Chapter 16

Chapter 16: A Tool, Not a Person

Echidna Philias.

Age: Undisclosed.

Formerly an initiate of the Philias sisterhood, she had been cast out by her covensisters on grounds of irreconcilable ideological conflict.

The genuine cause for her banishment? She was an incorrigible romantic who fell madly in love with literally every handsome man who crossed her path.

Her black hair was a tangled mess, and the shadows beneath her eyes were so heavy and dark they resembled dramatic ceremonial paint. Her lips carried a dark tint, and her complexion was as ghostly white as someone who had never stepped into the daylight. She radiated the quintessential, foreboding aura of a sinister sorceress.

In absolute stillness, one might have judged her a striking beauty, but her intensely bizarre presence shattered any such impression.

As for whether she carried herself with the terrifying grace of a dark mage…

“Hello there! I am Echidna—”

Her bright, sing-song greeting clashed so violently with her macabre appearance that every trace of dread instantly vanished.

“Hehehe…”

She offered an awkward, timid grin, but the strained expression only deepened her eerie demeanor. Everything about her presence made normal integration into society impossible.

The moment Jed had stepped across her threshold, she had accepted the proposition without a single condition.

Nevertheless, formal terms had to be established, prompting Ferda to step inside the cottage to address her directly.

“You agreed to serve without hesitation, but do you even comprehend what your duties will entail?”

“Not at all! But that doesn’t matter in the slightest!”

Echidna’s dark eyes shifted with intense excitement.

“I-I am just overjoyed to be in the company of such striking gentlemen and such an adorable lady… Hehehe. If you command it, I would gladly become your loyal dog! Woof, woof!”

She shamelessly mimicked a barking hound without inquiring about wages or responsibilities. Her behavior was exceedingly strange, even to Ferda’s experienced eyes.

I expected her to be somewhat more rational in this era, but it seems I have arrived during the absolute peak of her eccentricities.

Compared to the capable artisan Ferda had known in his previous timeline, her current state was entirely unhinged.

“Lord Ferda,” Ruri whispered, leaning toward his shoulder. “Did we truly travel all this way just to hire a woman whose sole talent is building basic golems?”

“I-I can hear every word you’re saying, you know!”

“Indeed, merely golems,” Ferda answered calmly.

“I told you, my ears work perfectly fine!”

Golems were traditionally crude constructs forged from mud, stone, or clay. At their peak, they could manage basic locomotive tasks; beyond their massive scale and blunt resilience, they were little more than mindless enchanted husks. For good reason, referring to someone as a “golem” was a common insult denoting profound stupidity.

“Do you have any recent creations on hand?”

“Eh? I… I have one, but… it is not entirely finished, so showing it is quite embarrassing…”

“Pay it no mind. The embarrassment will not be mine to bear.”

“Ah, in that case… allow me to present it!”

Echidna clapped her pale hands twice.

With a sudden clatter, the large wardrobe swung open, and an entity strode into the room. It was a wooden construct shaped in the likeness of a finely proportioned man. Its carved eyes were oversized and sparkled as though inset with polished jewels, and its jawline was sharply defined. Its appearance and physique looked like an exaggerated fantasy of a fairy-tale prince sketched by a daydreaming child.

Noticing the three visitors staring intently at the wooden figure, Echidna squirmed with bashful delight.

“Hehe. It lacks its final polish, so it feels quite shameless to display…”

“The facial proportions could certainly use adjustment,” Ferda commented dryly.

“Oh, no. The physical form itself is entirely complete.”

“…It is?”

The wooden construct let out a rhythmic creak as it advanced, briefly angling its carved face toward Echidna. She beamed back at it with open adoration.

Creeeak—creeeak—

Moving with astonishing fluidity, the wooden figure walked to the side cabinet, selected a specific tea set, and began the intricate process of brewing a fresh pot. Most remarkably, the construct had selected a precise tea tin from among dozens without receiving a spoken command.

“There are numerous blends stored within that cabinet. How did it determine which one to prepare?”

