Chapter 79: Read the Instructions Carefully
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 79: Read the Instructions Carefully
Tyrkanzyaka’s lips parted, then froze. The golem, though its expression was unreadable, seemed to wait with a hint of anticipation for her reaction.
After a long moment of speechlessness, Tyrkanzyaka slowly asked again.
“…What did you say?”
『He is a criminal with no qualifications whatsoever, and he was brought here to pay for his crimes. He was arrested in Amitengrad on charges of fraud and gambling and was sentenced to labor in Tantalus under the swift and just verdict of a military judge. Contrary to what you may have known, he is not a warden of the Military State!』
“Then. His actions… have nothing to do with your country?”
『Affirmative. Whatever he has done while deceiving my eyes, it was not the true will of the Military State. It was merely the impulsive act of a single, deranged criminal!』
A criminal, it said. He had looked quite dashing in that uniform.
Though the news was entirely unexpected, Tyrkanzyaka felt no regret. After all, she herself had once been something far more than a mere criminal who had shaken the world.
Even hearing that he had deceived her didn't upset her.
Rather, she was simply… happy.
“Is that truly so?”
『Affirmative. It is the truth, without a single shred of falsehood.』
“Then, his calling me a trainee was…”
『A ploy to raise his chances of survival, however slightly, by impersonating a member of the Military State.』
“In that case, you mean to say he was thrown in here by force, with no obligations whatsoever?”
『He had the obligation to perform labor. However, it is doubtful that a criminal of his sort had any interest in labor beyond preparing his own meals.』
Even hearing the golem’s slander didn’t change a thing. Tyrkanzyaka found herself growing more and more elated.
Because she now knew.
That it was simply…
Purely…
Out of goodwill.
That he had risked his life to retrieve her heart.
“Heh heh.”
A pang of guilt tightened her chest, but at the same time, joy coursed through her veins. It raced from her heart to her lungs, creating a burst of delight before surging up her throat and rushing to her head.
For a moment, her face grew warm. Warmth was vitality, and vitality was movement. The corners of her lips, once so stiff, softened and curved gently upward.
“Heh heh, ahaha.”
『…What do you find so amusing?』
Tyrkanzyaka’s joyful smile vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
“In that case, his disappearance would cause no problems for the nation of the Military State, nor would he be missed.”
『Affirmative.』
“Good. Then there should be no issue if I were to take him in.”
『Affirmative…?』
“So it was not a kindness of the Military State after all. Furthermore, he said he was an orphan, a soul untethered to anything. I see no reason to pay a price for him.”
『…?』
Just as the golem, sensing something was amiss, expressed its confusion, Tyrkanzyaka launched a surprise question.
“However, I have a query.”
With a leisurely expression, Tyrkanzyaka propped her chin elegantly on her hand and gazed at the golem.
“When Finlay fell, were the two of you not together? You were on his back, as affectionately as if you were brother and sister.”
『Brother and sister! Negative, I absolutely deny it! I do not acknowledge such a creature as my brother!』
Tyrkanzyaka blinked at the convulsive rebuttal.
“It was just a figure of speech. In any case, were you not indebted to his back for a time? Why, then, did he suddenly tie you up? There must have been a reason.”
『…That is.』
As the golem tried to evade the question, Tyrkanzyaka pressed him relentlessly.
“This is a matter that will be resolved once I ask him. Confess the truth. If you cannot even answer such a question, on what grounds can I trust this conversation?”
In truth, he had become a simpleton and would be unable to answer anything, meaning the golem was the only one who could. But the golem, bound and trapped here, did not know that.
At Tyrkanzyaka’s insistence, the golem answered meekly.
『He attempted to extract the method of escaping the Abyss from me.』
“Hoh.”
So his offer to send Finlay out was just a bluff. Tyrkanzyaka filed away another interesting fact.
