HTACS 50

Chapter 50

And so the weekend arrived, and we quickly set off on our adventure.

Eve threw a fit about “what if you go out and die,” the fledglings said they’d come along but were refused, and Rudika and Nephti nearly had a falling out.

If I were to write it as a novel, it’d be about 5,700 characters of pre-adventure preparation—I erased it from my mind. It’ll all become fond memories living in everyone’s hearts.

I rode on the cart Patrasche pulled, and we entered the forest and fought monsters.

While Rudika did her Hassan-style work and Nephti did her part with protective formations, I precisely extracted only the rewards from the map and slipped out.

“…Amazing.”

“Good work.”

“…By the way, that’s an incredible amount of herbs. And quite rare ores too.”

“Indeed.”

“Hmm. But there’s something I don’t understand.”

“What?”

“Why was there a small wooden box placed on that side path we passed?”

“…That’s true.”

“And inside it, there were daggers and herbs. Why?”

“……”

“……”

The two tilted their heads.

Well, actually… it is strange to find a neatly placed wooden box while exploring a field, with equipment inside in good condition.

“That must all be the great ancestor’s arrangement.”

“…I see. That makes sense.”

Rudika nodded.

The First Emperor can do anything, after all.

“…Ah. We’ve arrived. Is this the place Senior mentioned?”

“Yes. Look closely at the ground.”

“Ah.”

From the brown dirt path, it became a brick road—moss thick between the bricks.

Around us, instead of trees, there were clearly weathered remnants of man-made brick structures.

Literally—a ruin abandoned in the forest.

The site where the 1-4 boss fight would unfold—the ruins within the Eastern Forest.

“That’s the boss.”

“…Yes.”

In the distance—clearly visible—was a “suspicious pile of stones that looks like it could stand up.”

And it does stand up. It rampages fiercely. It’s a tough structure. Even with full Act 1 gear, you’re likely to die.

We stood before the boss battle.

—

Boss battle.

In the original game, the 1-4 boss battle had no respawn if you died.

That was due to the boss’s unique characteristic.

If you die to this thing—you literally get crushed under the rubble.

That’s only natural—this boss is a giant golem several times taller than a person.

“It’s huge. Is that a golem?”

“Hmm. Is the great First Emperor’s treasure behind that?”

“I suppose so? Then Senior Wolfram—are you really going to proceed as planned?”

“Hmm. We have to. Then Patrasche—hurry and pull the cart up the hill. And you two—wait below.”

“Y-yes.”

“Go safely, Wolfram.”

With their farewells, I followed Patrasche’s lead toward the ruin hill where I could look down on the golem from above.

“I heard the strategy, but—how do you know that thing’s identity? I don’t understand.”

“Isn’t inference also a pleasure? Feel free to deduce all you want.”

“That’s true. Hehe. You’re a master who knows how to have fun.”

Patrasche grinned, and I moved the potions loaded on the cart one by one to the side.

Then I raised my hand and threw the potions to the ground.

Where I threw them was, of course, at the ‘boss monster’—the golem.

Rolling them off the hill with a light toss, the potions would *thump* onto the golem’s head.

And a system message rang in my mind.

**【Potion Pitcher activated.】**

**【Throwing Paralysis Potion.】**

**【Hit the target.**】

**【Potion Pitcher activated.】**

**【Throwing Flame Potion.】**

**【Hit the target.**】

But even as I kept throwing, the golem didn’t budge.

That’s only natural—that golem won’t react unless someone comes right up to it.

In other words—it’s a trigger-type boss that won’t activate unless the condition is met.

“It really doesn’t react.”

“Of course.”

Isn’t there always that kind of boss?

[If I poke this, it’s going to stand up, isn’t it?]

[Hey, don’t just poke it like that…]

[Grrrr…]

[AAAH?! It moved!!]

[You idiot!]

Early-game bosses with that kind of event structure.

