Book Eater

Chapter 216: The Swirl of a Civil War (3)

As Sylvia’s eyes flashed with determined resolve, Theo replied, “Yes, I’ll be expecting it.”

Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be easy. Theo supported Sylvia’s determination, but he also looked at her with the sober eyes of a magician. She was a true genius who had reached the 6th Circle without a cheat like Gluttony. Her talent had allowed Blundell Adruncus to welcome her as a daughter, and also made her the treasure of the Blue Tower.

However, the wall of the 7th Circle was unlike any wall before it. The 7th Circle was the path to leave the realm of humanity. As Gluttony had said before, it was building up dharma and throwing off the restraints of karma. A mortal who relied only on their innate talent would come to a standstill. It was up to Sylvia’s mind and luck to see if she could cross the wall.

“Ah, I truly don’t have any face. I’m just listening to my juniors talk like this...” At first glance, William was speaking to Theo, but he was actually blaming himself.

He had been a prodigy since he was a child, and his confidence had only grown as he soared in the White Tower. William wasn’t a master yet, but it was very rare for someone to become a master in their early thirties. He thought that he could achieve it in the next decade and become the next White Tower Master.

Yet Theo wasn’t even thirty, and he had already surpassed William.

How unsightly.?

William chided himself. Although he spent ten hours a day practicing magic, he had lost the desperate fervor of his apprenticeship days. His eyes shone as he resolved to work even harder.

Only Paragranum felt nothing.

Rattle.

She glanced at William and Sylvia with a frown. Once they left, she smiled brightly. Theo felt the usual chill down his spine as she stepped closer and exclaimed, “You’re finally alone!”

Theo was surprised by her hasty approach and asked carefully, “Y-Yes, why?”

“I told you. I would explain once we were alone!”

“Ah.”

Was it when he asked if something good had happened? Theo belatedly remembered and examined Paragranum carefully, who didn’t look like her usual self. Her outward appearance was a cute girl in her late teens, but her essence was something which transcended humanity.

Sigh, I need to be prepared.

The relatively moderate Gluttony had no hesitation in recommending human sacrifice as a path toward the peak. He couldn’t imagine what a grimoire who repeatedly conducted human experiments was like. Theo sighed inwardly and warily watched Paragranum. Just her flushed face felt a little creepy, especially knowing nothing lived under that skin.

“You will definitely like this!” Paragranum grinned as she touched a bracelet on her right wrist. It was similar to the bracelet which was used to call the Living Armor. Unsurprisingly, she cast a summoning spell. “Summon Automaton!”

The bracelet flashed. Normal people couldn’t see through the magic light, but Theo could vaguely see a humanoid shape form.

A human?

Theo couldn’t be blamed for the thought, since the object Paragranum had summoned had an appearance no different from that of a human male. It had the skin, hair, and physique of a human. Dressed in gorgeous armor, it almost looked like a fairytale knight.

When the light faded, Theo flinched. “Lloyd Pollan?!”

The hair wasn’t the only thing that gave away the resemblance. Lloyd Pollan was fully armed and looked just like when he had tried to invade Paracelsus’ laboratory. The only reason Theo didn’t reflexively attack was because he couldn’t feel anything from the body.

Theo grasped the identity of the uncomfortable feeling he had and muttered, “Corpse...?”

“No way!” Paragranum, however, denied it aggressively. “Have you already forgotten? You gave me a golem from the laboratory."

“... Come to think of it.”

He had indeed given her a model of a knight in full body armor. Theo glanced sideways at Paragranum. If he remembered correctly, it hadn’t just been an empty armor. It had a fully working set of internal gears and artifacts. In that case, how had she modified the golem to recreate Lloyd Pollan’s appearance?

“Magicians of this era don’t know about automatons.” Paragranum noticed Theo’s doubts and smacked the automaton’s face. It was a signal to appraise it. Theo didn’t have any other option, so he complied.

Appraisal.

The slippery tongue touched the automaton’s cheek. Theo frowned at the sight of the tongue licking the cheek, but it quickly retracted back into his hand.

