Evolution:The Bloodthirsty Saga of the Magic Engineer-Chapter 39: Automaton

After a few more minutes of talking with Mary, we finally arrived at the dining hall. As soon as the door opened, I was greeted by a peculiar sight and a bittersweet aroma that invaded my nostrils.

The hall was large, with long tables arranged in parallel rows. A few acolytes were scattered in small groups, speaking in hushed tones or eating in silence. The area was illuminated by magical globes floating above the tables, emitting a soft, pulsating light, just like in all the other places I had visited.

At the center of the dining hall was what would catch anyone’s attention: a green-skinned creature, muscular, with arms resembling tree trunks. It was clearly an ogre, but it wore a white apron already stained with various colors and a chef’s hat that seemed far too small for its disproportionate head. In front of it was a massive cauldron, with vapors rising and filling the air with a strange, salty smell.

Beside the cauldron stood a long, organized table with trays, plates, knives, forks, spoons, and glasses. On the opposite side, I noticed a buffet offering various kinds of food, from shiny fruits to steaming cuts of meat.

Mary, excited, walked ahead and exclaimed, "I’m starving!"

Being small, she had to climb onto a chair to reach the items on the table. Holding her dress with one hand to avoid tripping, she grabbed a tray carefully, ensuring nothing fell. The scene was so amusing I almost laughed, but I held back, maintaining my composure.

I picked up a tray shortly after, adding a plate, spoons, knives, and a glass to it. I walked over to the ogre and stopped in front of the bubbling cauldron. The smell was... peculiar, to say the least. I frowned as I stared at the dark green liquid, with pieces that looked like vegetables floating alongside something I preferred not to identify.

The creature noticed my expression and sighed as if it were already accustomed to such reactions. Its voice was deep and guttural, yet surprisingly calm:

"Cave goblin soup. Rich in iron. The taste isn’t the most appetizing, but it’s good for your health."

I gave a faint smile but shook my head in refusal. "No, thank you. I’ll stick to traditional food."

The ogre simply nodded, seemingly unbothered, and returned to standing still. I moved to the other side of the cauldron, where the plates of traditional food were. There, I loaded my plate with all kinds of meat: chicken, beef, and even a piece of snake meat that looked perfectly grilled. I filled my glass with red wine, ignoring the juice options available.

With my tray ready, I glanced around and saw Mary already seated at one of the tables. She was alone, swinging her feet that barely touched the floor. As I approached, I noticed she had filled her tray with fruits, bread, and a small bowl of soup—likely one of the simpler and less... "experimental" ones.

I sat in the chair next to her, placing my tray on the table carefully. "So, Mary, looks like you didn’t dare to try the goblin soup either, huh?"

She laughed and took a bite of a fruit that resembled a shiny apple. "Oh, no way. I like things that actually look like food, you know? But I’ll admit their soup is good if you’re desperate for energy."

As I cut another piece of meat and chewed, I casually glanced at Mary. There was something about her that stirred an uncomfortable curiosity. Even now, transformed into a doll, she was still made of flesh and blood. Her delicate movements as she ate weren’t entirely natural, likely a side effect of being turned into a doll. I decided to break the silence.

"Who’s your teacher?" I asked, trying to sound indifferent.

Mary paused for a moment, her eyes fixed on her plate as she chewed a piece of the shiny fruit. The silence that followed felt almost somber until she replied in a low, nearly resigned tone. "Daniel."

The name didn’t surprise me. During my reading of the information scroll about the teachers, Daniel was described as one of the most notorious. He didn’t hide the fact that his students served as key pieces in his experiments, often with irreversible consequences.

"I see..." I replied, not pushing the subject further. I knew it made no sense to show pity or compassion. This world wasn’t a place for the weak, and no one had time to lament. Here, survival and evolution demanded sacrifices—even if it meant becoming something inhuman.

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After finishing my plate, I stood up, carrying the tray to the designated area for dirty dishes. I scraped the food remnants into the trash, the muffled sound of impact briefly echoing. Then, I turned back toward Mary, who was still seated, her doll-like arm resting on the table.

