1,000,000 Karma: My Reward Is a Quiet Life-Chapter 91: Berserk Golem

It was no more than a day’s walk, by the estimates of Astrid, yet the closer he came, the more an uncertain feeling swirled inside him.

Through a forest of mystical trees that bloomed with glowing, night-blue leaves, they ventured.

"So, this place is the boundaries before the territory the World Guild is in?" Noah commented, looking up at the humming trees.

There was no way to see the sky as it was obscured by the illuminant canopy of leaves that acted as a ceiling in itself. He developed a sense for spiritual existences; the presence of lesser spirits floating among the branches provided a comforting guidance.

"I still don’t know why you skipped the parade," Otto sighed, walking with his arms behind his head. "Seriously, we–I mean...you could’ve hit it up with the cutest girls in Ballou!"

"Seriously, dude?" Noah said with a look of disappointment in his friend.

A sharp elbow to the side from the archer’s twin set him back on track from such lecherous thoughts.

"Still...How are you feeling, Noah?" Astrid asked.

He glanced around, finding everyone’s gaze on him as they walked as if sharing the same question. It wasn’t the first time he’d been asked that day, and he doubted it’d be the last.

"I’m alright, thanks—I wasn’t affected much by what happened down there, I think," he assured.

While he had to tell them the truth of what happened, as outlandish as it seemed for those who were left unaware of the "Quantum Tomb", he spared some details. By the way Astrid’s ever-worrying, emerald eyes glanced at him, he could tell that she seemed aware of an underlying issue.

"Anyway...What is this forest, anyway?" Noah asked.

Rain held her hands out while walking, letting the drifting spirits brush her skin, "It’s so dense with spiritual energy. This forest is well protected."

"From what I’ve heard, this place serves to ward off unwanted visitors to the World Guild. Specifically monsters–" Astrid explained before looking back at the orc.

Redrum raised his brow as if confused by the sudden look before grunting, "Ah, I see...Well, it hasn’t rejected me yet, has it?"

"Probably because you’re with me," Noah claimed with a smile, tapping the necklace under his shirt. "I’ve got special privileges, I guess–"

As he jokingly waved his insignia, the ground rumbled; branches swayed and leaves rattled beneath the weight of an approaching presence. The intensity of the quaking only increased as it came closer, with trees beginning to outright snap–

"Get back!" He shouted to the others.

He instinctively rose a colossal wall dozens of meters ahead of the paved path, reinforcing the structure of dirt and stone. The rumbling footsteps fell to silence before–

CRASH

–The wall shattered by the shoulder of the colossus ramming through it. A humanoid giant built of silver steel rushed through with agility beyond its scale.

[Greater Identification] [A-Rank Close-Quarters Combat Skill]

["Supreme Golem"] [Designated Level: Appx. 22] [Species: Magic Automaton]

[Weaknesses: Core]

"Hraah!--" Otto swiftly launched a trio of imbued arrows.

The projectiles clashed against the sprinting golem, triggering into a chain of blazing explosions. A breath of relief left the archer’s mouth, only to be dissuaded entirely as the automaton emerged through the smoke. Without breaking its stride, the golem rushed right for the archer, who was left with nothing to do but to scramble to draw another arrow–

"Hrk–!"

Intercepting the steel giant’s sprint, Redrum placed his body in front of the elf, holding his arms out readily. It was a simple plan from the orc; he planned to grasp the automaton’s leg, if only to halt its rush for a moment.

While that was the idea, what happened in reality–

"Puahh...!"

Like an oversized, green ball, the orc was kicked into the air with a single swing of the golem’s leg, launching the four-armed pacifist into a bundle of branches.

In unison from both sides, Noah snapped his fingers while Astrid held her stave towards the hostile golem. From the elf’s tool, a sphere of fire cast its heat forth while the prodigal man cast a bolt of lightning at the steel giant–

The dual magic collided with the golem, yet was siphoned right into its metallic frame. No markings were left; not a burn nor dent.

’It nullified the magic?’ Noah observed.

’It absorbed it!’ Astrid realized.

A glimmer of light coarse over the shining steel before the unspeaking golem pointed its hands in the general direction of the party. Humming filled the area as raw mana generated in the openings of its palms.

Noah only needed a glance to know what was coming, though felt any barrier would be insufficient in defending them. He was confident he could evade the blast, though doubted the others would have the same luck.

’Can I block it–?’ The thought raced across his mind.

"Cease, Thernon!"

–A commanding voice resounded through the glowing forest. Within an instant, the golem halted its attack, allowing the built-up mana to disperse as it entirely relaxed its stance. It felt like a miracle that the berserk sentinel stood down, though it was just a confusing act as it was convenient.

From behind, a man in a black uniform and shaggy, dark-blue hair walked between the golem’s legs. From a glance, the outfit with its various medals and threads resembled a decorative military uniform.

"Sorry about that," the stranger said with a welcoming smile. "You’re Noah Soul, I take it? And his companions."

The "companions" referring to everybody else was a sting to the others, being so generally lumped into one.

"Yeah, that’s me. And you are—?" Noah asked cautiously.

"Vastro Reigns," the middle-aged stranger of shimmering, amber eyes introduced himself. "I’m a Guardian of the World Guild. We’ve been expecting you."

"Doesn’t seem like it," Noah remarked, pointing towards the now unmoving golem.

Vastro looked back before addressing it with a short laugh, "Yeah, sorry about that. After recent events, Thernon has been ordered to attack any unregistered individuals."

"That seems...a bit much," Otto said, still a bit shaken after nearly being crushed.

"Thernon is set to only restrain unknown guests. I’m not sure why he acted the way he did...I’ll look into it," Vastro assured with a confused look. "For now, you’re all welcome to the World Guild."