Academy’s LOL Robot Summoner

A pretty and androgynous face, with a dull skin tone and various band-aids attached here and there, conveys a sense of fragility.

Cough, cough.

Teacher Shio coughs and flashes a smile.

“Shall we end here for today? Edu, you’ve worked hard.”

“Yes, thank you for your hard work.”

Teacher Shio slightly bows her head and leaves the classroom.

Once she confirms that the door is closed, she collapses onto the desk.

Dong.

[Beep?! / ٩(๑º ﾛ º๑)۶]

Bungbungi makes a surprised sound as it moves its body up and down to check on me.

I reach out to gently poke Bungbungi, indicating that I’m okay, and only then does it calm down.

“Ugh, studying here too… I don’t want to study…”

While fidgeting and moving my hands, I suddenly hear an ID notification.

[Sender: Ryuje Erhaknen, Message received.]

“Huh? The Principal…? Connect me.”

[Code confirmed, connecting to Ryuje Erhaknen.]

A holographic screen pops up in front of me, revealing pale skin and a jewel-like appearance shining in the darkness.

[Edu, how is the supplementary class?]

“…Yes.”

[You look rather gloomy for that.]

“Ugh, studying isn’t fun…”

A whine naturally slips out.

Hearing my words, the Principal blinks and then grins.

[So, Edu whines too.]

“Hehe… By the way, what’s the reason for your contact?”

[Well, I received some information that I’d like to discuss with you. Could you come to the Principal’s office for a moment?]

“O-”

Hmm, this feels like a premonition of an incident!

And when a situation arises, I’ll have a legitimate excuse to skip supplementary classes.

“I’ll head right over!”

[Alright, I’ll be waiting.]

The communication cuts off.

“Bungbungi, let’s go to the Principal’s office!”

[Beep! /⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝]

Bungbungi moves swiftly through the empty academy corridor, heading towards the Principal’s office.

The large door opens, and the Principal greets me.

“Welcome.”

“Yes! What’s going on?”

“I’ve discovered something a bit suspicious.”

“Suspicious?”

“Yes, during the previous meeting, you suggested we increase our levels, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I did.”

It was a proposal to establish a sturdy foundation in preparation for the increasingly fierce enemy attacks.

“We’ve been collaborating with the Explorer Guild to investigate various locations on the surface for that plan of yours. And it turns out that we found something here.”

As the Principal manipulates the device on the desk, a holographic screen expands and takes place between us.

The slowly sharpening image reveals cryptids that possess weapons like cannons or machine guns, or complex mechanical devices fused with their bodies.

“Oh, it’s the Assimilators?”

Assimilators.

They are the enemies we must face when the forces of the Red Queen form the largest mass among the three factions of cryptids represented by the White Queen, Red Queen, and Purple Queen.

As their name suggests, they have the ability to absorb weapons or mechanical devices into their bodies and can use the assimilated equipment as if it were part of them.

In short, they are beings that are half-machine and half-organic.

“I suspected as much, and indeed these are the guys mentioned in the information you provided.”

“Yes.”

The Principal nods, possibly recalling the materials I handed over the previous day.

“Where did you find these beings?”

“In an old city far removed from the cryptid domain; it’s an area where a large-scale industrial complex for automaton production is established.”

“Aha, so you sent explorers to investigate that industrial complex?”

The Principal nods.

“The surface is a dangerous place. Although Edu’s efforts have greatly weakened the surrounding enemy forces, we should conduct an investigation before taking any action.”

“I think so too.”

Information is power.

Everything I’ve achieved thus far is thanks to the knowledge and memories from AOE, and there’s a sky-high difference between knowing and not knowing something.

“Hmm, so they’re Assimilators… Ah.”

Just as I was pondering how to deal with them, a long-forgotten memory from the past suddenly resurfaces.

It’s from when Seoli showed her abilities in the sealed city where we found the enemy dragon.

When we were in danger from an attack from the large cryptid Ram, Seoli managed to stop its actions even as a child and saved us.

Furthermore, Seoli is not just an ordinary girl; she’s the powerful White Queen.

Even as a small child, she was able to restrain the movements of large cryptids like Ram, and now, having gained Ryong’s power and matured, surely she can fully unleash the Queen’s strength?

“Is something on your mind, Edu? Do you have a good idea?”

“Yes, I thought of something I’d like to try.”

Anyway, aside from dealing with the Fallen, I’ll need to sort out the wild cryptid swarm and colony sooner or later.

If I act on that while confirming my curiosity, it would be two birds with one stone.

“Then, can you leave the city and the Assimilators to me?”

“That’s fine… but are you sure you can handle it?”

“Yes, I don’t think it will be too risky if things go as I think.”

“Hmm?”

The Principal tilts their head, then slowly nods in agreement.

“I trust you’ll do well, but if you need help or anything arises, be sure to tell me or Freya anytime.”

“I will.”

“Then I’ll send you the information I received via ID, so could you take a look at it?”

“Yes!”

….

A white ship crossing the blue sky.

As always, sitting at the captain’s seat, I feel a warm sensation wrapping around my body.

“Hehe, little mom, where are we going?”

Unlike before, Seoli is not sitting on my lap but has me seated in her lap, hugging me tightly as she asks.

“Uh-huh, I was thinking of taking a walk with you for a while and maybe look for some beads.”

“Beads!!”

Seoli responds in a loud voice.

“Are we going to find those buzzing ones to catch?”

“Exactly. But Seoli, I have something I’m curious about.”

“Please tell me!!”

Seoli, who is hugging me tightly, nods her head eagerly, causing my body to move back and forth with her.

