumstances is adverse fortune. But what of it? I’ll take advantage of any situation thrown at me, whether curious fate, or adversity, or whatever comes my way. As the madam continues to grin, I dive right into my plan to beef up Toudou and his party. After going over the fine details with Madam Carina, I receive word that Toudou has contacted the Church. It’s already dusk by the time I return to the inn. The madam has agreed to help me, so I’m feeling pretty good. I call on Amelia and Stey from the next room and commence a strategy meeting. Amelia looks exhausted, quite unlike her usual self, probably because I asked her to train Stey. “Limis is incapacitated, I’m told.” “…What? Is she okay?” “It’s likely exhaustion—the party will keep a close eye on her. The long journey has worn her out, I expect. It’s very common.” Golem Valley is prone to inclement weather. Due to the high elevation, the air is thin and the temperature low. There is no shortage of people who fall ill here. “I’m concerned, too, but this gives us a window to reposition ourselves.” There are so many things that still need doing. I spoke with the madam about raising Toudou’s party’s battle prowess, and I’ve also asked her to check if any strange occurrences have reared their heads recently in Golem Valley. This bit of downtime is a blessing from the heavens. Now’s the time to tackle a number of the problems we’ve been putting off. “Amelia, I need to speak to Glacia. Call her over for me.” “…Do you plan to dispose of her?” “No. That’s my last resort. Though if Spica had joined the party, I might’ve had to.” Glacia, a demi-dragon, had been lured into the Great Forest of the Vale by some demonic force when we encountered her. She’s an evolved glacial plant, currently taking human form as a member of Toudou’s party. This girl, with her dark-green eyes and hair, is one seed of worry at our current juncture. Dragons, by nature, are incompatible with humans. Glacia probably never should have joined Toudou’s party, but the situation wouldn’t allow otherwise. It’s extremely difficult to manipulate someone who functions of their own selfish accord from the shadows. Gathering information on them and guiding their actions always requires some manner of coconspirator. At the moment, Glacia is responsible for communicating information from within the party, using the same communication magic that Amelia wields on a regular basis. I can’t simply get rid of her without an adequate replacement. “I was just thinking it’s time I had a good, long talk with her for once.” It has already been two months since Glacia wormed her way into Toudou’s party. Ever since, her stance hasn’t changed at all: She obeys orders but doesn’t do much else. From Toudou’s group’s perspective, they’re taking care of a pet that eats its weight in food every meal and doesn’t contribute a damn thing, but none of them have ever raised a single complaint. If I was in their party, I’d have kicked her out a long time ago. While Amelia reaches out to Glacia, I stay busy preparing. I put on a brown overcoat over my mage’s robe but leave my mace at home—it sticks out like a sore thumb. Glacia’s resistances have dropped significantly since she transformed from a dragon to a human. Using a mace could kill her. Instead, I put on a pair of thin gloves. My fists alone should be enough to deal with her. The reason Glacia is on such a tight leash is because of the terror I instilled in her after beating her half to death. However, fear that has been ingrained into someone once will eventually lessen with time. Taking that into account, this is an opportunity to improve her position on things. “We don’t want Toudou following after her, that’d just be a nuisance. Tell Glacia to go to the watchtower.” Violence is a last resort, it pains me to admit. That said, I won’t let personal feelings get in my way of executing a mission. Just then, Stey, who has been entirely silent, raises her hand timidly. Her skin is lily white, and dark circles have formed below her jet-black eyes. Looks like she was up all night being harangued by Amelia. “Ummm… Ares… What should I do…?” “Nothing. Stey, you’ll be on standby here at the inn. Standby. Here. With Amelia.” No matter what she does, her klutziness will bring her down. According to Amelia, who I’ve known for a while now, Stey requires an attendant at all times. Two, if possible, but that would leave us without anyone to cover ground. At this point, she’s pushing the limits of klutziness. When I give Stey her orders, she pouts and folds her hands together timidly. “…It’s just… I was asked to come all this way for work…” “Stey, what is it you can do for us?” “I can clean, do laundry, and cook—leave it to me!” I already heard that yesterday. We can’t afford to send her out somewhere. Besides, she’s already extremely ostentatious as is. Depending on the situation, she might just cause people to lose their faith in the Church, and that would only adversely affect her, too. I’ve come up with the perfect orders for her. “Okay, Stey. I have a job for you.” “O-okay! What is it…?” With a steely expression, Stey audibly swallows the lump in her throat. She’s a knockout in the looks department, and her eyes resonate sincerity. From her appearance, one would swear she’s completely capable. It’s exactly as Amelia said. On the outside, she looks like a really hard worker. Between her and Glacia, why does the world have to be so against me? I close my eyes and sigh deeply before giving Stey her command. “Make us some tea. Cooking’s one of your specialities, right?” “…Is that all? I mean, that’ll only take a second.” “After that… Do the laundry. Wash my spare robe, and your own clothes, and Amelia’s.” Stey begins to squirm impatiently and asks with pleading eyes, “A-and… When that’s all finished?” I’ve already decided. I put on the most serious expression I can muster and point at the floor. “Clean this room.” “…” Stey looks at me, completely disgruntled. I thought you said you were good at those three things? She is exceptionally talented. The fact that neither Amelia nor myself can do any of those three things only makes it more so. “Stey, these are important tasks. This is work neither I nor Amelia are capable of—only you.” “? R-really?” “Yes, really. I’ve called upon you specifically for these three crucial tasks. Do you understand?” Yeah, right, I quip to myself, but the disappointment has already vanished from her face. Stey’s eyes light up as she tries to pull herself together before giving an unnatural bow. “Understood. I will gladly accept your command.” Damn, she actually bought it… This can’t be good. Can brewing a pot of tea really be considered cooking? At any rate, Stey makes me a proper cup with a skilled hand. Maybe she was actually serious when she said she’s good at chores? I’m pretty sure there are a lot of other things she should be working on instead, however. “Ares, I’ve reached out to Glacia, so please head over to meet her.” “Got it… Look after Stey.” “…Yes. Be careful.” That’s what I should be saying! I start to tell her as much, when Stey lets out a little yelp. “A-Ares… Oh!” Stey, carrying a full tea set on a tray, trips over absolutely nothing. This is the second time I’ve witnessed this same scene in as many days. The tray and tea set hurtle through the air. The teapot doesn’t have wings, but it comes flying toward Amelia and I, sending a shower of freshly boiled tea our way. Without saying a word, I grab Amelia, who’s gone completely stiff, by the shoulder, spinning her to the side in an instant to avoid the deluge. The teapot and cups fall to the ground with a clamor. Having completely lost her balance, Stey spins in place a few times before falling right on top of them. As I take in the scene around me, I feel neither contempt nor anger nor compassion. I simply acquiesce. “I see… So she can’t even make a pot of tea without falling over, huh?” Flustered, Amelia stammers in an attempt to explain on Stey’s behalf, “Um… Well… Yes, that’s exactly it. Well, n-no, sometimes she makes it all the way…” And she’s level 72. This