Chapter 4: Strategies for the Gem Golem
The Labyrinth of Greed enters its [active period] every few months.
The labyrinth is alive.
This is a phrase often used by adventurers. Labyrinths that appear in this world come in various forms: [cave-type], [layered-type], [environment-integrated type], but they all undergo periodic changes.
The passageways, the positions and types of monsters, their numbers, even the traps and the environment itself change in various ways. The labyrinth undergoes changes akin to a living organism’s metabolism, hence it is said to be “alive.”
These changes are most prominent during the period called [active period].
The types and number of monsters, and above all, the large-scale terrain changes, signify the active period. Adventurers who understand the dangers of this period refrain from venturing into the labyrinth. They know that nothing is worth more than their lives.
However, there are always those desperate enough to venture inside, no matter the danger.
“Hah! Hah! Why! Why is this happening!!”
This man had no money. Yet he had debts. Even though he held a relatively privileged status as a [citizen], he had ruined himself with gambling.
Without money, he couldn’t eat.
His reason for stepping into the dangerous, active labyrinth was incredibly banal.
“I’ll die! I’m gonna die!!!”
[GUUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRR!!!!!!]
For such a banal reason, he was on the verge of death. The [Black Giant Lizard] chasing him was a high-risk monster found in the upper layers. It was large and traveled in packs. He was about to meet the common fate of adventurers—trapped, pursued, and crushed to death.
“Aahhhh!!!”
He tripped and fell.
The lizard’s long tongue and fangs were about to tear into his flesh──────but,
“Charge!”
A gray-haired boy appeared from a side passage and pierced the lizard’s skull.
[GAAAAAAH!!!?]
“GYAAAAAAH!!!?”
“Both of you, shut up.”
The lizard, its skull punctured, convulsed violently, while the man screamed in terror at the gruesome sight. The boy grimaced at both of their screams.
“Sing, O Ice, and Pierce.”
///
Continue
///
[GUUUUUU!!!?]
Behind the boy, a silver-haired girl launched [ice spikes]. She accurately aimed at the eyes of another lizard, crushing its skull. In an instant, with its companions killed, the last lizard panicked, and the boy brought down his spear on it.
“Die.”
A dull thud echoed. The boy, drenched in dark blood, looked quite ghastly as he approached the man, who was sitting paralyzed.
“I’ll be killed!!!?”
“Idiot.”
The boy sighed in exasperation at the man’s pathetic scream. He pushed the man towards the path they came from.
“Go down that path. It leads to the exit.”
The man hesitated for a moment but then quickly fled.
Unprepared as he was, the man somehow survived. In the labyrinth, no matter how prepared you are, death can come unexpectedly, and even the unprepared can sometimes survive.
Of course, the labyrinth offered no guarantees for his future.
“He ran away.”
“Straight away. Not even a thank you.”
Without a care for the man’s life, Ur and Shizuku returned to their tasks. They had their own reasons for venturing into the dangerous labyrinth.
“…It’s here.”
The ground vibrated. The labyrinth’s passageway shook. Something was slowly approaching from the depths. A giant that had strayed from its original territory, appearing in the wrong place and mercilessly attacking novice adventurers, had a bounty placed on it.
[OOOOOOOOOOO……]
Among the thirteen ranks of monster strength, it was ranked tenth. The [Gem Golem] appeared.
“Well, let’s get started.”
Their research on the Gem Golem, conducted alongside their labyrinth exploration, began again today.
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Research on the Gem Golem: Part 1
Recorder: Ur
Target: Gem Golem
Bounty: Ten gold coins
Rank: Ten
Habitat: Labyrinth of Greed, third layer
I’m documenting information on the glittering Golem. I was lucky to get a notebook that Glenn wasn’t using.
I was lucky.
Findings from the first encounter:
- Extremely hard. Simple attacks were almost ineffective.
- Shizuku’s magic had little effect, only staggering it slightly.
- A direct hit would likely be fatal. → Need to upgrade equipment.
- Retreated during the battle. → Reason unknown, requires investigation.
To defeat the Gem Golem:
- Strengthen our bodies → Defeat lots of monsters. Currently 30 per day.
- Update equipment → Saving money. For now, using training ground gear.
- Research strategies for the Gem Golem → Important.
Observations on the Gem Golem’s behavior:
Experiment 1: Visual ability
Shizuku: Let’s throw a Golem in front of it.
Ur: Where did you get that Golem? And where did you pull it from? It’s child-sized.
Shizuku: Bought it at the market. An old woman had to sell it for her sick grandson, son, and daughter.
