<476 – The Significance of the Student Council>
After the Golem Maintenance Shop, Jessica took Zuang on a tour of the Golem Parts Manufacturing Plant, Golem Hangar, and the Golem Battle Arena.
“Is this the Execution Headquarters or the Golem Den?”
In response to Zuang’s tour impression, the human-type golem Jessica replied in a monotonous voice.
“The golems are clerical workers of the Execution Headquarters, with 1278 out of 1285 subjects belonging to this group. Facilities for the production, maintenance, and development of golems are indispensable for the upkeep of the Execution Headquarters.”
“Why is the Golem Battle Arena necessary?”
“The human-type golems with only basic equipment have not undergone software upgrades or parts replacements to meet their enhancement needs. Battles with upgraded parts or acquired software through points are the main interests of human-type golems.”
“To get stronger, they steal. They’re surprisingly not much different from humans.”
A coldly cynical view befitting an assassin. Jessica didn’t deny it.
“Zuang, there’s no need to be envious! Software corresponds to skill books, and parts replacements are no different from acquiring higher-level equipment.”
“Skill books are super rare.”
A book that automatically grants you a function just by reading it! Naturally, creating a skill book requires an incredibly high functional value.
“Is there a function you want to learn?”
“Various things. I saw many techniques while staying at the Academy.”
“For example, what techniques?”
Zuang pointed at my backpack behind me.
“Enhancement.”
“Enhancement is a no-go!”
“Because it’s a taboo of the Empire?”
“If a beginner stacks enhancement experience, the family fortune will go down the drain! It’s better to trust a reliable enhancer!”
“Then how about Flash?”
“Like the Light Stand of Titosso?”
“Yep.”
“That’s because it has a high mana capacity and affinity for light. Before the magical tool light stands, Titosso would still produce a strange amount of light just with a lamp or a torch, right?”
“True.”
“Anything else?”
Zuang pondered deeply and his eyes sparkled with curiosity.
“Automation.”
“Huh?”
“Like the self-folding paper airplane of Oknodie. I want to get the automated function that enables the [Automation Process].”
Ah, I see. It’s a rare function, so he seems curious. Just the fact that one has to experience the [Picnic Healing] midterm exam to acquire the rare function of Serenity shows how hard it is to obtain such features.
Given that it’s easier to grow in the Gift Academy than outside, you’d have to survive through hellish battlefields outside to earn such a troublesome skill.
Of course, automation is also a very difficult function to acquire. But fortunately, we arrived at a place that specializes in automation.
The Golem Parts Manufacturing Plant.
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “factory”?
Of course, [Automated Production], [Automation Facilities]!
It’s a necessary function that every aspiring student of the Production Department must acquire before graduation.
“I have a great idea.”
“What should we do?”
“Let’s do automated hunting!”
Functions gain experience and improve by performing related actions.
If you want to hide, play hide and seek.
If you want swordsmanship, practice swordsmanship.
If you want automation, automated hunting is perfect!
“How do we do that? Line up the assassination targets in a row and tell them to jump into the pit so their families won’t be murdered?”
“Hmm, if you do that, the intimidation function will go up! Automated hunting should occur without my will, automatically in every process.”
“That’s tough.”
“However, if we hire clerical staff, it might be solved surprisingly quickly!”
“We’ll have to get permission from the execution agents.”
Jessica agreed.
“It’s beyond the authority granted to clerical staff.”
While contemplating whom to persuade, Velvet’s voice echoed from a nearby speaker.
“I’ll authorize it under the powers of the Execution Headquarters. You can take up to 10 clerical staff if needed.”
“Wow! Thank you!”
Senior Velvet is really nice.
As human-type golems rushed to Jessica, Zuang wore a somewhat displeased expression.
“How did Senior know about our conversation? They weren’t even visible.”
“Strong individuals usually have broader domains! Since its a conversation happening within their domain, they probably eavesdropped on everything! They might’ve even heard our heartbeats!”
“…Let’s get out of here quickly.”
With Zuang’s urging, we swiftly left the Execution Headquarters.
Representing the human-type golem clerical staff, Jessica asked,
“How can we assist you?”
“Please get me mana circuits, wheels, water, and ants!”
The easiest way to acquire the automation function in the world.
Create an automated hunting device for ant hills!