Mostly made of rock, guardians protecting something—those types.

Amazingly—those lines are the actual main-story dialogue from Kelterus and his cheerful friends.

“But I have no intention of doing anything that stupid.”

I threw another potion—*clink*—it landed on the inactive golem.

Now—here’s the question. What’s the easiest way to beat those types? Level up and hit them with normal attacks? That’s third-rate. Memorize tactics and dodge while attacking? That’s second-rate, drunk on physical skill.

A true first-rate beats them unilaterally from outside the map.

They deal damage without waking it up.

Originally, I’d use 【Great Bow】 or 【Super Long-Range Snipe】 to snipe from outside the map—but I don’t have the dexterity or strength for that.

So instead—I deal damage from the hill with Potion Pitcher—unilateral beatdown.

The hill bug.

The wall-piercing bug.

Countless developers tried to patch it out—but inevitably, positional bugs like this exist.

“Ah, bugs are so sweet.”

Ah.

Loving bugs—isn’t that also a veteran’s virtue?

—

“…Oh. It exploded again.”

“Wow…”

Nephti and Rudika had been half-skeptical when they first heard Wolfram’s plan—but soon, they were speechless at the bizarre sight unfolding before them.

“When did Senior Wolfram come up with this?”

“…Hmm. Rudika wonders too.”

[Comparing Patrasche’s information with the archives, there are ruins inside the Eastern Forest, and we’re likely to encounter a giant golem.]

[The golem seems to be made to protect the ruins. In other words—if people don’t approach too closely, it won’t activate, and it seems to have high magic resistance.]

[A strong enemy.]

[But—]

[If we can hit it without getting close, wouldn’t that end the battle easily?]

At first, they didn’t understand—but Wolfram made it reality.

He crafted attack potions with potion crafting.

He threw them with Potion Pitcher, hitting them unilaterally.

Even with high skill, hitting moving or small targets is difficult.

But from the hill—throwing unilaterally at a giant stone.

*Boom*—explosions. *Sizzle*—the sound of stone boiling. *Crackle*—electric sounds rang out.

“Speaking of which—did you know, Rudika Senior?”

“Know what?”

“Thrown potions don’t seem to be magic.”

“I see. I didn’t know that part either.”

Wolfram had said the golem had high magic resistance—but the potions seemed to be cooking and frying it just fine.

In other words—potions aren’t magic.

“Where did Senior get that kind of information?”

“I don’t know where he got it. But… he must have worked very hard.”

“Hard?”

“Yes.”

Rudika knows Wolfram von Lohengrin well.

Same grade, same department. And a prince.

During his term, he did a lot of bad things too.

Sowing discord between the Magic and Knight Departments—and buying up swords and magic books indiscriminately.

Curious about why a prince would do such things, Rudika started gathering information on Wolfram—and when she saw his stats at the shrine, she frowned.

Pathetic stats.

The kind where fighting an edible slime would be a fifty-fifty chance.

How could he—with those stats—be so well-versed in ‘outside’ information?

Why had he been obsessed with buying unlearnable magic books and collecting unusable swords?

Probably—Wolfram had cursed his own incompetence.

At first, he did bad things—but after handing over the student council presidency to his younger sister, he had been living quietly with a remarkably peaceful expression.

However—his desire to go outside had been honed more sharply than during his term.

He had made plans to venture into that vast world—and succeeded in reaching the Sleeping Mountain Range and the Eastern Forest.

As a result, he contracted with a fairy he’d never seen before, and now his strategy against that giant golem was working.

Kicked from the throne and abandoned by everyone—in a quiet shop—he kept thinking, training, and refining.

When he finally set foot into the unknown world—where would he be, and what role would he play? He thought about it every day.

And eventually—he threw down the gauntlet to the world.

Stats may bring inconvenience—but they could not drive him to unhappiness.

“Yes. Impressive.”

“Rudika Senior?”

