Dr. Gynoid, Volume 1, Chapter 6 (Patreon)

Chapter 6

“Let’s see what we can do for Artillery.” Dr. Gynoid picks up the golemite chosen as the centerpiece of the rescue mission. “Hmm. Quite limited options here…”

The doctor looks around the list of available upgrades for his creation, which are displayed on a digital screen only he and his golems can see.

“This one is obvious!” Dr. Gynoid upgrades the communication ability of Artillery, giving the golemite the power to act as a relay for telepathic conversions. “And it can't hurt to enhance its stone transmutation. Maybe it'll come in handy if the buildings in the city are made of stone.”

After upgrading Artillery, the doctor places him in a bowl-shaped object that's been attached to a wooden arm. That arm has been connected to a rectangular box on wheels, which makes up the body of the mangonel.

All-in-all, it's a simple yet effective catapult, built only to launch lightweight ordinance like the small golemite, Artillery.

Speaking of Artillery, the little guy looks out over the city ahead of him, seeing a fate where he's turned into a small pile of rubble after smashing headfirst into the wall that surrounds it.

However, his fate is solely in the hands of his creator, Dr. Gynoid. He can only follow the doctor's will, no matter how slim the chance of survival.

And so, Artillery simply curls into a ball, as if trying to take on the shape of a common stone that might be launched from a catapult like the one in which he lies.

“Excellent!” Dr. Gynoid looks upon his creation with pride. “I didn't expect you to be so enthusiastic, Artillery! To even become like a stone in order to fly true is quite a display of courage!”

Artillery only shakes his small body in response.

“Doctor.” Miss Smith produces a knife from somewhere. “Preparations are complete.”

“Good, good! Then it's time to soar!” Dr. Gynoid looks out over the city. “It's unfortunate we couldn't get any closer, but we can’t risk being spotted. However! I'm certain your expert craftsmanship has gifted us with a mangonel powerful enough to cover this distance!”

At his creator's words, Artillery feels a bit of his worry fade.

“Even if it takes a few tries.”

The worry returns in full force.

“Now!” Dr. Gynoid points toward the wall. “Fly!”

A blink later, the sound of rope being sliced is followed by the sudden and quick lurching of the world. At least, that's how it feels to Artillery, who's now soaring through the sky straight towards the city.

“Have fun, Artilleryyyyyy!” The doctor's words never reach the golemite thanks to the overpowering sound of air passing by its non-existent earholes.

Up is down, and left is right. The same is true for every direction one can imagine, as Artillery’s sense of direction is completely taken over by vertigo.

Still curled into a ball, any who happen to be looking in his direction will see nothing but a small stone that's somehow falling horizontally. Certainly, it's a mystery that cannot be solved by the average mind.

Artillery's fall ends abruptly as he hits the ground, his ball-shape dispersing the impact by turning the force into rolling momentum.

He finally smacks into something solid, stopping him in his tracks. Fortunately, golemites don't have the same sense of pain that living creatures do, so as long as nothing breaks, he can continue on with the operation as normal.

Uncurling, Artillery lies face-up on the dirt ground, the brick wall of a building rising up from just beside him.

With a shake of its little head, the golemite stands and checks its body.

“All in one piece!?” Dr. Gynoid’s voice reaches him telepathically.

Artillery nods, the intent being transferred back to his creator despite not having spoken any words.

“Excellent! Just as planned! Guess I can remove Artillery Mk.2 from the mangonel, then.”

Artillery waves his arms around, as if trying to ask why the doctor thought he would need a second golemite if this was how he planned it.

“It's just one of my many grand plans. But forget the details. Where are you?”

Artillery looks around. He can't see much because of the buildings all around him, but over the top of a roof looms a landmark that can't be missed.

The castle.

“I see! This is perfect, as expected! The SOS came from within the castle. Just head there, and we'll find whoever it is that needs help!”

Artillery begins the short journey, walking in the wobbly little fashion that their stubby bodies are known for.

One might think a stone walking down the side of the street would be quite a sight. And perhaps one would be right.

But one might fail to realize that the city has been taken over by bandits! And when their very lives are under threat, who would care about a wobbly little stone?

