106. little dear friend
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A camel carrying Do-yoon walks in the middle of the desert where a thick sand wind blows.
Deep in thought with a poncho over his head, he was motionless.
He was just holding on to the camel’s reins, trudging along with the camel’s steps.
Do-yoon went on a short trip to calm down before the search for the dead.
Even in his previous life, when he was confused, he would visit his hideout, the alchemy workshop.
Now that he had a big day ahead, he wanted to meet the child he had left behind while organizing his thoughts.
The destination is in the middle of the desert, not far away. It was originally a forest, but it was devastated by war.
‘It must be lacking in water.’
Doyoon looked at the camel and thought.
The sandstorm was stronger than expected, and the camel was complaining of fatigue. It seems that there is not enough water for him.
‘Should I walk when I go back…’
As he licked his lips, he saw a group of shadows on the other side.
Dressed in the desert, lightly armed, and intimidating. It was an endless band of bandits.
Those who approached Doyoon stopped him and laughed.
“get off.”
The front of the group, the one who seemed to be the leader said.
Having experienced this situation countless times, Do-yoon did not do anything stupid like throwing gold coins at the toll.
No witnesses, one traveler. What is the toll fee? If it is killed, it belongs to the living.
“And take it off.”
However, they seem to be enjoying a little pastime before that.
A thief riding a camel next to the leader giggled at Doyoon’s handsome appearance, inflating his load.
Doyoon silently looked at their waists. There were a lot of canteens attached.
Besides, there are no people as knowledgeable about the geography of the place as the thieves.
“what are you doing? quickly…”
squeak-
Took.
Next to the boss, the head of the thief who told Doyoon to take it off fell.
dump.
The headless body fell off the horse. But the camel was not surprised and stood still.
It was such a natural, clean death.
The group of bandits hardened their faces and faces. The hot sand wind chilled their sweat and their hearts.
There was no attack. No, I didn’t see it.
Doyun’s hand, which they saw, had already put the sword in the sheath and was holding the reins of the camel of Juseomjuseom.
“…”
“Do you have some water?”
“……Yes.”
The bandits hurriedly took out the canteen.
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Guided by the thieves, Do-yoon was able to arrive at his destination soon.
In return for guidance, he cut off their throats and tossed them into the quicksand without even feeling the pain. If left alone, he would steal Doyoon’s camel and run away while he was in the workshop.
Goo goo goo…
Doyoon entered the dark studio and the door closed.
The smell of rotting paper and herbs greeted him.
Every time I walked, fine dust rose. It was dust that had accumulated over the course of 100 years.
It was a novice alchemist’s workshop, except for the fact that it was insignificant and severely worn out. And it was.
Except for mana control, Enoch’s talents were all over the place regardless of field. It was the same with alchemy.
No one would have thought that the great hero Enoch Roosevolnik would have used such a shabby workshop. He, who did not show his hard side to anyone, could have healed his heart alone here. I can’t imagine.
“…”
Fortunately… this place didn’t seem to be invaded by anyone.
If that was the case, even Doyoon would have been sad. For this was, in a sense, a place more valuable than his legacy, where mountains of gold and silver treasures and treasures, each worth a castle, were kept.
Doyoon walked to the small bookshelf. The old books stuck there were rotten and old to the point of tearing.
‘Introductory alchemy guide. Basic art of ministry 2. A study on the independent magic engineering complex…’
…
…my mind wandered.
Doyoon, who was looking around the studio, stopped walking.
His gaze rested on a dusty corner.
There, a small golem that seemed to have stopped working a long time ago was sitting helplessly.
“…”
I looked around again.
The dust on the floor was uneven. Partially, there were places where the height of the dust was shallow.
They were small, sloppy footprints, like those of a toddler. It belonged to this little golem.
Starting with the oldest footprint, Do-yoon retraced all the traces that filled the room in chronological order. As the dust became shallower, the time the footprints held gradually passed.
