56 - Riel's Golem
In the garden of the mansion the Sarkrai family owned in Alamsars, there was a warehouse.
Since the place was used to store tools and other items for the mansion, and was intended to be used only while Miranda spent time at the academy, there weren't many things in it.
In such a place, I was creating a golem with Poyopoyo.
The golem magic I learned from Damian is, basically, magic used to operate a doll created through magic.
However, by using metal infused with one's own magical power or specially processed metal, it becomes unnecessary to create one every time.
A golem made of clumps of earth isn't bad depending on the location.
But creating one every time consumed too much magical power.
To reduce consumption, Damian creates the doll in advance and then manipulates it.
I thought I would try to create a doll using that method, but—.
"Humanoid dolls are difficult to operate, aren't they? No, even non-humanoid ones have their quirks when it comes to operation."
The doll I was making with Poyopoyo used armor from the boss of the fortieth basement floor.
The dolls I was creating by buying up armor from bosses supposedly defeated years ago, which had been kept at the academy, were not humanoid.
"I simply cannot understand it. When I was told we would make a doll together, I thought it was some new form of confession... but to actually make a doll..."
They were called dolls, but since they weren't shaped like people, they were something else entirely.
Once Poyopoyo finished processing the armor with a tool taken from under her skirt, the wheels were attached.
Six small wheels.
And four legs—.
To move the folded legs, I tried operating the golem in front of me.
The golem, which looked like a small wagon with legs attached, was more solidly built than I had expected.
"Oh, it feels surprisingly sturdy."
Because I wasn't used to the controls, the way the legs moved was still awkward.
When I folded the legs and moved it forward and backward with the wheels, I operated the front wheels to make it curve around a corner.
I had asked Poyopoyo if she could do it, but since she said things like "Don't underestimate me, you chicken coward," I let her handle the design.
"It's only natural. After all, this is a machine that this Poyopoyo handled from design to creation. Shall we name it Luggage Carrier Number One?"
The golem, which wasn't yet complete, was just moving with its basic parts constructed.
How much luggage it could carry, whether there would be problems operating it in the labyrinth... and then, I looked at the two large shields leaning against the wall.
Those shields were too large for a person to hold and were built in a way that made them unsuitable for transport.
But that was fine.
We weren't the ones who would be holding them.
"It'll be finished once I make it so the shields can deploy. But before that, I need to do a test run in the labyrinth."
How much magical power would it consume?
And so that it could turn corners, I had also attached legs to make it possible to go up and down stairs.
Poyopoyo said,
"I want to attach more springs to increase the stability. Besides, there's no part that looks like a head, so I can't feel any attachment to it. How about I draw a face on the front?"
"Is that necessary? But, this guy... a [Porter] certainly would be better if I felt some attachment to it."
When I called it by the name I had thought of beforehand, Poyopoyo trembled and looked back and forth between me and the Porter.
"What's wrong?"
"...What is with that name? Moreover, the fact that you thought of something that sounds so fitting makes me even more annoyed. Even so, I am a custom-made masterpiece. To think that something I finished in a few days has a more decent name... How frustrating. I can't believe I lost to a Porter!"
Then, I picked up a book I had placed nearby.
It was a copy of a book I had asked Clara to prepare for me.
It was a book about "names."
"Actually, I thought of it after reading this book."
When I showed it to Poyopoyo, she looked frustrated.
"And here I thought you were thinking hard about my nameeeee!"
I gave a smile to the frustrated Poyopoyo.
"Poyopoyo has already stuck, so it's fine. You're cute, Poyopoyo."
Then, Poyopoyo agonized while flailing her twin-tails.
Whether she was happy or sad... as expected, it seemed complicated.
"I hate myself for feeling a little happy! But I oppose this. Poyopoyo is a temporary name! I have a true name! ...Hah! Could this line be something typical of puberty... Nooooo!!"
Looking at Poyopoyo, I thought to myself.
(Ancient people definitely went in the wrong direction with their efforts. What did they want to achieve by making an automaton like this?)
The one who spoke from the jewel, amused, was the Sixth Generation.
'You two get along well.'
It seemed we looked like we were on good terms.
