Chapter 170 : Chapter 170

Chapter 170: Homunculus

The plan Panika laid out was simple, but just as reckless.

First, sneak into Grimlok through the tunnel Talpa had dug in advance and shut down all the defensive spell formations supporting the fortress.

Next, using the opportunity when the Mutant Automata lose control and fall into chaos, go to the ‘Lord's Mansion’ and ‘Manuan's Mansion’ to retrieve our respective targets.

In the Lord's Mansion is the ‘Machine Heart’ that controls all the Mutant Automata of Grimlok, and in Manuan's Mansion is his final legacy, the diary.

“The tunnel is connected to a place near the control unit that manages the defensive spell formation circuit.”

Panika's finger pointed to a part of the blueprint.

It was a spot that seemed to be on the outskirts of the fortress.

“The Mutant Automata inside Grimlok are one giant legion. Without needing to transmit orders to each one like with people, a single command from the control unit makes them all move in perfect order. Just like an organism.”

The three of us just swallowed our saliva.

Rather than finding it hard to believe, we couldn't even imagine what that would look like, so it felt completely unreal.

“Shutting down the defensive spell formation circuit means simultaneously destroying the fortress's defense system and severing the link connecting all the Mutant Automata, turning them into mechanical scarecrows.”

I understood it as neutralizing the Mechanism Formation first.

I nodded obediently.

I didn't know how impressive those things called Mutant Automata were, but as long as they were abominations that absorbed Aura, I couldn't just rush in recklessly.

“What's this Machine Heart?”

“It's literal. The Homunculus prepared for a contingency by creating a device to forcibly stop all the Automata they created. The moment the Machine Heart is broken, the Automata stop operating on their own and perish.”

Panika's finger, which had been pointing at the control unit, moved toward the interior of the fortress.

The Lord's Mansion, where the Machine Heart was, was deep inside the fortress, and Manuan's Mansion was not far from it.

“It seems simple, but it won't be easy. The security of the Mutant Automata is much scarier and more brutal than you think. You have to be prepared to die to enter.”

That was easy and welcome news to hear.

In the end, it meant that if we just got our hands on the Machine Heart, we could save ourselves a lot of trouble.

Noser clapped his hands perfunctorily.

“Panika, it seems our meeting was a great stroke of luck for both of us. Good, leave the rest to us and guide us to the tunnel. As a reward, I'll take responsibility for bringing you your father's diary.”

“What are you talking about? If several people go in at once, we'll be discovered before we even get to the control unit. Just one person will go with me, who knows the way, and move swiftly.”

That made sense.

That wasn't all.

Since it was a blueprint and not a map, it was difficult for us to pinpoint the exact location just by looking at this.

“The other two, please come in after the defensive spell formation circuit has collapsed. After I've completely taken over the control unit, I'll shoot a signal flare into the air so you can know the location of the Lord's mansion. That will throw the Mutant Automata into more chaos, making it easier to secure the Machine Heart.”

Panika glanced over at us once and said.

“...Instead, the one person who goes in with me must stay by my side until the end. It'll be too much for me to go get the diary alone. I've set the stage this much for you, so you can at least do this for me, right?”

And so.

I was the one to move with Panika.

“Hmm, is it true? That you're the strongest of the three, mister?”

“I'm not a mister. As of now, I'm merely seventeen years old.”

This wasn't what was important.

The tunnel was just wide enough for one adult to squeeze through, and so low that even Panika, with her small frame, had to bend her waist.

‘...This won't collapse, will it?’

We were quite deep inside now.

If, by any chance, a disaster occurred, we would be trapped helplessly without anyone knowing.

“You were just worried that the ceiling might collapse, weren't you?”

Panika, who was crawling ahead in a crouched position, asked indifferently.

Does she have eyes on her butt?

“No.”

“Oh come on, you were. I know everything.”

“...To be honest, I still can't believe that small mechanical doll made a path like this.”

“You'll be surprised when we get into Grimlok.”

How could I deny it?

I certainly would be.

The same goes for Kustos, which Panika said she made to observe the fortress from the outside.

The moment we first encountered it still remains like a scene from a dream.

“My father used to say that. That one day, Automata will rule over humans.”

“That's a shame. Because the Automata will be wiped out today.”

“Wiped out?”

