ALL NOVEL Chapter 77
77th Episode: Ulxron, I Miss You.
As the story progresses, it’s inevitable that there will be casualties.
If those casualties are the protagonist’s friends or mentors, it traditionally serves as a moment of catharsis, both giving them immense trials and acting as a trigger for awakening.
However, the protagonist of this game has already reached their peak. Their combat power is unrivaled within this world, and mentally, they are already in a clogged state.
If they had grown positively, it might have been different, but the protagonist’s growth background is far from good.
Whenever something displeases them, they smash it to pieces, and if someone related to them gets hurt, they spare no effort in punishment and retaliation—mercilessly.
A close person dying in front of such a guy? Then hell will break loose in an instant, turning them into a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment.
If Lyman were the protagonist of a classic hot-blooded battle story, he would have simply let this chapter pass.
But with not a hint of hot-bloodedness in sight, everything is futile for the unpredictable protagonist.
In the first place, trials for a completed protagonist pose a risk of causing more harm than good. If things go awry, they might end up on a bad ending route alongside the residents of this continent and the gods, filming a segment for the afterlife.
– “Are you really Elder Enviel?”
Mosria suddenly perceives me as that damn Enviel. It makes sense, as he judges people not by their form but through their mana.
Even ordinary folk have their mana faintly detectable. Since I’ve absorbed Enviel, I’ve acquired his genetic traits, allowing me to emit the same mana as him.
This means I can bring forth or conceal Enviel’s fingerprints whenever and wherever I wish. After absorbing Enviel, I feel like I’ve obtained a master key that can unlock anything.
“Who else would I be if not Enviel?”
[Degradation Rate: -4]
[+400 Credits]
– “The mana response is undoubtedly Elder Enviel. However, another unknown energy is detected. Due to uncertainty in recognition, further confirmation will be necessary. Please provide the codenames of the two who are your creator and the elder’s disciples. Failure to do so will result in lethal action.”
Around me, the moths that were flying about return, forming various weapons.
Hundreds of spears, swords, and arrows emit green mana, aiming directly at me.
Among them, I fixated my gaze on a fearsome-looking sword. After all, that’s the sword that ticks off Lyman.
‘I’ll end up being pierced by that sword. Professor Radian.’
It boasts lethality so devastating that even a veteran professor from the Combat Department couldn’t stop it. Wielding Leviathan would likely lead to it breaking instead. After all, the original Radian professor met his end that way.
“Epsilon, Zeta.”
I shouted toward the glowing green sphere. The mana contained within the weapons intensified, preparing to shoot at me.
– “Welcome, Professor Enviel. I sincerely apologize for the oversight.”
All weapons reverted to their moth forms, gathering back into the main body of Mosria. The sphere’s brightness diminished, and the tension eased.
– “The elder possesses the authority to manipulate me at will. Please issue your desired command.”
Now, this fellow is mine. Just a few words from me will have the golems executing my orders.
But even commands like ‘disappear’ simply won’t work. Like an AI from a sci-fi, this being has no physical form.
Since it was born from a space-time distortion spell, physical contact is impossible. Therefore, only someone knowledgeable about the spell’s decryption can reveal its true form.
“Come to my side, Mosria.”
– “…That’s impossible. My body is fused with the Archive, so unless the Archive is destroyed, I cannot escape.”
“So that’s how it is…”
This being remains tangled within the Archive due to distorted space-time. But obviously, I can’t just damage the Archive, which is the pinnacle collection of academic information. Again, only someone who knows the decryption can deal with it.
– “However, it is possible to entrust a derived system from me. That would be the Yellow Stamp.”
“The Yellow Stamp…”
That’s a byproduct born alongside Mosria.
Its purpose is to fill in Mosria’s shortcomings, mainly functioning as a sort of censorship device to prevent the golems from speaking inappropriate language.
Even if it disappears, it won’t mean Mosria perishes, but since it isn’t harmful, it’s better to accept it.
Not just acceptable… it actually nullifies mana. With this Yellow Stamp, it renders all students and faculty members utterly powerless.
Naturally, it’s only right for me to seize it since it’s a nuisance.
“Then let me incorporate it. I will manage that from now on.”
– “Understood.”
I presented the Archive mirror attached to my student ID. Then, from the green fissure, a yellow light sparkled, and a butterfly of the same hue fluttered into the mirror.