chick’s gotta be cursed. “Take care of Stey and clean this up.” “…Understood.” I let go of Amelia and give her a pat on her delicate back, as if to say thank you. Stey is crying and sniffling just like she was yesterday. I’m going to keep count of every klutzy action of hers and report my findings to Creio. Human beings are a species of adaptation. The person I was in the Great Forest of the Vale is a completely different entity from who I am right now. It’s only been two months since I was assigned to this role, but I’ve managed to overcome even Gregorio Legins himself. Now, I feel like I can approach issues more graciously. Compared to Gregorio, Glacia should be a walk in the park. The moment I arrive at the watchtower, Glacia turns to face me from her position leaning against a railing. There is still considerable distance between us, which tells me that her sense of perception has not dulled—she’s as sharp as ever. Glacia looks stiff as a board, and the way her pupils contract shows just how frightened she is. Her current form is eerily humanlike. At a glance, you wouldn’t take her for more than a child. What sort of fearsome menace could be created if a demon with malice toward humankind transformed into a similarly accurate human form? There isn’t any sign of Toudou. I walk up to Glacia quickly. “Sorry to keep you.” Glacia’s entire body shakes at the sound of my voice, and her lips tremble as she speaks. “I haven’t been…waiting.” “I see. Let’s go somewhere else.” “…” It seems she’s still terrified of me. This should make for quick conversation. Glacia nods, and I take her hand, cutting off the glance she casts my way as I start walking. We need a place where we can take our time and chat. If words alone are effective, I’m happy to reach a mutual understanding diplomatically. I’m a human being, after all. As we walk slowly, Glacia’s hand suddenly stiffens. She stops and turns around, gazing into the distance. When she notices I’ve stopped, too, she turns her snow-white face toward me again. She’d been looking toward a food cart stopped on the side of the street selling grilled skewers. A delicious, hunger-inducing aroma wafts toward us. “…I see. You must be hungry, eh?” “N-no…” “Come to think of it, I hear you pester Toudou for food all the time.” Glacia opens her eyes wide as saucers and shakes her head violently. Yet, contrary to her actions, her stomach audibly rumbles. There must be a trace of her massive dragon stomach alive in there somewhere. It’s crazy to think that her tiny body could retain such a large appetite but… Hmph. I nod to her and ask, “Why not? You deserve some compensation for your work, right? How many do you want?” Wow, I’ve really gone soft. Glacia looks up at me, wide-eyed with surprise. I am a priest; I’m no monster. The only reason I left Glacia half-dead in the Forest of the Vale is because I had no other choice… I’ll do anything necessary with good reason; otherwise, I will refrain. For better or worse, this is all a matter of business. “C’mon, the least I can do is feed you. How many?” In response, Glacia tightens her lips and instead looks suspiciously at me. I guess fearing me this much creates some problems of its own. “Out with it. Time’s a-wastin’.” “…A hundred,” she whispers back. A hundred. A hundred. The cart doesn’t even have enough skewers to begin with, but first of all… “Hey, Glacia. Don’t you think sticking a hundred skewers in your body would hurt just a little bit, even for you?” “?!” “Two in your eyes. Two in your nostrils. Two in your ears, and one in each finger and toe makes twenty more… Think you could make it to a hundred? Hey… Don’t worry about it, the wounds won’t be permanent. I can cast however many holy techniques necessary—I’m among the Church’s top class in that respect.” “…!” Glacia finally breaks and now looks about ready to burst into tears. Her entire body, including arms and legs, shakes uncontrollably. After staring into her eyes for some time, I notice an odd smell. The ground is wet when I look down; a small puddle has gathered there between her legs. Smiling, I clap the trembling Glacia on the shoulder without giving her a chance to look down for herself. “It’s a joke, Glacia! Sure, I dole out punishment, but I don’t resort to violence without any rhyme or reason. That’s a waste of effort.” Violence can be pretty addicting, and it’ll eat up your stamina. But I’m a priest, and I remonstrate such ideals. Glacia looks up at me with tears in her eyes, and I whisper once more, “Okay, Glacia. I’ll ask you one last time. How many do you want?” “Go on, dig in.” “…Okay.” We enter a local café. I watch Glacia sit down before shoving the skewers of meat toward her. Glacia chomps onto one like someone’s threatening to take it away. First order of business is to give the informant her reward. I’m such an excellent boss. Glacia tears into the skewers ravenously and devours the first in seconds. She now has a bit of sauce on her cheek. I hold the remaining nine skewers in my hand, but I’m not hungry, so they’re all for Glacia. With a death grip on her now empty first skewer, she says, “…I ate it.” “Number two, then.” “?! …Okay.” I hand Glacia skewer number two. Her eyes grow huge for a second, but she soon starts eating. I have no intent to harm her, but she won’t stop moving around as she eats. Three, then four—before long, I’m just holding empty skewers. They’re made of hard yet supple bamboo, but above all else, they’re cheap, and you can fit a lot of them in one hand. I fiddle with one of the skewers, bits of meat still clinging to it, and ask, “Were they good?” “…Yes.” That means…it was worth spending money to keep her placated. Yet, Glacia remains timid and silent, averting her gaze. I haven’t scolded her or punished her, but as I watch her in silence, her face pales even further. She opens her mouth a few times but quickly snaps it shut after I shoot her a glare. The hands on the clock tower are ticking away the time. I wait until the minute hand reaches a quarter of the way around the clock face before finally opening my mouth to speak. The steam on our cups of tea, which I ordered when we arrived, has long dissipated. “Have you rested long enough after your big meal?” Glacia nods with unexpected enthusiasm in response. In that case, I’ll get right down to business. I take a skewer and grip the pointed end with my finger, testing its flexibility. I can feel Glacia’s eyes on me. “Are you full?” “…Y-yes.” “I see. That’s good.” I grip the skewer with my other hand and suddenly smash the pointed tip into the table. The bamboo skewer pushes almost halfway through the hard wood. Glacia cries out softly. “Glacia. This meal was…payment.” “Pay…ment?” “That’s right. Payment for your work up until now. And, it’s prepayment for any work that you do from now on.” As she stares back at me fearfully, I calmly and carefully explain things to her, a demi-dragon born and raised in a culture completely different from that of humankind. She may look like a human being, but she’s not. Asking her to be autonomous would be a mistake. Glacia did nothing when Gregorio attacked Toudou, but I can’t blame her for that. However, moving forward, the battles the party is bound to face will only heighten in intensity. Toudou and the others are still weak. There’s a definite possibility that my support won’t reach them in time. In crises like that, the only person who can help them is Glacia, but she’s not pulling her weight. I have no intention of shoving common sense down a dragon’s throat. Thankfully, I know just how to negotiate in these kinds of situations. “Until now, you’ve been working without payment. Of course, I think saving your life is an irreplaceable form of compensation, but it’s not enough. Right?” If I’m wrong, then why else would she be telling us “I’m hungry” over and over again? “N-no… Well…” Glacia shakes her head back and forth. We appear to have piqued the other patrons’ curiosity, as they keep peering over at our table, so I take a moment to glare daggers at them so they’ll back off. I continue speaking to Glacia, who