I Am Not a Robot. Beep-bop

Chapter 42: Green Factory 2

The anomaly at the Green Factory – the Bio Factory – happened abruptly.

The conveyor belts made of flesh and the machinery resembling intestines began operating simultaneously, spewing countless monsters as if vomiting.

【First batch of monsters: 19 Goblins, 5 Orcs, 8 Trolls. A total of 32 entities have been confirmed.】

“Kuweeek!”

“Kieek!”

“Kki, eek!”

Accompanied by sticky, disgusting sounds, they appeared.

The sensors automatically detected the foul stench piercing my nose and shut down the olfactory system.

【Combat module activated】

All bodily senses and functions automatically switched to combat mode, rapidly consuming energy.

Heat surged.

My senses sharpened.

The faint growls of the monsters now sounded as if they were right beside me.

I tilted my body slightly and then pushed off the ground.

When I deliberately made noise as I dashed forward, the monsters seemed to notice me and began charging with rusty clubs, sharp claws, and fangs.

“Kieeek!”

“Uwooo!”

“Grrr!”

I punched the face of the closest Goblin without hesitation.

The Goblin and I were almost the same height.

Naturally, our arm lengths were similar, and judging by appearances, the Goblin, with its sharp teeth and claws, seemed more threatening.

“Kikekekek!”

The Goblin appeared to smirk, seeing a girl of similar or smaller size charging at it unarmed.

If I had truly rushed in without a weapon, the Goblin, charging like a beast, would have scratched my skin first.

Well, whether or not my skin would have been wounded by a Goblin’s claws is a different matter.

“Kikekek!”

‘Deploy.’

-Kiiing!

Before I even finished my thought, the Mantis Blade pierced through the Goblin’s laughing mouth.

“K-k, ke…?”

The Goblin trembled, mouth agape as if it hadn’t realized what had happened, and collapsed backward the moment I withdrew my hand.

While the blade had pierced its mouth, it was the blessing imbued in the Holy Sword fragment that destroyed the monster, ensuring its demise.

The blessing within the Holy Sword even caused the Goblin’s blood and flesh to slide off the blade before they could touch it.

The blessing, which unconditionally repelled monsters, kept the sword clean on its own.

“Ahaha!”

This effect was incredibly satisfying.

I couldn’t help but laugh.

There was no need for cumbersome maintenance, and the blade wouldn’t get damaged or dull no matter how long the battle lasted.

-Thunk!

Despite witnessing the Goblin’s death, the other Goblins and Orcs charged without hesitation.

Creatures with low intelligence didn’t even comprehend what had happened.

That worked for me.

If they had gotten scared and fled, chasing them down would’ve been a hassle.

As another Goblin rushed toward me, I drew the cursed Demon Sword, the Mantis Blade, imbued with malicious energy.

-Slash!

【It has been confirmed that the curse within the Demon Sword annihilates blood and flesh before they touch the blade. Both Mantis Blades are suitable for prolonged battles.】

“So, that’s how it is?”

There was no longer any need to hesitate.

I drew both Mantis Blades with my hands.

The information Theresa had implanted in my mind flashed through in an instant.

The basics of swordsmanship.

Continuous strikes.

Fundamental theories.

Various stances and the mindset necessary as a foundation.

Of course, all I did was read about it in text, and the Mantis Blade is entirely different from the swords used in theoretical swordsmanship, so it couldn’t be used as-is.

Still, I could at least imitate something resembling swordsmanship.

-Thwack!

I lightly swung my arm, cutting down three approaching Goblins at once.

The blade was so sharp that it sliced through the Goblins’ flesh and bones like tofu.

Swinging the Mantis Blade was far more energy-efficient than deploying multiple mechanical tendrils from my spine.

Before the upper halves of the bisected Goblins hit the ground, I leapt forward.

The fist of an oncoming Orc smashed into the spot where I had just stood, while I spun my body and quickly stabbed the Orc’s fist, wrist tendons, elbows, and the underside of its armpit.

“Grrraahhh!”

The creature writhed in pain, but it couldn’t even think of retaliating, perhaps because its tendons and nerves were already damaged by the rapid stabs.

As I leapt above the much larger monster’s head and spun my body, I swung the Mantis Blade, cleanly splitting the back of the Orc’s neck and head into a straight vertical line.

