Kai, a Japanese graduate student, dies in a freak accident and wakes up in a sword-and-sorcery world. Chosen by a whimsical god, he receives the Golem Summoning skill. His golems are two massive ape-like creatures, always active but without free will, moving only on his command. The adventurer guild scoffs at him. Old-timer Godan sneers that two golems are useless.
But Kai has a secret weapon: his past-life knowledge as a science student and a hardcore pro-wrestling fan. He commands his golems
Golem Pro-Wrestling in Another World - Glenvald, the Kingdom's Strongest, Duel to Kill Time
The atmosphere in the guild was shifting again.
The moment Kai stepped into the Vandoor tavern, a ripple of murmurs spread like a wave. Before, it had been mockery. Now, the looks were appraising—strangely heated.
"Hey, if it ain't Kai! Come over here, drinks are on me!"
A young swordsman at the counter waved him over with a big gesture. Kai raised a hand lightly in response.
"Sorry, got business at the reception desk today. Another time."
His black short hair was still sticking up a bit as always. Bedhead that wouldn't settle—same in this world as it had been in the last. His black eyes were relaxed, as if to say he was in a decent enough mood.
(*Since losing to Malouno Kage, I've been trying all sorts of things... but I still don't have a decisive move. Still, no point in rushing.*)
Somewhere in his mind, he was analyzing his situation with cold precision. Since his days doing science research in his previous life, he'd never shaken the habit of measuring his circumstances in numbers.
It was when he passed by the bulletin board.
"Oi, golem bastard."
A low, intimidating voice. A voice he knew all too well.
Kai turned to find Godan standing there. His reddish-brown short hair flared outward at the tips, showing little sign of upkeep. Bloodshot reddish-brown eyes fixed on Kai from beneath half-lidded, condescending eyelids. Stubble grew carelessly from jaw to cheek. As always, one hand rested on his sword's hilt, chin raised in that posture of sizing people up.
Behind him, three adventurers from Godan's faction stood waiting. All of them were smirking as they watched Kai.
"What, you're still hanging around this guild? A coward who got spooked by a spirit and ran home—you've got some nerve walking around with a straight face."
The tavern air grew sharp. Adventurers nearby were stealing glances their way.
Kai smiled.
"Heh, Godan-san. So you actually listened to my defeat report. I'm touched. Guess that makes you my number one fan?"
Godan's temple twitched.
"Don't get cocky, brat. Your golem's nothing but a low-class sideshow. A heretic with no adventurer's pride."
"Even so, that sideshow took down a special variant."
Kai shrugged.
"That was a fluke. A whelp who got lucky, mistaking it for skill."
Godan stepped in closer. His breath reeked of alcohol.
"Then prove it. Prove that 'skill' of yours, right in front of us. There's a pack of grimoss near the royal capital's outskirts. Extermination quest. You're coming too."
Kai narrowed his eyes.
(*Grimoss... F-rank imp-type monsters. They move in packs. Low danger individually, but troublesome in numbers. And there's only one reason this guy would invite me.*)
"Sorry, but I'll pass. I work at my own pace."
As Kai tried to decline, a young female receptionist hurried over.
"Godan-san! Forcibly pressuring someone into a quest is a violation of regulations. Please stop!"
"Shut it. This ain't pressure. It's valuable guidance from a senior."
Godan silenced her with a single glance, then turned back to Kai.
"So, you running? Lost to a spirit, and now you're scared of a few grimoss? The guild'll have to reassess their opinion of you."
Behind Kai, someone whispered.
"What's Kai gonna do?"
"If Godan's got his eye on you, you won't last in this guild."
Kai let out a small breath.
(*What a pain. But if I run here, that's exactly what he wants. Besides...*)
"Fine, fine. I'll go. But I'll do it my way."
Godan's mouth twisted into a grin.
"Heh. Just don't get in the way, golem bastard."
---
Southeast of the royal capital Folkhart, at the outer edge of Crevasse Forest.
