Chapter 59: The Tin Knight and The City of Clockwork — Act 3 (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 59: The Tin Knight and The City of Clockwork — Act 3 (1)
During the week it took to build the Smith & Sinc Doll Workshop, the Tin Knight was not just quietly standing guard.
He was, in fact, incredibly busy.
If the Tin Knight had three bodies, he could have given one each to Dorothea, Adelaide, and Sophia and let them run wild. But since he only had one body, that wasn't an option.
It was a great relief for the City of Clockwork.
As expected of a metropolis, Tik-Tok could somehow handle one crazed doll, but three would have been impossible.
It was also a relief for the Tin Knight himself.
Otherwise, his share of the content might have been reduced to a third.
And so, the one-man-show Tin Knight was, as always, busy clearing challenges.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ instructs you to jump to the right!]
Swoosh!
[The ‘Tin Knight’ instructs you to step on the opponent's left foot!]
Crunch!
[The ‘Tin Knight’ instructs you to grab the opponent's waist and roll!]
“Hmph!”
[The ‘Tin Knight’ instructs you to step on the opponent's left knee, jump, and strike the back of their head with your sword!]
“Eh, hah!”
[The ‘Tin Knight’ shouts, "↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ← → ← → B A!"]
“Wha-what!? Aaaack!”
Struck by the heavy halberd (a blunted training weapon, but a bad hit could still be fatal), Adelaide went flying and collapsed face-first on the floor.
The Tin Knight stared at her before shaking his head.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ laments that the legendary command was too soon!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ sighs that it’s pathetic to be killed by an isekai’d noble lady hero!]
Adelaide, still on the ground, pushed up with her arms to get up, but ultimately flopped back down.
Her body trembled as if she had a great many things to say, but the heartless Tin Knight paid no mind to such trivial matters.
“…How brutal.”
Watching from the side, René von Lennart shook his head.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ agrees that it was indeed a brutal defeat!]
“I don’t know what you’re saying, but why do I feel this overwhelming urge to shout that you’re wrong?”
[The ‘Tin Knight’ encourages him, saying that mutual understanding is inherently difficult!]
“……”
René’s mouth twitched.
The opponent wasn’t making a sound, merely staring at him, yet he had no idea why an inexplicable rage was welling up from deep within.
“Hah. To think, just clearing the 5th level without using mana was an incredible achievement, but to push the 6th level this far… I don’t know if the human body is capable of such feats without mana, or if she’s just that incredible.”
René looked at the magic doll that had just been fighting Adelaide.
Countless minor scratches marred the body of the doll, which now stood motionless, having recognized the end of the match.
If someone were to ask René if he could defeat a 6th-level magic doll, he would have answered ‘yes’ without a second thought.
But if they asked if he could win without mana, he would have said, ‘That’s impossible.’
No, forget winning; it would be difficult to even put up a proper fight.
What could you do when your attacks barely left a scratch, while a single blow from the opponent would mean the end?
And yet, Adelaide was accomplishing that very absurdity in real time.
What’s more, she was doing it without ever being hit by the opponent’s attacks, using the brutish method of accumulating scratch after scratch until she won.
“Hmm.”
This was Adelaide’s third attempt at the 6th-level test.
At first, René had thought she was just good at dodging, but by now, he was certain.
Adelaide—no, the Tin Knight beside her—was predicting the magic doll’s attack patterns and issuing commands before they happened.
There was no other way to explain why the match was dragging on for so long when the magic doll was superior in every aspect—strength, speed, durability, and skill.
‘I’d heard their movements follow set patterns, making them easier to read than an opponent of the same skill level… but still, is it really possible to direct someone remotely with such precision, even calculating their reaction time?’
“Ugh, that hurts…”
René’s thoughts were pulled back to reality by Adelaide’s whimpering voice.
Her appearance was grimy and her body was battered, but for someone who had just been struck by a giant halberd, she was surprisingly fine.
Then again, a normal person wouldn’t even be able to get up after being hit by something like that.
The Tin Knight approached Adelaide and patted her on the shoulder.
At a glance, it looked like a simple gesture of encouragement, but Adelaide flinched.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ says she seems to have some energy left, so they should try just one more time!]
“No, no, no, impossible! Absolutely impossible!”
Adelaide recoiled in horror, wrapping her arms around herself.
To an onlooker, she looked as if some corrupt official had just told her, “Heh heh, you will attend to me tonight.”
Then again, aside from the difference between protecting one's chastity and one's life, it wasn't all that different in the grand scheme of things.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ assesses that she used to succeed flawlessly 7 out of 10 times, but now she succeeds 8 out of 10 times!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ insists that if she can achieve a 100% response rate, she can win!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ preaches his theory that stamina must be depleted to 0 to avoid waste!]
“Even so, there have to be limits!!” Adelaide shrieked.
It was a huge improvement from when she first started, when she would just stammer and do as she was told.
Though Adelaide herself would vehemently deny it, it was also proof that the Tin Knight's insane claim—that crises that don't kill Adelaide will only make her stronger—was at least partially true.
The Tin Knight lamented.
I should have pushed her harder when she was still clueless!
[The ‘Tin Knight’ says if that’s the case, he has no choice, and modifies the training plan!]
[The ‘Tin Knight’ concedes that sometimes, it’s necessary to indulge a disciple’s whining!]
“……”
Although René couldn’t hear the Tin Knight’s words, a wave of pity washed over him as he looked at Adelaide’s dead-fish eyes.
René cleared his throat and interjected.
“Ahem. I’m not sure what you’re discussing, but let’s call it a day. I have somewhere to be, so I’ll be closing the dojo this afternoon.”
