“YOU FUCKING MURDERER, I WILL DESTROY YOU ONE DAY, GOLEM! I CURSE YOU, IN THE HOPE THAT YOU ARE RUINED!”

Ignoring the immobile, yelling professor, the golem walked solemnly away from the headless corpse where it was met with a crowd of upset humans. Each of their faces was twisted with both grief and anger.

There was crying, yelling, and even violence with some humans throwing their books and pencils at the stone monster. Yet the Golem continued to walk in shame, allowing everyone to direct their anger at it. Not a single amount of resistance was seen from the stone being as if it wanted to be punished by the humans to make up for what it had done.

As the Golem approached the mosaic in the center, a familiar blond-haired woman appeared in his path.

“You stupid boy…it wasn’t your fault. Don’t do this to yourself,” Cricket quietly said as she stood in his way.

Gus stopped and stared at the fragile woman, his hollow eyes lifelessly looking down upon her.

“If anything, we should be mad at ourselves. While you tried fighting against fate, we…only bent to it. We should be the ones ashamed *cough* *cough*, not just you,” Cricket valiantly declared, directing her eyesight to the group.

But unfortunately, no one cared. The humans did not bother to think of such concepts as fate, bravery, or how the Golem had struggled.

No, they were angry. They were so full of hate for the prison they had to stay in for months, and most importantly, to the guard in charge of the place. The Stone Trial Golem. Servant to the Merchant, Handler of their Tests and Fate, Guard of their Jail cells, and now, Murderer of their Kind.

Who would be silly enough to think about such a monster's feelings when it had taken a fellow human’s life?

I commend your kindness, Cricket…but I am not deserving of it.

Gus was no idiot, he knew what it meant to murder an innocent. It was one of the worst sins a human can do. An unforgivable act that could never garner sympathy.

Shaking his head, Gus looked back at the crowd that had continued to follow him, spewing hateful profanity and ill will along the way. It was clear there would be no more cooperation between golem and humans. Taking a step to the side of Cricket, Gus continued on his way to the Mosaic. But not before whispering something to her.

“You should not interact with me anymore for your own good. It will be safer for you that way,” Gus directed at Cricket, not daring to stop moving as he did so.

The sickly woman continued to stand as the golem long passed, her head never turning back to see it off. Eventually, Marco came up to her and began to say something to her. But at that point, Gus did not care. He was now back to the mosaic in the middle, which had marked the beginning of his journey in this library in more ways than one. Placing his hand on the tablet, he opened the communications tab on the Merchant’s system and called upon the host of these horrible games.

It's done…just bring us to the next one already.

…

…

‘So soon? Why, how anti-climatic, yes, that was. I thought you would have another surprise for me that could have saved that girl’s life. Disappointing, I must say.’

You sick fuck…you never gave me the chance! You took over my body and made me…made me a monster!

‘You were always a monster, Gus. You chose to live on, yes, despite knowing what I would make you do. Did you really believe that this path would be so easy that you could just avoid your destiny? Are you really that arrogant? You are merely a mundane trial golem, you are worlds beneath me! And yet, you still think of escaping, you still think of outwitting me. It’s laughable, yes, as I just can’t understand…what makes you so special that you think everything should just be handed to you on a plate? Is it because of your mommy up in the stars, yes, your faith in her ability to come and save you every time? Or is it something more…something twisted and full of hubris like a desire so grand you can’t help but think of everything else as beneath you? Is that what this is, Gus?’

I-I…I don’t know! I don’t know, okay? Why can I not dream of freedom? Of Living!? What is so wrong with me having a desire for something bigger than myself? Is that really so bad?

‘Because you dared to think of something impossible, Gus. You're greedy, and I like that, yes, don’t get me wrong. But you're also arrogant. You think too little of your threats. Even if I let you free to the outside world, you would end up getting yourself killed. So why should I let my new favorite toy get broken out there, yes, when I could use it for something much more…meaningful?’

