Chapter 68: The Vanished Golem

By the time we reached this point, the village we were heading for was just within reach.

We had arrived in Zari sooner than I’d expected, which meant that if we pushed ourselves, we might even make it to our destination by the end of the day.

“Eh~ let’s just go home for today,” came the whining protest.

…Yeah, I figured you’d say that.

Well, if we left now, it would probably be too late in the day anyway. For today, it made sense to follow Sena’s suggestion and head back home for a while.

So, we made our way to the little home garden we had left outside the town. I had hidden it on the far side of a small hill, just out of sight.

“Anii, there’s no one around, right?”

“We’re fine. But hurry.”

“? Okay, then I’ll teleport us.”

In an instant, the scenery shifted, and we were transported to our home garden back in Arcel. After seeing Shifa and the others depart, I suddenly remembered something.

“Ah… right. I was supposed to take precautions so monsters wouldn’t come near.”

It hit me just now. I considered teleporting back again, but being alone might be dangerous.

“Sena, sorry… wait, you’re already gone.”

“Meow!”

“Pii!”

I paused. With them here, it might have been easy… but then a thought struck me: maybe I could do it remotely?

〈Would you like to create a Mega Guardian?〉

Yes.

I pictured the mobile garden we had left near Zari in my mind and nodded.

〈Mega Guardian created.〉

“Oh… looks like it worked?”

If it hadn’t, the system would have told me. Clearly, things had gone smoothly.

“Right. While we’re at it, let’s use the garden concealment too.”

If someone saw a golem out there, they’d definitely be surprised. Well, maybe there was no need to surround it with walls just yet.

◇　◇　◇

Orrick was a twenty-year-old adventurer based in Zari.

Having come from a village even more rural than this one, the town of Zari felt almost like a bustling city to him. Other young adventurers his age, who formed his party, shared the same sense of awe.

To them, the adventurer’s guild meant a simple, single-story building, slightly worn, with a single reception window. That was all they had ever known.

Among the many sweaty, rugged adventurers, the only female receptionist—slightly older, but undeniably beautiful—was a figure of admiration, almost untouchable in her aura.

Naturally, Orrick had been secretly scheming how to get close to her, hoping to outsmart his companions and make an impression.

Then one day, a party of young, cute girls appeared before them. Of course, any self-respecting adventurer wouldn’t let such an opportunity pass without trying to approach them.

…Well, except for one rather inconspicuous, forgettable-looking guy. Orrick and his companions didn’t even notice him.

Fortune had already smiled on them: they were considered promising adventurers. While many took years to rise through the ranks, they had already reached D-rank by the age of twenty or so, placing them among the top adventurers in Zari.

Surely, if they were kind, the girls would follow along willingly. But then…

“We have two B-rank adventurers here… I doubt they’d learn anything from us, right?”

Reality hit them harshly.

“Wha… B-rank…?”

“Y-you’ve got to be joking…”

In this town, even the most seasoned adventurers rarely reached C-rank. B-rank? It was practically unheard of.

Yet here they were—two B-rank members in a party of girls, who were even younger than themselves. They couldn’t accept it.

“N-no, maybe they lied just to turn us down?”

“Y-yes! That’s it! There’s no way girls like that could be B-rank!”

Unable to face reality, they decided the girls were lying. Determined to uncover the truth, they chased after them.

But the girls were already leaving the town, possibly heading on an adventure.

“Isn’t it risky to call out to them outside town?”

“They’ll get suspicious. Let’s wait until they come back.”

“But what if they don’t return?”

“T-then… you go and call out alone.”

“Why does it always end up like that? We could all go together!”

While they bickered, the girls climbed a nearby hill, staying hidden behind trees and rocks as Orrick and the others pursued them.

By the time they hesitated and reached the top of the hill, the girls had vanished. What they saw left them in shock.

“They… disappeared…?”

There was no sign of them anywhere. The hill offered a clear view of the surroundings, yet there was nowhere for them to hide.

“What… how is this possible?”

“Where did they go?”

They searched the area but found nothing. Instead, something strange caught their eyes.

“What is this place…?”

The soil was clearly different from its surroundings, almost as if a perfect rectangle had been carved out and placed there.

“A field?”

“It definitely looks like a field… but why here?”

“Wait, this soil is incredible!”

Many of them had been born into farming families. Just by looking at soil, they could tell how suitable it was for growing crops.

“W-what the—?”

At that moment, the mysterious patch of soil began to stir, and they instinctively braced themselves.

――――

From it emerged a massive golem, towering five meters high.

“Wha… wha… what?!”

“R-run!”

It was the largest golem any of them had ever seen. Realizing instantly that they stood no chance, they bolted without hesitation.

Before they knew it, they had raced down the hill to the foot. Only then did they notice:

“Hey… it’s not chasing us…?”

“…It’s true.”

Relieved, they cautiously returned to the hilltop. Peeking over once more, they witnessed an unbelievable sight again.

“The golem… it’s gone?”

For some time afterward, rumors of the vanished golem spread through Zari’s adventurer circles. Little did anyone know that it had all been the work of a certain boy’s gift.