The green of the trees was thickly illuminated by the afternoon sun. Wind rustled the leaves with a dry, crackling sound. Birds called in the distance. It was a peaceful landscape.
But the air was unmistakably tinged with the stench of beasts.
"Oi, golem bastard. You're on the front line. Draw the grimoss in."
Godan commanded from the rear. He and the other three in his faction all had swords and shields at the ready, but they were clearly positioned several steps behind Kai.
(*They're planning to use me as bait. Well, as expected.*)
Kai smiled wryly to himself.
"Oi oi, B-rank veterans watching from the back? How reassuring."
"Shut up! Your golem's perfect as a shield. Even a useless piece of trash can at least be a wall of meat."
Kai raised his right hand lightly.
"Golems, come out."
The air trembled. Two faint patterns of light rose from the ground. The next moment, two massive shadows emerged from them.
Great ape-type golems, roughly 2.2 meters tall, composed of rock and earth. Their lifeless, inorganic eyes stared straight ahead. Estimated weight: 300 kilograms. Every movement made the ground shudder with a heavy thud.
"Big as ever, huh. Alright, counting on you today too, Number One, Number Two."
Kai called out with a grin. The golems, naturally, did not respond.
"Hmph. Creepy dolls as always. Let's see how far you can fight with toys like that."
That was when it happened.
*Rustle.*
Countless presences approached from deep in the forest. Footsteps. The sound of brush being pushed aside. And an earsplitting, high-pitched shrieking.
"They're here!"
Small shadows burst out from between the trees.
Grimoss. Imp-type monsters about one meter in length. Ugly greenish skin, gleaming yellow eyes, sharp fangs visible from their mouths. They carried crude clubs and stone axes.
One, two, three—
"Oi, the numbers are wrong!"
One of Godan's men cried out, voice cracking.
The grimoss were not ten or twenty. They poured out from between the trees, one after another. Thirty, forty, fifty—the count quickly exceeded what Godan's faction had anticipated.
"Shit! Why is a horde this size at the outer edge?! This isn't normal!"
The composure had vanished from Godan's face.
"G-Godan-san! We're being surrounded!"
The grimoss pack spread out in a semicircle, beginning to cut off their escape route. The imps' shrieks echoed throughout the forest.
"R-Retreat! We're pulling back!"
"Idiot! We're surrounded—there's nowhere to pull back to! Fight!"
Godan drew his sword. But his feet were clearly stepping backward. The other three were the same.
(*As I thought. These guys planned to push me out front while they stayed somewhere safe. But the grimoss numbers were so far beyond expectations that their escape route got cut off too.*)
Kai calmly analyzed the situation, watching Godan's faction panic from the corner of his eye.
The grimoss pack was steadily tightening its encirclement. Drool dripped from the imps' mouths.
"Oi, golem bastard! Do something with those toys of yours! Hurry up and be the bait!"
Godan shouted at Kai.
Kai slowly turned around.
"Godan-san. Do you understand the situation right now?"
"Hah?! What about it!"
"Grimoss have a habit of targeting the weakest individuals. Right now, the weakest-looking ones here are you lot, trembling in the back."
Godan's face went pale.
"W-What are—"
That instant.
*GYAAAAAA!!*
With an especially loud shriek, the grimoss pack moved all at once. Their target: Godan's faction in the rear.
"Uwaaaaa! Stay back!"
"Help! Godan-san!"
Godan's men swung their swords in desperate defense, but there were too many. One had his legs swept out from under him by a club and fell to the ground. Another took a stone axe to the shoulder, blood spraying.
"Damn it! You little shits!"
Godan swung his sword desperately too. But the pack's momentum didn't stop. Sharp claws grazed his cheek, drawing a red line.
(*Now then, what to do.*)
Kai stepped forward.
"Golems, go."
The two golems moved simultaneously.
*DOGOOOON!!*
Number One charged forward, plowing into the grimoss pack. Its sheer bulk alone sent several imps flying.
"Go! Lariat!"