The blood that burst out like a fountain soaked me, but I didn’t mind.

It wasn’t unpleasant; rather, it felt good.

The sensation of slicing through flesh.

The feeling of shattering bones and nerves.

The Mantis Blade delivered every vibration and sensation directly to me, far more vividly than wielding a traditional sword.

It was exhilaratingly thrilling.

The moment of claiming a life, along with its anguish and pain, gave me strength.

Not metaphorically, but literally, every time I slaughtered a monster, my remaining energy slightly replenished.

The total number of monsters at the Green Factory was 1,832.

Right now, excluding the five I had just killed, 27 were in front of me.

“Ahaha!”

Ah, I feel joy.

Why does this make me so happy?

Was I always this close to being a battle maniac, like someone from a comic book?

Or has my personality changed because of this body?

It doesn’t matter.

This moment is pure, and the joy is genuine.

-Squelch!

Every time I swung the Mantis Blade, I realized something.

I truly possessed an extraordinary weapon.

It moved as if it were part of my body, felt almost weightless, obeyed my will perfectly, and sliced through thick fatty tissue, flesh, and bones like cutting tofu.

Of course, it wasn’t without its downsides.

‘The swordsmanship data Theresa provided was helpful, but Ark’s existing swordsmanship doesn’t suit the Mantis Blade.’

The Mantis Blade itself was a weapon that didn’t exist in Ark.

Theresa must have compiled my memories and subconscious information to design this weapon, but there wasn’t any tactical manual for the Mantis Blade in Ark.

I had to create everything from scratch, and sometimes swordsmanship even hindered my movements or clashed with the Mantis Blade’s style.

I swiftly cut down another Goblin and barely avoided their grasp as I retreated.

“Theresa!”

-Thwack!

【Yes, Human.】

“Upload any data you can find on fast-paced dances!”

【Are you referring to dance?】

“Swordsmanship doesn’t mesh well with the Mantis Blade! Upload manuals on boxing or dance that involve body movements instead!”

【Understood.】

Immediately, my bank account balance dropped as a new shelf of books appeared in the e-book library.

In less than five seconds, the text from ten books was crammed into my brain, flooding me with a horrifying sensation, as if my skull were splitting open.

【Basic Waltz Lessons】

【Introductory Sports Dance Guide】

【Beginner’s Boxing Handbook】
.
.
.
.
.
【Fundamentals of Tango Partnership】

“Ugh… good.”

As soon as the information upload was complete, I threw myself back into the fray.

The Green Factory had already resumed producing monsters in the meantime.

What was once a single monster turned into ten.

The number of monsters started increasing from what it had initially spat out.

However, the more there were, the better it was for me.

-Squelch!

The Mantis Blade wasn’t a weapon separate from my body.

Rather, it was a weapon that was excessively influenced by my body and mind, to the point where it felt like an additional arm integrated into me.

This meant that traditional swordsmanship with long reach was useless for the Mantis Blade, which required its own method of handling.

‘Dance isn’t a hobby, but purely for mastering body movements, sports like dance or boxing are probably the best!’

There might be better options, but that was all I could think of at the moment.

Thankfully, the information Theresa hastily uploaded was quite useful.

-Slash!

One step.

Two steps.

A single stride.

Another stride.

One, two, slowly.

Forward and back.

Now, let’s dance.

With the sword as my partner.

And the forelegs of a mantis as my companion.

Blood splattered, and flesh flew.

The agonized screams of the creatures sliced by the Mantis Blade reverberated through the air, and the mana in the atmosphere responded to that pain.

The manifested mana, now tangible energy in the air, was absorbed into me, replenishing my energy reserves.

That strength became the driving force for me to swing the Mantis Blade again and create new suffering.

-Thud!

-Thud-thud-thud!

-Slice!

-Rip!

-Squelch!

Let’s dance once more.

Like a madman.

With every step I took, blood spilled.

With two steps, flesh was torn apart.

With three steps, bone fragments scattered.

With four steps, shattered intestines.

By the fifth step, hearts and brains were minced into tiny pieces.

Now, let’s dance together.

One, two, three.

Die, all of you.

“Ahaha!”

Ah, this is so much fun.

