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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Lava Golem
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Lava Golem
"Pant… pant…"
Testain, chief of the Red Hammer clan, felt the coppery taste of exhaustion in his mouth for the first time in a long while.
The battle against the lava golems, which had begun even before the steel gate installed to block intruders was destroyed, had now been raging for over an hour.
"Damn these rock piles! Where in the world are their cores!"
"Take out the one on the left first!"
"I'd love to, but the floor is a sea of lava! We can't get close!"
"They used to come one at a time! What did they eat to make three of them show up at once!"
The dwarves gripped their blunt weapons until their knuckles bled, steeling their resolve not to retreat.
"Kuuuooooo."
*Sizzle.*
The lava golems dripped magma from their outer shells, steadily shrinking the space where the dwarves could move.
"Grr…"
If they had been stone golems, they would have smashed them to bits long ago, even if ten had appeared, let alone three.
But lava golems had the distinct trait of magma flowing down their bodies. For the dwarves, who had to rely on close-range physical attacks, they were the worst possible enemy.
With three such lava golems attacking at once, it was only natural that the dwarves were being pushed back helplessly.
"Chief. If we're pushed back here, our homes will be destroyed."
"You have to decide whether we retreat or see this through to the end."
"Of course we won't retreat. We see this through here, even if it means death!"
"Understood!"
"You said it!"
Testain and the dwarves clenched their jaws and glared at the golems that had advanced to the center of the village.
Everyone knew. The brief moment when the drainage channel in the village center diverted the lava would be their last chance to take the creatures down.
"Now! Everyone, attack!"
"Uwaaaah!"
"You rock piles! I'll show you the fury of the Red Hammer clan!"
Just as the dwarves, hearing Testain's order, were about to charge the golems.
*Crack!*
A sound like the air itself bursting echoed from somewhere, and the lava golem rampaging in the middle froze.
*Thud.*
The right arm of the motionless lava golem simply fell off.
*Kugugugu.*
It wasn't just the right arm. The lava golem, which had been raging moments before, crumbled away as if it were made of sand.
"Huh?"
"Wh-what the…"
"What in the world…"
The dwarves, watching the golem collapse for no apparent reason, stared with dumbfounded expressions at the steaming pile of rocks that had, until a moment ago, been a lava golem.
"A-a human?"
Testain, the first to regain his senses, saw a human man with a confident smile walking into the village from behind the collapsed golem.
"Let's save the greetings for later and put out the urgent fire. Oh, wait, it's lava."
After speaking, the man raised his hands. They were aimed at the lava golems on the right and left.
*Craaack!*
*Crack!*
The moment something shot from the man's hands, drawing white lines as it pierced through the golems.
The golems melted away.
**
I had only activated the Creator's Eye as usual to see the lava golems' information.
"Huh?"
As I read the lava golem's information with the Creator's Eye, I saw a red orb pulsating inside the golem's right shoulder.
"The golem's core…"
The only hard part is finding the core. Once you find it, taking down a golem is a piece of cake.
*Tap.*
After changing Agnes into a White Light Orb, I held it between my thumb and forefinger.
*Crack!*
Channeling the Lightning Flash, I flicked my finger. With a satisfying whoosh that cut through the air, the White Light Orb shot forward like a beam of light.
*Thwack!*
The White Light Orb, flying in a white arc, destroyed the orb inside the golem without the slightest error.
*Ssssss.*
Its core shattered, the lava golem stopped moving and then collapsed like a sandcastle.
"Uh…"
I gave a grin to the dumbfounded, red-bearded dwarf, then located the cores of the remaining two lava golems.
I could see one's core pulsing in its left chest, and the other's in the very center of its abdomen.
*Craaack!*
*Crack!*
Flinging a White Light Orb from each hand, I brought down both lava golems simultaneously.
*Rumble…*
As soon as I lowered my hands, the sight of the lava golems melting away created a scene as magnificent as any could be.
*Sssss.*
As the lava golems returned to earth, the lava scorching the ground also began to subside.
"Hah!"
"Ah…"
"Uh…"
The dwarves who witnessed the golems crumble held their breath, their eyes fixed on my fingers.
