Chapter 43

Chapter 43

Steel Tower (5)

#43

“W-wait. Wait!”

Bran ignored the pleading guard and swung the sword.

Slice! The blade that cut the neck like cutting butter came out.

“It is going well more than thought.”

He muttered while looking at the headless body collapsing.

Blood drops were dripping along the tip of the chin.

Behind him ten corpses in armor and ten heads with eyes wide open were rolling.

‘Well. Originally rather than people golem guards are the main force.’

The guards could not become Bran’s match.

If natural then natural.

Because the main role of human guards here was managing researchers and facilities.

Still if not for the five days of training it would not have been this refreshing.

“There is reward.”

10 minutes since the first engagement started.

Bran’s group was advancing to the center of the laboratory while defeating golems and sentries they encountered one after another.

Whether the specs steadily raised were higher than thought, it was progressing much more smoothly than expected.

“Haha! This is the best!”

Among them Ilark’s activity stood out by far.

The suit she forcibly wore was torn long ago.

Definitely combat seemed to match her aptitude more than spy movies.

Thud! Landing in the middle of the guards who formed a dense formation Ilark smiled while baring her teeth.

“Hello.”

“Hik.”

There was no time to scream.

Gripping the axe handle with both hands she rotated once in place.

Booooooak-!

Cut body pieces flew up as if dancing.

“Ha.”

A rain of blood poured.

A red light cluster was wavering along her spine.

He seemed to know why Bran so urged to use a weapon.

The double-bladed axe with a blade width of 2m, length more than that was no different from a farming tool harvesting life.

Then, a mechanical sound rang out from behind Ilark who was catching her breath.

“Intruder. Removal necessary.”

“Uung?”

Ilark turned her head.

A new model golem armed with a giant war hammer was running while thudding.

Seeing a size two heads taller than herself Ilark raised the corner of her mouth.

“This time you?”

The pupils narrowed thinly.

Unlike humans who tear just by lightly touching it was an opponent that made fighting tasty.

The specially produced axe blade began to heat up due to her body temperature.

“Hueup!”

Ilark was shot like a bullet.

At the same time as she swung the axe a blazing line was drawn over the golem’s body and hammer handle.

Boooom!

The moment Ilark and the golem crossed, the golem cut in half collapsed.

“Removal, removal, removal, removal···.”

“Heng, nothing particularly different.”

Crunch! Landing while scraping the floor Ilark let out a hollow laugh.

It seemed he should replenish stamina once gradually.

Just as she who caught her breath was about to call Kale.

“Removal, do.”

“What?”

A mechanical sound was heard from right behind.

It was the moment she hurriedly turned her body.

Clang! The war hammer cut in half flew and struck her face.

“Kraak!”

The head rang. It seemed the nose was broken.

The eyes of Ilark who fell while sitting on her butt widened round.

The golem with only the upper body remaining was charging with fierce momentum.

“Removal. Removal. Removal.”

“Tough···!”

Ilark clenched her teeth.

The appearance of running while using both arms like legs was bizarre.

Just as she who stood up while hitting the floor with her tail was about to respond.

Puwak!

One white blade grew over the golem’s chest.

“#@···ge···.”

“······!”

Ilark flinched.

The light extinguished from the golem’s eyes.

Thud. The upper body that was rampaging flopped on the floor as is.

Bran who approached with steps drew the longsword from the golem’s back.

“You didn’t break the core. You should have cut a bit higher.”

“Bran···!”

“As long as power is supplied they are guys who keep moving. No different from undead.”

To perfectly kill a magic engineering golem the core must be destroyed.

The location of the core differed for each golem, and in the case of this new model it was the exact center of the chest.

Whether because he faced too much in the game catching the sense was not that difficult.

Ilark clicked her tongue.

“···Your words are correct. I was too careless.”

To forget the information clearly heard.

She could not deny that she got excited seeing blood after a long time.

For now he should cool his head a bit.

Crack. Turning the crooked nose Ilark opened her mouth.

“Kale. Fix me a bit.”

