"You big stone! You disgrace me! Why you no listen? Follow orders!"
Wǔ Zhìyuàn's voice slammed through the workshop, thick with fury. The hulking golem froze, then stumbled again, its stone foot crunching a scattered gear underfoot.
Across the room, Nox darted in a blur, weaving through the golem's legs like smoke. His laugh was soft and sharp. "Come on, big guy. Catch me."
Kaya leaned against a stack of crates, watching the chaos with sparkling eyes. "This is peak entertainment," she said, grinning.
Elias crossed his arms, his tone dry. "It's reckless. One wrong step and that thing crushes someone."
Kaya glanced at him, unbothered. "Says the guy who hasn't seen sunlight in three days."
"I was working," Elias replied.
"You were hiding from fun," she shot back.
"I was analyzing potion decay rates, thank you."
Baek Dae-Won stepped forward, calm like still water. Elias's brow creased.
"Wait. Don't provoke him. He's already worked up."
Baek Dae-Won kept walking. "That's why I'm going."
Elias let out a quiet groan. "Fantastic. We're all going to die."
Kaya's grin widened. "Well, I like my odds."
Wǔ Zhìyuàn barked again. "Nox! Stop moving! Let big stone touch you!"
Nox twisted just out of reach of the golem's arm, still smirking. "You sure that's wise, Old Man Wǔ?"
"Yes, I know what I'm doing!" the dwarf snapped. "Just stop dodging! You won't get hurt... probably!"
Baek Dae-Won raised his voice slightly. "Old Man Wǔ."
The dwarf didn't look back. His focus was locked on the golem, lips moving as he repeated a series of grunts and clipped syllables in another tongue.
Raphael tilted his head, his blindfold shifting slightly with the motion. "What's he doing?" he asked softly.
"Two words," Kaya said. "Voice commands."
Elias sighed and stepped beside her. "He's training the golem to recognize verbal orders. Simple directives like move, stop, or attack. But if the command isn't clear or the golem mishears it, it could turn volatile."
Raphael paused. "Then why do it in here?"
Kaya snorted. "Because we don't test classified weapons where spies can peek. Obviously."
"And also because it's dangerous," Elias added, gesturing at the scorch marks near the wall.
Kaya rolled her eyes. "There it is again. Mister Safety."
"I'm stating facts."
"You're allergic to risk."
Raphael stood still, silent, ears twitching as he processed the exchange.
"Old Man Wǔ!" Baek Dae-Won called again, his voice even but firm.
This time, the dwarf turned. His eyes locked on Baek Dae-Won with sharp annoyance. "Who dares disturb me?" He squinted. "You again? Still so skinny. What, no food in your clan? Eat more. Look at you. You want wind to carry you off?"
Baek Dae-Won didn't react. Not a flinch. Just silence.
Wǔ Zhìyuàn's gaze swept across the room. He caught sight of Kaya and Elias standing off to the side, still tense from their earlier bickering. Then his eyes landed on Raphael. "Who's the fox boy?"
"He's new," Baek Dae-Won replied.
"I figured. I'm not blind." The dwarf snapped again, then turned back toward the golem and shouted, "STOP! OFF! OFF!"
The golem halted with a deep groan of stone grinding against stone. Its limbs stiffened in place, and dust spilled from its joints.
Nox blinked, crouched near its leg. "Uh... well, that was sudden."
Wǔ Zhìyuàn spun back around and pointed a thick finger at Baek Dae-Won. "You come for weapon? Training? That it?"
"No," Baek Dae-Won said, calm as ever. "Granduncle…"
But Wǔ Zhìyuàn cut him off with a scowl. "Where's that loud maniac? Huh? No letter, no warning, just drops fox boy on my doorstep like package. Think I run delivery service?"
He stomped forward, muttering under his breath. His heavy boots clanged on the metal floor as he passed Kaya and Elias. His eyes narrowed. "You two. Always arguing. Wasting time. Wasting breath."
Kaya bristled, but held her tongue, her fists tightening just a little. Elias frowned and adjusted his sleeves, but didn't look away.
