Chapter 10

Okaa-san and I had gone to the zoo when I was still a kid and it was one of my favourite place to go if she`s on her day off or holidays. I`ve seen many kinds of animals but what I like the most are the big ones like the elephant or the lion. I`m still wondering if I could own a big pet like them maybe when I got older but now I dream even bigger.

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“WHAT IS THAT BIG THING!!!?”

Your annoying you know and it`s early in the morning, you might disturbed the donkeys who`s still sleeping. I wonder why they are still asleep after all that happened here.

“Don’t give me that look, I said I will create a mobile furnace but I think it was now a mobile blast furnace or something. As long as it can help me melt metals and I can create weapons and part I careless about what it is called.”

“Then why it is so big like it was a mini boss or something, besides can that thing fit to the road of the town.”

“Of course it can, I measured the town road plus the stalls that are outside the houses so it will fit but it can’t go side by side with a carriage.”

“Okay fine, now where is my pet?”

“well about that, i`m still researching on how to create or reconfigure the eggs to have a nonviolent monster machine or something that have metal parts but don’t worry we already have a mobile furnace so it can be created anywhere.”

“Let move out now i’m having some sickness inside this cave.”

As Leyla mentioned it, I quickly reorganized my things and put it at the back of the mobile furnace.

I got inspired to make a dino-like furnace coz I haven`t seen any monster that resembles dinosaur except for the dragons. Well it was based on triceratops but it only got a single horn that can be moved in front to be a drill head. The hood or crest is for protection from arrows and other things, I just put it there for decoration only, maybe on the later date I might know why did I installed it.

It got stumpy hooves that I designed to carry the weight plus it got also a quick shift system but it`s on power gear so it can moved without problem. Furnace is the real deal when i’m creating this one coz I have to build it within the body that I have to move it and lifted it up just to install other things. Thankfully the queen`s parts are really a big help.

After the furnace instalment in the center, the butt area or ass compartment is easy to do but I have to add a counter weight so it won’t trip forward because of the weight. Down the neck where I also build a seat where the core is place and it was the queen`s machine core like mine but as I looked at it the structure is different from mine that is more advance.

Most of the engines and other things that operates this is also place on the neck that is protected by the hood so I made it adjustable and movable according to need. It can refuel like an animal drinking the water but i`m still dreaming of making eat things like coal or metal. As of now I have to do this things manual but I can still upgrade it according to the traits but I still lack of materials and system level for crafting so I let it go for now.

The bonuses I received from constructing this furnace are really good plus almost all of the stats improved and abilities alike. Maybe I should start making robots or mecha-beast. I saddled back the donkeys with the carriage and coached it while Leyla is admiring the mobile furnace.

“Have you named it yet?”

“Well my system do tell me to name it so i`m still depicting words from my memories.”

“Then why not unihorn ray coz it got a horn like unicorns and it had a metal crest like sun.”

“That might be good but i`m calling it technically by uniceraforps”

“What? I can’t understand what are saying. Uniserapofs?”

“No Leyla, it was uni-cera-forps meaning one horned warm head like from the base monster I have in my memory.”

“You have weird naming sense but you’re clockwork so maybe it was natural, but I will this Cera, wait is this male or female?”

“Maybe a male, the head part looks tough and it was big you know.”

“Okay, wait we are back at the egg place. Let’s collect them.”

Hhmm... Might as well so I just nodded at her and collect eggs but the weird thing is not a single egg increase their creation process. Maybe I could reconfigure or reconstruct them to have different monster.

After the collection of eggs that is around hundred small and big eggs that is place on the compartment. I also bring the remaining parts from the queen on the empty carriage so I can reimburse the cost even if I take the downside.

As we got out of the cave, there are many players that are aiming for the scrapyard dungeon that increases its number because of the ants but the other beast and dungeon dwellers are not attracted to it. Maybe it can only contract wandering monsters or hiveless like the drone ants.

As we came back from the cave, we gain or mainly Cera as what Leyla called it but that sounds like a feminine name actually but I just let her. Now she is enjoying the crowd as she wave at them standing on its back, I should have brought some cloth for the seat in front and maybe also at the back, wait scratch that I will reconstruct the back to be a flat so I can sit or sleep there on long rides.