The gazes of the two disciples turned to René.
Adelaide asked on the Tin Knight’s behalf.
“Somewhere to be?”
René replied.
“Those damned old geezers have finally gone and done it. We’ve decided to have it out at the lord's mansion. Would you care to join us, if you’re alright with it? You seemed a little interested, even if you didn’t say anything.”
The Tin Knight consented.
Adelaide nodded along.
Unfortunately, no one thought to tell the battered Adelaide, ‘Shouldn’t you rest after being put through all that?’
The most pitiful part was that she herself didn't see what the problem was.
*
Tik-Tok.
The plaza in front of the lord's office.
The new faction, led by René, and the conservative faction, led by the old man, were in a standoff.
Normally, the juniors would have been cowering, unable to withstand the seniors’ intimidating presence, but the situation was a little different now.
A significant number of the conservative faction members were shrinking back with uneasy expressions, while the new faction, in contrast, appeared full of spirit.
Watching this, the old man clicked his tongue.
“You damned brat. Are you really planning to drag outsiders into the dojo's affairs? So this is the result of all your barking like a dog about reform and what not? Your disciples puffing their chests out while hiding behind a doll. How utterly pathetic!”
They were sharp words, but René didn’t back down easily.
“Hah. If you find us puffing our chests out unsightly, then what about your side, cowering in fear of a magic doll? All of you over there, didn’t you say magic dolls were nothing but toys? Was the 'warrior's spirit' you all so passionately preached about nothing more than cowering before a toy?”
“The brat sure runs his mouth for someone who has one!!”
“It's nothing compared to the stench of an old man's breath!!”
Watching the two factions snarl at each other like bitter rivals, the Tin Knight was impressed.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ assesses that the people here fight quite politely!]
“Politely? That?”
A question mark appeared beside Adelaide’s head.
From her perspective, their words were the furthest thing from polite.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ gives a generous assessment, noting that at least they don’t bring family into it!]
“I think your standards are a bit strange.”
[The ‘Tin Knight’ assesses that since this is a place where your head gets split open with a weapon if you lack manners, there are few disrespectful people!]
“???”
No, I think you're the only one who would suddenly smash someone's head in for being rude, Sir Knight, Adelaide’s thought went unspoken.
A vassal of the Lord of Tik-Tok, unable to watch the two groups bicker any longer, stepped in to mediate.
“That’s enough! I understand you are members of the Lennart family, but what is all this commotion in front of His Lordship!”
“Ahem. My apologies.”
“Pardon us.”
The old man and René fell silent, looking abashed.
It was true that the Lion Duke’s bloodline held great power in the Empire, but that didn’t mean they could go around disrespecting other nobles.
Furthermore, when dealing with a Count who ruled a metropolis as his domain, his status was not to be trifled with.
“Haha, don’t mind it. Isn’t this all because you’re fighting so passionately to establish a place for yourselves in this city? As the lord of Tik-Tok, I am not offended in the least. In fact, I am delighted.”
With a way of speaking that made it unclear whether he was praising them or subtly insulting them, the lord opened the discussion.
The effect of seizing the initiative was clear, as the expressions of the old man and René subtly changed.
After glancing at the two of them, and then for some reason at the Tin Knight and Adelaide standing a short distance away, the lord continued.
“Duke Lennart has entrusted me with mediating between you. I have formally accepted this request and, staking the honor of myself and my house, I intend to prepare a fair contest. Therefore, unless you wish to disregard the authority of the Duke and myself, you shall submit to the outcome of this contest.”
The lord first asked René, who was on his left.
“Do you agree?”
“I, René von Lennart, will accept the result cleanly, whatever it may be, and will not show any unsightly behavior.”
The lord’s gaze then turned to the old man on his right.
“Do you agree?”
“I, Gerhardt von Lennart, will accept the result on my honor.”
Clap. The lord clapped his hands.
“Excellent. In that case, I shall reveal the details of the contest.”
At the lord’s signal, a group of people began to pour out from inside the mansion.
There were about fifty of them, all youths who looked no older than twenty.
“When it comes to the qualities of an instructor, what matters most is how well one teaches their disciples, is it not? I have gathered young people who aspire to walk the path of martial arts. You shall teach these youths.”
As the members of the Lennart dojo began to murmur, the lord spoke with a mischievous smile.
“The preparation period is one week. Each side will select the five disciples they deem most outstanding as representatives for a mock battle. The winning side will be recognized as the master of the dojo.”
“Wait a moment, Count Tik-Tok.”
The old man, Gerhardt, said with a frown.
“I have no objection to the method of deciding the match by teaching disciples. However, isn't one week too short? That's barely enough time to establish the basics.”
“It will certainly be difficult. But, isn't that what makes it an even greater test of a teacher's ability?”
“Hmm.”
Gerhardt seemed a little uncomfortable, but he didn’t press the issue further.
Instead, René spoke up, his gaze fixed on the prospective disciples.
“Has it already been decided which disciples will go to which side?”
“Of course not. I was about to decide that now.”
“However,” the lord added meaningfully.
“It would only be meaningful if the individuals themselves decide which side to join. Well, don’t worry too much. Surely all 50 of them won't flock to one side, will they?”
“What?”
“Pardon?”
Seeing the bewildered faces of Gerhardt and René, the lord laughed cheerfully and said.
“Well then, do your best to promote yourselves. Make these young people want to become your disciples. I’m quite curious myself.”
While the faces of those around them changed through a spectrum of colors, only the Tin Knight nodded to himself.
[The ‘Tin Knight’ sends his praise for the masterful hosting!]