“Ah, well, the mechanics behind its cognition are… oh, it is terribly technical, and I wouldn’t want to bore you with lengthy explanations, um, aaaah…”

Echidna stamped her feet in distress, wringing her hands as social panic overtook her. Ferda opened his mouth to clarify the principle.

“It functions because—”

“Hold on! I-I can explain it myself!”

She spent nearly three agonizing minutes grasping for the right phrasing, breaking into a nervous sweat from the sheer pressure of holding a conversation. At last, Echidna managed to articulate her thoughts.

“To put it simply, it reads the resonance of my emotional state and serves the blend matching my mood! Since I am thrilled today, it selected Darjeeling!”

“A wooden construct… managed that level of perception?” Ruri asked, her voice laced with genuine disbelief.

Echidna rubbed the back of her neck in shy embarrassment.

“Hehe. I simply wanted a companion capable of doing so. Thus, I engineered a novel magical framework to achieve it.”

“Engineered magic… Do you mean to say you scribed original arcane formulas from nothing?”

“Yes, exactly, little miss! I poured endless hours of intense research into creating them!”

Even Ruri, who held supreme disdain for mortal limitations, felt a profound wave of respect. To conceptualize and manifest a functional spell formula entirely from scratch required mastering the supreme craft of Rune Making—the near-impossible art of binding abstract conceptual intent into physical geometric scripts.

Pioneering entirely new runes was the exclusive territory of transcendent grandmasters; fewer than ten individuals across the entire Serdes Continent possessed such mastery. This woman was no ordinary artisan or disgraced witch.

A true Rune Maker.

She was an arcane savant holding the rare authority to alter the foundational rules of magic itself.

Ruri turned her gaze toward Ferda. The open disgust she had displayed earlier had transformed into unmistakable awe.

“How on earth do you discover individuals of this caliber?”

“I simply chanced upon the knowledge.”

In truth, Ferda’s recollection of her was rooted in profound irritation. She was the prime example of a prodigy who squandered world-altering genius on the most absurd pursuits imaginable.

Echidna Philias possessed an obsessive adoration for handsome men. That singular fixation had eventually forced the awakening of her Red Circle. However, due to her unsettling aura and complete inability to function socially, she had found herself entirely isolated from romance.

Where an ordinary person might have attempted to refine their demeanor, Echidna’s logic had taken an entirely different trajectory:

—If no handsome suitor will approach me, why not simply construct the ideal gentleman myself?

She found the traditional witch practices of preserving corpses or manipulating thralls through blood curses vulgar. Her middle ground between mortal desire and dark arts was to use construct engineering to build an artificial partner. That bizarre motivation had driven her to master advanced conceptual commands and divine linguistics, ultimately establishing her as a transcendent Rune Maker.

She mastered Rune Making—a pinnacle of the arcane that even I, in my past life as an Archmage, could not fully conquer—solely to construct a synthetic paramour.

Even now, reflecting on her priorities made Ferda want to hold his head in disbelief. To think she had developed a craft capable of rewriting continental warfare simply to build a decorative companion.

Yet because of her obsession, I know for a certainty that autonomous construct legions capable of executing dynamic tactical commands can be realized.

The homunculus stood as the supreme achievement of alchemy—an artificial being capable of experiential learning and enduring environments lethal to mortals. However, their creation was severely limited in number, and absolute obedience was impossible to guarantee.

Conversely, standard golems could be fabricated in vast numbers, but remained incapable of intricate thought or adaptive maneuvers.

Echidna’s breakthrough united the virtues of both disciplines.

Reclaiming the eastern border from the monster hordes is no longer a distant fantasy.

Her arcane breakthroughs offered military potential equal to the revolutionary Magitech spearheaded by Marquis Burnell.

“In that case, our preliminary terms are settled. I shall provide your formal appointment document.”

“An a-appointment document?”

“You are hereby named a Chief Researcher for the domain of Valdrova. Another Chief has already been appointed, but as your fields of research are entirely distinct, you will operate without interference.”

