Chapter 13 Part5 (1/2)

<chapter 13.=”” arema=”” steelworker=”” -=”” 5=””>

For golems created by humans, loyalty to their master was paramount. The golems were also created for the purpose of protecting the Emperor.

[However, the Emperor wasn't satisfied with just ordinary golems. He wanted them to think and move like a normal human being, while also being able to gain karma and grow. Aside from their unwavering loyalty, he wanted every aspect of them to be as close to a human being as possible. Because of that, we began our experiments. To create an absolute fighting force that was loyal only to the Emperor himself...]

They sucked the Empire's precious resources dry, as well as the souls and magic of several young knights, and at the end of all those sacrifices, they succeeded in creating monsters; the Golden Army that originated from the Golden General, Arema Steelworker.

[There are many who probably don't know about it. ...We lived much longer than the citizens of the Empire could've imagined. But by the time the Emperor, who dreamt of immortality, created us, he was already old and decrepit.]

”Ha.”

The knights, whose human souls were combined with a golem's body, certainly were loyal to the Emperor alone, thought like humans, and were also beings who were capable of growth. Above all, they possessed strong bodies and magic, and were able to survive for such a long length of time. They were the best guards for the Emperor.

”The Emperor dreamt of eternal youth and immortality, yet he didn't think of becoming a golem himself?”

[There was a huge problem. Ultimately, we couldn't achieve a success rate of 100%.]

”Ah...”

The Emperor probably couldn't take that risk. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo just laughed. He didn't plan on attempting to seriously verify Arema Steelworker's claims; but since he'd become so immersed in his interesting story, he naturally became serious about it.

It wasn't his intention, but it had a positive effect on the way Arema Steelworker treated Lee s.h.i.+n Woo. Though Arema's face softened only slightly, it was enough.

[I knew about the Emperor's desire for immortality, but because I had pledged absolute loyalty to the Emperor, I couldn't express any opinions regarding it. And ultimately, the day that horrific curse was completed... the Emperor become undead, and we were freed. Since the spell that restricted our free will didn't factor in the Emperor becoming an undead.]

”Then, what did you do after you were freed...?”

[I led my subordinates out of the capital and we hid here. The Emperor left me in charge of this place, and it was the only place where we could be safe. The Golem Production Facility.]

They hid? That's what they decided to do once they'd become free of the Emperor's control? Without even trying to fight once? Lee s.h.i.+n Woo noticed that the conversation had taken a strange turn. After all, this was a bit different than what he'd envisioned!

[Aside from us, everyone else became undead, including the other generals who possessed a fighting force equal to mine. I couldn't win against all of them, and I didn't want to fight against them either.]

”Mm...!”

It was such a weak thing to say, compared to how imposing he seemed when they first met. He wanted to ask if he was weaker than General Seagald by any chance, but now wasn't the time to provoke him. While he was boiling up on the inside, Arema Steelworker cut in.

[We've lost our purpose. We have nothing left to direct our loyalty to, and just remain idle, slowly losing our free will over the pa.s.sage of time. We're just souls who are unable to sleep, and live underground, gradually rusting away.]

”Hmm...”

[You, the undead who are able to resist the Empire's curse. I don't know who you are, or why you decided to bravely come here.]

At some point, the conversation was coming to an end. Unexpectedly, Arema commended them, and spoke like this.

[We've lost our wills and we're just lingering dolls, so just leave us be and go back.]

”...”

That's a lie. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was absolutely sure of it when he heard that. He was a way higher level than him, but unfortunately, his acting was much worse than Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's.

It didn't matter whether he was a golem or not. It didn't matter if there were faults in his reasoning or not. His incredible intuition that developed with his Acting skill was telling him this. Arema Steelworker had different intentions, and he didn't want him to interfere, so he was trying to keep him out in advance!

”Not yet.”

[Hmm?]

Lee s.h.i.+n felt like it was time to use his winning move. Right now, concealing his ident.i.ty or ascertaining their ident.i.ty wasn't important compared to this. He decided that he'd extracted all the information he could from them, and that there was still a chance to adjust their relations.h.i.+p!

”I have a request.”

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo said courageously. As always, Arema Steelworker sported a smile, but he was a golem, so Lee s.h.i.+n Woo couldn't trust his expression.

[I was interested in your ability, so I called you here and spoke to you personally, but I can do nothing more for you. I cannot permit anything else. Go back. The next time you make a copy of that seal and use it to intrude, I won't just sit by and leave you be.]

[Alright. If you're done talking, shall we go?]

When Arema Steelworker finished softly, but firmly, Guillotine Steelworker approached them whilst emitting a turbulent spirit, as though he would execute them if they didn't listen.

All he was doing was emitting mana from his entire body; despite that, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo felt his body go stiff. He knew that he was no match for him.

”I have no intention of...!”

[Huh!?]

However, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo utilized Rule of Bone to its very limit, resisting the pressure, and yelled out. In order to achieve his primary objective of coming here!

”I have no intention of stepping into this place, so please allow us to continue using that train! We won't bother you, and we won't talk to you. We just want to ride that train to move around. If you allow us to use the train, we'd like some information regarding the destination as well!”

[...]

”We're going to take care of the undead in the underground empire, and those trains will be really helpful in doing so. Ah, I'll also take care of the golems you're not using, too!]

[You amazing b.a.s.t.a.r.d...]

The unexpected request startled Arema Steelworker. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo acted like he was asking for something trivial, yet it was actually an extremely brazen request; Guillotine Steelworker was astonished that he'd ask for such a thing, and muttered. He may not look it, but he had made the request after planning everything out.

[You truly are brave. Despite the difference in strength, you...]

”That's exactly why. We're nothing compared to you, so that's why we can speak to you like this. Since we're n.o.bodies to you, and it won't hurt you to accept a request from some n.o.bodies.”

[...]

Regardless of what Arema Steelworker was thinking about, at the very least, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was sure that he was no longer under the Emperor's command. And though he wasn't moving proactively, he held no love for the curse that covered the Empire.

In addition, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's intuition told him that based on those feelings, he had some kind of secret plan in the works. Figuring out their ident.i.ty was likely to ascertain whether they would get in the way of said plan.

”Like I said, all I want is to be able to use the train!”

[Ha...]

Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was well aware of that, so that's why he made such a suggestion. He roughly understand their situation, so he asked for a little bit of help, on the condition that they don't bother them. It wasn't a bad offer for them either, so he thought they'd have no reason to refuse.