Other people looked at Cera or I should give it a nickname of Cerous coz it was a male anyways, some stared it with awe while others looks confused on why is a big monster is inside the town even the guards are confused when I first enter the south gate.

As we arrived at the guild as per usual it was jam packed with guildies going inside or out. And the one greeted me as I arrived is Arth-dono with a Dragonoid beside him that have the same level of Arth-dono and that is 300 and it was red meaning only estimated.

“Would you looked at that, I haven’t seen that one from my travels did you tamed it or captured it.”

“Hello Arth-dono and Dragonoid-san as for my answer, I created this big guy.”

I can see the shocked on their faces plus the peanut gallery that is inside and out of the guild. I know, I know it was shocking but please remove that death glare of envy.

“That was amazing, also the size is huge and the legs are good for long rough travels. You are truly and amusing one you know. So Marduk what can you say about this clockwork.”

“For travellers it was useful but for me as an explorer it will just lag the team from exploring dungeons and fighting monster so i`m not really impressed at all.”

“That was a hard one Marduk but he was still a kid you know. So Raiser what are the other uses of that monster, wait does it even have a name?”

Marduk-san just snorted Arth-dono and keeps looking at me and Cerous sharply like telling me to say more or is this all. He`s too stiff and strict unlike Arth-dono whose always in good mood.

“The name is uniceraforps from the name of the monster I based that comes from our world but I called it Cerous for short.”

“It was Cera, haven’t we discussed it back there.”

“Leyla it was a male from the looks and Cera is like a female name so I will change it to Cerous.”

“Okay, but my pet should be a female you got that.”

I just nodded to her and began explaining other things like the head which excites Arth-dono and began thinking of mining the hard to reach ores that is on the deeper parts of mines.

Marduk-san is just looking at us with boredom and uninterested but I let him be coz I bet he is one of the battle junkies. Leyla is boasting around the other guides that come near to us.

As I opened my furnace and unfold my workspace, they just look at it with amazement especially Arth-dono and the blacksmiths that comes out from the guild forging room.

I told him that Cerous is connected to me so it won’t go on a rampage or anything plus as he saw the machine eggs from the queen ant he ask for some well actually buy them all but I refrain because I have other uses for them so I only sell him 10 pieces with 70-90% completion but I warned him about this.

As we finished our personal transaction he called one attendant-san to inspect the things inside the carriage and assess them. Then he asked me to go inside to conduct my promotion to copper plate which excited me and Leyla but first I have to let Cerous go to the backyard of the guild so it won’t cause any commotion in the street.

Mainly promotions are conducted as a group so I got used to seeing several teams or players and natives but being solo is really hard and others will looked at you with doubt coz how can a solo guy have his promotion.

I careless about the stares but proceed with the promotions and then receiving my newly plated cards. I`m still wondering if Chloe-san and the others have their copper plate but maybe they already have.

Then I saw Marduk-san and Arth-dono at the balcony where they are announcing things or events.

“As we all know that there is a dungeon created at the scrapyard so we are conducting a dungeon raids from now until the dungeon is subjugated and all the teams that are allowed to enter is only the ones that have copper or higher but there are still limitation on how deep can you enter.”

Then Marduk-san takes the position to talk to the crowd.

“I`m Marduk, the guild master of explorers and also I govern the western villages so some may know me by now, as for the dungeon, we all know that it was rated as 3 silver star but as of now, higher teams are clearing the floors and defeated a room master of the first floor.

As the floor master is subjugated so thus the floor monster get weakened and navigation around the floor will be easier. We are not restricting you and your team challenging the dungeon but at least not now, because the silver teams are still on quest for floor master subjugation. I`m also asking if any of the otherworlders or descendant from what we called you to participate in dungeon subjugation. We know what you can do and even if something happened, you will just lost something but for us it will be their lives.

So any descendant teams that wants to participate just go to the guild bulletin and if you’re asking why are we not participating because we are enclose with the laws of the guild that I can`t tell, that`s all.”

Many people cheers specially players or what they call us descendant, some natives envies us but others understood what Marduk-san want to say. Let descendant get killed inside to lessen the threat then natives may take the remaining threat. Quite a plan and evil but I do understand his position concerning our revival system.

