Techically 3, I would say 2 and a half. Route B is mostly the same as Route A, except you play a different character. Many people stopped playing, thinking it was just a bonus, and completely missed that Route C afterwards is a continuation of the story.
More subtle than the Third Age video game that just teleports you up there to fight the damn thing. Just stab it a bunch until its health runs out, I’m sure that’s how it works.