"Is everyone alright?"
"Ye-yes, we are!"
"Thank you so much for your help!"
"Thank you!"
Snapped back to their senses by my question, the dwarves ran up to me and bowed their heads.
"It was nothing. We're not strangers, after all."
"Huh? Not strangers…?"
The red-bearded dwarf at the front asked again, seemingly not understanding my words.
"Actually, I'm…"
"Grand Prince!"
Just as I was about to mention Giranox, his voice called out from behind me at the perfect moment.
"Wh-why is the village gate broken… M-Master!"
"Giranox? What are you doing here?"
Giranox shouted "Master!" and rushed toward the red-bearded dwarf in front of me.
"My goodness! What in the world happened?"
"We were attacked by lava golems."
"But lava golems appearing is something that happens from time to time."
"Three appeared at once. This is the first time that's ever happened."
"Gah!"
At the mention of three, Giranox's eyes widened as if they would tear.
"The Grand Prince must have taken care of them. Thank you so much!"
Giranox, who had been holding his master's hand, turned around and bowed his head to me.
"Grand Prince? You know this man?"
"Master. This is Lord Yuren Lox, whom I serve. Grand Prince. This is my master and the chief of the Red Hammer clan, Lord Testain."
"So there was a reason our benefactor said we weren't strangers. I am Testain, in charge of this village. Thank you very much for your help."
Testain once again bowed deeply and politely to me.
"I am Yuren Lox. If you are Giranox's master, then you are my master as well. It was only natural that I help, so please don't worry about it."
"Hoh…"
Hearing my words, Testain's eyes sparkled. It seemed I had made the best possible first impression.
[Activating Creator's Eye.]
[Name: Testain Bredman]
[Traits: Artisan's Soul lv5, Concentration lv4, Flame Affinity lv4, Appraisal lv4, Craftsmanship lv4 ]
[Favorability: 32 (Favorable) ]
[Current Mood: Awestruck. ]
Dwarves are highly wary of outsiders. So for his favorability to be at 32 right after meeting him meant I'd made an excellent first impression.
"This is no time to stand around! Everyone, come out and thank our benefactor!"
"No, it's quite alright."
"That would be rude. Hurry up, everyone out!"
At Testain's words, the dwarves scattered here and there gathered before me.
"This is the man who looks after the clumsy Giranox, and he is the benefactor who saved us. Everyone, pay your respects."
"Thank you!"
"Thank you so much, benefactor!"
"No, really, it was nothing."
It wasn't intentional, but thanks to the lava golems, I'd left a very positive first impression on all the dwarves.
Especially the word 'benefactor.'
Dwarves don't use the word 'benefactor' lightly. It carries great meaning.
"Thankfully, it seems no one was seriously injured."
"Yes. Though many of the buildings have collapsed…"
At Giranox's words as he looked around at the dwarves, Testain gave a bitter smile, looking at the collapsed and destroyed buildings before him.
"For three golems to appear at once, that's truly strange."
"Tell me about it. We've had lava golems or other golems attack from time to time, but never three at once."
Testain frowned in disbelief at Giranox's words.
"Three of them…"
Both earlier and now, I couldn't feel the presence of a mage nearby. That meant these were naturally occurring golems.
"By any chance, are there any mana-rich gems or stones here?"
"Mana… Ah! We recently acquired a high-quality, top-grade mana stone. Surely that couldn't be…"
"That's it."
"Damn it!"
Testain frowned, understanding my words.
"As you know, naturally formed golems react to mana. It seems they were drawn by the mana of the top-grade mana stone and attacked all at once."
"Haaah…"
Testain let out a long, deep sigh as if in disbelief.
"It's okay, Master. As long as no one died or was seriously hurt, that's what matters. We can fix the buildings quickly. I'll help too."
"Well, I'll be. To think I'd live to see the day you'd be comforting me. But why are you back? It hasn't been that long since I sent you off. You're back already."
"That's not it. There's something amazing, something incredible! Truly incredible!"
"Still as excitable as ever. Try to speak calmly."
Giranox grabbed Testain's hand and shook it up and down excitedly.
