"Whoa, that’s quite a building."
The grand plaza within the grounds of the Kingdom of Saloom was unrecognizable. Where Zerof’s laboratory had once stood, a newly renovated facility now loomed, vastly larger and more magnificent than its predecessor.
The whitewashed structure rose so high you had to strain your neck to see the top, easily rivaling the castle in scale. Inside, along with an array of experimental equipment, was an underground hangar large enough to comfortably house a Golem.
Naturally, research funding was being distributed with an equally heavy hand—a truly lavish display of royal support.
"This is Master Zerof-niisan's new lab, isn't it? I suppose his achievements in winning the Golem tournament were officially recognized," I noted.
"Yeah. It seems Father holds him in high regard now," Albert replied.
Previously, Zerof had never been granted much capital for his work, and he’d spent most of his time grumbling about his inability to conduct large-scale experiments. Following his recent success, however, both equipment and funds had become much more accessible to him.
When we were building Diguardia, the costs were primarily covered by Albert’s personal assets, and even then, Dian and I had to pitch in to cover the deficit just to get it finished.
"He seemed incredibly happy about it," I added.
"Oho, speak of the devil. Here comes the man of the hour," Grimo chirped.
Zerof came trundling out of the lab. His appearance had undergone a total transformation. His once-haggard face had filled out, the dark circles under his eyes were gone, and he looked remarkably healthy.
I called out to him as he walked toward us.
"Hello, Zerof-niisan. That’s a magnificent lab you’ve got there."
"Ah, it is all thanks to you, Lloyd. Thank you."
"No, no, everyone worked hard. My contribution was tiny."
"I do not share that assessment... but hmph, if you insist, I shall let it be."
Zerof allowed a small, satisfied smile to cross his lips. He definitely gave off a different impression than before. I suppose it was the change in his physique.
"Still, Zerof-niisan, you’ve become quite... well, portly, haven't you?"
"Mm, well... it is unavoidable. Those people invite me to meals without end."
Zerof glanced toward a group of men and women holding a garden party next to the lab. They were all alchemists from the tournament. One of them, a man in particularly flashy clothing, gave me a wink—it was Lugol.
After their golems were destroyed by Tartarus, they had all descended upon the Kingdom of Salarm to oversee repairs. While the location was convenient and the facilities were top-notch, their true motive was likely to pick Zerof’s brain.
After all, he was the tournament winner. They had a mountain of questions for him. They held parties almost every day, drawing all sorts of insights out of Zerof. Not satisfied with just him, they’d somehow managed to rope me into their interrogations as well.
Of course, it wasn't a one-way street. I’d used the opportunity to learn about the golem technologies of other nations. As a result of this daily socializing, Zerof had ended up growing rather round.
"Hey, Zerof! Come over here and try some of our sausages! They’re incredible!" Lugol shouted.
"I shall be there shortly. ...Honestly, they are a helpless lot. Well then, Lloyd, I shall see you later."
"See you."
Despite his complaints, Zerof’s expression was far softer than it used to be.
"Man, he really has changed. To think that gloomy prince would show such a bright face," Grimo remarked.
"Yes. Previously, he would never have even considered entering such a social circle," Jiriel agreed.
Just as they said, the once-reclusive Zerof was now chatting and laughing with new friends. At the start of the tournament, he couldn't even respond to the cheers of the crowd, but as the matches progressed, he’d slowly opened up. By the time Tartarus attacked, he’d even marched out to protect the citizens.
It seemed he just hadn't been used to interacting with others. Once he got over that hurdle, he had no trouble befriending people who shared his interests.
"Hey, look at that, Angel. The elder brother is being talked up by a woman. Hehehe, look at that grin on his face."
"You have terrible taste, Majin. ...Though it is true he looks quite content," Jiriel said, rebuking Grimo’s vulgar snickering.
Regardless, if Zerof continued to bond and exchange information with foreign alchemists, he might be able to build an even more incredible golem next time. I was genuinely looking forward to it.
"Speaking of changes, Master Lloyd, how is that brat doing?" Grimo asked.
"He's working as hard as ever."
