A man peeked through his wooden carriage’s window and watched as the trees passed by. Twisted branches protruded from the corners of the carriage, and each side was covered with tapestry depicting a boar surrounded by a burning forest - the symbol of Saint Sallus.

Inside the narrow carriage sat an iron effigy of a humanoid made out of hands, opposite of the man. Though Archpriest Agrianos didn’t think that the northmen would appreciate the religious gesture since he didn’t think that those… creatures were actually religious at all, he hoped that they would appreciate the value of the thing. According to Priestess Elena—the little girl who had met the creatures at Mount Varangia—they were extremely curious and weren’t hostile to her or her beliefs, so he had some confidence that the northmen wouldn’t hack him into pieces just because he gave them a religious icon.

Still, Agrianos couldn’t help but think that there was a huge chance that Elena was mistaken, and that the northmen might take great offense from the statue of Humanos, causing them to chop him apart. His ill thoughts churned his stomach around, and sweat dropped from his forehead.

“Gah!” Agrianos screamed unintentionally as a horseman knocked against the wooden carriage and opened a window. “What is it?!”

“I am sorry to startle you, lord. We’re close to the Varangian embassy,” the horseman replied.

“Ah, that’s good. I thought we would be attacked.”

“Neither the Vyssians nor the Rhanks would be foolish enough to attack the Archpriest of Saint Sallus’ Cathedral, your lordship,” the horseman pointed out.

“The world is unpredictable. As unpredictable as those damned rotting undead showing their accursed faces out of nowhere. Only Humanos can protect us,” Agrianos said. “But I also believe that being cautious could protect us as well. Return to formation, and keep an eye out.”

“Yes, lord,” the horseman answered then closed the window.

Feeling curious about the embassy, Agrianos stuck his head out to see the place for himself. ‘A castle? The northmen built a castle here? It’s very close to the City of Sea’ax,’ Agrianos thought to himself then sat back down, not really interested in the politics behind the northmen’s dealings with the Vyssians.

Agrianos’ carriage stopped in front of the embassy’s gate, and in front of the gate, there was a hooded man wearing an expressionless metal mask. Standing next to the masked man was a tall armored northman, one hand clutching the hilt of his sword. When the archpriest got out of his carriage, the masked man raised his hands and greeted in Vyssian, “You must be Archpriest Agrianos! I am Weaver.”

Agrianos bowed his head, then replied, “It’s a pleasure to meet you. Humanos has guided me to you, so the path ahead of us is open.”

The tall northman looked ahead and pointed out, “The road seems clear.”

“No, he meant metaphorically,” Weaver whispered.

“Define metaphorically?”

Weaver ignored the question and turned to Agrianos. “Archpriest, let us take you inside the embassy. You must be tired from your journey.”

Agrianos followed Weaver into the embassy along with a few guards. Within the embassy walls, the archpriest jumped when he heard a thunderclap closeby. The sky was clear and it wasn’t raining, so where did it come from?

The archpriest decided to shrug it off, thinking it was just an illusion, but jumped once more when he heard another thunderclap. “What was that noise?!”

“Oh, do not mind the noise. We have some mages experimenting at the courtyard,” Weaver explained.

“Well, if you say so,” Agrianos said and continued to follow Weaver into a meeting room. Why the northmen were casually experimenting in their backyard, Agrianos wasn’t interested in finding out. Upon arriving at an empty room, the archpriest had an attendant place the small iron statue onto a table. “This is my gift to you, Varangians. It’s a statue of Humanos, and I hope you appreciate it.”

“Interesting,” Weaver remarked and leaned forward to study the statue, but he immediately lost interest in it. “So, you want to enlist the help of the northmen against the undead?”

“Your kinsman must’ve informed you of my intention, then,” Agrianos said with a nod. Though he did notify the northmen weeks ahead, his letters didn’t mention why he was visiting other than the fact that he was interested in their services. “Yes. Are you informed about the situation in the East?”

“As you said earlier, I was already informed about everything. For the right price, the Varangians would be willing to lend you a hand in… getting rid of threats, even the undead. However, we will also require safe passage through Rhankia and Alaria,” Weaver said.

