Chapter 15

Rishido here. Chain quest is like story line quest in some RPG games because it gives the player a path to follow, mission to complete and things to do. While side story is like character development, back story or history of the place or maybe just a simple quest to keep you from boredom if you are at the end of the game. But what I like the most is a free roam game even if I finished the game which is really amusing, you can roam around the map and do various end game quest or forgotten quest from the start. In most cases, main quest is really hard than side quest but some side quest end up being a major twister that changes the main quest.

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After we come to the sanctuary and find a place for us to stay for the night, I log out to find things I needed to read and study before I began repairing that clockwork. It was already afternoon so I decided to grab some snack before working. The cafeteria is packed with players that`s also taking breaks.

We still have two months before the test ends but others are picking their paces to explore more about the continent we`re at. I`m also curious about other places but I have also a quest to fulfil so I can hit two goals with one trip. At the cafeteria, there are screens that play videos of other players that posted their adventures especially now that the pioneer teams are on the Dukedom.

The one being played right now is the dungeon conquering as I saw myself standing on top of Cerous as I fire a spear to the core. There are murmurs about me and the other pioneer that finished that dungeon subjugation. I`ve thought that dungeon has ten floors, but it maybe the estimated value from previous missions but that floor master is really a hard fight for us.

There are cheers and screams as they saw me fly then the defending team fight back to advance towards the core. At first, fighting that guardian is hard because i`m lower than him but the boost I got gave me edge in our fight and I ended up victorious. The video ends after I send the guardian flying towards the core and give another hit to secure the kill.

“That clockwork is an OP race”

“Yeah you’re right but did you know that the clockwork is unable to move for 3 game days because of that.”

“Heard the rumours about it but the pioneer teams are already ahead of him though.

“What about the other high class teams from the western village.”

“They are dominating the whole place like storming every dungeon mini boss but they don`t defeat the dungeon.”

As I hear more about the other peoples adventures and discoveries, I feel more motivated to increase my knowledge towards robotic and machinery even though I don`t have passion for that. After eating my late lunch, I went back to my room but I was block by a group of players and I saw a familiar face.

“Hello Mr Mysterious Artisan, are you in a rush right now?”

It was the Crescent Art recruiter Myra with her team of other production class; they look like random people that have been recruited like glass boy, a happy-go-lucky type of guy, girl that looks like a sheltered princess, a sporty girl, and then Myra.

“Yeah, i`m on a rush right now coz I have a lot of work to do.”

“Okay but why not introduce yourself first to them because we are on our way to Vulcan later.”

Huh? They got some recommendation also. This is bad, I want to work in peace but i`m down several feet underground so I might not see them besides she didn`t know my IGN or race in the first place.

“I`m on Feliusa right now so I can`t meet you there and like I said before i`m soloing for now.”

“Really your on Feliusa right now, you should have said that so I can inform the others to meet you, I got connections with other teams too.”

What kind of networking did she have?

“You might know my name but, Tadashi Rishido, multi artisan”

I held out a handshake then first to introduce is the quirky guy or maybe not.

“Nice to meet you. I`m Alexander Arkwright but you can call me Alexa for short; my work is dressmaking and armour. Call me ok~.”

“Nope.”

I don’t have prejudice his or her preference but i`m not into flirting really. However, the wink gives me cold sweat at my back.

“Come on Alex leave the guy alone besides Myra like him.”

“I`m not Cynthia, he`s not my type at all.”

Great, they began to argue in front me.

“Just leave the three of them, they are always like that. I`m Martino Salvador, I do woodworks and a bit of blacksmithing because i`m making bows and crossbow.”

“Please to meet you and you ojou-san?”

“Akihiro Mio, I do um… potions and magic.”

She does look like a sheltered princess also a Japanese, how do they pick people to be their beta tester. Never mind, this company pick people from different walks of life and that includes a different abled person like me.

But if you look at her carefully, behind her bob cut hair and bangs that cover her eyes, she`s cute in a way.

“Please to meet you too Akihiro-san”

“The one left is Cynthia Philips and she`s also like Myra a blacksmith but they are competitors also. I know that you`re not a social type so I will leave you as is but I’ll still invite you to join our guild in the future when you made up your mind.”

“Thank you Salvador-san, I’ll be on my way now.”

The two and a half girls are still arguing about things I didn`t really understand but Martino-san is like the older guy but the looks of them maybe younger than me or just the same. I left them as Martino said it would take a while, Akihiro-san didn`t really participate so much to them but maybe i`m just looking at it in a different perspective.

