Re: Tales of the Rune-Tech Sage Chapter 580: Golem... Puppet... Robot!

CH580 Golem... Puppet... Robot!

***

In the trial's designated workspace, Sugud busied himself with his tinkering.

A grave expression marked his features—the epitome of total focus—as he labored on the invention born from absorbing the trial library's wisdom.

Throughout the trial, the forge served as Sugud's steadfast ally.

Sometimes, he struck the anvil with rhythmic blows. At other times, he made precise tweaks on the bench.

No matter the job, the forge remained close by.

Its fiery warmth heated the metal he gripped...

Along with the fierce drive and zeal fueling his spirit.

It seemed Sugud was building a small-scale golem.

Contrary to usual golems—which often exceeded three meters in stature, looming over typical humans—Sugud's version measured about 180 centimeters, matching his own height.

Yet, where Sugud's 'golem' fell short in size, it excelled in intricacy.

The frame showed sharp outlines and form, looking much more humanoid than the cumbersome builds favored by Pangean alchemists.

One key difference from standard alchemical golems lay in its building approach.

Forged not with magic or elements, but purely via mechanical engineering.

Countless gears and complex parts were integrated deftly into its skeleton.

This blueprint stemmed from talks with Young Master Alex, plus a burst of insight from the massive smith's work Sugud witnessed at the trial's start.

Per the scrolls explored in the trial area, Verdantis Sorcerers had a forging style akin to Pangea's golem craft.

Called Puppet-making.

Such puppets were basically metal golems made from tangible stuff.

Animated not by alchemical hearts, but guided by mana threads—slender mana cords linking the handler to the puppet.

Or through telepathic means.

Both fell under a mystical discipline the sorcerers termed Puppetry.

The device now facing Sugud blended multiple concepts.

His personal mechanical ideas—what Young Master Alex labeled mechanics; Alex's notions on motion systems for the build; the visual cue from the big man's golem—or puppet, really. And lastly, the Puppetry guidance techniques from the studied texts.

Finally, Sugud fitted the last piece.

He embedded the control unit, or core, into the device's skull.

Next, he secured the head onto the torso.

"At last, it's finished. My debut robot." A grin crossed Sugud's face.

Young Master Alex had invented that term too.

As the young master explained, to set their builds apart from things like golems, they needed a fresh, distinct label.

Inspired by golems—basically free magical aides for alchemists and mages—Young Master Alex picked a term from a long-lost tongue with a parallel sense.

Robot.

And the craft of building them would be...

Robotics.

Sugud gazed at the creation in front of him.

Sure, its look was rugged, unfinished in spots. But beneath the surface, it symbolized something profound.

A major step in Sugud's alternate route to crafting Magic Armour.

Through countless chats with Young Master Alex, Sugud detected the young master's grand plans for these robots.

Alex had described a time when robots would be everywhere, applied in nearly every domain possible.

Moreover, unlike Magic Armour creation—a realm gripped by strict customs and elite design syndicates—robotics offered a route open to all.

It just demanded the right expertise and the drive to chase it.

In short, it could serve as a refuge for those cast out from Magic Armour design.

Maybe even a field where those spurned creators could one day strike back at the system that dismissed them—regardless of their dedication and toil.

To Sugud, this odd invention—golem, puppet, robot... call it what you will—was more than just a mechanical device.

It embodied the spark of a vision.

Not just his vision, or Alex's dream. But the aspirations of myriad souls across Pangea.

"The test begins..." Sugud whispered as he retreated a step.

He lifted the plain orb in his grasp and addressed it.

"Voice command, start."

A gentle radiance illuminated the orb.

"Activate."

Abruptly, a subtle spark ignited in the robot's eyes.

It unfolded from its curled stance, snapping the restraints and ties that secured it.

The build aligned itself and rose tall before Sugud.

Sugud's glowing orb was a command device, built to direct the robot from afar.

Or, in simpler terms...

A 'remote,' as per Young Master Alex's prior input.

