Volume 6 Chapter 37-2 Army Of Dolls
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The tile decoration remaining on part of the wall surface was clearly not of this world. It didn’t resemble anything from dwarven design, either. Rather, it evoked the Art Nouveau style from Earth, or at least something with a similar aesthetic.
The butler moved confidently through the maze-like corridor, advancing without hesitation. Was this a dungeon he was already familiar with?
Before long, they stepped into an area that vaguely resembled a factory. The narrow, intricate passages made it feel like they had walked a considerable distance, but in a straight line, they actually weren’t far from the elevator.
”Well well, Your Excellency of Big Castor! My apologies! The yield of fuel stones has recently declined, so we have very little stock available. Yes.”
A plump man rolled out to greet Castor. He reminded me of Mr. Chaa. I wondered how that guy was doing these days.
He rubbed his hands together nervously, forcing a polite smile. Why do people like this always rub their hands? It seemed like a meaningless action, probably something done out of habit.
If it was common in another world too, then perhaps it wasn’t specific to any one culture. I have never rubbed my hands together in my life, so I couldn’t really relate.
”I don’t care about the fuel stones. I came to see the doll! Call Al immediately! No, I’ll go myself!”
Just as Castor raised his voice sharply, a clatter came from a hole in the wall as fuel stones spilled out. So, this really was just an ordinary factory? A mine was usually a mountain where natural resources were extracted.
But then again, I’d heard of urban mines as well. Was this more of a ruin? A relic? Perhaps an archaeological mine?
”What, more are coming out?”
”Ancient machinery tends to be unpredictable. Honestly, we don’t fully understand how it works.”
”That’s why we brought Al to investigate. But right now, the doll inspection takes top priority. Understood? Don’t let that guy waste time on anything unnecessary!”
Ancient machines. Lost technology. Yeah, this was what people called lost tech. Still, from what I could tell, these machines seemed much newer than the age of the divine warriors who used Godian script. At most, they might be a few hundred years old.
The science and technology being used didn’t appear especially advanced. But… if they’d been running this whole time without maintenance, maybe that was impressive in its own right.
I was really curious about how they processed raw materials or handled their energy sources. Magic? Probably. Still, people in this world tended to explain everything away with “magic” a little too easily.
The plump man kept rubbing his hands together as he led the way for Castor. The butler looked slightly displeased. There was probably a mix of emotions behind that expression—jealousy, rivalry, or something else.
A large set of double doors stood wide open. Suddenly, the space around us opened up. Though still indoors, we’d emerged into a surprisingly vast area. It looked like an audience seating section overlooking a stadium.
It was probably a building that had originally been used as a gymnasium. A tennis court, perhaps?
The famous Tennis Court Oath from the French Revolution reportedly took place in the indoor court at Versailles Palace. Maybe this place was something similar?
* * *
Why were the automatic fuel stone manufacturing factory and the gymnasium located underground? The first thing that came to mind was an underground nuclear shelter.
But perhaps, after the age of the gods, the civilization of this world had repeatedly risen and fallen.
Schulz was a living witness to that cycle of history—but unfortunately, he had spent most of it holed up somewhere, so he didn’t know much about the outside world.
He really was a hopeless dragon, wasn’t he?
A fallen ancient civilization… they must have found the ruins still functioning and repurposed them as a mine.
Standing at the edge of the audience seating and looking down, I could see countless golem remnants scattered across the floor.
Ah, so this was what the dolls looked like.
I had felt a sense of déjà vu about the golems—and sure enough, they resembled Mr. Hampy, the standard boss from the Puppeteer dungeon. They looked like palette-swapped siblings.
This one had a mustard-colored exterior and didn’t appear very egg-shaped. It was a little larger than Mr. Hampy, but the detailing seemed rougher.
The once egg-like silhouette had become distorted.
I didn’t really know what they were actually called, but for now, I decided to refer to them as Hampy knock-offs—degraded copies of Mr. Hampy.
I could’ve called them mass-produced Hampys, but the real Mr. Hampy respawned infinitely anyway.
”Al! Al! Hurry up and greet me! It is the inspection of His Excellency Castor!”