True, she had a foul mouth, but she worked hard whenever it concerned me.
Sometimes I felt like I was really talking to a human, but the existence before me was an automaton.
I looked at the Porter.
(Poyopoyo and the Porter are, so to speak, the same thing.)
Poyopoyo, flailing her twin-tails in embarrassment and hiding her face with both hands.
The Porter, existing silently in place with its four legs folded.
(As I thought, they aren't the same. Poyopoyo is just Poyopoyo.)
I pondered when I would conduct the test run for the Porter.
—Outside of Alamsars, Lyla and Aria were acting together.
Aria was lightly equipped, but she wore metal armor on her left arm.
Holding a short spear in her right hand, she was heading toward the destination, walking ahead of Lyla.
Several types of knives and a bag for tools were hanging from her waist belt.
Lyla, watching Aria's movements from behind, had a prosthetic arm attached to her left side.
While checking its operation, she commented on Aria's movements.
"Look, don't just worry about what's in front of you. Check the distance to your comrades too."
Aria reacted with a start and turned back to Lyla with a strained smile.
"I-I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize while we're moving. Reflect on it after we're done. Are you going to make the other comrades stop just for your sake?"
Aria hurriedly checked her surroundings and walked forward.
Lyla's style was to walk in front as a vanguard and occasionally engage in combat.
"Always think for yourself. How will the party move next? What is needed? If you can't move unless you're given every single instruction, you're second-rate or lower, no matter how strong you are."
When they arrived at the point that was their destination, Aria sat down, perhaps mentally exhausted from the unfamiliar movement.
Seeing this, Lyla said,
"You said your leader doesn't acknowledge you, right?"
Aria, sitting on the ground, looked up at Lyla.
"Yes. That... I was given instructions and moved exactly as told. But I think I can do more!"
To that, Lyla answered immediately.
"You can probably do a certain amount because you have talent. But you know, if I were the leader, I'd treat you the same way."
At that, Aria looked down.
She had learned the basics of being an adventurer even at Darion, but she had been neglecting them.
It was proof that she had relied entirely on Riel's skills.
"If you ask me, that guy is competent. I mean, he's trying to raise the party's raw strength by restricting the use of skills. Didn't you realize it? That you'd be useless if you kept going like this."
Aria had been preoccupied with her own things, but when told, it was exactly as Lyla said.
(I was the one relying entirely on the excellent Riel.)
Lyla pointed out several things for her to reflect on.
She had been repeating actions as if she had completely forgotten what she had been taught at Darion.
"For starters. Just because a corridor is reasonably wide, who uses only the same kind of spear? If you just thought about having something that could adjust its length or carrying a shorter weapon, you'd realize it."
Aria received another lecture.
A short spear—a weapon not even as tall as Aria. Its reach was shorter, but it seemed easy to use in the labyrinth.
Above all, the first thing she was told was—.
—That she was worse than an amateur.
Those words—.
Despite having a certain level of strength, she was taking the easy way out and abandoning her duties.
Being scolded repeatedly by Lyla was very similar to the many things she had been taught by Zelfie at Darion.
The absolute basics had been neglected, and she was in a situation where she couldn't even communicate properly.
"So, how does the shield feel?"
Aria looked at the small shield on her left arm.
A buckler.
It had become a small shield so she could use the spear, but it was helpful since she could deflect monster attacks.
"Yes. It feels good."
When she said that, Lyla looked a little happy.
"I see. Pay attention to your armor too. Protect your own life and body. Don't be stingy with money."
Lyla's words, having lost her left arm and suffered burns, carried weight.
"Now, break time is over. This time, I'll go in front and show you an example. Watch the points I cautioned you about carefully."
"Yes!"
As Lyla started walking, Aria followed behind her—.
—One of the private schools in Alamsars.
There, they taught techniques related to traps.
The characteristics of the Alamsars labyrinth, the types of traps set, and how to open treasure chests, among other things.
They taught techniques limited to Alamsars, and after teaching the basics, they focused on techniques useful in Alamsars.
In such a classroom, Miranda opened a lock on a desk. She used a tool to open it skillfully.
The teacher of the private school, seeing this, clapped their hands.
