Chapter 38

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Translator: Ace

Chapter: 38

Chapter Title: Iron Golem's Humiliation

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In dragon society, there was one fact accepted as utterly self-evident.

The iron golem was far superior to the stone golem.

No dragon ever questioned that truth. Nor did the guardians who lived under the dragons' benevolence.

The iron golem dominated in every physical attribute. From surface hardness to overall strength and durability, it had no shortcomings compared to the stone golem whatsoever.

Of course, the stone golem had slight edges in environmental adaptability, mana affinity, and production costs. But those weren't significant enough to matter.

They weren't even that noticeable, and even if they fell short, it didn't really impact anything. Discussing them was practically pointless.

Yeah. That was what Molrak had believed. As an iron golem himself, he took pride in it.

Or so he thought.

Until now.

What the hell was this?

Molrak shook his head. The shock had already swept through his entire body, but the lingering vibrations still coursed over his frame. It meant his core in the chest was under pressure.

His chest plate was deeply dented, pressing against the core. He channeled mana in triple layers to repair the caved-in steel. The chest returned to its original shape.

'Whew, that was close. Nearly damaged the core.'

The aftershocks faded slowly. But the mental shock refused to leave, overwhelming his mind.

He couldn't believe it. How could this happen?

'Me, an iron golem, losing a brawl to a stone golem.'

Strictly speaking, it was just one clash, but a loss was a loss.

-Impossible. No way.

Molrak shook off the stone fragments covering his body and leaped to his feet. Using the momentum, he sprang forward like a coiled spring and threw a punch. His iron fist slammed into Ddol Ddoli's palm. Boom! The ground trembled finely, and shockwaves rippled outward in a circle.

-No way, I say!

-What's no way?

-How are you tougher than me?

-Obviously. Master made me. Master's the best in the world!

Their steel fist and rock arm extended, locked in a test of strength. Molrak poured more power into his iron fist. But annoyingly, it wouldn't budge further.

'Losing in raw power too?'

Impossible.

'No way!'

His steel face trembled. It glowed red-hot, like iron tossed into a furnace. In contrast, Ddol Ddoli's stone face remained utterly serene.

-Ddol Ddoli, I don't want to fight you. No evil mana from you. You're not bad. Ddol Ddoli only kills bad guys.

-Shut up!

Molrak surged with force. He rebounded instantly, retracted his fist, then charged and hammered Ddol Ddoli with punches. Over a dozen exchanges happened in a flash.

Deafening booms echoed. Shockwaves battered the gorge walls, crumbling them and sending pebbles raining down. Covered in dust, the two kept fighting. But no victor emerged.

-You! Are you going easy on me?

-Ddol Ddoli thinking. Kill you or spare you?

-...

-Don't want to kill you. Golem like me. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Nice. But you attacked. Enemy aura. Means enemy.

-Damn it...

-Mm. Decided. Won't kill. But can't let you attack.

The moment Ddol Ddoli's gem eyes lit up, Molrak sensed a shift in his opponent's presence.

A more serious gaze. A more menacing aura.

Changed power.

Ker-chunk!

Ddol Ddoli pushed. Molrak's arm bent grotesquely. No pain since the core wasn't hit, but the mental humiliation was plenty.

-You bastard! How far will you humiliate me?

-Golems don't die unless core breaks. You, I'll smash everything but core and head.

Thud!

Thud!

Ddol Ddoli mercilessly pounded Molrak's legs. Each blow dented the steel plates. Ddol Ddoli's fists cracked and shattered, but he kept punching undeterred. After dozens of hits, the lower body twisted and deformed grotesquely.

Finally, Ddol Ddoli took a deep breath, gathered strength, grabbed Molrak, and snapped him in half. With a screech of bending metal, the iron body folded. Molrak was left as a pathetic torso and head.

-Done. Can't attack now. Even if you repair, I recover and leave by then.

-You bastard! Just kill me!

-No. You didn't attack Ddol Ddoli. Enemy, but not bad.

-You!

Ignoring the anguished cry, Ddol Ddoli plopped down. He leaned against the wall, closed his eyes, and began absorbing nearby stone.

But less than a minute later, he had to open them again. He sensed presences approaching.

'Someone's coming.'

Right on cue, figures appeared from the opposite side. Several of them.

Stone golem, lizardman, elf—a wildly diverse group. Ddol Ddoli tilted his head.

-Weird mix. Friends beyond ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠race. Ddol Ddoli jealous. I have friends too. Skeleton friend. But didn't say hi.

"Wondered why you weren't back. You're crumpled like trash, Molrak."

-Kruk!

The elf at the front sneered at the grinding Molrak.

"You lost to this stone golem?"

-Shut up!

"Should've trained. Idiot. Losing to mere rock."

The elf chuckled again and eyed Ddol Ddoli. Ddol Ddoli stared right back.

"Nameless stone golem. Whose guardian are you?"

-Master made Ddol Ddoli.

"Ddol Ddoli? Unique name. Fine, Ddol Ddoli. Who do you serve?"

-Ddol Ddoli's master.

-No, who? Which clan's who?

-Ddol Ddoli doesn't know that. Master is master.

The elf sighed and shook his head. What kind of answer was that?

