Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Steel Tower (4)

#42

Linhardt.

Originally a repairman who resided in the Steel District but a unfortunate man who was dragged because outstanding talent stood out.

One of the extremely few personnel who work going back and forth between the 1st floor and 4th floor, and a named NPC who can receive help when entering the deep part of the research institute.

‘At this time he is still young. Fresh so good to see.’

Whether because it is an early point he definitely had a younger feel than when seen beyond the monitor.

Originally he was a much more dry uncle.

The sitting Linhardt barely opened his mouth.

“Y-you guys on earth···?”

“Stay still for a moment. You’ll get hurt.”

Sharing the joy of reunion is also good but there was something to do first.

Bran rolled up the hem of Linhardt’s pants.

A thick metal ring was fastened over the skinny ankle.

Sreung.

When Bran drew the longsword Linhardt’s face turned white.

“W-wait. What are you trying to do? This is not something that can be cut just like that!”

“I know too.”

Bran answered.

The only one who can release the shackle was the general manager in the secret laboratory.

A vicious invention that immediately pops out a blade and cuts the ankle if not going through legal procedures!

But tricks exist everywhere.

“Kale. Can you press and hold?”

“Uung. I think it will work.”

Kale nodded.

He had already taken out the control mana stone the warden had and was tightly gripping it.

When Kale who closed his eyes concentrated his mind, golden radiance bloomed under the palm.

Paaa···!

It was the moment the radiance completely wrapped the mana stone.

Bran who placed the longsword on the shackle slightly pulled the sword hilt as if sawing.

Sreok. Along with a soft metallic sound the shackle was cut.

The embedded blade did not pop out. The shackle cut in half fell to the floor.

The corner of Bran’s mouth rose.

“Success.”

“H-how?!”

It was a trick that can be used only if there is a character in the party who reached the realm of manifestation of mana cultivation.

Covering the mana stone with personal mana to block the connection with the shackle, and in between swipe!

“Well done. Handling mana became much more proficient.”

“Ehehe, thanks to Bran helping."

Receiving praise Kale grinned.

Unlike Bran who is still under foundation construction his mana proficiency was increasing frighteningly day by day.

Linhardt’s gaze was still fixed on his own ankle seen after several years.

“Released..."

Only the place where the shackle was fastened had turned white like a baby’s skin.

It was unbelievable. However judging from the shin hurting it was not a dream.

Linhardt said.

“······Why are you trying to go to the secret laboratory?”

“To smash everything.”

“That is··· a reason I like. Silien will know though.”

“I’ll kill that bitch too.”

“Is that so.”

Linhardt slowly raised his body.

Not one question was solved but now that kind of thing was not important.

The important thing was that he became a free body.

The fact that the subject who put that freedom in his hand was the intruders before his eyes.

And Linhardt’s motto is “Favors and revenge must be repaid.”

Lowering the hem of his pants again Linhardt nodded.

“Let’s go right away. I won’t ask anything.”

Bran let out a hollow laugh.

This is why I like this friend.

****

Bran’s group crossed the underground 2nd floor laboratory following Linhardt.

Despite the appearance being unusual whether because they were with Linhardt no one cared.

Researchers’ voices were being heard from various places.

“Good. Let’s work hard today too!”

“Anyone who saw the key I put on the blueprint?”

“Uaa··· when are the parts coming.”

One and all unlike Linhardt they were full of motivation.

If natural then natural.

They thought they were working at an ordinary large company.

The reason researchers of the secret floor including Linhardt are unfortunate is, paradoxically because they were too excellent.

“Fuck. Infiltration would absolutely not have been possible.”

Looking around Ilark stuck out her tongue.

All around are people and golems. Let alone the secretary’s corpse she had no confidence to hide even the tail.

How fortunate to receive Linhardt’s cooperation.

How long did they walk about 30 minutes following the dizzy passage.

“Yes. Arrived.”

Linhardt stopped.

In front of him a large cabinet made of tin was placed.

A sign was hung saying “Firefighting tools”.

Confirming no one around Linhardt took a deep breath while gripping the handle of the cabinet.

“Huu··· although I said I won’t ask anything, actually there is just one I want to ask. Is it okay?”

“Yes.”

“Is all the crazy talk done while coming here fact?”

Linhardt turned to Bran.

The hands dry like twigs were trembling.

Bran nodded.

“Of course.”

“Aah···.”

Bran roughly told the current situation in the middle of coming.

That the lord was switched.

That Silien will soon make all new model golems go berserk.

Even the fact that if that cannot be stopped Valkeros will be destroyed.

The information Linhardt knew was only that the new model golems would be used in a terrible place.

He tightly closed his eyes.

“Terrible. I think I know why she was so obsessed with the new model golems. I knew Silien that woman was crazy long ago but to think she would even lay hands on the lord···!”

“Probably can be saved. Because the lord has a role left to be executed for treason.”

“Is my younger sister also confined in the place where the lord is?”

“With high probability.”

Almost certain.

Because the Abyss took the families of people working in the secret laboratory as hostages.

And Bran had never left out the sub quest of rescuing them even once.

“···Thank you.”

Answering like that Linhardt opened the cabinet.

Hoses or fire extinguishers for extinguishing fire were displayed, but the real function was separate.

It was the moment Linhardt who entered inside the cabinet fiddled with something.

Rumble!

The plate where the hose was mounted was pushed aside and a passage barely enough for one person to pass appeared.

Kale and Ilark were astonished.

“T-to think there is a path in a place like this···!”

“Damn, extremely narrow. Can I pass?”

“The inside is quite wide so it will be fine.”