“Well, it means they'll be completely annihilated.”

So frustrating.

What's the use of being smart?

We have to be able to communicate.

“Aha. But. For now, I'm helping you because our goals align, but is there a special reason you have to annihilate the Automata? While taking such risks.”

...She's asking now of all times.

It was a relief, if anything.

It was a question that proved Panika wasn't some mentally ill kid.

“Someone asked us to. To look into the suspicious things inside Grimlok. Now that we know their identity is murderous mechanical dolls, there's no reason to hesitate.”

The answer came back after a delay.

“Are you a knight, too?”

“Why do you ask that all of a sudden?”

“As far as I know, you and a knight don't match. To be precise, they are not altruistic.”

Panika's voice was clear in the narrow tunnel.

“Knights symbolize violence and greed. The basic prototype for the design of Mutant Automata was based on that very essence of theirs.”

“...Not all knights are like that.”

“I see. Well, there are minor errors in everything. For example, you're like a mutant knight.”

...Nonsense.

A moment of silence followed.

Only the sound of dirt granules scraping echoed.

“Then what if.”

Panika's voice had lowered slightly before I noticed.

“What if the Mutant Automata had emotions like humans? If they were forced to break their absolute rule because of the corruption of the spell formation, then they might be pitiful beings in their own right.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“Don't they deserve to be saved, too?”

It wasn't just that it was narrow and low.

The inside of the tunnel was hot and humid.

It was only natural that my voice was laced with irritation.

“By that logic, there are no bad Demonic Beasts in the world.”

Thankfully, really.

I didn't have to explain with my own mouth that just because I was a knight who fights for others, I was neither smart enough nor generous enough to answer a child's curious questions one by one.

Soon, an exit leading upwards appeared.

It felt good to straighten my back for the first time in a while.

Panika put her foot on the ladder first.

“The exit is connected to a tavern cellar.”

“A tavern cellar?”

“Yes. It's best to avoid being seen as much as possible. If we happen to run into anyone, don't step forward. I'll take care of it.”

Panika climbed the ladder without hesitation.

Following behind her, I suddenly tilted my head.

She looked so familiar with it that I had forgotten for a moment, but she had said this was her first time entering Grimlok herself.

Just from the way she talked, she was as relaxed as if she had been in and out several times.

Creeak.

Panika opened the wooden hatch and poked her head out.

She quickly scanned left and right, then climbed up without hesitation and gestured for me to hurry.

‘...It is a tavern cellar.’

I looked around.

Dust-covered barrels were stacked in layers in the dark interior.

The musty smell of old liquor stung my nose.

“How many residents does Grimlok have? It can't be easy to survive self-sufficiently without anyone coming or going from the outside.”

Come to think of it, I had never asked about the situation of the residents here.

They might have been oppressed by the Mutant Automata.

“Hmm, I don't know. If we break the Machine Heart as planned, maybe we'll find out?”

“What do you mean by that?”

My brow furrowed on its own.

It was a meaningful statement.

Then, I heard a sound from the front.

It seemed someone was opening the door and coming in.

Creeak.

Panika placed her index finger on her lips.

The two of us hid behind a shelf.

Creeak, creeak, creeak.

What? Are they just opening and closing the door without coming in?

I stuck my head out toward the source of the sound.

‘...!’

My eyes widened.

Someone did come in, but it wasn't a person.

My vision, on the verge of the late Peak Expert level, instantly cleared the darkness.

Its head and torso were tin cans, its limbs were made of wood..., it was a doll.

“That's also an Automata....”

“Shh.”

Panika frowned.

It was as if she was telling me to shut up and be quiet since what I was thinking was right.

Creeak, creeak, creeak.

Every time the thing stepped on the ground, a precarious sound, as if its gaunt legs would break at any moment, was made.

I watched the thing, my body half-frozen.

The bizarrely shaped Automata soon lifted a barrel effortlessly onto its shoulder (or what looked like it) and then casually opened the door again and left.

“What kind of fucked up situation is this?”

“Why are you so surprised? I told you everything beforehand. It's not like it's your first time seeing an Automata.”

That's that.

Of course, one would be flustered to see something like that when expecting a person to appear.

“Still, it's a relief you didn't scream in surprise. There'll be more to be surprised about, so brace yourself. Got it?”