"Good night, Mary. I’m heading to bed."

She raised her small gloved hand and waved lightly. "Good night, Tyler. Sleep well."

I walked down the corridor to my room, and the silence of the tower at night felt almost oppressive. Turning the doorknob, I entered and closed the door behind me with a soft click. The room seemed cozier now, perhaps because exhaustion was taking over me. I removed my cloak and tossed it carelessly onto a nearby chair before collapsing onto the bed.

"I’m completely drained..." I murmured to myself, feeling my body sink into the mattress. "I think I’ve gone about 15 to 18 hours without proper rest."

Closing my eyes, I issued one last mental command: "Lab, set the alarm for 5:30 AM."

The familiar electronic sound echoed in my mind.

["Beep!"]

["Alarm set!"]

The countdown began:

["08:00:00"]

["07:59:59"]

["07:59:58"]

["07:59:57"]

.

.

But before I could follow the rest, everything became heavy. My body felt like it was sinking further into the mattress, and exhaustion completely overtook me. Within seconds, the world around me faded, and I was dragged into a deep, dreamless sleep, as if my body had been desperately pleading for this rest.

.

.

.

["00:00:05"]

["00:00:04"]

["00:00:03"]

["00:00:02"]

["00:00:01"]

["00:00:00"]

["Beep!"]

["Beep!"]

["The alarm is ringing!"]

The voice of the virtual lab echoed, pulling me out of my sleep.

"Already?" I thought as I issued another mental command. "Disable the alarm!"

["Beep!"]

["Alarm disabled!"]

The sunlight streaming through the window was relentless, illuminating every corner of the room and reminding me that a new day had begun.

I got up, grabbed the cloak I had thrown on the chair the night before, and headed to the bathroom. The cold water against my face helped chase away the lingering fatigue, and after a quick routine, I left the room. My stomach was already rumbling with hunger as I made my way to the dining hall.

When I entered, the atmosphere was entirely different from the previous night. Natural light filled the space, and acolytes were scattered at tables, eating a variety of breads, fruit-decorated cakes, hot coffee, and other items I didn’t bother to observe. I didn’t pay them much attention, heading straight for the meats, which were now my main focus.

I grabbed generous portions of beef and chicken, along with a glass of water to accompany them. I chewed with determination, feeling strength and energy return to my body. "Just meat, water, and wine... That’s all a warrior needs," I muttered to myself.

After finishing my meal, I headed toward Professor Miguel’s laboratory, my mind already anticipating what I would find there. When I reached the metal door, marked with precisely engraved industrial symbols, I took a deep breath and entered.

At the center of the laboratory, Miguel, my new teacher, was entirely focused on his work. His eyes, visible through the lenses of his glasses, gleamed with the same golden light as before. His orange mustache was still perched on his face, but now he wore a dark leather apron covered with oil stains and scorch marks.

Miguel was working on a combat automaton—a humanoid machine made of reinforced steel, with flexible joints and protective plates along its "back." He carefully adjusted a sequence of gears controlling the automaton’s arm movements. The gears, arranged in layers, were connected by tiny axles and powered by an internal engine fueled by a pulsating magic crystal embedded in the machine’s chest.

"Adjust the torque ratio on the right arm," he murmured to himself as he tightened a valve with a shiny wrench. Each movement he made was accompanied by the sound of grinding metal and the hiss of released steam.

On one side of the automaton, an open panel revealed a system of hydraulic pistons. These pistons, filled with a viscous magical liquid, were clearly responsible for enhancing the automaton’s physical strength in combat. A set of reinforced leather straps connected these pistons to the metallic joints, allowing for smooth and precise movements.

On the other side, Miguel was welding small rotating discs that appeared to be magical stabilization mechanisms. The discs had runes etched into their surfaces, glowing faintly as he connected them to the internal circuits. "These runes will balance the energy transfer when the automaton is under high combat pressure," he remarked to himself, clearly satisfied with the progress.

I stood silently, observing. I wasn’t foolish enough to interrupt him while he was so engrossed in his creation.

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1770 Words

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