leonardwarren Chapter 165: Retry (2)
Chapter 165: Retry (2)
The next morning. Benny showed up at the meeting place in the plaza with a thoroughly sulky expression.
“Hey! Jonah! Are you really not going to learn 1/16 scale dragon acid...huh?”
Of course, she stopped grumbling at me and flinched when she saw Karen standing next to me.
Tall, with a tired look and dark circles. And wearing an Inquisitor’s outfit, it must have been intimidating.
Benny, full of caution, opened her mouth in a prickly manner like an angry cat.
“Who is that? What’s an Inquisitor doing with our party?”
“Hello. It’s been a few weeks since we met at the Cradle Trading Company.”
Of course, Karen brushed off Benny’s attitude lightly. She said she often raised suspicion while working as an Inquisitor.
Benny tilted her head and then opened her heart-patterned eyes wide.
“Ah! That Inquisitor from back then? The one who was on Jonah’s side?”
“Thank you for remembering.”
Karen nodded her head. Benny, having finished identifying friend from foe, returned to her usual self and continued speaking.
“So? Even if you’re an ally, why is an Inquisitor here?”
“Oh, I’ll explain that.... Not here, but in the Labyrinth.”
Saying that, she grabbed Benny’s hand and led her toward the Labyrinth.
Blah blah blah, duck-billed platypus nonsense.
She shrugged amidst the square buildings at the entrance of the 3rd Floor.
“...That’s how it happened.”
“What, you struggled with small fries and now you’re going to mess with a Catastrophe?”
“Oh, come on. When did I say I was going to mess with a Catastrophe? I’m just going to take a quick look at the situation.”
“Do you know the location?”
“I don’t, do you? Oh, Karen, do you know?”
“I don’t know either.”
Benny looked at Karen and me with a disdainful expression as we shook our heads. I gave her a sly smile.
“Benny. Whatever’s in the Labyrinth, no matter how securely it’s sealed, it’s ultimately arranged by the Goddess of Love, right?”
“Well, yes? Since she’s busy directly managing the Labyrinth, she hardly exerts any influence outside.”
“Then shouldn’t we just ask the Goddess directly?”
“...Did you hear what I just said? She’s unable to do that.”
“Sigh. Benny...Vanitas Benibeni. My foolish mage.”
“Wh-what suddenly? And I’m not your mage, Jonah.”
“Forget about that, just think for a moment. Who am I?”
“Jonah.”
“Not my name, but my title or something... You know, that kind of thing.”
“Adventurer?”
“Ah! Not that! The hint is religion!”
“A fraud claiming to be the World Tree’s agent?”
“I’m not a fraud?! I’ve never called myself an agent! ...I just didn’t correct the misunderstanding.”
Benny shook her head and sighed.
“Isn’t that the same thing?”
“It’s different. And since you really seem clueless, I have no choice but to say it myself. Ahem.”
“Let’s go!”
Gripping the greatsword firmly, I charged towards the Human Golem.
At first, keeping the blade low, barely skimming the ground. So it could be swung at any moment.
Sure enough. As soon as I started charging, the Human Golem immediately launched a rocket punch.
Whoosh!
A fierce momentum as if to crush everything it touches. But if its target is ultimately my head, the countermeasure is simple.
The moment the flying fist enters my range.
“Heup!”
I swung the greatsword diagonally. A greatsword tracing an exact trajectory at the precise timing.
Up to this point, it was what I always did. Even when I clumsily swung the greatsword, it was the same.
But now, I learned from Lydia how to swing properly, and how to handle the greatsword that felt light only to me.
Karduk!
As the rocket punch touched the greatsword, it sparked roughly, trying to bounce away. But I twisted my waist, flipping the blade just in time.
A sensation as if gently pushing the back of the rocket punch with the broad side of the greatsword.
As soon as I confirmed that tactile feedback, I spun around on the spot with the same running speed.
Naturally, the trajectory of the rocket punch curved under the guidance of my greatsword. As if glued to the blade, it traced a large arc and shot straight at the Human Golem.
-Creak!
The Human Golem emits a harsh metallic sound, perhaps unaware that its own fist would rebound.
The large steel fist strikes squarely into its chest.
Boom!
The Human Golem staggers, having been struck by its own power.
That’s right. This is exactly how Lydia taught me to use large weapons.
With a dagger, all you can do is parry or deflect, but with a large weapon like a greatsword, you can do much more.
Especially in my case, where the weight of the greatsword is barely felt.
The first attempt at projectile deflection was successful, so what’s left is clear.
Stepping forward broadly, I twisted my waist to the fullest. The greatsword lifted parallel to the ground as a bonus.
Even my muscles, made flexible by various powers, are on the verge of screaming. Like releasing a compressed spring, I instantly unwind my waist.
Clang!
A sensation of something being crushed. Minotauros’s greatsword struck the side of the Human Golem precisely.
Though I couldn’t feel it, it was indeed possible due to its considerable weight.
But it wasn’t the end here.
Chi-i-i-ik-!
The acidic solution pre-applied to the greatsword emitted ashen smoke as it corroded the thick armor. And then.
Poo-wk!
The greatsword, penetrating the thick armor, crushed the brain that managed the ‘human’ part of the Human Golem.
It wasn’t taken down with one strike, but compared to last time, it was a significant improvement.
Though it was just a day, the special training clearly had meaning.
“Huh?!”
Though I didn’t expect the materials, which were supposed to be the spoils, to dissolve in the acid.