“Uung, going now!”

Kale who was hiding in the corner ran with steps.

He was following the two stealthily while hanging buffs.

Although anxious he had not been noticed even once yet.

‘The effect applies as expected.’

Bran raised an eyebrow.

It seemed good that he gave the cloak with the stealth option to that guy.

The two cloaks made from Zerban’s hide were specialized in stealth and defense respectively.

Stopping in front of Ilark Kale aimed at her face with the staff.

Paaa···!

A warm light ray like a spring morning poured out.

“Sunlight.”

“Ha. This is it.”

Ilark let out a hearty laugh.

Her wounds were healing at a fast speed.

The nosebleed stopped. The roughly fitted nose bone returned to place.

Even the bruise rising under the skin was subsiding as if when was that.

“The performance is certain.”

Bran whistled.

It was Healing Sunlight Kale’s new main skill.

A skill that emits light that heals wounds by combining Divine Power and mana.

Among recovery skills that clerics who reached the realm of 2 circles or more have one or so it was quite excellent.

『Healing Sunlight pours on you.』

『While in the influence range of the skill “Healing Sunlight” stamina and Endurance recover quickly!』

A notification window also rose for Bran who was in the range of the light.

Although there were no wounds the fatigue from battle was felt to be relieved.

Kale who instantly treated Ilark turned to him.

“Shall I do Bran too?”

“I’m fine. Since this is not the end manage mana well.”

“Uung. If needed tell anytime!”

Kale withdrew the staff.

Ilark who recovered even stamina along with wounds smiled while twisting her neck left and right.

“Good. With this I can kill a thousand more.”

He newly thought the party was well picked.

Although fuel efficiency improved due to heat control, honestly Ilark’s stamina was still bad.

But if Kale sticks right next to her and performs the role of an auxiliary battery?

It was not unreasonable to devastate the 3rd floor before her own stamina runs out.

“W-why is contact not coming!?”

“I don’t know! Both the 2nd floor and 4th floor do not respond!”

It was then.

From beyond a giant mechanical device a voice full of perplexity rang out.

Slightly turning the corner guards who were stamping their feet while gripping a microphone were visible.

“Damn! Try contacting the general manager directly!”

“Th-that also doesn’t work! Why on earth- kuek.”

The youth who was continuing the words collapsed.

Because Bran who approached in the meantime cut his neck.

“Give up. Because no one is coming.”

“Kyaaaaak!”

Again one head flew.

There is no matter of reinforcements coming.

Thanks to Bran’s operation based on the player’s knowledge.

What he did right after the first engagement occurred was destroying the resonance device that oversees communication on the 3rd floor.

‘There is a reason bombing the broadcasting station first when war breaks out. If noticed by Silien already it becomes troublesome.’

Unlike the 4th floor where an alarm rings at the same time as entry it was a strategy that can be used only on the 3rd floor.

Now the method of communicating on the relevant floor is only people’s voices.

Thanks to that it seemed he could achieve the goal of reaching the center of the laboratory much more easily.

Suddenly, a shout full of anger rang out from far away.

“There they are! Catch them!”

“Target discovered. Implementing removal measures.”

Raising his head guards and golems swarming like the Chinese army were visible.

Much more in number than the groups faced so far.

As expected the large-scale facility 3rd floor laboratory.

There was a reason the nicknames newbie’s hell and leveling spot coexist.

Just as Bran was thinking of a response method.

“Found them! Those guys are the intruders!”

“B-Bran! There!”

This time a voice came from the side.

From the place Kale pointed while astonished a force no different from the front was charging.

This was a bit not easy. Over twenty golems alone.

Just by eye estimate people were three digits.

Letting out a small sigh Bran gripped the sword hilt with both hands.

“What. We came to do this.”

“Haha! Because you have no confidence you’ll push with numbers?!”

“Lady Rawiena···!”

Heat haze was rising over Ilark’s shoulder.

Tightly fastening the cloak Kale closed his eyes and began offering a prayer.

The morning light that became much brighter was wrapping the two’s weapons as if coating.

