Blackthorn, the golem, moved at a slow pace. Compared to Polly, the Petal Charger, or even the carriages, this felt like a crawl. But there wasn’t much choice when it came to transporting a golem-it had to make the journey on its own. Sure, Blackthorn could run, but not for long distances without exhausting its stamina. So, they had no option but to accept the golem’s steady, plodding rhythm.
The Golem Summoning skill could only be used once every 24 hours, which made it handy in emergencies but far from a regular convenience. Even though Broken had gained a Golem Storage slot with his new class, it wasn’t yet capable of storing a Legendary-grade golem. He would need to level up the skill several times before that became a possibility.
Having a Legendary-grade golem-something even the most seasoned Golemacers rarely achieved—was a remarkable advantage. The fact that Broken had acquired Blackthorn before even having the proper class? That was pure luck. Though, managing it came with its own set of challenges.
As he and Ivana sat on the golem’s broad shoulders, traveling through the night, Broken calculated it would take about three to four hours to reach their destination. He planned to leave the golem hidden in the forest, perhaps concealing it among the dense trees to keep it out of sight. Ivana could stay at the inn in town while he took care of other things.
“Ivana, I’ll be gone for a few hours… maybe a day after this,” he said, turning toward her.
Ivana smiled and nodded. “Yes, I know… I’ll wait for you to come back.”
“I’ll rent you an inn in the city, okay?”
“Inn?” she replied, looking a bit confused.
“Yeah… you don’t plan on staying in the forest with this golem, right?”
Ivana hesitated for a moment. “But, Broken… isn’t that a demon town, filled with demons?”
Broken nodded. “Actually, it’s all demons, except for a few humans and elves we rescued earlier.”
“Wouldn’t it be safer if I stayed with this golem?” she said softly.
Broken paused, considering the idea of Ivana being alone in the forest while he might be gone for more than a day, Yunatea time. Something about that didn’t sit right with him—it didn’t feel safe.
“You’re not planning on bringing the golem into the town, are you?” Ivana asked.
“No… because taking a golem this big into town would draw way too much attention.”
Ivana nodded. “Then, I’ll stay with the golem. Wouldn’t it be safer if I stayed with this incredible golem?” she giggled.
“But, Ivana, your level isn’t as high as it used to be-you’re below level 200 now.”
“But this golem has a high level, doesn’t it?” she countered with a playful smile.
Broken mulled it over once more, the thought of leaving Ivana alone in the forest gnawing at him. Sure, she technically wouldn’t be alone-the golem would be there. But the golem could stay still, hidden, without drawing any attention. Ivana, on the other hand, was human. She couldn’t just sit inside the golem all day doing nothing-that would be like imprisoning her. “Broken… I’ll be fine. You don’t need to worry,” Ivana reassured him.
But he stayed quiet, still thinking it through.
Ivana gently took his hand. “I’ll be okay, really. It’s safer if I stay with the golem. This golem is so powerful, and I can even hunt in the forest while I wait for you.”
“I’ll come back as soon as possible, and after that, I won’t leave your side until we’re back in Yunatea,” he promised.
She nodded, trying to reassure him. “Yes, I’ll be fine. The golem’s strong, and I have a Unique-grade class. Even if danger comes, I know how to defend myself… and if it gets really bad, I can still save myself. I will revive, after all…”
Her voice faded as Broken tightened his grip on her hand.
“Nothing will happen to you,” he said, his tone firm.
They spent the next few hours traveling, but it was far from boring. Ivana, with her natural cheerfulness, always found something interesting to talk about. She never seemed to run out of energy, her smile ever-present, lighting up the night. Even when Broken began to feel tired, he simply watched her as she spoke, enjoying the moment, her voice a comforting presence.
Suddenly, Ivana reached out, gently caressing his cheek, pulling him from his thoughts. Startled, he blinked, his focus snapping back to her.
“Hey, you’re tired, aren’t you?” she said softly. “Why don’t you go rest for a bit? You need it.”
Broken shook his head. “I’ll stay with you until we reach the hiding spot.”
“I’ll be fine on my own,” she reassured him. “You can go ahead and rest, then just summon the golem from afar when you’re ready.”
“I can’t,” he replied. “If I summon the golem while you’re not inside it, you’ll be left behind.”
Ivana pointed ahead. “The town is over there, right?” she asked.
Broken nodded.
“I’ll head closer and stay in the forest near that area,” she suggested.
It was always frustrating when players could communicate with each other but not with NPCs, especially in situations like this. Ivana, as an NPC, was vulnerable if left alone-particularly in a place like this. There was no predicting what might happen.
Broken declined Ivana’s offer to go ahead on her own. He chose to stay with her the entire way until they reached the spot where the golem would remain.
When they finally arrived, it was a secluded area nestled in the hills, surrounded by dense forest. The clearing was just enough to hide the golem from a distant view, giving it a sense of both safety and security.
By the time they reached the spot, the sun had begun to rise, casting a warm glow across the landscape. Despite the long journey, Broken hesitated to log out. Just then, a message from Charmelyn popped up, catching him off guard. She asked where he was and offered to stay with Ivana once he logged off.
Relief washed over him. Knowing someone would be there to watch over Ivana, he finally felt at ease. They waited a few more hours, and soon enough, Charmelyn appeared, joining them. “Hi, Ivana,” Charmelyn greeted, this time removing her mask, revealing Laura’s face-the first time Broken had seen her in-game.
“Hi, Charmelyn…” Ivana responded, stepping closer with a bright smile. “Wow, this is the first time I’ve seen your face.” She giggled. “You’re so pretty and cute.”
“Thanks,” Charmelyn replied, laughing softly. “But you’re way more enchanting with your charm.”
She then turned to Broken with a smile. “I’ll stay with Ivana until you’re back online. You can leave her in my care.”
“Thanks, Charmelyn,” Broken said, relieved. “And where’s your copy?”
“Hunting and gathering some important intel around here… trying to make the most of this before heading back to Yunatea, right?” she added with a giggle-something Broken found surprising, as it was the first time he’d seen Charmelyn giggle in-game.
She continued, “There’s some information I’m digging into, but I can’t share it just yet. Once freeweɓnovel.cm
I have more, I’m sure it’ll interest you.”
“And what’s it about? Another group of slaves? An artifact?” Broken asked curiously.
Charmelyn only nodded in response.
Could there be more slave spots they hadn’t discovered yet? Broken wondered.
Once everything was under control and knowing Ivana was in good hands, Broken logged out
of the game. It had been an incredibly long and exhausting night!