Golem

Chapter 29: Golem

"Hm?"

Inside the carriage, Shien, who had decided not to speak anymore, suddenly shifted his expression and looked in a certain direction.

An enemy?

Shien's [Enemy Perception] skill reacted, informing him that an enemy had appeared.

The reaction isn't strong. Its level shouldn't be high, and there's only one.

Shien quickly made this judgment.

However, Shien didn't alert Vivian and the others.

After all, he was currently a novice adventurer who hadn't learned a single skill yet. If he spoke up to warn them casually, he feared he'd arouse suspicion later.

So, Shien planned to observe discreetly and wait for an opportunity.

Yet, Shien had underestimated the members of Vivian's party.

"—Vivian!"

In the very next second, Tier, who had been silent until now, suddenly raised her head and called out towards the carriage driver's seat in a voice filled with vigilance.

"!"

Vivian, who was driving the carriage, immediately straightened her posture, pulled tightly on the reins, and brought the carriage to a halt amidst the horse's long neigh.

Inside the carriage, Lumya and Merika had already stood up and entered a state of alert.

Seeing this, Shien was first taken aback, then understood.

They've already discovered the enemy?

Shien cast a meaningful glance at Tier, who was jumping out of the carriage.

This girl probably also possessed the [Enemy Perception] skill, just like Shien. Unfortunately, her skill level was likely not high, as she had detected the enemy much later than him.

Vivian and the others knew this well. The moment Tier spoke up, they immediately became alert, their reactions so swift it was impressive. They truly were adventurers in the same party, their coordination flawless.

Thus, Shien followed Lumya and Merika, carrying his bag and sword, and also jumped out of the carriage.

The group gathered in front of the carriage and looked towards Vivian, who was calming the agitated horses.

At this moment, Vivian's expression was calm, and her gaze fell upon Shien.

"Look over there, Shien."

In the direction Vivian pointed, a rock was slowly moving, eventually standing up as if straightening itself, transforming into a giant stone statue.

"That is a monster called a Golem. It's originally just a rock mixed with special magic minerals, but by being near a source of magic power, it was influenced by the flowing magic and eventually transformed into a monster."

Vivian explained to Shien.

"Some mages also create these monsters using magic, driving them for combat and labor. They can appear anywhere. The higher their level, the larger their size. Some Golems in secret realms might even contain precious minerals, making them coveted by many. However, there are also Golems like this one that mimic roadside rocks and attack passersby."

Naturally, such Golems would contain very few magic minerals and have low levels, otherwise, they wouldn't leave their habitat near a magic power source to attack humans by the roadside.

"They target merchant caravans transporting minerals and adventurers like us who carry weapons and equipment made from precious metal ores. Devouring these metal minerals is their best way to increase their strength, level up, and gradually transform their bodies."

Vivian watched the Golem that had started running towards them and spoke to Shien.

"Judging by this Golem's size, its level should be around fifteen, at most twenty. It shouldn't be a dangerous opponent for you."

This statement made Shien instantly understand Vivian's intention.

"Leave it to you," Vivian said to Shien. "Let's see what you're capable of."

This was the first assessment since becoming an adventurer and joining Vivian's party.

Shien realized that not only Vivian, but also Tier, Lumya, and Merika were all focusing their attention on him.

Ahead, the Golem, like a giant made of rock, was approaching with heavy footsteps.

"Understood."

Shien nodded at everyone, then walked towards the Golem, drawing the sword from his waist and gripping it in his hand.

The man and the rock approached each other, closing the distance.

Vivian, Tier, Lumya, and Merika watched quietly from behind.

Feeling the gazes from behind, Shien began to ponder in his mind.

How much strength should I show?

As a novice adventurer who hadn't learned any skills, I definitely can't display too much combat power, right?

First, I can't use [Limit Break], and I can't show any resistance skills, so I can't get hit.

Unlike active skills like [Limit Break] that require self-activation, passive skills, as their name suggests, take effect permanently from the moment they are learned, with no option to activate or deactivate them. Therefore, to avoid exposing these passive skills, Shien could only try his best to avoid being detected.

Next, my combat methods need to be slowed down. I can't appear too skilled, and I have to be careful when evading, so that I can hide my [God of War] and [Evasion] skills.

As for the Sacred Sword, that's something I absolutely cannot use.

But, I also can't appear too clumsy.

Otherwise, if Vivian and the others thought he was not strong enough and lacked the potential to become an adventurer, the assessment results would not look good, and his goal of becoming an adventurer would ultimately fall through.

Therefore, Shien needed to perform to a certain extent, but not too much, while also doing his best to hide his many skills so as not to reveal any clues.

(This is too difficult for me.)

Shien felt miserable in his heart.

But the monsters wouldn't sympathize with Shien's feelings, and with heavy footsteps, they had already charged in front of him.

"Come on."

Shien could only cast aside all his thoughts, concentrate, and gaze at the Golem before him.

The next moment, the Golem that charged in front of Shien raised its heavy arm and sent its rock-like giant fist smashing towards Shien.

The [Evasion] skill immediately reacted, controlling Shien's body and causing him to dodge.

However, in order not to expose his skills, Shien could only restrain himself with all his might. Only when the Golem's fist was about to hit him did he twist his body at an extremely close distance, deliberately dodging the attack with somewhat clumsy movements.

Instantly, a whistling gust of wind brushed past Shien.

"Bang!"

Amidst a booming tremor, the Golem's heavy fist grazed Shien's body and landed on the ground, stirring up vibrations and kicking up sand and stones.

At this moment, Shien, who had dodged to the side, suddenly moved. He seized the moment when the Golem was in a stiff state after its attack and pressed forward.

"Clang!"

With a striking sound, his sharp greatsword swung in an arc and fiercely smashed into one of the Golem's legs, causing the Golem to involuntarily kneel on the ground.

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