New Semester (11)
When Chrome regained consciousness, the first thing that filled his vision was an unfamiliar ceiling and a dimly glowing light fixture. The inverted, orb-shaped bulb bore the scars of countless years, its irregular flickering—like it might die at any moment—stirring an inexplicable sense of dread.
The cold press of the floor against his back. The damp, confined space of a narrow room. The situation made no sense, yet at least he wasn’t completely without clues. The golem that had been eagerly rummaging through his backpack was now staring straight at him.
Its size and shape resembled the ones he’d seen outside, but unlike the metal or stone constructs, this one appeared to be made of softer, smoother material. If he had to compare it to anything, rubber came to mind.
“...Hello?”
He hadn’t expected a real answer. He simply wanted any scrap of information. But then—
> It has b33n a wh1le s1nce I last had a c0nversation with a hum4n.
The voice dragged in places, the pronunciation warped, yet the meaning came through clearly enough for Chrome to understand. His eyes widened, and the golem continued.
> H0w ab0ut 1t? C4n y0u und3rstand my w0rds?
Chrome realized this entity was nothing like the other golems he couldn’t communicate with at all. His mind began turning at full speed.
“Yes. The pronunciation is a little off, but I can understand you just fine.”
> Th4t is a rel1ef. It was w0rth the tr0uble of repa1ring the language c1rcuits. N0t that there was much el5e to d0.
At Chrome’s reply, the golem gave a shrug as if mocking itself. The dry, mechanical tone made the oddly human gesture stand out even more.
What the hell is this thing?
It didn’t look like armor shaped to resemble a golem. Yet it displayed far too much emotional range to be called a simple golem. Either someone was controlling it remotely, or...
> Y0u s33m to have many qu3stions. S0 do I. H0w ab0ut we 3xchange s0me quest1ons and answers?
Chrome had no idea how strong the golem was, but the fact that it had left him unbound until he woke up meant one of two things: it held no hostility toward him, or it was confident it could handle him even if he turned hostile. His money was on the latter.
Besides, the moment it had gone through his bag without permission, Chrome had more than enough reason to fight. Still, he flashed a bright smile.
“Sure. Conversation is the privilege of intelligent beings, after all.”
One side asked. The other answered. Then they switched roles. Under that simple rule, Chrome spoke first.
“Why did you drag me here?”
> I b3lieve I already s4id I w1shed to c0nverse.
“Then there was no need to search my belongings, was there?”
> I was m3rely ch3cking for any dang3rous 1tems.
This thing has zero intention of answering properly. The attitude was exactly what he’d expected, but for Chrome it wasn’t entirely bad. At least the golem hadn’t denied bringing him here.
Now it was the golem’s turn.
> Wh3re do y0u and your c0mpanions b3long?
“The academy. Why?”
> Wh4t is th4t?
“Isn’t asking back-to-back questions against the rules?”
> ......
No matter how human it seemed, the golem couldn’t create facial muscles that didn’t exist. Even so, the flash of irritation was unmistakable. Since Chrome would be the one in trouble if this rare conversation turned violent, he quickly added an explanation.
“It’s an educational institution established by the Barhart Empire to train magic users.”
> Barhart Emp1re. I s33. S0 it is n0t a k1ngdom. If enough t1me has passed, such th1ngs can 0ccur.
The answer must have pleased it; the golem gave a slow nod. Chrome seized the opening.
“Are you the one who built this facility?”
> I d1d n0t cr3ate it. But I may be called its 0wner. The 0riginal 0wners d1ed in the Age of the Stars long, long ag0.
The Age of the Stars. A golem that spoke of that era as ancient history while knowing about the Barhart Kingdom. As Chrome’s mind raced to piece together its identity, the next question arrived.
> What n4tions 3xist 0utside n0w? Answ3r with everything y0u kn0w.
“The Barhart Empire, the Morian Kingdom, the Nahat Grand Duchy, the Spero Kingdom, and the Ivestan Empire. Five in total.”
> Is th4t 4ll? What of the Rockfell Kingdom or the Gados Kingdom?