I went back to the guild and take the payment from the queen`s parts which is sold around 3 gold coins, I walked at the backyard of the guild where Cerous is parked.

He does look like a vehicle for me. There are many people who is still looking at Cerous who is unmoving as I ordered.

There are some beastkin and children who are climbing up and jumping on his neck but scolded by other people as they see me approaching but I didn`t mind, just don’t scratch it or brake some parts.

The crowd disperse on their own but the children are still nearby so I approached a group of 3 beastkin girl and from my scanner they are only level 1 but not slaves. I take out my large cloth and cut some parts then gave it to the three of them then asked them to wipe Cerous as I will pay them after I comeback.

They nodded enthusiastically and run towards Cerous then start wiping him. Leyla poke my head and smiled at me, I tried to smile but I don’t have a mouth so I just nodded and take my carriage and drove to the merchants’` district.

As I went shopping things like leather for Cerous covering just to protect the metal from water, dust and other things that might go inside the small gaps. Then sweets and fruit for Leyla then maybe also some meat skewers and water canteen for the children. I also brought addition necessities for me and forging.

Maybe I could do some alchemy thing so I asked around where I could learn alchemy and point me towards an odd shop that sells potions and books. On why does it is called odd because the shop entrance and the place is looked like an overgrown garden with vines and tall grass around. The shop itself is covered with vines and greens.

I looked around for someone to do carriage sitting for me but it hard to look for a trusty person so I will just drive back to the guild and walked back here.

As I’ve returned to the guild backyard there are at least 15 kids cleaning Cerous I also saw the first three I asked to so, maybe they told the others that I will pay if they clean him.

I approached them as they lined up quickly, that was new, then I hand them 30 copper coins switch shocked them. Well living on the slums is hard so they need to work with double effort just to eat one meal a day. Others are employed to do odd jobs around town like carrying woods, cleaning and other things and only paid with 5 copper coin that could feed them at least two serving of skewers or some fruit and slate bread.

I sympathized to them but I can`t do anything big but this is what I can do so I will try my best to help them. I`m not a hero or anything but i`m not that cold hearted person either. Maybe this feeling of sympathy comes from my life experience, I didn`t have siblings also so maybe I`m just venting my care and longing for care to others.

As I finished giving them copper coins I was approached by the three little beastkin girls, they do looked like sibling but they are not the same but still family is not a place but it is where you love and beloved.

I hand them the copper coins but I slipped a silver coin and Leyla motioned them to stay quiet. I called back the kids that are counting their coins and one by one I give them fruits that I brought, Leyla didn’t disagreed to this one and she help me by making them fall in line. I pass the meat skewers to the three girls and asked them again not only the three girls to looked at my carriage with an agreement that if they don’t look or let alone steal they will received additional payment that they agreed with a nod.

I feel like I`m talking to my little brothers and sisters that never been born. But as long as I`m doing this even if it was just for my own self-satisfaction I will keep it up.

And now I`m back to the weird alchemy shop because other shop don’t agree to teach me coz I have become their apprentice first which I don’t agreed into, I know there might be a leash waiting for me in the end.

I knocked first then enter the shop and I was anxious around even if I had my scanners and sensors that don’t detect anything except one person behind the counter.

An obaa-san is waiting on the counter but my scanners can’t tell any info about her. This might be bad but sensors don’t scan her as a threat so might be not so dangerous.

Obaa-san is a human with wrinkles and white long hair wearing an old violet robe.

“Oh... so the rumours about the lost race, the clockwork is really true. Oh by the way I`m Jaldava an alchemist and you are?”

“Raiser and this is my guide Leyla, I`m here to learn how to do proper alchemy because I have some ideas but I need a proper teaching.”

“That was rare to know someone knew alchemy in addition you also know some ideas about this.”

“Yes but I can`t tell where I got the information.”

“Yes yes, I know that you’re a descendant and you can`t freely talked about anything but why you would pick this old bones to be your teacher though there are other shops that are better.”

“I have my doubts about them so i`m here.”

“I don’t know about you but I can teach you but first I need my shop and garden to be cleaned so would you do it for me.”

“Of course but can I add some hands to do this.”

“Yes you may but you will carry the payments.”

“Thank you and I will be back.”

I left the shop and run back to the guild tagging along Leyla who’s bewildered to what I just said. I saw that I received a quest so i`m on the run now.

