Chapter 472
Davey observed as Rinne carried the unconscious Edison and gently laid him down on a makeshift bed nearby. She nonchalantly wiped her hands as if nothing unusual had occurred and then approached Davey.
"Davey, the subject's vital signs are quite stable. Rinne believes he's just momentarily unconscious."
"I see."
"I didn't expect him to faint."
In an act of defiance, Rinne had revealed her internal components to Edison, which had promptly caused him to lose consciousness. The precise reason for Edison's reaction to Rinne's internals remained a mystery, but anyone familiar with machinery would acknowledge that Rinne's internal technology was nothing short of astounding.
"Let's wait until he wakes up and regains his senses before we continue our discussion."
"Davey, how can I be of assistance?"
"We're going to activate a magic circle. Relying solely on machinery has its limitations, especially when working with materials from this world. We need to act swiftly. For now, implement the magic circle I'm about to provide you." Saying this, Davey picked up a quill and a blank sheet of paper.
‘Let's showcase some genuine skills. After all, it’s been such a long time.’
Since the creation of Megatron, most inventions had been the result of a collaboration between the dwarves' imagination and his knowledge. Very few had been solely crafted by his hands. Though not much time had passed, the prospect of a fresh challenge reignited his passion. Utilizing the data accumulated from various golems, including Megatron, he believed he could create something unparalleled compared to the crude golems of this place.
"Rinne, light the furnace. Bring it up to at least 2,000 degrees..."
Upon his command, Rinne nodded, levitated, and positioned herself in front of the furnace. She took a brief breath and exhaled a violet-hued flame. The sparkling light blended with the fire, rapidly elevating the temperature. Had she improved her skills once again? It was a technique Davey hadn't witnessed before, but considering Rinne embodied ancient technology, nothing truly astonished him.
The most crucial aspect of design was stability. Challenges were welcome, but there was nothing more foolish than causing a massive accident due to an oversight. To create a stable product, experience and knowledge were essential.
‘So, memorize all 8,234 books here. If there's a mistake, I'll summon Odin to burn you.’ Davey smirked at the recollection.
Guided by a surge of inspiration, ideas flowed onto the white parchment. Constructing was his task. Davey's role was to hold the core, filling in what he could not. Regardless of the immediate results, the fact that he would make it remained unchanged.
With about four days left, there was ample time.
* * *
About an hour later, Edison, the technical consultant of the Alchemy Faction, began to wake up.
"Ugh..."
Sitting up with a stiff face, Edison felt pain, likely from hitting his head during the fall. What had happened? Right, he had been working in his workshop with limited time. He had been deeply engrossed in his work, aiming to prove himself against that damned dean and prevent his precious granddaughter from marrying a reckless young man. But then the day had ended, and he found himself waking up on a bed. What a disgrace!
Suddenly, he heard voices engaged in an argument.
"No! I said this way! Yes, there!"
"You should provide clearer instructions for this maiden to assist!"
"People can make mistakes! Rinne, if you've melted it, bring it now!"
Recognizing the male voice, Edison's memory of the events leading to his blackout came rushing back, and his eyes widened in rage. With a face red with fury, he stormed toward the culprit.
"What on earth... What are you doing in my workshop?!"
The man, or rather, the boy working, smirked at Edison's outburst. The boy commented, "You're up? How can a granddaughter and grandfather, not even blood-related, act so alike?"
"What...?"
"Forget it, we don’t have much time. Look at this first."
Upon hearing the boy's words, Edison turned his gaze to the desk the boy pointed at. On it, there were numerous blueprints piled up as if they had been prepared for months. Davey approached absentmindedly and soon widened his eyes at the blueprints on the desk.
"My goodness..."
They were intricate designs. Even Davey, who was so familiar with blueprints, was taken aback by the level of detail and precision in them. Mesmerized, he began to flip through the blueprints one by one. With each page, his speed increased, and his breathing grew heavier. It was clear excitement, not one born from anger, but rather the thrill of discovering an entirely new world. When was the last time he felt such intense excitement?
While the structure was simple, the internal purpose and material design were impeccable, astonishingly intricate, and mysterious. It made him question whether these were the same designs for the golem he knew of.
"How does it look? Worthwhile?"
"Did you make this?"
"For now."
"Since when?"
"Since you passed out."
‘Just a few hours ago? And in that short span of time, so many detailed blueprints have been drawn?’
