The Cultist Spies, the Robot Wipes Them Out
Is that a monk?
His head is shining like a polished mirror.
What do they call it again? A kasaya? The man wearing the loose, baggy robes typical of monks approached me.
The problem is that the martial arts he mentioned sound incredibly shady….
“There are training tents set up around the camp. Would you like to observe one?”
With those broad shoulders and impressive height, he does look like he’s done some kind of physical training.
Still, judging people by their appearance is wrong….
But that fierce face makes it hard to trust him, you know?
“I’m not really interested in martial arts….”
“Since you entered the gate, you must be a hunter, right? Instead of hunting monsters, training your ki is safer and lets you grow stronger much faster.”
Now that’s an enticing offer.
The “ki” he mentioned probably refers to mana, right?
Another method of mana training….
It wouldn’t hurt to learn about it.
“So I can just watch?”
“Of course!”
Ian? Your mother recently gave strict orders not to follow suspicious people.
Even if he looks a bit scary….
Yeah. Let’s not judge too quickly. Besides, it’s right next to the camp, isn’t it?
What kind of religious person would run a scam?
‘His face is ugly, but he doesn’t seem suspicious?’
Would a suspicious person walk around looking obviously suspicious? By that logic, you, Ian, are the most suspicious person in the world.
‘Are you insulting me?’
It’s simply a fact.
‘You… that’s defamation by stating facts!’
So you’re admitting it’s true?
Whoa? Impressive….
Fine, I lose. You really have a sharp tongue.
Sigh… what’s the point of arguing with a golem anyway….
While I was silently bickering with Dolmaeng-i, the monk spoke again.
“I’m not sure if you know this, but the only way hunters grow stronger right now is through training. And did you know that training inside the gate makes the process much faster?”
“Yes, of course.”
That part is obvious.
It’s the same principle as me gathering mana after entering the gate.
Since you’re active in a place rich with mana, it naturally accumulates in your body and makes you stronger. Hunters just mistakenly think they “level up” by killing monsters.
The reality is that Earth still hasn’t grasped the concept of mana, so hardly anyone knows this.
“Huh? Oh… I’m surprised you already knew. How did you find out?”
He spoke as if I’d only just learned it from him, but I probably know more about this than he does….
“That’s a secret, but since I know, that’s why I came here to train, right?”
“Ah… are you perhaps in the same line of work?”
“Pardon?”
“Never mind.”
Same line of work? Do I look like a religious person too?
He trailed off, so I couldn’t ask for details, but as I followed the monk, several tents came into view.
“This is it. Since accumulating inner power is a secretive matter, we set up these tents for training.”
No wonder there were quite a few tents around the base camp besides the main area.
So this was a place where people gathered to train in martial arts?
They seemed to think it was some kind of trade secret and kept it hidden….
But sharp-eyed people probably already knew.
“White Snake Earth God!”
“Remote Sky Pierce!”
“Falling Flower Flowing Water!”
As I got closer, oh my god….
Embarrassingly cringy shouts straight out of a wuxia movie echoed through the air.
“Ugh….”
“Ah… it seems they’re practicing sword techniques.”
Wait, monk! That’s not something to look proud about!
He kept talking about martial arts and inner power, but they were literally reenacting a martial arts novel….
“Now, basic training is over here.”
“Umm….”
“Just give it a try.”
Maybe because I stopped with a disgusted look on my face, the monk started urging me….
My instincts were screaming that I should run away immediately.
I have to shout those cringy lines while doing it? No way.
In my previous life, even though I liked golems, I used to shudder whenever I saw mages chanting spells.
Advertising what you’re about to do while fighting? The secondhand embarrassment is unbearable….
Ian. Remember what your mother said. These people look extremely suspicious no matter how you look at it.
‘I know. Even if it wasn’t suspicious, the embarrassment alone would stop me. I don’t even want to get close!’
You actually feel embarrassment….