Eventually, his gaze followed his last steps and reached the corner in front of him again.
’20 years…’
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Judging by the depth of the dust, it must have been working alone for 20 years since he left.
After looking at it for a long time, Doyoon approached and lifted the small body. The 80-year-old dust fell in a bath.
Carefully, and with a precious hand, he brushed off the dust. Here and there, rusty and badly worn, little iron golems appeared just like they did 100 years ago.
“…”
For 200 years, Enoch fought and suffered without end.
It was none other than alchemy that maintained his spirit.
Even though Enoch had no talent in alchemy, even though it was not a field that was useful in practice.
From the 6th to the 18th, when he first touched alchemy, he never let go of alchemy even in a single round.
A crappy little familiar created as an experiment with crappy skills.
Depending on Enoch’s ability to study the art of ministry in each episode, the degree of perfection increased little by little in each episode. He changed his appearance in each episode.
In other words, in the timelines where everything is initialized, it is the only one that shared a return with Enoch.
Although it is a figurative meaning, even the small doll was a great comfort to Enoch.
Initialization of ties due to regression. People who don’t recognize themselves. The deaths of comrades repeated over and over again in the war.
A lone thorny road that no one comforts, and advances in the curse of repeated regression and death.
Among them, only this little familiar was his only, unreturned friend.
unable to speak, unable to think, without a soul. It was just a complex of iron gears and mana circuits.
This little golem was the pillar that kept Enoch from going crazy for 200 years.
“…”
Enoch looked at his dear little friend, the little golem, which had stopped working.
‘Isn’t it moving…’
Of course. There was no way the crude golem that moved with intermediate mana stones could move even after 100 years.
“…Thank you.”
You, like me, have suffered in the midst of regression, and have finally reached rest.
“Really… thank you.”
Doyoon muttered a remorseful mutter and stood holding it for a long time.
But then.
“…!”
Doyoon flinched.
‘Mana…!’
A faint golden light could be seen in the golem’s two glass eyes. It was the color of Doyoon’s mana.
Even after 100 years, mana was still flowing inside the golem.
‘how…?’
The intermediate mana stone embedded in the heart has long since expired. It was impossible.
As he looked closely at the golem, his [Seventh Sense] automatically activated and opened an item description window.
[Your precious little friend]
(This little golem is the most precious friend of the mighty Enoch Roosevolnik. The little golem was the biggest pillar that kept him going through adversity and hardship.
Enoch had countless companions, but this golem was the only one with whom he shared a return. More than anyone else, he was the most worthy of the title of partner of the Great Hero.
Enoch Roosevolnik accomplished the greatest achievement in history, building a soul rank second only to God. Enoch’s partner, this golem, was recognized for its spirituality and was made into a divine beast by the will of the world.
The little golem who became a divine beast waited for his master who had disappeared, and finally his wish came true. He longs to be with his master again.
The little golem, who was the partner of the returning hero, became a god and acquired the power of regression.
When a crisis comes to his master, he can bring the world back, albeit very feebly.)
“…!”
After reading the explanation, Doyoon’s hands trembled.
“you…!”
Recognizing that the master had returned and recognized him, the golem’s eyes twinkled softly.
It was the same golden color as Doyoon’s.
Even though he couldn’t move, Doyoon could feel that the guy was making eye contact with him.
I could feel the brilliant joy in the golden artificial glass eyes.
Doyoon gasped weakly for breath and looked at part of the explanation again.
[He longs to be with his master again.]
“…”
It’s been a while.
“okay…”
Doyoon, who barely managed to control his emotions, stroked the rusty golem.
“Come with me.”
Through his senses, he sensed that the weak flow of mana within the golem instantly became active.
The guy was happy too.
“One more time… save me and the world.”
Returning after 100 years, Enoch Roosevolnik, the hero who saved the world.
And it was a reunion of a small and precious partner who waited for him for 100 years.