“Oh, is that true?”

Hearing of another colleague, her dark eyes shifted inquisitively before she spoke in a hushed, nervous tone.

“Is… is this individual a male?”

Ferda nodded. A deep blush rushed to her cheeks, her fingers tangling together in excitement.

“He is indeed a man.”

“Is he… hand…some?”

Echidna’s eyes gleamed as though the fate of the realm hung upon the answer.

“He is an elderly gentleman in his fifties.”

Echidna’s expression instantly dropped into utter disappointment. Her gaze then snapped back toward Jed. Operating on pure muscle memory as a charming rogue, Jed immediately offered her a dazzling, rehearsed smile.

“Hehehe… ehehehe…”

Watching her eyes light up with manic joy, Jed stepped back instinctively, only to find his back pressed against the cottage wall.

“Are you prepared to depart at once? Or do you require time to assemble your belongings?”

“Not at all! I possess dimensional spatial storage spells, so I can secure my entire workshop in moments! Hehe…”

Spatial storage was an advanced discipline belonging to the 5th Tier of magic. Its mastery confirmed she wielded the power of at least the 5th Circle. It was further proof that her romantic mania had fueled terrifying arcane growth.

“Excellent. You three shall take the carriage and return directly to Valdrova Castle.”

Jed’s head snapped toward Ferda in absolute terror. “You are not traveling with us?!”

“I have one final individual to secure.”

“Then permit me to accompany you! I am your sworn attendant!”

“Your presence will not be necessary for this task.”

“Please, do not leave me behind…” Jed pleaded, his suave smile cracking into desperate strain. “Let us travel together. I beg of you.”

The plea carried the raw terror of a condemned man desperate to avoid being trapped in an enclosed carriage with the eccentric witch.

I cannot allow that.

Ferda knew what lay ahead. The legendary supreme construct that Echidna would eventually forge in the future… was designed in the exact likeness of Jed Swallow. It was Jed’s appearance that would ultimately ignite her absolute creative brilliance.

Therefore, they must remain in close proximity.

To channel Echidna’s erratic genius into productive labor, Jed had to serve as her primary inspiration. Whatever tribulations Jed might suffer as the object of her relentless devotion were of little concern to Ferda. The rogue was resourceful enough to endure.

With this, Ferda had successfully secured three vital figures:

The visionary founder of Magitech, Marquis Burnell.

The elusive master rogue, Jed Swallow.

The supreme Rune Maker, Echidna Philias.

Now, only the final name on his roster remained…

The final individual was the sole figure on Ferda’s parchment whose reputation Ruri recognized. He was a late-blooming spellcaster who had risen to prominence in his middle years. Renowned for his uncanny ability to discern the underlying truth of all phenomena through profound insight, he was celebrated across the realm as the “Sage of Water.”

Following the path of absolute detachment, he resided in seclusion within a quiet countryside estate, refusing allegiance to any sovereign power, flowing freely like the element he commanded.

“How do you intend to recruit an eccentric who rejected astronomical fortunes offered by the Arken Empire itself?”

At present, Ferda’s recruitment efforts stood at two secured assets and one pending induction. While the previous candidates had been complete unknowns to Ruri, this target was an established legend. She was certain Ferda’s usual methods would fail against such a renowned sage.

He surely cannot rely on political intimidation or noble rank…

She watched him intently, curious to see what impossible scheme he would attempt next.

Ferda stated flatly, “I have no intention of recruiting the Sage of Water.”

Ruri’s brow furrowed in utter confusion. “Then why have we traveled here? You wrote ‘Sage of Water’ upon your list, came straight to his private grounds, and now claim you have no interest in him?”

“The asset I require possesses no name. I merely recorded Helus Fobidas’s moniker as a temporary marker.”

“Are you playing tricks on me?” Ruri glared at him with sharp suspicion.

“Only partially.”

Ferda turned his gaze toward the grand estate ahead. The ground-floor windows stood open, and the secondary entrance designated for household staff was slightly unlatched.