As I returned to back to the guild backyard where the kids are but some ruffians are hurting that kids that are fighting back and crying. I heard that they are claiming my carriage as their own. As I saw another kid got punched as he grabbed back a sack with leather then one of my cable just sparked.

‘Speed gear’

As I command my system, I feel the lightness in my body then I rush to the 5 ruffians. The little girls are not participating but guarding the remaining items while the boys are trying to get back the stolen items. I have doubt about this because there should be someone who should have seen or heard them but none approached here.

I rushed to the closest one then slammed my fist to his solar plexus making him kneel down then grabbed his face then throw him with his buddies as I took aim for the farthest one that is carrying my goods and blast my grappler sinking on his neck and quickly pulled it back choking him as I slammed him down hard to the ground.

Leyla took care of the 4 mugger with nature ball that bind them in place. My sensor detect an ill will up above the guild building but it was a level 10 threat and if you think I will let it passed coz your just higher maybe not. I change my gear to power gear and threw a rock near the target just only a centimetre apart and assist the kids that are guarding my things.

Leyla bind the other one as I throw him with the others as I finished giving some kids cloth bandages. I don’t have anything like potion or first aid so I have to go to obaa-san to do some treatment to them.

Most of them refuse because they can’t pay but I insist it as I picked them up and put them on the carriage as the other ride Cerous back as we moved. I dropped the guys to the patrol guards of town as I told them what happened then one of them brought out a crystal stone but the difference from the one I saw I that it was called Seeker stone and place their hand to if what i`m saying is true and the stone confirmed it that they do assault and rubbed so they will be delivered to the guard post for procedure.

After I take care of the nuisance, I`m back to the shop with the children as I assist the ones that got hurt and present them to obaa-san. At first she`s doubtful about this but she comply as I will take what everything is needed. So she treat them as I employed the remaining kids to do some mowing as I gave them ant claws that I repaired and redesigned to be small sickles.

As the other children got up, they quickly helped the others as I tell them what to cut and what`s not coz I’d scan some herbs and other plants that have properties for healing and treatment.

The cleaning runs quickly as all 15 of them are doing the work in and out the shop. Others are mowing while some are cleaning the shop with rugs that I gave them.

Obaa-san just looked at us and observed me as I help them with the cleaning. After we are finished with the cleaning I gave them the payment. Some tried to decline because of what happened but Leyla help me with this matter.

I reported back to obaa-san and the quest indicator blink green meaning that I have finished a quest. She told me that it won’t be easy and will take some time so I bring my carriage and Cerous in her yard.

“Most people ignore children like them but you cared for them even if it was not natural for the likes of you to care.”

“Let`s just say that life teach me how to value life even more.”

“Very well then, I will teach you but things that you will use will be paid of course because glass vials are imported from the dukedom.”

“Money is just a trivial thing from the likes of me who don’t need to eat nor need healing.”

“Well said then shall we”

I nodded to her as I walk to her workspace at the back of the counter but I looked back at the children who are eating near the carriage and Cerous so I gave order to protect them and the carriage, i`m think that the donkey that I brought are weird donkey after all that happened they didn’t reacted a bit.

The workplace is full of glass items like beaker and vials of potions and most are for healing and mana recuperation but there are also potions to cure different poisons and status ailments. Isn`t she quite rich.

“Please don’t touch anything here Leyla, I don’t want to pay for wasted potions.”

“I’m not breaking anything, i`m just staring at them.”

Not long after obaa-san is back with a set of herbs of pom-pom grass and tinki fern. She told me that I have to pound the pom-pom grass but don’t let the puffs goes flying around then set it aside as I pound the tinki fern. After pounding the two, I have to boil them until it turn dark green then take out the solid residue as I pour it down to other pot to boil it again but the tricky part is that I have to put some mana which I don’t have so I said that I only have mana energy that amuses her.

As I pour my mana energy with nature affinity which I only discovered that I can choose which affinity I could use but only the one that I have and that is nature and metal that Leyla had. The handle of the pot turn green as a pour my mana energy then as the liquid turn bright she told me to stop then wait it to settle.

I only pour down 20 mana energy but i`m thinking if I could use the normal energy that i`m using. Anyways after 2 minutes or so the liquid is bright green now and she poured it on vials that filled 10 of them.