『I issued a stern warning against such an act, but he harbored discontent and committed an act of rebellion. He damaged this unit’s speaker and restrained me here to prevent me from monitoring the interior of Tantalus.』
“Is that all? He tied you up, after you had gotten along so well, merely because he was discontent?”
A relaxed interrogation. The golem seemed to hesitate, but soon realized it was pointless and answered honestly.
『…The Military State always prepares a replacement for everything.』
“A replacement. I take it you don’t just mean objects.”
『Affirmative. Until now, we had not made any special preparations, considering the unique nature of the Abyss and his cooperative attitude as a laborer. However, now that we have confirmed his rebellious intent…』
From the Military State’s perspective, he was a litmus test. A test strip of sorts that would turn red on its own to warn of any danger lurking within.
The litmus test had lived long enough. Now, the Military State would not hesitate to dispatch personnel into this Abyss.
And if the litmus test happened to show signs of insubordination, there was all the more reason not to delay.
“Oho. I see. He sensed what was coming and decided to turn against you.”
Now grasping the general flow of events, Tyrkanzyaka nodded slowly. The golem hastily continued.
『An unqualified individual has likely disturbed your peace until now, but such a thing will not happen again. His impulsive actions were unforeseen, even from the Military State’s standpoint.』
An excuse to absolve itself of responsibility.
For Tyrkanzyaka, it was a welcome development. She had felt a great debt to the Military State, having received nothing but grace from him, and now they were clearing that debt for her.
“Do as you please. I will not mind if something else comes here. However.”
If anything, she was grateful they had sent him as a laborer.
Tyrkanzyaka glanced toward the dining table as if she had stumbled upon a treasure.
“What you have discarded, I shall gladly claim.”
『…? All items within Tantalus are assets of this nation. If you wish to acquire or purchase anything, you must receive permission from the administrative authorities.』
“How fastidious.”
『It seems the story of his true identity has failed to make much of an impression on you.』
“Not at all. I was quite surprised. I was merely listening quietly, as there was much I did not know.”
That someone was a criminal was of no consequence to Tyrkanzyaka. Perhaps Shei might have reacted differently.
Could that be why he told Shei not to go to the cafeteria? Tyrkanzyaka mused silently.
As the conversation kept straying, the golem steered it back on course.
『…I will rephrase the question. Please brief me on what occurred during the four days this unit was restrained. Focus particularly on the vampire intruder.』
That was simple enough. Tyrkanzyaka explained briefly.
She omitted the unnecessary fact that she had been controlled.
“Finlay tried to persuade me, and I was tempted enough to be halfway convinced. But then the children tried to stop me, did they not? After much deliberation, I changed my mind, but Finlay vehemently condemned them, and they ended up fighting. Having exhausted all his strength, Finlay’s breath ceased then and there.”
『Is that everything?』
Of course not. But there was no need to say more.
Tyrkanzyaka feigned a hint of anger.
“It pains me to speak. What more must I explain? Does my remaining here not explain everything?”
『Understood.』
The golem’s acquiescence was swift. This was likely not because it fully trusted her words, but because the fact that she remained here was, at present, the most crucial piece of information.
Despite being a golem that adhered so rigidly to principles, it seemed it hadn't quite quelled its indignation, as it added a word of emphasis.
『For your willing cooperation, I will warn you once more. Do not trust that man. He is a pest of the Military State who indulges in fraud and gambling.』
It’s too late for that, was the reply that rose to her throat, but Tyrkanzyaka managed to swallow it and gave a noncommittal answer.
“I will handle it as I see fit. Ah, on a different note.”
The past was the past. Whether he was a criminal or whatever Finlay had been after, what did any of it matter now?
Tyrkanzyaka decided to ask a more important question. A question that might have a far greater impact on the future.
“By any chance, do you know how to cook with the remaining ingredients?”
The golem nodded.
『Affirmative. I am a signaller of the Military State, and I am familiar with the 99 State Signature Series Recipes that can be made with canned beans.』
“Hoh. How impressive.”
