Matere Trading Company, Kashiram Factory, Furnace Area
Once it starts flowing, it won’t stop. Like a torrent, the people clung to Whip Man, refusing to let go until they were exhausted. Even though they were martial artists, their strength was only about that of a B-Rank Adventurer. Still, there were quite a few capable individuals on our side, and armed with weapons from the Polishing Area, we could hold our own.
What stirred the crowd into a frenzy was the dance of Tatarka, an A-Rank Adventurer who had stripped down to his bare torso. His performance was so captivating that even enemies couldn’t look away. It made me wonder just how harsh the world must be to have him expelled from the theater. Still, I couldn’t let Hans see that boy dancing half-naked among the men.
“Is Hart okay?”
“Hmm… If he’s in good spirits, we might have a fair fight, but it seems a bit tough.”
It might have been a mistake to leave Hart behind, insisting that I wanted to take responsibility since I was the one who protected Kurinka first. Looking at that scarred, muscular body, Shakuchi must have gained some experience. In a pure one-on-one fight, it might be fine, but with Shakuchi, I couldn’t predict what he would do. If he resorted to underhanded tactics, our chances of winning would dwindle even further.
“Is that the Chief of the Furnace Area?”
“Skill… Iron Body!”
The bald uncle struck a pose like a starfish, and his entire body began to shimmer with a leaden hue. He effortlessly knocked down everyone who had thrust weapons at him, making it clear just how formidable his skill was. But did it harden his body, or did it turn him into iron? Either way, it seemed crucial information if I were to face him.
“W-What?! The sword doesn’t penetrate at all?!”
“You fool! This Iron Body turns my body into iron! Can a sword cut through iron?!”
He casually revealed such information. Why boast about it when he could have kept it to himself? Yet, I somewhat understood his feelings. Turning into iron, huh? Once again, that was a skill I couldn’t replicate. But why didn’t I feel envious? Perhaps it was just his appearance. The Demon God Clan standing on water looked so cool.
“Honestly, what was Shakuchi doing in the Polishing Area? Well, he’s the weakest among the Chief class, having no skills or weapons…”
“That’s right, almost all the Chief class possess unique skills. The employees of this factory don’t carry proper weapons to prevent them from being stolen and used for rebellion. In other words, everyone here is a force capable of suppressing a rebellion without weapons.”
“Take this!”
“Ugh!”
After desperately explaining, it was no surprise that Tatarka fell silent when he tried to say something to me. Kurinka’s staff struck that iron-headed man, cracking his skull, and he fell with a heavy thud. The silence that followed was so profound that it made everyone feel as if any movement would lead to death.
Kurinka was kind and not particularly violent. She sometimes gave me a light smack on the head, but seeing the force that could suppress a rebellion lying face down, while a girl next to her struck a victory pose was quite the sight. I had grown somewhat accustomed to the mixed gazes of fear and curiosity, but I wondered how Kurinka felt. The person nearby looked as if they had seen a ghost.
“Everyone! We’re almost free! Let’s do our best!”
“O-Oh…”
Only half of them responded to Kurinka’s encouragement. It felt like they were mimicking her out of obligation, and at this point, it was somewhat amusing.
“We’ve secured the Polishing Area and Furnace Area! Over a hundred of us! Once this battle ends, we will be free! But we must not forget! This battle was sparked by a small act of courage! Yes, it was Kurinka here! Alone, with her young body, she stood up against the villains! We drew strength from her brave figure! I must be ashamed… I had forgotten and given up even on small courage! It was this girl who reminded us that we have the strength to stand up!”
“Yayyyyy!”
In the midst of the awkward atmosphere, it was one uncle who rallied everyone. I was curious why he had become the leader, but it was reassuring and helpful. I could never come up with such clever lines, and even Kurinka seemed to be at a loss.
“That’s enough.”
The Factory Manager approached leisurely, as if taking a stroll, without any visible anger. The expressions of the excited crowd froze instantly, revealing just how exceptional he was compared to the other Chiefs. He was considerably larger than an average adult, and with that iron helmet and iron mask, he exuded enough intimidation and unease just by appearance. Hart had feared this Factory Manager, and I suspected he was quite strong. I couldn’t fathom why he was in the Matere Trading Company, especially when excluding the Dragonfolk and the Demon Lord Army.