Observing the layout, Ferda asked, “Where do common servants typically wash the household linens?”

“Why would you ask me such a thing?”

Ferda looked her up and down, taking in the neat maid attire she wore with an entirely detached expression.

“Are you not serving as my attendant?”

“Even among attendants, there is hierarchy and specialized rank. Furthermore, I accomplish domestic tasks through direct mana manipulation. I am not some common laborer who beats rough fabric with a wooden club against river stones.”

“By the riverbank, then. My thanks for the directions.”

Guided by Ruri’s indignant remark, the pair made their way toward the nearby stream. True to her words, the washing site was easily located.

“You clumsy, utterly useless wench! Can you not manage even the simplest chore?!”

The harsh shrieks of an older woman cut through the gentle murmur of the flowing water. On the stony bank stood a stout, middle-aged housekeeper and an exceedingly frail young girl. Their garments were far too well-kept for standard villagers, clearly identifying them as household staff of the nearby noble estate.

The stout woman kicked at the basket of damp clothes, shouting with flushed fury.

“I commanded you to wring the moisture out! Why are you just standing there like a stone statue?!”

The slender blonde girl gave a small, hesitant nod.

“Ugh, what sin did I commit to be burdened with training such a brainless creature?! It is enough to drive me mad… Ugh!”

The senior servant struck her own chest in exasperation, scowling with deep resentment. The quiet girl showed no outward reaction to the tirade. She merely kept her hollow, vacant gaze lowered, wordlessly returning to the repetitive motions she had been assigned.

“Does she prove difficult to manage?”

The older maid jumped in surprise, spinning around to face the intrusion. Her eyes quickly took in Ferda’s noble attire before she hastily smoothed her skirt and offered a fawning smile.

“Ah, my apologies, noble lord. Forgive me for presenting such an unrefined scene before your eyes. Haha. I was merely raising my voice to discipline one of our exceptionally dim-witted young servants…”

“Was that intended as discipline?”

“Naturally, my lord. An exalted aristocrat such as yourself would hardly understand the common rabble. These simpletons only comprehend instructions when given a sharp shock, you see? That is the sole reason for my sternness.”

Ferda shifted his attention toward the silent blonde girl. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, letting out a low murmur.

“Hmm. From my perspective, that did not resemble instruction; it appeared to be nothing more than an outlet for your personal irritation. Furthermore, attempting to discipline that child is entirely pointless.”

“Whatever do you mean by that, my lord?”

“Are you certain the flaw did not lie entirely within your own instructions?”

The senior maid blinked, her brow knitting with confusion. “Forgive me, my lord, but I do not follow…”

“From what I observed, you ordered her repeatedly to strike the fabric and wring out the water. However, you never designated a basket or line for her to place the finished linen afterward. Had you simply provided that concluding instruction, she would have continued the cycle without pausing.”

“Good heavens, must every single breath be explained in minute detail? A proper servant should possess at least a sliver of common sense, yet she is entirely devoid of thought…”

The woman shot a venomous glare at the girl. The young servant, entirely indifferent to the conversation unfolding above her, simply continued kneading the damp cloth with robotic precision.

“Precisely. Your mistake lies in the fact that you are treating her as an ordinary human being.”

“What are you implying, my lord? Are you suggesting this girl is some kind of inanimate object?”

“Had you treated what you are managing as an unthinking implement rather than a person, the outcome would have been entirely different. Is it not unreasonable to demand autonomous judgment from a tool?”

The housekeeper stared at Ferda as if he were speaking an entirely foreign language. Ruri, standing just behind him, was equally bewildered by his strange reasoning.

“Why have you not simply dismissed her from the estate?”

“Do you think she would remain gone if I threw her out? The Sage of Water insists on keeping this creature close.”

“Ah, is that so?”

“She is nothing more than a stray cur he dragged in from the gutters.”

The maid continued to vent her bitter complaints. Ferda listened with absolute serenity before offering a quiet proposition:

“If her presence causes you such distress, and you find yourself unable to cast her aside, why not simply surrender her into my custody?”