The Simple Job of Only Perishing to the Hero

Book 4: Chapter 27

Next, is this way.

Nino chose the path, and Nefas would map it out.

The division of their roles naturally ended up like that.

Or rather, since Nino would advance as she pleased, Nefas would do the mapping so that he would be able to follow up with her.

As of right now, they hadnt come across any dead-ends, and as long as they were mapping it out, they wouldnt end up going around in circles in the same spot.

In other words, they should be advancing favorably, but they had yet to come across anything that seemed like an exit.

In this place where the area overhead was covered by trees and the sky couldnt be seen, they had no way of knowing what the current time was, but a considerable amount of time should have passed.

Nefas thought the fact that there hasnt been an exit despite us walking about this much, it means that this labyrinth is too vast.

According to the Hero legends, there seemed to be many labyrinths in the Dark Continent, but this tree labyrinth is most likely more complex than any labyrinth in the Dark Continent.

He tried calling it a trial of the Gods to Nino, but it wouldnt be strange if that really was the case.

Nefas noticed that that Nino came to a stop, and stop his hands that were mapping.

Whats wrong? Could it beis it an enemy!?

As he rushed over to Ninos side, Nino suddenly put one hand out in front of Nefas.

That was a sign telling him not to move any further than that.

As for why Nino had stoppedHe came to understand after looking at what was at the end of Ninos gaze.

What could be seen at the far end of the path that they were currently advancing down, there was a single spear Alva, and the figure of a single Clay Golem.

When speaking of Golems, they were famous as puppets that didnt possess consciousnesses of their own, and were made from things like earth, trees, stone, or metalthat is what Nefas remembered.

They were sometimes mistaken for Elements, but unlike the Elements which were natural occurrences, Golems were created by someones hands.

Incidentally, Golems that possessed their own consciousnesses and were classified as Mazoku were a distinct species from created Golems, but it was said that this was because puppet Golems were created with Mazoku Golems as the hint to making them.

And then, right now, the Clay Golem that was at the end of Ninos groups gaze had a figure that was like two peas in a pod with the spear Alva.

The Clay Golem held a spear similar to the Alvas, and was exchanging blows with the Alva.

Is thatthe Alvas enemy?

Dunno.

There was no meaning to thinking about whether or not the Clay Golem was the Alvas enemy.

Its because even if it was, there was no guarantee that it would be an ally to Ninos group.

After their exchange of blows continued for a while, maybe because the Alva tried to cast magic, it expanded its wings and tried to fly. However, aiming for that opening, the spear that the Clay Golem threw pierced through the Alvas chest.

GiGegogagagagaa!

Unable to bear it, the Alva fell to the ground.

After extracting the spear from the Alvas body, the Clay Golem tread on its body even more and repeatedly stabbed it.

Receiving the attack that was merciless to the point that Nefas reflexively averted his eyes, the Alva turned into black fog and vanished.

And then, after confirming that, the Clay Golem returned to the ground as if melting.

It vanished?

Nefas was unable to understand what kind of theory was behind it at all.

However, he was positive of the fact that the Clay Golem had disappeared.

What should we doKeep going?

Hearing Nefass words, Nino pondered here for the first time.

It was easy to keep advancing.

However, Ninos intuition was giving off a weak warning.

That it was dangerous up ahead, and that they shouldnt advance this way.

Simultaneously, Ninos intuition was also saying that they should be passing head this way.

Lets keep going.

Having finished thinking, Nino decided to advance forward.

Even if a somewhat dangerous enemy were to appear, Nino judged that it would be fine if she just cut them down as they advanced.

What was at the end of the passageway they were advancing down that was surrounded by trees was a space that seemed like a slightly wide room.

It was the place that the Alva and the Clay Golem were fighting at not too long ago.

Coming into the room, they found three passageways other than the one that they came through.

Most likely, the earlier spear Alva had probably come out from one of them.

A room, huh.

Nefas surveyed the surroundings, and started searching to see if there were any hints to how they should advance.

However, there was nothing within the room.

Nino thought about how they should advance from beyond this pointand approached the right hand passage from the perspective of the path they came from.

The moment she left the room and tried to enter the passageway, the earth at Ninos feet swelled.

A figure appeared from within the ground as if gushing out, and in the blink of an eye, a mound of earth that was about the same height as Nino was created.

Uwah!?

When Nino turned around to that voice, a mound of earth was also created in front of Nefas.

The mound of earth that was in front of Nino contracted, and a Clay Golem with a figure that was exactly like Ninos physique was created.

Moreover, maybe it was some sort of harassment, but it was gripping weapons with the exact same form as Ninos curved blades in both of its hands.

It was an enemy no matter how she thought about it.

That is what she thought as she readied her curved blades and glared at the Clay Golem.

However, at the same time, Nino also thought how strange.

When it came to Golems, she had seen various ones in the Zadark Kingdom.

She had seen the Golems that were in the southern region, and Gordy the Central General was also a Golem.

They had distinct wills, and even possessed emotions.

However, in the Clay Golem before her eyes, it had neither a will nor emotions.

