The Iron Legion Commander
"L-Lucen...?"
The loan sharks' faces turned pale. Their previous arrogance vanished in an instant, replaced by hesitant, shifting glances as they nervously watched my reaction.
The name certainly carries weight.
In this continent, that was how a prestigious magic family was treated.
An absolute status. An authority that ordinary people dared not challenge.
Even Lucen, known to have the shortest history among the prestigious magic families, was no exception. Their influence was far greater than any high noble family outside the magic families, never lesser.
"...Hey, let's pull back for now," the leader whispered urgently.
"But what about the money...?"
"Are you insane? Is a bit of coin more important than your life? Let's go. We can always come back later."
The leader urged, and the other men eventually nodded, quickly backing down.
"W-We'll be on our way now."
They didn't even forget to bow. When I gave a curt nod, they turned and fled as fast as their legs could carry them.
The alley fell into a sudden silence. Only then did I disperse the magic sword in my hand and extend a hand to Viktor, who was crouching on the ground.
Through his dust-covered face, a pair of light gray eyes looked up at me.
"Uh..."
"Aren't you going to take it?"
"A-Ah, no! I will!"
Startled, Viktor carefully took my hand and stood up.
I looked around. The stares from the main street were prickly. I had used magic in the middle of a bustling market—and not just any magic, but Sword Creation Magic, the signature spell of the Lucen family. It was only natural that everyone's attention was drawn to us.
Since I was currently impersonating a Lucen, I had no intention of attracting unnecessary attention.
"Let's move first."
"Pardon? Yes, of course!"
I pulled Viktor by the arm and led him deep into the back alleys.
Viktor limped along, likely in pain from where he had been beaten, but unable to contain his curiosity, he spoke up first.
"W-Why would a mage of the Lucen family help a third-rate mage like me...?"
"Isn't thanking me the proper first step?"
Perhaps because he was the right-hand man of the Archduke of Demonic Magic in my past life, my tone toward Viktor naturally became blunt.
"T-Thank you. You saved my life."
Viktor bowed politely, showing no sign of offense. Then, he lifted his gaze to look at my face.
"B-But... may I ask why you helped me?"
"I became interested in what you're making."
I pointed to the mechanical arm cradled in Viktor's arms.
"Is that a golem?"
"Yes! Y-Yes, it is! I knew you'd recognize it!"
Viktor's face lit up at my words.
It seemed he was incredibly thrilled that a member of the great Lucen family had shown interest in his creation.
Watching Viktor rejoice, a complicated feeling washed over me. There was no need to reveal the uncomfortable truth that the real House of Lucen, a family steeped in bloodline elitism, would never spare a glance for something like golemics.
"Anyway, I'd like to see the prototype of this golem you made. You said you're participating in the upcoming Imperial Exhibition. Does that mean your workshop is here in Orelion?"
"Yes! That's correct."
Viktor smiled brightly and nodded.
"I'll guide you right away!"
Believing this to be the opportunity of a lifetime, he limped ahead, hurriedly leading the way far in front of me.
The workshop we arrived at was practically a dilapidated house on the verge of collapsing. It was more of a shack than a workshop. The door rattled loosely on its hinges, and seeing rain gutters hanging everywhere, the roof was practically useless.
"...I-I'm sorry. It's humble, but... it is my workshop," Viktor explained hurriedly.
Well, housing prices in the capital were murderous. For someone like Viktor, who lacked research funds to the point of borrowing from loan sharks, the state of his workshop was predictable.
Sure enough, the interior was a disaster. Scraps of iron cluttered the floor, and there were traces of pillars hastily propped up to support a half-collapsed roof.
But the state of the workshop didn't matter. What mattered was the massive doll made of crudely pieced-together iron standing in the center of the room.
"Is that the golem?"
"Y-Yes, it is. It's my masterpiece... the culmination of half my life's work."
Viktor attached the left arm he had brought to the golem's body and anxiously watched my reaction.
Regardless, I focused my eyes to examine the golem's condition.
...It's crude.
It was sloppy overall. The mana circuits weren't connected smoothly, and the finish on the joints was terrible.
However, several characteristic parts, including the drive unit, remained vividly in my memory.
It was a dreadful invention...
In the era of war, the maestro who commanded hundreds and thousands of steel golems under the Archduke of Demonic Magic.
The Iron Legion Commander, Viktor Otto, was the worst enemy of the resistance, second only to the Archduke of Demonic Magic himself.
The number of resistance members who lost their lives to these golems alone was in the double digits. If we counted the entire continent and not just those under Lunia's command, it would be hundreds of times that.
While I was lost in these thoughts, Viktor spoke up cautiously.
"Um... are you alright?"
"What?"
"No... it's just... your expression looks very grim..."
Reflected on the polished surface of the golem, my face wore a fierce expression.
My memories of the golems from my past life had apparently made me fail to hide my killing intent.
"I'm fine. I was just reminiscing for a moment."
I relaxed my expression and looked at Viktor. No matter how I looked at him, he was nothing more than a simple country youth.
But the Viktor Otto in my memory was the left hand of the Archduke of Demonic Magic, a villain who had willingly slaughtered thousands.
Yet, that was the future. I didn't know yet if Viktor at this point was born evil, or if he was corrupted by the Archduke of Demonic Magic.
So, I would find out starting now.
"Viktor Otto, was it?"
"Yes, that's correct."
"Let me ask you one question."
