Gold Tooth-nim. I heard that old Dwarf’s trail ended in the Fermasa Desert?”
A beautiful woman with a distinctly sharp appearance tapped her chin lightly as she listened to her subordinate’s report.
“Fermasa Desert, huh…”
“There are only two places he could be in there.”
She nodded as well.
“Luxi Forest… And the Elysia Garden.”
“And that Alicia over there apparently helped Vulca in the Rasel Kingdom before, too.”
And if the trail ends there, it probably means he got help again this time.
“Hold on a moment—”
The man making the report suddenly frowned and checked the message that had just arrived.
“We’ve found the trail.”
He continued.
“It looks like he’s just entered Embay Forest.”
“Embay Forest… The forbidden woods north of Fermasa Desert. That’s not too far—should I go check it out myself?”
“Oh, are you going to move? Is there a reason?”
To his question, she just shrugged her shoulders.
“Headquarters keeps nagging about how much time we waste on these trivial cases.”
Slowly getting to her feet, Gold Tooth picked up her unusual sword, which had a cylindrical device attached to its hilt.
“Well then, shall I step out for the first time in a while?”
—
While Vulca was weeping and laboring at a task he didn’t even want, Jaeho was busy making potions with the Bright Stalactite Flowers.
Because of the unique properties of this tricky flower, it was impossible to produce the potions anywhere else, so he planned to make a good supply now while he had the chance.
“…Wait a second.”
Suddenly, Vulca caught Jaeho’s eye.
He was still busy mining away.
“Come to think of it, the principle is really simple, isn’t it?”
Is it really necessary to craft an item and use it as material?
Wouldn’t it be fine to just feed the Golem some solid raw materials?
“It’s a shame I can’t give the Golem the options that would be embedded in the items… but in the end, that could just increase the risk of disaster.”
Because of the penalty that only returned half the materials used.
And when you got the materials back, which half you got was completely random.
In fact, when a rampaging Golem was de-summoned, some Player’s King’s Treasures disappeared, leading the owner to weep tears of blood.
Judging by how many times he’d made and destroyed Golems by now, it seemed like the system just returned half the items by weight, at random.
If that’s the case, it’s less of a waste to use materials that are easier to come by.
“I’ll maximize the Golem’s HP by mixing strong ore and gold, but rather than focusing on combat, I’ll set it up to buff the Party Members.”
In other words, instead of trying to improve the Golem’s slow, monotonous fighting style, I’ll just use it as a wireless relay.
“Vulca! Vulca!”
“Hm? What is it?”
“Is it possible to smelt other ores together with gold and still keep the same hardness?”
“Hmm, it’ll be a bit weaker, but it’s not impossible.”
“Perfect. Then, before we make the item, could you get that done for me?”
“But for what reason? Didn’t you say you needed the item for the Golem?”
“That was the plan, but it seems like a waste now. Still, go ahead and make the item. After all, that’s just a test to decide if I let you stay or kick you out.”
Understood.
Vulca put on a sulky face and started hammering away again.
***
Composite ingots of the highest-grade iron and gold from Vulca.
There were even tougher materials than iron in this mine, but it was too difficult to smelt those right now.
According to Vulca, those required time.
Of course, even these high-grade iron ingots were rare enough that ordinary users had to empty their pockets just to get a handful.
And here Jaeho was, about to toss them into a notorious scam-artist Golem with the worst refund conditions…
“Alright, let’s test this out.”
Jaeho left the mine and moved to a suitable clearing in Embay Forest.
He used his shovel to scoop up soil from the forest into a bucket.
Pause—
“Why is the soil’s condition like this?”
—Well, this is the Demons’ Forest.
Jingjing-i poked his head out of Jaeho’s left pocket.
—The demons plowed this whole forest using Tinlight’s Legendary Sapling Shovel. That shovel’s just like that.
From the other pocket, Fonda popped out to add an explanation.
“Oh, right. That was a thing.”
One of the Legendary Sapling Shovel’s functions he’d forgotten.