[Automaton - Sword Master ‘Lloyd’]

[The apex of the automatons: the successor of the androids created by the dwarves, who were familiar with mechanics and ancient civilizations. The Earl of Saint Germain, the late alchemist of the Age of Mythology, tried to make an artificial god in the final form of an automaton. However, it was said that he failed the experiment and lost his life. This automaton contains the soul and central nervous system of the sword master, Lloyd Pollan.

* This automaton is rated Treasure.

* It isn’t possible to use Predation on this automaton.

* This automaton currently doesn’t have an owner.

* The automaton has limited autonomy in battle and can’t make decisions on its own without the owner’s instructions.

* The Aura Ability, Pathfinder, can be used in a limited manner.]

“Crazy!” Theo unconsciously gasped. “This is no different from a necromancer’s undead!”

Using the body as an ingredient was like creating undead from corpses. This was veering awfully close to black magic, which was taboo on the entire continent.

However, Paragranum smiled and shook her head. “Fool, how can you compare nasty undead to an automaton when their compositions are completely different? Do you treat goblins and ogres as the same species because they both have two legs?”

“Please explain it properly. What’s the difference?”

“Automata aren’t vulnerable to divine power like the undead, and it can function semi-permanently as long as magic power is supplied. Superior automata can even fuse the egos. But this is a basic automaton, so it isn’t possible.”

Para didn’t care since she had used an enemy as its base, so she kicked the shin of the automaton. It seemed she still held a grudge toward Lloyd.

Theo was feeling conflicted. According to Paragranum, this automaton wasn’t an undead. However, it was clearly very similar to undead. This was a combat weapon made from a body, and it was absolutely obedient to its master’s will. Theo knew the cause of his reluctance.

Isn’t it a little monstrous?

When it came to one’s purpose of existence, grimoires and humans were different. In the past, Theo had received a deadline, but he hadn’t hesitated to refuse human sacrifices. It might be Paragranum’s work, but wouldn’t Theo be complicit if he took advantage of her creation? This question troubled his conscience.

“So? Will you accept my gift?” Despite knowing Theo’s anguish, Paragranum pressed him for an answer with an innocent expression. To the grimoire who longed to create a human, the automaton was just a piece of data.

Theo didn’t take long to make a decision. “... I will accept.”

“Hoh, is it okay? You look quite worried.”

“Strength is power. The problem is how to utilize it. If I can use it in the right manner, I will have created a means.”

“I’ve seen many hypocrites make up excuses. What about you?” Para’s red eyes looked at Theo with devilish interest. Theo felt a chill run down his spine as she tossed the bracelet at him.

“Insert your magic power, state your name, and then give that guy a name. That will make you the automaton’s owner.”

Theo obediently injected magic power into the bracelet.

Wuuuong...

There was intense magic resonance, and Theo could sense the automaton before him. It felt similar to when he had made the contract with Mitra and Hugin.

Connecting the souls.

The moment he was convinced the string of the contract was established, Theo spoke, “Theodore Miller.”

The automaton’s information window updated itself.

[* The automaton is currently owned by ‘Theodore Miller.’]

A strong demand was passed down through the contract link. The automaton was like a doll which had lost all freedom, but it wanted a name. Theo didn’t sympathize with Lloyd. Lloyd was an enemy and had lost his life. He had died because he had messed with a grimoire.

So, Theo would give the automaton a new name. After receiving the name, Lloyd would be Theo’s puppet, losing his name and status.

“Gladio.”

It was just a sword.

Kiiing-

The eyes of the automaton lit up. A deep aura emanated from the stationary automaton, and it regained its vitality. The pressure filling the surroundings was the remnant of Lloyd Pollan, one of the empire’s Seven Swords.

However, Theo watched it with an expressionless face.

The sword master called Lloyd Pollan no longer exists.

It was a relationship where the soul was subjugated. Lloyd's ego had been ground to dust, leaving behind an automaton with a mechanical will. This was the moment when Lloyd Pollan died and the battle weapon, automaton ‘Gladio,’ was born.

Kiik, kik, kkiiik.

Gladio moved stiffly at first, but it quickly started moving naturally. It bowed gracefully, which was evidence of the great loyalty Lloyd had to the emperor of Andras during his life.

Then a voice came through their soul connection, [Gla—dio sees mas—ter.]

Theo looked at the knight kneeling before him and eventually nodded. It might be a power he had chosen, but it was also a responsibility he had to bear.