“Well judging from this, I might yes you got some skills handling potions so i`m approving you to do alchemy as my apprentice but don’t worry I won’t tie you down with me. In addition, i`m giving you this starter booklet that I made to teach you a bit more about alchemy, herbs, plants and other thing that can be used for alchemy.”

“Thank you Jaldava-dono and I have a request for you if you may like to hear of course.”

“Then what is it?”

“Can you teach any of those children alchemy and made them your apprentice.”

“Hhmm... then why would I do that?”

“Well you need an apprentice and you need someone to do things like cleaning.”

“Well I do need someone who will tend my lawn but the children can`t pay the lesson and the ingredients that are needed for alchemy.”

“I’ll shoulder them so can any of them learn alchemy from you.”

“Before I answer your question, why are you doing these things for people whom you don’t know and they haven’t done any deed for you except that you employ them for trivial things? And answer me with the truth because that will be my basis if I will take any of them or not.”

“There is one event in my life that takes someone dear to me and I have neither power nor money to use. So now that I have what I needed to do help that person that already passed away so i`m conveying this to the people that needed it. You can brand me names but I careless about things like that.”

“Hhmm... so you’re doing this to fulfil what you have failed to do am I right?”

I just nodded then I walked out from the shop and wait for her outside, if she decided to teach anyone then good if not then I have to find a way to help them have a stable income.

“You know that you will shoulder the payment so I will just pick any of them”

“How much is there entire apprenticeship”

“5 gold with 3 meals a day and everything they need to learn and use is include so can you pay it?”

“As I told you before money is a trivial thing for me, so how many can you accommodate to teach.”

Obaa-san wait Jaldava-dono looked at me with shocked expression as her how many can she teach. Maybe she can’t handle many students.

“Big word coming from you but, are you sure you could pay it?”

“Are you willing enough to teach at least five of them or they need to have so sort of potential on alchemy and magic to be a good alchemist.”

“Well, I can see potential of a kid to be a good alchemist but i`m looking for my apprentice so, i`m looking for a great alchemist that I could teach.”

“I don’t have all afternoon to wait so can you tell me if you have seen any potentials.”

“Can you pay additional fee if I said that I could teach 4 of them until their coming of age”

“Name it”

“Well that would be 10 gold each and I will let them sleep here also I’ll educate them with all the thing they needed in life.”

“Where do I sign?”

She ushered me back inside as she prepare a thick paper-like scroll and ink as she begin to right all the terms inside the contract. Everything that she will do to them like teach them alchemy, arithmetic, reading and the likes. While I will pay her 10 gold for each of them.

We signed the paper and pressed a mana inside the paper then she chant something then the contract duplicates and she gave me my copy. As we went back outside she pick 3 beastkin girls and 1 human girl then she told other children that they will be paid coins if they do things for her like herb colleting and other things that she will request.

I just nodded at her as I left the kids with their new work. They also thanked me for all the help I did to them and even if I can smile I light up my visor and nod at them then I remembered that I don’t need the carriage as I looked at my item box and compartment. So I emptied the carriage then gave it to Jaldava-dono for her own use then we went to the guild backyard to parked Cerous and use the forging space for me to sleep. I don’t need to use inn because of this, besides I don’t experience cramps.

“You know even if you are hard and cold as steel you do have a soft and warm heart. My only wish is that everyone can be like you.”

“If everyone would be like me that would be a terrible place”

“Why would you say that?”

“Well imagine if everyone has the same personality then the world will be boring and not enjoyable.”

“Maybe your right, but don’t forget I want you to make a machine pet for me.”

“Okay but what kind of pet do you like.”

“As long as they are not creepy and crawling or scary i`m fine but I like some fluffy cute monster.”

“Fine I will try to find your monster pet.”

“It was still early to sleep but oh well, good night Raiser.”

“Good night”

She disappeared as I lock the door of my forge and bend my body then order Cerous to lie down and I shut down my system and log out.

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A/N

for you who are still reading this series thank you very much.

even though that my grammar and spelling is hard to digest, i`m really thankful for the ones that keeps reading this.

i haven`t found an editor but i wont stop doing this series so please keep supporting and reading

:D