Bran said.

“Let’s break through the front.”

Silence was soon affirmation.

At the same time the three’s forms were shot forward.

It was the moment Kale who ran together until the middle hid his body in a side path without people.

Boooom-!!!

As Bran and Ilark collided with the front group a metallic roar burst out.

****

『You achieved an overwhelming victory in a large-scale engagement. Weed’s Tenacity activates!』

『The growth speed of Strength, Agility increased slightly.』

『Due to repeated skill use the destructive power of Smash increases slightly!』

What announced the end of the battle was translucent messages rising one after another.

The body was hot. Bran swept the face smeared with blood water.

“······Arrived.”

Now the front was visible.

He doesn’t know how much time passed but it did not take that long.

Kale and Ilark who came out of the line of death together were catching their rough breath next to him.

“Haa··· haaaa···.”

“I-I thought I was going to die.”

Except for Kale the two’s appearance was like people who did a day’s work at a slaughterhouse.

Things like crushed eyeballs or organ pieces sticking were no longer bothersome.

‘Regrettable that there is no status window. Experience would have risen a lot.’

The important thing is that the enemies all died and we lived.

Hundreds of corpses and golem remnants were sprawled along the path they passed.

Since it was an originally wide laboratory there would of course be more forces but they were not visible right away.

Ilark raised her head.

“So. Is here the central area?”

“Yes.”

Bran nodded.

They were standing in front of the isolation wall of the central area which is the core of the 3rd floor laboratory.

A place with a passage leading to the 4th floor, which must be visited essentially to stop the destruction of the Steel Tower.

The only entrance was made of thick alloy.

“Haa··· move. This big sister will pierce.”

Ilark who was sitting on a golem’s head raised her body.

It would not be easy but this was also a burden the dealer had to bear.

The heat that started from the chest spread along the spine.

Ptui.

Just as she who spat on her hand was about to grimly grip the axe.

Beep-.

Along with a refined mechanical sound the iron door was pushed aside.

“···Yes?”

“Huk. This works.”

Ilark was dumbfounded in place.

Bran who input the passkey scratched his head as if embarrassed.

Don’t look with that kind of expression guy. Saving strength is good.

“···How?”

“I wonder too.”

Bran let out a hollow laugh.

Honestly he did not expect it to open.

Fist-style security reminiscent of some country’s army!

‘Even at this time the same. How many years have they been using the same password.’

Anyway since it opened comfortably it was a well-done matter.

“Let’s enter.”

“Uum··· yes. Yes. Have to enter.”

“E-everyone get treated and go!”

Bran took the lead and passed the isolation wall.

Whether all were deployed forward surprisingly there was no guard personnel inside.

It was a structure where giant steel cages were displayed on both sides of a path extending straight.

Thud.

Just as footsteps were ringing out.

“Hiiik! Don’t kill!”

“Kyaaaaak! Came?! In the end came!?”

“What?”

Suddenly a frightened voice burst from right next to them.

The three’s eyes opened round.

In a particularly narrow alloy iron cage, pale-skinned gentlemen were gathered together.

“W-whoever you are we did nothing wrong! Please save us!”

“You guys···.”

Even estimating a lot it does not look like twenty people.

All were wearing white gowns, and like Linhardt when first met shackles were fastened on one ankle.

Bran nodded.

“Aha, researchers were gathered here.”

“D-do you know us···?”

“Yes. I know.”

Somehow they were not visible.

They were researchers who worked in the 3rd floor laboratory.

Geniuses who were dragged in bewilderment and fell into existences no different from slaves.

Usually even if scolded since they are the most important personnel it seemed they were evacuated here in advance.

Good. There was no room to even start a rescue operation.

“I have not a shred of intention to harm so just stay quietly. When the work ends I’ll release you.”

“F-finish the work···! Who are you guys··· no, where are you going?”

“Underground 4th floor.”

“Yes?!”

Although the researchers were astonished and tried to stop Bran ignored them.

