Dr. Gynoid, Volume 1, Chapter 14

[It's been a while since I've posted a Dr. Gynoid chapter, so I hope everyone remembers the characters xD]

Chapter 14

“Behold.” I place a chunk of refined mithril onto a work table. “Our efforts have borne a fruit that is finally worthy of your skills.”

Miss Smith picks up the mithril. “Now this is what I like to see. No more messing with that impure junk.”

My shotgun appears on the same work table. “You know what to do.”

“Obviously. I couldn’t make the weapon I wanted, not with all the half-worthless metals we’ve had until now.”

“That changes today. With the conquering of the sliths, we can finally reach our current potential.”

Miss Smith places hands on hips, a hammer still held in her hand. “And when do you plan to spend some of that GP on us? If I had more skills unlocked, I could make even better weapons with this mithril.”

“Unfortunately, an army of golemites consumes a massive amount of GP. You can assume that any upgrades to your skills will have to wait until after we retake the city.”

“Drat. There are so many things I want to build…”

I turn my gaze to a weapon sitting on a shelf. “At least you can construct something like that, even if it is only a prototype.”

“Railguns hit harder, but I’ll never get it out of the prototype stage until I unlock [Crafting II].”

“Then it’s at least fortunate that you can create a less complex rifle.” I reach out and take a gun from a nearby rack. “Perfectly balanced, as expected.”

I shoulder the rifle and aim down the sights. Unlike the iron sights on my shotgun, this rifle has a scope. It’s still rather crude by Earth standards, but it has a 5x zoom that clearly displays the target.

“This will prove useful soon.” The sniper rifle disappears into my inventory, along with several boxes of 7.62 NATO rounds. “For now, prioritize the recrafting of our shotguns. Ryza.”

“Here you go~” She places her double-barrel down. “I want it to go boom-boom even more!”

Miss Smith pulls Ryza’s shotgun over to her workstation. “That’s simple.”

With a large pile of work now lined up for her, Miss Smith gets started immediately. As the clanking of metal begins, Ryza and I step out of the smithery and back into the cave I conquered from the goblins.

Compared to the underground lake, this area lacks some amenities, like running water. That won’t be the case forever, but our priorities are currently focused on strength, not comfort.

“What was Miss Smith talking about?” Ryza asks. “You have to spend GP on her, too?”

“All of my creations can be enhanced with GP, and the gynoids are no exception. There’s only one, small problem.” I check my available GP and perform some rough calculations. “At this rate, I’ll have to save up for nearly a week just to unlock [Crafting II] for Miss Smith. And that’s not to mention the dozen other skills she needs unlocked alongside it. Plus, there’s Miss Secretary…”

Ryza finally realizes the scale of the gynoids GP cost compared to the normal golemites. “That’s way too much! Can’t you make a huge army for the cost of a single skill!?”

“I can, which is why I’m doing precisely that.” I check my status again. “But I’m reaching the limit of my golemite capacity.”

“Capacity? So you can only have a certain number of golemites?” Ryza looks at Stubby riding on her shoulder and suddenly backs away. “Hey! You’re not going to get rid of him, are you!?”

“There’s no need. The amount of capacity taken up by a golemite is determined by its strength. Stubby essentially takes up zero capacity.”

“Oh, whew…” Ryza relaxes. “But does that mean you’ll have to get rid of some of the other golemites when you eventually make new ones?”

“That, too, is unnecessary.” I motion to a golemite who happened to be nearby. “Are you ready to dedicate everything to me?”

The worker golemite waves its little arms around in excitement.

“Good. Then…” I take out a large monster core and some silver damask. “Let us put that dedication to use.”

The materials in my hand vanish, with the small golemite at my feet beginning to glow at the same time. My little creation becomes something between liquid metal and magma, the stone of its former body melting into its new metallic form.

When the process finishes, the rocky golemite’s body has been transformed into a silvery metal. Its arms are as short as ever, but where they once ended in stubs, now there are drills.

“Excellent.” I stand up tall, looking down at my new creation. “With this enhancement, you can clear walls and debris many times quicker than before!”

The silvery golemite raises its arms high, the drills coming to life and making a sound similar to a small, remote controlled toy car. After its display, it gets right back to work, using its new drills to clear a particularly tough section of the nearby cave wall.

