kscans

Chapter 9 - Golem

After school. It wasn't like Rinzaki-san and I walked home together—not at all.

We live in different directions, so we went our separate ways, got our things ready at home, and then headed to the dungeon.

We did meet up again at the station, though.

"Man, I'm getting pumped! It's like we're at a theme park!"

"Y-Yeah, I guess..."

I was tired. Somehow, I was already tired.

She had been talking nonstop, to the point where I started to suspect she had infinite stamina.

What was really surprising was that she even used some mysterious advanced technique of 'shouting in a whisper' on the train and bus. Maybe she was born from a mouth.

Or maybe she has a disease that will kill her if she stops talking. Her chattiness was enough to make me genuinely worry about that.

In any case, the dungeon.

The bus ride there was normal, for the most part, except for the person next to me.

A shopping arcade with shuttered storefronts stretching from the station. A slightly old-looking supermarket, and ladies with eco-bags, probably on their way home from shopping.

But gradually, the signs of people disappeared, and by the time we reached the Dungeon Store, we were surrounded by empty houses.

When a dungeon gate is discovered, the government 'orders' an evacuation of a one-kilometer radius for safety.

The prefecture is supposed to provide housing for several months, but naturally, there's resistance to suddenly being told to abandon your home.

I understand the sentiment, but the danger in case of an emergency is real. Even an 'F' rank monster can kill a person, regardless of its strength.

As someone about to benefit from the dungeon, I know it's a troublesome existence. That labyrinth.

And so we arrived at the Dungeon Store. It didn't look much different from the supermarket I'd seen on the way. Maybe a little cleaner.

Passing through the automatic doors, to the right was a counter with numbers like a bank's reception desk, and chairs lined up in front of it. That must be the famous 'buyback corner.'

Further in, there was a convenience store, with two sets of tables and chairs set up near the automatic doors.

And to the left. There were changing rooms, a police box, and restrooms. There was also a space that looked like a clinic.

But the door to the most important room could be seen right as you entered.

At the very back of the Dungeon Store, there was a room with a sign that read 'Gate Room.'

"Well, I'm going to get changed..."

"Okay! Don't forget anything!"

"I won't."

Finally freed from Rinzaki-san, I headed to the men's changing room. I never thought talking to a beautiful girl could be this exhausting...

Harem protagonists in rom-coms are amazing.

With that thought, I finished getting ready in the changing room.

I'd be wearing my 'Arcane Gear' in the dungeon, but there was always the possibility of fainting and having it deactivate.

To prepare for such a situation, it was recommended to wear clothes with at least some level of protection that would be easy for a rescue team to carry. In my case, that meant navy-blue coveralls and long boots.

I looked less like an adventurer and more like some kind of laborer. I readjusted my hiking backpack and left the changing room.

These clothes and the backpack had cost me a fair bit for a high school student. I needed to earn it back.

It wasn't just a longing for the extraordinary; helping out with the family finances was another reason I became an adventurer. I hadn't forgotten about that.

Well, I figured I should use the restroom too, and when I came back from taking care of business, Rinzaki-san was waiting in front of the changing rooms.

"Yo! Kyou-chan!"

"Ah, sorry to keep you waiting."

"No worries!"

She was wearing a black tracksuit and sneakers. It suited her strangely well because she was beautiful, but she looked like she was just out for a stroll.

Well, it's true that it would be easy to carry her in that, and it's within the range of recommended attire.

"Alright then, Kyou-chan. Put this on."

"Okay."

I took the clip-on earring that Rinzaki-san offered me.

I tried to put it on, but... it was surprisingly difficult.

"Here, let me."

"Huh?"

Rinzaki-san deftly took the earring and clipped it onto my earlobe.

The warmth of her hand on my cheek, her fingertips brushing against my ear. With her beautiful face close enough for me to feel her breath, I felt my face turn red and looked away.

"There, all done!"

"Ah, thank you..."

"Mhm! You are most welcome!!"

I gave a small bow to Rinzaki-san, who was striking a proud pose with her hands on her hips, and a voice came from the earring.

'Hello, hello, hello, Aira-san here. Can you hear me?'

"Ah, yes. This is Yagawa. It's a pleasure to work with you."

"Loud and clear, Paisen!!"

'Mm-hmm. You're as energetic as ever, Erina-kun. And Kyou-chan-kun, you need to be a little more enthusiastic.'

"Uh, o-okay."

'Alright then, for starters, let's have you disclose your fetishes.'

"I'd rather not...?"

What is she talking about?

"Paisen! That's sexual harassment!!"

'Hahaha. Oh, please. I read in a book that sharing fetishes is an efficient way to get friendly with boys.'

Burn that book.

'Well, now that we've gotten the witty banter out of the way, let's head to the dungeon.'

"...Yes."

"Roger that!!"