Replying to that would be ridiculous and uncool, so I just kept my mouth shut and followed her out.

We reached the narrow back corridor connecting the tavern cellar and the hall.

The moment I put my eye to a crack that showed the inside, goosebumps covered my entire body.

‘Goddamn it, what is that?’

I barely swallowed a gasp.

Sitting inside the tavern were not people, but ‘somethings’ mimicking people.

Yes, some things.

There were not only Automata, but also things on the border of human, beast, and Demonic Beast.

‘Panika wasn't making a fuss for nothing earlier.’

Just what I was looking at right now was a monstrous creature with an eyeball the size of a head stuck on top of chicken feet.

The monstrous creature sat quietly occupying a table as if that were its only purpose.

Sitting opposite it was a flabby mass of flesh with limbs stuck in it in clusters like coral....

‘Damn it.’

Disgusting.

A physiological revulsion welled up inside me.

‘Hey, what are you doing? I said hurry and follow me!’

Panika couldn't make a sound, but she shouted with her eyes.

It wasn't a situation where I could stop now and ask what those things were.

I took a deep breath and followed.

Creeak—

As I entered the hall, stuffy air rushed over me.

The moment I breathed in, I realized the air was mixed with an unfamiliar moisture and the smell of iron.

“Don't panic. Got it?”

I nodded without realizing it.

Thud, thud.

We crossed the hall.

Bizarre figures were crouched at each table.

I couldn't even tell if they had eyes or not. And yet, it felt as if gazes were sticking to my entire body.

Not a single word could be heard inside the tavern.

Only the occasional creaking sound of an Automata's body and a sinister melody mixed with static, as if flowing from a rusted brass instrument, could be heard faintly.

‘....’

I forced my head down and followed, staring only at the back of Panika's neck.

It felt as if the things would attack us from both sides at any moment.

“Excuse me, could you stop there for a moment?”

...Ah, what was bound to happen has happened. It was almost a relief to hear a human voice.

“I haven't seen you before, have I?”

Panika and I turned our heads toward the source of the voice.

The waiter behind the bar... no, it's a monstrous creature with a chicken head and a human body. Damn it.

“Let's see..., who might you be?”

It said, tilting its head sideways.

Its comb was so flashy and long it was an eyesore.

“Idiot. You don't even know the daughter of the first Homunculus?”

Panika answered nonchalantly.

I looked back and forth between her and the chicken head.

Saliva went down my throat on its own.

In that instant, a small light flashed from inside the pocket of Panika's coat.

“Oh my, this! Of course! To not even recognize the daughter of the first Homunculus, please forgive me!”

“...It doesn't matter. I came in through the back door by mistake. I'll leave this way. That's okay, right?”

“Of course.”

The chicken head pointed to the door with its palm as if supporting it.

It was a ridiculous mimicry, as if it knew etiquette.

“Ahem, just a moment, just a moment.”

It was as soon as I took a step.

When I turned my head again, this time the thing was staring at me.

“This one's meat quality seems quite good, doesn't it?”

Meat quality?

“He's a guy I captured. Don't covet him.”

“Oh my, of course. Do not covet what others have. How could I not know a rule that a resident of Grimlok should naturally follow?”

Ting, ting, ting, ting, ting!

The chicken head neurotically rang a small bell placed on one side of the bar.

Soon, from behind the bar, another monstrous creature, also with a chicken head and a human body, came dragging a large sack.

“A trade, how about it? We prefer a moderately fleshy old hen to a scrawny young one, you see.”

The chicken head opened the mouth of the sack.

Inside it was—

‘A person.’

A boy.

Wooooooh—!

Giyooooooh—!

Clatter! Clatter!

In an instant, my hair stood on end.

The monstrous creatures and Automata all screamed and pounded on the tables at once.

It was as if they were cheering.

In a flash, the atmosphere turned frenzied.

“How about it? If you wish, we could offer a little more on our side. As you know, it's not easy to get meat these days.”

The boy had a gag in his mouth and was curled up.

Only his eyes were struggling to look at me. It was as if he was screaming with his eyes to save him.

“Panika.”

“Yes? Don't tell me.... No, hold it in.”

“I don't think I can.”

In fact, from the first moment I saw these things, I had been seized by a strong impulse to wipe them all out.

This might be for the better.

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