Without noticing Nephti’s call, Rudika etched the image of the man who had realized his dream into her eyes.

—

Before I knew it, the potions were running low. I glanced down at the hill.

Paralysis Potions, Flame Potions, Poison Potions burned beautifully as the golem’s back oxidized away.

It’s strange that a boss—even a golem—could be afflicted with status effects—but that’s Act 1 quality for you.

High magic resistance means bringing a magic-type carelessly would get them killed—but damage from thrown potions made via potion crafting is physical-type.

I don’t know if the game was made carelessly or if it was the developers’ consideration—but even in the latest version, this wasn’t patched.

As I kept blasting the golem’s shell with potions, eventually a hole opened and I caught a glimpse of the core hidden inside.

From here on, this method probably won’t deal damage anymore.

The downside is that you have to wake the boss and land at least one physical hit.

That’s exactly why I only brought Rudika—the agile one—and Nephti—the tank.

“Alright. I’ve thrown just about everything. Time to signal.”

“…If I were that golem, I’d be begging to be killed right now.”

“What are you saying? Golems aren’t alive.”

I smirked and signaled to the two below.

Awaken the golem. Seeing my meaningful gesture, the two moved quickly—and soon the giant stirred.

*Grrrrr… GRAAAAAH!!*

The entire ruin seemed to roar—I felt it. The loud noise struck my ears like a shockwave.

Of course, I knew about this event too—so I covered my ears.

“I wonder why golems even have vocal cords.”

And then—*thump*—the golem took a step forward.

“Alright—the final strategy.”

In my mind, I recalled the instructions I’d given Rudika and Nephti.

[Rudika—after receiving Nephti’s protective barrier, I have one request for you.]

[Are you saying to stab the golem’s core?]

[No. Block the golem’s attack—just once.]

[…? Got it.]

I gave this instruction for only one reason.

Because of my memory from when I defeated the golem this way in the main story.

Even if you use skills like 【True Great Bow】, 【Formless Slay】, or 【Heavenly Thunder】 from outside the map—

There’s no way an Act 1 boss can withstand them.

But the boss would always show one event and only die after taking even 1 point of extra damage.

“That’s precisely Phase 2.”

*GRAAAAAH!!*

“Yes. No matter what you do, the Phase 2 trigger will activate.”

**【The golem roars.】**

**【It strikes the ground, attacking the entire field.】**

**【Status Effect: Stun is applied to the entire field.**】

Isn’t that a textbook-perfect boss battle?

“Patrasche.”

I stepped back exactly two steps and called Patrasche.

He let out a deep sigh, then charged in front of me and countered the golem’s roar with his own howling.

“GROOOOOWL!!”

Immediately after, he intercepted the flying stones with flames.

Originally, it’s an attack that only deals 1-2 damage and inflicts stun—but I’d die from just one hit.

“Nice block.”

I smirked, shook the last remaining potion, and tossed it at the golem’s core—still showing its back.

**【Potion Pitcher activated.】**

**【Throwing Explosive Potion.】**

**【Hit the target.**]

A pleasant message echoed in my mind.

*THUMP—CRAAAAASH.*

The sound of something massive collapsing hit my ears, and dust rose high into the sky, brushing past my nose.

But I had no time to care about that.

**【Incredible achievement!】**

**【Defeated a Giant-type monster!】**

**【Golem’s Core 7T acquired!】**

**【Acquired title: Giant Slayer!】**

**【9T Skill Token awarded!】**

**【8T Skill Token awarded!】**

A satisfying settlement window.

The Giant Slayer title is decent, and the tokens speak for themselves.

Smiling as I looked at the settlement window—my expression suddenly hardened at the text below.

**【A deep bond with comrades is felt!】**

**【If the bond deepens further, you will be able to designate a ‘special partner’!】**

**【*The branching point for designating a heroine must be chosen carefully and may be irreversible.**】

…?

“Why is this appearing for me?”