After filling his stomach with a cheap bowl of vegetable soup at some random tavern, Kugutsu made his way toward the Magitech Engineers’ Association. The streets were as noisy as ever, and Kugutsu, who wasn’t fond of crowds, walked on with a faint frown.
People, people, and more people—and among them, humanoid golems walked casually, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Such a sight would be unthinkable in other countries, but in this “Kingdom on the Summit,” golems had become an everyday part of life.
“By the way,” said Patton, his voice coming from the pouch hanging at Kugutsu’s waist, “are outsiders even allowed to walk into this Magitech Engineers’ Association?”
“What are you talking about? I’m a fourth-class engineer, officially registered with the association.”
“…Ah, right. I totally forgot. You’re either locked up in your lab or wandering around in dungeons all the time, so it slipped my mind.”
“Well, I hardly ever show my face there, so I can’t blame you,” Kugutsu replied with a wry smile and shrugged.
“Wait a sec. I don’t know what their standards are, but isn’t fourth-class a little low for you? Pardon me for bragging, but I’m the golem that made it down to the fifth underground floor. For a master who commands a golem like me to be ranked fourth-class… just how monstrous are the people above you?”
“Only the first-class and special-class engineers have reached beyond human limits. The rest are just… normally excellent, I suppose.”
“Then why are you stuck down here?”
Patton’s tone was clearly dissatisfied. For a golem, how highly their master was regarded in society seemed to be an issue of great importance.
Realizing there was no talking his way around it, Kugutsu sighed and confessed.
“…Every time the exam day comes, my stomach starts hurting.”
“Huh?”
From the pouch came a voice filled with utter confusion.
“You can get up to fourth-class with just a written test. But from third-class and above, they add practical exams and interviews. I get nervous, my stomach hurts, and I just can’t do it properly.”
“T-That’s it!? That’s the reason!?”
“Don’t call it trivial! For me, it’s a matter of life and death!”
“Ah—sorry. I mean, yeah, but still…”
Ignoring Patton’s muttered grumbling, Kugutsu stepped through the gates of the Magitech Engineers’ Association.
From all around came the sounds of wood and metal being cut and forged.
The anguished cries of researchers whose experiments had just gone wrong echoed through the halls.
It was a place utterly detached from the polished image one might associate with the word “academy.” It was both the best and worst place of learning. Kugutsu smiled faintly—he felt far more at home here among eccentrics than in any ordinary crowd.
He walked through the familiar grounds, glancing around nostalgically, until he and Patton reached the back lot—a mountain of discarded junk. No one could tell what most of it had been used for, or what parts it once belonged to. It was a chaotic pile that reeked of metal, oil, and rot.
“Alright then, let’s get started!”
Kugutsu began rummaging through the trash—picking up items, examining them, then tossing them aside again. Some were so heavy they strained his back; it was rough, tiring work.
“Sorry about this. Normally, heavy lifting like this should be a golem’s job.”
“Life doesn’t always go the way it should,” Patton replied softly.
Kugutsu answered in a bright tone, trying to keep the mood light. Then he went back to digging through the heap. Before long, there came a loud crash—the garbage pile collapsed with a violent rumble.
“Master! Are you alright!?”
“Yeah, I’m fine,” Kugutsu answered, though his voice sounded a bit strained, almost like a groan of pain.
“Master, please don’t push yourself too hard. You’re frail enough as it is.”
“Sure, compared to a golem, maybe. But I’ve spent enough time in dungeons to have at least average stamina.”
“Even so—”
“Patton, you’re right. I did hurt myself a little—just a bruise or two. But don’t worry.”
His voice was still weak, but there was a firm resolve in it—a stubborn flame of determination.
“I’m not doing this for you. I’m doing it for us. Don’t worry about the injuries—just recognize the results when I succeed. That’s what being a man is about, isn’t it?”
“…I see. Got it. Then I’ll brace myself too.”
“Brace yourself? You don’t even have a stomach.”
“Then find it for me, Master. I’m counting on you.”
Buried in junk, the two traded jokes and laughter before returning to their work.
Kugutsu found a part—but it was defective. Useless. He tossed the arm piece aside.
Another part—but it was corroded through. Beyond repair. He threw the leg piece away too.
The sun dipped low in the sky, casting a warm glow on Kugutsu’s sweat-streaked, dirt-covered face. Just as he thought it might be time to head home, there came another loud crash as part of the trash heap collapsed. This time, Kugutsu deftly stepped aside, avoiding it. And then, among the rubble, he caught sight of something white and round.
…Wait. Is that… a golem’s body?
In this stinking wasteland, a spark of hope gleamed before his eyes. Kugutsu carefully climbed the unstable pile, tossing aside debris one piece at a time.
“Hey, Master, you sure you’ve got time for this?”
“It’s fine. Just this one… this one last thing!”
Kugutsu’s voice trembled with excitement. Patton, unable to see from the pouch and hearing only the sounds of movement, grew anxious, not knowing what was happening.
Then, suddenly, the sounds stopped.
“Got it! I found it! I actually found it!”
“You did!?”
“Yeah! It’s damaged, but with repairs, it’ll work perfectly fine! Some of those rich kids in the association throw away golem parts the moment they break. Looks like I hit the jackpot!”
“Then let me say it loud and proud—you did great, Master!”
“Ahahaha!”
The two laughed together under the setting sun, their voices echoing warmly across the scrapyard.
…Perhaps Patton should have realized it then—what kind of golem body could his frail master possibly carry home on his own?
What Kugutsu held so carefully in his arms was nothing like the sturdy knight-type body from before. It was small, round, and clearly shaped like a woman.
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