Chapter 68: Linked Quest Opens

Several days after finishing their rest and sex on the beach.

Jinwoo’s party finally commenced their full-scale exploration.

“Well then, shall we get going?”

Hilde and Shin Seom-hwa nodded.

Their expressions were a mix of tension and anticipation.

They had spent their own kind of vacation on the beach, and stockpiled food during that time, all for this day.

Thanks to that, they had sufficient provisions and stamina.

However, everyone knew that anything could happen on this uninhabited island.

“Do you know the exact location?”

“We have a map, so roughly, yes.”

Jinwoo unfolded the map.

It was a clumsy map, not yet fully completed.

But it was good enough to find the marked X.

‘I wonder what could possibly be here.’

This uninhabited island, where not just space but even time seemed strange.

What could possibly be at the place they were told to find, going to such lengths?

Now, pure curiosity had even arisen.

“Let’s take it easy for now. If need be, we can get food right there. Even if some decent monster shows up, the three of us should be able to handle it.”

They had gathered quite a few items and combat experience points during that time.

Now, they were confident they could win even if they fought a pack of wolves head-on.

The three immediately set off.

Regardless, the weather, bathed in warm sunlight, was perfectly clear for walking.

“But what do you think is actually at that mark?”

Hilde, leading the way with her Valkyrie’s Spear, spoke up.

Jinwoo pondered for a moment before answering.

“Hmm, since it’s marked intentionally, maybe there’s some dangerous monster there?”

“……You’re going there intentionally?”

“We have to prepare for any potential situation. It would be a big problem if a real monster appeared.”

Of course, it’s dangerous.

It was 100 times better than being caught off guard without knowing.

“And this is one of the few clues we have about this island.”

Living forever on this uninhabited island… it wouldn’t be impossible.

In a way, it was a veritable paradise.

There was no need to mention how enjoyable it was to spend days having sex with two beautiful women like this.

‘But this can’t go on forever.’

What if disaster strikes suddenly?

What if truly dangerous monsters existed?

What if they caught an unidentifiable disease?

Unlike society, there were too many variables here.

To escape this island that defied common sense,

they had no choice but to venture out.

“Maybe this is the only hint to escape the uninhabited island.”

“Hmm~ So you were thinking of leaving this place.”

Shin Seom-hwa said, sounding surprised.

“I thought you just wanted to have sex every day.”

“What do you take me for?”

…….Honestly speaking, I had thought that way before.

But in the end, I leaned towards finding a way out.

‘Now that I’ve gotten stronger, there’s no need to stay on the island.’

Jinwoo could even defeat Shin Seom-hwa, who was already an A-class Ability User.

Once back in society, becoming rich wouldn’t be difficult.

Rather, it would be more accurate to say that fame and status would be guaranteed.

‘Besides, even if we leave the island, this relationship won’t go back to how it was.’

Hilde, of course, wouldn’t change.

What about Shin Seom-hwa, who was originally my boss?

She was already deeply immersed in having sex with me.

She probably wouldn’t forget the pleasure she felt now, even after returning to society.

‘If I have ability, money, and women, society is a thousand times better.’

If I get the chance, I want to leave the island somehow.

If I had one wish, it would be to get back at those two bitches who screwed me over, outside the bounds of the law?

How long had it been since I fell into such thoughts?

Suddenly, Hilde stopped walking.

“Master, there are monsters here too.”

“Monsters? Wolves?”

“No, Goblins.”

Goblins? Jinwoo frowned but hid in the bushes for now.

There was no harm in being cautious.

‘Are there two of them?’

Peeking out, he could indeed see Goblins.

However, perhaps because he had become quite strong… they looked very weak.

‘Appraisal.’

▶ Armored Goblin

Rank: E

Level: 2

Skills: Dagger Swing, Charge

Description: A common Goblin clad in some armor. Its stats are low, so it doesn’t pose a significant threat, but caution is needed as it’s armed. If your skills are sufficient, execute it from afar!

The level was a mere 2.

There was nothing special about it, other than wearing equipment.

‘Hmm, is there perhaps a Goblin settlement nearby?’

Well, this was a map that a Goblin Shaman had possessed in the first place.

It wouldn’t be strange for Goblins to be this far.

‘Perhaps wolves took over territory that originally belonged to Goblins… does that make sense?’

Since there was plenty of food, they might not have had a reason to fight directly.

But they would have had their territories.

“What should we do?”

Turning his head, Jinwoo saw Hilde and Shin Seom-hwa looking at him.

Their eyes conveyed that they were leaving the decision entirely to him.

“Let’s take care of them. There’s no reason to leave them be.”

They were monsters.

No matter how weak, they could become the seeds of danger.

It was better to reduce their numbers definitively if possible.

“I’ll do it. It’s the cleanest way, isn’t it?”

Magic power flowed from Shin Seom-hwa’s hand.

Soon, golden threads shot out towards the Goblins in an instant.

-Swoosh!

No sound was made.

Perhaps the Goblins themselves didn’t even know what happened.

The two Goblins simply had their heads severed.

“Wow! Shin Seom-hwa’s magic is amazing, as expected! No matter how hard I swing my spear, I couldn’t finish them off so cleanly!”

“I-it’s not that amazing.”

