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chapter 64
Galtan’s appearance could hardly be called “good” by any stretch of the imagination.
During his days in hiding, his hair had grown long and was tied back into a crude ponytail, and his unshaven beard had been roughly trimmed with a blade, making him look no different from a street vagrant.
Yet, despite that, it was clear he was Galtan because the spear and armor he wore were of the same style that belonged to Konas, who was currently absent.
Galtan muttered under his breath as he looked up at the high steel golem, which even blocked the sunlight he hadn’t seen in so long.
“Sorry, Konas…”
Today was, without a doubt, the worst day for Konas.
At least, that was what he thought himself.
When Konas opened his eyes, he found himself beside Evan, who was sending dazzling light into the sky.
“Ah…!”
Evan was so preoccupied with maintaining the shield inherited from Isabel that he didn’t even notice Konas had awakened. Konas quickly looked around and realized he was lying in the middle of the city, far from the castle walls.
He tried to recall the memory. The last thing he remembered was resting against the castle walls with a man named Denk, who had fought alongside him against the massive golem. Then the ground had shaken violently, and before he could even react, bricks from the wall hit him square on the head…
Throbbing.
His head felt like it was splitting apart. A concussion. Although Isabel had performed basic treatment after Denk brought him to safety, he wasn’t fully healed.
So, for some reason, Konas leaned against a large crate next to Evan and stared at the steel golem in the distance with trembling eyes.
It was a terrifying sight. The once impregnable city of Castletina, with its grand walls, had now become a monster threatening their safety.
Who could possibly stop this disaster that had arrived in a city that hadn’t even managed to fell a single colossal golem? And it seemed to be coming from inside the protective shield.
Many people must already be dead or injured. Could anyone withstand something like this? Perhaps Mr. Lister could, but no one else could even scratch that golem.
Castletina was doomed. With most people already fleeing, the city was virtually empty.
All hope was extinguished. All that remained in Konas’s hands… was his identity as a helpless pawn, unable even to stand due to the aftereffects of his concussion.
That was what he thought—until he heard footsteps approaching from behind.
Galtan had sharp hearing. He could identify people just from their footsteps.
Even if dozens walked together, Galtan could accurately tell whether Konas was hidden among them or out in the open.
Envious, Konas had trained to distinguish footsteps too. After relentless practice, he had finally learned to distinguish a single set of steps with precision.
And now, he realized that the sound approaching from behind—the dragging steps like a tired horse’s hooves—was unmistakably…
Unmistakably…!
“Captain…”
He saw him for the first time in a long while.
Galtan’s face.
But at first, Konas didn’t recognize him.
The wild beard covering his face, the long hair obscuring his eyes… Konas stared dumbfounded before noticing the small wooden object in Galtan’s right hand.
It was the cross Konas had left in front of Galtan’s cabin before the defense battle began.
“Captain… you’re finally… out?”
Konas, forgetting he could barely stand, hesitated as he tried to rise and lost his balance.
Galtan grabbed Konas’s forearm firmly.
The warmth of his hand brought tears to Konas’s eyes.
Then…
“Stay still…”
Galtan said nothing else.
Until that moment, Galtan hadn’t been able to speak. He didn’t know what to say or do. During his days in seclusion in the cabin, he had lost much, and he could feel it himself.
Compared to his broken, pitiful self, Konas, who had wielded his spear on the frontlines all this time, was far more remarkable in Galtan’s eyes.
Because of that…
Thwack!
Konas swung his fist at Galtan’s face, too dizzy to even think of dodging.
His punch missed—his dizziness prevented him—but it hit Galtan’s throat, achieving its intended impact.
Konas continued to swing his misdirected fists at Galtan, several times, before finally lowering both hands.
“Why… are you only coming out now? I’ve waited so long… for so long…”
“Sorry.”
Galtan’s cracked, fragile voice made Konas’s legs give out.
Leaning on the crate, Konas took a deep breath to calm himself, then glared at Galtan with sharp eyes.
“Why did you come out?”
The question caught Galtan off guard. He hesitated before speaking.
“To help…”
“Whom?”
“You…”
Konas kicked Galtan’s shin hard and asked the same question again.
“Whom?”
Galtan recalled the past.