I pointed to the long cylinder attached to the golem's arm.
"What is the primary function of this golem?"
"Labor!" the answer came instantly.
"Labor?"
"Yes! It was built to move heavy materials that are difficult for human strength to lift, or to be deployed to dangerous construction sites. I even call it 'heavy machinery' because of the heavy labor it performs!"
"...I see."
He didn't seem to be lying.
In fact, he rattled it off so smoothly that it was likely a rehearsed line he had memorized for the Imperial Exhibition.
I felt a sense of relief. At least at this point, Viktor Otto had no intention of using this golem for lethal or combat purposes.
Ultimately, this simple-minded mage had become the villainous Iron Legion Commander because of the Archduke of Demonic Magic's temptation.
"Good. Excellent."
Therefore, in this life, I would not let the Archduke of Demonic Magic take this golem.
"Viktor Otto, first, let me apologize for lying to you."
"...Pardon? An apology? What lie..."
"I am not a mage of the Lucen family."
With those words, I deactivated the color-alteration magic.
Seeing my dark red hair gradually return to its original ash-gray, Viktor's eyes widened in shock.
It was understandable. Impersonating a prestigious magic family on this continent was something even a madman wouldn't do. It was a capital offense that could get you assassinated without anyone ever knowing.
But it was fine.
I had gained a talent with enough potential to warrant taking such a risk.
"Let me introduce my real self."
I extended my hand to the dazed Viktor.
"My name is Raygan von Benheim."
Not Lucen, but Benheim.
Viktor was shocked once again.
Viktor Otto had been despairing over his situation.
Back when he belonged to the Yellow Clay Magic Tower, Viktor was a promising researcher with a bright future. However, everything went downhill the moment he began researching golems, his family's lost secret magic.
The academic society did not welcome Viktor's research. Golems were tabooed as inefficient, outdated, and unmagical concepts, so Viktor was practically forced out of the Yellow Clay Magic Tower.
My theory isn't wrong.
Even when he confidently quit the academic society, Viktor had no doubt that his research would succeed.
But reality was harsh.
Just a year after leaving the society, setting up his own workshop, and starting his research, Viktor realized to his bones how sweet the academic society's research funding had been.
Material costs were astronomical, and even the rent for the workshop was difficult to afford.
Eventually, he turned to loan sharks and cut back on meals to pour everything into building the golem.
Even that had now reached its limit.
The only thing I can rely on... is the Imperial Exhibition.
Someone would recognize it.
The value of the golem Viktor made. His family's secret magic.
Viktor had believed this without a doubt, but he never expected to find hope in a dark back alley rather than the Imperial Exhibition hall.
The one who reached out was a mage of the Lucen family.
No, he thought it was a Lucen, but it was a Benheim impersonating a Lucen.
Naturally, Viktor was utterly confused.
"...B-Benheim?"
"Yes. Benheim."
The mage in front of him, Raygan von Benheim, nodded calmly.
But Viktor couldn't help but feel doubtful. Raygan had used Sword Creation Magic just moments ago. Yet now, he introduced himself as a Benheim.
...Is he lying?
Perhaps that was why. He even doubted the claim that Raygan was a Benheim. He had heard that the direct mages of the Benheim family possessed golden hair. Yet this man had the exact opposite—ash-gray hair.
Sensing the suspicion in Viktor's eyes, Raygan chuckled.
"You don't seem to believe me."
"W-Well... it's not that I doubt you, but..."
"Will you believe me now?"
Raygan reached his hand into the air.
The space vibrated, and colorful rune characters floated in the air. Viktor gasped. No matter how remote his magic tower had been, he wasn't ignorant of the Benheim family's unique magic system, Rune Magic.
"...H-How...?"
He had used Sword Creation Magic just a moment ago, yet now he was using Rune Magic. Viktor was left speechless by the unbelievable sight.
Before he could ask about it, Raygan changed the subject.
"I believe that's enough proof, so let's get back to business."
Before Viktor could even reply, Raygan spoke in rapid succession.
"So, how much do you need?"
"Pardon?"
"Money. I'm asking how much it will cost to finish this research and set up the facilities for mass production."
"M-Mass production?"
"Yes. This is a prototype. To make mass-production models, you'll need to optimize the production line. Procure materials, hire workers. And you'll need a proper workshop instead of this place."
"......."
At best, Raygan looked to be about his age. Realistically, he looked around twenty. Yet, why was he so experienced? Not only in terms of knowledge, but Raygan had been dominating the flow of the conversation from start to finish.
However, an opportunity he thought would never come had finally arrived.
Viktor had no intention of letting go of this lifeline.
Swallowing hard, he calculated the amount in his head.
"...W-Well, I would need at least four million livres..."
Viktor regretted it as soon as the words left his mouth.
Four million livres.
It was an astronomical sum. No matter how prestigious the Benheim family was, he didn't think they would readily throw around such an investment.
He would surely be treated as a madman.
Viktor lowered his head in resignation. But Raygan, who had been listening quietly, nodded nonchalantly.
"Let's go."
He stood up.
Naturally, Viktor, assuming Raygan was leaving after hearing such an absurd investment figure, kept his head bowed.
But...
"What are you doing? Grab your coat."
"Pardon?"
"I said let's go. Outside."
Raygan said bluntly, opening the door. Viktor blinked and asked.
"W-Where are we going?"
"Where else? We're going to get your investment."
Viktor's head slowly lifted.