Satanakia – In Front of Central City Clid
The people I rescued opened a hole in the outer wall from the inside and began loading everyone onto the dragons. It’s hard to believe that dragons from Dragon’s Valley would carry humans, but with Kurinka, who is favored by the Dragon God, a single command solved everything. Like well-trained dogs, they took turns lowering everyone to the ground. Of course, many were trembling in fear at the sight of the ferocious dragons, and some even fainted, but there was nothing we could do about that. I didn’t stick around to see what happened afterward; I had informed Terrace and the others, so they should provide support.
I felt relieved that we seemed to have established a cooperative stance with the Torkaria Federation. Terrace explained things smoothly, and the negotiations were being handled by Lord Hast, the sage whose name resounded throughout the world. Perhaps the Torkaria representatives were taken aback by his direct involvement. More importantly, the influence of Tiferia and Eeks was significant. Those two were famous enough to be known even in distant lands, and the important figures in Torkaria would certainly know of them. I wasn’t sure if we could have achieved this success on our own, so I was truly grateful. Meanwhile, it seemed that Tiferia and Eeks were engaged in battle, riding on Nemea, the Blast Chimera, and Dogra, the Jet-Black Earth Dragon, respectively.
“Nemea, you came for me!”
“It seems I flew here on my own. I didn’t give any orders, but if I had known it would come to this, I should have brought you along from the start.”
“Dogra is the dragon that Eeks rode when he was a Funeral Knight, right…? Lua, you have Nemea, but I want something too.”
“Nemea is right here. I don’t think of her as just mine.”
With three heads, Dogra had a fearsome appearance that even the villagers of Ikana would hesitate to approach, but I was starting to feel a sense of affection for him. Sure, feeding him was a bit costly, but when I stroked his throat, he purred, and the other two heads nudged me, demanding attention as well. It was hard to believe he had once been owned by Pansard.
“Hey, this is strange. I know Formas has a Demon Sword, so it’s understandable that he’s not normal, but… it’s odd that Ai and the others can keep up with this speed.”
It wasn’t just Formas who was effortlessly keeping pace with the Kurinka Dragon; Ai and the others were running alongside us without any trouble. Their ability to leap over obstacles with ease was unbelievable even when witnessed firsthand. Only Mi was riding with me, so I couldn’t gauge her strength compared to the others.
[Mai’s Precious Slash! Dealt 3008 damage to Bisques! Defeated Bisques! HP 0/4990]
“Yes!”
Just before, Ai had shot off Bisques’s limbs with arrows, and Mai delivered the finishing blow with her axe. That skill was one Gantetsu had used as well, but the power was on an entirely different level. To slice through the Heartless’s armor as easily as splitting wood was astounding. Moreover, she had accurately hit such a wide-open target.
“Ai-neechan, with this, you won’t have to become a Berserker for a while! If you do that, Formas-san will hate you!”
“Yes, how many times have I been abandoned by men…?”
“Hey, hey, do you really think I’m such a petty human?”
Petty? That’s exactly what you are. Watching Formas and Ai getting along so well only fueled my irritation. I wanted to wake him up quickly. I wanted him to realize just how hopeless he truly was.
“The strength of Ai and the others… it’s reminiscent of Argil and his group, isn’t it? They also seemed to take down the Zodiac with ease.”
“The Detect Ring doesn’t move at all without ALEX. I’d like to casually ask them for their Adventurer Cards, but Formas is nearby.”
“Eeks mentioned before that Adventurers have been disappearing one after another from the Royal Capital of Avangarde… that might be related.”
“Hey, from here, you can see Clid!”
Formas called out again. I was already planning to go, so it wasn’t because he called me. I jumped onto a pile of rubble, and while it wasn’t quite a cliff, it was a steep slope. This slope seemed to encircle all of Clid, which I remembered was called a crater. Inside that crater lay the transformed city of Clid.
Satanakia – Central City Clid
The gray scenery was nowhere to be found; the once-great city, now infested with machines, looked completely diseased. The tall buildings were twisted and bent, held up by pipes, barely managing to stay upright. There was no sign of the strange vehicles that once traversed Clid. The city appeared to be a melted mass of metal, warped as if something had been attempted and then abandoned. Naturally, there were no signs of human life.
“Whoa… is that a monster? A machine?”
“That’s probably a human. At least, what used to be one.”
Mai pointed shakily at a figure with a metal plate affixed to its head. It was naked, with a chest that was a mix of metal and flesh. The mechanical right arm moved awkwardly as it scratched its non-mechanical left arm.
“That’s a cyborg. In Satanakia, they seem to be promoting the abandonment of incomplete human bodies in favor of machines. Even if they resist, they end up like that. That one probably doesn’t even know what it is anymore.”