The Galtan Knights had once searched for a lost holy sword. They didn’t become knights for treasure or fame, but because the sword was meant to be used to protect the weak.
So Galtan didn’t just have to help Konas.
Konas stretched his trembling hand toward the giant, now fully transformed into a golem.
“Do you see it?”
“…I see it.”
“Go. Go and do what I cannot do.”
“You… will be… fine…”
Konas bellowed, eyes blazing.
“I said, go at once!”
Galtan moved forward. Then, glancing slightly back, he said to Konas:
“Thank you for waiting.”
With that, Galtan sprinted off with the familiar tap-tap of his boots.
Konas knew those footsteps too well.
And he cried.
He had thought today would be the worst day. He had thought Galtan would never leave the cabin, his own power useless, and the city doomed.
But what was this?
Galtan had come out. The reclusive knight had finally left his seclusion.
Perhaps he would return to that cramped cabin after this, perhaps he only came out now because he believed it necessary for his own safety. Perhaps it was selfish.
But… even if so…
He came out.
Konas whispered to himself.
Coming out is what matters.
Galtan’s running form was clumsy, stumbling several times from long inactivity, but his destination was clear: the steel golem.
Konas had seen this many times in his travels across the continent—Galtan charging fearlessly toward places that would make other knights tremble.
Seeing him now, Konas smiled.
Worst day? No. Today was undoubtedly the best day.
The day Galtan finally ran toward the world—a day to be celebrated.
Konas had waited for this day for far too long.
Golems imitate humans.
They have two arms, two legs, and one head.
The arms destroy external interference, the legs aid mobility, and the head decides the direction of movement.
Now, the golem’s head pointed to the high spire in the city center. The lure magic still worked.
How could they bring it down?
Making a stumbling block was impossible. Nothing could trip those legs.
What was needed was what Lister had just demonstrated: a concentrated push, forcing it down in one go.
Adventurers joined their strength.
“Let’s go!”
Blessed by the protection and bodily enhancements, they became surprisingly strong—each strong enough to lift a bull with one hand and leap tens of meters.
They used their experience navigating caves and cliffs, and began climbing the golem’s legs.
The golem lacked tactile senses, but could detect attempts to harm it. Yet, busy moving through the city, it ignored most stimuli.
Chains were extended beneath their arms and thrown upward. Though not long enough to wrap the entire leg, they managed to insert them into gaps between the steel bricks.
They weren’t trying to stop it—just waiting for a signal. Soon, the chains tensed, and the adventurers’ strikes and magic hit the golem’s left ankle simultaneously.
With a loud bang, some bricks fell, raising a cloud of dust.
They felt frustrated—they had hoped combined strength could destroy at least one leg.
Then, they all saw it: the fallen bricks began to rise, attempting to repair themselves.
At that moment, Isabel’s voice rang in their minds.
“Enter the gaps between the bricks!”
It was shocking—even orders to die couldn’t compare.
Without waiting, Hechil shouted:
“Clear the way!”
He flung himself into the gaps like a taut sling, landing perfectly between the holes created by fallen bricks.
“Captain!”
The mercenaries panicked but had no choice but to cling to the leg.
Bricks rose around them, trying to snap back into place.
They could all imagine the scene—Hechil crushed between bricks.
Even so, he moved, trusting Isabel’s guidance and believing only he could do it.
He was right.
Bang!
The brick snapped back, but Hechil’s protective field, Cradle, blocked it, shattering the brick instead.
The adventurers and mercenaries saw the glowing barrier enveloping him—a divine shield that blocked attacks and escape.
Hechil removed his hands from his face and saw the truth: their goal was to damage or destabilize the leg, but the steel golem repaired itself. By entering the gaps and creating Cradle fields, they prevented repairs, turning the barrier into an obstacle.
Flames of determination lit in the warriors’ eyes. They attacked the bricks, entered the gaps, and soon the golem’s left leg was covered with glowing orbs.
With the lower body damaged, the golem’s massive left arm began moving independently, trying to shake them off like insects.
But it broke instead—Cradle couldn’t be pierced, even by the steel golem.
And then, the ones waiting for this moment acted.
“Climb!”
With Isabel’s blessing and their own enhancements, Zeronis unit members leapt onto the golem’s hand.
They clung successfully and began climbing.
Their destination: the steel golem’s nape.
