The clockwork machine has one critical flaw.
Due to its innate limitations, there’s a problem that can never be solved no matter what.
It’s the fact that if even one gear stops, the whole machine comes to a halt.
If there were a way to immediately stop a single gear, it’s obvious.
You create a ‘bug’.
Literally, you shove a bug inside the gears.
But, what a coincidence! There’s a smart bug beside me that can comprehend and even willingly jump inside the gears!
“I don’t want to! I really don’t want to! I hate pain so much!”
“I haven’t said anything yet.”
“You were planning to make me get stuck in the gears and die, right? I know it all! Stop denying it! I don’t want to die anymore! I feel like I’m going crazy from the pain! Stop saying it like it doesn’t matter to you!!!”
“…”
I haven’t even asked yet, and the Centipede Nun is going into a fit, jumping around in extreme resistance.
I can’t blame her.
She has to endure the pain of her whole body being crushed.
I could also threaten her and force her to hurl herself into the clockwork machine.
Saying that if she doesn’t listen, I’ll hand her over to the guards.
That would make her submit to me right now.
But the Centipede Nun would see me as her sworn enemy from then on.
After experiencing 12 regressions, I felt something desperately.
It’s better to avoid any grudges if possible.
Not every encounter can be good, but at least parting ways nicely is advantageous.
A powerful being born from monsters, skilled in transformation and curses.
Turning such a person into an enemy would be the dumbest move.
Even if she’s not exactly an ally, at least I shouldn’t make her into an adversary.
“I’m leaving! Before that gigantic clock tower blocks the tunnel! I’m going back the way I came!”
“…”
“I said it clearly! I’m leaving! Don’t stop me!”
“…”
“Why… won’t you stop me… It’s scary…”
The Centipede Nun, who had been stomping loudly towards the tunnel, starts to slow her pace.
Her pupils are shaking, and she’s watching my movements.
It seems she’s scared she might get hurt if she tries to run away.
“If you’re going, then go.”
“Are you really fine with that? Is it okay?”
No, it’s not okay.
Given that a boss monster just awakened and caused all this chaos, earthquakes and uproar have surely erupted around.
When rumors spread, the first to react will be Yerina.
If I give up and go back, I won’t be able to recover my mana and come back to challenge again.
By that time, Yerina will have already arrived at the Clockwork City.
I must end this here today.
There’s no tomorrow.
“You can go. But hear my proposal before you leave.”
“Of course, it’s just you telling me not to go!!!”
“Leaving is your freedom, it’s just that you should listen first.”
So, to hold the Centipede Nun here.
I have to make an offer she can’t refuse.
Something she’d be willing to risk the pain of death for.
“It’s a deal. You’ll shove your avatar inside the clockwork machine to break it. Then I’ll give you what you desire most.”
“I don’t want anything?! I hate pain more than anything! No matter the exchange conditions, I won’t die! I heard everything, so I can leave now, right?”
“Let’s say, providing you with demonic energy and life force for life.”
“…!”
The Centipede Nun, who had turned to flee towards the tunnel, jerks and trembles.
Then slowly looks back at me, questioning if I’m sincere.
My heart can’t help but waver.
This concerns the survival of her true form.
“So far, she must have done a lot of reckless things to obtain demonic energy.”
Even if she’s adept at transformation, the Centipede Nun is still a monster by nature.
Her true form is that of a giant centipede.
Ultimately, whether maintaining her transformation, casting spells, or even breathing and exhausting stamina, she must always consume life force.
And there’s only one way to obtain that life force.
To take it from a living being.
The act of siphoning life force always carries high risks.
The moment she’s caught, she’s bound to become prey and relentlessly hunted down until death.
For her survival, she has to repeatedly engage in that dangerous act of absorbing life force.
“Given my amount of magical power, you’ll know that by converting it into demonic energy, you could use it as much as you want. If you conserve it, it might last for about a month. Once that runs out, come back to me again, and I’ll recharge you.”
“Really… really…?”
I can erase that risk for her.
Without the danger of being caught by the guards.