The uncle who had just been encouraging everyone now shrank back, dropping his weapon to the floor.
“What useless fools you all are. Production is delayed, and now a rebellion has erupted that you couldn’t even stop…! Do you have any idea how much production could have been achieved during this wasted time?! How much profit could have been expected?! Do you understand, you bunch of idiots?!”
A strange vibrating sound emanated from his gauntleted left hand. It was an unpleasant noise, amplified like the buzzing of a fly, but more violently crafted. Among those directed at by that left hand, some curled up like children, as if the previous fervor had vanished.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” they muttered repeatedly, as if realizing the magnitude of their mistakes.
“Anyone who incited this rebellion, step forward. Otherwise, the lives of everyone here will be forfeit.”
“Ah, that would be me.”
Without hesitation, Kurinka raised her hand. It was a level of bravery unimaginable from the Kurinka I had met before. Now, she stepped forward before that giant man with the incomprehensible left hand, completely unafraid. But Kurinka, no matter how strong you’ve become, you must be cautious of that left hand. Anything making such a noise couldn’t be normal, and it was wise to assume it had effects beyond our imagination. But then again, who was I to say anything?
“Factory Manager, we’ve taken care of this side.”
Shakuchi, drenched in sweat, carried Hart by the scruff of his neck as if he were a cat. The Factory Manager nodded silently in satisfaction as he tossed Hart aside.
Kurinka and I rushed to Hart’s side, witnessing his bloodied and bruised body, clearly having been through a lot. But judging by Shakuchi’s heavy breathing, it seemed like it had been a tough fight.
Despite not being given proper meals and enduring a terrible environment, he had held up remarkably well.
“I-I’m sorry… I guess it was the right choice to quit being an Adventurer after all…”
“You won’t need the Factory Manager to intervene. I can handle these guys all by myself.”
Those were not words from someone who had struggled against Hart. It almost felt like he was desperate to win the Factory Manager’s favor. But while Shakuchi was trying to curry favor, the Factory Manager increased the volume of that strange noise from his left hand. I wasn’t going to disregard Kurinka, but I had decided that I would take charge here. I would end this quickly.
“Girl, are you not afraid of this Crush Arm?”
“Isn’t that one of Metallica’s machines? I’ve seen something similar before.”
“Oh? I thought you were just a child, but it seems I underestimated you. Yes, this is a product of a partnership with a certain company in Metallica, and it’s part of a new project our company is secretly working on.”
“That must be the Factory Manager’s ultimate weapon… How many have fallen victim to that?”
“W-Wait, is it okay to reveal that you’re working on it secretly…?”
Among the terrified crowd, one person made a surprisingly calm interjection, and I felt the same way. Metallica was associated with Genia and Platiu, but could those two really be involved? If so, I was disappointed they would lend a hand to such a terrible company. But since they mentioned a company from Metallica, I wondered what that meant.
“The Chief of the Furnace Area, Kantak, is a formidable opponent. I will also give it my all… Crush Arm, Battle Mode!”
His left hand opened like a banana peel, beginning to envelop the Factory Manager’s entire body. His bare upper body was wrapped in silver, making his already large frame grow even larger. It was as if he had donned iron armor over iron armor, transforming into a complete machine. Yes, he was just like Branburm, the Machine General of Metallica, with a body made of machinery.
It’s no wonder everyone is terrified. A person with a mechanical left arm that doubles as a weapon is no different from a monster in the eyes of ordinary folks.
“This is the latest weapon from Metallica… one of the Powered Suit series, the Proto Full Armor Crash Type!”
【Full Armor Douma has appeared! HP 5360】
It seems that the iron helmet and mask were originally part of a mechanical armor. Still, I wonder how it can move around in such a cramped space. What does “Crash Type” even mean? Is there a non-crash version? Whatever.
“I heard that an earlier version of this was used by S-rank Adventurers in the Kingdom of Metallica… Heh, this one probably holds power far beyond that. Good, if the factory’s profits rise, I can… Hehehe, Hahahaha!”
So, is this the same as Platiu’s? I was excited about hers, but this one leaves me feeling nothing. It’s just too bulky and awkward. Platiu’s looks sleek, cute, and cool. No matter how strong it is, I can’t feel envious of that.
