ALL NOVEL Chapter 174
174. To the Research Facility [Side – Golem]
“We’ve arrived. This is the town you once lived in—Hailake.”
Riding on horseback for about an hour, a large, walled town stretched out before us.
—This is it. No doubt about it. This is the town where I was born.
Not too long ago, I was living here.
The word “Hailake” had come up a few times before, now that I think about it.
“I know where the research facility is. But your face is well-known, and they’re desperate to find you.
We’ll be diving into the enemy’s lair. Are you prepared for that?”
“Don’t ask dumb questions.”
I want to know more about myself.
If that means facing danger, I don’t care.
Hearing my response, Vitt sighed.
“…Fine. Guess I’ll do what I can too. First, put this on.”
＊
“Captain of Lord Matthew’s personal unit, Vitt Baluart. I’ve brought a slave child. Let us through.”
We had arrived at an inconspicuous building in town.
Though not very large, there were two guards posted at the entrance. That alone lent credibility to Vitt’s claim that this was the research facility.
“Vitt…? I’ve heard the name, but have you ever been here before?”
“Only once, a long time ago. Anyway, let us through, will you?”
“Well, I can probably let you in, but… what’s with the kid?”
The guard pointed at me with a dubious expression.
I was dressed in women’s clothes, with a tattered cloth draped over me.
[You’ve got a good face, so if you cross-dress, the guards will think you’re a girl!]
…Or so Vitt had said. But no way it’d go that smoothly.
“That kid’s a girl? Why are you bringing a girl along?”
No way. Am I really passing as a girl?
“I found a slave kid. Can we get through for now?”
“…Fine. You don’t seem like an outsider. Talk to the person in charge inside.”
Surprisingly, the guards opened the door without much resistance.
Vitt gave a quick “thanks” and pulled me inside by the hand.
“…Wait.”
As we entered the building, the guards called out from behind us.
“Just in case, I want to see the kid’s face. Take off that cloth.”
Vitt’s face froze.
“…Do I have to?”
“Yeah. Hurry up.”
Vitt reached for the cloth on my head—
“Sorry about this! Excuse us!”
He yanked it off and threw it into the guards’ faces with a whoosh!
“Run! This way!”
“You… You’re weak, but your methods are reckless.”
“Shut up! I couldn’t think of anything else!”
We ran, turning down the hallway. I could keep going, but I had to match Vitt’s slower pace.
“Look! That kid’s a golem!!”
“Someone stop those two!”
To make things worse, the guards were shouting loudly, calling for reinforcements. Their voices echoed down the narrow hallway, surely reaching ahead of us.
Soon, footsteps thundered from the direction we were headed.
“A golem!?”
“Hey, you two! Stop right there!”
Men who seemed to be research facility staff appeared ahead, brandishing weapons.
“
But there was no way we could stop here. I activated
I leaped forward, landing a flying kick to one man’s face. As I landed, I aimed for the next staff member.
—I see. My body feels light. This is nothing like before. So this is what it means to strengthen a skill!
“Aaaaahhhhh!”
To my surprise,
I quickly dispatched the researchers with my kicks.
The hallway fell silent again as we resumed running.
“So, where are we headed?”
“This building may look ordinary, but the research facility is underground!
We need to find the staircase leading down and go from there!”
Vitt, now out of breath, explained between gasps.
“…And where’s the staircase?”
“I don’t know!”
“You said you’ve been here once!”
“I didn’t go all the way in! Anyway, you take care of it from here!”
Vitt pointed ahead, where a second group of researchers had already gathered.
Don’t tell me we have to fight off all these researchers until we find the hidden passage to the basement!?
I’ve sworn not to kill anyone, and I can’t afford to waste experience points like this!
“You’re useless, aren’t you!?”
“S-Shut up! I was a captain, you know!?”
I activated