“Wow!” Ryza watches as the drills whirl in the distance. “He got stronger!”

“As expected of my creation. The only path is up.”

“So are you going to upgrade all of the golemites?”

“Only the warriors for now. But as I level and my capacity rises, all of my creations shall receive the blessing of strength they deserve.”

“No wonder you wanted to wait until tomorrow before sending the golemites to fight the sliths. You’re going to upgrade them when you get your GP in the morning!” Ryza tilts her head. “Or, afternoon with your sleep schedule.”

“The accursed morning sun shall never burn me again.”

“There’s no sun in this cave, though…?”

“Irrelevant.”

A group of golemites appear from a well-lit tunnel, each helping carry a full load of raw materials being brought up from the slith’s former lair. Even with the small mountain of items they’re carrying, it’ll take several more trips to get the rest.

“While our weapons are being modified, I have plenty of time to work on other tasks. And with these new materials, I have everything I need.” I step toward the warehouse, where the finished products are stored. “Let’s go.”

-

“With this, my power grows further.” I watch on as my warrior golemite transforms before my very eyes, growing taller and donning a set of metallic armor.

The refined materials and monster cores sitting beside me vanish back into my inventory. With the evolution of the recent warrior golemite, my GP has been reduced just low enough that I cannot upgrade another.

Looking out over my new and improved army, I see a level of strength far beyond what they had only one day before. The General, Commanders, and some of the Warriors have been enhanced with refined materials and powerful cores.

Yesterday, I had to lead the battle against the sliths to ensure a clean victory. But thanks to the scouting golemites and the increase to my army’s strength, we have both the information and military might to launch a campaign.

“Listen up.” I motion toward the tunnel that leads toward the various slith camps nestled deeper into the caves. “We now have every tunnel between us and the sliths mapped out. We know where each tribe has settled and how many live in each camp. Calculating from the results of our recent battle, I’ve selected which tribes should be eradicated today. Once you wipe them out, return to this underground lake, where I will await your glorious return.”

The golemites can’t speak, but that doesn’t stop them from making noise. Some clap their stone hands together, others bang on the metal armor covering their bodies, while the General hits his mace against his shield.

The familiar weight on my shoulder begins to move around. Artillery is just as enthusiastic about the mission as the ones heading off to battle, which is why it’s no surprise when…

“You wish to fight, too? So be it.” I let him onto my open palm, then lower him to the ground.

Artillery doesn’t join the warriors immediately. With our shared connection, he understands exactly what’s going through my mind.

“This will do.” A chunk of refined mithril appears in one hand, while a deep, red monster core appears in the other.

Navigating through my golemite interface, I access Artillery’s upgrade screen. Because of my limited GP, the more expensive options are simply unavailable. Some of them require materials I still don’t have, but that’s not the case for all of them.

The upgrade I intend to give him is one of the more costly upgrades, taking nearly as many GP as the Warrior Golemite I recently evolved. The only way for me to get more GP is to gain a level or wait for a new day to begin in order to receive my daily bonus.

However, despite seeing that the cost is higher than my current GP, I don’t send the materials back to my inventory. Instead, my eyes fall on a peculiar checkbox.

I knew this would prove useful one day.

I activate the checkbox, the description stating that any golemites upgraded will retain their current form, regardless of which evolution I pick for them.

As soon as the check appears in the box, many of the formerly costly upgrades become available. The reason for that is simple. Checking the box reduces the cost of evolution based on how much the upgrade would have physically altered his body.

A Warrior Golemite gains armor and weapons when they morph, but their equipment is as much a part of their bodies as their arms and legs. By forcing Artillery to maintain his current form, he wouldn’t gain even the simplest of weapons, even if I evolved him into a Warrior.

But even without the equipment, upgrading him will make him more powerful, unlocking more skills and enhancements further down the Warrior path.

And he wouldn’t get too bulky to ride on my shoulder.

With the decision made, I evolve Artillery, using the large monster core and refined mithril as materials. Like the Warrior before him, he glows until his form vanishes in the light. It only lasts a few seconds, after which he reappears looking exactly as he did before.

Artillery punches the air with his stubby little arms, showing off his new strength. In truth, it looks like nothing has changed, but since I have access to his stats, I know that he has indeed gotten more powerful.

