CHAPTER 72: CHAPTER 72: MAGE LUNA AND THE GOLEM PUPPET

"These pampered lords... they’ve only worked hard for a few months, and they’re already falling apart."

Ryan sneered, then said:

"Go tell them something privately."

"Say that the territory’s population is too high right now, putting huge pressure on the food supply. If anyone can open up more farmland, they’ll definitely have a shot at earning a lordship. But distant water can’t quench present thirst—if someone can research new crops or accelerate wheat growth, they might also be elevated to lord."

"Each of them was at least a mage apprentice, and yet their brains are this dim?"

"Also, three months from now, spread another message: say that future farmland will need to be overseen by people with knowledge and proper manners to monitor yields."

"That should keep their ambition and drive burning until the end of the year."

If demand didn’t exist, then create it. Raise some people up to lower others down. Once there’s a gap, it’s only natural for a lord to exploit it.

"Young Master Ryan truly is a proper noble lord."

The old butler smiled with gratification, then wrapped his cloak tighter and left into the northern wind.

...

In Furnace City, Ryan returned once more. Now blanketed by snow, the city—with most of its tall buildings gone—was quiet and lifeless. The people walking its snowy streets moved in silence.

Though, from time to time, some people were taken away by the noble lord to the so-called warm land beyond the cold, those left behind still feared: Would I be one of the ones left behind forever?

That fear made them silent. But today, seeing Lord Ryan once again ride his horse through the city, they were reminded that they still had a chance—if they worked hard enough, maybe they too would be chosen to leave this already-dead city.

"How’s it going? Can those crops survive?"

Ryan made his way to his former residence, which had now become a dwelling for others. The man managing everything in Ryan’s stead was Sabban Hahn.

He was the only formally ranked mage left in Furnace City—unlike the other nobles who were just mage apprentices.

At Ryan’s question, Sabban lifted his head and respectfully replied:

"Lord Ryan, we used the residual heat of the furnace to maintain soil temperature, and followed your instructions—woven leaves formed nets that covered the land. The potatoes seem to have survived. I believe not too many will die before harvest."

"Good. Then send another team out to chop trees. I saw quite a few still standing out there. They won’t last much longer anyway. Better to bring them back for firewood."

Sabban had once been brought to the Frozen Territory, which helped reassure the nobles left behind in Furnace City.

Just as Ryan was listening to Sabban’s report, a soldier outside called out anxiously:

"My lord! Outside—there’s a monster!"

"A monster?"

Ryan’s expression changed. Could the cultists have summoned a third demon giant?

"No—not exactly. That... monster can talk."

The soldier sounded confused, still shaken by what he’d seen.

"Let’s go see."

Ryan had only brought a few knights with him this time. If the creature hadn’t been able to talk, he might’ve considered opening a planar gate and fleeing on the spot.

Soon, Ryan arrived at the city wall. Outside, he saw a five- to six-meter-tall blue creature—his eyes filled with astonishment.

"A golem puppet?"

Then he added uncertainly:

"Are you... Mage Luna?"

The towering golem looked at Ryan. Then a loud, clear voice emerged:

"I am Melania Luna."

"It really is you!?"

Ryan was stunned. This Mage Luna, after failing to ascend to Archmage and fusing her consciousness with a golem puppet, had somehow managed to remain sane.

What’s more, in this form, she seemed completely immune to the winter cold.

"What happened to Furnace City? Where are the Archmages?"

Hearing her question, Ryan fell silent for a moment. Then, looking at the massive golem, he said:

"Mage Luna, shall we sit down and talk?"

Ryan explained how the underground furnace had gone cold, how the Archmages and nobles had taken the Mage Academy and retreated deep into the glaciers, how the cultists invaded, and how he had ultimately used the final power of a divine artifact to kill the demon giant. He even revealed his true identity to Luna.

"What about the demon giant’s body?"

Luna asked when Ryan finished.

"Huh? The corpse? After the heroic spirit split it in half, the body just... sort of rotted away."

Ryan really hadn’t paid it much attention. After the giant fell, the abyssal monsters fled, and he hadn’t dared chase too far.

"The demon heart of a demon giant is a prime power source for mage towers. If it existed, it could help followers summon another demon giant."

Luna sounded more disappointed about the magical value than the danger. Ryan, meanwhile, felt like a flood of gold coins had just slipped through his fingers.

"Demon heart? Never even heard of that."

Too late to regret now.

Seeing that Luna had no particular attachment to the Mage Academy or her past position, Ryan asked:

"Mage Luna, what are your plans? Will you go search for the Amethyst Archmage and the others?"

"Me?"

Luna’s voice wavered slightly, uncertain.

"This world... after this winter, will never know warmth again. It will fall into eternal stillness. In my current state, I can’t do much. I only want a place to continue my magical research."

"If I could build a mage tower, that would be ideal."

"You’re not an Archmage?"

"While my power may rival an Archmage’s, I’m still not one. I failed the breakthrough once, and nearly lost my soul."

At that, Ryan fell into deep thought.

"Then... why don’t you come to my territory?"

"In the other world, even legendary mages are common. Maybe you’ll achieve your dream there."

"Could I... really?"

For the first time, Luna’s voice carried nervousness and hope. Her massive golem head turned toward Ryan, twin sapphire-like eyes sparkling.

"I’ll see what I can do."

Ryan opened the planar gate, but it was only two and a half meters tall—and compared to Luna’s towering form...

"This... can she even fit through?"

"Perhaps... there is another way."

Luna replied after a pause.