Chapter 16

Golem Valley. This battlefield boasts the highest level of difficulty in the entire Kingdom of Ruxe. The unforgiving valley terrain is inhabited by incomparably fearsome golems originally brought to life by an ancient mage. Even the most experienced mercenary is unable to pierce their rugged bodies with a blade. Golem Valley is famously used as a training ground by the Kingdom’s royal knights for this very reason. A warrior should be between levels 40 and 70 to level up in this grueling location. However, for the Holy Warrior, who has been conscripted with the task of vanquishing the Demon Lord, gaining additional prowess even a moment quicker could make a difference. There is no way Naotsugu Toudou can avoid passing through the valley. The Holy Warrior has been summoned to defeat the Demon Lord Kranos, and she has powerful allies with her: Limis Al Friedia, a mage; Aria Rizas, a sword master; and Glacia, their pet glacial plant. Seeking a new party member—a priest—Toudou and company visited a village named Purif, near the Great Tomb. There, Toudou met a young girl named Spica Royle, a priest-in-training. Toudou’s party had a noble mission in mind in their search for a new priest. Yet, when Spica learned that their efforts had not borne fruit, she rushed headlong into the Great Tomb all alone in an attempt to train as a priest. Toudou took on the various ghoulish creatures that ran rampant within the Great Tomb in order to save Spica. After safely rescuing her from danger, the party encountered a priest consumed with his occupation of purging the world of the legions of darkness: Gregorio Legins. Toudou got the idea to ask him to train the party; however, Gregorio’s training turned out to be beyond harsh, consisting of endless battle with the undead, hinging on one thing only—divine protection. Battling the undead in Yutith’s Tomb pushed the definition of fearsome to its limit. A massive army of innumerable undead continued to appear, yet Naotsugu Toudou, the Holy Warrior, refused to be frightened. Spica Royle also grew exponentially, and the party managed to complete Gregorio’s training. However, after they finally escaped the tomb unharmed, Gregorio’s final test awaited them—to show Gregorio himself their newly honed abilities. Upon learning that Toudou is the Holy Warrior, Gregorio felt it necessary to show her just how it feels to battle a vastly more powerful opponent like the ones she’s bound to encounter before long. Going up against Gregorio, a level-83 priest, was an incredibly trying fight for the far-weaker Toudou, but she managed to put her experience in the Great Tomb to use and show him a sufficient amount of her newfound strength. Toudou matured even further after battling a much-higher-leveled opponent. She realized the importance of gaining further levels, leading her to choose Golem Valley as the party’s next destination. However, as Toudou and the party prepared to set off on their next journey, Spica came to a sudden decision. She wasn’t strong enough to help the party on their quest to vanquish the Demon Lord. She wanted to train further under Gregorio’s tutelage. Toudou accepted Spica’s valiant decision and promised to meet her again before they went their separate ways. After some time on the road, the party finally reached Golem Valley. No matter what hardships may await, Toudou will not halt her advance. Why, you ask? Because that is proof of a true Holy Warrior’s resolve.