C157: Unwelcome Guests (3)
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The golem, which Bryno unveiled, was slightly simpler than expected. No, not a little. The content, which was thought to be a human-type golem that should walk on two legs and have two arms, was instead a huge sphere.
"What is it? It's just…… It's a round piece of metal."
The surface had a subtle golden color, but it was not gold, but an alloy made by mixing brass and other metals. The eyes of the children who expected a wonderful golem were full of disappointment.
"What's that? What piece of metal did they bring?"
Hans also could not hide his disappointment. The only one that didn't lose interest was Seridan. She stared at the giant metal sphere with her arms folded.
Bryno continued the explanation with a smile.
"Of course I understand. If you look at this, you might think, [What kind of golem is this?] So I'll show you the real image of this new Golem."
Bryno said so and took out a small mana stone that he had prepared in advance.
Lower class golems used for industrial purposes work with steam engines but high class ones work with mana stones.
Golems also have a rating. The higher level, the higher the output and uptime.
Bryno put a finger-sized blue-colored mana stone on the sphere. There was a small groove on the surface of the sphere, and the mana stone fit perfectly there.
Soon after, the mana stone shone and blue lines ran on the surface of the golden sphere. It was a magic circuit engraved on the golem.
The sphere split along the fine grooves engraved on the surface, and both legs came out and raised themselves. The sound of iron interlocking and the ferocious rotation of the cogwheels made the audience's ears dizzy.
In less than 10 seconds the metal, which was only a round sphere at first, soon took the form of a golem with two legs and two arms. The golem's small face, which looked like a round bowl turned upside down, shone with a blue light from the mana stone.
"Wow!"
"That's awesome!"
The audience who watched the scene from beginning to end clapped their hands. The children threw away their toys and already pulled their parents' sleeves to ask them to buy the golem for them.
"Whoa."
Rudger also patted his chin interestingly as he saw the golem.
It's a round design that's not that sophisticated, perhaps based on the sphere. Compared to the relatively poor lower body, the two arms and the upper body that looked strong showed that it was made for a very practical purpose.
"The legs are short, but the arms are big enough to touch the floor. I think it is specialized in moving heavy objects or breaking something. It looks suitable for use in a mine."
Seridan, who seemed to be the most excited, unexpectedly analyzed the use of the new golem.
"It is also true that it looks easy to move when it is not in operation as it is made of a transforming sphere. Just roll it and move it. But I'm a little disappointed if it's just that."
"There seems to be something more."
"You think so, too, right?"
Rudger noticed from Bryno's expression that he was still hiding something more. As expected, Bryno went straight to the point.
"I'm also satisfied with your response, but the true nature of the DT-3000 has yet to be revealed. Now, look."
Bryno immediately used his mana and activated the golem.
The golem curled up slightly, bending his upper body. Just as it first changed from a sphere to a human form, this time, the sound of the cogwheels rang out and the shape of the golem changed.
The short legs stretched, and the arms also supported the ground strongly. The golem in human form eventually turned into a horse.
"Wow, my God."
Hans, who was bored at first, glittered at the sight. It was the same for others.
From a round sphere to a human form and from a human form to a horse form. Everyone's blood boiled when they saw the golem transforming into various shapes and it was the same for Rudger.
"Is it a transformer? I've only seen it in movies.'
The difference was that the one in the movie was made up of computer CG, and the golem in front of him was real.
'Will it transform into a car later?'
Suddenly, he was curious, but Rudger smiled because it was a useless idea even if he thought about it himself.
Bryno continued to explain the golem functions.
"As you can see, this new Golem DT-3000 can change into a total of three shapes. A human form suitable for breaking and cleaning things up, an animal form for transporting people and things and its usual sphere form.
A golem that can be operated by changing its shape according to the situation was certainly great compared to today's golems, whose shape is fixed. The audience's response was just as enthusiastic.
'This alone will make the golem very popular in many places.'
There were many parents with children among those gathered at the start-up ceremony, but there were also many businessmen who carried out business related to golems.
They responded as they were already itching to see the future possibilities in the DT-3000.
"Sir! Can I look around more?"
Rudger nodded at Sheridan's bright eyes as he turned around.
"Yes, don't go too far."
"Don't worry!"
Hans sighed as he saw Sheridan running forward without anyone stopping her.
"Oh, my. People will think I'm here to play."
"Don't say too much. However, sometimes it is necessary to relieve the mood in this way. Otherwise, who knows what she will do."
"I guess so too."
Hans knew very well what would happen if Seridan exploded. She would really cause an explosion. This is because the talent and instinct that she possesses as a bomber can't be stopped unless Rudger comes forward.
"I think it was the first time I saw her."
"Yes, it was in the kingdom of Delica, wasn't it?"
"It was."
The first place the two met Seridan was in an underground mine in the Delica Kingdom.
The Delica Kingdom was enslaving sub-races and used them in the mines. Rudger, who was digging into the darkness of the Delica Kingdom at that time, discovered the reality before anyone else.
There, when everyone was digging a tunnel with no hope, the only one who didn't lose the flame was a dwarf. She picked up the scrap metal the guards left and combined sulfur powder and ammonia from the mine to create a terrifying bomb to escape the mine.
Perhaps if Rudger and Hans hadn't stumbled upon it then and stopped it, she would have used the bomb to collapse the mine. Sheridan was such a dwarf.