“I can guarantee you safe passage through Rhankia, but it would take some time for me to talk to the Alarians. How many men do you think you can spare?” Agrianos questioned.

“Up to five hundred? At the least, a hundred,” Weaver estimated.

“Five hundred? Don’t you still have the contract with the Vyssians?”

“There isn’t a problem. I highly doubt my people would have conflict with the Rhanks for some time due to circumstances,” Weaver replied.

Agrianos was silent for a while, then shrugged. “It benefits me and the Faith, so I have no complaints. Now, about the price…”

“Look, Count Marcoir. The northmen renovated your land for you.” A Rhankish knight pointed towards the large fortification that was once Castle Marcoir. Much of the forest around the castle was gone, and the surrounding land was ploughed as if a thousand horses had ran through the fields multiple times.

“By Humanos, I swear I will take you to the highest tower of that blasted fort and throw you from there, Lorferd! If those northmen touched my perfectly measured bedroom, I don’t know if I could control my fury!” Marcoir gritted his teeth as he rode closer towards the castle. “How in Purgatory did the princess get a hold of the northmen, anyway?”

“I don’t know, but I think it’s a good thing for you, lord. According to Princess Imma’s letters, she has been negotiating with the northmen in order to buy your castle back,” Lorferd pointed out.

“Bloody Purgatory, Lorferd! Does that brat really think I want… whatever that thing is?!” Marcoir pointed at the fort and continued, “They’ve bastardized my land and my castle!”

“Lord, mind your tone. She’s the Royal Princess, you know?”

“I acknowledge that. But then again, I also acknowledge that she’s a brat!” Marcoir exclaimed then stopped when a group of drones blocked their path. At the head of them was a Daedelus with a pair of spider drones attached to his front and back. It was none other than the one that orchestrated the capture of Marcoir’s castle, Exarchi.

Exarchi studied the Rhankish riders and said, “So, you must be the wonderful people who have come to bring our goods.”

“You. Do you know who led the army that took my castle?” Marcoir pointed at Exarchi and questioned.

“Well, of course I know him. He’s me.” Exarchi pointed at himself.

“Hoh, hoh. Humanos must be either smiling or pissing on me. Some day, we’ll meet each other at the field, northman. This, I swear,” Marcoir declared then rode to the side. A horse walked forward, and on top of it was a redheaded man, gagged and bound. “But for now, we’ve come to deliver our promise. This is Lord Hambleot.”

“I’m sure Lord Otto would be overjoyed,” Exarchi said.

“If it would get both you and Lord Otto off our arses, all the better I toss this man to you,” Marcoir groaned. As much as he disliked the enigmatic drones, he understood their fighting prowess. Despite the fact that Duke Villbrod’s army managed to beat the much larger Vyssian army, they were still defeated by the smaller northman army. Perhaps in the future, the Rhanks would figure out a way to defeat the northmen, but for now, the northmen were unmatched and unrivalled.

“If you say so. By the way, you are Count Marcoir, am I correct? I heard the Rhankish princess is considering buying your castle from us,” Exarchi said. “What do you think of it?”

“Bah! I bet the price is steep, which would mean I would go into debt towards the crown if I try to buy it from Her Highness,” Marcoir grumbled.

“The price is steep indeed. Unfortunately, she’s talking to Red instead of Weaver.”

“What? Who is Red?”

Exarchi raised his head, then answered, “Someone who has a fascination and knack for money.”

A large high troglodyte held a torch up as he navigated through a series of tunnels. He raised his torch, illuminating himself. Unlike the common troglodyte, he was wearing a full suit of chainmail and some roughly made plate armor.

“Brothers and sisters, hurry,” the troglodyte turned back and urged.

“Razugotter, what if the iron demons tricked you and this is all a ruse?” a high troglodyte questioned, his expression full of doubt.

“No, I have seen it! I have seen what the iron lords would call above,” Razugotter said. Though he didn’t know it, the word ‘above’ was actually a borrowed Vyssian word. “There is an endless blue and white space, vines growing from the ground, and so much light.”

The troglodytes at the front licked their lips at the prospects of seeing such miracles. All their lives, they had lived such pitiful existences. They thought it was all there was to life. Who knew that there was more to it?