The plump man called out grandly to an old man who appeared to be working near the Hampy knock-offs.
The old man—Al—either didn’t hear or deliberately ignored him. He remained absorbed in his work on the golems, pretending not to notice.
Angered by the lack of response, the plump man let out a strange noise, stumbled down the stairs, and struck the old man.
He didn’t seem especially strong, but he didn’t hold back. That must have hurt quite a bit.
”What are you doing? That man is worth a hundred of you.”
Castor spoke coldly. The plump man crumpled to the ground, crawling like a flattened spider.
”Shall I take care of him?”
The butler said this with a serious expression. It was a chilling statement. He didn’t look physically strong, but there were plenty of ways to kill someone without relying on brute force.
”If we keep killing people, we’ll run out of replacements. We need to address the personnel shortage as soon as possible.”
Even villains had their troubles. A shortage of capable personnel… It was a more pressing issue than one might expect.
Now that I was in a position to command others, I could finally understand that reality. I couldn’t help but feel a bit of sympathy for Castor. Just a little.
”Don’t worry about formalities. Just keep working. How are my golems?”
Castor approached the old man, speaking in an unnervingly friendly tone, almost like a purring cat.
”I can move one of them. With time, I could assemble two more.”
The old man replied tersely.
”So after all that effort, you’ve only managed to get three working? Even if they’re invincible golems, with only that many, we can’t even begin to talk. To become the king of the world, I need at least fifty. Thirty, bare minimum.”
Castor’s irritation spiked again.
At his age, talking about becoming king of the world… It was hard to listen to. Even if it wasn’t my problem, it was still painful to hear.
It’s fine to have ambition, but his thinking is too naive, right? I don’t know the capabilities of these golems, but no matter how strong they are, war demands numbers.
At most, they might work for small skirmishes between local lords—but to occupy a whole country, you’d need tens of thousands of soldiers. Even if a small elite force wins some local battles, they wouldn’t be able to hold control over the conquered land.
Could it be that he plans to brainwash and control the people through mental training? Is that even possible?
If Castor really holds the trump cards needed to conquer the world, then that’s a serious threat to this world. I want to believe it’s nothing more than a frog in a well—a mere delusion.
”As for the remains of the golems, there are still plenty lying deep within the fuel stone mines. We must urgently collect them from all the mines across the territory.”
Aren’t those just worker robots? They don’t look like they’re made for combat.
”It’s useless to collect the damaged ones. With the current technology, broken parts can’t be repaired.”
I see. This old man is assembling golems using only parts that are still intact. That’s quite an engineering feat. He seems like the kind of person who would get along well with Mr. Ginchi.
”You’re naive—far too naive. If you don’t believe it can be done, then it won’t be done. If your granddaughter’s life matters to you, then you’d best work harder.”
So that’s what’s happening. The glasses girl turns out to be in a hostage position.
Well, even if she is a hostage, once the old man sets the golems loose, it’d be impossible to stop them. He’s definitely thinking things through in his own villainous way.
”This inhuman person!”
”Don’t misunderstand. I’m using secret techniques to keep the life of this girl, who has contracted the rotten disease, from fading. How merciful I am.”
”How shameless.”
Rotten disease… That should be curable with Dragon God’s Herb, but the symptoms are clearly different. This infection is caused by tiny creatures—nearly invisible to the eye—transmitted by a certain kind of mite.
What makes it terrifying is that even after resurrection, the creatures remain in the blood.
It’s likely a magic creature—a monster. Something like a protozoan-sized beast that you can’t just slice apart with a sword. In its own way, it’s a tougher enemy than any giant monster.
”The clever way to live happily is not to make me angry. The golems move only according to my orders.”
”…I want to speak with my granddaughter.”
Castor jerks his chin, and an old woman inserts something like a key into the glasses girl’s choker.
The girl’s eyes slowly begin to regain life.
That choker is a magic tool. It has a similar function to the Subjugation Skill Sealing Ring. It can record the flow of mana, and with time, I think I could analyze it.
”Grandfather! I don’t care what happens to me—but you must not let these people control you!”