A cool wind was blowing from inside.

In the game he thought it was making too much fuss, but actually seeing it seemed this much had to be hidden to maintain the secret among that many people.

Half inserting his body into the passage Bran turned back and waved his hand.

“Thanks for the favor. Just handle the aftermath well and go back. Be careful not to get caught that the shackle is released.”

“Th-thank you··· is there nothing more I can help?”

“As of now.”

Just bringing them this far was sufficient help.

Bran shrugged.

“Still if you really want to help try pondering. You handle machines well.”

Bran entered the passage with those words as the last.

The rest of the group followed.

Unlike the two Ilark could barely pass only after crumpling her body to the point a scream was about to come out.

Thud.

Linhardt who closed the cabinet door, recalling the words Bran said muttered.

“······Machine.”

****

Surprisingly the passage leading to the secret laboratory was not an elevator but a spiral staircase.

The smell is musty.

In the thick darkness light sources or anything did not exist.

‘Somehow the situation is similar to the Bottom Farm.'

Every time stepping on the stairs an echo was ringing out.

For a passage connected to a research institute that is the peak of magic engineering technology it was excessively retro.

Kale who was descending while gripping Bran’s collar tilted his head.

“M-more narrow than expected? I thought it would be much wider.”

“The bodies of the new model golems are all made outside. Since only the core that is the key is produced underground a large and wide passage is not necessarily needed.”

Bran answered.

There were passages in other places too but all were no different from here.

All inconvenience is to maintain the secret.

If golems were transported from the secret laboratory they would have been noticed nine times out of ten.

How long did they descend like that.

“Arrived.”

As the stairs ended a giant iron door appeared.

Faint blue light was seeping along the rectangular door gap.

When Bran gestured the two prepared for battle.

Clunk.

The moment slowly pushing the door without a handle, bright light poured over the three’s faces.

“Ugh. Dazzling...!"

"Damn."

Kale and Ilark frowned.

Because they were in thick darkness for a long time the cornea had become tender.

But that was only for a moment.

At the scenery of the secret laboratory that unfolded before their eyes the two’s eyes widened round.

“Ha, this kind of thing was underground?”

“······Impossible.”

Only the passage was narrow.

The wide laboratory was to the point it was hard to contain the entire appearance in one glance.

The walls and floor, ceiling were all composed of flat metal.

Light stones installed at regular intervals were spreading intense blue light in all directions.

“Do it quickly quickly! The big event is tomorrow!”

“Do you want even the remaining one ankle cut?! Uung!”

“S-sorry. Please have mercy···!”

“Number 12. Return to work.”

Personnel that would be hundreds including people and golems were going around that interior.

Researchers were extremely few and most were personnel monitoring them.

People in attire similar to the woman who harassed Linhardt were patrolling the laboratory while forming teams with new model golems.

Kale’s face turned pale.

“D-didn’t you say there are no golems?”

“Just not sending them out there are many individuals residing in the laboratory. Production facilities are also all equipped. Used for monitoring and labor.”

If not for them he would not have warned that security is strict.

Whether because it is a place guarding the most important location the armament of the golems was one and all fierce.

‘World fuck. Even holding weapons.’

Some golem was holding a long spear that reaches 7m in length.

The fact that it is not a quest to try at the current level was newly realized.

Although since he came this far he could not turn back.

‘The general manager······ is not there.’

The somewhat fortunate part was that the boss next difficult to Silien in the Steel Tower is not visible.

Since the air changes the moment he appears there is no way he was confused.

Probably with high probability he is staying on the 4th floor.

In case that guy comes up he had to finish the business before that.

Everyone must be tense so he should loosen once and go.

Bran turned to the two standing with resolute expressions and said.

“Good. Everyone don’t be too scared···”

“There, what guys are you?"

Precisely just as he was about to say.

From far away a high-pressure voice rang out.

The three turned their heads at the same time.

“Ah. Damn.”

“There are no personnel scheduled to visit today. Everyone come here!"

From a place about fifty steps away a group of guards were looking this way.

One new model golem. Five people.

The golem was bare-handed, but the men and women in armor were armed with weapons to suppress intruders.

Regrettable but no choice.

“Do you guys remember what to do?”

"...Yes."

The two nodded.

Since they hid well stealthily this far now speed was important.

Pat.

The moment Kale who took out the staff concentrated his mind, the forms of Bran and Ilark disappeared.

“Eh···.”

The eyes of the guard man who shouted widened.

Clearly there were three but two disappeared.

Only a faint radiance resembling dawn light was wavering in the place they were.

What the fuck. Did I see a phantom?

Just as the man was about to say that while looking at his colleagues.

“H-hey!"

One of the colleagues shouted.

Looking forward again the man gasped.

The two who disappeared had approached right before their eyes.

Ilark’s double-bladed axe was already being swung horizontally.

Bran who gripped the longsword was leaping while stepping on her shoulder.

The only one that reacted was the new model golem.

"Danger..."

The golem raised both arms.

Just before the arms covered in steel armor crossed and defended the head.

Boooom!

Bran’s slash weighted by containing mana drove down on the golem’s crown.

"^@#&!(!#···!"

Along with a twisted mechanical sound the large body tilted back.

Ilark’s slash drawn horizontally swept the five guards at the same time.

Slaaaash-!

The upper bodies of the five floated over the trajectory the axe was swung.

"...!"

No one could scream.

Exploded blood water wet the steel floor. Five lower bodies collapsed with a crash.

The golem that lost balance fell back.

Crunch!

Bran who finished by stabbing the sword into the golem’s core calmly recited.

“Let’s go.”