And so I slashed.

I danced.

And slashed again.

Leaping around, even though I didn’t pair up with anyone, it was fun enough.

Ten.

Twenty.

Thirty.

Forty.

The first wave had long been wiped out.

I was already butchering the green-skinned newcomers joining the fight, their fate becoming the same as their predecessors.

My strength was inherently overwhelming compared to Goblins and Orcs, but this time, I fought purely relying on the Mantis Blade.

Forged from the Holy Sword and Demon Sword, the Mantis Blade didn’t disappoint me, living up to its sheer magnificence.

Even the regenerative Trolls couldn’t withstand its edge, their bones and flesh separating instantly.

-Stab!

“Grrr… kiaahh…!”

I drove the Mantis Blades into the eyes and heart of the last remaining Troll.

While I had killed the others cleanly, this one had significant regenerative ability, requiring me to stab both its brain and heart repeatedly to kill it.

Even then, it refused to die easily, so I had to stab persistently and meticulously until it seemed to surrender and give up its life.

To be certain, I severed its arms, legs, and neck to prevent any chance of regeneration.

【Human, ambient mana is infusing into your body parts.】

“I know that already!”

【It is different from the usual.】

-Slice!

“What’s different about it!”

After stabbing the stomach of an Orc that was trying to grab me from behind, I jumped, leaving two straight cuts across the Orc’s body where the Mantis Blade had sliced through.

【The more monsters you kill, the mana and energy from those entities enhance your body.】

“Separate from the energy recharge?”

【Correct. It appears to be related to integrating the status window into the system, but further analysis will require time.】

It was true—at the moment of killing a monster, I felt something indescribable flow into me.

It was faster than the wind brushing past, a fleeting sensation, likely the phenomenon of mana absorption Theresa had mentioned.

Could others do this too?

No, probably not.

Even if they could, they wouldn’t have the intuitive numerical display like a status window.

This was because I possessed the authority of a status window, and in this world, becoming stronger required money before personal effort.

One needed to undergo combat body modifications, consume potent nutrients, or, in the case of unawakened Hunters, purchase stronger bodies or equipment with money.

Of course, training wasn’t entirely absent as a method, but the fact that I could absorb the monsters’ energy solo, like gaining experience points in a game, and see my growth as numerical values was an enormous advantage.

-Slash!

Fifty monsters down.

It was far from enough to truly feel myself getting stronger.

【Human, there is sufficient combat data, but…】

“Ha, ha! No, let’s keep going. I’d like to hit level nine while I’m at it.”

【It is still uncertain whether leveling up depends on hunting monsters, but gathering more combat data will clarify upgrade and enhancement plans. I have no objections.】

Well, did you hear that, monsters?

Green-skinned creatures, let’s dance one more time.

You’ll revive anyway, right?

So scream intensely in pain, come back to life, and bid me farewell once more.

It’s clean that way, isn’t it?

Not clean, you say?

Too bad! Die already!

Rights only exist for beings with personhood!

-Slice!

Someone’s teeth.

Someone’s skull.

Someone’s flesh.

These filled the space around me.

As I spun in circles, forming arcs, large chunks of blood and flesh seemed to waltz around my feet.

-Thud!

“Hahaha…!”

Ah, thrilling.

The sensation of tearing flesh and slicing through intestines is vivid.

It’s so electrifying that my metallic fingertips tremble.

To feel this kind of exhilaration in a mechanical body…!

【Human, this entity is the last one.】

“Haah, haah… Already? Feels like I haven’t killed nearly enough….”

【The Green Factory operates on cycles, vomiting monsters for an entire day. Since this wave is over, I expect a brief pause before a new wave begins.】

“……”

I raised my hands, soaked in blood and flesh.

Though my body and hands were drenched in gore, not a single drop of blood remained on the Mantis Blade.

It still gleamed sharply, its edge so precise that the air itself seemed to tremble around it.

It almost felt like the fragments of the Holy Sword and Demon Sword were humming, resonating as if demanding more blood.

【Shall we continue?】

“Haah… Just a little more. Let’s go a little longer.”

【Understood. Switching to energy-saving mode. Combat mode OFF.】

I collapsed in front of the factory shaped like intestines.

Hurry.

Quickly.

I just want to cut a little more.