Hmm. That’s the kind of line anime heroines say a lot, but hearing it in real life is moving. Saying “I don’t care what happens to me” takes real courage. I don’t think I could ever say that.
Alright. I’ve made my decision—I’ll help this girl. I was hesitating before, but now I’m sure.
”Shut up!!”
The old woman quickly pulls out the key, and the glasses girl goes silent, as if someone flipped a switch.
The magic tools that Castor owns are impressive, both in quality and in quantity. Even in the royal capital, you rarely see items this extraordinary on display in stores.
Even though he’s the Duke’s younger brother and holds no land, it’s surprising that he managed to gather such rare and expensive magic tools.
”What a determined girl. There seems to be a misunderstanding, but I am working day and night to make sure that people like you can live in happiness. However, foolish fools who cannot comprehend my great mercy are unnecessary. They should perish swiftly. Only those who follow me will become residents of the royal paradise.”
What a transparent thing to say. And yet… could it be that he actually believes it?
Do villains even realize they’re the bad guys? Some probably do, but most deceive themselves—justifying their actions with all kinds of reasons.
Everyone wants to believe they’re doing the right thing. In Castor’s mind, he’s likely spun a self-centered tale where he’s the protagonist.
Maybe he thought that getting a golem was a divine revelation—a sign telling him to conquer the world.
There are countless fools like him in the world. Most fail and fade into the shadows of history, but the few who succeed turn their deeds into tales of divine miracles, spread by wandering minstrels.
That’s how divine revelations come to be fulfilled.
The Cardinal once said that only a very few miracles are truly connected to God.
My interference might not be necessary—but it’s best to crush Castor’s ambition before it causes further damage.
To ignore what must be done is cowardice. After all, I am a Hero.
Well… maybe I just want to justify my own actions and wield my power. I know there’s no such thing as absolute justice, but still—I’ll follow my own path.
* * *
I exit Castor’s mansion from the opposite route I entered. The sky is already beginning to lighten. I might not be Castor, but I can understand the urge to grumble about sleepless nights.
Well, this infiltration was a major success. I gathered so much valuable information that I can’t even process it all yet. The real challenge begins now.
There’s a lot to think about, but for now, I return to the inn, crawl into bed with a relaxed face, and fall asleep.
The innkeeper’s wife came to wake me, and she rummaged through my belongings—but nothing was stolen. The items placed beside my bed were decoys; I didn’t keep anything valuable there.
Well then, I need to get back and finish my work as king. If I use the Hover Shield for fast travel, I should make it back by noon. It’ll be a tight schedule.
Just thinking about Shea-Shea scolding me makes my stomach ache. But hey—I am the king, after all.
While I wait in line at the gate with the merchants, a thunderous voice suddenly echoes like a rolling storm.
”That damn Gorigan’s excavation group has crossed the Seven Curves Pass! Is there any Hero who can rush to Lady Tizzy’s tower in Hollowvale to assist? We need two more archers! Those willing to volunteer, report to Knight Orlan’s mansion by noon!!”
A giant in half-plate armor shouted toward the guard post from horseback, then sped off toward the castle.
An unexpected bonus—I now know where Tizzy is.
…But where in the world is Hollowvale?
Notes:
• Mr. Chaa – The Butcher of Toyata Village.
• Schulz – A male dragon who collects human women and holds the rank of Duke within the Anti-Magic Alliance.
• Ginchi – Male. A dwarf, scientist, artist, and seeker of truth. Ms. Mahal’s acquaintance. He is a skilled artisan, researcher of homunculi, and monopolizes high-precision glass tubes. He is wealthy, rational, and critical of both dwarfs and Earth’s civilization. He has a rivalry with Mr. Zenom.
• Shea-Shea – Mauro’s daughter. Hurt by Alexander. Became an eager fiancée after advice from protagonist.
• Knight Orlan – Male. A knight whose daughter has been kidnapped and brainwashed by Little Castor. His appearance and relationship with other characters are not detailed, but he is mentioned as a potential ally against the Castors. His daughter is forced to commit heinous acts, including killing her parents and herself.
• Tizzy – Claims to be Duke’s daughter, a noble with advanced magic skills. MC and Ms. Shirakaba lover.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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