Without the worry of being captured by the Magic Tower for live experimentation.
Like refueling at a gas station, she can sustain herself by absorbing demonic energy from me.
I’m now offering the Centipede Nun a guarantee of her right to live.
“What do you think? Are you willing to endure the pain of dying once for a life of comfort, or live dangerously again?”
“Ugh, ahhh!!! How can I refuse this!”
“I told you. I’ll give you what you want the most.”
“Do you have a way to guarantee that what you just said?”
“No. You have to trust me.”
“…”
With tears brimming in her eyes, the Centipede Nun glares at me.
Then she tightly closes her eyes, contorting her face in pain.
Finally, she stomps her foot hard.
“Ah! I will die! That’s fine! But! You must keep your promise!”
“Of course.”
The deal is finalized.
Once she resolved herself, her eyes, which had been swaying just a moment ago, become steady.
She looks up at the clock tower, raising her finger silently.
“Ah!”
In that moment.
The avatar, which had been trembling in fear, suddenly straightens up.
No more crying, no more trembling.
It seems she has gained complete control over her avatar.
The avatar then smoothly transforms into her centipede form.
It scuttles down the wall of the clock tower, disappearing into the cracks between the bricks.
“It doesn’t matter which gear. You need to shove yourself in there firmly. Or else you’ll be doing this again.”
“I know that already!”
The Centipede Nun snaps back irritably.
Before long, her eyes widen in shock.
Her bloodshot eyes.
Biting her lip until it bleeds.
“Promise! You said you’d keep it! A man never speaks two words with one mouth!!!”
Then, crack.
From within the clock tower, the sound of hard shells breaking and crushing can be heard.
“Ahhhhh!!!”
Simultaneously, the Centipede Nun lets out a tortured moan as she contorts her body.
As if being pulled into the clockwork machine, her body twists and folds.
It seems the sensations of her avatar are linked to her true form.
At this rate, something might break and hurt her.
“Tch…”
I finally pull the Centipede Nun in tightly, supporting her so she doesn’t get twisted.
If she had continued to appear as a girl, it wouldn’t have been a problem…
But since she seems to have transformed into her centipede form, I can’t afford to worry about transformation.
“Ugh, ughhhh! It hurts, it hurts!!!”
“Oh man. I feel like I’m gonna throw up.”
I hold the writhing giant centipede tightly.
I’m getting hit by countless centipede legs that scratch and poke at me.
Her exoskeleton is hard.
But her belly feels oddly soft, an unusually strange sensation.
Though it’s repulsive enough for me to want to keep my distance.
For some reason, I can’t help but want to keep touching that texture…
Of course, just the texture.
It’s not because I like bugs or anything.
[Hate… Haaate… Haaate…]
The clock tower, which had been walking forward while emitting black smoke, starts to slow down.
Soon the sounds from the speakers become sluggish too.
And just like that, the clanking legs come to a complete stop.
“Ha! Haaah! Haaah… I… must keep my promise…”
“You did well.”
The giant centipede completely relaxes against me.
Once the avatar dies, breaking the connection, her pained moans stop.
I figure I won’t have to worry about her twisting anymore, so I gently set her down, and she collapses to the ground.
“…Be good.”
Mi Jeong squats down, stroking the head of the centipede.
She leaves the Centipede Nun with Mi Jeong for a moment.
I think it’s time for me to go gather the dungeon core.
Climbing up the wall of the clock tower by stepping on the motionless legs isn’t too exhausting.
After an unexpected rock climbing session, I reach the clock face.
This area has grooves inside, providing a little resting place.
Just as I manage to lean my body against the surface.
[Hate… Haaate… Haaate…]
“Is the speaker and the eyeball separated from the main driving unit? It’s still moving?”
Those giant eyes stare at me right in front of me.
Repeating the same phrase over and over.
I can’t comprehend what’s so hateful.
I don’t care to understand it either.
Though Linda, reborn as a monster, has finally gained the ability to think for herself.
In this state, she’ll be doomed to live her life hating someone forever.