Watching Davey begin to hammer a large metal component, Edison felt a sudden urge to sit down. Was this budding genius bursting with fresh, innovative imagination? No. Davey was already a complete entity, and Edison had underestimated him, only seeing what was convenient for him. Such a foolish mistake.
"We only have three days. It's tight, so lend me a hand."
Staring blankly at the blueprint in his hand, Edison contemplated its potential. Could it even compare to any new golem that the dean could produce? No, if completed, it would be a groundbreaking invention in the history of alchemy. His heart raced with excitement for the first time in a while.
To think that the reason he had fainted earlier was not due to the beautiful girl with silver hair, but because she was an artificial golem. A creature that behaved and spoke like a human but remained distinctly a golem. Who in the current world could create such an astonishing entity? He might not have an explanation, but Edison was not so closed-minded as to deny the reality in front of him.
"The heart of Rinne..."
Edison's eyes widened at the boy's continuation.
"One of the ultimate goals of alchemists."
The ultimate goal! There were two of them: the Philosopher's Stone and the Deus Ex Machina. It was clear which one was used. A prodigy capable of creating a golem of such divine quality? What a joke to think otherwise! Though Davey did not create Rinne, Edison did not have the energy to discern that. Clutching the small hammer attached to his belt, he had only one thought: he wanted to contribute to this boy's project as an alchemist. Of course, if this led to victory in the competition, it would be the icing on the cake.
There was no need for deliberation. However, he did wonder if such a monstrous golem could really be created.
"Do you... really intend to create a monster?"
"Why fuss over making just an ordinary golem?"
An ordinary golem? Just its completion could revolutionize the field of alchemy.
"If you don't like it, I can discard everything right now."
Of course, he had no intention of discarding them. With determination, Edison nodded.
Who exactly was this boy? He felt he understood why that stubborn dwarf was so protective of him. The boy went beyond conventional wisdom, surpassing any standards Edison had set.
* * *
"Hahaha, that prince, pretending to be clever on the surface, but he's truly an imbecile, isn't he?"
Prince Duran of Pogos laughed heartily, causing the dean of the alchemy faction to stiffen.
For someone of royal blood with a higher education, this young and immature prince displayed astounding ignorance. While he had a knack for memorization, likely due to a life of privilege, he appeared to look down on everything and everyone but himself. It was probably why the Chancellor had chosen to back Duran.
"Your Highness, it may not be as straightforward as you think."
"Not simple? Hahaha, the Chancellor is simply overcautious. What's there to fear? Are we going to engage in sword fights or use magic?"
The Golem competition aimed to determine the superiority of the golems created. No matter how much someone was hailed as a continent's hero or possessed immense power, nobody was infallible. What could someone who swung a sword or cast holy magic possibly know about alchemy?
"I have no concerns. Who is the Chancellor anyway? Isn't he renowned as the continent's foremost combat golem maker?"
"That's an indisputable fact."
Even though Edison, the technical advisor, was a genius known for incredible inventions, they spanned a broad field. In the realm of combat golems, the Chancellor reigned supreme.
"With this, everything is settled. We just need to watch that cursed Prince Davey kneel and apologize."
"Sigh... Your Highness, do you truly believe he made such an offer without any countermeasures?"
"What could he possibly do? He's a fearless individual who's never tasted failure. Such a person needs to be shown that there's a universe beyond his understanding. This competition is already in our favor. Even if a god of alchemy were to appear, it's impossible to create a high-performance golem that surpasses the Chancellor's creation in just a few days."
Duran gestured toward a massive metallic figure nearby. Standing at roughly four meters tall, it was arguably the finest combat golem, constructed from precious metals and mana stones, or rather, the rare magic stones. While it couldn't be mass-produced for the competition, victory here would resolve everything. It would secure Duran's position as the technical advisor, enable him to marry Tiara, one of the continent's six most beautiful women and the Chancellor's granddaughter, and allow him to witness Prince Davey, that sanctimonious saint, kneel before him.
"You're underestimating this too much. Even if this fellow has a plan, there isn't much time left until the competition. We must win this competition."
As the Chancellor sighed at Duran's words, he wished the situation would unfold as smoothly as the young prince believed. However, an unease lingered in the Chancellor's mind, although he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"Is that all you think of this? With Prince Davey blindly supporting Edison, we now have an opportunity. That's why I've brought in a valuable ally, someone who will demonstrate that there's a sky above the sky."