The sinister last words of the Merchant made Gus want to shiver, but alas, his wretched stone body had no way of out letting this fear.

Fortunately, the serpentine voice had gone silent after that, no longer berating the Golem for even daring to dream. Closing the communications tab, Gus sat silently on the mosaic, letting out a mental sigh.

It's been too much today. I just want to sleep now.

That desire only grew when he turned back to face the angry mob that was still surrounding him, not giving up on trying to kill Gus with words.

“Murderer!”

“...Vile Monster!”

“How could you do that…!”

“We trusted you!”

The words were plentiful from the humans, but the Golem had nothing to say. As he sat in silence, the moment he had been waiting for finally arrived.

“My, that was a brilliant show, yes, my dear contestants! Congratulations! I applaud your skills for managing to pass that floor with so few casualties.”

Returning to the library, the Merchant let its presence known with a snap of its fingers. Suddenly, as if obeying the command, the desks and chairs retreated into tiny sparks of light, disappearing away from reality. Far in the shadows, a recent-turned corpse could be seen turning to light.

“And there goes clean up, free of charge! Though, I would appreciate, yes, if you were to leave my golem alone. You're gonna hurt the big guy's feelings by screaming at him like that.”

Backing away like a sad herd of dogs, the humans could only tsk their tongues in disappointment as they obeyed the master’s orders.

“Much better. Now! As we move on to the second floor, I’ll tell you now about the changes that will occur. First, the subject material will undergo a change, yes, going from languages to some important common sense and daily knowledge everyone will need to know to survive in Havory! Easy, right? It will only require a multiple-choice format for the reading comprehension test, which I’m sure everyone is already familiar with. Now, I know what you're probably thinking, why are you going so easy on us, Merchant? Well, that has to do with change number three. On top of reading, yes, we will begin our first lessons! Combat lessons, in particular. Ooo it will be exciting, I just know it!”

The group of humans, however, were not excited by the news. The still-healing participants, in particular, looked especially pale in the group, as if they were told they were going to die.

“Ah don’t look go glum, folks. You will be provided with tailored-made weapons for this floor! Isn’t that exciting, yes, to finally have some sort of power over your fates!”

Gus’s attention peeked at that statement.

What!? Weapons! I never got such things! I only got basic hand-to-hand combat teaching when Syuna was in charge.

At first, Gus felt a sudden immature jealousy of the humans. He had always wanted to wield powerful weapons like those heroes' swords in the books he always read. Imagining himself wielding a mythical spear and shield like brave Achilles or a divine sword like King Arthur’s Excalibur had always been a dream of his.

A dream of being a hero… I forgot that I had once desired something like that.

There had been a time those months ago when Gus had imagined himself becoming a hero to these contestants. Someone powerful and brave. Someone smart and likable. Someone who could be their guiding light.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Who knew I would become their enemy instead?

The Merchant had robbed him of this dream, and now was the one who reminded him of it, although not intentionally. It was a strange feeling…but what was stranger was that he suddenly felt like he was forgetting something after going on this tangent. Something important.

It’s this feeling again! Like there’s a blur in my memories blocking it out. But what…what caused this feeling? What was I thinking about prior? Heroes…yes I feel like that’s something important. Guiding Light? That word sticks out but…what else? It has to be something special, I don’t tend to forget things normally…ah but there was that time with that—aha! That wretched book! It made me forget its existence again!

The book of Havory. Gus had forgotten about it after grabbing the key and coin from it, but that in itself was abnormal. Gus didn’t forget things normally, but whenever that book came into play, it was like his ability to memorize was useless.

And it made me forget about it again. But why? What does that damn book have to hide? The hero of light?

* < | {???} had increased to 1% | > *

Oh…

Nova had done another thing without his knowledge. But this time, Gus didn’t feel any different from before. It seems the strange emergency service Syuna had installed within him only liked to announce its presence at the worst of times.

