Chapter 19 – I made a pretty doll!
"So, what now…"
I was looking at the Mithril swords and armor that had been carried out of the big stone room.
As Mappa was concentrating on his smithing, Shiel and the other slimes had carried them by sliding it over their bodies.
Because of this, Mappa was able to make a lot of tools including pickaxes.
But even then, there were four sets left.
And so I was considering using them to arm a doll.
This was because it was possible that someone else might find a similar room with Golems in the future. And that would be incredibly dangerous.
If I was there, I could probably deal with it…
But currently, the only person who lived here and could use magic other than me was Rienna.
And Rienna was outside of the cave most of the time.
And so I thought it would be a good idea to have a powerful doll that could guard the tunnels.
I could embed the Magic Stone into it so it could use Shield, which would protect against all kinds of attacks.
If I enchanted it with my own magic, it should be able to create a very powerful Shield.
The one thing I wasn't sure about was whether the Doll would also be able to use my magic detection skill.
<
Oh.
According to the Advisor, Dolls could learn skills as well.
So maybe they would be able to use Magic Detection if I store an immense amount of energy into the Magic Stone.
Golems could not talk.
However, during the Killer Bird attack, it had been able to understand my words and act. In that case, I should be able to command them to warn the others if they sense any magic.
And if they were equipped with the Mithril armor and swords…
I looked at the 3-meter swords and the armor that was big enough to fit 4 or 5 people inside.
…To be honest, wouldn't they just get in the way?
These giant Golems would have to put on this armor and patrol those narrow tunnels.
They would get in people's way and make mining difficult.
…Hmmm. What should I do?
"Lord Heal? Are you not feeling well?"
Came a soft voice and so I turned around.
And there was Rienna, with her long black hair and worried expression.
"Uh, I'm fine… I was just thinking about something."
"I see… If there is anything that I can do, please let me know. Also, I brought you this."
Rienna handed me a wooden bowl that was filled with water.
"…Thank you, Rienna."
I accepted the water and took a sip.
"…It's delicious."
Was normal water really this good?
There was ice in it to be sure, but there was something else about it that was refreshing.
And maybe even a little sweetness.
"Is there something in here?"
"Yes! Lemons and coconut water! It wouldn't last very long if we drank it straight, so I've been diluting it with water. We have to save."
"Saving, huh. If anything, it's not too sour and is very refreshing. I prefer it to juice…"
"Really!? Hehe. Yes!"
Rienna made a fist and smiled.
I chuckled at her cheerfulness.
"Alright then, I'll make some more for the others!"
"Yes, yes. Good luck!"
"Thank you, Lord Heal!"
Rienna hummed as she returned to the kitchen.
She set a large wooden bowl on top of a stone table and then took out the lemons and coconuts. Rienna paused and took in a deep breath.
"…HAAAA!!!"
She shouted and she started furiously crushing the lemons.
Then she picked up a knife and cracked the coconuts cleanly in half.
My eyes widened at this display of strength.
Huh? Since when was she so strong?
I had seen her train with Erevan many times, but…
It wasn't just that. Rienna was using Freeze on the water in order to make ice.
I had only taught her about Freeze once…
Ever since she had acquired her new body, Rienna was active in challenging herself.
Body, huh…
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I looked at the newborn Rienna carefully.
Of course, it wasn't in a shameful way.
I was just thinking about how different she was now from that short goblin I knew.
…Hmm? Right. The Golems didn't have to be huge, did they?
Maybe all of the Golems I had seen up until now were just oversized, but there was nothing wrong with there being smaller ones.
If I made them human-size, we could just make the sword and armor small too.
Mappa could melt down the Mithril and create newer, smaller equipment.
If they were smaller, they would be able to move freely in the tunnels and we can save on Mithril.
The extra Mithril could be used to make shields for them to protect everyone.
"…Alright, it's decided!"
I had 14 Heart Stones in my Inventory.
And 10 Magic Stones.
As I said, the 10 Golems with Magic Stones in them would be used to guard the tunnels.
The other 4 Golems could help protect the outside.
They could also help with carrying things and other work.
I could always alter them later, so that would work for now.
And so first, I made a normal, human-sized Golem that didn't use a Magic Stone.
If the original large Golem was Golem I, then II to V were all human-sized.
Golem VI to XV would have the Magic Stones embedded in them.
However, I changed my mind once I reached the final Golem.
I suddenly felt a little playful.
What if I made one out of Mithril instead of Rock?
I had remembered that outside of the armor that was outside, I had 900kg of Mithril in my Inventory.
And so I decided to try using about 100kg of it.
Of course, I was doing this because of the promise of utility.
If we were ever attacked by something that was much stronger than the Killer Birds, this would be very reliable.
It wasn't that I was just trying to make the strongest Doll that I could think of.
…Well, no. If I'm being honest, I was doing it because it seemed fun.
Though, I suppose I would still be able to change it back to Rock if it didn't work out. So it was worth a try.
I combined the Heart Stone with the Mithril and tried to create a Golem.
However, I was unable to.
Instead, I was told that I could make a Mithril Golem.
In other words, it was an entirely different kind of Golem?