looks like she’s just witnessed the apocalypse unfold right in front of her. “That’s why I decided to give you this payment. And you accepted it. In other words, when your next task arises, you have to produce results that are equal to that payment.” “…” In all reality, Glacia’s position is entirely enviable. At the moment, all I’m asking of her are regular updates on Toudou’s party, though she is capable of much more. What’s more, the accuracy of her updates is all over the board. Up to this point, I’ve only ever requested intel from Glacia, so I forgive her for not doing more. It’s all water under the bridge. That said, I can’t afford her taking advantage of me. She needs to understand her position as we move forward. She needs to make the messages she sends my way as clear as possible. At times, she’ll need to move of her own volition and collect information proactively. If the situation demands it, she’ll need to enter battle on Toudou’s behalf, and in the worse case, she’ll need to lay down her life for him. I pick up another skewer and point the sharp end at Glacia, and she shoots bolt upright in her seat. “Glacia, look at this skewer. This is the remnant of the prepayment that you received for your work. By itself, it’s just a piece of garbage, but I don’t waste anything—not even garbage. Do you know what I’m gonna use it for?” Glacia shakes her head furiously. Terrified, she replies, “…I d-don’t wanna know.” “Too bad. You need to know, Glacia.” I stand the bamboo skewer on end and explain, with the sharp end pointed at the ceiling. “This skewer is punishment. Glacia, you’ve received prepayment for your work from this point forward, but even if you don’t produce results, I can’t get the meat from these skewers back from you. Because you devoured them.” Before I realize it, Glacia is again shedding tears from her emerald-colored eyes. I pay it no mind and continue. “So I’m gonna use these skewers as punishment. I paid for your services. You received the payment, which naturally entails responsibility on your end to produce results. If you fail to meet my expectations, then—” I roll the skewer in my fingers and point the sharp end directly at Glacia’s eye. “I will skewer these into you. One. By. One.” “?!” I can hear Glacia’s heart thumping in her chest from across the table. The throbbing rhythm resonates like the early morning church bell, only it indicates nothing but fear. Glacia’s eyes move to the ten skewers I hold in my hand. I continue to hammer my point home. “Listen, Glacia. These are bamboo. Bamboo skewers. You’re a demi-dragon. At worst, a metal sword wouldn’t be able land a dent in you. So I wonder, Glacia—you think these skewers could pierce your skin as it is now?” “…” Glacia swallows the lump in her throat and her eyes bulge. She’s probably thinking hard about what I said. I still remember our battle in the Great Forest of the Vale very well. Her defenses are incredibly tough. After about one minute passes, Glacia’s expression relaxes slightly. She must have reached a conclusion. I immediately swing one of the bamboo skewers, the sharp end barely visible thanks to my level-93 prowess. “?!” Glacia’s eyes are wide as saucers, and her just-relaxed cheeks stiffen once more. She slowly puts her hand to her cheek, and one of her pale fingers comes back stained with red. Dragons have an extremely high recovery rate; a small scratch will heal in no time. I show her the bamboo skewer tip—there isn’t even a drop of blood on it—and smile softly. “……Okay, now that I have your answer… Let’s get to the main point.” “…O-okay…” Glacia must finally get the picture, as she answers through gritted teeth. Apprehension and preparedness. These are what Glacia is missing. Leave it to me—I’ll make sure she understands the grave nature of our mission. Having finished my negotiations with Glacia, I return to the inn to see a haggard-looking Amelia in a hunched-over position, along with a panicked Stey. I take a brief glance around the room. It’s in rough shape: The table has been flipped over, the bed stripped bare, and the sheets lie in a rumpled pile on the floor. There are cracks in both the windows and the light fixtures, and an overturned basket sits among the shattered remains of a teacup… What the hell? “…I have to ask: Did a war break out in here or something?” Amelia turns her face toward me and smiles with exhaustion. “…That’s one way to put it, I suppose.” I don’t recall asking for a snappy comeback. Stey looks toward me with a bright sparkle in her eye, as if she’s found a clue to solving our current predicament. That sparkle is probably the most that’s happening in that head of hers. “N-no, Ares. This is… I was just cleaning up, and—” I get it. You don’t have to say anything. It’s all my fault. If you think about it logically, Stey couldn’t even carry a tray of tea without falling. How could she possibly clean up anything? My expectations for Stey now further lowered, I make a mental note to place klutzes within my top-three most-hated things in the entire world. Just then, she tries approaching me to explain further, and I mimic Amelia by yelling, “Stey— Stay!” “Yessiiiiir!” In what seems like a conditioned response, Stey immediately straightens herself up on the spot, her expression frozen. Upon careful inspection, I realize that she’s soaked from head to toe like someone threw a bucket of water on her. Every curve of her body is clearly visible through her drenched clothing. How in the hell does this sort of thing even happen? I walk past the stock-still Stey and sit down on my bed. “Whoever trained Stey to do that is a genius.” At any rate, we should be able to reduce the average number of times she trips and falls using this command. Really, the fact that she’s been trained this well so far is mind-blowing. I have nothing but profound respect for the marvelous progenitor who made it all possible. There’s gotta be a way to teach her more commands! Stey scratches her cheek bashfully. “Oh… Eh-heh-heh… W-well, I’m not that much of a—” That wasn’t a compliment. Even dogs know stay! As Stey remains standing straight at attention, I thrust my finger at her and make an announcement. If I don’t make things blatantly obvious, she’ll probably end up making the wrong decisions. “I’d been highly considering turning you over to Gregorio, but that would be unfair to poor Spica, so I won’t!” “Th-thank you very…much?” She truly has no idea what I just said. Her head is cocked askance. Amelia is unusually disheartened and looks slightly ill. I give her a directive. “All right, Amelia. We’ll have our meeting in your room. I’ll book a new room, and any damages from this one will come out of Stey’s pay. I don’t even want to know what happened here, so don’t include this in your report. Any questions?” Amelia stands up shakily at my instructions. Stey raises her hand ever so slightly. “Um… But I’m not receiving any payment…” “…Noted. Anyway, I don’t know why you’re sopping wet, but please, before anything else, change your clothes.” “Oh… Y-yes, sir. I’ll change right away!” Stey’s only strong point is in her responses. The next second, Amelia’s face instantly regains its color and she jumps toward Stey, grabbing her arm. I see what’s happening. Stey was seconds from taking her clothes off right here and now. Even though Amelia stopped her, Stey looks completely oblivious as she blinks repeatedly. Now my head hurts, but for a different reason than usual… I sigh and say to Amelia, “Li’l old charming, loyal Amelia, please help this girl get changed.” “…Understood.” There’s no way I can entrust Stey to the madam. She’s simply too much of a pain. “Toudou’s party’s target level to reach in Golem Valley will be sixty.” “…That’s over twice their current average level…” Having finished getting Stey into new clothes and relaxed significantly, Amelia looks at me wide-eyed, yet calmly. “Yes. Of course, that’s provided nothing particular goes wrong, but keep in mind that Golem Valley is by far the most efficient place for leveling up in all of the Kingdom of Ruxe.” Monsters in this area have high