Chapter 24
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: The Ego Golem
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“Stop it!”
“Evacuate the students!”
“Everyone, this way!”
“Where did a monster like this come from!”
Its massive tail uprooted the forest trees, while magic and sword strikes hammered against its hard scales.
The shockwaves of the battle spread beyond the lake to the entire surrounding forest, growing more intense by the moment.
“What are you doing here? It’s dangerous, evacuate!”
“Yes! Understood!”
Aint, panting heavily, hurried to join the line of evacuees.
“We… we survived. The Sea Serpent won’t win, will it?”
- Don’t be a fool. The Sea Serpent may be a powerful spirit beast, but the academy is home to the empire’s greatest talents.
The professors there were warriors who would be counted among the strongest anywhere.
- Besides, that thing isn’t even fully grown.
“That’s not fully grown?”
- A fully grown Sea Serpent can reach fifty meters. They’re not called spirit beasts for nothing.
“Insane…”
- Well, set that aside. You brought the adamant, right?
“Of course.”
Aint checked the pouch at his waist. It was a subspace pouch provided by the academy for this practical exercise.
It had originally contained standard-issue potions, first-aid supplies, and a small amount of jerky, but now it was filled with nothing but adamant.
He had thrown everything else out to make room.
“To think I almost died for this…”
He had just finished mining the adamant and was about to leave when he realized the Sea Serpent was surfacing.
- The Spirit Herb! Grab the Spirit Herb!
It was Gardner’s shout that stopped Aint from fleeing, allowing him to snatch the herb just in time.
The problem was that the Sea Serpent, having witnessed its Spirit Herb being stolen right before its eyes, had gone berserk and chased him like a mad dog.
If it hadn’t been for the professors and teaching assistants stationed around the area after he had desperately fled the lake, he would have ended his life as the Sea Serpent’s meal.
Normally, a Sea Serpent whose Spirit Herb was stolen would fume for a moment, but that would be the end of it. The culprit would be long gone, and the creature’s poor sense of smell would prevent it from tracking them.
However, due to Pernyan’s butterfly effect, Aint discovered the adamant, altering the sequence of events, and the Sea Serpent saw him stealing the herb with its own eyes.
And the Sea Serpent was not generous enough to let a thief who stole its treasure escape right in front of it.
That had created the current situation, though Aint was unaware of it.
“Anyway, I’m glad it worked out. The professors will take care of the Sea Serpent…”
Now, the problem was how to sell the adamant to Pernyan naturally.
“What should I say if he asks how I got it?”
- Just tell him it’s not stolen goods and that he shouldn’t ask questions.
- Though those nouveau riche types would probably take it even if it were stolen.
True, there was no need to explain. Adamant was a precious mineral that anyone would desperately want, regardless of how it was obtained.
The seller definitely had the upper hand.
“How much should I ask for to…”
Just then.
- Hey, there’s your nouveau riche boy.
Following Gardner’s words, Aint turned his head and spotted Pernyan.
But he looked quite strange. He was covered in sweat, his eyes wide as he constantly scanned the area.
“Is he looking for someone?”
Whoever it was, he looked incredibly frantic.
In that moment, their eyes met. Pernyan strode over to him in an instant and caught his breath.
“Aint Armian.”
“…Me?”
Aint was bewildered by Pernyan’s apparent sigh of relief. Was he the one Pernyan was looking for? Why?
- What’s this? Did that nouveau riche punk eat something strange?
- To my eyes, it looks like he’s worried about you. Am I right?
Aint thought so too, which only added to his confusion.
- Could he know you got the adamant and the Spirit Herb?
- No, that’s impossible.
Aint and Gardner were perplexed, but so was Pernyan.
‘Hmm.’
He had desperately searched for Aint, hoping he was alive, but he hadn’t thought about what to do next.
‘What should I say?’
Fortunately, the fierce battle between the Sea Serpent and the professors was drawing everyone’s attention, so no one was looking his way.
After a moment of collecting his thoughts, Pernyan decided to just be brazen.
“Are there no others?”
“Others?”
“I’m asking if any other students were nearby. It’s my job as a teaching assistant to ensure the students’ safety.”
“Uh, is that all?”
“Should there be more?”
At the annoyed look in Pernyan’s eyes, Aint shook his head.
“Ah, no.”
“If you have nothing else to say, go with the other students…”
“I have something to say before that.”