It was because this Golem was a puppet Golem, but Nino had no way of knowing that fact.

The Clay Golem readied its curved blades in a way identical to Nino.

Nefas was most likely in a similar situation, but she didnt have the leisure of being able to mind him.

Focusing on the Clay Golem that mutely came charging in, Nino swung her curved blade.

However, when the Clay Golem jumped as if sensing that, it landed behind Nino and swung its curved blade.

After sidestepping the Clay Golems curved blade with a sidelong glance, Nino rotated just like that, and swung at the Clay Golems legsbut, this was also defended against by the Clay Golem.

Aiming for that opening created by that defense, Nino slashed at it with her other curved blade as she was getting up.

However, the Clay Golem evaded that with a quick back step.

Nino focused on the Clay Golem while clicking her tongue, and then noticed that further back in the room, Nefas was confronting a Clay Golem that held a single long sword.

It seemed that it was a mechanism where Clay Golems molded to match the intruders weapons and physique would appear in front of the respective intruder.

After seeing that their movements were different from the Clay Golem that fought against the earlier Alva, perhaps, they might be adjusted to match with even the movements of each invader.

How cheeky.

While making some abusive language, Nino measured the distance from the Clay Golem in front of her.

Since the power of her Magic Eyes of Greenery didnt work here, she had no choice but to win purely in sword technique.

If it was with sword technique, Nino had no intention of losing.

That is whythere was no problem at all.

Having determined that, Nino readied her curved blades and rushed in at the Clay Golem with maximum speed.

At the same time the Clay Golem defended against Ninos curved blade that was swung in a side sweep, Nino drove the other curved blade into the Clay Golem while rotating.

But, the Clay Golem quickly responded to that as well and intercepted it.

However, the moment it was intercepted, Ninos next attack assailed it.

Unfolding attack and defense one after another, the end couldnt be seen.

Nefas saw the ultrafast sword attacks between Nino and the Clay Golem from beyond the Clay Golem that he was confronting.

What the Clay Golem that was confronting Nefas possessed was a single long sword.

Nefas was also continuing to have an intense exchange of blows for a while now with the Clay Golem that had the exact same physique as himself.

However, how did it look when compared to Ninos group?

The sword that he should have trained well, how weak it was.

The sword speed that he had felt pride in, how slow it was.

When compared to the sword attacks of Ninos group, it looked like childs play.

Through the Clay Golem that he was facing off against, Nefas fully realized his own weakness.

DammitWhat have I been doing up until now!

He should have trained really well.

He should have continued to work hard.

However, what about now?

In the Edius Adventurer School, Kain of the Stagias House displayed growth speed that surpassed his own.

He acknowledged him as a rival and fought against him several times in practice matches, but every timeno, even in the middle of the matches, he felt that Kain continued to become stronger.

He felt like he had been shown the thing called a genuine genius, but even so, he also had baseless confidence that said that he was still the stronger one and that it would be fine if he didnt shirk off in working hard.

However, Nino was already in another world.

In Nefass eyes, the sparkles of those curved blades seemed to be projected as silver wings.

Even I

Nefas muttered.

A passionate heart, which harbored dreams when he was a child, and went rotten before he knew itbut was currently reviving and starting to move.

Even Ican show that I will reach, that domain!

Admiring the heroic tales, admiring the Hero legends, the dream that anyone saw when they first gripped a sword.

That even he would arrive at that place someday.

Nefas glared at the Clay Golem that was in front of him.

This clay doll, there was no mistake that it was indeed his current self.

A drab embodiment of being satisfied with the current state.

A mere puppet that had forgotten even the aspiration to fly.

But, he would surpass ithe would show that he could surpass his current self.

This was literally a trial of the Gods.

He didnt know what God it was, but the God gave Nefas the chance to obtain wings.

That is why Nefas needed to answer to that.

O wind!

Wind congregated on Nefass sword.

It was the element that Nefas preferred the most.

Something that was faster than anyone else, more free than anyone else, and went higher than anyone else.

Something that Nefas felt that he wanted to be like when he was a child.

The power of wind that was strong, intense, and running wild congregated on Nefass sword.

I will surpass you, and go beyond.

That was a vow, and a declaration.

Turning towards the Clay Golem before his eyes, he swung his sword.

The Wind Magic Sword smashed the sword of the Clay Golem that tried to receive the blowand just like that, it drove into the Clay Golems body.

NUAAAAAAAAAAH!!

Loading all of his magical power into it, Nefas swung down his sword.

He would no longer end at being a mere Human.

He would surpass his current self, and this time become the way he wanted to be.

Getout of here!

Nefass sword bisected the Clay Golems body.

The upper half of its body that fell to the ground vanished into the ground as if sinking into it, and even the remaining lower half of its body vanished as if chasing after that upper body.

I did it.

The wind vanished from Nefass sword.

Haha, Ireally did it.

Having used up all of his strength, Nefass sword fell out from his hands.

Tempted by a pleasant fatigue, Nefas went down to his knees.

It would be fine to leave the rest to Nino.

Entrusting his body to that sort of baseless relief, Nefas relinquished his consciousness.