I only wanted to give it a quick try in case their other training methods were efficient, but there’s no way I can do this!
If this method was truly efficient, someone in my previous life would have developed it and I would’ve at least heard rumors.
“It seems this isn’t for me. I’ll be going now.”
“What? You came all this way. At least try it once?”
“Hahaha. I’m busy, so I’ll just….”
“….”
I was trying to turn around quietly.
Thud—
Oh no… they’re blocking my path?
“Um… excuse me?”
“Just try it before you go.”
I thought he was a monk, but maybe not?
He suddenly scowled like a thug and raised his voice. The atmosphere turned hostile.
If I determine there is danger, I will immediately fire a Magic Missile into his head.
Meanwhile, Dolmaeng-i was casually talking about blowing people’s heads off.
Both sides were terrifying in their own way….
“You need to get stronger, right? You need to train, right?”
“I’ll handle it myself.”
“Hah. We’re kindly offering to teach you, you know?”
“….”
At this point, it’s basically a threat, isn’t it?
Can I attack them?
The Association said to handle things internally as we see fit, but the condition that we’d be punished if we leave the gate was bothering me.
“I spoke nicely, but you’re not listening? Dear customer?”
“Why am I a customer?”
“Because you came here?”
“Puhaha. This time it’s a little girl?”
“Huh? Isn’t that the Gate Nuisance Girl?”
“Ah~ that famous person?”
“Hey, take off your helmet so we can get a look.”
The commotion near the tents must have drawn attention, because the monk’s companions appeared.
It seemed everyone inside talking about training and whatnot were all part of the same gang.
I could see people through the gaps in the tents, but the bruises and bloodstains on their faces were really strange?
There’s no way they got those from training, right?
Why is the world like this?
This time it’s gangsters?
I really have terrible luck, don’t I?
“Gentlemen. This isn’t far from the camp, so why don’t you stop?”
Did they hate being called “gentlemen”?
Or was this what they planned all along?
The faces of the martial arts gangsters twisted in fury.
“Are you kidding? Gentlemen?”
“Where do you see gentlemen? You should call us oppa!”
They say if someone gets triggered by being called “uncle,” they really are one. But these guys look way too worn out?
And “oppa”? I’ve never even called my own older brother or cousin that….
‘Dolmaeng-i, can you win if we fight?’
To clean this up quickly, switching to combat mode would be best.
‘Then I’ll just run straight toward the camp?’
Yes. The farther away, the better.
Right now!
I sprinted toward the camp without looking back.
If they were the type to listen to reason, they wouldn’t have come out like this.
There was no point wasting time talking to them.
‘Dolmaeng-i, watch my back! Don’t kill them!’
Activating combat mode.
Ziiiing—
Dolmaeng-i immediately began powering up.
It was a shame it took a few seconds, but considering its power and performance, it was worth the wait.
“Hey! She’s running!”
“You little rat!”
“Catch her!”
The martial arts gangsters started chasing after me even as Dolmaeng-i began glowing suspiciously behind them.
Depending on the situation, Dolmaeng-i’s warm-up time was roughly five to ten seconds.
I was grateful to Mom for making me exercise by telling me to run away properly. I was incredibly fast.
“Have you ever seen such a big rat!”
“What! You bitch!”
“Would it be a male then? Come catch me~”
Was I talking too much?
I was trying to draw aggro, but the martial arts gangsters seemed to be getting faster?
Dolmaeng-i? A little faster would be nice!
“Hehehehe.”
“Catch her already!”
Even if they were sloppy gangsters, it seemed they had done some training after all.
Or maybe it was because this body had short legs?
Even though I ran with everything I had, they were about to catch me.
As I ran without daring to look back, a welcome sound reached my ears.
Commencing attack. Please wait a moment.
Thud—
Dolmaeng-i, now in combat mode, kicked off the ground. The earth caved in deeply as dirt flew everywhere.
“Huh? What the—watch out!”
“You idiots, look behind you!”