“Something to say? To me?”
“Yes.”
Aint nodded and quickly continued.
“Does the Golden Turtle Merchant Guild handle ores?”
“Everyone knows our guild handles ores. What is it you want to say?”
Aint gave an awkward smile.
“It’s a bit difficult to talk about here…”
“Follow me.”
Pernyan and Aint went into a secluded part of the forest. Thanks to the exam being suspended because of the Sea Serpent, there was no one around.
“Speak. Surely you’re not asking me to give you ore for free, like you did with the elixir?”
He could have given him some, considering he had obtained mithril thanks to him. But as always, he couldn’t appear too easy. That was the fast track to being a pushover.
“No. There are only two reasons to request a private meeting with a merchant, aren’t there?”
“To buy something, or to sell something. But your finances are pathetic, so it must be the latter.”
“…That’s true, but it still hurts to hear.”
Pernyan’s eyes twitched at the words.
It was a minor joke, but having seen his own future ruin at Aint’s hands in the prophecy, he had to be cautious about everything.
“…Then I apologize. I didn’t mean it.”
“…Huh?”
- Did this guy eat something weird?
The sudden apology caught both Aint and Gardner off guard.
“Ah, no. It was a joke, just a joke.”
“Then I’m glad.”
“…Uh, anyway, you’re right. I do have something I want to sell. I couldn’t think of anyone else nearby who could handle selling something like this without trouble, Senior…”
“What is it?”
Aint reached into his subspace pouch. Pernyan’s eyes widened at the ore that emerged.
“…Is that?”
“You recognized it immediately. That’s right. It’s adamant.”
“…Adamant.”
But he quickly regained his composed expression. Gardner was impressed by the swift change.
- As expected of the nouveau riche bloodline. To regain his composure so quickly after seeing adamant?
“You intend to sell that to me?”
“Yes.”
“How, and where did you get it?”
“That’s a secret, but it’s not stolen goods. I can only say that I acquired it legitimately. Will you buy it?”
Pernyan hesitated. In negotiations, it was crucial to hide what you truly wanted from the other party.
If they found out, you would be at their mercy, leading to unnecessary expenditure.
But this was adamant. An ore he desperately needed for the grand plan he had formulated after obtaining the mithril.
It was worth acquiring, even at a slight loss.
‘Besides, it’s Aint.’
He was planning to support Aint anyway. If acquiring the adamant gave him a pretext to support him openly, all the better.
“Alright, I’ll buy it.”
“Then…”
“Now it’s my turn to ask.”
But his merchant instincts surfaced unconsciously.
“How much were you thinking?”
* * *
A week passed in a flash. No other major incidents occurred after the Sea Serpent, and Pernyan returned to his office, spreading a sheet of paper on his desk.
‘Adamant.’
When Aint first mentioned it, Pernyan had momentarily lost his composure. It was that kind of item.
It wasn't just about the value of adamant; he had never dreamed that Aint, who had lost the mithril, would bring him adamant instead.
‘It’s unlikely he had the adamant from the start. If he had, he would have used it or sold it long ago.’
He must have acquired it this time.
To have the mithril stolen, only to acquire adamant instead.
Was this the luck of the hero destined to stop the demons, as the prophecy foretold?
A dry laugh escaped him, but it wasn't a bad situation for him at all.
‘If I alloy adamant and mithril, I can create the ideal I’ve been dreaming of.’
The hand holding his pen began to move faster. There was no hesitation in his strokes as he sketched out something he had long envisioned.
‘Did my actions have an effect this time as well?’
He had been as careful as possible, yet something must have gone awry somewhere. That must be why Aint found the adamant, and why the Sea Serpent emerged from the lake.
He had been quite surprised, but it had all worked out well in the end.
No, in fact, he ended up with not only mithril but also adamant, so was it actually a gain?
‘What kind of place is it? An underground, underwater cave with both mithril and adamant?’
There might be other minerals there as well. Deciding to check it again later, Pernyan watched the Sea Serpent as it roared in agony.
The academy professors were indeed top-tier warriors, and even a spirit beast stood no chance against their combined assault.
It had taken some time due to its massive, durable body, but it looked like it would fall soon.
‘Using the Sea Serpent’s mana hole as its core wouldn’t be bad… no, it would be the best method.’
A spirit beast of that size, capable of using a breath weapon, would surely possess an extraordinary mana hole.