“Do you remember when we first met? Back in that big city long ago.”

“Yeah! The day I met little mom and big mom! I remember!! It was cold and scary, but my mom found me!!”

“So you remember, back then you stopped that huge monster and saved the moms, right?”

“Yeah! That big ugly thing was trying to hurt the moms, so I told it not to!!”

“I see, thank you, Seoli.”

Upon hearing my response, Seoli giggles and rubs her cheek against my head.

The warmth from Seoli transmits through my hair.

Feeling that soft sensation, I organize my thoughts.

‘So Seoli also knows about the Queen’s power.’

The fact that she instructed Ram not to do something means Seoli acted with intent.

With the absence of any further comments, it indicates that she was already aware that if she gave orders, she would be eaten by Ram.

In other words, Seoli understands the Queen’s power and also knows how to use it.

“But Seoli, about those monsters, is it possible for you to make them obey you?”

“Make them listen to me?”

“Yeah, like making the monsters act according to what Seoli tells them.”

“Yes! I can do it now!! Oh! If there are bad Seolis or too many buzzing ones, it won’t work!”

Bad Seolis and too many buzzing ones.

The bad Seoli seems to refer to the Queen, while buzzing ones are Seoli’s term for the cryptid commander entities.

This suggests that the use of the White Queen’s power may not be possible in groups with either another Queen or numerous commander entities.

“Hmm, so does that mean if there’s another Queen or many buzzing ones, they won’t listen?”

“Queein?”

“It’s a term for monsters that use a similar power to Seoli; the bad Seoli you mentioned is that, right?”

“That’s right!! If there’s that and many buzzing ones, then Seoli won’t be able to command! And they help each other!”

“Help each other?”

“Yes!”

Aha, so that’s why Seoli didn’t act much last time.

But to think that other commander entities could prevent interference from other Queens, I etch the newly learned information in my mind before speaking again.

“So as long as there are no bad Seolis or buzzing ones, then you can command them?”

“Yes!!”

After confirming, I move my head.

“Edward, did you hear? Can you use the radar to find a small-scale cryptid swarm or colony?”

“Sure, got it.”

“Jason, can you help with the search too?”

[Confirmed, Captain Edu. Deploying observation drones to search for moving creatures or caves.]

A busy atmosphere.

As that continues for a little while, Edward and Jason’s voices resonate simultaneously.

“Edu, we’ve detected multiple bio-signatures slightly east of here. It’s small-scale, but it seems to be a cryptid swarm.”

[Captain Edu, the observation drone sent west has confirmed the presence of a cave that wasn’t naturally formed.]

A swarm to the east, and a colony to the west.

In this case, it makes sense to capture the moving swarm first and then head towards the colony.

“Okay, then let’s catch the cryptid swarm first and head towards the colony. Jason? Could you head east?”

[Confirmed, Captain Edu.]

….

– Kurururu

– Kyaaah! Kyaah!

Sounds echoing in the wilderness.

A multitude of cryptids moves as a mass, spreading light vibrations.

Even if they are a small group, the number reaches into the hundreds.

At the center of the swarm floats a humanoid figure shrouded in armor.

The leader of the swarm, the Queen.

– ….

The emotionless, cynical gaze scans the surroundings when suddenly hot air pours down from above the Queen.

– ?!

The Queen quickly raises her head.

But all that is visible is the blue sky, and there’s nothing noticeable.

– ???

In this incomprehensible situation, the Queen continues to survey the surroundings.

The cryptids in the swarm mimic her movements, checking the surroundings, but there are no signs of anomalies.

After unsuccessfully searching, the Queen gives up.

Just as the swarm is about to proceed, a shadow suddenly looms over the Queen.

Before the Queen can react, a blade slashes down.

A giant, fourteen meters in height, cleaves through the Queen’s armor and bisects her small body.

– !!!

The Queen collapses, unable to even react.

The colors vanish from her eyes, and the cryptid swarm awakens from their collective consciousness, recalling their wild senses upon losing their leader.

– Kyaaah! Kyaah!

– Kururu-

The lower cryptids bare their teeth at each other.

In a hair-trigger situation, the abdomen of the giant with black wings opens, revealing a mature woman with flowing white hair.

The woman gathers her strength.

“Don’t fight!!”

Her voice, so unlike her appearance, sounds childlike.

As Seoli’s voice resonates, the hostility in the cryptids, which were previously bared against each other, freezes, and all heads turn towards Seoli.

– Kyaahrk. Kyaahrk?

– Kurk.

The cryptids gaze at Seoli as if to say when did that happen.

Seeing their response, Seoli raises her hands high.

“Sit!”

With a loud thump.

Hundreds of cryptids flat on the ground.

“Get up!”

The cryptid legion resumes their postures.

“Jump!”

– Kyaahrk?

– Kyaahrk.

“Like this!”

Seoli demonstrates by jumping up and down for the cryptids that don’t understand her words.

“Again, jump!”

The cryptids leap in unison.

The command of the collective consciousness resonates in their minds, spelling out the word submission clearly within.

“Hehe, you listen well! I’ve become the little mom!!”

“Good job, Seoli, come here.”

“Yes!!”

Seoli rushes to the cockpit.

The sight of her playing coy and receiving pats from Edu fills the eyes of the cryptids.

– Kyaahrk? Kyaahrk.

– Kyaah, Kyaah!

The thoughts shared via the collective consciousness echo among all entities.

The cryptids that received the thoughts affirmatively imprint the existence of a being above the Queen within the collective consciousness.

A small existence surpassing the Queen.

At that moment, the identity of the infant Queen firmly establishes its presence in the minds of the cryptids.

---