『Negative. It is ordinary. Signallers often undertake long-term missions in isolated spaces, and due to the nature of the position, it is easy to come into contact with such information. That is all.』
Though it said as much, an unconcealed pride was palpable in its tone. The golem even took the initiative to make a suggestion.
『Please lower this unit from this cupboard. Words alone may lead to errors, so I will provide a demonstration as a skilled assistant instructor.』
“Very well.”
Tyrkanzyaka waved her hand. Darkness flowed out and seized the golem’s entire body.
As she was about to retrieve the golem, her thoughts suddenly turned to him, sitting there.
She couldn't imagine how the golem, which clearly disliked him, would react if it saw him in that state.
Tyrkanzyaka waved her hand again, and a pitch-black darkness rose from it like a mist, concealing his form. It was a darkness that blocked light itself; the golem’s eyes would not be able to pierce it.
『Danger!』
In her distraction, her control over the golem faltered, and she nearly dropped it. Her Bloodcraft was not as natural as it once had been.
The golem, clinging to the darkness for support, lifted its head and chided the vampire.
『Please handle with care. This unit is in danger if it sustains any more damage.』
A reasonable request, all things considered—handle with care, since you almost dropped me.
It was a statement that would have certainly worked on him, but unfortunately, it failed to elicit any sympathy from Tyrkanzyaka, a being displaced from her era.
“Why must a golem be handled with such delicacy? One of the few advantages of a golem is its sturdiness, yet you complain about a mere fall.”
Tyrkanzyaka was not one to be scolded by a mere golem and let it slide.
To her, who knew little beyond primitive clay golems, a golem was an object presumed to break. She could mold even humans like dolls; how dare a golem talk back to her?
Sensing a crisis in her words, the golem hastily added.
『This unit is a synchro-type. It is currently severely damaged, and if the frame’s distortion worsens, synchronization will become impossible. Furthermore, as it is controlled by synchronizing with my own body, any shock it receives will transmit the pain to my physical self.』
“The other of a golem’s few advantages is the safety of its operator, and you lack even that? Then why use such a golem?”
A cold gaze fell upon the golem.
The Military State’s latest synchro-type golem had to prove its worth before a 12th-century vampire.
『Observe.』
The golem wiggled one of its fingers, each joint moving independently. Tyrkanzyaka watched with a curious expression as the golem performed its little trick.
The golem then made a grand circle with its arm, as if stretching. While its range of motion was far more limited than a real human’s, it was an incredibly detailed movement for a golem.
『Without synchronization, it is impossible to control it so naturally from such a distance. The sensitivity can be adjusted, but that particular part happens to be broken.』
“How fascinating. Does that mean your real body is moving in the exact same way as the golem right now?”
『Affirmative. If I do not perform the same actions as the golem, the synchronization will be broken. That is why receiving too strong a shock is dangerous.』
Tyrkanzyaka, who had been nodding at the sight of this new toy, suddenly asked.
“What about earlier, when you were in that indecent pose with your legs spread?”
The golem’s movements came to a dead stop.
『…Affirm… ative….』
The voice coming from the speaker was trembling.
Spreading the golem’s legs had been an act of clear, playful torment.
The person beyond the golem had been forced to spread their own legs in place just to maintain the synchronization.
“It must have been painful. Why did you bother to stay synchronized?”
『It was not continuous. I disconnected when sleeping, eating, or attending to other duties. And…』
To that question, the golem answered without a shred of hesitation.
『To observe Tantalus and report my findings. Because that is my duty.』
Tyrkanzyaka asked no more. That alone was enough for her to understand. And so, she decided to overlook the golem’s impertinence.
Having its existence validated, the golem finally had the leisure to look away. It glanced around and spoke.
『My vision is obstructed. The cafeteria seems to have grown strangely dark.』
“How could it be bright, when I am here?”
That statement alone was enough to make one nod in acceptance, for she was Tyrkanzyaka. The golem, too, accepted it without any particular suspicion.
『Understood. First, to the storeroom.』