Chapter 4: “EXTRA life” Part 4

After a few minutes, his head stopped spinning, and he finally regained consciousness.

Noir sat up slowly, rubbing his temples, his eyes landing on the maid standing before him. He let out a long sigh.

“That faceless doll… its appearance changed like a human… and now the cube is half its original size?” he muttered, pausing for a moment.

<A strange voice echoed in my mind… wait. That voice knows I’m not from this world. And what does ‘child of blessing’ even mean?>

“There’s supposed to be only one special child, and that’s an elf…” Noir frowned, trying to process it all.

He shifted his gaze back to the cube and the faceless doll.

The doll moved slightly, its head turning, its eyes following him as he stepped back.

Noir narrowed his eyes.

“Who… are you?”

The doll’s mechanical voice answered without hesitation.

“ Libram of Inevitable Balance and Retribution Anima — LIBRA.

The Judgement Golem.”

Noir blinked.

“Okay… let’s try another question. What are you?”

“I’m LIBRA, Master,” it replied again, unwavering.

Noir frowned, circling the doll slowly, searching for any hint of deception or a hidden identity.

Every time he asked for something new, the answer never changed.

<She keeps insisting she’s LIBRA… no matter what I ask.>

He sighed, realizing he had no choice but to accept it for now.

“Fine… LIBRA it is. But I swear, I’ll figure out what you really are… eventually. ”

“For now, I don’t think you’re my enemy.”

Noir stood and turned his gaze to the grey cube.

“Alright next… the question is… how does this even work?” he muttered to himself.

<Is there a manual for this thing?>

He looked at LIBRA.

“Okay, you call yourself LIBRA… who is your master? And do you know anything about this cube?”

LIBRA lifted her small mechanical hand and pointed directly at him.

“My master,” she said in her mechanical voice.

“What!! Me??” Noir exclaimed.

She continued,

“Synchronisation rate: 12%. New master assigned. Alternative names: God Dice 3, Omnicube, LIBRA.”

Noir’s eyebrows rose.

“So… this is part of you? Because you were holding it in your hand before?”

LIBRA nodded slightly.

“The God Dice 3 is part of me.”

“It is used for repairing and controlling me, for both offensive and defensive purposes. It draws energy from the surrounding air mana or Ethire Nano”

Noir tilted his head.

“Do you know how to use it?”

LIBRA extended her hand.

The grey cube floated up, and in a flash of blue mana, her mechanical hand transformed into a sword, humming with energy.

Noir blinked, staring at the sword.

<When did this novel turn into a sci-fi story?> he thought dryly.

He moved his hand, and the cube smoothly returned to rest in her palm, retracting the sword and reintegrating into its original form.

Noir looked at her, frowning.

“LIBRA… what does synchronisation rate even mean?”

“The synchronisation rate,” LIBRA replied mechanically,

“increases when the cube holder’s energy rises. If the holder uses the cube beyond their synchronisation rate, it may cause death or severe side effects.”

Noir’s eyes widened.

“…Okay, stop. Let’s think about that later.”

“Right now, it’s just… creepy And I do not want to hear anything about my death,” he said, stepping outside.

<I already know I’m on my deathbed… no more, please.>

Before he could finish, a sparkle of light caught his eye.

A small stone had fallen near the bag. Noir crouched down to inspect it.

His eyes widened.

“Wait… these aren’t just stones—they’re mana stones and elemental crystals!”

<These are rare materials. And… the selling rate for these is crazy high.>

He tried lifting the bags and groaned.

“Ugh… these two bags? They’re heavy.”

“Master… can I help?” LIBRA asked calmly.

Noir turned to see her carrying one of the bags effortlessly.

Her movements were smooth and precise, as if it weighed nothing at all.

He stared, speechless.

“How strong… is she? I bet that’s at least forty or fifty kilograms.”

<Or maybe this body is weak as hell… whatever. I need to go. Elric is waiting, and I’ll figure out an excuse to say.>

Noir and LIBRA took the path outside—but the gate was jammed. It wouldn’t budge.

“Elric? You still out there?” Noir called.

A voice replied from the shadows.

“Master! Yes… I’m glad you’re alive!”

LIBRA’s gaze stayed fixed on Noir.

< Why is she looking at me like that? Is she jealous> he thought, taking a cautious step back.

“We need to push the door,” he said, trying to act calm.

LIBRA set the bag down, placed her hands on the gate, and—CRACK! The frame snapped under the force. The door shattered under her strength.

Dust flew everywhere.

Elric staggered back, eyes wide.

“Who… who is this girl, Master?”LIBRA eyes look at the sword and Elric ready to take action

Noir jumped between them.

“Both of you—idiots! Stop fighting!”

Elric still stared at LIBRA. Noir groaned.

“She’s a golem, Elric… and the artifact I found inside the cave? This is it.”

Elric blinked, confused.

“You expect me to believe she’s… a woman? And not just a maid? Master, what kind of… uh… fetishes do you have?”

Noir’s face turned red.

“What the heck are you even saying?! She’s a golem, you idiot! And first of all, where would I even get a maid dress?!”

Both men started bickering, their voices echoing across the courtyard.

LIBRA just stood there silently, tilting her head slightly, watching the chaos unfold with her blank, mechanical expression.

Noir muttered under his breath, glaring at both of them.

<I swear… I’m surrounded by idiots.>

After a few tense minutes, Elric and Noir finally calmed down.

Elric leaned forward and poked LIBRA’s square, stone cheek.

“Are you still going to say this is a golem?” he asked, eyes narrowing.

LIBRA’s mechanical head tilted slightly.

