Chapter 72
From the broken cleaning golem’s half-functional speaker, a scratchy, emotionless voice played. Its tone sounded strange from moment to moment, producing only bizarre noise, but…
“Well then, welcome, young ones. It may not be much of a space, but please make yourselves comfortable.”
The three were able to recall Abraham’s voice from the noise made by the cleaning golem. The gentle tone of an elderly man that effortlessly put listeners at ease.
“If this were my mansion, at least I would have some tea to serve. What a pity. As you can see, there’s nothing in this room but dust and scrap metal. And there’s only one chair too…”
The wheels of the cleaning golem moved with an unpleasant rattling sound.
Tara followed the scene with her eyes, hesitated for a while, and then asked with earnestness. It might have even sounded like a cry.
“Are you… really Abraham?”
When she heard the answer, “That’s right,” she couldn’t tell if she was supposed to rejoice or mourn.
A red light blinked from the cleaning golem’s lens, as if it were deep in thought. “I have already reflected deeply on such philosophical discourse. Although I’m stuck in this can… I do believe I am Abraham.”
The broken cleaning golem spun around the shabby room as if to guide them. Only then did the cramped shape of the small space come into Tara’s view.
The area where the golem was stored, of course, was not a suitable place for a human to live. Similar-looking cleaning golems lined up in rows in a cramped room devoid of windows. It was a space made up of walls and an entrance, with not a hint of interior decoration. There were no tools for living.
Of course, there wouldn’t be any. Golems weren’t humans after all.
The only thing that stood out was a crude chair that looked like it was hastily assembled from scrap metal. A profound sense of loneliness emanated from it. Was Abraham waiting for someone here?
So, if–– if someone had to live here… If one had to spend endless years in a place that was, quite literally, nothing… how would they be able to keep themselves together?
The three were able to read Abraham’s response from the wall.
Words were inscribed on the wall using pieces of iron. Sometimes it was a diary; at other times, vague reflections, explorations of the surroundings, or reflections on himself. And all those words pointed to one destination: humanity.
On the wall, there was a map depicting the internal structure of the dungeon. It marked the locations and dangers of traps, along with strategies to overcome them. Next to that, there were notes on how to observe stars and how to fry a delicious egg.
He seemed to have decided to spend his last days helping others while caught in this strange situation. Abraham spoke once again.
“I believe that what defines one’s existence is one’s self. So, I am simply Abraham.”
Indeed, he was Abraham.
Even with a body gradually falling apart, an annoying speaker blaring irritating sounds, and a spring that creaked as it turned, with only one mechanical arm remaining for cleaning…
He was still Abraham.
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[How did you end up like this…?]
“Well, you see, I don’t really know. I was counting stars, you know. Then I opened my eyes and found myself here. At first, I thought I had fallen into hell, but soon realized it was just another life.”
Abraham responded pleasantly.
Though they asked, “How”… the group had an inkling of why Abraham was in this situation.
Stuffing a human soul into a lifeless golem… This might be one of the many methods the Evil God used to torment souls he had harvested.
Bennett gritted his teeth in anger. He was furious. Not only was Abraham killed in a horrific manner, but he also had to endure this? Why? For what purpose?
Meanwhile, Abraham rifled through his memories. No matter how hard he tried, he had no information about them. Perhaps the missing 20% of his memories held that information.
“It seems you all know me, but I’m sorry to say I have no memories of you.”
“Abraham, we are…”
As Tara was about to share past memories, Bennett stretched out his arm to stop her. Then, he stepped forward and succinctly explained the situation.
“We are people who owe you a debt. When we had nowhere else to go, you invited us to your mansion, Abraham.”
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“Hoho, I see…”
The sound of his laughter echoed ominously due to the distorted mechanical noise. Not wanting to leave a bad impression on his long-lost guests, Abraham decided to hold back his laughter.
“Could you tell me a bit more? About our… encounter. Our story.”
“We met at a waste disposal site near the slums. We had been robbed, so we must have looked pitiful to you, Abraham. That’s why you showed us kindness.”
“Yes, that’s right! Thanks to you, Abraham, we… found clothes. And…”
[You taught us a lot of things over the past few days, it was fun.]