life force, and they don’t use the particularly troublesome attacks that cause status ailments, making them easy to fight. The environment is extremely harsh, but that in and of itself makes for excellent conditioning. Golem Valley is the final training grounds for the Kingdom’s royal knights. For that reason, if you can make it through this area, you’re essentially qualified to protect the Kingdom. “What was the average level acquired here again?” “Reaching level sixty shouldn’t take long. If you push yourself, you can reach about sixty-five.” Sticking it out even longer leads some all the way to level 70, but it’s not very realistic or efficient in terms of time. Amelia cocks her head to the side and looks up at me. “Can I raise my level here while we’re at it?” Amelia is level 55. Golem Valley is a fine place in terms of leveling up, but it doesn’t match up well for her. In order for Amelia to raise her level, she’d need to kill golems by herself, but they’re incredibly troublesome opponents for priests. Blunt-force weapons are effective against them, but Amelia can’t generate destructive force with her frail arms. Her face remains calm. She’s got bona fide talent as a priest, but I’ve never taken her for the battle-proficient type. “Can you swing a mace?” “…Most likely not.” “Can you cast any attack magic?” “…Nothing that will damage a golem.” In that case, there’s no other option than for me to bring a golem near death and let Amelia land the final blows. A golem’s weak point is the core hidden in the center of its tough, armored skin. The core isn’t particularly hard, so if we can break down their armor and render them immobile, it would be easy for Amelia to kill them, too, but that demands a lot of time and man power. Plus, we would need to repeat this process with many, many golems. “…It’ll all depend on Toudou, then. If we have some leeway, we’ll work on your level a bit, too.” I would like to raise Amelia’s level, and this is not the last place we will raise Toudou’s. I don’t intend to put Amelia in the vanguard to bear the full brunt of any hostilities, but I need her level to be high, or I’ll have concerns when it’s crunch time. Amelia nods slightly. Sitting in a chair next to her and holding her knees, Stey raises her hand again. She has changed out of her soaking wet robe into an indigo dress—one of Amelia’s, judging by how off the sizing is. Apparently, Stey had just washed all her other spare robes and didn’t have anything to change into. I did order her to do the laundry, but why would she wash clothes she hasn’t worn yet? Damn, is she only capable of following exact orders, to the letter? She’s quite smaller than Amelia, and the dress is baggy on her. The chest, however, is overly tight. Stey doesn’t seem to mind, as she plays with the sleeves and cocks her head to the side. “Ares, my level is—” “…Seventy-two is plenty high. If anything, I wish you could spare a few and share them with Amelia.” Her level is a complete waste of experience. It’d really be great if they could actually switch. Stey’s eyes widen in response, then beams and pokes Amelia in the arm. “Hey, Amelia, should I give you some of my levels?” “…And how would you do that?” Techniques to split life force or experience do not exist. How the hell does she plan to do it? Stey takes a moment to think up a response to Amelia’s question before clapping her hands together softly and chuckling shyly. “Oh… You’re right. Levels can’t be divided up, can they? Ha-ha!” “…Amelia, she’s messing with us.” “…Sorry to break it to you, but she’s completely earnest.” Amelia doesn’t look angry at all and simply sighs. I can see she’s clearly used to this. It really is a shame, though. I’m particularly disappointed that I have no idea how to make use of Stey. The only thing I was after was a low-level, agreeable new intern who could use communication magic… In that moment, I realize something and look at Stey. She tends to suck the oxygen out of the room, so I’m forgetting the most crucial aspect of her being here. “…By the way… Can you even use communication magic?” “? Of course I can, but—?” Stey looks at me in befuddlement with her dark eyes—just a hair darker than Toudou’s. The entire reason I requested Stey was because I need a party member who can use communication magic. Up until now, I couldn’t contact Amelia from my end whenever she and I split up, but with Stey, that will change. This is a huge merit to her existence. I have a bad habit of focusing on the risks over the rewards. “I see… You might be crazy, but at least you know the basics.” “Hee-hee… I get that a lot.” If that’s the case, although I intended to have Amelia keep an eye on Stey, it looks like I’ll be pairing up with her after all. I ruminate while looking at Amelia. At the least, she won’t go off and get herself lost. I expect I’ll be suffering a heavy dose of mental exhaustion, so I just won’t think of Stey as a human—I’ll think of her as a communication device. That solves it. Amelia is staring at Stey, wondering just what she finds so fun about all this, when she says with disappointment, “I have a feeling that this will end up very uncomfortable for me.” Now the real issue at hand is how to keep this ditz in tow. …I’m thinking a collar and leash. Should I treat this issue in terms of efficiency or morality? As I seriously ponder the question, the ditz in question playfully teases Amelia, who’s wavering on the spot. In reality, Amelia Nohman doesn’t actually hate Stephenne Veronide. Stephenne is quite genial, and Amelia isn’t so cold that she would turn away someone who so continually fawns over her. Above all else, Stey has something that Amelia doesn’t: a bubbly personality and natural sociability. These traits set a perfect example for Amelia, who has never been good at expressing her emotions. In fact, Amelia has already learned a thing or two from watching Stephenne. But that’s not to say that Stephenne is the sort of person suited for vanquishing the Demon Lord. Amelia speaks to Creio via transmission as she watches Stephenne sleep soundly. “Creio, are you planning on killing her?” “She won’t die. Amelia, Stey is highly capable. She is high level, her holy techniques are powerful, and she can even cast magic. The Church is certainly a wide-ranging organization, but you won’t find anyone else like her.” His Eminence’s voice is the same as always, even in the middle of the night. Amelia knows Stey is capable, yet, she clicks her tongue softly before asking, “What about her character?” “…Amelia, this was Ares’s decision. I gave him thorough warning myself.” Amelia hadn’t the slightest idea what Ares meant when she first heard him talking about a “new member.” As far as she’s concerned, there isn’t anyone on earth less qualified for this position. She’s heard all the particulars, but thinking about it logically, this couldn’t be more of a mess. Sure, holy casters are valuable, but there are plenty of holy casters in existence. How is it that out of all those people, it was Stey who got picked to be Ares’s operator and sent all the way to Golem Valley? “…Creio… You did this on purpose, didn’t you?” “I don’t understand what you’re getting at.” “It’s rather obvious if you take Ares’s personality into account, including the reason he asked for another communication magic user, and the fact that Stey had the highest potential to be chosen as an operator candidate. Quite frankly, there are a number of more suitable holy casters that you could have chosen.” Amelia makes a fairly plausible point, and her boss remains silent for a moment before responding. “…Amelia, you may not be aware of this, but—Stey has something that Ares needs.” Something he needs… Like the ability to relieve stress? “…Perhaps, but she also has plenty of things that he doesn’t need.” “May you receive Ahz Gried’s blessings, Amelia.” Creio’s harsh tone is the last thing Amelia hears before the transmission is cut. In spite of his supplication, the only thing Amelia feels welling inside of her is an intangible black mass of emotion. It’s something close to murderous rage, she