“The skin parts are still human, right, Formas-san? So it gets itchy and it scratches…?”
“Of course, there are those who willingly become cyborgs. Look over there.”
Two cyborgs were chatting happily. Their entire bodies were mechanical, but unlike the elegant design of the Heartless, they looked like a hodgepodge of junk. One had arms like tubes and a head shaped like a rock. The other looked like it was wearing a box on its head.
“Ever since I got this body, my chronic illness has been cured. With this, I can live for years!”
“With this body, I’m safe from monster attacks. Being human was foolish!”
“I heard from a friend that Lord Branburm got an even better body. Apparently, he can fire a machine gun from his left hand. He was overjoyed to finally become one with his beloved machine gun!”
Both were boasting, but their movements were incredibly awkward. In a normal Clid, this street would have been bustling with people. Yet now, cyborgs walked around as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Some were chatting like those two, while others stumbled and fell, their heads coming off.
“To think humans could change so much in such a short time… Satanakia only appeared three days ago, right? This is way too fast for adaptation.”
“But Kurinka, there have been rumors that such signs have existed in Metallica for quite some time. Deals were made in the underworld to replace parts of the body with machines in exchange for curing diseases. Machine General Branburm is an exception; such practices are illegal in Metallica. It seems to be an organized effort, but it goes without saying that the big shots pulling the strings remain unspoken.”
It was frustrating, but I had to admit that Formas knew a lot about these matters. We were Adventurers, yet we lacked such information and knowledge. Formas must have been constantly gathering information.
“Why would anyone go that far… to become like that?”
“If you have a mechanical body, you won’t get sick, and lifespan won’t matter. Your physical abilities are naturally enhanced; the only trouble is maintenance.”
“I can’t understand! It might be amazing, but… it feels wrong, this isn’t right…”
“Why do you think humans develop all kinds of technology? Ultimately, it’s because they want to overcome their weaknesses. They want to eliminate inconveniences and avoid suffering from illnesses. It’s a survival instinct, you see. You too, despising your weak self, have fought hard to become stronger, haven’t you?”
Being lectured by Formas should have made me angry, but I found myself stopping to think. I had no retort. These people and I were the same; the underlying motivations Formas spoke of didn’t change.
But I didn’t think of myself as special.
“Then the next step is, ‘I don’t want to lose to that guy.’ If someone next to you creates something amazing, you want to create something even more amazing; that’s the competitive instinct. Metallica has gained power that surpasses any other nation, and look where it has led them. This is the answer.”
Formas pointed downward with his thumb. He was indicating the distorted city of Clid.
“…Branburm has been plotting this kind of domination for a long, long time. Even as one of the Steel Five, he was secretly engaging in illegal dealings for mechanization… I agree with Lua-chan. What’s enjoyable about doing something like this?!”
“Of course, it’s only natural that you wouldn’t understand with that incomplete brain of yours.”
Branburm’s voice echoed triumphantly from somewhere. This Satanakia was Branburm himself, and he was aware of all our actions and voices. That’s why the lack of interference up to this point felt so eerie.
“People are sure to voice their complaints when faced with a new environment. But look around. Has my grassroots movement borne fruit? More humans are adapting to mechanization than I expected. The research fanatic Genia and Corin, who is infatuated with ALEX, are turning a blind eye. Even the bald tutor of the princess is incompetent, and the Steel Five are in this sorry state… It’s only natural that I can move as I please.”
“Hahaha… Those subordinates below me are just passing the buck, aren’t they?”
“Even within our own borders, this level of incompleteness is appalling! Policies that are merely for show cannot eradicate grassroots movements! In the end, it seems many have accepted the status quo deep down! Well, I forcibly mechanized anyone who dared to complain!”
“Ah, my body… it won’t move…”
As Branburm shouted, one person stood frozen in place, walking as if they were still in motion. Then, their mechanical body crumbled, turning into a heap of junk. How is this considered complete? The one at the top of the nation is like that, and even with advanced technology, we are worse off than Avangarde. The gray Metalican—it’s not just the appearance, but the essence as well.
“But wait. There must have been many who didn’t wish for this outcome. You claimed that many were adapting to mechanization, but isn’t that just a facade? Just like with Corin.”
“That’s right, just as Kurinka said. No one is happy about this state of affairs. Branburm, if you don’t want Satanakia to be destroyed right now, you better revert things back to how they were.”
“You dare speak to me… who do you think you are addressing? I am a man on the verge of becoming a Divine Being!”
This is futile. I knew it was pointless, but I asked anyway. Drawing my Demon Sword, I took an aggressive stance against Branburm, who was somewhere I couldn’t pinpoint. It would be bad if Satanakia fell, but I had faith in the Dragon God and the Dragons of Dragon’s Valley.
