Aizen of the Potato Territory (3)
About a month had passed since Edmund Arclight, the lord of Arclight Territory, decided to be away for around two months. Mark Arclight was spending his days as the acting lord.
Damn that parasite—I have to kick him out of the territory no matter what it takes…!
Grinding his teeth, Mark shoved aside a report about something massive moving in the forest near the lord's castle.
It had happened a few days before he started acting as lord—quite some time ago now. He'd tried to drive out Aizen, only to nearly get punched by the furious boy for his trouble. Since then, Mark had attempted to expel Aizen several times, but the kid resisted in all sorts of ways, foiling every plan. His accumulated fear and hatred for Aizen had long since exceeded its limits.
He'd never liked the guy much to begin with. Aizen, son of Edmund's younger brother—the current head of the Arclight family—was, in cold terms, an impurity that had no business being in this house.
His uncle, an Arclight despite the family name, had gone off adventuring like some fool, exploring a labyrinth with his wife and dying there. The servant who'd brought Aizen all the way here had died of exhaustion. Aizen became a freeloader, living like one of the household servants.
But frankly, that was far too merciful. Aizen was an illegitimate child of nobility, orphaned by a string of misfortunes—though technically not a bastard in the strictest sense. Still, those who carried noble blood but couldn't be treated as nobles were usually dealt with for the family's future. Sent as soldiers to monster-infested borders for the compensation payout, or sold off to other houses. That was the standard fate for nobles of ambiguous lineage.
And Mark resented that. What if—just what if, a one-in-a-million chance—someone suddenly backed Aizen with power? Someone with more authority or strength than the current head? In that instant, Mark's future would become unstable.
That's why he had to seize this opportunity to banish Aizen for good.
"…Your expression doesn't look good, sir."
Startled by the words of the Vespa Kingdom customs officer, Mark forced a smile and bowed at once.
"Ah, yes, sorry about that. We've got some territory business, so I was worrying…"
Customs officers were nobles too, practically proxies of the kingdom. As acting lord, Mark had a duty to treat him properly and attentively.
Scratching his cheek at the massive pile of potatoes, the officer said quietly,
"Anyway, that's an impressive amount again. Arclight Territory's potatoes are so delicious, they always make it to the royal table."
"It's our family's honor just to grace His Majesty's table."
Then pay us more for them, Mark thought briefly.
The officer seemed satisfied now, nodding. Once this was done, only routine territory work remained. Then he could plot Aizen's expulsion.
Edmund wouldn't return for a few more weeks, and he neither liked nor disliked Aizen much. He'd scold Mark for acting on his own, but wouldn't make a fuss—especially since the kid had tried to punch the heir and summon a demon, like some madman!
But that's all over now.
Thinking of the royal knight order supposedly dispatched here for some reason, Mark smirked.
The officer hadn't specified, but knights coming to this rural territory? There had to be a reason.
Once things settle, I'll report him right away.
Relations with the Argent Empire had soured lately, and Vespa's royal palace was bolstering military strength and purging threats. They'd surely take Aizen's case seriously. Mark was lost in pleasant imaginings when—
"B-big trouble, Master Mark! Master Maaark!!"
"What is it?!"
Interrupted mid-fantasy—and in front of the officer no less—Mark snapped. The old knight who'd burst in gasped,
"B-big trouble! Monsters—monsters!!"
"Monsters? What kind?"
"Chimera—chimeras are attacking!!"
"A chimera's just standard fare, isn't it?!"
Mark barked, but the knight shook his head desperately.
"It's not a normal one! Like some alpha specimen—the size…!"
Just when things seem to go right, they snag, Mark thought, quickly donning his coat.
"Administrator, I need to go deal with the monster. Please rest while—"
"…Chimera? No way!"
The officer bolted off somewhere in a panic.
Why's he so serious? This was someone else's territory; no reason for him to fret. Mark puzzled briefly but turned his attention back. A giant chimera had appeared, and with royal knights nearby to boot.
This time, I'll prove my worth.