“We looked at stars together, you shared your research with us, and you even gave us a tour of the university. And…”
[A fabulous breakfast too.]
Once they started talking, Niolle and Tara rattled on about many things. Perhaps they wished to rekindle the thread of a broken relationship once more. However, the more they talked, the clearer it became.
A void. A relationship that could have been tied to something resembling family but which had now entirely vanished. Tara felt a pang of sadness. Tears swelled in her throat, and she could no longer speak, so she just bit her lip in silence.
Abraham quietly regarded them through his old lenses.
“It’s strange, but it seems there’s a gap in time between us.”
“…It appears so. How long have you been trapped in this dungeon?”
“So, this place is referred to as a dungeon? I can’t tell without any items to measure the passage of time. There’s… not even a single window here, is there?”
“Indeed, it’s not a hospitable space for humans. Did… you assemble that chair yourself?”
Bennett pointed to the crude chair. It looked like something no one could sit on, being all pointy, yet assembling a shape like that with a clunky mechanical arm must have taken considerable effort and time.
“I thought I’d make it just in case guests arrived. I thought that eventually, someone would wander into this strange space. Looks like I got that right.”
“What about the writings left on the wall?”
“This place is pretty dangerous. I don’t know who set it all up, but there are a lot of nasty traps that could harm people’s lives. That’s why I marked them.”
Bennett cast a glance at Abraham’s shattered body. He could see the reason for the damage now. It seemed he was continually injured as he revealed the traps and marked their positions.
Tara turned away to cover her mouth, perhaps not wanting Abraham to hear her cries. Niolle simply gazed at the scars on Abraham; she seemed to carry herself deep in thought.
[……….]
“The only good thing about being in a mechanical body is being able to do these tough jobs without hesitation. Being trapped in a soulless form means I don’t have to worry about joint pain the next day.”
“Were you performing these tasks over and over again in an abandoned place?”
Bennett found this behavior hard to comprehend. With the information Abraham possessed, he wouldn’t have known this structure was a dungeon, nor that someone entered it occasionally. So, his dedication to helping others wasn’t guaranteed to pay off.
If this was an empty dungeon, then Abraham’s efforts would have all been in vain. Yet he pressed on. For what reason?
“May I ask you a question, Abraham?”
“Of course, go right ahead.”
“Even after you became like this… even being in such a situation, how… were you able to keep going?”
“To be honest, it was because I had nothing else to do. You can’t just sit around doing nothing here as if you’re dead, can you? And—”
Abraham quipped through his playful tone.
“I believe. I believe that goodwill has power. I believe that humanity’s kindness holds a mysterious ability that can guide the world in the right direction. This is the only form of occult I genuinely believe in. That’s why I went on. I believed it would have some small benefit to the world.”
“…….”
“And… isn’t it rather wonderful? To help others?”
Abraham must’ve chuckled at his own vagueness. Just as how Bennett once asked the old man about continuing his research despite threats. He would have surely responded in that boyish tone, with that spark in his eyes.
Ironically, despite being trapped in the cleaning golem, he lived in a way distinctly human. As if aesthetic changes or lack of ability held no consequence, he strode resolutely toward the starlight glowing from his heart.
The records Abraham left on the dungeon walls were not simply about trap locations or knowledge. They seemed to hint at something far larger. What was encapsulated here represented the essence of the old man’s life.
People might not comprehend it cognitively, but emotionally, they understood. After all, it’s the belief that lets humans remain human. The future was still grim, and restless waves of torment swirled around, yet…
If you know where to go… there’s no reason to wander aimlessly.
Bennett nodded and smiled. He thought of this golem as nothing more than a pitiful old man victimized by the Evil God’s tricks. But that wasn’t the case. Even in the agonizing circumstance of his soul being trapped in a golem, he was resolutely taking that clear step ahead.
The hesitant black magician felt admiration instead of sorrow or pain when seeing the old man. He chose to pay his respects. Abraham would undoubtedly be gratified by this. He spoke openly.
“Truly, you are admirable, Abraham.”
“…Uhh, I’m rather embarrassed.”
Bennett faced Abraham, whose lens flickered red. There was something he needed to ascertain.
