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The Paper User: Exiled for a ‘Trash Skill,’ Awakens True Power and Rises with Two Unique Skills ,Volume 2 - Chapter 19

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Chapter : The Cave, Part 4

After about ten minutes of walking, we emerged into a more open space.

Stalactite columns jutted upward here and there, and murky water pooled in a shallow depression.

No good… that water’s too cloudy to drink.

Clang.

A metallic sound echoed from behind one of the columns.

“Everyone! Something’s hiding behind that pillar!”

The moment I shouted, the other three shifted into combat stance.

From the shadows emerged a hulking figure clad in blue-black armor.

An Armor Golem…!

It stood over two meters tall, its torso easily more than three meters around. Its arms were long and massive, thick fingers nearly brushing the ground.

And it wasn’t an ordinary Armor Golem—its size alone proved that. Etched across its armor were glowing magical inscriptions.

And then I saw it—

A crimson gem embedded inside its mouth.

That same gem… the same kind I saw in the skull soldiers under that demon, Daglud.

Why here too…? No—now’s not the time for that!

And it wasn’t alone. Two… three… five… ten of them.

“Gogogog…”

One of the Armor Golems lunged at me, swinging its colossal arm down like a hammer.

I ducked low, barely evading the crushing blow. The impact rattled the ground, sending a tremor through the cavern floor.

They’ve got power. And decent speed, too.

I drew the Mana-Eater Dagger, pouring magic into the blade. Its azure edge flared and extended over a meter long.

If those gems serve the same purpose as with the skeleton soldiers, then they’re the weak point.

Sliding low, I slipped to its flank and slashed. The blade bit into its leg, leaving only a shallow gash.

Hard. Too hard. I can’t sever the limb with this much magic.

Fine. Then I’ll go straight for the gem.

Kinako and Pilln had already engaged other golems.

Behind me, Arumine was chanting, her right eye glowing as a magic circle unfurled across her iris. A second, luminous glyph manifested in the air above the Armor Golem before me.

Lightning crashed down from the sigil, searing the iron shell. The monster froze mid-motion.

Now’s my chance!

I lunged forward, driving the blade toward its mouth—but just before the tip reached the gem, its jaws snapped shut like a bear trap.

Clang!

A shower of sparks flared.

Tch! So that’s why they keep the gem inside their mouths!

I bit my lip hard and leapt back, widening the gap.

The paralysis faded, and the golem lumbered back into motion.

“This is bad!”

Pilln pressed her back to mine.

“These Armor Golems are heavy and tough! Even with the Magical Hammer, it’ll take time to bring them down!”

“Go for the legs!” Kinako shouted.

“They’re sturdy, sure—but if we cripple their movement, we win!”

“Roger that!”

Pilln’s violet eyes gleamed, her pupils narrowing to vertical slits.

“Berserker Mode, activate!”

With a feral scream, she darted forward, her hips twisting as she swung. The Magical Hammer swelled to enormous size mid-swing, smashing into the golem’s knee.

Crunch! The joint buckled, sending the giant crashing sideways in a thunderous fall.

Good. Then I’ll use this.

I reached into my magic pocket and drew a special talisman.

“Binding Net!”

A shimmering, adhesive lattice snapped into existence, tangling three more golems in its clutches.

“That’s the way!”

Kinako seized the opening, springing high with feline grace. Mid-air, she twisted, bringing her paw down in a spinning strike.

CRACK!

Like breaking glass, the closed jaws burst open, spilling fragments of shattered ruby across the stone floor.

“Gog… gogog…”

The Armor Golem collapsed, lifeless.

So the gem really is the weak point.

Scanning the field, I spotted another golem closing in on Arumine.

Not happening!

I surged forward, flooding twice as much mana into the dagger. Its glow intensified, reshaping into a crescent blade.

“Try this!”

Leaping onto a paper foothold I conjured in midair, I brought the blade down with all my strength.

The golem’s head split in half. The gem inside shattered like brittle candy.

Yes! This works!

I charged at the next one head-on.

A few minutes later, every Armor Golem lay broken on the ground. I exhaled hard, my muscles aching.

If even one of those hits had landed, I’d be a smear on the floor right now.

“The Dolls Cult must’ve planted these here,” Kinako muttered, stooping to pick up a fragment of shattered gem.

“Looks like these boost strength and speed. And they probably let the user track enemy movement, too.”

“So that’s why they usually fight with their mouths open.”

“Yeah. I noticed the ones with closed jaws reacted slower.”

“Kinako… these gems look a lot like the ones Daglud used to enhance his skeleton soldiers.”

“...Yeah. Which means those lunatics might be in league with the demons.”

Kinako’s fangs clicked audibly.

“We should head back,” Arumine suggested.

“Agreed. This is intel worth sharing.”

“Right. If they’ve stationed more of these elsewhere, everyone needs to know.”

I stared down at the shattered husks of the fallen golems.

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