[The properties of the target plant change based on Reputation and Notoriety.]
So, if the demons used it, of course the soil and ecology would be tainted with demonic energy, but in Jaeho’s case…
Thump—
Jaeho scooped up some dirt with the Legendary Sapling Shovel instead of the regular shovel.
No change in the condition.
“…Wait, is my Notoriety higher than my Reputation? I didn’t notice any problems when I was growing flowers before…”
Jaeho steadied his trembling heart and checked his numbers.
[Reputation: 4300]
[Notoriety: 4150 (Potential Infamy: 550)]
“Whew… Good, my Reputation’s still higher.”
—Wouldn’t it be a problem if they were even close?
As Kkundae pointed out, those were not reassuring numbers.
If I’m not careful, I’ll be overtaken at any moment… Actually, counting the potential stat, I’ve already been surpassed.
So, the reason the demonic soil isn’t improving is probably because my Reputation and Notoriety are practically the same.
That’s why the flowers I manage day-to-day are only maintaining a normal condition.
Whatever it is, leaning too far one way or the other can only lead to ruin.
—So, what about the Golem?
“I’ll just make it with this. It’s just an experiment anyway.”
Putting away the Legendary Sapling Shovel, Jaeho took up the regular shovel and scooped up more dirt.
The carefully prepared dirt and iron-gold ingots from his inventory.
He put them into the Sand Hourglass as Golem summoning materials.
Boom—
And at last, the ground shook—the Golden Golem MK-73!
A faint golden light shimmered over the iron armor, mainly covering the head, chest, and arms for maximum efficiency, while the rest looked like bare, earthen flesh.
However, the color of the earth was odd.
That blackish-red dirt gave off a distinctly unpleasant aura.
[<The Stopped Desert Hourglass> is a cursed artifact granted to Brejal as payment in a deal with the Great Demon Carlito.]
[The < Golden Golem> infused with demonic energy grows even stronger.]
[ <Blood Golden Golem> has been summoned.]
[Affinity with Great Demon Carlito increases.]
[Notoriety increases.]
[Great Demon Carlito bestows a gift upon you.]
[Self-Awareness is now bound to <Blood Golden Golem> .]
It was entirely Jaeho’s fault for not realizing this. He blamed himself.
He’d been so happy to use the Sand Hourglass, forgetting that it was a cursed item, and that its previous owner, Brejal, was the Cursed Ancient King.
“If the Golem has Self-Awareness, what does that even mean…?”
KRA-KOOM—!!!
“!?”
Startled by the sudden explosion, Jaeho looked over at the Golem.
Had this creepy-looking thing done something? But it just cocked its head curiously.
—That sound came from the other side of the forest.
“Have the Elves returned?”
Are they torturing demons again? He tried to shrug it off, but the next system alert said otherwise.
[The Demon Tribe <22nd Reconnaissance Unit> of Embay Forest is under attack.]
Because these demons were under Jaeho’s control, the system notified him.
“Huh? They’re being attacked?”
Maybe some Elves heading for the Elysia Garden caught the scent of demons.
If he just talked to them, he could probably persuade them.
When it came to dealing with Elves, Jaeho was more confident than anyone.
He returned to the village and looked around to find the horned demons…
“Huh?”
But the scene was completely different from what he expected.
Usually, the demons kept small, healthy forms for efficiency.
Now, their true, vicious physiques were on full display as they confronted a group of people.
“Hyuk! Alicia-nim! You really did come to help us!”
Several demons already lay on the ground, foaming at the mouth.
Jaeho hesitated.
The people facing off against the demons looked, no matter how you sliced it, like Players.
Their style just wasn’t that of New World’s NPCs.
“Players fighting demons…”
Doesn’t that make them justice-bringers?
“So I should abandon the demons…?”
“Oh my~ So the flower shop owner has this kind of hobby on the side?”
Just then, a woman walked out calmly from behind the others.
The mere sight of her set off alarm bells!
“No, I just wanted to see these guys.”
Jaeho answered calmly.
“?!!”