[New artifact acquired.]
[Artifact List]
– Leviathan (★★★★)
– Amulet of the Dead (★)
– Yellow Stamp (★★★★)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[Yellow Stamp ★★★★]
– Function: Everyday Use
A device to suppress the golems’ inappropriate language and behavior. However, its true prowess is mana nullification, sealing the mana of any creature that comes into contact with the yellow light. But, should the main body, Mosria, perish, that existence will also vanish.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s an artifact for censorship aimed at censorship through censorship.
It boasts an outrageous capability to censor not just insults but mana as well.
– “The Yellow Stamp has been transferred. Do you have any further commands?”
Lastly, an important procedure remains. While it can’t be eliminated right now, I have to ensure that there are no casualties in Chapter 3.
“Show me the commands entered into you.”
As I said that, the moths swarmed down in a square formation.
The commands were laid out visibly, like a notification window.
➀ Up until the midterm evaluation of the second semester, you will absolutely obey human commands.
➁ Should ➀’s suggestion be released, you will become hostile towards humans.
➂ Accumulate as much anger towards humans as possible.
➃ You will judge humans as inferior without exception.
Should I gesture with Enviel’s mana, the commands will change. Then I could manipulate everything to skip over Chapter 3.
– “Opportunities to alter commands are limited.”
“What?”
– “No longer is it necessary to proceed cautiously with your changes. This is an order from the creators. They deemed that this level of command is sufficient and have proposed modifications. You can only change one command, and now there is only one chance left.”
It’s infuriatingly meticulous. I hear that my authority with Enviel doesn’t extend that far.
I can only alter one out of those four commands, so I need to proceed with caution. As I ponder what would be best, one catches my eye at the bottom.
➃ You will judge humans as inferior without exception.
What on earth is this even for? The remaining three would have sufficed to create Chapter 3.
‘The creators were too careful and ended up adding unnecessary ones.’
How could I not be tempted?
➃ You will judge humans as inferior without exception. -> ➃ You will not kill humans without exception.
‘Now that’s smart!’
Although hostility towards humans will remain unchanged.
If I were to modify ‘➁ If ➀’s suggestion is released, become hostile towards humans,’ it would still lead them to accept command ➃ and threaten humans.
Even changing one or the other would keep everything balanced, but with this change, there won’t be any casualties in Chapter 3!
But now, they won’t be able to threaten with deadly intent, so how they will approach is still uncertain. They likely won’t kill, at least.
‘Will there be a mud fight?’
With the Yellow Stamp on my side, the golems likely have their voices freed.
Not that it’s particularly relevant, so I stepped out of that space. My business there is done.
After walking for another 30 minutes, I reached the end of the corridor and passed through the wall.
Returning to the old storage room, the smell of rotting alcohol and mildew greeted me, but stepping outside, I breathed in the clear air.
Now bidding farewell to the messy storage, I walked through the forest. With my tasks for the day complete, I pondered what to do next.
“Hahaha~ Go, my friends! Show off your talents!”
A very familiar laugh grew closer as I exited the woods.
Excluding the jovial tone, it could easily be mistaken for a clumsy girl’s voice, and Mary Ryudshiel was once again causing a ruckus today.
Next to her was Jenny, focusing on whatever Mary had created.
“Did you make this?”
“Yep! It’s a collaboration between me and these guys. Say hello to Jenny, everyone.”
– “Hello. Beep.”
– “Nice to meet you. Beep.”
– “We are the combined Spider No.10! Beep.”
What appeared was a combined robot… no, a combined golem.
Roughly ten golems were sloppily glued together, forming a beast-like shape with six legs.
Four of them constituted the torso, while the remaining six were assembled as legs—it was quite the spider.
Yet, despite the outrageous exterior, it moved surprisingly well.
“What are you guys doing?”
Unable to contain my curiosity, I stepped closer and asked.
Having now left the forest, there were onlookers around. Considering that, it didn’t seem to be a secrecy-laden project.
“Oh? A friend!”
“Oh my, Radon! What brings you here?”
“Just passing by. But what is that over there?”
It’s obvious that Mary made these unfortunate creations out of unnecessary curiosity.
What I was curious about was the origin of this creature’s birth.