I know that my abilities and traits are lacking because I can`t make a body that is more human like. But even though I made it like that my body still looks like boxy robot than the one I imagine it would be. Well the first one is human like but rusty, small, and weak in many different aspects. Also I need to know how to create a better energy storing system for my body to lessen my consumption and increase the output so I won’t always rely on my mana energy that always give me tons of work every time I use it.

While i`m inside my VH (virtual home) after I returned from eating, I quickly scanned every books that could help me from solar energy to mechanical ones but it won’t suffice the need that I want. In addition, if I will use this to the clockwork I should at least give it more edge in fighting so I won’t always carry the burden.

After taking some rest and reading books, I log back inside to continue my work.

*

As I log in and scan, my memory if there will be additional skills for NWA but nothing happened. That unknown ability is still locked that made me think that how can I unlocked that ability.

I start to study the machine core that the guardian gave me. It was intriguing to see a machine core that is not attach to you. However, as I looked at the machine core of the other clockwork, even though it was the same outer works but the inside is what really separates the two.

The first one is powered by magic or mana of the dungeon core that is really different from the machine core that I possess. However, that gave me an idea of what if I could include this system to the machine core but the risk is high. If the experiment fails then the quest will fail immediately but if it’s a success then an advancement can be achieve.

Nevertheless, I have to postpone my plan for the machine core and focus on increasing my proficiency on my crafting abilities. Oh, I remember that I had a black card that could help me to revive a clockwork.

“Morning Raiser, what`s the plan for today?”

Wohw, okay so she is energetic today, I have doubts about this because every time she becomes like this, there will be a favour coming right after.

“Morning, I`m working on monsters body and maybe add another one or make Cerous bigger to increase the space. Maybe I should make another one for sleeping purposes.”

“I agree on making another machine beast but not another Cerous coz that would take more time and you have to revive that clockwork you kidnapped. It was still inside Cerous plus the other small machine monster and the eggs remember.”

“Right, i`m planning to do all of that while we are here. There will be experiments and test I will do so the numbers really matter.”

Now that I think about it, Cerous really need an upgrade and also increase the weight limit or space for my things that I can`t carry on my item box. The box is filled with big things like the claws and stinger some machine animal parts, clockworks things, and random items like the eggs that I withdraw last time.

While waiting for the workers of Arth-dono, I decided to upgrade Cerous to be more efficient and have more space. I pulled out four metal blocks to be the lifting jack coz I still didn`t know how to make a hydraulic jack or the simper one. After placing, each one on Cerous legs and lifts it legs sideways slowly so the block will be the support then deactivate Cerous to continue my work.

I dismantle the legs and the head part then the body cover, after that I unload all of stuffs inside the trunk including the abducted clockwork. Most of the items are for alchemy like herbs on different metal boxes then I remove the locker like storage to organize again the boxes.

One by one, bits and parts that isn`t involve with the furnace is remove until I can see the core and the mechanical parts of it. I have some machine core from the clockworks from the reward but they are inferior in many ways than Cerous core. While i`m doing all the work, Leyla and Mabby is waiting for the people to come down as we sense them. I rely this matter to Leyla as I send my plan to Mabby`s system. It was like an email and really convenient.

As Leyla do her work as a proxy supervisor for me, i`m here doing large scale melting of metals from monsters parts that I don`t need. I`m planning to make Cerous a little longer or bigger depending on my needs in the future but still undecided about it.

Even though dino-type is good for the design there will be some flaws about it like the bulky body. It was required but I have to make it more convenient in a way that I could travel inside towns. Maybe a lizard will do but only bigger and longer, that would be right I could have a bigger space but I need to design the body to move in curves but Mabby`s design might help me. Doing curves is like increasing the other sides opening while decreasing the opposite side like the man`s waist.

As I forge segment plates for the body and do some fitting for the furnace area, a dwarf approached me and introduce himself as Dizm, a male dwarf that is in charge of civil works and land development. After exchange of pleasantries, we discuss on how to use this place as a plantation and animal pastures, he suggest that the flat lands near under the entrance would be the plantation of crops because of water source. Well I couldn`t agree more about it but I told him that preserve the forest as much as possible.

After some more issues that we have discuss then he left as I continue my work until night falls. The ceiling above us is really majestic even though the lights are stones that are usually seen in mines and caves. I still don`t understand how things work inside this place, I mean how can there be light inside a close cave that is deep in the underground and the only source of light is the small stones from the ceiling.

