> Kelly PoV

Red and Ellie met me as I passed the gates. They guided my cart to a small decrepit house.

Apparently there's a [Gateway] inside.

Normally you need three or four mages to feed it enough mana. Red can operate it by herself.

She definitely belongs in this city.

I arrive at a wide garden. Various flowers and crops are planted here and there. There's a tall, black metal fence going all around us. A black, ominous looking tower stands in the middle of it all.

But what catches my sight is the white spider-like things. Those must be the golems they've been telling me about.

"Now then, you need to wear one of these."

Red points at her ear. Ah, I didn't even notice that weird ear cuff until now.

"It might sting a bit."

Ellie says as she walks to my side.

I sat on the ground as instructed. She fiddles with my ear a bit and then-

"Oww!"

A sharp pain goes through it, but it quickly passes.

{....ello, hel......ou h.....}

"Eh, there's a strange buzzing in my ear?"

{..ello, hello, can you hear me now?}

"Gah! A voice!"

{Ah it looks like that did it!}

{Hello Kelly, I'm Nano.}

WHY?

Why is it like this.

Is he shy? Is he even a he? How does this even work in the first place?

{This ear cuff will let us talk.}

{It will also block out Ellie's mind reading [Star Magic].}

{Since it’s rude to do that to your friends, you see.}

"Ah, okay? Sorry this was a bit jarring.

Pleasure to meet you Nano."

{Likewise, I hold high hopes for you.}

{That armor you made was splendid.}

{It was a golem that assisted with your movements, right?}

"Hoooh, you have good eyes Nano! I can't wait to meet you in person."

{Ah, that's a bit impossible.}

So it really is like that. I figured as much.

You see these types of people, the ones who shun the world. They bury themselves in their work, it's a bit sad. It's especially true for people working in obscure fields like me.

"Well, that's a shame. I'm sure someone like yourself has a lot to teach me."

"Ah, but Nano isn't a person."

* * *

Well, that was a long explanation. I still don't believe this [Star Magic] is actually magic though.

First of all, the golems are way too versatile. They have a lot of moving parts and strange devices. Also as usual there isn't a drop of mana coming from them.

I'm more sensitive to the flow of mana than others. It's a necessary skill when creating something like Scrappy.

This Nano knows almost nothing of traditional golems.

However, we're sure to come up with some good things if we cooperate.

Right now I'm heading into the tower's underground levels. The tower itself is way too fancy on the inside, even though the outside is so ragged.

{Okay Kelly, I need you to promise me something.}

{I'm about to show you a lot of things.}

{It would be very bad if others got wind of them.}

"... how bad?"

{Worst case, world could end.}

"That's pretty bad."

They literally fell from the stars. It makes sense that they dragged along some forbidden things that shouldn’t exist.

{So, promise me to keep them under wraps.}

"I promise."

{Oh, also don't mention them to Kira.}

"Why not?"

She lives here, surely she deserves a right to know.

{It would do nothing but cause her to worry.}

Yeah, Red is a genuine worry wart.

Unless it's about money, then she becomes a completely different person.

"Okay, I promise."

{By the way I'm always listening.}

{If you ever slip up, the earpiece will explode, taking your head with it.}

Ugeh!

What is this!? That wasn't in the contract!

These people are clearly criminals after all aren't they!?

{Then, welcome! To my workshop!}

The doors slide open to reveal a storm of sparks, grinding and screeching.

This... I am most assuredly not drunk enough for this.

I have this entire act written, but I still need to proofread and touch it up a lot.

English isn't my native language and I want to do it properly, so bear with me.

I'll try to get it done in the next several hours since I'm a bit excited, but no promises