realizes as she pushes it down. Just then, a dark shadow rises from the bed in front of her. Stey is sleepy and languid, looking around the room with half-closed eyes. When she finds Amelia in the dark, her eyes indicate a smile. Amelia sighs at how predictable her junior holy caster is, and Stephenne stands up on shaky legs. Her thick sleeping gown is far different from her usual miniskirt mage’s robe—it actually comes down to the ankles and can’t be taken off unless several of the buttons are undone. This sleeping gown was specially ordered, developed through trial and error based on the number of incidents Stey had caused while half-asleep. The many buttons are intended to prevent Stey from stripping down to the nude in her sleep, the long hem implemented to trip Stey into consciousness when she sleepwalks. Stephenne stumbles toward Amelia, nearly falling down, but manages to stay upright. “…Huh. How is it that you’re not falling down, despite being half-asleep?” She’d definitely be facedown on the floor right now if she were fully awake. “Umph… A-Amelia…” Stephenne finally makes it to Amelia’s side and falls into her, clutching at her with both hands. Ares would have sidestepped her, no doubt, but Amelia stands her ground and accepts her embrace. Stephenne’s breasts, which are ludicrously large in proportion to her height, smoosh into Amelia’s face. There isn’t any strength in Stey’s arms, but her entirely body is perfectly soft as she leans into her superior. Amelia looks down at Stey, still perpetually dozing, and speaks to her. Her voice is much icier than when she just talked with Creio. “If you did this to Ares, he’d kill you.” “…Okeydoke…” “Are you really sleeping?” “Mmph…,” she babbles sleepily, clearly lying. It’s so obvious, it’s not even funny. But upon further inspection, it seems that, for better or worse, Stephenne is being honest. Completely innocent. An elite priest like her does not tell lies. She needs to stay away from Ares. Amelia clenches her fists with renewed conviction. I walk along, grabbing Stey, our communication device, by the hand. Upon informing Amelia of my plan, which I thought about all night, she responds, “Ares, do you enjoy pushing people’s buttons?” “U-um, Amelia… Your face is twitching.” Amelia’s blunt comment and icy expression cause Stey’s voice to tremble. Wow, to say a thing like that about your junior… Well, I can’t really blame her. But I’m well aware of this plan’s shortcomings. It’s all for the sake of efficiency. I explain my idea again, but Amelia’s face doesn’t change one bit. Instead, she repeats, “Ares, do you enjoy pushing people’s buttons?” “But I…was asked to come here…” Stey pulls on Amelia’s sleeve, looking at her with puppy-dog eyes. Amelia shakes her off without a word. “Look at it this way, Amelia. It’s not as bad as Gregorio—Stey won’t try to kill Toudou or anything.” “You sure are tough, Ares…” “Worst-case scenario, I’ll tuck her under my arm. She’s tiny and won’t impede my movements at all.” “You sure are tough, Ares…” “When I need both hands… Like when I need to fight… She’ll make do, somehow.” “…Yes, sir! I will!” Stey beams brightly, her fists clenched in determination, but Amelia glowers at her like they’re sworn enemies. “You sure are tough, Ares…” A mammoth wrought-iron black gate stands at the only entrance to the interior of Golem Valley. Several meters high and over a meter thick, the metal gate looks like it leads straight into hell. Golems are humanoid effigies operated by mages. Rather than a soul, they are powered by magical circuitry and energy. Creating a golem requires advanced sorcery that is still present in the modern age, and many high-level mages employ them as convoys or assistants. Golems do not possess thought, and they function only according to the magical circuitry embedded within them. They are utterly obedient to their owners, and as long as their magical energy doesn’t run out, they have an infinite life span, allowing them to operate forever—truly valuable magical beings. However, despite being incredibly valuable, their capacity for good or evil is entirely determined by their creator. In the past, before the Kingdom of Ruxe was officially a country, there existed a fool known as the Doll Master. The man was a fool, sure, but also a genius. He was a mage. Just as his nickname states, no one has been able to surpass his mastery of golems. He was a legitimate savant, and also quite perverse, they say. He obsessed over the golems he created, loved them. If that was the end of it, people would have known him only as a man who obsessed over his dolls. However, after creating many golems, the genius managed to forge an entire new system. It was one in which golems could create new golems, known as the “mother system.” This mage used it to try to create a paradise filled with the golems he so adored—a place where golems, who are in principle created to satisfy the whim of their creators, could become self-aware. The Doll Master was also highly gifted in aerial magic, and he visited a series of valleys rich in the magical stones used as the golems’ cores. This was where he created several special golems, called mother golems, which included full versions of the mother system within them. These special creatures followed his system to the letter and autonomously proceeded to create other golems ad nauseam. The man further endeavored to establish a system by which the golems would never need maintenance and could function indefinitely. It was a self-defense system, one which draws depleted magical energy from the surrounding air. Most mages would have given up trying to devise such a method—it’s essentially playing God. Yet, the man was unmistakably a genius. Months and years passed, but the golems showed no signs of ceasing functionality. Even when the Doll Master died, they continued functioning for tens, then hundreds of years. When the Kingdom of Ruxe Survey Corps entered this series of valleys, the golems were still functioning, and they had acquired extensive amounts of life force. As such, the Kingdom determined the valleys to be both extremely dangerous and valuable. To this day, the series of valleys dominated by freely roaming hordes of golems is known as Golem Valley. The region’s paths and caves have all been created by the golems over many, many years. To mankind’s benefit, the vast majority of golems are limited in their abilities to destroy man-made structures. That’s why this single gate provides enough protection. Golem Valley’s gate is a thick iron wall. The security forces here were established in anticipation of fending off the portion of golems that do have the tendency to destroy man-made structures. Their level, experience, and equipment are in accord with their valor, and they are not outdone by anyone—even the most seasoned veteran mercenaries that come to this place. “Wooow!! I’ve never seen anything like this!” Stey looks up at the gate and jumps up and down. Who jumps up and down in a miniskirt?! Next to her, Amelia—who has been in a foul mood ever since I told her we would indeed be working with Stey—looks up at the gate, expressionless. “Even the royal capital’s gate in Ruxe isn’t as sturdy as this one,” I comment. The majority of the Kingdom’s cities are protected by barriers cast through holy techniques, as opposed to physical gates. “…Yes, that’s because holy technique barriers don’t work against inanimate monsters.” “Ooh… I didn’t know there are monsters that barriers don’t work against.” Stey should have learned all about that during training at the Church, but she’s completely in awe at Amelia’s statement, her eyes sparkling. I look back at Stey and Amelia behind me and remind them, “Amelia, don’t you dare let go of Stey’s hand.” “…Yes.” “Ares, don’t worry! I’ll be fine,” Stey responds with meaningless overconfidence. Amelia sighs and grips her hand with force. The three of us pass through the mammoth gate and enter Golem Valley. The valley’s construction is simple. There are two main routes: through the cliffs on the outside, or through innumerable