Barbarian in a Failed Game

Creating the giant’s body didn’t mean the alchemist’s work was finished. In fact, the critical part was just beginning.

“Then, I shall proceed with reinforcing the spell.”

Ideally, the correct sequence would have been to completely subdue Gigantus, secure the core, and then activate the giant’s resurrection spell. However, Natrix’s sudden attack had reversed the order.

This did not cause any problems.

Now that the giant had been resurrected, the transcendent element of the giant would start transforming Gigantus into its physical body independently. As evidence, the giant’s body was growing without the alchemist’s direct intervention.

However, some adjustments were necessary to enable the resurrected giant to fully harness the core’s power.

“What about you, mrs. Roswell?”

“I’d like to observe the giant up close.”

“If that’s the case, you don’t need my permission. I’ll begin the work of using the core of Gigantus as the axis of the spell….”

With that, the alchemist separated from Mrs. Roswell and headed to the center of the immense floating fortress to fully integrate the core of Gigantus as the giant’s temporary heart.

‘During this time, we’ll be somewhat vulnerable…’

The elves had already cleaned up and used the spirits’ control given by the Tree of Memory to melt them down, using them as sacrifices for the mixed spirit.

Although Natrix’s appearance had caused some complications, he judged that she wouldn’t attack again if she had any sense.

‘Leaving Sea Dragon Archipelago was a foolhardy act to begin with.’

Enduring a drop in power to less than a quarter of her full strength? Even a foolish human wouldn’t undertake such an irrational action. Perhaps the Tree of Memory’s violation of her nest had driven her mad….

In either case, she had either been severely injured by the giant or was nearly dead by now. The alchemist, confident with these assumptions, entered the high-concentration task, convinced that there was a 90% chance everything was secure.

Just as most enemies who had faced Khan had done, he failed to account for the variables introduced by the possessed individual, Khan.

Bang───!!

The spell was already completed. Making even the slightest modification to an ancient archmage’s giant resurrection spell was an immensely difficult task and required intense concentration, making him slow to react to external stimuli.

‘Something has collided with Gigantus.’

The impact was strong enough to be felt in the heart of the massive floating fortress, so it must have been considerable. The alchemist was now faced with a choice:

Should he stop what he was doing to assess the situation, or should he rely on Mrs. Roswell to handle it and continue his work?

‘The giant comes first.’

The alchemist chose the latter option.

Of course, this decision wasn’t based on trust in Mrs. Roswell. Obviously, despite his polite demeanor, he didn’t completely trust Mrs. Roswell. Mages are inherently cautious.

He chose to focus on modifying the giant’s resurrection spell because it was the utmost priority. Considering the purpose conveyed to him by the Apostle, the possibility of Mrs. Roswell betraying them was extremely low.

Besides, a mage always prepares means of self-protection in advance.

『Adam-Kell’s Soldiers』

The pre-prepared spell, ‘Adam-Kell’s Soldiers’, guarded him.

Soon, a group appeared, seemingly having found him, and the alchemist’s red mechanical eyes blinked in surprise.

“Of course, it makes sense that the densest mana would be felt here.”

The intruders aiming to disrupt his crucial work were none other than the half-elf, the priestess of the goddess, and the dwarf.

“You… Where is the dragon? Why have you appeared alone?”

The alchemist was genuinely puzzled. He couldn’t understand why these individuals, who couldn’t threaten his life even when together, had shown up split apart. The answer to his question was given by Gigantus, which had started to operate independently.

“Could it be… you’ve obtained the dwarf king’s royal seal?!”

The alchemist hadn’t considered for a moment that the ones who had nearly been killed would return to seize control of Gigantus. Ron’s reaction was quite amusing to him.

“Even if you do know, it’s too late. And to meet Khan, you’ll have to face us first.”

The half-elf, Neria, held her dagger in a reverse grip with a smile on her beautiful face.

“Shall we continue what we started earlier?”

***

“This is insane. Insane! Getting back on this cursed thing with that monstrous creature around…! Are you all mad─!”

“Complain all you want. I’ll gladly shut your mouth if it’s a problem.”

“Damned─”

Though the dwarf king cursed aloud, the fist hovering behind him kept him subdued like a meek lamb.

Honestly, he looked as if he had resigned himself to his fate. He’d barely escaped Gigantus after the onslaught from the elf fleet and the mysterious mages, only to find himself a hostage, being led back to Gigantus.

All of this had happened in a single night. Or to be more precise, in less than half a day. As they neared the control room of Gigantus, the dwarf king, who had been swearing nonstop, let out a sigh.