They must have heard something rushing toward them because the suspicious gangsters turned around, but it was already too late.
Dolmaeng-i’s hammer was already right in front of their faces.
Wham—
“Ugh….”
One gangster spun around and immediately collapsed after taking a hammer to the temple.
“Hey! Take care of the ones behind first!”
“What the hell is this? A monster?”
“Who cares! Smash it!”
The martial arts gangsters, looking slightly flustered, only stopped to fight after one of their own went down.
Whoosh—
Dolmaeng-i, glowing with blue light, swung its hammer indifferently.
Clang—
“Gah—”
Another person collapsed after taking a clean hit.
Now only three remained. They gripped their weapons tightly and charged while cursing.
“Die! You monster!”
“I’ll sell you for scrap!”
One aimed for the side, another for the arm, and the last for the leg.
They looked absolutely certain that at least one attack would land.
But Dolmaeng-i charged forward without even trying to block and raised its hammer again.
“What the—!”
“Are you trying to die together?!”
Clang! Clang-clang! Clang!
Four metallic sounds rang out almost simultaneously.
Three weapons struck Dolmaeng-i’s body.
And Dolmaeng-i’s hammer came down on one thug’s head.
“Huk.”
“What?!”
“Ugh….”
It was a moment of wildly contrasting emotions.
Thump—
One more collapsed, and the faces of the previously smug gangsters turned ashen.
Their weapons had only managed to slightly dent Dolmaeng-i’s limbs.
In fact, the blades of their weapons were so damaged it was questionable whether they could be used again.
“R-run!”
“Aaaagh!”
The remaining two tried to flee, but Dolmaeng-i was faster.
Clang! Wham!
It only took a few seconds to chase down and finish off the last two.
“It’s not even an enchanted sword. How were they planning to cut Dolmaeng-i with ordinary steel?”
If they had been significantly stronger, they might have managed it once.
“Yeah. I’ll raise my circles soon and make you even stronger.”
For now, I will gather them and tie them up.
I dragged all the unconscious men to one spot.
It felt weird to report them for forcing people to learn martial arts and extorting them….
“Huk! Thank you!”
“Everyone! Come out! The gangster bastards are all down!”
“Whoaaa!”
After I finished tying up the gangsters, people started emerging from the tents.
They were probably the ones who had been captured and forced to learn martial arts.
But if they weren’t tied up, why didn’t they come out and help earlier….
To me, they seemed just as bad.
Whack— Whack— Whack—
“You bastards! You evil sons of bitches!”
“Die! Just die already!”
“Sob….”
Wait, there were five thugs but four people captured?
Rummage, shake, shake
“Give me back my money! You bastards!”
“Where is it! The money!”
Why were these people suddenly turning into robbers? It was scary?
Their eyes were slightly rolled back too. Extremely suspicious.
Ian, there is a high chance of getting caught up in another disturbance. Should we leave?
‘Yeah. These people are way too weird.’
We quietly slipped away.
I saw bundles of cash coming out from inside the monks’ robes earlier, but no matter how I looked at it, it didn’t seem like those people had been robbed?
Why would people coming to the gate carry around wads of cash?
Considering they are carrying wads of cash and valuables, we should also consider the possibility that they are a real criminal organization.
I had wondered if they were just gangsters, but this made them genuinely suspicious.
I ran at full speed.
There weren’t any Mana Stones nearby anyway, and I didn’t want to create more reasons to visit the police station.
* * *
Tap tap tap— Tap tap—
In the dark workshop with the lights off, Dolmaeng-i sat in front of the computer, diligently browsing the internet.
It wasn’t that I got caught. I caught them, lol.
Was it just my imagination, or did it look happy?
Click click
Dolmaeng-i moved the mouse and opened another internet window.
The top said “Delivery Status,” and the details showed the toy truck I had ordered before.
It was the shipping status for Unit 2.
It arrives tomorrow.
This time a blue light lit up on its head. It really looked like it was in a good mood.