Ur: How much?
Shizuku: She cried about our hardships too, so we got it for a copper coin.
Ur: I want to say we got scammed, but at that price, it feels like we scammed her.
Shizuku: I’ll throw it. There.
Ur: Hm.
[OOOOOOOOOOO……]
Ur: It’s making noises.
Shizuku: Yes, it is.
Visual ability not confirmed.
The Gem Golem didn’t recognize our Golem as a target.
→ Can it distinguish between enemies and non-enemies?
Experiment 2: Auditory ability
Ur: It didn’t react to our Golem in the end.
Shizuku: But it reacts to us.
Ur: Yes, it’s currently chasing us. I’m gonna die.
[OOOOOOOOOO!!!]
Ur: Can it distinguish between humans and non-humans? Oh crap, I’m gonna die.
Shizuku: The problem is how it distinguishes. Oh, it’s dying.
” biological response, heartbeat, hearing? “
Ur: At the next intersection, let’s split up. I’ll make a sound.
[OOOOOOOOOO……]
Shizuku: Golem, follow the sound of my voice!
[OOOOOOOOOO!!!!]
Ur: It’s coming towards me! I’m gonna die.
Auditory ability not confirmed. Thought I was gonna die.
It didn’t react to sight or sound. The Gem Golem’s crude head doesn’t seem to have sensory capabilities akin to human senses.
→ So, it doesn’t rely on the five senses?
Experiment 3: Magic sensing ability
Ur: So, it’s magic then…
Shizuku: Monsters have magic too, right?
Ur: But they don’t attack each other…
Shizuku: Do they?
Ur: Huh?
Shizuku: Huh?
” …… “
” …… “
[GYA GYA GYA!!!]
Shizuku: Oh, a goblin.
Ur: Just one.
Shizuku: Don’t come here.
Ur: It’s coming.
—A few minutes later—
[GYAAAAAA!!!]
Ur: Isn’t what we’re doing terrible?
Shizuku: Throwing a tied-up goblin at the Gem Golem?
[GYAAAAAAAGH!!!]
Ur: That’s a horrible scream.
Shizuku: Yes, it is.
Ur: We can’t deny being called monsters ourselves.
Shizuku: Ur sama.
Ur: Yeah?
Shizuku: Priorities matter.
Ur: Shizuku, you’re so pragmatic.
Shizuku: There.
[OOOOOOOOOO!!!]
[GYAAAAAAGH!!!]
Ur: Worse than minced meat.
Shizuku: It seems it can’t distinguish between humans and monsters.
Magic sensing ability confirmed.
It distinguishes targets based on the presence of magic. would like to say that this is an advance Progress, but its utility is unclear.
Experiment 4: Combat ability
It’s time to upgrade our gear.
To see how far we can fight with our current equipment.
If we can defeat it with this, it would be great. ← Shizuku
If only this would end it all.
Training Day 14
Ur and Shizuku continued to venture into the active labyrinth almost daily. Despite the increased danger due to the higher monster spawn rate, they persisted, fully aware of the risks.
──Just defeat the monsters. Instead of shrinking from excessive training, strengthen your body with magic and push through.
Following Glen’s plan, Ur’s body grew rapidly. He was gaining the kind of superhuman strength typical of an experienced adventurer. This newfound power, however, came with its own set of problems, like breaking dishes at the tavern by accident.
In any case, Ur’s training was going well. At least the physical enhancement part.
“I shouldn’t have done it!!”
“I really shouldn’t have done it!!!”
The problem lay with their strategy against the gem golem. They were currently on the run.
[OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO……!!]
The reason is that a huge jewelry Golem is chasing them around. Naturally, they tried to fight back whenever they could.
“Sing, ice, and pierce!”
“Take this!!”
Shizuku chanted a spell while Ur aimed at the gem golem’s legs. They fought back with all their might. But…
“It’s too hard…!”
“It’s no use here either…!”
Their attacks had no effect. They were testing how far they could go with their current strength, but the bitter conclusion was that they couldn’t do anything. Compared to their first encounter, they could at least find openings to counterattack, but defeating it was still out of the question.
And when the gem golem raised its fist…
“It’s coming!”
At Shizuku’s signal, Ur kicked off the ground and leapt forward. Moments later, the fist crashed down where they were just a moment ago.
“…ugh!?”
The impact made Ur feel like he was floating for a moment. He lost his balance and couldn’t tell if he was standing or sitting. His whole body stiffened for a second.
“Ur-sama!!”
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