Trauma Defenses, Hiding Keys, Consuming Existences, and now this? I have no idea how Nova even works. This is starting to get out of control.

Yet before starting such an endeavor, Gus decided to focus on his current surroundings, putting away the thoughts for later. But not much had happened in the few seconds he was distracted. The Merchant was still waiting for the humans to be done reacting to his words, enjoying their eyes full of attention. Then, after some time, it started again.

“Exciting, yes, but that’s not all. During the duration of your stay in this facility, you will be allowed to use these weapons to your liking. These will be your new best friends, yes, for life. Once you leave this place, you can even keep them!”

The humans' eyes lit up at the Merchant’s last words. It was a funny sight for Gus. The humans were once all so full of dread for the future, but with the mere mention of freedom, hope suddenly glistened in their faces.

Power. Freedom. Sense of Control. These were all missing from the humans who were once consumed by hopelessness. But just as it took away, the Merchant would give back, tricking the humans that it was a gracious being.

I read about this before… it's a classic trick of conditioning! Carrot and the Stick. But to these humans who are so afraid and angry, they don’t even realize. They are too preoccupied with a new enemy that they wish to destroy. And that is me…by the stars, I am their target of revenge.

Once they're armed, Gus will be stuck with a mob of wrathful humans who all wish to sink their blades into him. Would his stone shell survive from such weapons? Maybe if they were normal weapons such as swords or knives, but the Merchant had described these weapons as special. Anything special by its standards would certainly bypass his stone body.

It's now me or them. Not only am I their enemy, but now they are mine too. Sick bastard…what does the Merchant even gain from all this? Joy? No…it wouldn’t be that simple, not for something of its caliber. It talked about higher goals, about the importance of surviving Havory. It mentioned that this was its last trial and that this had been its domain. Is it searching for something? Someone? Could the Hero of Light be the key to this? But that doesn’t make sense…I know that no such hero is among the group. Marco and Cricket have a certain feeling to them that is different than the rest, but they do match the description of that hero. Surely the Merchant has a way of checking this too. But then why? Why do this?

Well, it was not like Gus had the time to figure out such things, as the Merchant had already begun summoning a familiar pair of books.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, and all those, yes, of different titles. Allow me to present the fan favorites, Mr. and Mrs. Book!”

Emerging from the fifth level as they had once done before, two large floating books descended from above in front of the twenty-eight humans.

“Now just press your hand on our two lovely books, and voilà, your personal weapon will be chosen. Now form two lines, yes, everyone. Doesn’t matter what book, just place your palm on one of its open pages.”

Despite following the commands of a mischievous and evil monster, the humans were ecstatically lining up into two rows in front of the books. They almost seemed happy…like a kid about to be gifted their favorite toy. Every once so often, one of the humans would throw a glance back at Gus as if evaluating him.

I’ll remember you, shorty! I’ll know to keep watch of any bald heads that get near me!

Cursing out a particularly short and bald man, Gus continued to track the humans who would accidentally let their real feelings slip to the Golem. The count was... disheartening. Sixteen humans had targeted their bloodlust towards him. Especially Mrs. Jasmine, who continued to stare daggers at the Golem as she waited patiently in line.

That woman will be the most trouble. I don’t judge her, but at this point, it would be too much of a waste if I just let her kill me now. I must survive this horrible place…only then can I exact my own revenge.

But that would be long in the future. For now, Gus watched silently as the humans in the front of the line placed their hands on the two books.

The first one to go was Marco, still exacting his role as the leader who leads the charge despite losing some authority over these past days. But Marco was undisturbed, wearing a stoic and confident face that eased those around him. Touching the book, a blinding flash of yellow and white light emerged from the book, surrounding Marco’s arm.

When the light finally died, Marco blinked twice before reading the lines that had appeared in the blank pages of the book.

“Pistol of Honor?” Marco read out loud.