*
Velvet received reports from the clerical staff.
“Student Oknodie engraved automatic rotation, water generation magic on a waterwheel, and created a device that floods an ant hill when a button is pressed.”
“What’s the result? Did they really gain automation?”
“Precise verification is necessary, but after a certain time, it has been confirmed that the speed and efficiency of flooding the ant hill have improved.”
“And what about the girl assassin with the fox mask?”
“After pressing the button, the same performance improvements were confirmed for student Zuang as well.”
“How fascinating. Where did they acquire such peculiar knowledge?”
Velvet knew.
The exact conditions for acquiring the automation function.
To reveal one’s true intentions without intervening oneself while achieving desired outcomes.
That’s why this function is typically granted to nobles.
Working with trusted aides who fulfill their desires without needing to be told.
Or, through desperate prisoners or slaves rolling around like dogs at the risk of their lives.
Some nobles executed hundreds of prisoners to obtain this function.
Until a desperate prisoner took actions yielding the desired outcomes for the noble to avoid execution.
Some nobles kept cycling through loyal aides endlessly.
Until they found a clever aide who could act without needing to be told.
Depending on the cleverness of the one giving orders, this function could be obtained quickly, or without luck or power, could take a lifetime to achieve!
Oknodie simply acquired such a function by exterminating creatures rather than people.
Moreover, he even helped others obtain it too.
If this fact were to come to light, every noble would undoubtedly covet that advanced knowledge.
It wouldn’t be strange if the world’s ant hills were entirely flooded.
Oknodie showcased that knowledge through the clerical staff.
“Does that mean the tour is not just for oneself?”
What a bold child.
Though he intended to show off the power of the Execution Headquarters, he only managed to glimpse the unfathomable capacity of the Foundation.
No one could fathom how much more such knowledge existed within that child and the Foundation.
“So it’s quite bothersome.”
“Is there anything you wish for, sir?”
“Wait a moment.”
Velvet had the clerical staff wait.
And then fell into deep contemplation.
Acquisition of the automation function isn’t the end.
A function that can ‘automatically’ increase the yield from the territory.
As experience accumulates, efficiency increases, so any noble would be eager to increase the experience they can gather.
That’s also why nobility delegates tasks they could do better themselves to lower-ranked individuals, letting them automatically produce results.
The very intention of sneaking students like Seoguyeon’s Andersen and the first-years into mana stone mining during the vacation is for refining [Automation], isn’t it?
But the realization dawned that the Foundation could also refine automation.
“Directives. The orders received by Foundation Scholarship Students from the upper tier. What if those are not the direct orders of the Foundation’s owner?”
If it were directives issued by aides who fathomed his mind.
The achievements created by countless scholarship students are enjoyed by the Chairperson of the Foundation.
What level of [Automation] might he possess?
To what extent would the effects of that high efficiency be remarkable?
While receiving the temporary enhancement from the increase in efficiency, the scholarship students must be experiencing a remarkable growth effect derived from the realization of ‘better work methods.’
It was unfathomable.
Just imagining it sent shivers down his spine, and Velvet smiled.
“Indeed, it was good I showed them around.”
Although Oknodie turned out to be a big shot beyond the reach of the Execution Headquarters, it was already sufficient to gain insight into that child and the Foundation’s capabilities.
“Convey to clerical staff Jessica007. Grant her entry permission to the treasure vault.”
“Understood.”
A human-type golem.
The clerical staff with the same face and body as Jessica responded.
Velvet himself and the nobility.
He understood the greatness of history and tradition.
Oknodie and the Foundation.
He newly recognized their greatness.
But did they realize?
That the Academy itself accumulated knowledge capable of analyzing history and traditions, even the demonic wisdom of the Three Great Evils.
A human-type golem that is ‘automatically’ manufactured and ‘automatically’ performs tasks for the Execution Headquarters.
As long as clerical staff of the [Jessica Series] exist, executing tasks they weren’t instructed to do autonomously, the head of the Execution Headquarters experiences a steady increase in automation experience.
“Ha ha, I look forward to next year.”
Numerous reports of rare experience points.
The juniors competing for positions in the student council.
Mandela Castera and Oknodie.
Which side will rise higher, and farther?
Perhaps next year, the second years might occupy more significant positions in the student council than the third years.