Would the name change if I altered it again?
Well, there was only one way to find out.
And so I ordered the creation of the Mithril Golem.
And then, a glimmering, silver humanoid appeared in front of me.
"Woah…"
I couldn't help but mutter.
Compared to the other Golems, this one was slimmer and had smooth curves. It was more beautiful than any statue of a deity that I had ever seen.
There was such dignity expressed, in spite of the fact that it had no face. Perhaps it was because there was something mystical about the way that the Mithril shone.
It made you want to fold your hands together and pray…
That's when I realized I had been beaten to the punch by a half-naked man who prostrated himself on the ground over and over… Mappa.
Mappa lay down with his feet and hands flat on the ground while he raised and lowered his head repeatedly. This was an ancient way of bowing that no one used anymore.
When he was finished, he looked at me with surprise.
What did I do…?
It was an unusual thing for Mappa to be surprised like this.
After that, Mappa returned to hammering Mithril in his smithy, before I could even tell him to make armor for the Golems.
It was during this time, that a battle was being waged at sea, not far from our island. However, none of us were aware of it yet.
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Chapter 20 – Something appeared on the shore!!
"Phew… I think a break is in order. What about you, Fule?"
I stopped mining and called to Fule.
"Not yet."
Fule shook her head as she swung her pickaxe against the rock walls.
She could think of nothing but acquiring an Ascending Stone so that she could evolve.
And so for the past few days, Fule had mined obsessively without rest.
I was happy that there was someone else who was passionate about mining like I was. But I was worried about his health.
"I see. But you better come back and eat lunch. Or your father will…"
"…I know. I'll go back in an hour."
"You promise?"
"Don't worry. I won't forget. The Princess's food is too good to miss out on."
"That's true. Alright, I'll go on ahead."
I said as I headed towards the entrance with Shiel.
It wasn't just Fule. I could hear Taran and the other Cave Spiders digging as well.
Everyone was allowed to take breaks whenever they wanted.
A Golem that could use magic detection guarded the caves when I was gone, so there was no need to worry.
If something did happen, the Golem would ring a bell that meant everyone was to stop mining.
I had asked Mappa to make this bell out of Mithril. And it was exceptionally loud.
All of this meant that I could relax while on my break!
When I reached the entrance, the old Goblin…Baris, and the half-naked Mappa were there.
Baris was tilting a large shell into a deep bowl. He was pouring some kind of liquid.
However, he seemed to have noticed me as he looked up.
"Ah, Lord Heal! You must be tired!"
"Same as you, Baris. What are you making?"
"Hehe. Are you curious?"
Baris chuckled quietly and showed me the thick liquid inside of the bowl.
What indeed…? Baris was a Shaman, wasn't he?
You would think he'd know a lot about medicine…
"I-is it something like poison?"
"I knew you would say that! Incorrect!"
"Oh…"
"This substance is from the Satan Shellfish. In other words, it's Tyrian purple. You cannot collect much from a normal shellfish, but the Satan Shellfish contain a lot of it."
Tyrian purple…I believe that was a kind of purple dye for clothes.
It was very expensive, and it was often used for the clothes of royals like my father and brothers.
"Huh, that's great. Are you going to dye something?"
Baris nodded.
"Everyone's clothes here are white, and I feel it is quite boring. …But more importantly, am I that suspicious to you…?"
"So-sorry. I didn't mean it that way."
"No, no. I was just joking. Of course, I could make a little poison if I wanted to."
Baris chuckled. I sighed in relief.
While I didn't miss it, Mappa had waited for Baris to look away and then dipped his finger into the liquid.
He looked at it curiously for a while and then licked his finger.
"After all, the Satan Shellfish substance can be turned into poison if it's processed…ah…"
By the time Baris realized what had happened, it was too late.
Mappa collapsed on the ground.
"Huh… Oh, don't worry, I'll fix him up with magic."
And so I cast healing magic on Mappa.
In any case, I had known that Baris had a very wide range of knowledge, but if he could make poison, he could likely make medicine as well.
This was a good opportunity to ask him about what I had been wondering about.
"Baris, you're a Shaman, right? Do you have a crest?"
"Me? My crest is… It is 'Magic King.'"
"Magic King!?"
I couldn't help but shout in surprise.
'Magic King' …Those who had this crest were able to increase their own magic energy. They could easily use advanced magic that was difficult to learn, and they could even combine magic to make even more powerful magic.
It was said that there were only 7 people in all of Sanfaris who could use it.
One of my brothers could.
Also, my younger sister, Princess Meria.
However, Baris was a goblin…
"You are aware of it then?"
"Aware of it… It's the kind of crest that would have caused quite an uproar when the priest found it. It's the only way to get into the magic university when you are still a child."
"If you are human, yes… However, as you can see, I am a goblin. I do not have magic power, to begin with. And so it is a completely useless crest."
"…"
I didn't know what to say to that.
My crest had also been completely meaningless until I first entered a cave.
However, it was much sadder in Baris's case.
Baris continued self-deprecatingly.
"I often felt like cursing the gods for this joke that they have played on me. However, when I was younger, I believed that I could overcome anything if I tried hard enough. And so I desperately studied magic… It is quite amusing to think back on it."
