Dr. Gynoid, Volume 1, Chapter 10 (Patreon)

Chapter 10

“It's time.” I hold up a monster core and look at the crimson, stone-like item. “Time to expand my power and domain beyond that of any others on this planet!”

The crowd of onlookers raise their heads, watching the monster core as if expecting something dramatic.

“Hmm. I really wish I had my lightning and thunder effects right about now…”

“What effects?” Ryza asks. “Are they a part of your power? How do they work? What happened to them?”

“Yes, it's critical that I regain my effects. As for how … I'm still working on that.”

“I'll help! I don't know how, but I will!”

“Hmm. Perhaps there is a way.”

I hand Ryza a torch and a thick cloth. She takes each item in one of her hands, looking at them with confusion.

Without a word, I light the torch, the flame bursting to life and giving her a small scare.

“Your task is simple, Ryza.” I grab her hand holding the cloth and move it in front of the flame. “Just keep the light covered, then quickly move the cloth for a split second, allowing the flame to flash us with light.”

“Oh! I think I get it!”

“Good. And don't forget to rumble like thunder.”

“I can do it!”

“Excellent. Then get ready.” I return to the same stance as before, holding the monster core up high. “It's time!”

The flickering of light washes over me as Ryza waves the cloth back and forth. “Kaboom! Crash! Rumble, rumble, rumble!”

The light flashes over and over as Ryza makes various sounds to mimic thunder. All the while, I keep the core held high, staring at it with anticipation.

“It seems my effects will require a little more preparation.”

“Guah!” Ryza makes a strange noise. “It's on fire, it's on fire!”

She waves the cloth around, which is now completely engulfed in flames.

“So that's why the lightning suddenly decided to stay.”

“Eep! I'm on fire, I'm on fire!” Ryza's attempt to smother the cloth results in setting her own clothes on fire.

“Miss Secretary.”

“As you wish.” Miss Secretary produces a bucket of water from somewhere, dumping it on the flailing Ryza.

“I'm saved…” She plops down, eyeing her half-burnt dress. “D-don’t look!”

I lower my hand holding the core. “If you want me to avert my eyes, then I require a good reason.”

“Because you can see!”

“Of course I can see. My visual receptors are finely tuned and operating at full functionality.”

“That's the problem!”

Miss Secretary stares at the sitting Ryza, as if peering into her soul. “Strange.”

“I'm not strange! I'm a normal girl!” She looks down at her body. “Okay, maybe they're a little big, but that's not a bad thing, right!?”

“Please refrain from speaking for the next 15 seconds.” Miss Secretary pulls out a monocle and places it over her left eye. “As I thought, you've obtained a new ability, [Flame Ward]. Is this your first time being set ablaze?”

Ryza has both hands covering her mouth, trying to keep herself from talking for the allotted time.

When the 15 seconds pass…

“Of course it's my first time!” The words practically burst from her mouth. “Who would be clumsy enough to do it multiple times!?”

“I shall abstain from answering your rhetorical question.” Miss Secretary turns to me. “Requesting enhancement to my analysis systems. I believe Ryza must have a hidden ability, but I can't see it with my current capabilities.”

“Denied,” I say. “I don't have enough GP to upgrade your skills.”

“Unfortunate. I suppose we'll have to resort to a more basic method to analyze Ryza's hidden ability.”

Miss Secretary pulls another bucket from somewhere. But instead of water, it's filled with a bubbling, green liquid.”

“W-what is that…?” Ryza takes a step back.

“Nothing dangerous. Just an acidic concoction I made for a very specific purpose.”

“Acid!? Isn't that dangerous!?”

Miss Secretary matches each step Ryza takes. “Don't worry, it's weaker than it looks. It should only burn a little.”

“I've done enough burning for one day already!”

While the two girls are having fun, I navigate through my golemite creation menu.

I didn't just gather new and useful materials while exploring the cave's depths, I also gained several levels. With each level, my available GP increases, along with the amount I get each day.

Because of the bonus GP from levels, I’ve earned back even more than I spent on upgrading Artillery. And with those extra points, I can add even more golemites to my growing army.

Hmm. Which ones should I create this time?

My eyes fall on the monster core still sitting in my palm. It's the most powerful one I found during my explorations, so I want to put it to use right away.

This core specializes in shadows. It would make a good scouting golemite, able to stay hidden right under the enemy's nose.

But that doesn't mean it can only be useful for gathering Intel.

Artillery proved that when given the right skills, a golemite can be useful in combat. And with a more powerful core used to create a specialized golemite, that usefulness will only increase.

It's settled, then!

I choose a golemite type and add the necessary materials to my menu. When it's ready…

“Rise!” I spread my arms wide. “Rise and serve me, Assassin!”

The golemite manifests, the little stone creature appearing out of nowhere like magic. Unfortunately, my show isn't accompanied by any special effects.

Wrapped in a dark cloak and cloth mask, the golemite looks strikingly different from the others. And the differences don't stop with just its appearance.

So it has access to special class-based skills already. I guess this is one of the many benefits to using a more powerful core during creation.

Still, it sure is GP hungry…

Nearly every point I earned by leveling was used up just on this one creature. It came with some nice perks, but it just goes to show how much more I need to grow if I want to create an army of advanced golemites.

“For your first mission,” I say to my black-clothed servant, “go with the scouts to look for an even deeper section of the cave. But be careful, the monsters will be even stronger than before.”

The creature nods before making his way over to the telescope golemites gathered nearby. They all head to the tunnel that leads deeper, disappearing into the darkness.

I suppose that's enough for now. I need to conserve the rest of my GP for upgrades after I get my daily bonus tomorrow.

With the mission completed, I turn toward Miss Smith, who appeared while I was creating Assassin.

“It's done.” Miss Smith holds out her newest creation.

“Excellent!” I grab the shotgun from her hands. “This will increase our power even further.”

“Nooo!” Ryza's screams echo through the cave. “I don't want to get injected with that poison!”

“Sit still, and it will all be over soon.” Miss Secretary slowly approaches Ryza, a needle in her hand.

They sure are having fun.

Despite her complaints, Ryza gets captured and injected. The poison has almost no effect on her, as if she has some kind of resistance to it.

“Fascinating.” Miss Secretary watches Ryza with a calculating eye.

“Not fascinating! Scary!” Ryza continues to complain.

“It seems you have the ability to ward against any effects applied to you. This will come in handy when we need a guinea pi–I mean when we need someone sturdy and resistant for specialized tasks.”

“I refuse! I definitely refuse!”

Although I don't want to interrupt their fun, I have a task of my own. So after walking up to the two girls, I immediately get to the point.

“Ryza.” I hold out the shotgun. “You’ll need this if you're going to be staying in this cave.”

“Eh…?” She looks suddenly energetic, despite having just been made into a guinea pig. “I get my own shotgun!?”

“That's right. And it's been enhanced beyond the first model. There's a noise canceling enchantment, as well as–”

kaboom!

Ryza blasts off both barrels at the same time.

“Wow! It kicks so hard!” She grins like a child playing with a toy.

“Yes, pulling both triggers will do that.” I hand her a box of ammunition. “This one reloads differently. You need to pull the barrel down and replace the spent cartridges with new shells.”

I go through the basics with Ryza, showing her how to fully utilize her new weapon.

As expected, the gift is enough for her to completely forget about the traumatic experience of being made into a test subject.

Behind Ryza, Miss Secretary is already preparing her next concoction.

Seems like the fun will continue for quite a while.