“So this is golem territory.”
The second floor has four kinds of fields jumbled together.
First there are grassy fields with rivers, where goblins and killer rabbits roam,
Next the forests. Those two monsters are also here, but there are also forests where only rare monsters spawn. There are four of each.
Then, the hilly fields. There’s a crater in the center, and hill wolves occupy the area around it. There are four of these on the second floor.
Lastly, the deserts. Sand with rough rocks around, and small rocky mountains here and there. There are also four of these, and because of the monsters that spawn in them, they’ve been turned into territories that no one approaches.
One more step, and I’m on the sand. And yet, I can’t see any golems.
“Are they really here? I can’t see any monsters.”
“They are, Ayane. You can detect them, right Aira?”
“Yes, but vaguely, since they are inorganic…”
“That’s enough. I wouldn’t be able to tell without my map.”
Automatic Mapping shows them clearly with red dots. It looks like the closest one is five meters away, but even though I know it’s there, I can’t see it in the sand.
This skill really is great. I don’t think most of my adventures could’ve happened without it.
“Anyway, we won’t get anywhere without seeing them. Magic Missile.”
I fire the magic towards the sand, where the map shows me a red dot, and the sand explodes
“Kyah!”
I guess I hit the right place, because a strange explosion happens, probably because I hit a golem lurking underneath.
There’s a hole in the sand, items I assume are drops, and the usual smoke.
As I wonder if I should ask Aira to go get them, the sand around us rises. We get into position, and see arms and heads pop out like the sand is hardening.
‘Guoooo…’
‘Ooo…’
‘Gogogo…’
It looks like that attack woke the other golems.
Maybe they’re reacting in a chain, but they keep coming out one after the other. They’re stretching from the ground, or rather, getting up like they were lying down.
The area is wide too, because I can see ones getting up fifty meters away. There are about… Twenty.
“Are they all targeting me?”
“That appears to be the case.”
“Thank you for the calm answer. True Appraisal.”
＊＊＊＊＊
Name：Golem
Agility：10
Intelligence：10
Luck：None
Equipment: None
Skills：None
Drops: Golem core
Magic stone: Small
＊＊＊＊＊
“Those stats are really imbalanced. And if they attack in groups, I can see why beginners would have trouble with them…”
“It’s one thing if they have a plan, but…”
Golems, like their heads and arms, have bodies entirely made out of hardened sand, and stand at about two meters tall. Their stride is big, but each step is slow and methodical, so they feel about as slow as scissor crabs. Although these ones feel more imposing.
We’re standing on soft sand, so it would make sense for them to sink, but that’s not happening, which is probably a special trait of theirs. It’s kind of unfair.
And I can see something that really looks like a magic stone in the center of their bodies. That’s probably the golem core listed in the drops.
“It’s so clearly suspicious, that it has to be it.”
“Yes, you are correct.”
“That’s probably what makes the golems take shape.”
“Hm… Then it’s time for this.”
I hold Kaiser Vein, and create a magic energy arrow.
‘Whoosh!’
‘Guoooh…’
The arrow pierces a golem core, and the golem can’t retain its shape, collapsing into sand. Then it turns into smoke, and an item.
“…They look strong, but they’re pretty pitiful, with their weak point exposed like that.”
“Do you think this will be easy?”
Asks Ayane.
“The issue would be fighting up close.”
I say, as I start hitting every golem within my sight with arrows.
Golem cores are about the size of an adult’s fist, so they could be hard to hit depending on how fast the monsters were. But the golem cores don’t move from the center, and the monsters are slow, so I imagine even an average adventurer could hit them.
I get carried away and wipe them all out, and even though there were only twenty, I level up from four to eight.
“They seem pretty efficient when it comes to experience.”
“It could be a nice way to level up, provided one has the means to attack from a safe distance.”
“Aren’t they the most favorable monsters in a way?”
“This could be a nice secret spot!”
“Well, it won’t be the moment we reveal it.”
“Yes…”
Ayane looks disappointed, and I pat her head.
But that would hinder my hunt, so… Before that happens, I have to take down the second rare monster and the powered up version.
“Anyway, we know their weakness, and that we can hunt them easily. Did you get that on camera, Ayane?”
“Of course!”
“Then let’s try it at close range. I think that will make or break this place as a popular hunting spot.”
And so, I lead the way as we walk through the desert.
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Thanks for the treat.