Verdantis sorcerers' classic Puppetry ways weren't available to Sugud yet.

So, instead of copying them outright, he crafted a workaround.

The trial space's vault held various items—undoubtedly precious and scarce—that enabled mental links with other items.

Sugud employed these exotic elements to form his 'remote.'

Holding the remote, Sugud bound the robot to it rather than linking directly himself.

This way, he could send preset directives to the device.

Those stored orders also served as safeguards, minimizing risks of major errors if the robot acted oddly.

"So far, so good," Sugud murmured.

"Raise right leg."

The robot lifted its right leg.

"Raise left leg."

Tumble—!

Crash—!

Sugud slapped his forehead.

Obeying the order exactly, the robot hoisted its left leg—while keeping the right one up.

It immediately toppled and hit the floor.

What ensued was a frustratingly slow ordeal for Sugud.

He needed to oversee each tiny motion, directing it upright again.

Left arm.

Right arm.

Twist torso.

Adjust balance.

Rise.

For an instant, Sugud thought about retreating to a wall and yelling into it.

But soon, he compelled himself to see the positive.

At minimum, it showed the robot followed its master's will perfectly.

'A solid beginning,' Sugud reassured himself with a slight smile.

"Shut down," Sugud commanded.

The robot powered off at once and slumped to the ground.

Sugud flinched in shock.

He hastily checked the build and exhaled in relief upon verifying no major harm from the drop.

Besides the mind-link materials, Sugud had selected only basic metals for the robot.

After all, this was a fresh idea, unproven.

His smith's instincts refused to gamble premium stuff on a trial run.

Plus, even superior metals often had special magic traits—traits that might add unpredictable factors in assembly.

Factors that could spark unwanted issues in this innovative design.

Sugud crossed his arms while assessing his handiwork.

"At most, this qualifies as a Grade 0 robot," he pondered aloud. "About as capable as a regular person."

"I doubt it could face an Acolyte, a trainee or a squire (Class 0)."

He halted, then nodded approvingly.

"Even so... this marks the limit I can achieve with the idea right now."

"I'll need to perfect the technique later on."

Task finished, Sugud transported the dormant robot to the evaluation spot.

A ray of light enveloped the construct, sweeping over it fully like a thorough inspection of its makeup.

Before Sugud could respond, the trial realm started crumbling.

The environment fractured like brittle glass.

Moments later, Sugud stood once more by the stele.

"It's unfortunate that the archive is closed to me now," Sugud remarked with a slight head shake. "I'd have enjoyed grabbing a couple more scrolls."

"You can."

An unexpected voice echoed next to him.

Sugud spun around to find the enigmatic elder positioned close by.

He rose promptly and offered a deep bow.

"My gratitude for the opportunity," Sugud expressed with genuine warmth.

"Credit your Fate and Fortune alone," the elder brushed off casually.

Then he picked up from his interrupted thought.

"You've passed the trial with flying colors, gaining you credits. Peer into the stele and spend them on anything that intrigues you."

The elder caressed his flowing beard in contemplation.

"As a maker, I suggest prioritizing lore over gear. Gear's available in other places... but this archive's lore is unparalleled."

"Got it." Sugud inclined his head.

He faced the stele again.

Right away, data streamed straight into his thoughts.

The further he delved...

The more his eyes widened.

Thrill sparked across his face as he started redeeming points eagerly.

Heeding the elder's counsel, Sugud targeted only lore.

The very lore he'd lamented losing when the trial concluded.

Honestly, even sans the elder's tip, Sugud would've chosen likewise.

Many stele-listed tools were sorcery relics, made for sorcerers.

Lacking Verdantis sorcery skills, Sugud couldn't wield them effectively.

The lore sections were similar—tied to sorcery—but lore could be tweaked with sufficient insight and ingenuity.

He didn't need to master a whole new cultivation path to apply it.

Sugud remained engrossed in his new scrolls when a sudden tremor shook his frame.

He glanced at the disturbance's origin.

There, a fellow adventurer before the Armament Stele had just emerged from their trial.

***