More importantly, I don’t have a weapon right now. I wonder if I could punch through that armor with my bare hands. Perfect, I’ll just use it as a practice dummy since I doubt it’s stronger than a Dragonfolk.
“What the heck is that! A monster!”
“The Factory Manager was a monster all along!”
If I didn’t know better, I would think it was truly a monster. There were golems that looked like that among those that attacked the Wizard Kingdom, and I wonder if the Factory Manager doesn’t care about appearances.
I can’t blame everyone for panicking. But if this continues, someone is bound to get hurt.
“Blow away! Gatling Knuckle!”
【Full Armor Douma unleashed Gatling Knuckle! Kurinka took no damage! Kurinka received 15 damage! Kurinka took no damage! HP 1105/1120】
“It… it hurts…”
Kurinka rubbed her head as if she had just received a smack from her parents. I was all fired up to fight, but since Kurinka stepped up first, it’s only natural she’d be targeted.
What’s with this Gatling Knuckle? What if Kurinka gets hurt?
“What? Is the output insufficient?”
“That won’t take us down.”
“It should enhance physical abilities several times over. Even as a prototype, this seems off.”
“If it’s that strong, then there’s no need to hold back.”
“What nonsense!”
【Rua’s attack! Dealt 3719 damage to Full Armor Douma! HP 1641/5360】
It’s surprisingly tough. I thought I was going all out, but my fist stopped just before hitting Douma inside.
But sparks like lightning were bursting from the armor, and I felt like it was no longer usable.
“Wha-what?! Why won’t it move?! Is it broken?! Damn it, what a piece of junk!”
Small explosions erupted around his shoulders and waist, and a tremendous blast echoed from within the Full Armor. An explosion centered around the Factory Manager caused a chain reaction, engulfing the nearby furnace in flames.
“K-Kurinka… things have gotten really out of hand…”
“I told you not to go overboard! I’ll evacuate everyone!”
I had no choice but to apologize, even though I hadn’t been told anything. When I realized that the cleanup would be more troublesome than that weird suit, the entire furnace area was already engulfed in flames.
“Rua! Kurinka! There’s an emergency exit this way!”
“We need to get the others out too! Tatarka, please handle that side!”
“Why is there even a furnace here! If we’re going to forge weapons, it should be more…”
I pushed the responsibility onto Tatarka, but given the situation, we had no choice but to make it work. Watching Tatarka grumble about the equipment while focused on his weaponry, I vowed that I wouldn’t let anyone die here.
It looked entirely like my fault, but the real culprit was Douma, the Factory Manager. There’s no way the Kingdom of Metallica would share technology with the Matere Trading Company. What on earth is going on? I wonder if Genia knows about this. I’ll have to ask her when I see her next.
◆ Matere Trading Company Kashiram Factory, Furnace Area, Outside ◆
“Haah… haah… Is everyone safe? I’m more exhausted from this than from fighting…”
“If only Rua-chan had been more graceful in taking them down…”
“What does that even mean? How am I supposed to do that?”
After checking in with everyone in the various areas, it seems no one was left behind. Fortunately, the fire is currently contained within the furnace area. The walls are all metal, so it shouldn’t burn down easily, but eventually, we’ll need to put it out before it spreads to the nearby forest. I can’t use water magic, so I have no way to extinguish it.
The real challenge starts now.
“Ugh… you… scum…”
Out of the burning furnace area staggered Douma, the Factory Manager, covered in soot. To have survived that explosion and made it through the flames is nothing short of incredible. I never intended to kill him, but now that he’s alive, I don’t know what to do.
“Y-you all… will die…”
“Th-that’s…”
Normally, I would be startled by Douma’s approach, but what caught everyone’s attention was the sound of numerous hooves. Not horse hooves, but those of a more unique creature, a Pasib. As they approached the factory entrance, I realized they were soldiers from Kashiram.
Among them, two men stood out, riding a Pasib adorned with golden decorations.
“So this is the Matere Trading Company’s weapon factory. But what on earth is going on here?”
“Your Majesty, this is no ordinary situation. Hey! Is there anyone who can explain this?!”
The man who shouted roughly and the one referred to as “Your Majesty.” At this point, even I could piece it together. These people must be…