Winter Falling on Steel
No epic winter journey to the Default Kingdom or anything like that. We'd just hopped through the gate and arrived.
The overwhelming tech made it hard to savor the travel, which secretly bummed me out a bit. But shaking my head, I grimaced at the thought of getting tangled in all sorts of incidents along the way. Surely the gate wouldn't malfunction and send us somewhere weird, or let monsters pour through? Come to think of it, those monsters that slipped through the previous gate—the babbling horde—had been repelled. But no one knew how they'd activated it. If someone had the tech to build gates, couldn't they remotely hijack it or tweak the coordinates? I had zero knowledge of mechanics, so speculation was pointless.
Our base was in Noksu's hands. We packed light, and through some guild combo, reserved lodging. In a world without internet, booking same-day sounded wild, but there was this hidden trick. Mortis proudly flexed her B-rank adventurer perks. Not an inn, but a full-on hotel room. With minimal bags, we stepped into the gate, buzzing with anticipation.
"I've only been there twice myself," even Larirure Larirarion had only visited the Steel Kingdom twice. Her rural hometown was a bit out from there, in the dwarf lands. If we had time, we should all go? If nothing had changed, she'd show us around and hook us up with dwarf contacts for top weapon and armor shops—expect great stuff, she thumped her chest.
Hyacinth probably knows the booze spots better anyway, I teased, earning a shin kick.
Default Kingdom gate opening. Please line up and proceed in order.
The mage's warning followed us into the light, greeting us with a totally flipped landscape—once again. A concrete jungle rivaling modern times welcomed me. But it didn't stop there: steampunk buildings plastered with steam engines, cyberpunk neon-drenched towers, glass skyscrapers reflecting the whole city... A massive tower, not a castle, pierced the sky in majestic glory. The city's edge was so vast, even from the gate's high perch, no walls were visible. Overwhelming in every way. This ancient dwarf kingdom, history incarnate?
Just... what was it? Leona's eyes sparkled at every novel sight. Hyacinth wagged his tail like a country bumpkin in the big city. But the streets teemed with magical girl cosplayers, endless hordes of bushy-bearded dwarves, steam-belching gear-driven mechanical horses, sleek futuristic airships floating overhead. All jumbled chaotically...
One word: 'Mods installed wrong.' Like Skyrim bloated with every mod—balance shattered.
"The dwarf kingdom advanced this far thanks to Hero Park Chun-sik sharing his tech, no holds barred. Dwarves honed it their own ways, chasing freedom. That's the Steel Kingdom—exchanging knowledge, pursuing progress. The hero'd be proud!"
He'd probably think, What a mess? Like dumping every Lego type, no instructions, gun to your back: build a town. Cubist chaos. Is public safety even a thing? Felt like it'd domino-collapse anytime—unsettling.
"Man, winter and it's still packed. Nice and toasty too."
"Heard they've finally developed the new Giant Knight. Surpasses the hero's legacy, they say."
"...Giant Knight?"
"The massive bipedal golem Park Chun-sik rode into battle. Called it a robot himself? Some say cyborg."
Po'runga rattled off tech terms like a pro! Larirure Larirarion listened, then pointed at something, asking if I'd seen it.
"That's an android. Golem variant with intelligence for menial tasks. Invest and get combat models."
Thought it was a janitor at first—up close, total robot. Mannequin-simple design bowed and kept cleaning. Shocking tech gap—like time-warped to the future.
"Get one for our base...?"
"Nah, too pricey. Not for casual use. Needs techs or kingdom backing to run."
Real high-end stuff. Prototypes mimicking Park Chun-sik's work, crude downgrades. Power-hungry refills bankrupt you. Picasso-painted city with androids strolling... Expected drab steel, but colors everywhere—dizzying. Artists painting, bards performing despite early winter snow.
"Get our portrait done?"
"Photos lack soul... But group pic takes forever?"
Larirure Larirarion dismissed photo-mailing logic; I shut up. Artist snapped our group photo casually, promised to paint with scenery tweaks per her requests, mail to party base.
"Alright, explore freely! Mortis and I'll hit armor shops."
"Gonna check gauntlets~"
After hotel drop-off, day one: free time. No rigid schedule—rendezvous evening. Larirure Larirarion and Mortis for gear scouting and contacts; Po'runga dashed for custom weapon. Hyacinth mumbled late if it was bro-date chance—she was gone.
"Reptiles are dumb," Riko sniped, off for unique herbs. I requested a "potion" via her old idea first. Odd look, but she winked: pounce in bed if desperate. Not for that—wanted to test Spirit Sword Yokoshima somehow. She promised top efficacy, no misunderstandings.
"...No need for aphrodisiac to pounce—you'd get kicked."
"No."
Left: two guys, one girl at hotel. Tourist pamphlet in hand, we planned.
Crowds surged for the genius princess test-driving the new Giant Knight on main streets—long-awaited success.
Museum housed the original. Us guys headed there for giant robot glory.
"It's huge!" Leona beamed.
Ceiling soared unusually high. I hooded my traits to avoid fuss. Hyacinth hyped: "Bro! That giant! The robot!"
Up close: giant perched on structure. Eyes dark, humanoid sleek curves—arms, legs unremarkable.
"Ah."
Disarmed, no heart power core—kingdom research. Hero-only pilot limit stymied dwarves' revival efforts.
"Fancy the Giant Knight, lads?"
Old dwarf guard welcomed us warmly. Hero's largest intact relic—disassembled for study, once full plate-armored with greatsword, slaying evil dragons legendary.
Park Chun-sik... rode style into battle.
"Heh, looks metal, but Giant Knight's a living being, lads."
"Huh?"
"That?"
Carved monster skeleton, bundled muscles, alchemical blood, nerves/vessels—full bio-rebuild. Endless trials, beast hides as armor, hero's heart. Pilot brains it alive: artificial giant.
"Golem? More cyborg."
"Aye. Rests post-final battle... Never thought I'd see it revived before I croak."
"No blueprints?"
"Some left: Great Evil God Final Battle Weapon. Ultimate hero-pooled ride... Gods stash it astral post-completion, unused. Some dwarves adventure there to glimpse it."
...My skill. Three heroes wake it for evil gods... probably.
We listened rapt as he spun tales, gazing at the once-hero-borne giant. Living being... Weapon from hero's foes? Heart ripped, arms stripped for study... Peaceful era, hero'd want comrade's rest.
"Bro, next androids! Golems too!"
"Radamu! Radamu! Mechanical horses!"
Day set: museum crawl. Powers from mana to oil—everything. Diversity stalled unification... Energy dev stalled too.
Tech advances worthless sans power fix—other cities unusable.
"Buy one: easy cleaning, dishes."
"Memorize spellbook costs 30 pages monthly."
Rich-only toy.
Museum done, lunch spot amid crowds eyeing Giant Knight parade. I mango-rice mixed, mint cola bliss—poured in, watched thickening snow.
"Winter's here."
"Bro, that edible?"
"Mmph..."
Hoping no incidents... But grand fest, reverse peace unlikely, I thought.