Chapter 24 Tuna and The Dummy

"So Phos, mind telling me why you were working with one of the town guards?" I asked as I continued my tinkering.

"Sure"

I was currently sitting on the edge of the refugee camp, close to the area that they have set aside for their training ground. I had to admit that I was impressed with the lycanthropes, almost all of them would visit this place to train if they had nothing else to do. Apparently they believe that strength makes right or something stupid like that. None of them seemed to want to get close to me however, apparently Albis had warned them all that pissing me off was a really bad idea, which was a smart choice on her part. They did seem happy about the cockatrice however.

But moving on, Phos had joined me after Gobuemon volunteered her to guide me around. I of course had taken this time to secretly use my skill on her while asking her questions. Nothing harmful mind you, I was just trying to satisfy my paranoia. It has gotten out of hand somewhat lately but after what happened not too long ago I just find myself doing it on impulse now without even realizing it.

I had actually found that the little fox was actually quite nice to talk to and after my distrust was alleviated I found myself getting along with her quite well. She of course took some time to open up as she seemed quite intimidated by me, not that I could blame her. However, as she became more talkative I realized that she was actually a lot like the twins in some ways, which probably made me open up more than I was planning to from the beginning.

Anyway, as for what I was currently doing, well, I was attempting to finish something I had been planning for a while but never had the time to actually pull it off. I was attempting to create a kind of training golem of sorts, all the while talking to Phos about various things.

The golem or whatever you really want to call it looked like a smooth faceless mannequin made of light brownish stone. The only real distinguishing feature it had were the dozens of crack-like channels that ran all over its entire body, they looked almost like mechanical circuits in the way they were designed.

"I moved to Tempest on Carrion's request, I was given a mission to investigate the town and its people" Phos began to explain while her tail swayed slowly back and forth behind her.

"So you were a spy?" I muttered half jokingly causing her face to flush red.

"N-no! I was just looking to s-see...to see what our new allies had to offer, yep th-that is right! I was sent to learn m-more about you and that is it..." she stuttered out awkwardly causing me to chuckle lightly.

"And how did you end up a part of the guard then?"

"I used up all of my money and needed a job after I tried picking a fight with an innkeeper..." that took me off guard a little, I couldn't help but laugh slightly as I noticed her embarrassment. 

(I'm starting to understand why Milim likes messing with me so much) I thought with a faint, yet honest smile.

"It wasn't just me though..." that pulled me back to my senses as I stopped my work momentarily and turned to her curiously.

"What do you mean?"

"A subordinate of demon lord Milim and a subordinate of demon lord Frey had both come to Tempest around the same time as me. We ended up becoming rather good friends but they left to find out what exactly was happening" that got my attention for two reasons. For one because Frey was our enemy and two because I didn't know Milim had subordinates, she just didn't seem like the type to have others working for her.

"I see...didn't demon lord Frey help in the attack on Carrion and your people's capital?" I asked with somewhat narrowed eyes as I turned back to my work.

"That is true but...but Carrion is still alive so...so I have no idea what is actually going on..." she whispered while her shoulder sagged a little.

"Oh boy do I get that feeling, believe me" I sighed inwardly at that, after all there was still a shit ton of stuff that I needed answers for.

"What are you doing anyway?" Phos asked as she watched me work, I was currently using some of my skills to shape some of the golems internal workings.

"Hmmm? I'm trying to make a training otamatone, basically I'm trying to make a training dummy that can punch back and learn more over time" I explained without looking over at her.

(This will be my first attempt at creating a soulless thing that isn't completely insane) I hadn't actually attempted to do this before, on purpose anyway.

"That sounds useful"

"Indeed...now let's give this a try shall we" I hummed while rubbing my hand against one of my horns.

With that I used the black blood I summoned to activate the golem causing its body to become more intricate and detailed. As well as the increase in its overall looks several yet simple looking stone spikes grew out from various places along its whole body. The groves that traveled across its form had also lit up with pulsing black abyssal energy as the otamatone straightened up.

There was no sign of it having any kind of visible reaction or awareness, it was just a seemingly lifeless doll that stood motionless in place. However, the moment it booted up a holographic screen appeared in front of me with three different individual bullet points on it, each representing a different command that it could be given.

(For now the only commands that it actually understands are, engage target, group up and disengage but this should do for the prototype)

"I think that this will be enough for now" I hummed as I looked over my new training dummy one last time.

"You think?" Phos did not sound confident.

"Welp, I'll need to actually test it out first...oh?" I couldn't help but smile when I noticed a certain someone walking by.

"Good timing"

"Hey Tuna fish, come here!" I yelled, getting Phobio's attention.

"Please stop calling me that already" he muttered as he walked over to us.

"Quiet down SIR Tuna fish" I smiled and said without looking back over at him.

"That's...not any better" he sighed before seeming to just give up on protesting any further.

"What is it?" 

"I need a test dummy and you're it" I answered bluntly without explaining anything.

"You need a what?!" He sounded somewhat offended but sadly for him I just didn't care.

"I need a test dummy and you're it. More specifically I need someone to fight this thing and test it out for me"

"And why can't Phos help you with that?" He asked while crossing his arms, Phos for her part had no idea what to do in the strange situation she found herself in.

"Because unlike her I don't particularly like you all that much" I admitted without much care.

"Fine, let's just get this over with" he groaned while pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.

"I've never seen Phobio get bossed around like that by someone who isn't lord Carrion" Phos whispered to herself causing Tuna fish to mutter under his breath rather annoyed with this whole situation.

"So what do I do?"

"Defend yourself!" I yelled all of a sudden while using the holographic screen to mark Phobio as the target.

"Shit! Could have given me some warning" Phobio yelped in surprise as the once stationery golem abruptly twisted its own head around to look directly at him. It then rotated its body around, all the while standing in its rigid and straight pose before then charging at him in a full sprint.

"I wouldn't dare even think about it! The great Tuna fish needs no such thing as a warning, such a thing would only insult his extraordinary might" I was definitely not mocking him...okay...maybe a little bit.

"I should probably add various difficulty levels" I hummed as I watched the two spar, the more they fought the better the golem seemed to get.

"Hmmm...I should also add some kind of ability to create different types of weaponry" I watched as Phobio destroyed one of the dummies arms only for the pieces to fly back and reform in an instant.

"Anyway, what do you plan to do after this crap is all over?" I asked as I turned back to Phos who still seemed a little confused about what just happened.

"I...errm...I don't really know but I hope to reunite with my friends after all of this is over" she said after coming back to her senses.

"Okay that...fine I guess..." I trailed off as I turned to look in a seemingly random direction.

"What is it?"

"Something...something is comin-" before I could finish that sentence the biggest aura that I've ever felt besides Milim's exploded out in the far off distance, it was so great that I'm sure people miles away could probably feel it.

"What the hell?!"