"Amazing. Is this really your first time? You haven't been doing any mischief somewhere, have you?"
Her handiwork must have been vivid enough to make them suspicious.
Miranda replied with a smile.
"I haven't. That's mean, teacher."
Then, the teacher apologized.
Looking at Miranda's radiant smile, the teacher—.
"...Well, as long as that's the case. In that case, is it time for trap disarmament? The Alamsars labyrinth has few types of traps, so there isn't much to teach."
Basically, until the fiftieth basement floor, the lowest level, there seemed to be few types of traps.
In that sense, the Alamsars labyrinth was also a place where young people starting to build their strength as adventurers could develop their abilities.
"Is it starting now?"
"Preparation is necessary, so next time. That's all for today."
With that, Miranda stood up from her chair, gathered her things, and left the classroom.
The young adventurers who were also learning lockpicking gazed at Miranda's departing figure.
Their expressions were full of longing.
"Miranda-san is great, isn't she?"
"She graduated from the academy and became an adventurer, right? Should we try inviting her?"
"But, if I recall... she's with that 'Carried Riel', right?"
The teacher cleared their throat at the students making a fuss about trying to call out to Miranda.
The classroom became quiet.
Then, the teacher said, "Stop it."
They weren't joking. They were seriously warning the students.
"That type of person... especially female adventurers with a talent for traps, it's better to avoid them. If you are comrades, absolutely do not try to become romantically involved."
Then, one of the students said,
"What is it, teacher? Did you have a terrible experience in the past or something?"
The teacher replied with a straight face to the joking student.
"...Long ago, I was in a large party. At that time, I worked as a trap specialist. A female adventurer who was good with traps joined as a backup."
Since all the remaining students were men, they all listened quietly, showing interest.
They seemed to be expecting a scandalous story.
Young male adventurers are prone to dreaming.
"She played several adventurers like puppets, and in the end, she squeezed them for everything they had before throwing them away. I've worked with several parties and have acquaintances in the same specialty... if you lay a hand on that type, nothing good comes of it."
At the teacher's voice, filled with real experience, everyone there felt a bit chilled.
They couldn't relate, but the teacher didn't seem to be lying.
Everything is one's own responsibility.
The teacher only gave the warning.
"How many fools do you think pawned their money and equipment to contribute to that female adventurer? They're just using your ulterior motives. Besides, that type... will do whatever it takes to make their target their own."
In this case, the target was the opposite sex—namely, the man they were interested in. Hearing this, the students started to make a fuss again.
"If Miranda-san targets me, I... I'd marry her right away."
"Idiot, look in a mirror before you speak."
"I wish I could be targeted just once~."
The teacher laughed "Hahaha" while looking at the young adventurers and thought,
(Like being slowly strangled by silk cotton, before they know it, they can't move... I've seen many such men.)
Thinking that being young is wonderful, the teacher resumed the lesson—.
Taking the Porter and Poyopoyo with me, I challenged the labyrinth and checked the operation.
I repeatedly went up and down the stairs and let Poyopoyo fight by giving her a mace.
Goblins were sent flying.
Goblins splattered red flowers against the walls.
Goblins turned the floor red.
—This girl isn't thinking about collecting materials at all.
She crushed them too much, and the materials to be collected were in a terrible state.
"To think the techniques for fighting the black devils of the kitchen would be useful..."
I spoke to Poyopoyo, who was striking a pose while brushing up her twin-tails alone.
"What? You thought of goblins that way? More importantly, you're crushing them too much. The purchase price will go down."
The metal rods goblins carry and the pots they wear as armor have a certain demand as metal.
Since they are melted down and processed, there isn't much fluctuation in the purchase price, but... the condition of the things taken from the goblins was the worst.
I put on gloves, snatched the magic stones, and then tried placing the metal on the Porter. There wasn't much change in magical power consumption when using the wheels.
Going up and down the stairs was also no problem in particular.
Since I couldn't dive too deep, I was testing it between the first and second basement floors.
Seeing this, the Third Generation said,
'So this is the answer Riel came up with.'
The Seventh Generation agreed.
'It was an answer close to mine and the Fifth Generation's.'