Kai's voice echoed through the forest.
Number One's thick arm swept horizontally. The rock arm blasted three grimoss away in a single blow. The imps slammed into trees, shrieking.
"Next! Number Two, dropkick!"
Number Two took a running start and leaped. The 300-kilogram body soared through the air, both feet thrust out together. The soles of its feet buried themselves in the face of a large grimoss at the center of the pack.
*CRACK.*
The sound of bone shattering. The large grimoss flew backward, neck bent at an unnatural angle, tumbling across the ground and dragging its companions with it.
"Alright! Good, keep it up! Next, body slam!"
Number One grabbed a nearby grimoss with both arms and hoisted it up. The imp thrashed wildly. The golem raised it high overhead—
*DOGOOOON!!*
—and slammed it back-first into the ground.
The grimoss's body was crushed between the earth and the golem's weight, squashed flat. Blood and entrails scattered everywhere.
"H-Hiii..."
One of Godan's men scrambled backward on his rear, face pale with terror.
"Oi, what are you spacing out for. Get up. Hold your sword. Unless you want to die."
Kai's voice was eerily calm, despite being mid-battle.
(*About thirty grimoss remaining. Golem wear is still within acceptable range. I can push through like this.*)
In Kai's head, the battle situation was being calculated in real time.
"Number One, powerbomb! Number Two, clean up the perimeter while it does!"
The golems moved in perfect coordination.
Number One grabbed another grimoss, lifted it, and drove it headfirst into the ground. Number Two kicked away the surrounding imps, forming a wall.
*GYAAAAAA!!*
The grimoss's screams echoed through the forest.
"This ends it! Both at once—Double Lariat!!"
Kai shouted.
The two golems charged simultaneously from left and right. Their thick arms crossed, catching the remaining grimoss pack in a pincer.
*DOGOOOOON!!!*
The shockwave flattened the surrounding grass.
The grimoss caught between them were crushed beyond recognition and sent flying. The few survivors had completely lost their will to fight and fled shrieking into the depths of the forest.
Silence.
The battle was over.
"...Hah. What a pain."
Kai wiped the sweat from his forehead. The golems stood upright at his sides, as if nothing had happened.
Grimoss corpses lay scattered around. Broken clubs, shattered stone axes, the smell of blood.
"W-We're saved..."
One of Godan's men, still collapsed on the ground, muttered in a trembling voice.
"Y-You're amazing... really, with just golems..."
Another looked up at Kai. There was no longer any trace of mockery in his eyes.
Kai glanced at them, then walked toward Godan.
Godan was barely standing, using his sword as a cane. Blood ran from the wound on his cheek. His face was twisted with anger, humiliation, and a hint of fear.
"Godan-san. Can you stand?"
Kai extended a hand.
"...Don't screw with me. Like I'd owe you anything."
Godan slapped Kai's hand away.
"I see. Then get back on your own two feet. I'm heading back first to report."
Kai withdrew his hand without hesitation and turned his back.
"W-Wait! You're just going to leave us here?! What if more grimoss show up!"
"You'll be fine. You're a B-rank veteran, after all. Besides, my golems are 'low-class sideshows.' No need for you to be protected by something like that."
Kai said it without looking back.
"Debt's repaid. So quit messing with me. Next time, I won't go easy."
Kai left the forest with his two golems in tow.
---
The Vandoor tavern bustled with adventurers come evening.
But tonight, the tavern was filled with an unusual energy.
"Oi, did you hear! Kai took out a whole horde of grimoss by himself!"
"And apparently Godan tried to use him as bait, got in danger himself, and Kai saved him."
"That Godan, saved by Kai? Serves him right!"
Such conversations were happening all over the tavern.
Kai sat quietly in the corner of the counter, nursing a single mug of ale.
(*This should calm Godan's faction down a bit. Though, knowing the type to hold grudges, he might try something again.*)
Kai took a sip of ale. The bitterness flowed down his throat.
"Kai-san, that was incredible! You're the t
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