It might not be on par with a dragon’s heart—the masters of magic—but it would certainly be more efficient than a core made from a top-grade mana stone.
‘Then I have to buy it. Anything the professors catch within the academy is used for their private gain. Most likely for their research lab grants.’
The professors would use their connections to find a buyer.
‘I’ll need a lot of money. I can’t handle this alone.’
It wasn’t just a matter of money.
To utilize the mithril and adamant, he needed the power of his family. The manpower he currently had was insufficient to refine the two ores.
‘I’ll have to visit the family estate soon.’
He wasn’t worried about persuading the Duke. The mithril was in his hands, and the adamant would be soon enough…
“…I have returned, Young Master.”
Pernyan’s train of thought was cut short. He stopped writing and looked up to see a slightly weary Hyde standing before him.
“Hyde? When did you get here?”
“An hour ago.”
“An hour?”
He glanced out the window and saw that darkness had already fallen.
“Why didn’t you call for me immediately?”
“You seemed deeply engrossed, so I waited. But after glancing at what you were working on, I thought you might not sleep tonight, so I interrupted.”
“Good call.”
Indeed, he had been so focused for so long that his body had grown quite stiff.
‘To lose track of time like that.’
The appearance of mithril and adamant must have excited him more than he thought.
“Did you finish your task?”
“Yes. It’s all done. But if you don’t mind my asking, may I ask about that? Is it what I think it is?”
“It is.”
“…The materials seemed rather unrealistic.”
Pernyan smirked at the expected reaction.
“Unrealistic?”
“A body made of mithril and adamant. It’s impossible.”
Considering the rarity and value of mithril and adamant, it was a natural conclusion.
“The Golden Pillar doesn’t have that kind of money. The Duke won’t allow it either. And above all, it’s doubtful you could even acquire that much of both ores.”
“Do you really think so?”
“Yes, I do.”
“What if I already have?”
“What?”
Pernyan opened his subspace. Dozens of chests immediately stacked up in the spacious office.
“Open one.”
“…Don’t tell me it’s what I think it is? This is impossible, this much…”
“Open it and see for yourself.”
Hyde swallowed hard and cautiously opened a chest. His jaw dropped at the beautiful, faint blue-green light that emanated from within.
“This one too?”
This one, and that one. Every single chest was filled to the brim with mithril.
“I-Impossible…! Where on earth did you get all this?”
“I mined it myself.”
“What?”
“This is all mithril. And I’ll soon be acquiring just as much adamant.”
To be precise, he was buying it, but considering the market price of adamant, it was practically a steal.
“No, I don’t understand. What are you talking about?”
“To see it with your own eyes and still not believe. That’s not like you, Hyde.”
“…No.”
Hyde muttered “no” repeatedly, still in a daze.
“…Fine. The mithril is right here, so I’ll concede and believe you mined it. But buying adamant? Who would sell a comparable amount of adamant?”
“To be precise, I’m not just buying it with money, I’m becoming a sponsor…”
The explanation was a bit complicated, so Pernyan changed the subject.
“That’s not what’s important, Hyde. This is.”
Pernyan handed him the paper he had been feverishly drawing on—the schematic.
“As you know, I’ve always wondered.”
Knights have their loyal steeds.
Elves have their spirit companions.
Partners they can always trust their backs to.
“So why don’t merchants have something like that?”
Hyde couldn’t bring himself to retort that it would be stranger if a merchant did have such a thing.
He was still reeling from the shock of the mithril and adamant, and he was completely overwhelmed by Pernyan’s sheer presence.
“…So you’re really going to build this? With this enormous amount of mithril and adamant?”
“Yes. If I’m going to build it, I might as well make it as reliable and sturdy as possible.”
Especially with the prophesied war against demons looming in the future.
“This is an artifact that requires a colossal amount of money and the culmination of magical engineering.”
A monster that only a truly wealthy merchant could create, making it all the more fitting for a merchant.
“It’s the merchant’s companion I’ve always dreamed of.”
And a steadfast guardian to protect him in the terrible era of rampaging demons, a single, advanced solution to all his problems.
“A super-massive Ego Golem that possesses a will of its own and moves by itself.”
“…What an incredible waste of mo… no, but does it really have to be this big?”
“Because it’s cool.”
Nod. Hyde found himself agreeing before he knew it.