“We need the password to the safe that contains Abraham’s research materials.”
“Surely, you aren’t planning to do any bad deeds with it, are you?”
“No, Abraham. Your research will save many lives. We’re planning to make it happen.”
“Then let me tell you. 0714, it’s my daughter’s birthday.”
The group successfully attained the safe’s password.
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“I suppose you’re exploring this perilous place because you’re busy with something important. I fear I might have detained you too long.”
“No, no, that’s not the case. We have plenty of time… sniff.”
Tara’s eyes were still puffy and red from tears. Despite using two handkerchiefs, the tears kept flowing as she stubbornly refrained from blinking, determined to dry them out.
She knelt before Abraham, grasped his mechanical arm, and spoke.
“Um, Abraham. Come with us. Let’s get out of this dungeon… and outside. I have so much to show you.”
“…….”
Bennett attempted to halt Tara, but Abraham beat him to it. The rejected words spilled from the half-broken cleaning robot.
“I appreciate your thoughts, but I can only receive your sentiment.”
“…W-Why not, Abraham! If you’re going to continue living like this, rather than staying here…!”
“Tara, that’s enough.”
Bennett gripped Tara’s shoulder and tugged her. This was because the cleaning golem was practically at its limit. The accumulation of damage from dismantling traps meant it was practically a miracle that it could even move at that moment.
Glimpsing Niolle’s expression, she too seemed to grasp this reality. Abraham’s lifespan was running critically low. It was uncertain whether he could be repaired, even if brought to the Gold Magic Tower right away.
Before that, living within the golem’s body would only serve as agony for Abraham.
The reason the Demonic Sword was called a Demonic Sword is that souls cannot endure an inorganic form, ultimately driving them to madness. The same applied to the souls imbued in golems. It would be nothing but a selfish desire to keep Abraham alive.
Of course, if Abraham wished for longevity, it would be a different matter entirely, but he appeared not to.
“When someone’s time has come, shouldn’t they gracefully depart?”
“…….”
Tara glanced at the Demonic Sword hanging from her waist, then back at Abraham. It seemed she finally understood. Tears fell from her eyes yet again.
Bennett sat beside Tara and began to comfort her while gently stroking her back.
“…Say what you want to. Tara.”
“…….”
Overwhelmed by emotion, Tara could only make small choking sounds. Yet she barely managed to get out her few words.
“I-I… Although it was short, I had a very… happy time with Abraham. Truly. Like a f-family… you treated us warmly. I…”
“Tara. Take a deep breath and speak slowly.”
“…sob, I… I wanted to say this to you. I couldn’t tell you sooner because we had to leave so hastily, but I wanted to say this so badly. I should have… said it a long time… ago…”
Tara struggled to suppress the rising tears and even though her words were stammering and interspersed with sobs, she received Bennett’s encouragement, managing to articulate the thoughts she had held inside.
“I just wanted you to know that… I was very… happy.”
“I was happy too. The time we spent together must have been truly enjoyable.”
Tara embraced Abraham and wept fiercely. For an elongated moment.
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Abraham’s spirit worked astutely, even while ensnared in a mechanical shell. He gleaned a wealth of information from the gaps in memories prompted by the words of the young folk standing before him.
It seemed something must have happened to him. Perhaps he got entangled in something bizarre and sustained severe injuries… or possibly he had even passed away.
He could sense through their eyes and actions, even from behind his old lenses, that they mourned massively for his death. There was even someone who bore guilt over it. Although he remembered nothing of them, they appeared to have been quite close.
Thus, he consciously refrained from probing further. Look at that girl; wasn’t she already turning away, crying pitifully? He felt that if he acted even more mournfully, it would only lead them deeper into despair. So, he forcibly decided to act lively and normal.
The old man entangled in machinery contemplated.
He bore no regrets in life. He had lived doing what he desired until old age. Even confined in a machine, he lived true to himself, almost devoid of regrets, having lived honorably.
However, one thing remained a burden: his daughter.
The day they looked up at the stars together.
Abraham’s daughter, Isaac, became a person who seemingly witnessed something she shouldn’t have from the cosmos. Afterward, she plunged herself into peculiar occult practices, living more for her faith than for her life.