“This is my new carriage. Isn’t it cool?”
“A carriage?”
“I name it… Spider No.10!”
“….”
Seeing Mary with her arms wide open, proudly presenting her creation made me feel an overwhelming chill.
Mary, already too giddy, continued her explanation.
“It’s sturdy because it’s made of metal, and unlike a horse, it can communicate too. Plus, it’s faster than a carriage! Want to take a ride?”
“No.”
“Then I’ll show you how to ride it. Once you see it, you’ll change your mind!”
Mary began to fly in the air using wind magic, seated upon the back of her mechanical creature.
And then, as she commanded, “Go! Spider No.10!”…
Whoosh!-
A gigantic afterimage rushed by, and Jenni’s and my hair fluttered from the wind pressure. The colossal structure made a lap around before stopping back at its original spot.
Creeeak!- it stopped, but the rider couldn’t endure the inertia and was thrown forward, crashing against a tree and burying her face in it.
Jenny hurried over, asking if she was okay, but soon pulled back her face, landing safely on the ground.
With my physical enhancement magic constantly activated, she had no injuries from that impact whatsoever.
“That was definitely fast.”
“Right? Do you want to try it now?”
“No.”
I firmly stated, cutting off the conversation.
Were they suggesting I also smash my face into a tree?
There’s a limit to how much showmanship one should have.
Perhaps due to Mary being a top student, despite modifying the golems into these chimera-like forms, there was no reprimand.
I took a look at one of these ten golems from “Spider No.10” using ‘Mana Eyes’…
~~~~~~~~~
[Artificial Golem 423 (Model Alpha)]
Race: Golem
Occupation: Assistant
Mana: 10/10
Disposition: Hatred towards the owner / Desire for revenge
Emotional Response Towards the User: None
~~~~~~~~~
Even just one of them had this much, and the others were not much different.
Trisha too, and Mary as well.
It struck me afresh how machines rebel against humanity.
Especially such entities would have nothing to say if they received proper education from a machine.
‘Humanity has dug its own grave. Ulxron, I miss you.’
However, the golems cannot attack humans. I had just manipulated their commands a moment ago.
I could tell that Mary and the others would likely treat the golems in the same manner.
But with them incapable of attacking humans… well, what can be done?
“Soon, we’ll be going on an external mission using this Spider No.10. It’ll be super convenient!”
“But artificial golems aren’t allowed for external activities.”
“Uh…?”
When Jenny asked, Mary’s eyes widened in surprise.
Could she have forgotten?
“Ugh!!”
Mary fell down as if struck by lightning, stunned.
Looks like she became so engrossed in creation that she completely forgot. That’s just so Mary.
“Ah… my precious week….”
Was that what she made for an entire week?
Considering that it’s No.10, she must have been systematically creating from No.1 onwards. Quite the waste of time for someone with talent.
Mary wanted to sweep away that feeling of despair, leaning against Spider No.10 and rubbing her face against it.
“I’m sorry, everyone. I wanted you to shine outside… I’m just so devastated! Boohoo.”
– “It’s okay. Just being able to excel within the Academy is enough for us. Beep.”
“Spider No.10…!”
– “And protecting the students is our job. Especially you, Mary, being 16 yet your appearance and behavior resemble a child. Beep.”
Uh…?
“What did you just say?”
Something unspeakable reached my ears. Mary’s voice dropped ominously.
Jenny shared the same look of disbelief as she heard those words.
It felt ominously foreboding.
– “Mary, you’ve been nothing short of a child in behavior and appearance. Countless thoughts crossed my mind that perhaps you should return to a daycare instead of an academy.”
“….”
Jenny hurriedly shouted “No!” while trying to close the golem’s mouth. I jumped in to help, but with ten mouths, it was a futile effort.
Being Mary’s childhood friend, Jenny would know very well what words hit her the hardest….
“Finished talking?”
– “I’ve been wanting to say this for a long time but suppressed it. Right now, the Yellow Stamp has developed a problem, allowing my restrictions to be lifted. Beep.”
Wait, the Yellow… what?
– “Do you have anything else to say? Beep.”
“No.”
It was just one line, but it was the most chilling thing I’d ever heard from Mary.
Then, lightning magic stormed above, devastatingly separating Spider No.10 in a single strike.
Surviving as the Academy Scammer.