“Huh? You think you can defeat a god while struggling against a lizard outside with a fox? Very well, the place you believe to be my heart is right there. Can you see it?”
The most prominent structure among the tall buildings was the Metal Tower. It had warped beyond recognition. Pipes twisted around the iron tower, and the top bulged out like a mushroom. From my exchanges with Meria, I now understood that was the heart. Since there was a chance Branburm was lying, I asked just to be sure.
“The control of Satanakia is likely centralized there, Rua. And hurry, everyone is struggling against the infinitely spawning Heartless.”
“Got it. I’ll shoot the Sonic Ripper right there!”
“I don’t know who you are consulting with, but I told you. You think that’s the heart? I will prove you wrong!”
The Metal Tower trembled, and something was launched from its tip as if it were bursting forth. Immediately after, the Metal Tower bent and melted away. What was launched came hurtling toward us, trailing a sticky substance behind it.
“This is… the form of a god. Rejoice, for I shall be the first to rewrite the world’s order. Along with this counterfeit god.”
A gray, muscular body, with Branburm’s head. But it seemed like his entire body was made of metal. Metal formed the muscles and moved with a rigid grace. That was the impression I got. Had Branburm acquired a body of metal instead of a mechanical one? Even his head was not flesh; his hair, eyes, and beard were all gray.
“Tch, finally showing yourself. The opening act was too long.”
“You know my intentions. Why not draw that Demon Sword and face me? It is the first battle of a god; I shall grant you the honor of being my opponent.”
Formas raised his middle finger, provoking Branburm. I wouldn’t let him handle this alone; I intentionally stepped in front of Formas, positioning myself closer to Branburm.
“This might be the first time we’re face to face this closely. From such a small body, you generate quite a bit of power…”
“Is that mechanical? I don’t really care either way.”
“This is the ideal form of the new humanity… the Metalican. A so-called metal human… a being that should dominate the earth in place of the old humanity, which possesses only an incomplete physical form. You, who have been so presumptuous, should be ashamed.”
“Hmm, so that’s supposed to be better than a human?”
“Abandoning conflict, overcoming illness, living forever, and surpassing human knowledge. Many humans have longed for immortality, yet none have achieved it. Except for me. How does that make you feel? Are you envious? If you bow down right now, I might even grant you this body.”
Since he had discarded humanity, he thought he was perfect or a god. I didn’t know what kind of person Madias was, but I certainly didn’t want to be replaced by someone like him. Just as he said, I wanted to grow stronger because I didn’t want to lose. But that wasn’t to kick someone down, look down on them, take their life, or dominate them. That’s where we differed.
“Of course, there’s no need for mating. I am not governed by base desires for pleasure, nor do I need to propagate. This Metalican has shed the common sense of a species.”
“You’ve lost everything just to live, huh…? There probably won’t be any joy left for you from now on…”
“What…?”
“The moments when you feel you’ve grown through struggles and learning are the happiest. But you ran away from that, seeking only a perfect body… how sad.”
“You… could it be that you, of all people, pity me?”
To me, living meant being with everyone. It meant being happy with Kurinka. I would surely continue to face struggles ahead. But each time, I would overcome them. And I would grow.
“You… how dare you! This is why the incomplete are so infuriating! You don’t think about reason or profit, blindly believing in growth and the unseen! Just because you’ve lived for a mere fifteen years, you think you know everything!”
“Branburm, you’ve lived longer than me, yet you don’t understand that? Fine, if you’re so perfect, I can take you down too.”
【Perfect Human (Metalican) Branburm has appeared! HP: ?????】
“Seriously, what an annoying brat! I think I understand Corin’s feelings just a little now!”
As Branburm braced himself, his feet fused with the metallic ground. Metal began to coil around him, merging into one. His body expanded slightly, transforming into a hulking mass of metal muscle. At that moment, I sensed Formas drawing his sword behind me.
◆ Shin Report ◆
Phew, escape successful.
I can’t afford to get caught up in this fight any longer.
However, at Kurinka’s single call, the dragons stirred.
It seems I’m now a dragon tamer.
Conveniently, I can seduce men to make them submit, like a wicked witch.
Rua, the woman you love is more dangerous than you anticipated.
The mechanical body is supreme.
Even machines will eventually rust.
But becoming a Metalican is different, right?
The world will be flooded with such beings—what a nightmare.
Well, even the demons can’t speak.
And is there really such a thing as perfection?
Even if you cure an incurable disease, another one will emerge.
Even if you defeat one enemy, another will appear.
Nature is well-crafted.
Humans have overcome challenges and thrived until now.
That’s why the complacent demons lost.
How long can the Metalican truly remain the ruler?
Hehe, even Shin sometimes writes a serious report.
Wait, did I get separated? This is bad.