That was why they fought, and that was why Isaac left home. Abraham wanted her to live for her happiness, but Isaac desired to live for her God.
He merely wished to present her with the thing he loved most, yet that choice had left a lingering regret for Abraham.
Consequently, he had no option but to make a request to these young people.
“May I ask a favor of you?”
“Yes, Abraham.”
“I have a daughter with whom I have a troubled relationship. She fell into some odd belief and we became estranged for a while, but I believe she will return someday. I believe she will come back and live for her own happiness. So…”
In this state, he could not wait for his daughter. Thus, he shared his sole wish.
“Please take good care of Isaac.”
“…Yes. Of course.”
Bennett nodded gravely.
===============================================================
After calming their emotions, Tara, Niolle, and Bennett concluded this reunion with their farewells. They were presently involved with the Dungeon Exploration Practical Exercise and had work awaiting them. Regret and sorrow both had to be set aside.
Tara exited the room, supported by Niolle, still shedding tears. Just as Bennett prepared to leave, Abraham called out to him.
“Did you say your name is Bennett?”
“…Yes, Abraham.”
“Somehow, you seem similar to me. Hence, I wish to share a thought with you. This old man might have misjudged, but please do not take offense.”
“I will listen closely.”
“Life is tough; storms will rage, and fierce waves will constantly crash against you as if to swallow you whole. However, do not lose yourself. To lose yourself is tantamount to losing your life.”
Bennett nodded somberly.
The three departed the room. The cleaning golem remained alone in the space. Its wheels creaked, and the mainspring struggled to turn. Should he be relieved that he managed to hold together until the end of their conversation?
Had he not been such a wreck, he would have checked the traps at the left fork that he hadn’t yet explored, or perhaps chatted more extensively with the youths. He could have transcended the lost memories and begun forging a new bond.
Static began to disrupt the visuals transmitted through the lenses. The springs in his limbs started to stutter and give out one by one. He could feel poignantly that the functions of his entire body were coming to a halt. He thought of leaving some parting words, attempting to move the arm that held a piece of metal, but decided against it.
After all, he had already said all he wanted to convey. To that young man laden with worries.
He felt as if his body were floating. Then, a sense of some force began to pull at him. Abraham believed his soul was being drawn somewhere. It was an emancipation from this metal body.
What comes next? Would there be an afterlife? Such thoughts raced through his mind…
As he pondered, Abraham beheld a girl in a luminous white expanse. A blond girl with her hair in pigtails, tears streaming down her cheeks. Instinctively, he sensed she was his Creator or something akin to it.
“O God, did you come to greet me?”
“…Yup. You’ve worked hard, Abraham. Both inside and out. sniff.”
“You do exist! My life felt so grim, believe me, I thought you were naught. I lived half my life as an atheist… Are you punishing me for that?”
“No. It was an accident. He… probably didn’t intend for this to happen. So, Abraham, do you have any wishes? You can take your time to think—it’s not like I need someone to babysit me right now…”
I see that God is more emotional and chatty than I imagined, Abraham mused as he was taken in by the Master of the Purple Magic Tower.
===============================================================
The threesome resolved their paths in individual ways.
Tara managed to complete the last farewell she had never been able to express. Through her final words, she alleviated the resentment she had felt for not being there for her family and Abraham during their last moments. Her regrets had lessened, even if just a tad.
Yet, her anger towards the Order of the Silver Twilight was on the rise, threatening to engulf her entire heart if left unchecked.
Niolle felt inspired by Abraham’s outlook on life. Instead of writhing in guilt over lives she failed to save, she realized she needed to move forward. She had to tread the fine line between her abilities, her goals, and the realm of self-sacrifice. The necessity to forge onward resonated in her heart.
However, her steps wavered precariously between her own self and fanaticism. It was possible she might throw everything away for some cause.
And lastly…
Bennett raised a star within his heart. Though it emitted only a faint glimmer, it was sufficient as a guiding beacon. Amidst the tangled pathways of friends, a sister, a black mage, and a swordsman… he tentatively charted a course.
Moreover, one day, when that star began to shine brilliantly, it would surely steer his heart in the right direction.
And so, once again… the day for a new session dawned.
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