Chapter 136: The Tin Knight and The Golden Alchemist (6)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 136: The Tin Knight and The Golden Alchemist (6)
You gazed up at the sky.
The Wicked Witch of the West was looking down at you and your party, her gaze filled with utter displeasure.
With her pointed hat, hooked nose, and liver-spotted face, she was the epitome of a witch, but she wasn't riding a broomstick or anything of the sort.
Not that she seemed to need one. Several golden monkeys had skillfully woven their bodies together to form a throne for her.
《What truly vexing brats you are.》
The witch's single eye flashed as it swept across the ground.
Though she spoke from high up in the sky, you had no trouble hearing her words.
This was because the monkeys, wearing necklaces that resembled eyes, were all speaking in her stead.
《You've laid waste to my garden. A pack of rats couldn't have done worse.》
Half-listening to the witch's speech, you pondered.
You wondered whether you could smash the Wicked Witch of the West's head right now, just as she seemed to be launching into a long-winded monologue.
The conclusion was: 'It would be difficult.'
You had been looking for an angle to throw your spear, but the Wicked Witch of the West was also wary of you; the golden monkeys surrounding her continuously blocked your line of fire.
It might have been a different story if they were ordinary monkeys, but if these homunculi, capable of deflecting even a decent sword strike with their bare bodies, were determined to act as meat shields, there was little you could do.
For a moment, the 'shooting sword energy' Kalidah had shown you came to mind, but you quickly shook your head.
You had tried it a few times after your bout in the martial arts tournament, but it wasn't a very efficient technique for you.
It lacked the power to be effective against a strong opponent, and it was too mana-inefficient to use for clearing out minions.
It seemed to be the type of skill that required a special kind of mana to unleash its full potential.
While you were lost in thought, the conversation continued.
《Are you getting cocky just because you blocked a single blow? I can drop a rock like that as many times as I please.》
"Then stop talking and do it," Dorothea retorted sharply.
Her blue eyes scanned the remains of the attack she had just deflected—a senseless chunk of rock, each side about half the length of a soccer field.
"If you could really drop something like that over and over, you would have just followed us from the moment you found us and kept dropping them. The fact that you resorted to other means shows your limits, doesn't it?"
[The ‘Tin Knight’ suggests that this is just a typical multi-phase boss battle!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ argues that any game where the final boss spams instant-kill moves from the first stage is a shitty game!]
Dorothea didn't react to your words. Apparently, she treated them as nonsense.
You felt a slight sense of regret, as you thought you had made a perfectly reasonable point.
After a moment of silence in response to Dorothea's words, the Wicked Witch of the West finally spoke.
《What an insolent girl. I can see why that woman took you as her apprentice. However.》
The witch's eye turned to Franka.
《You may be fine, girl, but my foolish old apprentice doesn't look so well.》
"Ugh. Shut up! I'm perfectly fine!"
Franka shot back resentfully at being singled out, but it was obvious to anyone that her complexion was pale.
It seemed creating that wall had taken a considerable toll on her.
Seeing through the bluff, the Wicked Witch of the West burst into gleeful laughter.
The golden monkeys echoed their master, cackling along with her.
《Let's see how far your arrogance takes you, you foolish children.》
With those words, the Wicked Witch of the West flew off toward her castle.
It was clearly a temporary retreat to regroup.
Dorothea's eyes narrowed.
"We can't give her time to recover! If we leave her alone, she'll use that technique again!"
The party's gazes, including your own, turned to Franka.
The witch's castle was still some distance away, and Franka's ability was the most suitable for travel.
As Franka remained motionless, Dorothea approached her.
"Mana exhaustion?"
"Yeah, so what! You think everyone's a monster like you?!"
Franka reacted irritably, feeling humiliated, but Dorothea showed no sign of anger.
"What if I give you my mana?"
At her incredibly calm tone, Franka's voice softened slightly as she replied.
"It still won't work. The very nature of our mana is different, so I can't use it right away. The catalyst only reacts to my mana."
"Tch, no choice then."
Mana possessed different properties depending on its use and the constitution of its wielder.
While some applications, like simple physical enhancement or basic sword energy, were largely unaffected by mana properties, other techniques and spells required a specific type of mana to be effective, much like how your sword energy projection was less efficient than Kalidah's. It seemed Franka's alchemy fell into the latter category.
With your means of transportation lost, all that remained were your two sturdy legs.
Having made your decision, you hoisted Dorothea and Sophia over your shoulders.
"Hey, you, wait."
Dorothea struggled for a moment, but you shook your head firmly.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ says this way is faster!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ says its mana is low from the last battle and requests a top-up during the move!]
"Oh, wouldn't it be better to leave me behind? I don't think I'll be of much help right now."
[The ‘Tin Knight’ says it's going to be a rough ride, so it's entrusting you with caring for the human members!]
"Ah."
Sophia, seeming to understand you immediately, began to emit a white, holy power from her body.
After confirming that the holy power had enveloped Dorothea and, by extension, Franka, protecting them, you began to sprint with all your might.
Magic beasts, having swarmed in while you were delayed, blocked your path, but you paid them no mind.
Thwack!
You stomped on the head of a werewolf that thrust its stinking maw at you and used it to launch yourself into the air.
Dodging an arrow from a centaur-like creature, you twisted your body in a full rotation and landed.
Like an American football player clutching the ball and sprinting for a touchdown, you dodged, used as footholds, and occasionally sent flying all sorts of obstacles as you ran on endlessly.
The two passengers held by you would be subjected to considerable shock with no absorbers whatsoever, but the holy power was there to mitigate that.