It’s time to sever this thread.
“How should I explain this to Cern?”
Taking a deep breath, I start climbing again, my head filled with confusion.
What should I say to Cern?
That the Linda he discarded into the clock tower awakened as a monster and ultimately gained intelligence?
If I say that to the already weakened Cern, won’t he really die?
Should I hide it…?
My thoughts deepen.
“Phew.”
I finally reach the top of the clock tower.
The dazzling dungeon core reveals itself.
With the sounds of grinding echoing from inside the clock tower, it vibrates ominously.
It feels like as soon as I pull the corpse of the avatar out, it will crush everything inside and start moving again.
I need to finish my work quickly.
Before I extract the dungeon core.
I take out the black mana stone from my bag and hold it in my hand.
[Kali’s Dead Soul]
[Status: Hunger]
[A magical tool made by processing the Dead Soul of the Great Druid Kali. It will bloom when the time comes.]
[Accumulation: 2,850/62,500]
“Thanks to this, I can have a good meal of demonic energy.”
There’s no need for any particular manipulation.
Due to the status of ‘Hunger’, black demonic energy pours out from the entire clock tower and collects into Kali’s Dead Soul.
Then, the accumulation rises endlessly.
Soon, the clock tower falls silent as if it had been a normal clock tower from the start.
It just stands firm.
[10,500/62,500]
The accumulation is tremendous.
I gathered about 8000.
This alone might be a significant harvest.
“Here we go.”
The moment I yank out the dungeon core.
The entire dungeon rumbles loudly as the collapse begins.
I need to escape before the ceiling crushes me…
But something lingers in my mind.
I can’t just leave like this.
“Mi Jeong! I’m going to drop the dungeon core, so catch it well!”
“…Yoo Jin?”
“Take the bug and get out first! I’ll follow soon!”
I toss the dungeon core, and Mi Jeong catches it securely with her arms.
Looking a bit confused, she seems to hesitate for a moment.
“…You… must come.”
“Sure.”
I nod without saying anything unnecessary.
Then, I hoist the still limp giant centipede over my shoulder and dash through the tunnel.
I need to hurry too.
Grabbing hold of the bricks, I slowly make my way down, reaching the clock face.
Suddenly, the giant eye follows my movement and stares at me again.
Unlike before, there’s no murderous intent in its gaze.
It looks tired, as if it’s given up on everything.
“What the hell is this…!”
Then, whoosh.
It punches the clock face, shattering the glass.
Peering inside reveals a chaotic mess of gears.
I leap down onto a large gear.
Then jump down again.
And again…
Repeating the process, I descend further down.
‘What a waste, though.’
No matter how I think about it, leaving a genius engineer like Cern to turn into a senile old man is such a loss.
If he continues to contribute to the magical tool industry, he might trigger another revolution.
What if that motivation to live is given back to Cern?
Instead of producing a one-time-use magical tool and reverting to a senile state.
He could potentially make magical tools every time I need them.
That would drastically reduce the difficulty of returning home.
I absolutely can’t pass that up.
“I found it.”
Deep within the clock tower.
I spot a strangely shaped driving unit in the gap.
Using the weak point, I trigger the bright red driving unit.
This is Linda’s logic circuit.
Without any tools to dismantle it, I have no choice.
I roughly break around the connecting parts, extracting Linda’s logic circuit.
[Why… Why…]
“Why, you ask?”
Through the speaker, a trembling voice sounds perplexed.
Why, indeed.
What a stupid question.
“Because it’s worth saving.”
[…!]
It contains a man’s lifetime of efforts.
Reviving the era of clockwork dolls, which has already ended.
It’s an innovation that will open the age of artificial souls.
Losing it would set magical engineering back decades.
Leaving such an item to be destroyed would be nothing short of a crime.
Of course, I don’t need to explain like this, just one sentence provides perfect clarity.
“It’s a dream.”
Finally, the moment I rip Linda’s logic circuit out.
Boom!
The dungeon’s ceiling collapses.
The clock tower has fallen.
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