“Damn those elves….”

“Exactly. Who told you to rebel and try to become king?”

“What the hell do you know…! Damn gray-skinned bastard!”

The dwarf king suddenly stomped the steel floor with his foot and shouted, glaring at the giant slayer aimed at the back of his head.

“Do you think I committed treason because I wanted to? I did it to survive…!”

“What do you mean by that?”

Given the urgency of the situation, Khan would have ordinarily told him to shut his mouth immediately. But thinking there might be a clue, Khan slowly lowered the giant slayer and nodded.

A gesture to keep talking.

“The previous king… the last king of the Leonora dynasty, that bastard tried to sell out our race! I just made my move before he could.”

“Are you just trying to justify yourself?”

“Damn gray-skin. Think about it. How could I become the Dwarf King if I were the one who overthrew a dynasty that had existed throughout the dwarf’s history? Obviously, other dwarves agreed with my opinion! Fool!”

Barely waiting for Khan’s permission, the dwarf king, who seemed to be releasing all his pent-up frustrations, suddenly heaved a heavy sigh of relief.

“Dammit… Whatever! At least I lived for the real dwarves. You humans might call me the pirate king or whatever, but I’m far more righteous than that bastard who intended to abandon Gigantus to fulfill the dynasty’s ultimate goal! Though, in the end, the giant did get resurrected as he wished…”

‘The resurrection of the giant was the Leonora dynasty’s goal?’

Khan was about to question him further on this alarming statement when—

“We’re here. This is the control room. Well, technically, it’s the place where the control room used to be.”

Having reached their destination, the dwarf king walked over and inserted the ‘Hammer’, the royal seal of the dwarf kingdom, into a slot in the floor.

“It’s still functioning just fine. As expected, dwarven craftsmanship is the best in the world.”

“What about moving it?”

“Look at it. You just have to use this hammer handle.”

Just as the dwarf king said, once the hammer’s head was slotted into the slot, the handle acted like a control lever. Khan grabbed the hammer handle that had become the control lever and set the direction.

“Hehe. You’re really setting a course for Paradise? You crazy gray-skin…!”

Barely a few hours had passed since he had abandoned his kin to save his own life.

But now, returning to Gigantus, perhaps he had undergone some change of heart, or maybe he had simply accepted his impending death. The dwarf king seemed genuinely unconcerned.

“At least, before I die, I’ve done something worthy of being remembered in dwarven history. I thwarted the bastard trying to sell out our race and got back at the elves who betrayed me, as the last king. Hahaha─!”

“Well, that’s something.”

“Hrm, but if you want something to be recorded in history, a worthy name for the operation would be nice. Something concise that would stick in the minds of surviving dwarves as a lesson!”

“It’s the Hammer and Anvil Operation.”

“Huh? Hammer and Anvil?”

The dwarf king’s face grew pensive. Of all things, the operation’s name was tied to objects inseparable from dwarven culture.

“It’s simple. Paradise is the anvil, and Gigantus carrying the giant is the hammer.”

“Then, what’s the metal to be struck?”

“Isn’t it obvious? The Tree of Memory.”

Khan chuckled as he sharply turned the control lever.

“Usually, this name wouldn’t be used in this context, but… as long as it fits the meaning, it’ll do.”

There was no other reason. In this operation, the hammer was meant to smash both the anvil and the metal in one blow.

“And to correct one more thing, we won’t be dying here.”

“How do you plan to survive after crashing into the island?”

“There’s a way for that, too. But first….”

***

The woman with the midnight blue complexion, who was observing the giant’s body up close. Tilly Ashanumos turned her head as she felt a strange sensation.

‘What is this…?’

From birth, she possessed extraordinary senses, even by the standards of drakes, a type of lesser dragon. And now, her senses picked up a scent similar to the enigmatic one she had encountered when she first met Khan.

‘The stimulant?’

She immediately recognized that the scent matched the ‘crimson gem’ that was supposed to have been left with the sea dragon, Natrix, an item she had helped the alchemist recreate recently.

Turning toward the source of the scent, Tilly’s expression became even more peculiar.

“That guy… one of Khan’s subordinates?”

Despite looking carefree even by mercenary standards, he had become a top-tier veteran, having endured countless trials with Khan.

“Damn it! Bring on the giants or whatever, I’ll take them all on!”

Ron appeared, descending from the sky. Using the sea dragon’s massive head as a mount, he held the crimson gem in his hand.

“Ron, the Dragon Knight, has arrived──!”

And, stimulated by the gem’s power, the giant began to move.