'Just to be sure, are you two feeling okay? You've both used the restroom? Anything you're concerned about?'

"I'm fine... probably."

"All green, Paisen! A ninja is always prepared!"

'Excellent. Then let's march. Shall I blow the conch shell?'

"No, that's alright."

Please don't. A conch shell right next to my ear is a form of terrorism.

While feeling slightly wary of Arisugawa-san, who muttered a disappointed 'I see...', I headed towards the 'Gate Room.'

Passing through the door, I found another reception desk. However, unlike the 'buyback corner' outside, the person at this desk was a Self-Defense Force officer in a bulletproof vest.

"Hello. May I see your license, please?"

"Here you go."

I showed him my adventurer's license, and after he confirmed my identity, I opened another door at the back.

Beyond the thick metal door was a white door, just like the one I'd seen in the exam.

I silently deployed my 'Arcane Gear,' and next to me, Rinzaki-san also transformed.

I looped my lantern through my sword belt and spoke to Arisugawa-san in a whisper.

"Preparations complete. We're entering the dungeon now."

'Mm. May fortune favor you in battle.'

"Right."

I glanced back at Rinzaki-san, and she gave me a firm nod. It seemed she was mentally prepared as well. Her hand came to rest on my shoulder.

I placed my hand on the white door, pushed it open, and a black space that swallowed all light spread out before me.

Feeling an indescribable unease, I steeled myself and stepped inside.

There was that momentary sense of dislocation I'd felt during the exam. Is this what it feels like to be a dish on a tablecloth that's suddenly yanked away?

That feeling soon passed, replaced by a solid sensation under my feet. And artificial light illuminated the surroundings.

A damp, rocky cave. It was wide enough for people to pass each other with ease, and near the ceiling of the wall, LED lights were installed with power cables stretching out from them.

I checked my surroundings just in case, but there were no monsters. I'd heard in the course that for dungeons open to the public, the SDF does extensive culling while mapping them out, so the monster density is low, and the probability of an encounter right after entering is low.

Still, it's not zero. I was also told in the course to be most careful the moment you enter.

'Hmm. It seems the [Telepathy] is working. I can see inside the dungeon.'

"You said it worked fine in the experiment with your sister, right, Senpai?"

The 'senpai' she mentioned must be the 'Arisugawa-san's sister' that came up in our previous conversation.

She's also an Awakened Person and an adventurer, apparently. Well, it's none of my business.

"Excuse me, Rinzaki-san. Could you keep an eye on our surroundings, just in case?"

"You can count on me!!"

I entrusted scouting to her and took out the 'kettle with the Homunculus-like thing' from my hiking backpack.

I placed a wooden board with a transmutation circle drawn on it on the exposed rock ground, and set the kettle on top of it.

Then, I poured a ton of mana into it.

"Ngh..."

It drained more than I expected, but it's fine. It'll recover quickly.

A red light glowed as the ground around it sank in a wide, shallow depression over about ten seconds, and in its place, the ground beneath the kettle began to rise.

Arms stretched out from it, and feet stamped on the ground.

'Golem.'

Alchemy is a technique that changes the state of matter. Using it, it's not impossible to create a 'body' like this from dirt and stone.

However, the limit of alchemy is that you can't make the all-important brain out of stone. Apparently, with something called 'Civil Engineering Magic,' even that is possible.

Still, if you prepare 'something to act as a brain' beforehand, it's not a problem.

The two marbles attached to the kettle glowed faintly, gaining the function of eyes. Then, the 'Homunculus-like thing' slowly moved the stocky stone body.

'Is that the golem you mentioned in your email yesterday, the one made with alchemy?'

"Yes. It seems to have worked."

It's short, only about 150 centimeters tall, but it's quite wide and thick. It has a body like a mascot costume.

However, being made of rock, its durability is high. As long as the round-bottom flask inside the kettle isn't destroyed, it won't cease to function.

I plan to use this as a 'tank.'

Being a wall is a position that few people want to play, even in games.

When it comes to facing monsters in real life, it's inevitable that even fewer people would raise their hands for the job.

In fact, many people are reluctant to even engage in close-quarters combat. There are frequent demonstrations in front of the Diet, demanding that adventurers be issued guns, or at least be given the right to buy and use them.

However, with this 'Homunculus-like' golem, there's no problem using it as a shield.

The core parts can be made for about 3,000 yen, and since the body below the neck is made in the dungeon, it's free. On top of that, it's not a living being, so I won't feel guilty using it as a shield or a decoy.

By the way, since I can make it, other alchemists can too. The reason it's not in widespread use is simply because 'the mana consumption is shockingly bad.'

Apparently, a normal single-digit level person would be on the verge of collapsing just from creating the body and infusing it with mana to move. From there, you have to directly touch the golem at short intervals and supply it with the same amount of mana as during activation.

