Chapter 84
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 84
Chapter Title: Father of Steel (3)
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“Hmm, its appearance is…”
I furrowed my brow, staring at the golem standing tall at the far end of the hangar.
At a glance, it looked less like a monster from a fantasy world and more like something out of a sci-fi movie or comic.
It had the form of a humanoid golem, but its material was steel or a similar metal.
This thing was on a completely different level from the previous golems, which were just stone bodies reinforced with metal plates.
“Sage, analysis.”
In any case, I called upon the Sage to get accurate information.
But the Sage, as if it had been waiting, displayed a status window.
[The Sage reports that it has failed to analyze the monster!]
“…Failed?”
This was the first time its special analysis had failed since San-gun.
Just then, Odolph, who was standing beside me, spoke up.
“My lord, may I report what I have analyzed?”
“Go on.”
“As I see it, that is merely a shell.”
A shell.
Odolph was still staring at the golem’s unmoving form.
Bathed in the light of the countless lamps on the hangar ceiling, its body appeared even more immense.
The sheer pressure it exuded could rival that of an S-rank monster.
And yet, he was calling it a shell.
“Aha.”
I understood.
Odolph nodded as well.
“That is why your eyeball friend failed its analysis. The main body is hidden inside that massive shell, protected by various mana barriers.”
If that was the case, the solution was simple.
Neutralize the golem and pull out the main body controlling it.
Suddenly, a dry voice echoed throughout the dungeon.
[Hidden Mission, 「Father of Steel」, is now active. Defeat the Father of Steel and claim your reward.]
Blue mana flared to life in the part of the golem that corresponded to its head, specifically in what appeared to be its eyes.
*Rumble, rumble, rumble!*
Simultaneously, the 10-meter-tall behemoth slowly began to move.
Its massive foot lifted and stomped down on the hangar’s steel floor.
*CRASH!*
The floor beneath it tilted at an angle.
It meant the golem was heavy enough to make the entire floating ship list.
“Gono, Odolph.”
I called to them in a low voice.
The two summons, instantly understanding my intent, charged toward the golem.
‘First, I need to see if physical attacks are effective.’
Dungeons were places that defied common sense.
Something that looked as hard as a diamond could, in fact, be as soft as tofu.
A thin sheet of glass could boast the durability of adamantium.
So, the only way to find out was to clash with it.
“Kiruk!”
[Crow’s Flapping (A)]
Gono, arriving a step ahead of Odolph, immediately activated his skill and launched himself into the air.
*Vweeeem!*
In response, the golem stopped moving, twisted its torso, and swung down at Gono.
‘It’s more agile than I thought.’
It had looked sluggish, but its reaction was surprisingly fast.
While the speed was easily perceivable to Gono, the problem was that its arm and fist were simply too massive.
*Whoooosh!*
“Kiruk?!”
It was just a simple punch.
But the incredible wind pressure sent Gono tumbling through the air.
[Crow’s Flapping (A)]
Fortunately, he activated the skill again before landing to minimize the impact.
Gono scowled, shouldering his club, clearly frustrated that he couldn’t land a single effective hit.
However, his attempt was not in vain.
While the golem was focused on the fly-like goblin.
“Hyaaaah!”
Odolph, having finally reached the golem, slammed his body into it with all the momentum of his charge.
*CRASH!*
The ogre’s body, a mass of pure muscle, struck the golem near its steel ankle.
A blow that could easily demolish a dump truck.
However.
This time, nothing happened.
*Thump!*
Odolph dodged the golem’s foot as it tried to stomp him and sent me a report.
- My lord, it seems this opponent is quite overwhelming for myself and the goblin friend.
‘Is it protected by some kind of defensive skill or magic?’
- I do not believe so. I can only sense a special defensive formula from within the golem. This hardness seems to stem from the material composing the golem itself.
It meant the steel that made up the golem was so hard that most physical force couldn’t even scratch it.
As I was deep in thought, a flash of light erupted.
It came from the cannons of the golems lined up on both sides of the hangar, specifically the ones capable of long-range attacks.
*BOOM!*
The sound of the explosion came a moment later.
Fist-sized projectiles, instantly fired from the cannons, flew toward me.
“My lord!”
Odolph cried out in alarm.
I waved a hand nonchalantly and replied.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Nothing to worry about. Just keep distracting that golem.”
[Child’s Love is activated.]
The fist-sized projectiles were stopped by an invisible wall, spinning in mid-air.
A ranged attack of this caliber couldn’t penetrate the protection of the item on my wrist.
*Grind.*
A dull, grinding sound, like millstones rubbing together, echoed from all around.
Besides the golems that had just fired on me, the others that had been standing still were all beginning to move in unison.
‘Right, no way these things are just decorations.’
With an indifferent expression, I waved my hand once.
[Repaying Kindness is activated.]
The projectiles, which had been clustered together like a barrage, suddenly changed direction and shot toward the surrounding golems.
*BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!*
A few golems hit by the projectiles disintegrated into dust.
But hundreds of golems still remained, slowly closing in.
In that case, it was time for an all-out war.
I immediately pulled a bead from my bracelet and threw it to the ground.
*Poof!*
From within the gray smoke, a troop of Lizardmen and Dark Elf archers emerged.
*CLANG!*
The sound of spears, swords, and stone clashing soon filled the hangar.
Leaving the horde of golems to them.
“Now, all that’s left is that one.”
I fixed my gaze on the armored golem that Gono and Odolph were fighting.
Although its only attack was a punch thrown with its full weight, it was lethal in itself.
A single clean hit would surely turn even Odolph into a bloody pulp.