“You're there already? Excellent! The plan only grows closer to completion! Now Artillery, use your enhanced stone transmutation ability to climb the castle’s outer wall until you get to the window on top.”

Artillery waves his arms around in frustration.

“Hmm. Why didn't I just send you to climb the city walls instead of hurling you over? Obviously it's because then I wouldn't have a reason to test the mangonel!”

Artillery gives up, putting his rocky hands onto the stone that makes up the base of the castle’s outer wall. The hands sink into the wall, almost as if the two were fusing.

With a bit of effort, Artillery pulls himself up, repeating the same effect with his stubby feet. Up and up he goes, until the window is in reach.

Being made of solid stone can come in handy at times. For example, it helps when crashing into a window.

The glass falls around Artillery as he tumbles through the now shattered window, falling off the windowsill on the inside and hitting a carpeted floor.

“Good work, Artillery! Miss Secretary has confirmed that the SOS is coming from within that room. Is there anyone inside?”

Artillery looks around. A nice bed, a stone fireplace, and lots of fancy looking additions all over.

But not a single person.

“That can't be. They must be hiding. It's an SOS, after all! Check under the bed, in the chimney, or any other place they might be.”

Artillery gets to work, checking in the places Dr. Gynoid recommended. They're all empty, except for what one might expect to find in them.

But there's another obvious place someone could be hiding, a closet built into one of the walls.

The half-door, half-partition that separates the closet from the room is a pain to open when all the golemite has is a pair of stubby arms without fingers. But he eventually manages it, getting a good view of the inside of the closet.

Empty.

That's what Artillery thinks when he doesn't see anyone inside. But there's something just a little strange to him.

One of the fancy dresses hanging up in the closet looks a bit weird. It's not hanging loosely like the rest. Rather, it's thick and protruded, almost as if it were being worn, despite hanging in a closet.

Artillery walks up to the dress and pulls on the bottom of the hem.

“Eep!” A voice comes from the dress.

Now more sure than ever, Artillery pulls harder, giving the dress a little shake at the same time.

“W-what’s going on out there…” The voice sounds unsure.

Perhaps unable to withstand its desire to know what's pulling at the dress, a head pops out of the outfit’s neckline.

The youthful face of a girl in her late teens appears, framed by a head of long, red hair.

“A … stone?”

Finally having gotten her attention, Artillery waves his arms around frantically.

“Huh? You came here to help me? And you have a way out!?” The youthful girl lets out a small laugh. “I guess my imagination must be running wild. There's no way I could understand this magical creature, or anything.”

“Correct!”

“Ugehhhhh!?”

“Hmm, is the connection suddenly bad? I only heard a garbled response.”

“W-who are you!? And more importantly, where are you!?”

“I'm on a hill outside the city.”

“Telepathic magic!? Then are you the one who sent this little stone!?”

“Correct again! Quite a marvelous creation, don't you agree? Sometimes, I even surprise myself with my inventions. I just wish I had better cores so I could enhance them with even more functionality. I was considering going hunting soon. Do you happen to know where I can go to get better cores?”

“Who cares about that right now!”

“Hmm. So you can't think properly while hiding in that closet, huh? Then I have no choice. Artillery! Bring her to me!”

The little golemite gives a salute. With a final tug, the dress comes loose from the hanger, the girl inside falling to the closet floor alongside the outfit.

“Eep!” She stumbles but manages to catch herself.

Artillery points to the broken window.

“No way…”

The golemite tugs on the dress, which the girl is actually wearing properly.

Having no other choice but to follow along with the mysterious man's absurd plan if she wants to escape, the girl lets the little stone drag her to the window.

Looking out, there's nothing but a long fall to the courtyard below. No balcony, no handholds, and not even a simple windowsill on the outside.

“How am I supposed to get down from here!?”

Artillery climbs up to the window the same way he had scaled the wall. Once he's through the broken glass, he starts his descent down the outside of the wall as the girl watches on.

Using his enhanced transmutation ability, Artillery leaves behind hand and footholds as he descends. They're not much, but they're just big enough to fit the small hands and feet of a youthful girl.

“I'm dead…” Despite her words, she crawls through the broken window and begins climbing down the castle wall. “I’m definitely going to die.”