The dwarf stopped in front of Raphael and stared. His expression unreadable.
Then, quietly, he muttered, "Must be hard for you."
He moved on.
Raphael tilted his head slightly. "Did he just... pity me?"
Kaya snorted. "No. That was affection. You're in."
Elias nodded once. "For what it's worth, yeah. That's basically a compliment."
Baek Dae-Won looked over his shoulder. "Come."
Raphael gave a small hum of agreement and followed, his footsteps quiet. After a few paces, he turned his head slightly. "You guys coming?"
Kaya waved him off. "Nah. Still on the clock. We'll show up when the food does."
Elias had already crossed the room, heading for Nox, who was crouched again, collecting pieces of shattered stone.
"What exactly was that back there?" Elias asked, voice sharp. "Were you trying to get flattened?"
Nox looked up slowly, his grin lazy. "You worry too much, Elias."
"You don't worry enough."
"Aww," Nox said, tilting his head. "That your way of saying you care?"
From the back, Kaya's voice rang out, fierce and smug. "Told you he needs to chill."
Elias rubbed his temple. "I don't even know why I try with you two."
Wǔ Zhìyuàn climbed the stairs without looking back. His footsteps echoed, steady and determined. Baek Dae-Won followed in silence, calm as ever. Raphael kept close, ears tilted to catch any sound.
"What's the plan?" Baek Dae-Won asked quietly.
"Not your concern," Wǔ Zhìyuàn snapped without stopping. "Why you always follow like shadow?"
At the top of the stairs, he pressed a hand to what looked like a plain wall. Without warning, the stone creaked and parted in the middle, revealing the library.
He stepped through without hesitation. The others followed. The wall sealed behind them with a soft rumble.
Raphael leaned in close to Baek Dae-Won and murmured, "So… is this normal?"
Baek Dae-Won kept his voice low. "I don't know. He doesn't explain much."
Just ahead, Ruin appeared from a side hall, her expression brightening at the sight of them. "Hey! There you are, I was…"
Wǔ Zhìyuàn walked past her without slowing. "Move. Too skinny. Don't block path."
Ruin blinked, startled. "What? I'm not skinny."
The dwarf waved a hand without turning. "Denial not flattering."
Ruin looked helplessly at Baek Dae-Won and Raphael. "What did I do?"
Baek Dae-Won glanced at her with the faintest tilt of his head. "He says that to everyone."
"We still don't know what his actual problem is," Raphael added softly.
Further down the corridor, Subaru was in mid-conversation with Auren. The two stood near the archway, Auren speaking gently while Subaru laughed under his breath.
Subaru turned and saw the dwarf approaching. His smile froze.
"Hey, Old Man Wǔ! Looking sharp today!"
Auren took one look at the cane in Wǔ Zhìyuàn's grip and instinctively stepped aside. "He doesn't look very happy."
Subaru laughed nervously. "C'mon, he always looks like that."
Wǔ Zhìyuàn's voice cracked through the hall like a hammer on stone. "You lunatic! Where my money?!"
Subaru's expression broke in a heartbeat. "Oh no."
He turned and ran.
"You owe me! Bring new boy, no money?! Think I forget?!"
The dwarf charged after him with unexpected speed, his cane swinging like a sword. It whistled through the air, missing Subaru's head by inches.
Subaru ducked with a yelp. "It wasn't even real currency!"
"It was real to me!" Wǔ Zhìyuàn bellowed. "You pay! Or I take blood!"
Auren chuckled quietly, watching them vanish down the corridor. Ruin frowned, brushing her sleeve. "What's that about?"
"Drinking contest," Auren replied, voice soft and clear.
Raphael Confused. "Wait… Grandpa lost?"
Auren nodded once. "He did."
Ruin Shocked. "I didn't even know he drank."
"He doesn't. That's why he lost," Auren said gently. "Yami won."
Ruin gave a small sigh, shaking her head. "Of course she did."
Down the corridor, Wǔ Zhìyuàn's voice thundered again, distant but fierce.
"YOU PAY, SUBARU! NO ESCAPE!"