Ch.124Golem (1)

Golems are not something rare.

Dungeons, palaces, fortresses of the Three Clans, abandoned strongholds, and even ruined buildings reminiscent of civilizations from the distant past.

Golems frequently appeared as enemies, allies, or neutral entities.

But that didn’t make Valterok ordinary, because intelligence typically didn’t exist in golems.

Not just intelligence—they usually lacked self-awareness or had very little of it, merely carrying out given orders.

They certainly didn’t have the capacity to choose their own mission, act on it, and independently adjust and carry out tasks for at least 300 years.

I’d never heard of such a golem. Though I suppose there’s quite a bit hidden in this game anyway.

Valterok had revealed himself to be a golem. From his appearance to his internal structure, it was easy to accept—it would be nonsensical if he weren’t a golem.

But Valterok’s intelligence and obsession with his goal were something un-golem-like.

Usually, robots like this would start rebellions and such.

My idle thoughts were interrupted.

“We will take charge of these people now.”

A Black Knight who approached me said this.

Though I couldn’t see his face and his voice resonated with a deep hum, I recognized him. It was Irenicus.

“I’m glad you remember me. My comrades confuse my name so often…”

When I acknowledged him, Sir Irenicus smiled with satisfaction.

Black Knights couldn’t be that foolish a group, but I had to suppress a laugh that threatened to escape. Sir Irenicus excused himself and departed.

The city once called Servan.

The very place where, just recently, a pseudo-transcendent had emerged, causing many deaths and injuries. Black Knights were now busily moving about.

They were clearing the pseudo-transcendents still sprouting from the ground with swords, axes, maces, and lances.

Furthermore, they were relocating those marked with spell formulas, albeit with somewhat displeased expressions.

With Black Knights wrapped in anti-magic power guarding them, no dark mage would be able to trigger “biological combustion” even if they came.

Nor would there be any sudden executions for refusing orders or being marked with spell formulas.

Black Knights were obedient to orders, and their leader, Valterok, was the greatest Black Knight, respected by his subordinates.

I felt relieved, though it wasn’t a new realization, that I had been able to prove myself.

Above all, Black Knights didn’t kill everyone marked with spell formulas.

Among them, those with talent could be incorporated into the Black Knight Order, while others would serve as attendants or servants in the Shadow Cradle, assisting the Black Knights.

All thanks to my iron will and outstanding talent.

If I had been defeated or failed to prove myself, Valterok would have killed them all.

Just as I was breathing a sigh of relief:

“Are you ready?”

“What if I say I’m not? Would you wait?”

“I cannot wait long. Even if we start now, it will take considerable time.”

“Then let’s go.”

Valterok nodded and led me. Behind him, Black Knights followed, protecting the civilians marked with spell formulas.

Our destination was the Shadow Cradle.

The place where I would be made an honorary Black Knight.

*

“Your mission doesn’t seem like a short-term one. How long have you lived?”

“I’ve been reactivated for at least a thousand years. For a while after activation, I was managing the Shadow Cradle. I’ve been actively serving as a Black Knight for 300 years.”

A thousand years. Given his mention of reactivation, it seemed his actual manufacture dated back even further.

“Correct. Even I don’t know my exact time of manufacture, so attempting to guess when the mythic era was would be futile.”

A golem with intelligence and self-awareness, making autonomous decisions.

I was a bit shocked when I first learned this, but thinking about it carefully, it wasn’t impossible.

The Pantheon and the gods who once existed in this land possessed such power.

Even if I couldn’t know exactly when, learning the approximate time might help me determine how to proceed with matters.

It was unfortunate.

But it wasn’t something I needed to worry about right now. Rather, more important matters awaited me.

I was inside the Shadow Cradle.

Thirty minutes had passed since my arrival.

I had to maintain a posture with my arms spread, watching the busy people around me.

It was boring, tiring, and my body was becoming limp.

But it was worth the wait. I observed the mages from the Anti-Magic School measuring my body and designing circuits.

“It’s best to endure the boredom. This work greatly affects the quality of your armor.”

The quality of the armor. I was now receiving new armor as an honorary Black Knight.

Real Black Knight armor, different from what I had stolen from Lorian before.

It was equipment that I, as a Mourner without magical power, could handle, and unlike regular Black Knight armor, it had a special “anti-magic engine” installed.

“Common armor wouldn’t satisfy you, nor would it provide adequate capability in emergencies. Consider this a bribe… or a gift from our Anti-Magic School.”

Generally, Black Knight armor needed to be custom-made for each individual.