Make a name at court, secure the lordship. That was all Mark could think.
****
Monsters are generally stronger the bigger they are. Not always, but more mana meant larger size, often with new abilities scaling accordingly. Bigger meant harder to kill.
Small ones could be stabbed with spears or swords, handled by decent mercenaries, adventurers, or knights. But for giants, mages were almost essential.
And Arclight Territory desperately needed a mage now.
-GRRRR!!
"Damn it! When's Master Mark coming?!"
A knight yelled amid the roar of a chimera far larger than usual. Lizard and goat heads on its shoulders, snake for a tail. Fire from the heads, poison from the tail—knights couldn't close in.
It wasn't just spewing; the massive body leaped about, making melee impossible. A swipe crumpled armor; blades wouldn't pierce its hide.
Even blades not penetrating? That's weird!
Stone skin would be one thing, but this was fur-covered leather. Tough hide meant no way to stab it.
How's that even possible? Stone or ore golems, sure—but flesh and hide shrugging off swords? Unheard of.
Ate a special magic stone? Something's blocking…
The knight couldn't fathom why this thing appeared near the territory. But he knew prolonged fighting was bad.
If it hits a village center, irreparable damage!
They had to kill it somehow—with magic. But no mages available. Edmund, the territory's strongest, was away. Perfect timing, like it targeted his absence.
He'd gone after checking trends, figuring it'd be fine. The territory had potatoes and little else. Elite knights were countable on fingers; soldiers just for policing.
Without Edmund, no stopping it.
"Damn, fall back! Abandon the line—evacuate people! Reform when Master Mark arrives!"
The veteran knight ordered retreat. No containing it with soldiers; better yield and regroup. The lord's mansion was close—Mark would come soon.
The only worry: did Mark have Edmund's power?
But he's the heir Edmund raised. He can do it!
Arclight's loyal soldiers trusted their rightful successor and planned for next time.
But sensing retreat? The chimera roared at them.
-RAAARRGH!!
Calling reinforcements? Or mad at fleeing prey? Either way, it menaced the retreating knights—and charged their backs.
"Captain!"
"You go first!"
Ordering his lieutenant, the command knight turned. One had to stay, buy time for others. With the position abandoned, save as many as possible.
No saving everyone. Zero sacrifices? Impossible.
Facing charging fangs and bulk, the Arclight knight apologized to his family in his mind, calculating seconds he could hold.
-BOOM!!
If not for the deafening crash and the chimera flying off from some impact.
"What…?"
The blast made him flinch instinctively. Death's door to tumbling back—he collapsed.
From afar: a boulder ten men couldn't lift, oddly sharp-ended. It'd struck the chimera, hurling the giant back with weight and speed.
Master Mark already? If he could hurl that with magic—and it didn't nullify the impact—hope dawned.
The knight gazed brightly toward the forest whence the rock flew.
Then his eyes widened.
-RUMBLE!!
Ground shaking. Rhythmic booms, vibrations; trees snapping in the forest.
Another one? This chimera was trouble enough. More?
Despair rising, he looked up.
Crunch. Something massive breaking through, boulders rolling. A headless giant's upper body emerged, parting trees.
Sound so swift, even battling knights froze amid emergency, seeking the source.
Rock-made golem, sure—but unprecedented shape. They gawked as—
"Wahahaha! It's moving! It's moving!"
A laugh and voice unearthly in pitch echoed.
Magic stone wheels wrapped in belts visible. Bizarre two legs bore a human-like, armored upper body. Cannon-like on one shoulder; giant claws on arms like toys.
No head—as before. Instead, a cockpit window revealed… a face.
"Aizen?!"
The knight couldn't believe his eyes. Aizen Arclight rode inside.
****
The stone golem's tremors transmit. Resonating, my body shakes too.
Hearing of the monster, I raced here at once.
Peaceful time: Edmund away, Mark proxy. Monsters lately scarce despite usual frequency.
Then sudden giant reappears. Knights struggling.
No hesitation—powered up the golem, smashed the barn, charged the scene.
Spotted the oversized chimera.