“Master… this is golem harassment,” it replied bluntly.

Noir and Elric froze.

<…Is that even possible? And what Golem harassment>both thought simultaneously, disbelief written across their faces.

“Well… whatever. Let’s go,” Noir finally muttered.

Elric frowned.

“Go where?now”

Noir’s sharp gaze met his.

“I don’t want the Red Orc to wake up. We need to reach the village before morning.”

Elric blinked, then nodded slowly.

“You’re right… and those golems? Yeah… they scared me more than a little.”

He stepped forward cautiously, the

Cave shadows stretching long and ominous around them.

“Wait!” Noir’s voice cut through the quiet. He lifted a hand.

“The trap… it’s still active.”

But it was too late.

Elric’s boot pressed down on the wrong tile.

A deafening click echoed. The giant gloves hidden in the ground suddenly glowed with a pale, eerie light.

Elric’s eyes widened.

“Master… Noir! We’re… screwed!”

Before either could react, the massive golem hands lunged out of the ground.

Both Noir and Elric jumped, narrowly avoiding a crushing blow, their hearts pounding.

Noir and Elric stepped back as the golem loomed over them, buying a bit of distance—

but then, two more golems rose from the shadows.

Elric groaned in disbelief.

“What is this…… crazy place?”

Noir crouched slightly, trying to think. One of the golems swung its massive arm toward him.

“Master! Watch out!” Elric shouted.

LIBRA moved instantly.

Her mechanical form glinted in the dim light as she intercepted the attack, the impact reverberating across the clearing.

LIBRA dodged quickly with noir.

“LIBRA you, save me!” Noir added, eyes wide.“Thanks, LIBRA. Wait… can you fight?” Noir asked cautiously.

Her mechanical voice responded without hesitation.

“Yes What is your command?”

“Do anything. Just open a way for us,” Noir said, gripping his cube starter again and going to LIBRA hand and turn shape into knuckle.

LIBRA’s knuckles glowed blue. Energy sparked along her arms.

Output: 6% — Target: Golem.

She leapt forward and punched the golem squarely in the face.

Elric and Noir froze in shock.

“Ugh… I need to remember—hold back… how could I forget? She’s part cube!” Noir muttered under his breath.

Elric rushed toward him.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fine… thanks to LIBRA,” Noir replied, eyes locked on the next threat.

But before they could react, a third golem attacked.

“No—wait!” Noir raised his guard instinctively.

Three swords appeared out of nowhere, blocking the golem’s massive hand.

One of them pierced straight into its head.

Elric’s jaw dropped.

“What… how—?”

They stared in stunned silence as other small parts of CUBE transformed

The cube split and reformed into four perfectly balanced swords, striking with flawless precision.

“This… this just happened? That artifact saves our life ” Elric muttered as the third golem staggered back and fall down.

LIBRA stood ready, her blue glow flickering steadily, prepared for the next strike.

Noir and Elric barely had time to breathe.

The remaining two golems charged, their massive legs shaking the ground.

“Brace yourself!” Noir shouted.

LIBRA stepped forward.

Her mechanical knuckles glowed an intense blue, sparks flying with every subtle movement.

The first golem swung a crushing fist.

In a blink, LIBRA leapt upward, kicking off the ground like a spring. She landed on its shoulder and drove a powerful punch straight down.

Crack—

Metal and stone shattered as the golem staggered—then collapsed entirely.

Elric’s mouth fell open.

“Did… did she just—?”

Before he could finish, the second golem raised its claw to strike Noir.

LIBRA pivoted mid-air, spinning like a whirlwind. Her arms extended, crushing the golem’s limbs with mechanical precision.

The creature howled, struggling—but her strength was absolute.

She slammed it into the ground.

Chunks of metal and stone exploded outward.

Noir exhaled sharply, barely processing what he’d seen.

“LIBRA… you just crushed two of them… in seconds! Thats my Golem”

LIBRA’s voice remained calm, almost clinical.

“Threat neutralized.

Remaining threat: none detected.”

Noir and Elric took a few steps forward—

<Why sound like she was happy>they both thought

Crack—rumble—!

The cave ceiling shook. Stones broke loose. Massive rocks began to fall.

“Elric!” Noir shouted.

Elric reacted instantly. Aura flared around his body as he stepped forward and swung his sword upward.

Slash—!

A falling boulder split cleanly in half and crashed to either side.

“We have No time!” noir shouted.

“LIBRA—grab the bag! Elric let's run”

“Yes, Master,” LIBRA and Elric replied.

Elric snatched his pack and sprinted toward the exit. LIBRA moved ahead, clearing the path.

Noir followed he was slow—

—but his footing slipped as the ground collapsed beneath him.

“Tch—!”

Pain shot through his leg as he landed badly.

Noir grit his teeth and forced himself forward.

<If I slow down, I die not yet I'm going to die in cave>

Behind them, the cave screamed.

Walls cracked. The floor caved in.

Just as they all burst out of the entrance—

BOOOOM—!

The entire cave collapsed. Dust and stone swallowed everything behind them.

Silence followed.

Noir dropped to one knee, breathing hard. His leg trembled, blood soaking through his pants.

“…That was close,” he muttered.

<We were lucky. Only three golems activated. If more had woken up…>

Elric turned immediately.

“Master, are you alright?!”

LIBRA hand back into her cube form and floated beside Noir and looked at his injury.

“Master, damage detected Are operational? Not fatal damage”

Noir looked at them, then gave a weak smile.

“Yeah,” he said.

“Still alive. That’s enough for now and looks like morning begins soon ”

Behind them, the ruined cave stood buried forever.

They had survived