"Grand Prince!"
Giranox looked at me as if to say I should show him the fang, no words needed.
"Is there a place we can go inside to talk?"
"Of course. This way, please."
Testain led us to his home.
*Thump.*
As soon as we entered Testain's house, I placed the God-Slaying Beast's fang on the table.
"It's the tooth of a beast that existed long ago. I came here to request that you make a weapon from it."
"A tooth…"
Before even looking at the tooth, Testain glared at Giranox.
"Uh, well, the forge where I am lacks firepower, and my skills are also insufficient, so I couldn't…"
"Hmph…"
Testain sighed and began to examine the tooth. His calm, composed eyes began to tremble as if an earthquake had struck.
"This is!"
Just as expected of someone with Appraisal level 4, he cried out not long after seeing the tooth.
"Th-this… what beast's tooth is this?"
"I don't know the details myself. Only that it was a beast that existed long ago…"
I feigned ignorance, worried that using the name 'God-Slaying Beast' might cause problems.
"I-I see. I have never seen such a material in my life."
"Can you make the weapon I desire with this tooth?"
"Of course! Absolutely. In fact, I must insist that you entrust this task to me!"
The flames of an artisan were burning in Testain's eyes.
"However…"
Testain trailed off, as if there was a problem.
"Because of the lava that flowed from the golems, we don't have a usable forge right now. It will take some time to repair it."
"That can't be helped. Of course, that's fine."
"As soon as the forge repairs are complete, I will craft the item you desire, benefactor."
After speaking, Testain immediately went outside.
"Hey! Fix the forge first!"
"Agh, Chief. As much as you love hammering, we need to fix our houses to have a place to sleep. The drainage channel needs work too."
"He's really something else. I love hammering too, but I can't keep up with him."
"Quiet down! Our benefactor has requested a weapon. Fix the forge first!"
The dwarves grumbled at Testain, but upon hearing that I had requested a weapon, they began cleaning and repairing the forge without another word of complaint.
"I should get ready, too."
"Pardon?"
"Arin, stand guard in front of the village and protect the dwarves, just in case."
"Where are you going, Grand Prince?"
"For a walk."
"A walk? Then I'll guide you."
Giranox stood up as if to accompany me and moved to my side.
"No need. You go help your master."
"Will you be alright alone?"
"Am I a child?"
"Haha, understood."
Giranox grinned and ran over to Testain.
"Arin, I'm counting on you."
"Yes."
After once again asking Arin for protection, I left the village.
"The golems weren't Beil's doing."
If Beil had intended to interfere with me, he would have sent the wolves or come himself.
The golems occurred naturally, which means his attack hasn't even begun yet.
"Still, I should make some preparations, just in case."
**
After setting up preparations for a wolf invasion, I was about to head back to the village when I heard a sound in the distance, slowly growing closer.
*Rumble, rumble…*
It was the sound of a group moving, not just one or two people.
"It's not them."
Beil's wolves are assassins. They would never move so openly, making such noise.
Thinking it was an unexpected third party, I immediately used Onslon's Watchtower to enhance my hearing.
"We will soon reach the dwarves' village."
"…Yes."
I heard a deep male voice and a hushed female voice that was barely a whisper.
Even when I continued to focus my hearing, there was no more conversation, only the sound of footsteps and the clanking of armor.
I climbed a nearby tree and enhanced my vision with Onslon's Watchtower. After waiting a short while, I began to see figures ascending the mountain.
I saw knights clad in beautiful, sturdy-looking armor that was a harmonious blend of white and silver. On their chests was the crest of a winged goddess.
"The Paladins?"
The only knights in this Holy Kingdom who bore the crest of a goddess on their chests were the Paladins.
"Hmm?"
Among the Paladins was a pink-haired woman riding a white horse.
"Don't tell me…"
On the off chance, I activated the Creator's Eye.
[Name: Irea Alliance]
[Traits: Holy Soul, Divine Adaptation lv3, Dark Immunity lv3, Hoian Combat Arts ]
[Favorability: 35 (Favorable) ]
[Current Mood: ]
What is that two-faced Saintess doing here?