Baris said with a laugh. But there was a sadness there as well.
I thought about how just recently, Rienna had been a goblin. But then she used the Ascending Stone and now looks like a human.
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Had Rienna not been cursed with a short life, that stone might have been used by Baris…
"Well, it is because of all that studying I did, that I was able to become a Shaman. So it was not all a waste."
"I see. However, if you had an Ascending Stone…you might be able to use magic."
"I thank you for your concern. But I am fine now. I would be lying if I said that I didn't desire it, but I have lived long enough."
"…Well, would you change your mind if we found a lot of them?"
"If that time comes… I suppose I will take you up on your offer!"
Baris answered with a laugh.
Though, he sounded as if he was not hopeful of that happening.
"By the way, do you know if Rienna has a crest as well?"
"The Princess…has the 'Farmer' crest. That is why she was the only one in the royal family who was made to work in the field."
"Huh. I guess that's why she's good with growing things."
I looked at Rienna. She seemed very happy as she poured water on the plants.
She was humming to herself and looked very cute.
The Farmer crest meant that crops would grow faster and larger. But there was not a lot that was visible to the eye in terms of what it did.
"Everyone said that it was an unnecessary crest for royals, but it's served us well now. Perhaps the gods gave her that crest because they knew what would happen."
"Perhaps…"
I didn't believe in the gods.
However, I had ultimately been saved by my crest as well.
In that case, why was Baris the only one to suffer?
Baris continued to take out the Tyrian purple from the Shelfish.
Just then…
"Chief!! We got trouble!!"
Erevan was shouting as he ran towards us. His face looked pale.
"What is it, Erevan!?"
I shouted back as loud as I could, but it seemed like he couldn't hear me.
However, he kept shouting, 'just come over here!!' And so Baris and I headed for the reclaimed ground.
As for Mappa, we left him, since he was snoring peacefully on top of Shiel.
The Golem sentry and the goblins were all gathered together at the reclaimed ground.
Apparently, something had drifted to the shore.
When I ran towards them, Erevan waved at me.
"Chief! Please take a look!"
"Something drifted? …What!?"
The thing that had landed on our shores, was a brownish-green giant.
He was much larger than Erevan and his eyes were wide open. But he was not breathing.
One of his arms was missing and there was a great crack in his leather breastplate.
"Wh-why is an orc here…"
One of the goblins said in a fearful voice.
Indeed, this was the body of an orc.
It was more muscular than a human.
And it had fangs and a snout like a boar.
I had only ever read about them, but they were known to be fierce warriors. In recent years, it was said that they were strengthening their forces near Sanfaris's border.
Yes… In fact, hadn't Rienna's homeland been burned away by the orcs?
The goblins were probably afraid because they knew what orcs were capable of.
"You fools! How can you tremble at the sight of a corpse!!"
"He…heh…"
Erevan shouted, and the goblins seemed to calm down a little.
And then one of them addressed the others.
"Heh…that's what they deserve! We should go and kick it!!"
"Aye, that's what you get for burning our homeland!"
The goblins shouted as they headed towards the body.
Erevan and Baris looked conflicted, but they did not stop them.
That was how deep the hatred ran.
That said, even if it was a corpse, I didn't care to watch them kick it…
"Wait! Surely there is no need to kick a corpse!"
"Stop! Do you all mean to act without my permission!?"
All of the goblins turned around.
Rienna was standing there.
I had never seen her with such a stern expression. It was surprising.
"What good would it do to any of us for you to kick the dead!? Do you not find it shameful!?"
One of the goblins protested.
"Bu-but, Princess! They did the same to the bodies of our families… They strung up the king's body for everyone to see!"
"…That does not mean we should do the same. Besides, it is for Lord Heal to decide what should be done to those who land here."
"B-but…"
"Who do you think you owe your survival to!? Without Lord Heal, we would have all been rotting in the sea right now!"
Rienna shouted. And the goblins unclenched their fists.
While they looked angry, they began to nod.
Rienna bowed in front of me.
"Lord Heal. I'm terribly sorry about this…"
"No… Thank you, Rienna."
I guess I wasn't intimidating…
Rienna was their leader, and her voice meant more to them than anything.
"I agree with Rienna. What do you think?"
I said. And the goblins agreed and nodded.
"Thank you. Baris, can you perform a service?"
Baris nodded firmly.
"Lord Heal. If it is your wish, I will do my best to pray to the gods so they may rest in peace."
"Thank you, Baris. I will…hmm?"
I noticed that there were numerous objects floating offshore.
Just then, I heard a voice from a short distance away.
"There's another body over here!!"
A goblin shouted. And so we headed towards him.
There, we found a humanoid creature with a head like a dog or a wolf.
He was covered in white fur and also wore damaged leather armor.
There was a deep wound in his chest and he was clearly dead.
Erevan wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"…This is a kobold. They are the mortal enemy of goblins. But they also fight the orcs."
"So…was there a battle being waged nearby?"
I looked back at the sea.
Far away, I thought I could see something like smoke.
And so for a while after that, bodies, armor, and the remains of ships would wash up on our shores.