I was curious about those words, but I drew my saber, wary of the adventurers approaching.
Poyopoyo also readied the maces in both hands.
"W-Wait!"
"Sorry, but could you lend us a hand?"
The battered adventurers came toward us seeking help, dragging their feet.
There were six of them in total. Some were leaning on others, while some were barely able to walk. Some had lost consciousness.
Seeing this, I approached while remaining cautious.
It didn't seem to be an act.
Poyopoyo said,
"Bones are broken. There is also internal damage. They are seriously injured... but they'll be cured with medicine or magic, right? That's strange."
What was supposed to be strange?
But now was not the time to worry about such things.
I took medicine from the bag on the Porter and used it on the injured. The wounds closed, and their condition became better than before.
However, the adventurers who had carried the injured were also battered.
"Sorry. We were ambushed, and though we fought them back..."
It seemed they had been attacked by adventurers, not monsters.
"Thanks for the medicine. By the way... why a cart? And a maid?"
One of the adventurers with a pale face looked at the Porter and Poyopoyo curiously.
"Well, it's a long story."
Then, one of them began to suffer.
Poyopoyo said,
"This is bad. They aren't fully healed. They should be seen by a professional."
Then, I looked at the Porter.
It was narrow, but there was no doubt that six people could fit.
"The ride might be bad, but please get on."
Then, the adventurers I saved—.
"W-We're getting on? But who's going to pull it? One person would be... and there are stairs."
Thinking that explaining would be a waste of time,
"Just hurry up!"
After saying that and loading the six of them, I also stepped on the side protrusion and climbed on.
Poyopoyo did the same on the opposite side. And then—.
"Here we go."
The wheels moved, and the Porter began to move, carrying eight people. Since I remembered the way when I came, I proceeded through the labyrinth without getting lost.
Even though metal plates were haphazardly laid on the floor, it shook a bit, but it was well within the acceptable range.
(Ah, this can actually load quite a bit.)
I thought such things while operating the Porter.
The adventurers who had climbed aboard watched the scene in stunned silence.
After leaving the labyrinth, I went immediately to a nearby hospital and waited outside.
Then, one of the saved adventurers, whose complexion was still poor but who was bandaged, came out of the hospital.
He turned a smile toward me.
"You saved us. All my comrades are safe."
Being told that, I was relieved that they had been saved.
"I'm glad."
Mutual aid between adventurers is necessary.
There are people who casually commit nuisances, but in most cases, a miserable end awaited them in the end.
Besides, if I help, my reputation might recover a little.
"So, um... sorry!"
I was surprised by the adventurer who bowed his head.
The adventurer explained the situation to me.
"Normally, I'd want to pay you in gold coins. But my comrades are hospitalized... when we were attacked, we only brought the magic stones, and left the other materials behind. This is all I have now, but I'll definitely thank you after they're discharged."
Saying so, the adventurer took all the silver coins out of a leather pouch and handed them to me.
Poyopoyo saw this and said,
"That's a lot of money for two people to have earned."
I accepted the money.
"I have received your thanks. Also, please don't push yourself after discharge. I am satisfied with this thank-you."
"T-That helps. Thank you so much!"
The other party might have been pretending that this was the best they could do. In reality, they might have been able to pay more.
But if I were stingy with thanks in a situation like this, rumors would spread and I would lose trust. To be told that I saved a life but didn't accept a reward... if that happened, it would interfere with my future activities in Alamsars.
I told them I was satisfied with the thanks and conveyed that I wouldn't accept any more.
When the adventurer returned to his comrades, I looked at the silver coins in my hand.
"...Ah, could this be?"
I realized it. At the same time, I heard the voice of the Fourth Generation.
'I smell money...'
I looked back at the Porter. Somehow, it looked like a reliable figure.
At the same time, a voice of joy was heard from the jewel.
'Riel! Well done! We can make money with this! As I thought, making you think of your own methods is important!'
The Fourth Generation, who loves money, seemed to have realized the value of my Porter.
Knowing it could turn into money, he began to rejoice.
Poyopoyo also said,
"Chicken coward... with this, we can eat normally."
I agreed.
"I think so too."