After the incident, Ido had realized his own immaturity. He told me he wanted to return to his roots and start over. I decided to take him to Lodesto and have him assist Gitan and the rest of the biological research team. With his knowledge of how to create a Biological Golem, it might actually be possible to return their synthesized bodies to normal.
Given his serious personality, Ido seemed to get along quite well with Gitan’s group.
"He certainly didn't waste any time. He dispatched a massive number of Construction-type Golems and had the destroyed parts of the city restored to normal in just a few days," Grimo noted.
"He likely had them prepared before the battle even began. To have considered the aftermath even while rampaging like that... I must admit, it is impressive," Jiriel added.
Even more surprising was the fact that there were zero fatalities from the chaos. The only injuries were sustained by people who had tripped while fleeing or had been knocked over in the initial panic.
"He seems to have prepared quite thoroughly. I suppose that's the bare minimum if one intends to face Master Lloyd," Jiriel said.
"Hehe, but he’s too much of a 'good boy.' If he doesn't break out of his shell eventually, he won't beat Master Lloyd in a million years."
"—Maybe so."
Suddenly, a voice came from right behind me. I turned to find a boy in a white lab coat and round glasses—Ido.
"Gah!? I-Ido!?" Grimo squawked.
"You should be in Lodesto! How are you here!? Was that... Spatial Transfer just now?" Jiriel stammered.
Seeing their shock, Ido let out a soft chuckle.
"Lloyd taught it to me. I realized that trying to surpass Lloyd on my own at this stage would be difficult. I decided it would be faster to just ask him honestly."
Grimo and Jiriel looked at me with expressions of utter disbelief.
"Are you serious, Master Lloyd? This guy was just trying to kill us the other day!"
"Spatial Transfer is one of your most precious spells, Master Lloyd—not to mention how easily it could be abused. Was it truly wise to teach it so casually?"
"Oh, it's not a problem," I replied.
He can only travel to places where he has an established Path, and the only thing Ido is truly obsessed with is me. He’s a serious person at heart; he won't misuse it. Besides, if anything did happen, I could just stop him myself.
...That was the official reason, anyway. In reality, by teaching him Spatial Transfer, I could have Ido bring me whatever research materials I needed whenever I wanted. It saved me the trip and let me focus entirely on my own studies.
"Gwahaha! 'Not a problem,' he says. No matter when or where he might get jumped, it’s 'no problem.' Talk about absolute confidence," Grimo laughed.
"Perhaps teaching him Spatial Transfer was also a warning. A way of saying, 'don't you dare lay a hand on anyone but me,'" Jiriel mused.
While the two of them muttered to themselves, Ido wore a faint smile.
"I understand your motives, of course. But my own growth is far more important to me than such petty concerns. I intend to use whatever is available to me. ...Lloyd, the gap between our power is still like heaven and earth. But one day, I will stand as your equal. When that time comes... no, it’s nothing. See you later."
Ido cut himself off and turned away, heading toward Zerof and the other alchemists to join their discussion. He seemed to fit right in.
"...That kid really has changed," Grimo muttered.
"Yes. He seems intent on absorbing techniques not just from Master Lloyd, but from the elder brother as well. He was serious about using anything he can get his hands on. The next time he challenges you, he will likely have acquired formidable power," Jiriel observed.
"He put up a hell of a fight last time. Next time, even Master Lloyd might be in trouble."
The two of them gulped.
They weren't wrong. If Ido—the man who built Tartarus—continues to polish his skills, I can't say for certain if I’ll win our next bout. The possibility of losing is very real.
And that’s exactly why I’m excited.
I wonder what he’ll come up with next? I hope he doesn't just stick to alchemy but incorporates high-level magic and finds a way to weaponize Spatial Transfer. If he mobilizes everything he’s learned from me and the others, he’s bound to do something incredible.
That makes it worth teaching him. I can hardly wait.
"He’s actually grinning... Hah, what a waste of time it was to worry. He’s got 'come at me' written all over his face," Grimo sighed.
"The appearance of a powerful rival is likely exactly what Master Lloyd desires. His caliber is simply on another level from ours. Truly remarkable," Jiriel said.
I left the scene with their murmurs fading behind me, already dreaming of the next breakthrough.