Even if dangerous to stop Silien’s destruction show it was a place that had to be gone.

The stairs connected to the 4th floor were located at the end of the side path.

Come to think of it it can be seen from here.

Kale and Ilark who entered the path gasped.

“Fuck. What is that.”

“Th-that is all people···!?”

The two’s gazes were fixed on the steel cages installed left and right.

Precisely on the existences filling that interior.

About a hundred men and women in orange experimental suits were sprawled sleeping.

Bran said.

“Whether because they are originally violent guys they put them to sleep. Excellent judgment.”

“Wh-what kind of people are they? Why in that appearance···.”

“They are prisoners. The secret that the new model golems are smart. Do you see some with dotted lines drawn on their heads?”

“······Secret?”

Bran made a bitter smile.

Actually on the temples of some men and women dotted lines were drawn long.

Pondering the meaning of the words Kale covered his mouth.

“S-surely!”

“Right. The material that makes the core of the new model golems is the human brain.”

“This fuck.”

Ilark reflexively spat out a curse.

The core material of the new model golems that achieved a leap development was none other than the human brain.

The true face of Silien known as a genius magic engineer.

“Most are death row inmates’. They secretly diverted violent guys who deserved to die. Sleeping sprawled like that is the first time I see too.”

“W-why of all things death row inmates···?”

“Because efficiency is good when made to go berserk. There is no need to even give the order to kill people. Just releasing the limit alone they’ll kill everything that stands out.”

Therefore there was no need to teach killing to most new model golems.

The reason the overall tone is unpleasant was also here.

At a decent idea that flitted through his mind Bran snapped his fingers.

“Yes. Let’s release all these guys. Leave the researchers as is.”

“I-is that okay? You said they are death row inmates?”

“That’s why releasing them. They’ll buy time while fighting the guards right?”

It was a so-called meat shield role.

If done well it could delay the remaining forces from pursuing.

Anyway since they are guys who deserve to die no pangs of conscience are felt.

He should proceed right away.

Just as Bran was looking around looking for a handle.

『Warning! Abnormal mana flow detected!』

Suddenly a red warning window rose before his eyes.

It was a type seen for the first time. Almost at the same time a chilling goosebump ran through the entire body.

‘Dangerous.’

The reason is unknown.

Right away no existence that could be a threat was visible before the eyes.

However, there had never been a time he suffered loss by ignoring intuition so far.

Huuuuung-

A hair-raising wind was pushing into the side path of the steel cages.

“Everyone dodge!”

“What?! Why suddenly···”

“Kyaak!”

Hurriedly turning his body Bran pushed the two with all his might.

It was the moment he hugged Kale and Ilark and fell.

Booooooo-!!!

A white explosion occurred over the place the wind passed.

The unknown white flame twisted its body while swallowing all existences within a 10m radius.

Saaaa···.

The mist that spread following wrapped the three.

“Hiiik. Cold!”

“F-fuck··· what is this?”

At the same time Kale and Ilark’s faces turned pale.

The identity of the mist was extreme cold chill.

Inside the high-density gas sleet was mixed.

Turning forward Bran frowned.

“Ah. Damn.”

The prisoners swept by the explosion had all turned into ice statues.

White frost was stuck on the floor and walls, iron bars.

There was only one existence that uses this kind of technique in the Steel Tower.

Suddenly, from the end of the path where the chill was fluttering some old man’s voice rang out.

“······Hehe. What kind of commotion is all this now.”

Hwaak! The chill split left and right.

An old man in work clothes revealed himself.

Although short in height, and hair and beard were white with age he by no means looked easy.

『The Otherworld presence presses you!』

Because the same energy as Silien was wavering over his shoulder.

Somehow he thought things were going well.

Looking at the old man Bran chewed his lips.

“······Rudel.”

“Uung? Who is the young man?”

Instead of answering Bran quietly placed his hand on the sword hilt.

Because if wrong the journey could end here.

The old man’s name is Rudel Asberg.

The general manager of the secret laboratory, and a lower executive of the Abyss who shoulders with Silien.