Things are really complicated if you don`t know how they work but it didn`t really matter now because i`m still working on Cerous new body.

*

I took another day to finished Cerous but the result is what more important than time. The first day is all about making the body case and the head parts, which is really hard because I change the hood into two parts, one is a folding drill like mine but only bigger then a protective crest. The face is more lizard looking but short snouted so the drill would fit, then the next day I experiment on the core.

The black card gives me many information on how to upgrade a core of machine beast but the parts are really hard to find in this place. Some weird wire and cables, rare ore that can store energy but unlike hurtalo stone it was much efficient in many ways as it can even produce its own energy by using the mana around the core that is really interesting. Some trials give me more idea on how to make it work then I remembered the light stones on the ceiling. First, it was hard to get one but I used a crossbow to knock down small piece to give it a try.

The process is like how I made Mabby`s core but this time I will deactivate a monster core, dismantle some parts, add the melted hurtalo with the jewels and the lighting stone I got then power it up by magic. Then it shine bright as Leyla my mana charger, pumped it up and saw that with some addition to the recipe things could really improve. I continue my work from there until this afternoon.

In some occasions, Dizm-san visits me to ask for advice on the plotted lands that has been reclaimed. The naturalization of the forest is on its way as I saw some elves or druids perhaps doing some magic on forest and fields like the reclaimed one but the process is still slow so the place that has been naturalize is the one being use and the surrounding area.

Animals are not really a problem but some are not used in this place especially the domesticated ones that is used in farmland beside the town wall. Some go on rampage while other are acting weakly and even if they start planting some seeds and youngling the animals didn`t become calm and useful. I have to rely this to Arth-dono as a weird idea comes to my head.

As for me, my body engineering, tinkering and scavenger are now beginner 1 and my system indicates that I`m able to advance my Collector to Mechanic which really impressive coz it has options on improving or aiding the existing traits and abilities that concern on body parts crafting and even weapon making. Then another thing pop up as I continue reading the black card as many of its files or areas are still lock like when I unlocked the Mechanic so thus the field open in the black card.

Many options are there and I even gain two traits, first is body modelling, well as name suggest it helps me model the body inside my head and have visuals on it like a 3d hologram in my eyes. I can even work there for some minor trials like the new legs of Cerous when he uses quick shift, which is helpful. Next is Mechanics intuition, even though it looks like a trash trait because it’s just an assistance in making body parts but maybe it can be helpful to other players that have little knowledge about this so I didn`t remove it.

I`m getting derailed on my thoughts again, this afternoon I power up Cerous again but this time he gain his own mana energy that is around 800 which amaze me because I just installed additional parts that can conduct mana like silver cables from the spiders in the mineshaft. Now that I got a new job and additional skills, I might be able to revive the clockwork.

As for Cerous new body, it was like a monitor lizard but have bigger back and abdomen then stouter legs that has pressure piston and shock absorbers, dual crest on his neck that is foldable and retractable because of the folding segments, a counter weight tail that also acts as a ballista where it could fold up to the back. In addition, I include some cooling pipes and vents for the forge and keep other places of from overheating specially the trunk that is at the base of the tail. It has two doors, first is when the tail moves up and the other one is a hatch on top of it.

The back or the hump of Cerous is for sleeping purpose so it was bigger and have a lot of space but I didn`t really move when I sleep because I just turn off the system to make my body unmoving then surf around my memory or just log out and be inside my VH. The core is an upgraded one and more powerful perhaps. Well as I test the power output of the core I made earlier than the queen`s core that Cerous uses, it give more power that is required to move his entire body and even efficiently conserve when not moving.

I`d like to repair this clockwork but I will postpone it still tomorrow so I could help the people here that is having hard time doing manual plotting of land. Well they could do that but large scale is different from backyard farming. I still have around 5 machine cores that isn`t powered with mana so maybe I could use them for the monster parts that I still have as Leyla mentioned days ago.

Leyla is now assisting them and shooing other people coming here. Most of them are player who is just curious about what is beyond here and why is a guide forbidding them. She is getting more possessive when I looked at it but it really helps me when working on Cerous new body.

I called Leyla as I mount Cerous on his neck; we are going back to the town to inform Arth-dono about my plan on using clockwork beast as domestic animals. Resurface using the rope is not a problem even though Cerous got bigger. Well travelling back to town gain us many attentions especially now that Cerous has a new body. Some merchants and people that I passed greeted me as they are the people I usually see around merchant`s district.

*

”Is that so, but can your monster stay tamed even if you leave them?”