Each stat is mediocre, but none of them are lacking. I guess that would be the result when upgrading a variety of skills.

Although Artillery started as just another Worker Golemite, he became a sacrifice–I mean, he was fortunate enough to be chosen to infiltrate the nearby city in order to rescue Ryza. For that, I enhanced his mana control to help him complete the mission.

Not long after, I added a unique attack skill that only appeared in his skill tree after his successful return. And now, he’s been evolved into a Warrior Golemite, even if he still looks like a Worker.

Strange. I expected the other archetypes to vanish after he became a Warrior, like all the rest. But they’re still available?

It seems there are more mysteries to uncover.

I feel a certain amount of satisfaction in knowing that the golemite upgrade system has even more depth than I imagined. I only need to study it more to truly unlock its potential.

“I’m going, too!” Ryza trots over to the golemites, taking her place beside the General. “I need to try out my new boomstick!”

My eyes fall on the four-barrel shotgun that now rests in her hands. “So be it. But know that the General leads, and you follow.”

“I don’t care. I just want to make them explode!”

“An expected answer.” I look over my golemite army one more time as they salute me. “Enjoy your battles.”

After their final display of loyalty, nearly a hundred golemites turn and march into the shadowy crevice that leads deeper into the depths.

And within those winding tunnels, the sliths await.

“Was it wise to allow Ryza to go along unsupervised?” Miss Secretary watches as the last of the golemites vanish into the darkness of a tunnel.

“By my calculations, the chance of her perishing on this campaign is near zero. I’ve already altered the commands to my golemites, prioritizing her protection. With her Oration Magic enhancing their strength and fervor, the golemites will have no problem fulfilling their duties.”

“While I agree that the statistical probability of her demise is extremely low, you’re failing to consider the dire consequences for us, were the odds not to go in our favor.”

“Hm? And what might those consequences be?”

“Even if we save the nearby city, it won’t do us any good once the king learns that we allowed his only daught–”

“Ow…!” Something heavy and pointed falls on me from above.

With a thud, that object hits the ground, sprawling out like a bird on it back, wings outstretched.

“Accursed tome!” I reach down and pick the book up. “I won’t let you defeat me next time!”

Acquired Manual of Topology, Topography, and Toparchy.

“It seems my domain has reached a glorious milestone!” I hold the new manual up high. “And with these new quests, it will only expand further! Hahahahaha!”

“Congratulations.” Miss Secretary gives me a little clap. “Though I do wonder about the Goddess’ naming sense.”

“It is of no consequence to me. I need only to continue my growth, and I shall soon rule every dark crevice within these caves!” I look around at the area surrounding the underground lake. “But first, we need to further improve our living standards. I won’t compromise when it comes to acquiring modern amenities!”

“What do you have in mind?”

“First, a proper residence is required, a place where I can sleep peacefully each night. No longer do I need to rest in temporary shelters like the barracks-style building we’ve been using.” My eyes fall on the small, rectangular structure which contains four beds, one for each of us when including Ryza and the two gynoids.

Though Miss Secretary and Miss Smith don’t need to sleep, they do need time to recharge, just like the golemites. It only makes sense for them to have their own rooms for that purpose alone.

“From now on, this underground lake will serve as our primary base of operations. Here, I will have everything I need to live in comfort. And up above, where the refinery and smithery are located, we will construct a proper barracks. The Warrior Golemites will reside there, ready to intercept any invaders before they can reach the cave’s depths.”

I motion to the tunnel that Ryza and the Warriors used to start their campaign to conquer the sliths. “Once those foul lizards are dealt with, I can use the lower caverns as our industrial center, refining materials and producing any useful goods that golemites are capable of making. Of course, Miss Smith’s workshop will be built here at this underground lake.”

“I’m sure she’s overjoyed to hear that.”

Miss Smith is currently up above, but my plans have already been transferred through our shared connection. Already, I can feel her mind planning out the new workshop we will be building down here at the underground lake. Without a doubt, it will be far more capable than the glorified shack she currently uses to craft our weapons.

“Let’s go.” A group of Worker golemites gather around me. “It’s time to lay the foundations for all of our upcoming constructions.”