Chapter 5: Choices
I didn't know where I was. It was a large room, lit only by the glow of machines that whirls and hums in the darkness. A woman stood in front of it, elegantly dressed with silvered blue hair overflowing down her back. One hand was pressed against a monitor that lit her frame and she seemed to stare intently at it. A giant circle made of metal loomed overhead. Trails of electricity flowed between the ring. It was then that she turned around and acknowledged me. She gave out an air of sophistication while her sapphire eyes reflected her melancholy. It was then that I realized a familiar sensation.
"The natural path towards the future has diverged too much."
She finally spoke. Her voice boomed and shook the area. Pieces of walls and ceiling started to fall around us, as if the room couldn't contain her. I tried to say something but I couldn't find my voice. I spoke but no words came out.
"We cannot return to what would have been. Even [We] must adjust to this new course."
The entire room was collapsing but the machines kept going. The metal circle above it began to crackle loudly and surged with power.
"Soon the actions of the past shall come to light. Along with their consequences. But whether you choose to face them head on or not is your choice to make. I cannot force you."
The metal circle burst in a blinding blue light as the ceiling finally collapsed on us.
"But I know you'll make the right choice, Brother."
---
[Reactivation complete. Good morning, Unit Arlan.]
I awoke out in the field to Oracle's voice. The campsite was still silent with almost everyone else asleep. Tessa was the one soul awake standing guard over us. She noticed my movement and waved a hand at me. I waved back and sat up in the grass, watching as the morning stars started to fade away with the dawn.
I reflected back on the strange dream I had. Was I really talking to someone? She was a bit foreboding. I wasn't too sure on what she was saying either. The future diverging? Maybe these past events have started to effect me more than I thought mentally.
[Would you like to see your Status? It also displays any detrimental effects that are afflicting the Unit.]
Is it like a diagnostics report? Yeah, show me.
================
Name: Arlan
Race: Golem (Spirit)
Class: None (Species Based)
Status: Normal
HP: 250/250 MP: 100/100 (700/1000)
Level: 1(10)
STR: 90
DEX: 60
AGI: 90
MAG: 70
VIT: 120
LUK : 50
[Active Skills]
<Golem Arts - Lvl 1> <Spell Casting - Lvl 1>
[Passive Effects]
<Earthly Spirit> <Physical Resistance (Superior)> <Magical Resistance (Low)> <Poison Immunity> <Corrosion Resistance (Superior)> <Repair>
[Titles]
<Magnum Opus>
================
This is a diagnostic report? This looks more like the status screen for some MMO! Either way, these stats, are they normal? I don't have anyone else to compare to. I played an online game together with some members of my platoon so I'm a bit familar with a few of these terms, at least. It seems like this body is very durable from the looks of it. Considering I'm made up of some thick metal and if the majority of weapons are swords and the like, I could probably take a few good hits and still come out great. I doubt a sword could damage me at all. I must have also gained <Spell Casting> when I learned [Ignite] from Tessa last night but I'm not sure what <Golem Arts> are.
[<Golem Arts> are abilities unique to this Unit. You currently have one Art, <Rocket Punch>. This Art allows the Unit to shoot their fist at their target. The fist will then be returned to place by the attached tether. This tether allows hand function even when detached.]
Then there's some utility to that skill. I could use it to grab something from a distance towards me if I wanted to. If the tether is strong enough, I could probably use it as a grappling hook too.
Wanting to take a break from thinking about statuses and skills, I took a chance to bathe in the stream. I'm still caked in dirt all over my body after all. This frame has been sitting down in that dungeon for quite some time. <Corrosion Resistance> doesn't allow me to rust at least from the water. Afterwards I head over to Tessa and sit right next to her.
"Good morning, Arlan. I was surprised you could sleep. Wow~, you're pretty shiny now."
"Well, thank you. I'm glad I don't have to stay awake all this time. And this frame looks quite nice now that the dirt's gone."
"Too bad it's still dirt colored though. I wonder if you can paint it?"
Should I detail myself? Nah, that seems too tacky. I'm not a car, you know. Behind us, the rest of the party started to awake. Hina was already up and folding her blanket alongside her pillow. Wait, when did they have those? I don't remember them having a rucksack on them while we traveled. Tessa got up on her feet.
"I should get the fire going and start making breakfast. You can stay here if you'd like. I don't want you to feel bad about watching us eat..."
That's right. With this body I don't need to eat anymore.
[Notice: Consumption of food and liquids is possible and recommended to maintain and promote [Spiritual Attunement]. Food is processed to maintain energy levels.]
Huh? Can I really? Wait, if that's the case, why waste food on me when I can just eat grass? It's not like I'm getting nutritional value out of a meal anyway.
[Warning: Consumption of materials not considered "appealing" by the Unit can negatively affect [Spiritual Attunement]. Unit Arlan must maintain "human-like" habits or risk spiritual expulsion.]