“Yes, I’m sure of it”

“Well why not. I haven`t seen a clockwork give life to a monster that roams around by itself let along be tamed.”

“Not really, Cerous and Mabby are two example of them.”

“They are connected to you somehow so it was different from the one you’re suggesting with.”

“Don`t worry about it, I won`t fail on this.”

“Then the payment will be after all the work and before you leave”

I nodded and shake hands with Arth-dono after we agreed that I will make clockwork monster but they will preserve a part of forest to be metalize. In many ways the metal forest can be harvested they just need to take care of it by not over harvesting from it besides there are other place that they can harvest the same product.

After I left the guild, I move to Jaldava-dono to give her the recipe for the natural fuel that I made weeks ago. She was surprise to see it at first but she said that she`s trying to make it before but fail to make one because of the ingredients. Well the ingredients are mostly herbs and plants that only grow near or inside the dungeon like the tree sap of a metalize tree even though it was hard to scrape. Therefore, I told her that most items are on the fifth floor forest where she could get them.

Most kids that I left in care of Jaldava-dono are able alchemist now but still staying with her to learn more especially magic. Some kids are trained to be adventure or explorer also but they were guided by an old man that`s also a former explorer. She said that the old man volunteer to teach the kids because he saw potentials in them to be explorers and adventures.

It was a good new for me so I could finally calm myself from worrying about them.

*

“Done, now I only need to turn on this beast and we are ready to test them on fields”

“You`re really into helping others with training yourself.”

“Don`t know, I just enjoy my work also my baggage will be less now”

“Your right but still you got some mana powered cores, eggs and that special clockwork that is still sleeping.”

“Don`t worry about the clockwork Leyla i`m on it now but after I give this to Dizm-san to test and be operational.”

Week after my talk with Arth-dono, I have done this set of mechanical beast that is like carabaos but they are still like their origin animal. They will do farm works like plow pulling, carrying of goods or pulling carts and carriage. I tested it on the lands that are plowed manually by the workers, at first, the farmers are scared to use them, but I program them to comply when they are working on fields or carrying goods at their back also, I include that they will not go on a rampage when they mounted by people especially the children. After familiarization, teaching them how to take care of them, what to give them if they got hungry or power down.

Well they don`t really get hungry but they overheat, drain fuel and water when used but it was easy to understand when you can see their status on their head and eyes. I installed a diamond shape scanner device on their forehead and will act as indicator for problems like green for operational, blue for water, violet for fuel and red if they are overheating or unable to work. Like animals, they need to rest or the system and gears might fail. I also teach them how to repair them as they are like mechanical beast that they usually saw.

*

After settling some issues about some people wants to have their own mech-carabaos, about what place in the sanctuary will stay as metalize forest and other matters concerning the development of the sanctuary, I can finally able to work in peace.

I`m at the metalize forest where I buried the guardian, well the metal forest is separated by a long man made clearing with grass and stones indicating that your entering the metal forest. They did a good job because the forest is still wide and has its own water stream that is undrinkable but good for mechanical beast and also for me.

My second day of repairing or remodelling the new body of the clockwork. At first i`m still thinking if I will make it neutral but as I scanned the system it has, it was a female clockwork that do household work but dump after several years. It was sad to see how people treat clockwork that is artificially made by incompetent dwarves. I don`t hate them but still memories are memories that won’t be erased easily.

I decide to copy her height of 164cm and maybe a slender one, the initial body didn`t really distinguish it to the others so i`m remodelling it. For the head, it would be human like but unlike my head, that has visor face with glowing lights as the eyes. I’ll make her head bit like human but the eyes will be one long bar, sensors will be the ears then I’ll add hair but it would be string wires from spiders just to make her look like a female clockwork.

The body would be light and sturdy as possible because I will make her as a speed type fighter or long-range assaulter. I`ll still make her chest area bigger but not looking like two circular mould on her chest, that would look awkward. Maybe her chest armour will act as a shirt so it would be fine. I won`t make most of her parts as heavy as mine that have double plating but not too inferior to mine.

The anatomy is just simple if you got reference and have working 3d holograms that assist you. For the programming of her system, I relay on the black card that I had but it was just basics like movement, reaction, fighting and repairing. Personality development and other things that make her different will be process after she wakes up.

The third day is all about the technical aspects of the head, core recreation, and programming that stressed me.