Shin Seom-hwa blushed, uncharacteristically.

She was still weak towards Hilde.

“Isn’t your reaction different from when I praise you?”

“Shut up. You pervert.”

Jinwoo, who only got cursed for no reason, grumbled and approached the Goblins.

No other Goblins were visible nearby.

His eyes narrowed as he examined the corpses for a moment.

It was because of the weapons the Goblins were equipped with.

“I suspected it, and they really have iron weapons.”

“Hm? Why is that?”

“There’s no one on this uninhabited island who can make weapons like these.”

At his words, Hilde and Shin Seom-hwa’s eyebrows slightly rose.

They hadn’t paid much attention because the weapons were crude and weak.

But his point was indeed correct.

“Could they have washed ashore, or were they looted from somewhere?”

“The possibility is slim.”

Iron weapons are rare on an uninhabited island. No, they don’t exist at all.

So rare that even Jinwoo, with modern knowledge, had to obtain them through a gacha.

And they are common enough for these lowly minions to wield?

It doesn’t make sense.

“Then maybe the Goblins made them themselves?”

“I’d rather not think about that, but…”

When did the Iron Age begin on the Korean peninsula? A few hundred years BC?

Even idiots could somehow manage if they had enough time…

“I don’t think that’s the case.”

However, Hilde shook her head.

“The Goblin settlement we dealt with last time had nothing like that. If they had that level of skill, I think they would have used much better weapons.”

“Hmm, that’s true too.”

No matter how large, it’s still an island.

It’s unlikely for such a difference in civilization to exist within the same species.

“Well, it’s an island where strange things happen anyway. Let’s think within the realm of common sense for now.”

“Then there’s only one possibility.”

Shin Seom-hwa snapped her fingers.

“Someone external, other than the Goblins, is supplying the weapons.”

“So, could there be survivors besides you, Master, and Shin Seom-hwa?”

“Hmm.”

Of course, that possibility couldn’t be ruled out.

It wouldn’t be strange if there were other survivors.

But the problem isn’t who is supplying them.

Why they are doing such a thing to the Goblins is what matters.

‘If someone armed the Goblins with intent…’

Could that person possibly command the Goblins?

Are they building an army with Goblins?

‘Whether that person is human, another Goblin, or something else, I don’t know.’

Honestly, Goblins are pathetically weak.

Even if dozens came, he was confident he could defeat them alone now.

But complacency is forbidden.

As always, preparations must be made to the best of their ability.

“It seems we need to change our plan.”

Jinwoo said, getting up from his spot.

“We need to proceed more cautiously. Let’s hunt down any Goblins we see while circling this area, and approach the marked spot as slowly as possible.”

“Okay, got it. Let’s take our time.”

“I also think it’s better to be cautious.”

The two nodded in agreement.

‘Hmm, I wanted to cuddle and sleep with Master again. Maybe it’ll be possible if we have some free time…’

‘I hope that person isn’t another woman. If they are… I might get a little annoyed.’

Time is on their side anyway.

There was absolutely no reason to rush.

****

After that, the three moved a bit more cautiously.

They completed the map by circling the vicinity, and annihilated any Goblins they encountered.

“Hmm, I’m worried we’ll end up eating Goblin meat every day again…”

“I’m stuffing the corpses into my inventory roughly, partly to hide them. There really are a lot.”

As a result, they had hunted over 15 Goblins.

That was a much larger number than what they caught in the Goblin settlement.

“Hmm, Jinwoo. As we get closer to the mark, the number of Goblins seems to be increasing?”

“Right?”

Shin Seom-hwa and Jinwoo had hunted like this back in society.

What this current situation implies is-

“It seems the mark we’re aiming for is a Goblin stronghold.”

“Another Goblin settlement?”

Hilde asked, wiping the blood off her spear.

“Judging by their numbers and armament, it might not just be a settlement.”

Even as he said it, Jinwoo couldn’t be sure.

Honestly, the Goblins’ movements were quite strange.

For one thing, it was true that they were trying to protect something.

But with this many numbers and armament, it would be better to just gather in one place.

These guys are just moving individually.

This was like asking to be defeated one by one.

Surely they didn’t send out the Goblins just to defend the marked area?

‘If that’s the case, then that bitch is definitely a real dumbass.’

It felt like looking at one of my stupid former team members!

As someone working in the industry, I even feel a bit pissed off.

“Anyway, we’ve figured out the surroundings. Since the Goblin numbers have decreased considerably, let’s move in earnest.”

The three slowly moved towards the marked area.

After walking a short distance, a large building came into view.

‘……Ruins?’

It was ruins made of stone, of considerable size.

A building that looked like both a dungeon and a temple.

If it weren’t an uninhabited island, they might have thought they’d discovered Aztec civilization.

-Ting!

Just then, a clear sound, unheard for a while, echoed.

【Event Quest Satisfied!】

【Acquired ‘Ruins Access Ticket’ as Reward!】

【Acquired 10,000P as Reward!】

【Linked Quest Generated!】

▶ Ruins Exploration

-Content: Having completed the island’s map, you discovered ruins on the uninhabited island at the end of your exploration. Explore the ruins and uncover their hidden secrets!

-Reward: Dimensional Travel Key, ???