“Now, the hidden gate is just ahead. I urge you to-”

Razugotter’s words were cut short when he heard screams coming from the back of the tunnel. His fellow blue-spotted troglodytes were panicking, trying to rush forward, while armored low troglodytes rushed towards the back of the line.

“The Inners have found us! Hurry, brothers and sisters!” Razugotter shouted to the crowd. “The Pohilis will try to stop them!”

“I will stand and fight with the Pohilis!” a blue-faced high troglodyte declared.

“No! Every tilapolan we lose is a blow to the Pohili and its allies!” Razugotter argued and pushed the blue-faced troglodyte forward.

“I swear by Tilapola, we will avenge the Pohilis!” the blue-faced high troglodyte cried.

The Pohilis were, of course, the troglodytes from Custodian’s territories. With their metallic smell embedded against their skins, it was easy for the troglodytes to recognize them. Some time after Razugotter’s introduction to the surface world, he became a fanatic supporter of Custodian’s drones. While still wary of the organic’s intentions, Custodian still allowed Razugotter to venture out and attempt to recruit more troglodytes to his side.

Razugotter and his kin ran through the tunnel until they saw a dead-end. “Open the gate!” Razugotter shouted while banging against the stone wall.

A high troglodyte waved his fist at Razugotter and shouted, “Razugotter! It’s a dead-end! You’ve doomed us all by-”

The stone wall split into two, revealing a square metal gate. The gate raised its doors and the troglodytes swarmed in without even being ordered by Razugotter. When the last of the blue-spotted troglodytes got through the gate, the wall closed itself once more.

The remaining Pohili auxiliaries fighting the enemy troglodytes scattered to the hidden tunnels and paths laid out in advance. The ‘Inners’ reached the end of the tunnel and looked around. “What?! Where did those demon worshippers escape to?!”

“The High Priest will not be pleased if he hears that these lowly peasants have eluded us! Search the place and hunt down those heathens!”

As the troglodytes search around for hidden tunnels, a camera watched them. The one watching the chaos was none other than Custodian.

‘Successful retrieval of subject RAZUGOTTER and many other organics,’ a drone reported. ‘Auxiliaries have scattered around organic territories and will regroup at a later time.’

‘Understood. Status of the troglodyte break through?’ Custodian asked.

‘Organics Troglodytes have stopped attempting digging around the walls due to our efforts in building more walls.’

Custodian switched its view to the blocked underground tunnels which once led to the A.I.’s dungeon complex. While the troglodyte army camping in front of the walls had decreased in size, there were still a considerable amount of troglodytes trying to find a way into Custodian’s dungeon. Custodian didn’t have a great interest in advancing any further underground, but it was interested in developing its auxiliaries and keeping the troglodytes out of its territories.

‘I might have to make an army to deal with the organics…’ Custodian thought to itself. Just as it was about to sketch up a plan, a notification popped up.

[5000 units of anti-mana in weight collected. Protocol 4F completed. Blueprints for Type 2 Churl Mind, Type 2 Thane Mind, and Type 2 Steadfaster Mind imprinted into databank.]

[Protocol 4G started. Collect 10000 units of anti-mana in weight to unlock new production capabilities. 50% completed.]

[Type 2 Churl Mind

Slightly faster than the Type 1 Churl Mind, the Type 2 Churl Mind is also capable of handling bigger bodies with greater independence. Capable of multitasking and weak parallel thinking, equivalent to three Type 1 Peasant Minds.

Produced using 2 Type 1 Churl Mind processors, 20 units of biomatter and mana matter each in weight.]

[Type 2 Thane Mind

Capable of handling bigger bodies. Minor improvements to self-awareness.

Produced using 1 Type 1 Thane Mind processor, 240 units of anti-matter, 265 units of biomatter, and 285 units of mana matter in weight.]

[Type 2 Steadfaster Mind

Increased independency, and increased capability in sustaining larger bodies. Not capable of magic, just like its predecessor.

Produced using 1 Type 1 Steadfaster Mind Processor, 60 units of anti-matter, 35 units of biomatter, and 35 units of anti-mana.]

‘Excellent. It is time to examine my gains-’

[5000 units of anti-mana in weight collected. Protocol 1D completed. Memory 4 unlocked. Now playing...]