Chapter 60

“Is this… the last room?”

“It’s too dark… I can’t see well.”

Evan muttered as he looked around the enormous room that seemed like there was no more path ahead.

If it’s a large, empty dark room, it must be the boss room…

I glanced around, hoping for some sign.

While I could detect some form of light source, figuring out if it was dark or not was tricky. However, judging by the reactions, it seemed to be dark after all.

Above all…

‘I can see…’

I noticed something that appeared to be a massive golem, standing still in a bowed posture.

Evan and Dannes seemed to struggle to see due to the darkness, but I could see the golem clearly since I wasn’t affected by the light and dark.

It would be better to warn them in advance rather than have that heavy rock golem initiate a physical attack and crush us.

I grabbed the two, who were about to step closer.

“[It’s dangerous to go any further.]”

I even warned them of the danger.

Evan tilted his head at my words, but after acting alongside me for a long time and sensing my Divine Power, Dannes seemed to think it was best to listen to my warning and held Evan back.

“[First, let me bestow a blessing on you.]”

I said and bestowed all the blessings I had as a Saint upon Dannes and Evan.

This was a blessing of better quality than I had given before.

One might say that if there was a better blessing available, I should have used it earlier.

It’s nothing special; if I gave an excessive blessing, it wouldn’t be a trial.

I only bestow a sufficient level of blessing that enables growth while facing the golem.

I thought that excessive help could backfire, after all.

Of course, Evan looked at me with a puzzled expression as if wondering why such a powerful blessing came after the previous ones.

Couldn’t he just think that I was struggling more than I usually do with a stronger blessing?

“What should we do now?”

Dannes, who had received the blessing, asked while examining his stronger body.

What should we do…

Well, if we break the golem in here, that would be the end…

“…?!”

Kruguguguh!

“The ground…?!”

“Saint!”

Suddenly, the ground began to rumble.

At that moment, Dannes, startled, tried to run toward me, and I noticed the golem was moving.

Unlike Evan and Dannes, I sensed the adjacent space directly due to my Divine Power, allowing me to perceive the golem’s movement quicker than the two.

This isn’t good.

We need to retreat and regroup before facing it properly.

Evan and Dannes were still not prepared.

As I thought that, I was about to yell that we had to flee urgently when,

‘Is it fast?!’

The massive golem, which had been still, swung its arm toward us at an incredible speed. It wasn’t so fast that we couldn’t see it, but for something of that enormous size, it was remarkably quick.

Evan and Dannes would have enough speed to evade, but they were unaware that an attack was coming, making it impossible for them to dodge.

It was already too late to warn them, and if I didn’t act, the three of us would be struck by that tremendous fist full of heavy mass and turn to mush.

I could be revived, and what little pain I might feel would just be a thrill, but Evan and Dannes would likely be crushed beyond recognition.

I couldn’t allow that to happen.

‘Maybe I should block it once… give them a buff, then take one hit.’

I figured that trying to take down that huge golem without my help could be a good experience.

There would certainly be times in our future travel when I would not be able to assist them, so I needed to prepare for that.

Thinking so, I dashed forward and expanded my Divine Barrier to block the incoming punch.

Bang!!

Crack!

“Saint?!”

Ugh…?!

I had thought that my Divine Barrier would only manage to mitigate the attack, but this strike was far heavier than I imagined!

If I let my concentration slip even a little, I would be broken through and hit by that punch.

I forced more of my Divine Power into the barrier to somehow hold it together.

As I suddenly stepped forward to block, Dannes looked extremely flustered as he called out to me.

I’m sorry, but I don’t have the leisure to converse right now…!

“[Get out of here quickly…! I can’t hold this for long!]”

I wasn’t exaggerating; I genuinely couldn’t sustain this for long!

But I thought I could buy enough time for the two of them to escape, yet it was much stronger than I had expected.

“[Hurry!!!]”

Casting aside all my usual composure, I shouted urgently for the two to escape.

Only then did Dannes finally grasp the situation and grabbed Evan by the scruff of the neck, pulling him away.

At that moment, the Divine Barrier, which had been absorbing the punch, shattered, and

‘Ah…’

I looked down at the punch that had come dangerously close and chuckled.

If I had taken that hit, I wouldn’t be able to move for a while…

Smash!

*

“Aria!!”

It happened in an instant.

While receiving the blessing, Aria barely managed to block the incoming punch and shouted for us to get out immediately.

After realizing the situation, I could only watch as the barrier I was straining to maintain broke and got crushed by the punch, shattering into the wall.

No way, is Aria going to suffer because of me again…?

If I had only regained my senses a moment sooner and fled, would that have bought Aria enough time to escape too?

I was lost in thought, causing Aria to face that…

“Pull yourself together!”

“…?!”

I was startled by the sudden reprimand and turned to the source of the voice.

“Dannes…?”

“Get a grip! The Saint will be fine. Right now, we need to focus on the enemy in front of us!”

He had thrown aside his usual manners and was shouting at me.

“And you still call yourself a Hero! This is your trial!”

“…!”

…

That’s right.

This is my trial.

Though I’m receiving assistance from Aria and Dannes, ultimately, this is all for my growth.

A trial to become strong enough to one day defeat the Demon King as a Hero.

I must not falter here.

“I’m sorry…”

The golem, which had slammed Aria against the wall, turned its blue eyes toward me as it rose to its feet.

Steam of magic erupted from its entire body, slowly starting to approach me.

“Esther, I’m counting on you.”

– … Leave it to me.

At my words, the Sacred Sword began to emit light.

Silently, I channeled magic into the sword, converting it into Divine Power, and then gathered it into a spherical form to send it upward.

As a result, the previously dark space began to illuminate gradually.

In the vast empty space, I could see the golem in the center glaring towards us.

That earlier gigantic fist was nothing compared to this.

Not only was the fist large, it was now making the fist seem small in comparison.

Every time that towering form took a step, it felt like the entire dungeon vibrated.

I couldn’t even begin to consider facing it; it was a primal terror at that size.

I had to face that giant now.

“Aria…”

I will definitely…

I will become much stronger to ensure that I can protect you from ever getting hurt again.

This is an opponent I must overcome, even if it’s for that purpose.

‘I feel an overflow of strength.’

Suddenly, I sensed an overwhelming power enveloping my body, incomparable to anything before.

And then I remembered the blessing Aria had given me earlier.

With just this, I didn’t even think there was a chance I could lose to that damned giant golem.

I took my stance, gathering the amplified magic throughout my body into the sword.

To face that massive being more easily, I had to eliminate its mobility first.

Even if the golem could regenerate, at that size, the time taken to do so would surely be slow.

If so, my target was clear.

“Huhaaaaaaap…!!”

I gathered my magic into a colossal strike.

With a pure blade of Divine Power, I swung without hesitation toward the golem’s legs.

Finally,

Boom!

The giant encircled in steel knelt.

With a single strike.