The crowd of humans burst into discussion from the words. A gun as a weapon? Why, their hopes of slaying the golem might actually turn into a reality with such weaponry. This did nothing to calm Gus’s growing paranoia.

“Oh ho! A fine weapon, yes, for such a noble person as you. However, I do recommend keeping such details secret for the future, don’t want to give away all your cards.”

Marco nodded, then looked around as if expecting something.

“Where would I—?”

“Get the weapon, yes? Don’t be so impatient, Marco, it takes me a while to craft these weapons, but it shouldn’t be much longer. In fact, it should be arriving just about now.”

And just as it said, the giant door to the library had opened, emerging from it a recognizable figure. A second Merchant. Or to be more precise, a clone of it. The humans were confused by the sight, but before that confusion turned to fear, both Merchants suddenly talked.

“I have arrived, yes, host Merchant!” The newcomer said.

“That’s wonderful, yes, first craftsmen Merchant! And Marco’s weapon?” The host responded.

“Right here!”

Raising in its hideous hands, the newcomer Merchant held onto what looked like a crystal shard that contained a bright light inside, looking nothing like the promised pistol. But before any humans could question it, the second Merchant walked over to Marco and handed the shard to the confused leader’s hands.

“What am I supposed to do with this?”

“Now you just crush it, yes, and then it's all yours!”

Looking back down at the shard, Marco looked at it with a puzzled face before deciding to slowly crush it. Cracking like it was made of glass, the shard quickly shattered into dust, leaving only the light behind in Marco’s hand which was then absorbed.

“What just happened to me?” Marco asked after a few seconds.

“You, yes, have just obtained your very own Personal Growth Remnant, or P.G.R. for short. It will be with you as your companion for life, a weapon that inhabits your soul. All you need to do is think of its summoning words and then it appears.”

“Oh...then what are the summoning words?” Marco asked, pretending to understand what just happened.

“I don’t know…it should have to do with the characteristics of your P.G.R. though. Try thinking of a word, yes, that comes to mind when you think of your weapon. Nine times out of ten it works.”

Looking down at his hand, Marco hesitated for a bit until a painful flinch could be seen on his face as if he was embarrassed by what he thought of.

Suddenly a flash of sparks emerged in his right hand, and after only three seconds, an old flintlock pistol came into form. It was a delicately designed weapon with wood and metal coming together to create the work of art. While the barrel was made of smooth high-quality brass, the other parts of the gun that sat on the right top of the pistol were delicately designed with steel. Even its hammer, flint, and pan saw intricate smithing work on them as they were designed to be both flamboyant and robust. Decorated with intricate engravings, the P.G.R. called the Pistol of Honor was both lethal and beautiful in Marco’s hands.

Now I suddenly want one of those…

But alas, the Merchant was a cruel fiend to the Golem, not even offering a special weapon to its “special” toy.

The humans, though, were all very excited by these weapons, no longer dreading the combat lessons that could very much get them killed. Only greed was in their eyes.

Placing their hands one by one on the books, the humans eagerly awaited their P.G.R.s as more and more Merchants flooded the library with crystal shards of light. Crushing each one given to them, the humans began to summon their very own P.G.R.s in their hands.

By the stars…

The humans no longer looked like an expedition group of scholars but instead like a rag-tag army of fighters, each wielding different weapons. There were spears, swords, daggers, axes, shields, and even some guns in each of their hands.

Gus would have liked to geek out over the exciting magic that was occurring in the room if it wasn’t for two things.

One was that he was still very miserable from having to kill an innocent person, so any sense of joy he felt was muffled by that guilt.

But the other reason was even more important.

And now you dare to even take away my only haven from this hell?

There was a multitude of these wielders that were eyeing Gus with dangerous eyes. No longer could he sleep comfortably at night knowing that he was now in constant peril.

You dare, Humans, to not allow me to dream!

Gus was increasingly growing frustrated with the contestants he once wanted to save.