caves in the interior. It’s said that the outside route is easier to battle on. There’s a danger of falling from the cliffs, and the path is narrow. This generally prevents larger golems from appearing. Since the outside route would be a complete death trap for Stey, we’ll be making our way through the caves using the interior route. After walking for some time, the mercenary parties we saw everywhere in the town are nowhere to be found. The surface of the craggy boulders is rugged and impairs walking considerably. Stey, who constantly falls on flat ground, nearly wipes out with every other step. Amelia helps her up each time. Just as I thought—it’s a death trap. Before too long, we reach the mouth of the first cave. A dim light emanates from the cave, which had been excavated as an easier route through the boulders. There is an ample field of vision inside. Most of the caves were dug out by golems and were thus excavated at a size that accommodates them. Even with three people standing side by side, there is still room to spare. It’s said the faint light shining within the caves also stems from the golems. The only sounds resonating within are the wind and Stey’s constant tripping. I’ve entered Golem Valley one step ahead of Toudou and his party in order to show Amelia and Stey the behavior of this area’s monsters. Although we’ve entered their domain, Stey is still acting like she’s taking a stroll through town. She smiles from ear to ear as she says to Amelia, who’s still holding her hand, “Hee-hee, Amelia, it’s like we’re out for a picnic!” “…Please be more alert.” Unbelievable. I…really should have thought this through. The air inside the cave is cool and dry. After walking for a while, Amelia stops suddenly. “A powerful monster is approaching.” “Got it.” I can’t feel its presence just yet. Golems are not living beings, and their presence is therefore quite weak. Conversely, because they function off magical energy, mages can detect their cores quite easily. Stey looks around nonchalantly and casually adds, “Ohhh, you’re right. There are three of them.” The moment she finishes speaking, a golem appears. Three meters in height, its body mimics human proportions, although it’s made of ochre-colored boulder. Two black rocks are buried in the space where a human would have eyes. Golems have long arms in comparison to humans, nearly reaching the ground when standing, with five corpulent fingers on each hand. These are rock golems. The boulder covering their outer body is strengthened by magical energy, and they possess immense upper-body strength and rugged defenses. This is the most common type of golem. Their weaknesses include water- or earth-based elemental magic. Blunt-force weapons are said to be most effective against them, but the holy sword Ex should be able to cleave through their rugged outer shell with ease. “These are rock golems. The appropriate level for defeating them is thirty to thirty-five.” “…Will Toudou be able to defeat them?” “They’re not particularly aggressive monsters, just huge, tough, and powerful. He’ll manage.” I hold up my hand and call Amelia and Stey back. At the same time, one of the golems surges toward us. The ground shakes, and the approaching golem brings its fist down for a massive strike, which I quickly sidestep to the left. The golem’s chest is left wide open, and I smash my mace into it, flinging its massive body across the cave like a scrap of paper. It smashes into the remaining two golems, crushing all three of them against the wall. The entire cave shakes with a thunderous roar. The golems’ cores must have been destroyed, as their life force flows into my body. I smack the butt end of my mace’s handle on the ground a few times and turn back toward Amelia and Stey. I don’t even need a buff to wreck these golems. “See, that’s all there is to them… They’re not that strong.” “Three golems with a single blow… You’re a brute.” “Rock golems are the weakest monsters in this entire area. You could say this is just a primer.” Amelia remains astringent, while Stey manages her most high-pitched squeal. “Woooow, amazing! Ares, you’re so cool!” “…That’s enough. Stey, just make sure not to get lost. Don’t get distracted.” “I’m fine…! I’m holding Amelia’s hand, don’t worry!” Stey raises her hand with Amelia’s, fingers interlocked conspicuously, as high as she can to show me. Amelia has apparently lost all emotion; her expression remains vacant. These two really seem to embody the big sister, little sister dynamic. We fight against most types of golem near the town to test their reactions. Golems aren’t naturally occurring in the wild, so this is my first time fighting against them in quite a while. I’m not expecting any problems. We call it a day at the appropriate time and start to head back to town. Even with golems that dwarf her in size running rampant, Stey refused to stop whooping it up all day long. Her cheeks are flushed and her breath is ragged. She practically skips toward me and looks up at me with stars in her eyes. “Amazing! Ares, I didn’t know you’re so strong!” I guess she’s complimenting me, but when I think about the near future, I just can’t pretend to be flattered. She definitely needs to remain more alert. She’d be absolutely useless if she were even just a bit less capable. Amelia taps me on the shoulder wearily. “Ares, should I start acting a little more like Stey?” “I’m not sure what you’re implying here, but don’t even think about it.” “I see…” One is already too much to handle. If Amelia starts bouncing off the walls, too… I won’t know where to turn. I continue to chide Stey as she frolics carelessly to and fro on the path back to town. By the time we arrive, the sun has already gone down. The timing is perfect, so I take both of them to the local church. It’s time to meet the madam. We are shown to the madam’s room, the same place I met her the other day. It’s filled with rustic furniture, quite stark in contrast to a typical sister’s room. There is a glass shelf littered with liquor bottles of indiscernible origin, and the photos pinned to the wall of the madam with various mercenaries are most likely all of individuals who have visited this place. I recognize a few members of the Out Crusade in the photos, and there is one of Creio at a young age, too. These photos are proof of the long history that Sister Carina Capp has accumulated in her time here. As always, we find the madam seated deeply in her chair. Her eyes are alight as she stares at the two girls behind me. “Welcome again, young Ares. Are those your new friends?” “Yes. This is Amelia Nohman and Stephenne Veronide.” “Heh-heh-heh, bringing two young girls with you on assignment—you’ve really ranked up, Ares.” “Guess I can’t really call Toudou a womanizer anymore, can I?” She must not have enjoyed my retort. The madam’s spirit seems dampened as she snorts. Her personality burns brightest when she becomes sardonic, and even though she playfully calls me boy when it’s just the two of us, she’s obviously behaving differently in front of my two cohorts. I guess she’s fond of me. Amelia’s face has stiffened at the madam’s welcome, but when I urge her forward with my chin, she approaches Carina. Amelia holds the hem of her robe and bows graciously. If she weren’t so expressionless, it would have been perfect. “My name is Amelia Nohman. Madam Carina… Your reputation precedes you.” “Yes… I’ve heard about you as well, from His Eminence.” What has Carina possibly heard about Amelia…? The madam simply nods two or three times and continues in a hoarse yet affectionate tone, “Make sure to help out your compatriot there. No matter how high her level, she’s completely helpless by herself.” “…Yes, that is precisely what I have been assigned to do.” On cue, the high-level but totally helpless Stey flits toward Amelia and stands next to her. Stey beams at the madam and then bows deeply, her head nearly touching her stomach. Although she is standing straight as an arrow, in the next moment, she staggers and falls right on top of the madam. The madam doesn’t look bothered and catches