"Whatever. Just take the beating quietly. We'll ask after Lord Balteros wakes."

The elf nodded to those behind. They advanced slowly, radiating hostility. Ddol Ddoli's innocent expression hardened instantly.

-Hostile aura. Ddol Ddoli doesn't tolerate enemies.

"Don't worry. Won't kill you. Can't carelessly kill another lord's guardian."

The elf drew his sword and charged. Light gathered on the blade. Ddol Ddoli instinctively knew: getting hit would hurt bad.

Ddol Ddoli spun, grabbed the folded, immobile Molrak, and hoisted him like a shield. The charging elf faltered.

"Hey. What are you—"

-Elf showed opening.

Ddol Ddoli's gem eyes flashed. He hurled Molrak aside, crouched slightly, then activated charge and barreled forward with a punch. It struck the elf's body. The elf spewed blood and flew back.

"Crazy bastard!"

The lizardman raged. He and the rear stone golem charged in. Ddol Ddoli stomped. The ground quaked like an earthquake. It was his innate combat skill, 'Echo of the Earth'.

Echo of the Earth resounded through the gorge. Not enough to shake the entire Dragon Mountains, but plenty to rattle Black Dragon Balteros's lair right next door.

-Mm.

Balteros opened his eyes. Exhaustion washed over him. Meaning he'd been forcibly awakened from hibernation.

-Who dares disturb my sleep?

Balteros rose his massive draconic body. Fresh from deep slumber, rage burned in his eyes.

Ian realized Bren's shocking claim was true: the higher-ups coveted him. Only two days later, someone visited the division.

"You're Ian."

"Yes, but why have you come for me..."

A middle-aged man with a stylish goatee. Duke Kirsten.

The war hero who'd repelled the northern barbarians had come personally for Ian.

"Heard about you. The Magic Management Division's top talent. History's greatest magic investigator. Perfect mission success rate. Impressive."

"Yes, that's true. Not that impressive, though."

"You want to rot here?"

"Pardon?"

"In this shithole called a mage's grave."

Duke Kirsten's blunt words soured the faces of eavesdropping division officials. Ian kept a straight face but sensed their hurt feelings.

'Whoa, shithole? Harsh. Our guys are wounded.'

If the place was a shithole, were the workers shit-stirrers?

'Sure, they don't advance much here, but they're mages. Respected elsewhere. Get it, you warmonger?'

He wanted to snap back but softened his words.

"Your words seem a bit off, Your Grace. Our division officials take pride in their duties."

"Pride. Hilarious. Everyone knows the division's for incompetents—even snot-nosed kids."

'Hey, old man. Snot-nosed kids? That's exaggeration.'

But Ian partly agreed. His subordinates sucked at their ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠jobs. So did the superiors.

"Frankly, a talent like you rotting here makes no sense. That's why I'm saying—"

"What exactly?"

"Join me. Smart and skilled in magic. You belong by my side."

Officials gasped. Such a bold recruitment in front of everyone!

"Come north. Serve me there. I'll make you my direct aide."

-Gasp!

-Direct aide?

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Help me, and wiping out those filthy barbarians is no dream. Well?"

"Sorry, but no."

Gasp again. No one expected flat rejection from a duke!

"Why?"

"Too much for me. How could someone like me deserve that?"

'Ugh, north? Hell no.'

North? That underdeveloped, freezing hellhole?

"Too much. Laughable. You don't know your worth."

"No. This job fits me perfectly."

'Who you think you can boss around?'

He foresaw the scenario if he accepted.

Constant battles. Overtime as a passive skill. All-nighters whenever. No day-night rhythm. Group living, no alchemy research...

'Yeah. No frontline for me.'

Frontline in past life was enough. Not this one too.

"Please withdraw your offer."

Duke Kirsten stroked his goatee, looking troubled at Ian's polite refusal. Even he was flustered by the firm no. Who rejects a duke outright?

But that's why he liked it more.

'That's it. A man needs that resolve. Rare find.'

"I get your stance, but I won't withdraw."

-...

"Think it over. My offer stands..."

-Gasp!

Ian froze in shock. Something in Kirsten's eyes puzzled him.

'What?'

"Shit."

"...?"

"Your Grace, sorry! Emergency came up—I must go! Ah, the curse wasn't at you! Really!"

Ian bolted outside mid-sentence.

Awkward silence followed. Amid the stunned officials, Kirsten alone chuckled.

"Heh. Fun guy."

Had anyone ever treated him like that?

"Arrogant, but I like him."

He stroked his goatee contentedly.

Outside the office, Ian dashed to the warp portal station, hopped one to a quiet town, then blinked repeatedly to an empty spot outside before gasping for breath.

"Huff, huff... Dying here."

Panting, he checked the nonstop alerts.

Ddol Ddoli's HP was plummeting. It dipped under 35%, then raced below 20% in seconds. That's why Ian cursed in front of the duke.

He knew it was rude but had no choice—Ddol Ddoli's life mattered.

In emergencies, summon and save him.

'What happened?'

Assessing the situation, Ian nearly fainted in shock.

'What the...'

Dragon guardians?

Dragons?

What did he do to run into those monsters?

Could he even fight them?