That's…
My golem's first foe. Not fear—excitement surges.
Real combat data for bipedal golem completion. Heart pounds.
Golem's heart pounds too.
Of course. I'm inside, supplying mana—its motive power.
One with the golem.
Yes—I'm the golem's heart.
Laughter unstoppable. Piloting this giant—a dizzying thrill.
"Right now, I'm alive—alive!"
Not yet reached that dreamed moment.
But this first step—I live.
Bipedal dream unfulfilled, blood-tears worthy—but aboard this proof-of-concept, moving. Trembling with joy.
If not living, what is?
Foe oblivious to my euphoria. Charges full-force, trusting bulk and muscle.
Fatal to normal—or eight-legged abomination—golems.
But.
"Think Caterpillar's slow? It conquers rough terrain too!"
Heavy rumble, dust cloud blinds, roar as tracks spin.
Same stone as that abomination—but incomparable insult to compare!
Shift trajectory, evade charging chimera, swing arms fast.
Just verifying motion—no hands, but rock-armored claws lethal swung.
-BOOM!
Rock forearm smashes lion head.
Not flung like from shell, but chimera shakes dizzily; shoulder heads spew fire in resistance.
Heat rushes cockpit.
But stone body doesn't melt.
"That works on bare flesh!"
Experimental, cockpit semi-exposed—but sheltered, no burn.
Swing arm, smack shoulder heads; grab torso with both claws, hoist.
-HISSSSS!!
Snake tail, sole alert head, spits venom—but I'm faster.
Max output, lift, slam ground.
-"My god?!"
-"Who made that?! Master Mark… no, he's over there?!"
-"What the hell did that lunatic Aizen make?!"
Irrelevant chatter. Stone giant prequel to steel—proves combat viable vs. giant monster.
Raise claws, pummel wildly.
Monsters don't die easy—keep hitting till confirmed.
Screams, excited cheers, disbelieving wails amid relentless head-smashing. Crunch—something breaks.
Heavy arms crush goat and lizard heads, snuffing life.
Resistance broken, I think—
-GRRRUUUAAAAAHHH!!!!
Lion head and snake tail mana-burst, body swells.
Unguarded from pounding—I'm flung back; chimera crouches to pounce.
Mana surges, form shifts slightly.
Shoulder heads melting in, body bigger?
No wild chimera lore, but unnatural ecology.
Instant thought:
"Bio-experiment?"
Too alien for wild. Lab-born? Unpredictable next.
"Quick finish!"
More time risky. Charge.
Chimera inhales—lion mouth blasts heat beam.
Thrust left arm.
Melts rock…!
Arm liquifies. Absurdity hits as beam stops.
Panting—can't sustain. But shock rocks golem, transmits to me—engine.
Crack in arm—damage from shake.
"You dare hurt my arm…!"
Personal injury fine—heals. Golem's? Not.
"No choice now!"
Can't use? Rip off.
Grab melting arm with other, tear free. Chimera regathers mana—unstable swirl.
"Looks like your last shot too."
Snake head dissolving. Limit reached.
Not beam—mana to claws. Final strike with talons.
Then.
"I'll take it!"
Tracks roll, raise claw-axe like bludgeon.
Talons vs. improv hammer clash full-force.
Brief stalemate.
-CRUNCHCRACK!!
Arms—both—shatter under mana pressure.
Victory smirk on chimera face.
Power lost. Past it, back exposed; it turns.
Spare claw aims cockpit stab.
"If flesh, done—but this is a golem!!"
Twist upper body in place.
Independent torso-legs: golem's edge.
Tracks and torso odd pivot; aim shoulder cannon at head.
"Lost power brawl—but golems aren't melee specialists!"
Designed for ranged fire support—not close.
"Don't hold back—eat this!"
Test shells: two rock rounds loaded. One fired start; last remains.
"Headshot!"
Rock shell launches. Pierces skull. Seconds pass.
Incredulous glare my way.
Inertia staggers forward.
-THUD!!
Massive impact—chimera topples sideways.