The hardest part is the core, installation of memories and other circuits inside the head. It was a delicate work to do because one wrong connection may result to malfunction. The machine core is also hard to build because I have only one try to do it. Other cores are not compatible on a humanoid clockwork unlike Cerous and the carabaos that they only need the right amount of energy output but this one needs a certain connector or system network inside the core to be compatible.

Dismantling some parts of the dimmed lit core is really stressing but as I proceed with my entire traits and abilities, working on things is going smoothly. I didn`t really need to use a lot of pseudo-core mixture but I still use small part to make connections and covering but I add high affinity crushed jewel, the lighting stone and a melted pure silver from dozens of silver coins and silver strings. Making pure silver is hard because I always have to look at the temperature while melting because it might be burned while removing the impurities or other metal that is mixed in.

After creating the core and installing the circuits, I ask Leyla to enchant the core to gain mana energy that really happened. Now that I think about it, my mana energy is different from them. Leyla enchant my whole body while others got by the core only, which is intriguing. My skeletal is the one that has been enchanted and I don`t know why but as long as it can help me I won’t fuss about it.

After series of working day and night, I finally able to put everything together and the awaited moment for the revival. I`m so excited to give life to my new creation that increase my understanding with clockworks and how could they improve themselves. As I installed the OS program that includes most of my programs except for the specific ones that needed mentors or certain memory data like blacksmithing and acrobatics, I powered her system up as she is connected to me.

“Good Afternoon”

“…”

That was expected. At least she`s able to move her body and help herself to sit up and look at me.

“Do you think you connected some wrong wires on her head?”

“Of course not, I run series of test and check it several times so I won`t make a mistake about it, maybe she`s still scanning herself and surrounding like my first day here.”

Maybe.

“Good Afternoon, are you the one that gave me new life and have a system connection with me.”

Finally, she can communicate normally and even her voice is a feminine one unlike mine that sounds like husky.

“Yes that would be me, you might know by now as I can tell that you have already scanned us but let me say it formally, i`m Raiser Qant and my fairy guide—“

“Hi i`m Leyla he`s fairy guide and nice to meet you, did you feel anything weird or did you have any question I could help you.”

Don`t pressure her Leyla, she just woke up right now and still confuse on what is happening.

“Hello Milady, but i`m still confuse about what is happening. My last memory log is my arrival here for disposal because i`m already incompetent and inferior after several years of working.”

“…Milady”

Okay so Leyla had her mind blown from her politeness but the last statement though.

“Tell me a brief story on how did you end up being here.”

“Yes, i`m created to be a servant of a rich high noble at the kingdom---“

To shorten her story, she`s a clockwork made by dwarves for a rich noble to be a maid that is used for almost 5 years but the noble buy another one after he got sick of seeing her because she starts to show signs of disintegration from years of use and neglecting the repair. It was weird to know that a clockwork can`t repair his or her body but maybe it wasn`t included when she is created.

“Then your inactive for decades after that you eaten by the dungeon that has been use for defence but the dungeon got subjugated now you’re here.”

“Thank you for giving me new life Master. I`ll work limitlessly just please don`t replace me, I’ll will work and learn everything that is needed for my servitude.”

Eh? Master… me? Whoa whoa just hold that line.

“Let me get this straight, you`re thinking of me as your master because I gave you a new life and now you’re saying that your willing to be my servant.”

“Yes, Master”

“Eh? Master? What did you do to her program Raiser?”

“Hey don`t accuse me with that Leyla, I didn`t tamper her memories and data you know. Ask her.”

Wait she doesn`t have a name.

“Why would you call him Master?”

“Because he gave me a new life after years of being obsolete and useless. Milady.”

“Then why are you calling me Milady?”

Come on Leyla stop questioning her with simple things like that, I didn`t mind being called master but it was new to me personally to be called master or have a title or high position than the norm.

“Because your Master`s companion and assistant.”

“Okay, I get you but did you have a name. It was hard to call you as clockwork and the female clockwork.”

“I don`t have a name Milady, I didn`t need one because i`m just a servant.”

“Don`t just stand there Raiser do something about it”

And here I thought you will do all the work. I`m not good at giving names though.

“Why not let her decides, that would be her name so let her find her preferred name.”

“….”

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A/N

Last chapter... sorry if i edit it just now, somethings wrong with the font and pc.

anyways i intended to end the volume 1 like this... coz until now i dont have a name..

well for those who are still reading this series thank you very much coz you are supporting this series somehow.

i`m really grateful.

side story will be posted for the whole week and i give you triple update but side stories are short and it was POV of other char.

Please keep on supporting me and the series

till next volume.