her effortlessly. With her face still in the old woman’s lap, Stey whispers, “…I’m Stephenne.” Are you serious?! At least get off her lap before you introduce yourself! I step forward to pick Stey up, but the madam sighs deeply and says with exasperation, “…Stey, you have not changed one bit.” “Madam… Don’t tell me you already know her?” The madam sweeps back Stey’s hair with her fingers. At a glance, the two of them practically look like grandmother and granddaughter. Then the madam looks at me and says something unexpected. “Ares. This girl…is the daughter of someone you also happen to know: Veronide.” “Vero…nide…?” Come to think of it, Creio mentioned as much, but it went in one ear and out the other: “…Have you heard the surname Veronide before?” Powerful holy techniques and an abnormally high level. Thinking about it rationally…that’s definitely not normal. As I furrow my brow and wrack my brain for a clue, just then, the highly useful li’l ol’ Amelia informs me. “Ares, that Veronide. Stey is the daughter of Sylvester Veronide… I thought Creio had already told you…” “Syl… Sylvester…?” Having been given the details, I finally remember, and I swear I can hear myself go white as a sheet. “Yes, one of the cardinals of the Church of Ahz Gried. She’s Sylvester Veronide’s daughter.” The daughter…of a cardinal?! Unfathomable… Are there no decent people left in the Church? Give me a break. I shut out the doubts racing through my mind and decide to file a complaint with Creio about this. She is dreaming. It’s a dream of fire. A devastating flame, a flame that is cognizant, tearing through the darkness. The only things within that darkness are the flame, and a blond-haired girl—Limis Al Friedia. The air shimmers, and an extensive swath of magical energy spirals in the sky. It is a spirit, one of the greatest powers reigning over this world, and the source of an elementalist’s power. The seething flame is inviting Limis, and she is reeled in, extending her fingers toward it. —Just then, Limis awakens. A ceiling that she’s never seen before enters her field of vision. There is no light, and the room is blurry and dim. In her confusion, something hot brushes Limis’s cheek; it’s her covenant spirit salamander licking her with its tiny tongue. It peers at her, and when she meets its dark-red eyes—the origin of its name, Garnet—she finally remembers where she is. Limis slowly gets up, her entire body languid. A strange sensation burns in her chest, and she presses her hand against it. She sputters out a cough and puts her palm to her forehead. It doesn’t feel like she has a fever anymore. Garnet chirps and climbs up onto her arm. She speaks to Garnet in a low voice. “Ohhh… I remember now. I was…intoxicated,” she whispers, now aware of her own condition. Exhaustion isn’t the reason that she fell ill. Well, there’s no doubt that her body ran out of energy from being tired, but the real reason is that her body overreacted to the earth spirit energy ubiquitous in Golem Valley. It’s a phenomenon commonly referred to as “spirit intoxication.” As an elementalist, Limis has a strong affinity for spirits. That means she sometimes draws them in from the air and incorporates them into herself. Homologous spirits form a shield, so a proper elementalist who has contracted with all eight spirit types should never experience this phenomenon. However, because Limis has only established a covenant with a fire spirit, she’s had this happen to her on more than one occasion thus far. Garnet glowers at the air around them. Limis sighs and strokes its head with her pointer finger. “Garnet, don’t be so intimidating. A lot of earth spirits inhabit this area.” Status exists, even among spirits. Those that float through the air, invisible, are generally diluted and weak, but they too will retort if threatened. They will also lend their power to those with divine protection who ask for it. Garnet flicks out its tongue and climbs up Limis’s body, diving inside her clothes from the neck. Limis twists her body slightly and takes note of her condition. She feels listless—clear proof that she’s still affected. It will take her a few more days to get back into full form. She’s not technically sick, so she can still move around, but if she doesn’t take her time and get back to full health, there’s a high chance the same phenomenon will reoccur. Besides, it’d be a sad sight if she were to pass out in the middle of a battle in the valley. …I have to…apologize to Nao and the others. Limis hears footsteps outside her room. She gazes blankly at the door and shakes her head. “Sorry I worried you guys.” “Not at all, we’re just glad you’re okay. Seriously…” Limis feels terrible, but Toudou smiles gently at her. All four members of the party go outside to chat and walk around the town. They head for the weapons shop. After getting a full day’s rest, Limis has healed up enough to walk without stumbling. She won’t be able to leave the town until she’s fully recovered, but she can certainly prepare in the meantime. The group is headed to the weapons shop to repair Toudou’s shield, which cracked in her battle with Gregorio. The blacksmith has close-cropped hair. He looks down at Toudou’s cracked shield—the Shield of Radiance—and grumbles with a furrowed brow, “…This’ll be a real tough fix…” The shield Toudou acquired from the Kingdom is made of a special metal alloy called blue metal. Unlike the holy sword Ex and holy armor Fried, this shield did not belong to the previous Holy Warrior. However, blue metal is highly resistant to physical and magical attacks and is well-known for its use in the equipment of first-rate mercenaries. Toudou’s shield is said to be able to withstand dragon’s breath, but now its surface is riddled with thin fractures. It’s not completely broken, but continuing to use a cracked shield is out of the question. Toudou doesn’t do well with men, so Aria—who’s also highly knowledgeable regarding weapons and armor—responds to the blacksmith. “Does that mean there’s no chance of repairing it? If so, we’d like to purchase a replacement.” The style of swordsmanship that Toudou studied at the royal castle—that of the Pramia school—is predicated on the use of a shield. Without one, Toudou’s battle methods will change dramatically, and she can’t simply learn a new style of swordsmanship at this juncture. Aria is reminded slightly of how difficult it was when she switched her own sword-fighting style. She narrows her eyes and soon has a bitter look on her face as the blacksmith sighs. He raps his knuckles on the shield’s outer surface. “Nah, it’s not like it’s impossible to repair it. Hey, where’d you get this shield anyway? Blue metal is a grade below mythril and orichalcum, but this is a valuable piece. We don’t have the materials here, much less the equipment to work on it. Plus, this shield’s been imbued with high-level magic, some of which has left traces behind. The operative procedure’d be a bit messy, and I’d need a specialist mage to work alongside me if we’re gonna fix ’er up.” Toudou was staring at the weapons and armor hanging on the wall, but when she hears this, her expression darkens slightly. Aria coughs once loudly and rephrases her question. “Where could we possibly bring it to get it fixed?” “If you’ve got the time and money to fix it, you’re better off buying a new one. You should ask the blacksmith that sold it to you. ’Sides, we simply lack the proper facilities.” The cracks cover the entire surface of the shield, almost like a decoration. The blacksmith carefully traces his fingers over the shield and looks up at Aria with suspicion. “Just what were you fightin’ against anyway? Blue metal’s highly impervious to slash attacks, blunt damage, and magic. It ain’t easy to beat it up this much. Not to mention, this one here’s got traces of magic to boost its hardness and a barrier cast on it. No golem round these parts could land a dent in it, even with a straight-on attack.” “…Well, you know… Things happen…” Aria obscures her words—she can’t possibly tell him it’s from battling a priest. Toudou’s shield