“As far as I know, no other nations exist besides the ones I listed.”
> Y0ur kn0wledge is n0t simply l4cking, is it?
It might have been coincidence, but this time the pronunciation was unnervingly fluent.
“......”
For a split second Chrome wanted to throw away all thoughts of buying time or gathering intel and just punch the damn thing, but he shook his head and pressed on.
“Then—”
BOOOOOM!
A deep, heavy vibration rolled through the room, like something colossal shifting its weight. Chrome instinctively fell silent and looked up. As if to confirm it wasn’t his imagination, the light fixture he’d seen upon waking shook violently.
> ...Has it c0me after catching the sc3nt?
Chrome didn’t miss the golem’s knowing reaction.
“What is that? What’s happening outside?”
> There is n0 n33d for y0u to c0ncern yourself.
“It’s my turn to ask, so answer properly.”
> It is n0thing y0u n33d to kn0w. As l0ng as y0u are with1n this pl4ce, you are s4fe.
CRASH!
A roar far closer than before slammed into the room. The door to the small chamber exploded off its hinges.
Clack.
The metal sole of a boot—its outer layer apparently stripped away during combat—rang heavily against the stone floor. Disheveled hair. A white shirt stained with blood and dust. Countless small cuts and bruises across her body. Roughly half her equipment had vanished, and the sleeve below her right shoulder had melted clean away, revealing bare skin marred by burn marks.
At the tip of the white spear in her grip, something larger than she was hung skewered like meat on a spit. The grotesque monster—half earthworm, half creeping vine—still twitched and writhed even though its body had been chopped into pieces.
Ligret, looking like she’d just crawled out of hell, scanned Chrome from head to toe before turning her gaze to the golem.
“You said this place was safe?”
The golem panicked and tried to speak, but Ligret was faster. She hurled the monster’s severed head still impaled on her spear. Even with its special body, the golem’s basic size was no different from a human’s. It tumbled across the floor with the creature, and the impact sent the monster’s corrosive fluids splashing everywhere.
As the golem sizzled and melted, Ligret muttered, “...Doesn’t look safe to me.”
CRACK!
A blinding flash of light froze the struggling monster in place. The golem seized the chance to scramble free, its form even more ruined than before, and shrieked.
> F00lish! H0w d4re y0u! Y0u w1ll r3gret th1s, you sav4ge w3nch!
The golem swung its arm. The limb stretched like rubber, shooting toward Ligret. She started to knock it aside with her spear, but the moment she sensed the surge of magic and sparks at its fingertips, she dropped low. An instant before her chest touched the floor, she slithered forward like a snake and slammed the shaft of her cross-spear into the golem’s side. Using the momentum, she spun and delivered a devastating roundhouse kick.
The golem, already off-balance from the first strike, couldn’t withstand the barrage. It rolled once more across the monster’s corrosive fluids. As it tried to push itself up, Ligret planted her foot on the back of its head and pressed down.
> St-stop! Why 4re y0u d01ng th1s!
Ligret answered in her usual monotone. “Not everything needs a reason.”
The atmosphere had grown so oppressive it could only be called a total refusal to negotiate. The golem switched targets and appealed to Chrome.
> Sh3 is y0ur c0mrade! M4ke her st0p at 0nce!
Chrome waved a lazy hand. “Come on, can’t you see? If I butt in I’ll end up the same way. Why would I stop her? It’s not like I’d miss you if you disappeared.”
> Then what ab0ut the qu3stion and answer s3ssion!
“You weren’t answering properly anyway. It didn’t mean anything.”
Even as they spoke, the golem’s body continued to melt in the monster’s fluids. Desperation filled its voice.
> I will answ3r pr0perly! Anyth1ng! S0 pl3ase—!
“All right. Now we’re getting somewhere.”
> Y3s!
Chrome smiled at the desperate reply. It had acted so relaxed earlier, but it seemed genuinely terrified now that it was melting.
“Then I’ll ask three questions. If the answers satisfy me, I’ll pull you out. Better answer quickly before you dissolve completely.”
> ......
Why? It’s not like I’m the one in a hurry.