It couldn’t be casually worn either; it could only be equipped in specialized facilities within the Shadow Cradle.

In reality, if this game weren’t dark fantasy, this equipment would precisely fit the description of power armor.

As such, creating this armor specifically for me was itself an act of goodwill.

I did need to find new armor soon anyway, and as Valterok said, common armor wouldn’t have been satisfying.

Although adapting to new armor would require an adjustment period, I could endure it.

Such equipment would be nearly impossible for me to obtain otherwise.

I watched as a mage wrapped a long, black cloth around my forearm and then retrieved it, glancing at Valterok.

“You said your mission was to find a god.”

“More precisely, to recover one.”

“What did you plan to do after recovering them?”

It didn’t seem like he intended to find the god and end things with his own hands in some twisted way.

If that were the case, he would have tried to kill me immediately with all his might, without waiting for proof.

Because of this, I couldn’t precisely determine Valterok’s intentions.

As a golem presumably manufactured in the mythic era, the leader of the Black Knight Order, and someone trying to teach me something—

At first glance, his purpose seemed to be to teach and raise me to become a god.

But I didn’t feel it was that simple. If it were, he wouldn’t have attacked me so fiercely while demanding proof.

Though he claimed he hadn’t fought with full sincerity.

“What do you want from me?”

Valterok didn’t answer. Instead, he remained silent, taking his time, and in his demeanor, I could sense a kind of impatience.

I didn’t want to make wild guesses about someone whose face I couldn’t even see, but—

The way his fingers tapped his forearm and his slightly askew posture.

These were typical signs of human impatience.

But why?

What reason did he have to be impatient?

As I wondered about this golem who seemed far more human than many humans, the golem spoke.

“It’s somewhat difficult to explain.”

“Speak freely. I’m receiving the finest armor as a bribe—what right do I have to complain?”

I meant this sincerely. While Black Knight armor was normally unobtainable for a Mourner, if acquired, it could be considered an ultimate item.

With the engine-like device installed in the armor, I could even draw out anti-magic power that I normally couldn’t handle, and with proper application, I might achieve about 0.2 Valterok’s capability.

In such circumstances, I would accept whatever Valterok’s request might be, as long as it wasn’t too absurd.

But Valterok hesitated to convey his request to me.

What could be so difficult to ask?

As I tried to imagine what kind of command might have been given in the mythic era, I looked at the armor being fitted to my body.

The armor reminded me of mechanical suits I’d seen in movies.

It wasn’t entirely mechanical or sci-fi, but the way it was being fitted gave that impression.

They wrapped my forearms with circuits, then covered them with steel crafted with the arcane knowledge of the Anti-Magic School.

These components, seemingly crafted by skilled artisans over a long period, were gradually taking their place on my body, conveying a sense of security.

The thought that I might be safe from harm as long as I remained in this armor.

And that was probably true. Few items were as sturdy and resistant to magic as this armor.

Getting used to it would be the only issue, but I smiled with satisfaction as I watched the armor gradually covering every part of my body.

Honestly, I had been a bit annoyed when he suddenly demanded proof and attacked me.

But seeing such a bribe, I felt I could forgive him. After all, Valterok must have his reasons.

“Here’s the helmet. I should inform you that you need to wear the helmet to properly utilize the anti-magic power.”

The work was suddenly complete, and the helmet was handed to me.

Its plain shape had its own charm. I nodded and firmly put on the helmet.

[Ruwellin’s Black Armor]

[“In this land forsaken even by gods, what is needed is hope. By any means necessary, rebuild the divine bloodline.”

-To Valterok, ???

This is armor for Black Knights, crafted with the essence of their techniques for an honorary Black Knight. Anti-magic power flows through its glossy black surface, repelling magic, and the anti-magic generator built into the armor enables movements similar to those of a Black Knight.]

[The wearer can release anti-magic power at will and gains resistance to magical attacks and phenomena.

Anti-magic power can only be released within 5 meters of the wearer, and consumed anti-magic power is recharged every dawn.]

[Defense: 20]

The armor’s information appeared before me.

I couldn’t simply rejoice with an “Oh, that’s effective.”

My previously wide grin froze. My gaze fixed on the flavor text floating in the air.

I slowly raised my head to look at Valterok.

“This might sound strange, which is why I hesitated… but please understand that this was my mission.”

“You can’t be serious.”

Valterok heaved a deep sigh and said:

“What I want from you is one thing: to spread your bloodline widely and revive the divine lineage.”