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“Regulus is a royal city… No, it would be more accurate to call it the greatest city of tyranny I know.”
“City of tyranny…”

Just hearing that told me Master and the place were a terrible match. She was probably charging straight into a minefield. Charging into a city ruled by a king like that… could things really stay peaceful until I caught up with her?

“The king isn’t… isn’t a bad person, per se… but he’s at least ten times more selfish and uninhibited than I am…”
“That’s awful.”

Even Ms. Roche, who was the one talking, had the expression of someone who’d just downed a concentrated shot of bitter green juice. I couldn’t imagine what kind of king could provoke that reaction—but it was enough to tell me he had to be an absolute handful.

“And if that were all, it’d be one thing…”
“For the record, the climate around Regulus is dry—your classic desert region.”
“She’ll die!!”
“Mintark, is that white-haired girl suffering from some sort of incurable illness?”
“Ah… if only it were just an illness.”

She could barely handle a brisk walk without collapsing in a heap—there was no way Master’s stamina would hold out in the desert. It was some consolation that Daigorou was with her, but even so, if I didn’t catch up quickly, her life could really be in danger.

“M-M-Ms. Roche! I’m really sorry, but could you lend me the airship again!? I have to hurry after Master!”
“Ufufu, of course. …Is what I want to say, but—”

Ms. Roche smiled with a troubled look, resting her hand against her cheek… and then her body wobbled. Still standing, she slowly tipped backward and collapsed—

“Waaah—!? Ms. Roche!!”
“Saint!!”

I managed to catch her just in time, before she could hit her head, and the other followers rushed over at once. Ms. Roche had probably fainted, but her face still wore a serene smile, her expression perfectly calm. She really was incredible.

“Is she… is she going to be okay!?”
“There’s no problem. It’s just exhaustion. She used too much power healing the injured.”
“Ahhh… if word gets out that the Saint collapsed in Rigel, we’ll be held responsible…”
“You’re as cowardly as ever, Mintark! There’s a cabin behind the workshop used for naps. If it’s still intact, you’re welcome to use it.”
“Thank you kindly. You there—sorry, but could you lend me a hand?”
“Y-Yes!”

I helped carry the unconscious Ms. Roche alongside one of the followers. She wasn’t quite as light as Master, but she was still pretty light. To think she saved so many lives with that slim body of hers… I couldn’t feel anything but admiration.

“Ms. Roche is amazing. Thanks to her, Mr. Zaif was saved too.”
“Then you should tell her that once she wakes up. She always focuses only on the lives she couldn’t save.”
“Okay, I’ll be sure to thank her properly! And the other survivors…”
“All three were critically injured. None of them have regained consciousness yet. It’ll take time before they’re able to speak.”
“I see… but I’m still glad.”

Only three… but three. In a place like that, three lives were saved. If Ms. Roche was mourning the ones she couldn’t save, then I’d give thanks on behalf of the ones who were saved.

That was the least I could do right now.

“You said you wanted to head to Regulus, right? If so, the airship won’t be available for a while. The Saint needs to rest.”
“Y-Yeah, of course…”

There was no way I could ask Ms. Roche to push herself any further. Wanting to go to Regulus was just my own selfish wish. But then… how was I going to get to Regulus? I didn’t even know where it was.

It was probably far—being a desert and all. I’d need food, water… and ideally, a ride.

“Hmmm… what should I do…”
“If that’s all it is, then leave it to me!”
“Waaah!? Ah—Mr. Arnitta!”

Mr. Arnitta suddenly started patting my back hard from behind, then marched ahead, carrying Ms. Roche in his arms all by himself.

Without giving any of us a chance to intervene, he strode confidently to the little rest cabin behind the workshop, laid Ms. Roche down, and then spun on his heel and came right back toward us.

“Y-You shouldn’t be so rough with the Saint…!”
“She’s just exhausted, isn’t she? Then the best thing for her is to get her warm and let her sleep! Anyway, missy—you said you want to go to Regulus?”
“Eh? Y-Yes, that’s right!”
“Then follow me. I hope it’s still there…”

He beckoned to me and took off at a brisk pace. I hurried after him.

Past the nap cabin behind the workshop… and even further behind that, was an open lot. It was piled high with unused tools and random materials—basically a mountain of junk.

It was so messy I couldn’t tell if it had always looked like this or if the little dinosaurs had torn it up.

“Wait here… it should be around… ah, there it is.”
“Wow, is that a basement? Just like Mr. Runira’s house.”

When Mr. Arnitta moved aside part of the junk pile, a square lid half-buried in the dirt appeared underneath. It was a clearly manmade hatch with a thick iron plate and an equally thick handle—way too big for a human hand. It was probably designed to be opened by a larger golem.

“Humph! My underground workshop puts that puny house to shame! …But I messed up. I don’t have the golem that opens this thing anymore…”
“Let me try. Heave… ho!”

I grabbed the thick handle with both hands, planted my feet, and pulled up with all my strength. The rusted hatch resisted a little at first, but with enough effort, it flew open, scattering dirt and junk into the air as it went.

“Whoa, you’ve got some serious muscle there, missy!”
“It’s basically the only thing I’m good at! So… what’s down in this basement?”
“I’ll explain on the way. Come on, follow me.”

After securing the hatch so it wouldn’t slam shut by accident, Mr. Arnitta started descending the stairs first. I followed after him, and as we went down, lamps fixed along the wall began flickering on one by one.

“Motion sensors are working. Looks like the underground’s still intact… thank the stars.”
“Wow, amazing! It’s just like a secret base!”
“Well, it’s pretty much my personal storage space for all the stuff I’ve built for fun—so yeah, you could call it a secret base.”
“I get it. Adventurous spirit, huh?”
“Gahahaha! You do get it, girl!”

Mr. Arnitta laughed heartily—but the further we descended, the more that smile faded from his face. In the lamplight, his eyes looked like they were burning with a fierce, righteous fury.

“This workshop is my treasure. I’ll never forgive whoever did this. Missy… you said you might find a lead in Regulus, right?”
“………”
“That’s why—I want you to take me with you. Think of that as my condition for lending you this thing.”

At the bottom of the stairs, we were faced with a massive wall towering above us. But Mr. Arnitta placed his hand against it without hesitation, and with a mechanical hum, the wall lifted upward like a shutter.

“……Mr. Arnitta, this is…?”
“Told you, didn’t I? Something I built as a hobby—my golem.”
“No, this is… th-th-th-this is…”

Once the wall had fully risen, it revealed a spacious chamber, and lying in the center of it was a giant. Its body, gleaming in the light, was made of shining superalloy. Tires and what looked like car door windows were attached to its arms and legs.

And above all, that humanoid form that looked just like it could transform into something else—I knew exactly what to call it.

“―It’s a robot!!”

Just like magic, it was a fantasy I’d only ever seen in anime or manga—now standing right in front of me.