Thanks to it, you could rampage as you pleased.
It seemed Dorothea shouted something and bit her tongue, but that sort of thing can happen even while eating, so it couldn't be called a life-threatening crisis.
Franka, protected by her two homunculi, followed your mad dash, and at last, you all reached the castle.
There was the minor problem of the castle gate being firmly shut, but you didn't care.
A door is meant to be opened when knocked upon.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ requests barrier activation!]
You thought you heard some fierce cursing, but your master was, as expected, a competent witch.
Confirming that a circular barrier had formed around Dorothea's staff, you blasted mana from your back and charged straight at the gate.
KRA-KOOOOM!
The gate was spectacularly shattered by the blow, which combined the momentum of your charge, your body weight, and the mana discharge.
Stepping inside the castle, you set the two down and nodded in satisfaction.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ boasts of a successful touchdown!]
"Safe, my ass!!"
Dorothea's staff struck your head.
It was a blow that could pride itself on being the strongest you'd ever felt.
Thanks to the holy power enveloping her, she unleashed a furious lecture despite her freshly bitten tongue.
"Are you trying to kill someone?! What kind of madman uses a defensive spell as a battering ram?!"
[The ‘Tin Knight’ puffs out its chest, declaring that one is right here!]
"Is that something to be proud of?! Besides, if you just wanted to open the door, you could have used the Key of Opium! What are you saving the sacred treasure for, to make soup with it later?!"
Ah, you let out a small sound of surprise.
To be honest, you had completely forgotten the key even existed.
In truth, the key wasn't very useful unless you were a thief.
While you were bickering, Franka and her familiars entered the castle, a little behind you.
Looking at the enemy forces continuing to pour in through the shattered gate, Dorothea spoke to Franka.
"You guys stay here. This guy broke it a bit, but it's better to fight enemies coming through a narrow gap than on an open plain. Once you've recovered some mana, use your alchemy to block the gate completely."
"You want me to just watch your backs?"
"Fine, then we'll hold them off here. You want to go take your old master's head?"
"...Alright, I'll do it."
Though she looked thoroughly displeased, Franka eventually nodded.
Even she had to admit that Dorothea's judgment was correct.
Watching the two monkeys defeat the enemies trying to swarm through the broken gate, you and the others began to ascend the castle stairs.
The situation was similar to your first fight with the Wicked Witch of the West, but there were differences.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ says that unlike the last castle, this one has no minions!]
"She probably never intended to let us into the castle in the first place. She was likely being sincere when she said she didn't want to destroy her castle a second time."
"The scale of the castle also feels smaller than last time."
With no combat, your ascent up the castle was unimpeded.
"By the way, where on earth is Adel?"
To Dorothea's question, Sophia answered.
"Oh, that. This way. I saw where she was being held through a window. It seems they wanted to show off my execution to her, so they brought her close enough for us to see each other. It's a good thing Elphaba wasn't paying close attention to me."
"...Sounds like you've been through a lot, too."
Dorothea seemed to hesitate for a moment, debating whether to go after Elphaba first or rescue Adel, but she clicked her tongue and chose the latter.
"It'll be a pain if she gets caught in the crossfire or taken hostage. Franka went on about a Great Witch's pride or whatever, but how can we trust that?"
[The ‘Tin Knight’ says she could just be honest and admit she's worried!]
"Shut it."
Following Sophia's lead, you arrived at a solid wall.
Dorothea reacted with suspicion, but Sophia's stance was firm.
"This is the place. I memorized the location from the outside."
You didn't hesitate.
You thrust your sword into the wall, confirmed there was an empty space of a certain size beyond it, and then carved out a rectangle.
With a bit of finesse, you pulled the severed section of the wall outward to prevent it from falling inward and crushing Adel. A space that looked like a laboratory was revealed.
"Huh?"
Adel, who had been tied to an experiment table with an anxious expression, spotted you, and her eyes widened.
Tears welled up slightly in her bright purple eyes.
"Sir Knight! Lady Witch! Miss Sophia!"
[The ‘Tin Knight’ notes that while the emotional reunion is nice, her attire is quite revealing!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ advises that while it's no problem for a gentleman such as itself, she should exercise more restraint in front of others!]
"Huh? Ah, ahh!"
After a small incident where Adel's face turned beet red and Dorothea sighed and smacked you on the head, you were able to rescue Adel safely.
Having retrieved Adel's clothes and equipment, which had been tossed in a corner of the lab, you all proceeded to the rooftop, this time without stopping.
And, at the moment you finally opened the rooftop door and arrived...
As if it had been waiting for this very moment, hundreds of golden spears, shining brilliantly with mana, rained down upon you.
BOOOOOM!
The mana contained in your shield was unleashed, blowing away about half of the incoming spears.
The remaining spears failed to break through the double barrier erected by Adel's sword, Dorothea, and Sophia.
《Hmph. It seems you can at least handle a greeting.》
The Wicked Witch of the West, Elphaba, spoke.
The golden monkeys around her, the winged homunculi, all opened their mouths in unison, speaking her words.
No other magic beasts were in sight.
There were only homunculi.
But the party did not let down its guard.
Even though you had thinned their numbers considerably in the battles so far, a great number of homunculi still surrounded the witch.
Their number was roughly 200.
What's more, the largest and most formidable-looking one among them was even wearing the Belt of Amaryllis, which had been missing from Adel's equipment.
《Get the hell out of my beautiful garden, you rats!》
[The ‘Tin Knight’ demands that she hand over fame, money, items, and above all, a good fight!]