Full Speed Ahead!
A massive uproar erupted in the Vespa Kingdom's royal palace. Rumors spread like wildfire about the appearance of an impossible golem, drawing the attention of the palace and countless others eager to verify the truth. The spark came from a customs officer's report.
"The Arclight family subjugated an experimental weapon that escaped from the Abatus Count family!"
The experimental subject that had appeared in Arclight Territory. The royal knights dispatched in haste to eliminate it. And what they witnessed upon arrival: a chimera melting into a puddle of slime, and a rock golem with both arms shattered but its pilot and main body intact.
The customs officers on site and the belated royal knights could only stare in stunned confusion.
"Even so, that chimera was clearly a bio-weapon under development to counter the Argent Empire. How in the world..."
The chimera in question wasn't just any specimen. It was an official experimental weapon prepared by the Vespa royal palace to stand against the Argent Empire. Not everyone knew, but those in the know were well aware it was under special management. When it escaped due to negligence, they'd mobilized everything to neutralize it before it caused harm. No one mourned its destruction—everyone was relieved the incident ended with minimal damage. Even as they hurriedly captured footage of the golem in motion with magic, the knights approached the one who'd brought it...
"Sorry, but repairs come first!"
Claiming he needed to fix the golem, the man hopped aboard and sped off down the road. The knights quickly recorded the golem's movements, ensuring the footage reached the palace safely. And that footage was more than enough to electrify the court mages.
"No ordinary golem could move that fast!!"
"Golems are made of massive rock, so sustaining and moving their bodies with magic alone makes them incredibly slow!"
"And they're so heavy that they need multiple legs just to support themselves!"
Golems weren't weak by any means, but they had chronic flaws inherent to their design. To move, they needed legs—but their weight demanded many legs just to stay upright.
"Yet that golem has only two legs, moves at high speed, and even has long-range attack capabilities!"
A simple yet monumental advantage. A structure no one could fathom how it was conceived. Soon, the eldest and most authoritative court mage bellowed with bulging eyes.
"Capture that thing immediately and ship it off to the academy or wherever! Drag every secret from its creator's head...!"
At those words, the kingdom's top court mage—already the oldest and most prestigious—succumbed to his chronic high blood pressure and collapsed. But the drama didn't end there. Word spread far and wide that the court mages had lavished praise on the golem. Court mages weren't appointed through card games; in a kingdom that revered magic like Vespa, they held immense sway. The lead mage's endorsement alone carried weight across noble society, rippling outward through every channel.
For instance, to the Nexia Duke family. The golden-haired lady of this illustrious house—masters of lightning magic and kin to the royals—leaned on her cane as she read the report from the palace.
"So, someone was definitely riding inside? Can a person really pilot that thing? If so..."
She glanced at her own legs for a moment. As if resolving something—and with a flicker of intrigue—a mysterious smile tugged at her lips.
And to the Phoenix County. The fiery daughter of this northern border count's house, renowned for battlefield prowess, caught wind of the rumors leaking from palace guards and lit up with excitement.
"It smashed a giant monster beast?! A golem did that? With cannons mounted?! That's a game-changing war machine!"
Her mind raced with visions of sleek, massive golems bulldozing enemy lines. Knights rushed to restrain the redhead as she vowed to investigate immediately.
Then the Christa family. The saintess from this house—who'd bought her barony and church title with vast wealth—nodded as travelers and guests brought tales from afar.
"Open the warehouse."
"Pardon?"
"Open it."
The gaze of these powerhouses now fixed on Arclight Territory. To uncover the golem's creator. Or to recruit him. But no one could reach him.
"I need to inspect the golem more...!"
"Right now! To the palace! You have to go!"
"Come quietly, and we'll compensate you—just please, not now!"
Word later spread that customs officers and knights, under palace orders, had dragged the resisting Aizen—displaying freakish strength for a boy—out of the territory like a sack of potatoes.
Mark felt utterly relieved. When Aizen had inexplicably hauled in that massive golem and crushed the chimera, he'd genuinely thought it was all over for him.
Of all people, that guy had to take down the chimera—right in front of customs officers and royal knights...
Even now, the memory made his heart sink. He'd been ready to head out when he heard it was already handled. Seeing that huge golem in motion, watching the customs officers and knights chase after Aizen in confusion—he'd been certain it was the end. The incident could've made Aizen look superior to him, the proud heir of Arclight Territory.
