Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

“Fugyaaah!?”
“Run, run! Hurry!”

Day 10 of our ice cave exploration. Having found a path leading downward, we were pressing on toward the deepest point of the cave.

I feel like we’ve completely lost sight of our original goal, but the fact that things were going smoothly was a big help.

“Mm…”
“Alice! This isn’t the time to be lost in your thoughts!”

Filia, who was running while carrying me on her back, let out a scream.

We were currently being chased by a massive swarm of ice golems. I have no idea how they were sharing information, but the golems had clearly strategized their attacks specifically against me.

When small, swift, spider-like golems swarmed out from within their camouflage wall, I really did turn pale.

“Sufi! Got hit!”
“My sword won’t work on them!”

Our two vanguards deflected the onslaught of spider golems with their swords. The golems’ small size meant the two wouldn’t get overpowered, but the fact that their swords were ineffective was troublesome.

“Alice! Can’t you do something, nya!?”
“……I managed to hack into it. I did it.”

For now, I hacked into the ice blocks that made up the spider-like golems that had approached us, blocking their mana so it flowed off to the side.

Now that they became immobile, I then easily plucked their cores.

“Yes!”
“But they’re not decreasing at all!”
“That’s the problem.”

Noche and Sufi sliced through the blue cores that had rolled out. Since they’re core-type magic beasts, their insides aren’t that hard. But perhaps because it’s a creature with its own unique mana, alchemy can’t directly interfere with it.

To defeat it, we’d have to strike the extracted core directly…

“Ah, it’s revived!”
“We’re in a tight spot, so we have no choice but to run.”

Before we could defeat them all, more of those spider-golems swarmed in, and in the chaos, they created new bodies and revived. With nearly hundreds of golems, their numbers show no sign of decreasing.

“Stopping them is easy, though.”
“That works, nya! Let’s run, nya!”

With no other choice, I hacked into all the spiders controlled by the golem-core within sight, temporarily halting their movements.

Technically speaking, they’re using a technique similar to ‘Forge’ to move their bodies. If two entities attempt to ‘Forge’ the same substance simultaneously, the one capable of more precise manipulation gains control.

I stand no chance against them in terms of mana quantity, but that’s merely a matter of range and mass. What matters in alchemy is the precision with which you manipulate matter using our auxiliary limb; mana. In that case, I’m actually pretty confident—it’s my specialty.

As long as they’re within the range of my lantern’s shadow, it’s easy enough to interfere with just the tiniest area around the core and temporarily shut down their control. It’s the same with the human body—you don’t need to take over the whole body to cut off their nerve signals or blood flow.

Just take out the heart or the nerve centers in the neck, and that’s enough.

“You’re seriously unfairly strong at stuff like that, nya.”
“That much is nothing…”
“I’m the one running here!? Don’t try to look cool while you’re being piggybacked!”

Filia scolded me.

■■■■■

“Are these things bees?”
“Myu?”

By analyzing the strange movements of the ice golems—which mainly seem to be focusing their countermeasures on me—I’ve mostly figured out what they really are.

At first glance, it looks like each core is independent, but in reality, all the individuals are moving under a unified will.

Combat experience from the nuclei is fed back to what could be called a commanding individual, and from there, transmitted to the other individuals. Their behavior brings to mind autonomous drones forming their own network.

Drones—in other words, “worker bees.”

The ecology of these nucleus magic beasts, known as Ice Golems, bears a certain resemblance to that of bees.

“Based on the information transmission speed inferred from their response time, there’s a possibility a commanding individual is nearby.”
“I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about, nya”
“Their boss is somewhere nearby.”
“I see!”

Since the tracking stopped right after we completely lost them, it seems they aren’t particularly aggressive. Do they just unconditionally chase anyone who enters their territory?

Between the Ice Worms and this, maybe there are a lot of territorial types around here. Come to think of it, it’s all insect-like creatures.

Well, I mean, if it were a snowy plain, that might be one thing, but I can’t imagine ordinary mammals or reptiles adapting to this environment. There’s no food to forage for, after all.

“Should we go find and take them out, nya?”
“I’d rather avoid their territory.”

If they’re territorial, we can avoid combat by simply not stepping into their territory.

We’ve got plenty of food, so if we want to play it safe, I’d like to take our time mapping the area. But maybe it’s time to start considering a direct route.

Those nobles have probably reached the city by now, so I don’t think we need to worry about running into them anymore.

“Say, there’s a light over there.”
“Nya?”
“?”

The direction Sufi was pointing to was far below us, deep inside the cave where the cliff drops off. Squinting, I could definitely see a white light.

…When I focused my ears, I caught what sounded like faint human voices. Even though the cave was completely silent, perhaps because of the distance, I couldn’t make out what they were saying.

“Someone’s there.”
“Nya?”
“……Myu?”
“……Sufi can’t tell.”

It seemed the three of them couldn’t make out the words after all.

“If there is someone there, what should we do?”
“……I’d hate it if it were a noble, nya.”
“I really don’t think there are any nobles here.”

The only people who’d be in a place like this are probably adventurers. It’s common knowledge that nobles don’t go adventuring.

Since they were running around when they fled earlier, they must have gone pretty deep inside. Maybe they’re just a group of serious explorers.

“…………Sufi’s against it.”
“Me too, nya. I don’t want to run into any humans right now.”
“Um, me too…”
“I get it.”

They might not be humans, but I understand how all three of them feel. We’ve just been betrayed by the very people we saved, so I guess there’s nothing we can do about it.

No one would believe that children in their single digits are deep in unexplored territory, let alone adventuring with such ease.

Plus, in the worst-case scenario, we can just dig straight up and break through. At least for now, we’re not in a position to ask for help.

It’d be a hassle to be extorted for supplies in a place beyond human reach, and contact would only lead to trouble.

“I propose we avoid them too.”
“As the leader, I approve, nya!”
“Agreed!”
“Phew…”

So, we’ve decided to avoid them for now, but if they’re heading for the deepest part, we’re bound to run into them eventually. Let’s just hope it doesn’t come to a fight.

With that in mind, I began digging the snow cave for tonight’s camp.