was originally in Aria’s family’s possession, just one of the defensive armaments that the Rizas clan had held for generations. She couldn’t believe it—this brilliant shield has seen her family through many battles and was never damaged once. A scratch is one thing, but for a magically reinforced shield to have cracks across its entire surface is simply unheard of. For this reason, Aria was actually relieved when she heard that it was Gregorio who’d caused all those cracks. If the shield had been of just slightly poorer quality, or if Toudou had been a split second slower in raising it, she might not have made it out alive. The blacksmith points to a shield hanging from the wall. The mercenaries of First Town are high level and have a corresponding amount of gold. Even for Aria—who has seen innumerable valuable weapons and armor in her day—these are not shabby selections. Yet, the blacksmith does not sound particularly enthusiastic. “We’ve got a few shields available here, but to be honest…nothing on that level.” “But it’s filled with cracks…” “Even cracked, it’s still better than what we got.” Toudou takes the shield back from the blacksmith. Her gaze is locked on to it, and the blacksmith says to her, “Blue metal is hard and lightweight. It’s cracked, and none of its magical buffs work right now, but as long as you don’t take any crazy hits, it shouldn’t break down any further. You oughtta take it to the capital or a larger city to get it fixed as soon as possible.” “…I understand. Would you mind if we took a look at what you have to offer as a spare?” It’s typically impractical to carry around multiple heavy items, but Aria and the party possess a magical implement that allows them to stow items out of sight, so that won’t be a problem. The blacksmith shoots Aria a curious look and replies simply, “Look as long as you like. Prices are next to the items.” Aria and Toudou examine each shield thoroughly. The weapons shop mainly sells exactly that—weapons—and there are consequently only a few shields available. Mercenaries tend to travel light, and shields aren’t in high demand. Toudou’s choices are already very limited. She takes a shield approximately the same size as her Shield of Radiance down from the wall and, upon hefting it, lets out a low groan. “…So heavy.” She hoists it easily up and down a few times, but there is definitely a huge difference compared with watching her hold the Shield of Radiance. “I’m not surprised… Blue metal isn’t as airy as mythril, but it’s still very light.” “Mm… Even if I’m only gonna use it in battle, it’ll take some time to get used to, I think…” Toudou isn’t all that strong to begin with, and her stamina isn’t on the same level as other male mercenaries. The reason she can move around so well is partially thanks to her resourcefulness, but her use of light equipment is also a factor. The thick black shield certainly looks sturdy, but when Aria takes it from Toudou, she quickly furrows her brow. Even for Aria, who had originally used the Pramia school style of sword fighting, the shield is definitely on the heavy side. “Golems are known for their heavy attacks, so a shield of this thickness could be just right.” “Will it feel lighter as I gain levels?” “It will to some extent, yes…” Leveling up doesn’t make one all-powerful. Stats that an individual is gifted in from the start will grow more quickly, while those they aren’t suited to will grow slowly. The reason that Toudou has high growth potential, as a female, is due to her agility regarding magical energy and explosive power. The strength and agility needed to wield a shield are not her forte, so they grow much more slowly. Toudou shakes her head as she hefts the shield again. She can hold it just fine, but it just feels different in her hand. Aria inspects the shop’s remaining shields with Toudou in the corner of her eye, but all that’s left include a tower shield—which conceals the user’s entire body—or smaller shields of approximately thirty centimeters in diameter. None of them feel just right. “…We might have to proceed with this shield for now, after all. We can figure out how to repair it once we return to the capital.” “Well, might as well buy this one, too… Better safe than sorry, as they say. Damn—it’s expensive as hell!” Toudou is absolutely blown away by the price tag. The Kingdom provided her with a thousand lux to spend on preparations for vanquishing the Demon Lord… She received another ten million for all the necessary implements, including weapons, armor, and travel supplies, but the shield in question is listed at one hundred thousand lux by itself. The blacksmith must have heard Toudou, because he’s glaring daggers in her direction. Toudou grins sheepishly and looks back at the price tag. “The shield must be so expensive because there isn’t much demand. That said… They’re still cheaper than the weapons.” Typically, weapons and armor are leagues more expensive than other everyday items. Toudou’s holy sword Ex is no exception. Aria’s magical sword Lightning Howl is similarly invaluable, no matter how many gold coins one proffers. “Yeah, but it’s just a metal shield…,” replies Toudou, unconvinced. Aria and the party have been burning through their gold reserves at a steady pace for the past few months, so the price of the shield is hefty. But as the saying goes: You can’t spend the money when you’re dead. Toudou scowls and grumbles to herself. Just then, a voice calls out to the two of them from behind. “Hey, Aria, Toudou! Come here!” It’s Limis. When Toudou catches her gaze, she puts the shield back on the wall and walks toward her. Limis and Glacia are in the weapons corner of the shop, which includes all varieties of armaments aside from swords. There are spears, gauntlets, and axes—many weapons that most mercenaries don’t really use. “I thought you were going to look for mage weapons?” “Yeah… Well… I’ve seen them already. But forget that—take a look at these!” Limis points at a selection of weapons on the wall. There is one behemoth among them. The massive black metal handle is as thick as Limis’s neck, and as long as she is tall. But it’s the head of the weapon that stands out even more. It’s about one meter wide and half a meter tall, shaped like a box, and without adornment. It radiates pure heft. It’s massive and unrefined, completely distinctive among the other weapons. “That’s a war hammer, but it’s way bigger than most. Maybe it’s for fighting golems?” Aria opens her eyes wide and sizes up the weapon. It’s the type rarely used by mercenaries or knights. If anything, a priest who can’t wield a blade might use it, but she’s never seen one this massive. Its size guarantees it will be hard to swing, and the hammer head is extremely heavy—the balance must be terrible. Using it effectively demands umpteen times more physical strength than the black shield they were just looking at. It’s the most impractical weapon possible. It must have been on the wall forever, with no one to buy it. However, given its massive size, the listed price is actually quite low. “Who knew a thing like this existed… So what are you gonna do with it?” asks Toudou, and Limis looks down from the war hammer. There stands Glacia, who’s seemed different ever since she went out by herself yesterday evening. She gazes up at the war hammer. Limis puts her hand on Glacia’s head and strokes it, then she adds with a bewildered look on her face, “She says she wants it.” Unexpected, indeed, but Glacia hasn’t changed at all. She may not be totally enamored with Aria and the others, but for some reason, this mysterious girl has stuck by their side. Aria can’t believe her ears and asks Limis, “…Wait—Glacia said that?” “…Yes.” “…She does know she can’t eat it, right?” The war hammer easily dwarfs Glacia’s entire body. What could she possibly want with it? As Aria wonders in doubt, Glacia turns her emerald-eyed gaze on her. She’s obviously trying to hold back an extraordinary feeling as she opens her mouth, and to say she sounds innocent would be a misinterpretation of her emotions. “I’m…gonna fight, too.”