But afterward, Aizen had been all but hauled away by the knights, and the golem vanished without a trace. Edmund returned, Mark finished his duties as proxy without further issue, and now he lounged comfortably in a carriage bound for the academy.
"Heh heh heh... Huhu hu hu hu...!"
Truth be told, he was in high spirits. Aizen had vanished quietly with the royal knights, and the barn where he'd been working had mysteriously burned down. No sightings since, so whatever happened next couldn't have been good for him. Meanwhile, Mark was headed to Vespa Royal Academy.
The mandatory four-year institution for Vespa nobles upon adulthood or rite of passage. Officially, it fostered unity and skill-building among the nobility. In reality, it was a hotbed of young noble politics. Connections forged here lasted beyond graduation, making it crucial for securing one's position.
Mark even spotted carriages clustering hopefully near one bearing the Nexia Duke crest, angling for a chance conversation. As he considered trying the same, the academy guide riding with him chuckled.
"You seem thrilled, Lord Arclight. As expected from someone known for diligent studies."
"Talent's key to building influence at the academy."
To gain connections, one had to prove their worth—be it family, wealth, or martial prowess. Mark knew this and had trained diligently in magic and more to elevate his noble rank beyond his title.
Arclight had climbed from 8th to 7th tier recently, with decent territory to boot. With smart moves, Mark could aim for 6th.
"Titles follow bloodlines, but ranks are separate. I've heard your magic is impressive—if you build the right networks, it's within reach."
The guide smiled. Mark nodded. Networking wasn't easy, but it steeled his resolve. Who knew? Befriending the royals wasn't impossible, right? Daydreaming like that brought a grin to his face—just as the grand academy gate came into view.
"That's..."
"The pride of Vespa Royal Academy: the Mainis Gate."
The guide explained with a smile. "Even if not literally, the academy enjoys extraterritorial status outwardly—to focus purely on scholarship, free from external worries. Founding Headmaster Mainis created that gate and its walls as the symbol."
Mark knew the tales: invaders once failed to breach it; a recent dragon-type monster's breath attack barely scratched it.
"Likely the continent's strongest protective barrier, beyond even Vespa Kingdom."
The guide boasted proudly. As the gate loomed larger, Mark's heart raced.
Once I pass through there...!
He was a true noble now. No need to bother with trash like Aizen. That fool, secretly building weird golems to steal his spotlight, could never set foot in a place like this.
Yes, a bright, tumultuous future awaited Mark Arclight!
-Rumble rumble rumble...!!
Suddenly, a terrifying roar echoed. Mark's eyes widened at the familiar sound.
What the hell?
He denied it repeatedly in his mind. But the roar persisted, shattering his hopes.
-Screeeeech?!
"Wh-what? Why are the horses freaking out?!"
The horses panicked in sync with the roar, some trying to bolt from their harnesses. Coachmen screamed amid the chaos. The ground trembled too. As the roar intensified, vibrations shook the carriages, sending the frail tumbling inside.
"What is that?! What's coming?! A giant monster?!"
"That damn beast—I'll blast it with my magic...!"
A giant monster would explain the noise and horse terror. Large monster sightings had spiked lately; even near the academy, it wasn't implausible—especially after the recent dragon-type attack.
Above all, it made sense. Nobles pegged a giant monster as the culprit; some, seeing this as their debut stage, swaggered out to cast spells.
Screams erupted nearby, followed by frantic shouts.
"Stop!! Stop it!!"
"You lunatic, dodge!!"
"M-monster?! No?! It's something weird!"
No way. Has to be a mistake. A monster—it has to be.
Mark broke into cold sweat. He squeezed his eyes shut, but ignoring the growing roar proved impossible. Steelng himself, he peeked outside.
"Uwahahahaha!!"
And there it was. Somehow repaired, the golem that slew the chimera charging full tilt—with that lunatic riding inside.
"They called it the continent's strongest barrier? Let's see how much punishment it can take!"
An incomprehensible voice boomed. Eyes gleaming like he'd found a thrilling new toy, the madman accelerated.
"Full speed ahead!!"
With that manic cry, he slammed every ounce of power into the kingdom's prized academy gate.