Recently, she had been stuck in a workshop in the corner of the back alley, so Rudger took the opportunity to give her a break. Otherwise, the tragedy that could have happened in the underground mines of the Kingdom of Delica that day might have happened in Leathervelk.
"I still get goosebumps all over my body when I think about that time."
"But you're alive now."
Hans nodded that Rudger was right. Just in time, the students passing by recognized Rudger and greeted him.
"Mr. Rudger! Hello!"
"Yes."
"I enjoyed the duel! Congratulations on winning!"
"Yes."
He just answered shortly, but the students laughed among themselves and left. Hans looked at the growing students and asked Rudger.
"Are you popular among students?"
"Do you mean me?"
"Then, who could it be, if not you?"There's a lot of gossip about a charismatic new teacher who developed a new magic. From the perspective of the students, there are bound to be a lot of stories out there."
At Hans's words, Rudger still seemed to have doubts.
"Don't tell me… Are you not aware of it?"
"Aware?"
"I'm asking just in case just, but what do you think your position in Theon is right now?"
"I am not just an ordinary new teacher."
"……Are you serious? How the hell are you an ordinary new teacher?"
"Of course, it is true that I am slightly different from other new teachers."
"Slightly? Have I misunderstood the word 'slightly'?"
It was difficult for Hans to follow Rudger's words.
"No, my brother is so talented, I know that since I have followed you for a long time and you show your outstanding talent wherever you go. Even so, aren't you too ignorant?"
"I am very talented?"
"The source code magic that brother created is the talk of the neighborhood right now. Don't you know that you've already surpassed other teachers?"
Source code was the magic that made the most brilliant contribution to making Rudger's name known. The coordinate designation technique shown later was also surprising, but that part was not so widely known because Rudger did not properly spread the information. But even then, he showed it a little in the finals, so anyone with a keen eye would recognize it at once.
"Why the hell did you do that? Weren't you trying to be as quiet as possible while maintaining your status as a teacher?"
"I needed to make my name known. At least to find out what the Black Dawn Society was up to, I had to deliberately win Theon's favor."
Rudger's judgment was reasonable. If Rudger had really been busy avoiding the situation, he might have been as ordinary as others without any difficulty as a teacher.
'But what's the point of breaking things down if I do that?'
In the end, there was nothing he could do but be dragged into the situation. So Rudger deliberately opened his paddles one by one.
After deliberately making his name known, he gained recognition from Theon. Of course, he was also aiming for a bonus based on class evaluation.
Hans also nodded his head as he understood that part.
"Well, as the value of your name increases, on the contrary, it will be difficult for the Black Dawn Society to hastily order brother."
As his name value has increased, interest in Rudger also increased.
As this interest increases, there is a risk that Rudger's identity will be revealed, but on the contrary, it will be difficult for the Black Dawn to move such a Rudger.
Rudger also doesn't have to follow orders when he can give the excuse, 'I can't move because I attracted too many people'.
"But on the other hand, you are also in danger."
"Hans. In order to achieve something, one has to take risks commensurate with it. Otherwise he won't get anything."
"That's true, but I'm very worried. Even if it was to gain recognition, it was too hasty to disclose the source code."
"Why was that hasty?"
"If you solve something that important, of course there's nothing to show you later, right? If you attract too much attention at first, it will be toxic to brother as a result."
"You don't have to worry about that."
"What?"
"Source code magic is just a part of what I have anyway. I did it because I thought it didn't matter if I showed it."
"……."
Hans looked at Rudger, wondering if that made sense.
''Doesn't your brother know how much attention the source code is getting right now?'
Source code was an innovation in the world of magic. At a magic that makes another magic in the shortest time without failure the wizards had no choice but to go crazy.
There were many people that came to Theon for the source code but Rudger was treating it as something dispensable.
"Are you serious?"
"Hans, when did you see me lying about that?"
"……My God, you mean it."
Hans eventually shook his head.
"I've known my brother for a long time, but I'm still not sure about your real abilities."
"Didn't I tell you before?"
"Is it real magic? Honestly, I still don't know. If it's magic, it's magic. What's real magic? And the thing that comes out when you run out of mana……."
Hans, who had heard a lot from Rudger, was still half-believing if it was real. Even though Rudger moved through space, invented the source code magic and he even saw with his eyes that he was well versed in other fields.
Rudger spoke peacefully, as if it were nothing.
"Magic is magic. Mysterious and hard to understand, unlike the ones we use now."
"Are you talking about the story of the wizard from the legend?"
"What if it's not just a legend?"
"That's…"
As Hans' expression became serious, Rudger shrugged.
"It's a joke."
"……I've felt this for a long time, but your jokes are bad for someone with a weak heart like me."
"It's not a legend."
"To what extent?"
Hans opened his mouth wide, but noticed someone approaching them, and began to manage his expression.
"I'm sorry, but can I ask for directions?"
A voice that gently enveloped the human ear and was also familiar was heard. Rudger slowly turned his head to look at the owner of the voice.
"Do you know the way to the stadium where the magic duels will be held?"
The first thing he saw was sky blue hair and confident eyes that have a strong sense of curiosity and challenge. Everyone who had the beauty pass by them turned around at least once, but Rudger couldn't think of such a comfortable thought.
'Why is she here?'
Casey Selmore, the person Rudger is most wary of right now is right in front of his nose. The detective who wants to catch a criminal that should never be identified the most.
The two faced each other with their identities hidden.