"Vmmm—BOOM!!"
Blinding light swallowed everything.
In such confined space, the railgun's discharge reduced the golem Avicebron took pride in to dust in an instant. The shock followed without mercy. Several meters of reinforced castle wall collapsed into rubble, and beyond it, the dense forest was carved open by a trench stretching half a kilometer.
Minutes passed before the dust finally settled.
The magi stood like poorly wound dolls, necks stiff as they stared at the shattered wall and the scorched trench beyond, so long its end could not be seen.
Within the railgun's path, towering ancient trees, solid rock, even the ever-present soil had been annihilated—crushed, torn apart, flung skyward.
The earth was split open into a gash over ten meters wide. Within dozens of meters around the firing line, no tree survived. They were either snapped and hurled away or left burning in open flame.
The castle, reinforced by magecraft dozens of times over centuries, offered no resistance. It failed even to slow the projectile. The shot punched clean through, the residual shock tearing down the adjacent walls as well.
One entire side of the castle lay in ruins.
Even Darnic, head of Yggdmillennia, felt a chill crawl up his spine at the sight.
Not because of the loss of wealth. Not even from fear of the weapon's power.
But because such power could be used to claim victory in the Holy Grail War.
"Rhodes… no, Lord Rhodes…"
Darnic's voice came out hoarse as he turned slowly, eyes fixed on the Tiger attack helicopter still hovering amid roaring wind. He swallowed before speaking again.
"Can you produce more of these weapons?"
Hope bled through his words.
Rhodes nodded lightly, a teasing smile playing on his lips.
"Of course. Ten units, a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand… As long as you provide enough modern weapons, enchanting them is hardly difficult."
"Ghk…"
Darnic swallowed hard. His handsome face twisted into a strange blend of terror and delight. His body trembled, as if struck by sudden fortune, unsure how to release the joy flooding his chest.
"Then in the Holy Grail War—"
"Nope. Impossible."
Rhodes cut him off without hesitation, dousing the excitement like cold water.
"Even if their power rivals a Noble Phantasm, modern weapons are far too clumsy. Even with magecraft enhancement, they can't compete with a Heroic Spirit. More importantly, a Heroic Spirit's Mystery is too strong. Modern weapons simply can't affect them."
"I see… that's a shame." Darnic shook his head, then forced a smile once more. "Still, I have a small proposal. I hope Lord Rhodes will indulge me."
"What is it?"
Rhodes took a subtle step back.
"If this is about some unsavory intimacy, don't bother. I'm not interested in someone with such a submissive face."
Darnic stiffened, then let out a bitter smile.
"No need for jokes, Mr. Rhodes. Yggdmillennia needs a pillar like you. And after we defeat the Clock Tower, we will need even greater leverage to secure the family's future."
"Fine."
Rhodes answered calmly, the words sharp with calculated intent.
"I can help Yggdmillennia build a modern warfare force. You provide the materials. And you understand the cost of hiring a magus ranked among the 'Three Primary Colors,' don't you, Head Darnic?"
The naked profiteering made Darnic flinch, but he still nodded with a strained smile.
"Of course. The family will not mistreat you."
He laughed loudly, feigning ease.
"If you wish, after the Holy Grail War, you may become head of the Frain Family. And when I leave this world, you will inherit Yggdmillennia itself. How does that sound?"
"Not bad," Rhodes said, smiling thinly. "But those are promises drawn on empty air. I want something tangible."
He glanced at the homunculi recording data nearby.
"I'll make a small sacrifice. Hand over Mr. Gordes's mass-production technology for homunculi, and I'll accept your commission."
"Ah…"
Even Darnic, seasoned as he was, raised an eyebrow at Rhodes treating the position of Yggdmillennia's head as a mere assignment while naming his price so casually. Still, the politician in him prevailed.
"Very well. I doubt Mr. Gordes will refuse."
"You're quick to understand, Head Darnic."
Rhodes nodded lightly, then surveyed the flattened courtyard, the scattered magi sprawled across the ground, the collapsed walls, and the ruined forest.
"I don't need to clean this up myself, do I? As the victor, I should have that right."
"Of course," Darnic replied breezily, though his heart bled. "The Holy Grail War is about to begin anyway. This castle was bound to be destroyed sooner or later."
The castle had stood for centuries, reinforced by generations of magi. Now it had been remodeled into something grotesquely modern, its structure ruined beyond recognition. Even Yggdmillennia felt the loss keenly.
But compared to recruiting someone like Rhodes, a single castle meant nothing.
"Magnanimous, as expected of Yggdmillennia's head."
Rhodes glanced at the blond boy sprawled on the ground and sneered.
"You're far stronger than my brother Roche. Strong beyond comparison."
Roche lay there like a defeated hound, on the verge of tears, not even noticing when Rhodes left the so-called duel ground.
Behind him stood Avicebron, clad in a strange robe and golden mask. His voice dripped with disgust.
"Hmph. Such a thing betrays the very purpose of golems. Golems are created by shaping mud to imitate mankind. How can this be called a golem? It is nothing more than a crude machine of war."