Even I wouldn't think of using this method without my 'Unique Skill.' But if I hadn't been able to form a party with Rinzaki-san, I would have had to explore the dungeon with only this golem as my companion.

I cut off that line of thought. I had the golem shoulder my backpack and held a pre-printed photo of the monsters that appear in this dungeon in front of its marble eyes.

"This is a 'Matango,' a monster that appears here. Only counterattack when you're attacked by this. Otherwise, follow us."

The golem sluggishly nodded its entire upper body.

'Matango.'

It might be easy to imagine if you think of a walking mushroom.

It's a monster with a giant mushroom about a meter tall, with mushroom-like legs. It doesn't release spores or anything, and its only observed attacks are body slams and kicks.

In the adventurer community, it's even called 'the weakest monster.' It's a fitting opponent for a first-timer. Still, I can't be too careless.

As I was doing this, a voice came from the earring.

'...I have a question. How can you use alchemy, Kyou-chan-kun? You shouldn't have a skill like that.'

"A while ago, I was lucky enough to find a website with various alchemy recipes. It's gone now, though."

I relayed my pre-prepared excuse to Arisugawa-san.

I don't want them to figure out the true nature of my 'Unique Skill' from the fact that I can use alchemy. But on the other hand, I want to have the golem out just in case.

For the sake of this lie, I've decided not to materialize the 'Book of Alchemy' where they can see. I didn't take it out during the exam either, and looking back now, that was a fine play on my part.

'...I see. That was truly fortunate. I'm curious about that site myself, but it's been taken down, has it?'

"It seems so."

I broke into a bit of a cold sweat at Arisugawa-san's reaction.

I don't think they'd immediately subject me to 'human experimentation' or 'rip my heart out' if they found out about the Philosopher's Stone. Still, it's better to be cautious.

In a world like this, it's probably better to have the resolve to protect myself... I think.

"Yes, yes! I have two questions!"

"Uh, what is it...?"

"Why are you being so formal, Kyou-chan!! We're the same age, you know!?"

Rinzaki-san protested, on the verge of tears for some reason. Wait, is it that big of a deal?

"Well, I just..."

"We're partners. We'll have to trust each other with our lives in a pinch. To close the distance between us, I think we should reconsider how we address each other and how we speak."

Whoa, she suddenly became super serious...!?

I was surprised by Rinzaki-san's change of pace, but I could understand her reasoning. It's kind of embarrassing, though.

"...Right, I understoo—I understand. Rinzaki-san."

"Erina! Repeat after me! Erina!!"

"Erina... san."

"Hmm. Well, I'll let it slide this time. You should be grateful, whelp!"

"Th-Thanks?"

I can't. I seriously don't get this girl's vibe.

I was a bit put off, but a mix of embarrassment and happiness filled my chest at calling a girl my age by her first name.

S-So, I have a girl friend who I can call by her first name...

'Oh? If you two are calling each other by your first names, won't you call me by my first name as well, Kyou-chan-kun?'

"Uh, umm..."

'...You haven't forgotten my first name because you call me by my last name and figured you didn't need to remember it, have you?'

"...I'm sorry."

'It's Aira! I am Aira. You may call me so with all the reverence, affection, and friendship you can muster!'

"O-Okay. Aira-san."

'Excellent. If you forget my name again, you will hear the sound of a grown woman wailing like a child. And right next to your ear, at that.'

What kind of threat is that?

"And my other question is, what's this golem's name?"

"Well, it doesn't have a name. I might have to use it as a decoy in a pinch, so I don't want to get attached..."

"Aww. But that's inconvenient."

'That's right, Kyou-chan-kun. A name is important. I'll cry if you forget mine!!'

I feel like what Arisugaw—Aira-san is saying is a bit different.

But, it's true that not having a name is inconvenient.

"...Then, how about 'Byakuren'."

Its main body is a lump of white-mist-like mana, so I just gave it that name on the spot. I feel like the 'ren' part was just tacked on because it sounded good, so it's a bit lazy of me.

But Erina-san probably wouldn't be satisfied with 'Golem No. 1' or 'Homunculus-like thing.'

"Alright! Byakuren it is! Nice to meet you, 'Byak-chan'!"

"'Byak-chan'..."

Erina-san slapped the golem's shoulder repeatedly. Naturally, the golem didn't react.

I scratched my chin lightly and let out a small sigh.

As expected, she's a strange one.

"Alright, let's go, Kyou-chan! Byak-chan! Paisen! Our journey starts now!!"

'Please look forward to Erina-kun's next work.'

"What's with that 'cancelled series' vibe...?"

And so, the exploration finally began.

...I feel tired before we've even started. Dealing with people is exhausting.

──No, wait, thinking about it calmly, it's just these two who are weird, isn't it???