"Hold on, Tessa. Oracle just said I can eat food with this body."
"Oracle? Wait, you can eat as a golem?"
"Oracle's that.. familiar I told you about yesterday. It told me I need food to fuel my body. I need to maintain "human" habits otherwise my spirit might reject this body and leave."
"So it's just like dying from starvation? That's good then! Even with that body, you're still "alive"."
Tessa gave me a happy smile. Why do I feel relieved about what she said? This must be [Spiritual Attunement] at work.
We walked back to the camp. Kleid and Jude we're still half asleep putting away their things. Just how did they have blankets and pillows on them, too? I volunteered to start the fire while Tessa brought out something that looks like bacon and some bread from the pouch that was tied to her side. Along with a cooking pan. That.. makes no sense! That pouch looks like a coin purse but holds things ten times as large. Tessa noticed me staring with my several eyes.
"Oh right, you don't know about these. They're Magical Bags. They may look small but you can carry a bunch of things inside them. They're really amazing~!"
At this point, nothing surprises me anymore. I look down at the bundle of wood everyone else collected and hold my palm towards it.
"[Ignite]"
The circle appeared in front of my hand and the wood bursts into flames. Kleid gave a whistle while Jude stood aghast.
"[Chantless] Magic, huh? This is my first time seeing it. That's really useful to have."
"Even if it's just [Ignite], it's still very impressive. I wonder if I should teach you some of my spells, Arlan."
Hina seems to trust me more now if she's willing to teach me something more advanced. Then again, she does know I'm a walking fat paycheck with this special core in my chest.
Tessa laid the pan on top of the wood and put some bacon on there.
"That's a bit more than usual, Tessa. Are you that hungry? All this bacon might make you fat."
Tessa puffed up her cheeks in annoyance.
"Shut it, Jude! Besides this isn't for me, it's for Arlan."
Everyone looked at me with trepidation. I explain to them the situation along with Oracle.
"A spirit guide inside your head? What does it tell you?"
I look over at Jude who spoke.
"It tells me to destroy all the humans and create an immortal Golem Empire."
"H-Hey, that's not funny, you know!"
Oh, it's just too much fun messing with Jude.
"Hmph, that's what you get for thinking I'm a pig."
Tessa hands me a piece of cooked bacon along with some bread. She starts looking at me, excited. I suddenly remembered I don't have a mouth.
[Opening intake slot.]
The small chin-like cube at the bottom of my face opens up. I guess this is my mouth then. I put little pieces of food in there before the slot closes. I hear little whirls coming from inside before the intake slot opens up again. It's a damn shame I can't taste the food though. I ask Tessa to hand me a flask of water. I take it and slowly trickle the water down the intake.
Everyone else just stares in awe. I, however, feel ridiculous. I'd like to keep on living at least but now this presents a new problem. If I need food to keep living, I'll need money.
After the meal, we clear out the campsite and resume our journey back to town. The roads were quiet, broken only by carriages passing us by every now and again. Along the way, Hina explains to me what I should do when we reach our destination.
Her recommendation is for me to join the Adventurer's Guild in Haldin. As a very unique golem, without an organization backing me up, my chances for a unobstructed life would be slim. While the golems living in town are given the same rights and protection as anyone else, there are still groups who target them due to their exceptional skills. Many city golems find work as craftsmen or repairmen and are highly sought after. Shady groups could make a lot of money with a craftsman golem under their "employment". And if word got out about my core, I wouldn't be safe anywhere.
I don't have any skills other than fighting. Unless there's a shop that needs a cashier, the Adventurer's Guild is probably my best option. Hina assured me that there's steady work to be found, at least. Picking herbs and fighting off wildlife doesn't seem too bad.
[Warning: Detecting entities with malicious intent closing in on this location. Scans suggest the entities to be human.]
My HUD suddenly flashed a warning. A small window popped open with a radar like display. Red dots pipped onscreen moving at a rapid pace towards us. Looking at everyone else, it seems they haven't noticed anything yet. A large cargo carriage pulled up alongside us, driven by a merchant and what looks like her small daughter, intending to pass us by.
"Everyone! We got Tang- err, enemies coming from the forest!"
I shouted out loud for everyone to hear. The merchant passing us by looked back at us worried. If the attackers are human, I got a good guess at what their target is.
A flash ran across Hina's face. Did she sense them?
"Everyone stand near me!"
A rain of arrows suddenly blanketed the sky as Hina put quickly chanted. Suddenly a blue bubble covered the area around us along with the carriage. The arrows bounced off of it harmlessly.
Several men came walking out of the forest, weapons drawn.
"Are those... bandits?"
"Worse than that, Arlan. They're "Privateers".
Hina's cold expression twisted her face.
Damn it. Even in the afterlife, I'm still fighting battles.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone