「A boy named Ido, you say? ...I am terribly sorry, but I have no memory of anyone by that name.」
We parted ways soon after our encounter. Tao had her own business to attend to, and I was far too preoccupied with the mystery of Ido to focus on anything else anyway, so it worked out for the best.
Back at the hotel, I immediately asked Sylpha if she recalled a boy named Ido. No luck. Sylpha never forgets anyone I’ve had dealings with; if he wasn't in her records, I must have met him while I was alone. If that was the case, I really didn't have a clue.
As I sat there pondering his identity, Zerof placed the newspaper he had been reading in front of me.
「Lloyd, is this the boy you are referring to?」
Zerof pointed to a photograph in the article. It was the masked boy I’d seen earlier—Ido. The headline loudly proclaimed that he would be participating in the upcoming tournament as a golem pilot representing Bertram.
Let’s see... "Appearing like a comet three years ago, Bertram’s premier genius mage now challenges the golem battles."
Hmm, I still didn't recognize him. Three years ago... that would have been right around the time I first started dabbling in alchemy. Back then, I was a total shut-in and hardly ever left my room. I couldn't think of a single point of contact between us.
「Despite his youth, the moment he began golem manufacturing, he displayed his genius without reservation. He is a prodigy said to have advanced this nation’s alchemy by several centuries. Many of the technologies he invented are utilized within our own Diguardia, and he is reputed to be quite a formidable pilot as well. He is the champion of the previous tournament and a top contender for the title this year. ...So, why the interest in this boy?」
「Ah, no, I was just curious. Ahaha...」
I couldn't exactly tell him that I might be an acquaintance of such a legendary figure, so I laughed it off to hide my confusion. Still, I shouldn't have been able to forget someone that important. It was strange.
「Hmm. Ido and Lloyd appear to be of similar age. Perhaps a sense of rivalry has taken root? If so, that is a positive development. It may serve as a fine catalyst for Lloyd to formally aspire to the path of an alchemist. We still have a few days before the tournament; perhaps I should instruct you in the finer points of golem piloting.」
Leaving Zerof to his academic muttering, I scanned the rest of the article and found the match brackets for the golem battles—the festival's main attraction. At the bottom of the tournament chart were the names of the participating countries and their pilots. Zerof’s Diguardia was on the far left, while Ido sat on the far right.
「Ho, now this is interesting-ssu! If everything goes smoothly, we'll end up fighting him in the finals-ssu!」
「So that is what he meant by 'seeing you again.' Under normal circumstances, no one could possibly hope to best Master Lloyd, but in a clash between golems... the outcome is no longer a foregone conclusion.」
Grimo and Jiriel were getting worked up looking at the bracket. I wasn't the one actually piloting, but... I had to admit, I was looking forward to it.
「Heh heh heh, I can feel the fire in my veins, Lloyd! We aim for nothing less than total victory! We shall approach this with perfect adjustments!」
「Right! Zerof-niisan!」
Unable to sit still any longer, Zerof and I dashed back to Diguardia. We had one week until the tournament began and three days from then until the finals. I was going to make sure she was in peak condition by then.
Boom! Bang! Boom! The sound of blank shots echoed through the clear blue sky.
The venue for the Golem Martial Arts Tournament was the Bertram Central Great Plaza. A massive crowd had gathered, eager to catch a glimpse of the golems in action. Each machine had been positioned in the plaza beforehand, undergoing final maintenance behind black curtains to keep them hidden from prying eyes. Today, those veils were finally being lifted.
「Excuse me—it is nearly time, so we will be removing the curtains now. Is that all right?」
A voice called out from beyond the fabric. It seemed we were out of time.
「Understood. We are coming out now.」
Zerof stood up and called back. We had finished our adjustments at the very last second. I followed Zerof outside.
Ugh. The sunlight was blinding. Having spent so much time tinkering with Diguardia inside the dark enclosure, the glare stung my eyes. Zerof seemed to feel the same, as he was squinting and grimacing.
「Ah... I am quite sleepy, Lloyd.」
「I know, but it was worth it. We've finished with what I’d call a perfect result.」
「Indeed. Our Diguardia shall now be revealed beneath the sun.」
As the staff pulled away the curtains, Diguardia’s valiant figure was exposed, gleaming even against the harsh backlight. The spectators let out a thunderous roar of approval. It hadn't just been the two of us; Albert and the others had pitched in as well, performing dozens of fine-tuning sessions. The body, polished to a mirror finish, was a masterpiece.
Zerof looked up at it, exhaling a satisfied breath.
「Yes, it is magnificent no matter how many times I behold it. A truly intoxicating achievement.」
「Zerof-niisan, it looks like they're removing the curtains from the other golems, too.」
Across the plaza, curtains were falling, revealing the other teams' golems in a wide circle starting from the left.
—A golem with two ox-like horns protruding from its head, draped in thick fur. A giant axe and shield gave it the appearance of a savage warrior.
—A golem with long blonde hair tied in twin tails and a long skirt... it looked remarkably like a young girl. It held a staff, radiating an unmistakably bizarre presence.
—A golem modeled after a massive fish. A face peeked out from inside the fish's mouth, and its lower body was literally just a fish. it balanced itself with a trident held in both hands. Why a fish, though? Could it even fight on land?
—A golem with giant wings, more slender and compact than the others. It had a bird-like head, powerful legs, and razor-sharp talons. I wondered if it could actually fly; my expectations were high.
—A golem as massive as a fortress. Its body was a cluster of boulders assembled like a castle wall, evoking the image of a classic golem. Its massive arms reached almost to the ground. It looked simple, yet undeniably powerful.
—A slender golem that resembled a martial artist. It wasn't just thin; its drive system looked fundamentally different from the others. Wait—weren't those two at its feet Tao and her grandfather? What were they doing here? I'd have to ask later.
—And finally, the golem shaped like a lion. It possessed a golden mane and a supple frame, with sharp claws extending from its sleek limbs. The body balance was terrifyingly efficient. It looked like it possessed incredible mobility.
「...Hm?」
When Ido, standing at its feet, waved to the crowd, a cheer louder than any other today swallowed the venue.
「Hmph, so that's Ido’s golem-ssu. He’s certainly popular. I suppose that's the perks of being the previous champion-ssu.」
「It appears to be more than just fame. Compared to the other golems, its craftsmanship seems to be of a significantly higher caliber. It seems he has the skill to justify his arrogance.」
「Oh? That brat is acting all high-and-mighty, glaring right at us-ssu! Talk about looking down on people-ssu...!」
「Hmph. To avert one's gaze is to concede defeat. I shall respond with the full weight of my conviction.」
Grimo and Jiriel glared back, but Ido didn't seem fazed in the slightest. In fact, his eyes were fixed on me. It was as if he were showing off his golem, asking me, "What do you think?" It was certainly a fine machine, but my Diguardia wouldn't lose to it.
As if reading my thoughts, Ido smiled again.
—Let's meet in the finals. I felt as though I could hear his voice saying those words.
「My, my, you certainly seem relaxed, don't you?」
A voice spoke up from right beside me. A man dressed like a noble looked at me and Diguardia, a derisive smirk on his face.
「I am Lugol, your opponent for the first round. That golem of yours certainly looks sturdy enough, but... it doesn't come close to my Magicamillia in terms of either strength or beauty. Well, do your best to be a worthy opening act for me! Ha-hah-hah-hah!」
The man named Lugol walked off, laughing loudly. He’d been prattling on about something, but I didn't pay much attention. Whatever. I was just looking forward to the showdown with Ido.