“Alicia-nim?”
—???
He’d spit out an excuse that wouldn’t convince a child, without batting an eye, leaving the demons and spirits bewildered.
“Honestly, I don’t care what kind of relationship you have with the demons. I just want to do my job.”
As expected, the other side didn’t believe him at all.
“What the—?”
“Of course. I’m Gold Tooth from Axe Face. We came because we got information our client Vulca was here.”
“Vulca? Who’s that?”
For now, just play dumb.
“Hohoho, you can’t just slip away. Don’t underestimate our intelligence network.”
Shnk—
Gold Tooth drew the oddly-shaped sword she’d been carrying on her back.
“Our organization doesn’t like pointless fights that don’t pay. So I’ll ask one last time. Where is Vulca?”
Clank—
She gripped the sword’s hilt tightly and aimed it at Jaeho.
“…Do I have to fight?”
He hesitated for a moment.
CRASH—BOOM—
SPLAT—!!
!!!!
Suddenly, a Golem burst out of the brush and sent Gold Tooth flying with a punch.
“Kuu—! As expected of Alicia-nim!”
“We believed in you!”
The demons cheered, thinking Jaeho had done it, but it was anything but intentional.
“Wh-what’s with that crazy thing?! When did it switch sides?!”
Kuwoong—
The Golem got up sluggishly, looked at Jaeho, and clenched its fist.
“…???”
But the fight wasn’t over.
“Kill them all!”
“Demons aren’t even that strong!”
The other Players drew their weapons and started attacking the demons.
Clank—
Through the chaos, a mechanical sound came from where Gold Tooth had been thrown.
KAAANG—
With a blast, a fireball exploded and struck the Golem’s head.
BOOM—KUM—
The Golem staggered for a moment, then glared at the opponent coming through the dust.
“Take out the Golem first!”
Several enemies swung their weapons at the Golem as well.
“So, negotiations failed?”
Gold Tooth, looking oddly vacant, approached Jaeho.
“In that case, I won’t waste any more time. Let’s see if you fight as well as your Reputation says?”
“Hmph, you’ll have to get through me first!”
A demon charged at her for a sneak attack.
Clang!!
He swung his axe heroically, but was countered and sent flying in the opposite direction.
The more Jaeho watched, the more he wondered if the rumors about demons were exaggerated.
“Ah, ahh.”
The demons surrounded Gold Tooth and struck down with their weapons all at once, but she pressed the sword’s hilt into the ground.
KRA-KOOM—!!
Flames burst from the barrel above the hilt, and Gold Tooth shot up into the air.
“Uwaaaaah!”
“Hyuk!”
The demons, swept up in the explosion, tumbled across the ground.
Gold Tooth’s target, as she soared, was none other than Jaeho!
Thud—
Jaeho narrowly dodged the heavy sword stabbing into the ground and already had his Legendary Sapling Shovel ready.
Fwoosh—
Fonda shot out of his pocket, returning to his true form.
And just as Jingjing-i tried to escape, Jaeho grabbed him.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
—Uh, but I’m not going to be much help anyway!
“No, you’ve got work to do too.”
Jaeho pointed to the Golem, which was now swinging its fists in a frenzy.
“Do something about that thing!”
—How am I supposed to?
“Come on, you both have the Demon Attribute. You should at least be able to talk, right?”
With that, Jaeho threw Jingjing-i at the Golem.
Toss—
[You have selected <Devil Grass Spirit> via <Elbo Spiritization> .]
[Agility and Movement Speed have increased due to the Docoolkun Title.]
KAANG—
Gold Tooth blocked Jaeho’s quickly-thrust shovel with ease.
“You’re faster than I thought?”
She grinned, tilting her sword and aiming for Jaeho’s legs.
Whap—
But he nimbly dodged by lifting his front foot and countered with a kick.
Whump—
Jaeho’s kick landed in her stomach, but didn’t do much damage.
But what was truly dangerous was the buildup of Magi Poisoning with every blow!
Jaeho grinned fiercely.