The Chancellor appeared perplexed. "A valuable ally?"
"The master of puppet golems, Master Francis."
Duran applauded as the doors swung open, and two maids entered, followed by a man dressed in the robes of the alchemy faction.
"Prince Duran, how have you been?"
"Welcome. I've been eagerly awaiting your arrival!"
Francis nodded humbly. The Chancellor observed Francis with astonishment. He had presumed that Francis, being a neutral party, would not participate in such an event.
"When the foremost authority on metal golems and the supreme authority on puppet golems join forces, no one can stand against us! Hahaha!"
Originally, Prince Davey's support for Edison had been intended as a penalty for the immature prince's behavior. The Chancellor couldn't help but feel bitter, wondering if this fool truly comprehended the gravity of the situation.
"I've heard about it. You're engaged in a competition with Technical Advisor Edison."
"Yes... it seems that way."
Upon hearing the Chancellor's cautious response, Francis slowly nodded. "But may I inquire if it's appropriate for me to partake in this competition? Would it not be considered unfair?"
It appeared that Francis hadn't been fully briefed on the situation. The Chancellor decided to capitalize on the situation, as he hadn't been the one to turn things topsy-turvy. While Prince Davey's arrogant smile was slightly irksome, the Chancellor believed that if Elder Francis were to get involved, there wouldn't be an issue.
"That's the thing. Prince Davey O’Rowane from the small eastern country, Rowane Kingdom, arbitrarily sided with Technical Advisor Edison. This is unfair."
The one who caused the unfairness was speaking as if he were the victim. Still, the Chancellor remained silent.
"Unfairness? Well, if a personal competition has become a team competition, I can understand... But who did you say..."
As Francis seemed to ask in surprise, Prince Duran responded with a laugh.
"Ha ha ha! Who is it, you ask? Haven't I told you? It's the holy Prince Davey. He audaciously inserted himself into the sacred contest. I detest his brazen attitude. Moreover, someone who doesn't even know the basics of alchemy attempting such a thing is nothing but a mockery of the alchemical faction. Hence, I've called upon the elder. With the power of the elder and the headmaster, we can easily crush such an arrogant person's spirit."
At those words, Francis fell silent. The headmaster felt that Francis's demeanor had suddenly turned strange. If the prince intended to take the lead and turn the situation around, they had hoped to use him. Oddly, Elder Francis's expression seemed disturbed.
"Davey... Davey O’Rowane..." Murmuring to himself, his eyes suddenly widened. “Are you saying he's currently at Edison the Technical Advisor's workshop?!"
"My, what a surprise! Y-Yes, but why do you ask?"
"Now's not the time, I apologize. I must leave immediately!"
Hearing Francis, who was saying this as he stood up, the two looked at him with bewildered expressions.
Just a moment ago, Francis, who had been showing a relatively positive response, suddenly acted that way, and it was inevitably surprising for Davey. The problem was that it was obvious where Francis was intending to go right now unless you were a fool.
"We need to go before it's too late!"
"E-Excuse me, Elder Francis! Why on earth are you acting this way? You promised... you promised to aid in the contest..."
At those words, Francis, who was about to leave, stopped.
They were unaware. They had no knowledge that Francis had previously interacted with Davey. As a master of the doll golem, he had been taken aback when he came across a comment left by Davey, and had already made numerous attempts to meet him several times.
"The competition?"
With expressions tinged with sneers, both the headmaster and Prince Duran gazed at him, confused.
"Do you believe you will emerge victorious? Whom do you think you're competing against?"
"What do you mean…?"
"Edison the Technical Advisor? Admirable. He's a historical figure in his own right. However, the moment he enters the competition, he's no longer the central figure."
As a master, Francis understood. He comprehended just how formidable Davey's knowledge of alchemy was, solely based on academic comments and references.
"In a competition where there's no real competition, there's no place for mere enthusiasts. The instant Prince Davey participates, the competition itself becomes irrelevant. It becomes an exhibition of overwhelming power."
"What are you implying, Elder Francis?"
"I mean exactly what I've said. Perhaps it would be better to witness it firsthand. Now, I must go and meet him in person."
Duran and the headmaster remained in a state of stunned bewilderment for some time, taken aback by Francis' unexpected actions.
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