But it wasn’t a problem.
While it was agile for its size, its speed was definitely slow.
‘The real variable was the other golems filling the hangar.’
Golems whose purpose was likely to restrict the victim’s movement.
But that variable had been neutralized by my summons.
At that point, the giant armored golem was reduced to a mere protective vessel for its pilot.
In that sense, it was a kind of moving castle.
The fight against it was a siege.
And so.
‘I need a siege weapon.’
A siege weapon.
It didn't need the power to destroy the castle itself.
It just needed to create a small opening for the soldiers to squeeze through.
Even a tiny crack to place a ladder would be enough.
‘A weapon that can neutralize that tough armor.’
The answer was already decided.
Now was the time to call ‘her’.
I immediately connected to MonMonMak.
[Activating Deal with the Lord.]
I selected one of the items shining blue on the list.
Hiring it cost 5,000 gold. It was a considerable amount for its rank, but it was a price well worth paying.
[Hiring complete.]
Amidst the clash of blades, the acrid smell of oil, and the rumbling of the golems’ rough movements.
A single bead dropped into my hand.
A bead with a horizontal golden stripe against a black background.
*Tink.*
The moment the bead hit the floor.
A gray mist instantly spread through the hangar, and a massive figure flickered into view.
In terms of sheer size, it was as large as the armored golem standing on the other side.
When the magnificent and noble being fully revealed itself.
[Summoning 「Queen Ant Akasha」 from the Lord's Castle.]
Finally, a new status window appeared before my eyes.
*Thud.*
The Queen Ant took a step with her chitin-covered leg.
The movements of the surrounding golems, Lizardmen, and Dark Elves, who had been engaged in a fierce battle just moments before, slowed down.
Her overwhelming presence surpassed the level of ordinary monsters.
“Thank you for answering my call, Akasha.”
I said, bowing my head amidst the tense silence.
The Queen’s compound eyes, over a meter wide, turned toward me.
And a familiar scent brushed past my nose.
[The Sage begins analyzing the Queen Ant’s pheromones.]
[It has been a while, my child.]
Her words, displayed on the status window, were gentle. Despite being a simple string of text, I could feel the warmth embedded within.
[I have always thought that I would one day repay this grace.]
“Not at all. Thank you, Akasha.”
[I am simply glad that I could be of help to you sooner than expected.]
Despite being an ant with an expressionless face, for a moment, I felt as if she was smiling warmly.
[Arise. My children.]
*THUD!*
Akasha lifted her two frontmost legs and slammed them into the ground.
Simultaneously.
*Rumble, rumble, rumble!*
Cracks began to form all over the hangar floor, which was made of solid steel plates.
*CRACK!*
The cracks soon erupted like volcanoes, spewing out something that had been lurking beneath.
They were soldier ants, almost the same size as the 2-meter-tall golems.
The guardian soldiers who protect the last queen ant of the Amur Dynasty.
Tearing through the solid steel frame with their sharp mandibles, the guardian soldiers, clad in smooth chitinous armor, revealed themselves.
*CRUNCH!*
The moment they burst from the ground, the soldier ants charged at the nearby golems.
*CRACK!*
Two soldier ants swarmed each golem.
Stone was ground down by sharp mandibles, and plate armor melted away under the corrosive ant acid.
The hundreds of golems that had been overwhelming with numbers were now being pushed back by numbers.
[My child, give your command.]
On the newly reshaped battlefield.
Akasha spoke in a low voice.
[Myself and my kingdom are yours.]
I bowed my head once more and sent a message to Gono and Odolph.
‘Odolph, Gono. Good work. Now, put some distance between you and the golem.’
Confirming the order, the two summons quickly fell back.
The golem, which had been preoccupied with catching the two small insects, finally raised its head.
Its glowing blue eyes turned this way.
And I.
“Akasha.”
I gave the command to Akasha and her hundreds of soldier ants.
[As the lord wills.]
Akasha’s line was displayed.
The Queen Ant and her kingdom’s soldiers turned to face the golem standing proudly.
Supporting their bodies with four legs, they stood tall, bending their abdomens forward.
As the ants assumed their firing stance, I sent a mental command.
- Now.
At the same instant.
*Swoooosh!*
A waterfall of light green ant acid, capable of melting even solid metal plates, began to pour down upon the castle wall.
*Vweeeem!*
The armored golem desperately tried to evade the sudden acidic bombardment.
Its evasive maneuvers were once again agile.
But this was a barrage of fire.
A moving castle wall was still a wall, and it couldn’t avoid the endless stream of projectiles.
*Splat!*
Starting with Akasha’s shot-put-like glob of ant acid, countless streams of acidic liquid landed on target.
*Sizzzzzzle!*
The moment the ant acid touched the metal, it began to eat away at the golem’s body with ferocious intensity, melting it down.
The armor that hadn’t even been scratched by Odolph and Gono’s attacks peeled away like shedding skin amidst clouds of smoke.
*Guooooooh-!*
The building-like body thrashed about.
It was a movement born not of pain, but of desperation.
*Splat, splat!*
Even so, the rain of ant acid continued relentlessly.
Eventually, as the armor was stripped away, the shabby form of a stone golem was revealed within.
The exposed golem, backed into a corner of the hangar, could only flail its arms in a futile attempt to shield itself from the acid waterfall.
How much time passed like that?
*Vweeeem, thud!*
The golem, its support structure melted away by the acid, collapsed.
And from the remains of the golem, which had been reduced to an unrecognizable pile of stone sludge.
“Found you.”
The ‘pilot’, unable to endure any longer, emerged.