Volume 4 Chapter 6 (2/2)
”With the cores' excessively high output, the improvements to the joints for improved movement, and its light orichalcum body, this much movement is within expectations.”
Rorono somewhat triumphantly declared so.
”Next, weapons.”
The new golem picked up a heavy-machinegun usually used by the Mithril Golems. After a few moments, the new golem then ran as it fired the long and weighty heavy-machinegun.
”Are you kidding me?”
This weapon was indeed strong but its weight and recoil were no joking matter. And yet, the heavy-machinegun often used on a fixed position was wielded much like one would an assault rifle.
Even the Mithril Golems with all their might wouldn't be able to handle the weapon as skillfully and would therefore take considerable amounts of time to adjust their aims from the recoil.
To top it off, the new golem jumped into the air and continued firing.
”Again, with this new golem, this much is expected. Now… to test its defense. Kuina, try firing your shotgun at it.”
”Understood.”
Kuina took out her favorite shotgun and fired it.
Bang.
Rorono has made various improvements to this shotgun which included: a larger caliber; the use of mithril powder in the bullets so that one could insert their own magic power into it to further increase the damage; the [Explosion] enchantment which, after firing, makes the shell explode and scatters the shots more forcefully.
With all of these improvements, even an A rank monster would be shot through. If the target was an ordinary golem, it would most probably be turned into scrap metal. As for the new golem…
”It's almost unscathed?”
I let out a voice of surprise. There were a few scratches on its surface but that was pretty much it.
”Rorono-chan, what, it's so tough. It kinda reminds me of that Orichalcum Gargoyle from before.”
”This is tougher than that. In order to increase its defense and ward off impact, its outer armor is designed to be rounded. Moreover, magic power is also made to flow to its armor, further increasing its durability. Next, let's conduct tests for its magic defense. Kuina, try casting your flames into it.”
”Are you sure?”
”I'm sure.”
”Alright!”
Kuina gathered her magic power and formed a lump of high-density flame on the top of her palm. Shortly afterwards, it flew like an arrow.
Burning as hot as the sun itself, it made a direct hit. Should Rorono or Aura were to receive that hit, it might be fatal even for them.
The arrow of flame hit the golem in its chest and then engulfed it whole.
After a while, the flame disappeared.
While the golem… it remained unharmed.
”In order to move its limbs, magic power is made to circulate throughout its body but due to the cores' excessively high output, some of the magic power leaks. And so, this excess power, through the magic arrays already installed in the golem, is then used to act like a shield at all times against magical attacks. Additionally, its material itself, orichalcum, is immensely resistant to magic. With all these, the golem is nigh invulnerable against magic.”
Overwhelming speed, offense, and defense… this golem had it all.
”Impressive, Rorono.”
”I'm proud of this golem. However, it does have a weakness. It's quick and resilient but that's pretty much it. Physical attacks are all it can do; against an opponent where physical attacks are ineffective, this golem's powerless. Moreover, there are still enemies that can break through its defense. For example, it might have been able to withstand Kuina's shotshell just now but if she switches to using slug shells and keep shooting at the same spot over and over again, the golem's defenses will crumble. Kuina is also fairly capable of dodging the hail of bullets coming from its heavy-machinegun. Moreover, even though I said it's nigh invulnerable against magic, if Kuina were to use her future form, the golem will surely burn to ashes in the end.”
”Naturally!”
Kuina puffed her chest as she confirmed.
”Aura and her anti-materiel rifle are also capable of defeating this child. Like Kuina, she can similarly target a point over and over again until it breaks, only this time from a much longer distance away. In the first place, with her as the opponent, no matter how the golem tries, none of its attacks would reach her when she's up in the sky.”
”Yeah, that's right. If I were to fight it, I'll do it like that, rapid-firing from high in the sky. That way, gravity will serve as my friend. All of its attacks will be weighed down by gravity, in which case, the power and range of the attack will be decreased. In the meantime, all of my attacks will improved by gravity. The whole thing can't even be called a fight anymore.”
”The golem will also be near powerless to Wight's miasma. No matter how high its magic resistance may be, it wouldn't be able to do anything against the miasma. The other way around, the golem's bullets wouldn't affect Wight since before they even hit, they would be dissolved by the miasma. ……And then, it goes without saying that this child is also no match against me.”
Yes, it was by no means invincible. Another way of looking at it though was that one had to be on a similar level as these girls first before he could reliably win against the golem.
”Its main draw isn't its strength. First of all, it's the fact that it can be mass-produced. In the near future, we would have hundreds of A-rank-equivalent golems. Secondly, it's versatile. Since they can wield any kind of weapon, they can respond to any situation with the right weapon in hand. Next is its adaptability in the sense that it can battle in whatever terrain, be it under the water, within a volcano, on an iceberg, on the plains, on the wastelands, or even in outer space where there's no air. Lastly, its ability to fight in a prolonged war. These children will never tire and will never need sleep. These children have everything one can look for in a soldier; these children are the [Perfect soldiers].”
The more I heard, the more fearsome the new golem sounded and I unintentionally gulped down.
If there was something I could add to what Rorono said, it was that this new golem could be disposable units. There was no need to worry their loss. I could nonchalantly send them to suicidal missions, something I would never dare order to Kuina and the others.
”Rorono, advance their mass-production with all haste. These golems will be useful.”
”Yes, that's the plan. I will also include any improvements I have found into the final versions. I'll also make basic weapons with them in mind.”
Geez, each and every one of my subordinates is so reliable.
I was so thankful for Rorono. I dreaded to imagine what it would be like if she was another Demon Lord's subordinate.
”Rorono-chan, what will you call this child? It's using special cores so calling it an ordinary name like Orichalcum Golem is so boring!”
”Surely, yeah. They're this strong after all. Can't you give them a better name?”
After hearing Kuina and me, Rorono placed a hand on her chin.
”The twin cores can only be implemented by me and, by extension, only by Avalon… Also, this child will be Avalon's guardian. Moreover, this child is already a being outside of the convention of golems and thus can't really be called one. So, for the golems equipped with a twin drive, I want to call them as Avalon-Ritter.”
I smiled. Avalon-Ritter. It's pretty good.
”Ok, from now on, they shall be called Avalon-Ritter. Make more of them, Rorono.”
”Yes! Leave it to me!”
With that, we concluded the day's experimentation.
When we were about to return to our house, a blue bird landed on my shoulder.
It was the one given to me by [Wind] Demon Lord Stolas so that we could exchange letters.
However, she wasn't the only one I have been corresponding with recently; it had also committed to its memory the magic power of Marcho as well as that of the [Time] Demon Lord Dantalian.
”It's from Marcho? She can make time for me tomorrow? Great.”
I had sent her a letter which detailed my wish to meet with her and be advised on what I should do when the potential war against the humans do indeed happen. I didn't imagine she would reply this fast though.
I would soon be imposing myself on her. Of course, I wouldn't come empty-handed. As was proper when visiting another Demon Lord, I was going to bring a gift as compensation for her time.
And so, I sent out the blue bird to Marcho's dungeon to confirm our meeting.
Ritter means knight in German.