episode_0002

The cave was full of goblins.

But fortunately, only groups of 2-3 appeared.

They were manageable to fight.

『Encountered a monster! Draw 5 cards.』

『Remaining energy: 3』

[Strike (1)] [Shield (1)] [Wind Blade (0)] [Shield (1)] [Strike (1)]

Clatter! Clatter!

Three goblins come running.

But one goblin rushes ahead of the others.

A beast straying from the pack is bound to be hunted.

[Wind Blade]

Three gusts of wind form around me.

They soon fly off and shred one goblin’s body.

Shluk!

I stab the goblin, whose posture has collapsed, with my sword.

The sword plunges in easily, even with my clumsy swordsmanship.

One down, for starters.

“Kieeek!!!”

[Strike]

Thud!!

A strong impact flies and shatters the goblin’s neck.

And then I pierce its heart with the sword.

Thwack!!

“Kerellelek!!!”

[Shield]

When I push back an approaching goblin with a shield, it loses its balance, tangles its feet, and starts tap-dancing.

Thud!

After crushing its leg with a strike, I plunged the sword into its head.

Swoosh.

『Check the card rewards.』

[Whirlwind (3)] [Gray Zone (2)] [Leap (1)]

Leap seems unnecessary inside the cave.

I don’t know what Gray Zone does.

So I chose Whirlwind.

“Hoo…”

I finally catch my breath.

I’ve fought against goblin groups three times so far.

At first, there were dangerous moments.

But I quickly got used to the combat.

People say that when pushed into a corner, they become stronger, and it seems like that’s exactly right.

Click!

I press the deck to check the cards.

『Deck List』

[Strike] [Strike] [Strike] [Strike] [Strike]

[Shield] [Shield] [Shield] [Shield]

[Charge (1)] [Wind Blade (0)]

[Electrocute (2)] [Fireball (1)] [Whirlwind (3)]

The three cards at the bottom are the three cards I’ve obtained from fighting goblins three times so far.

I chose cards with the most intuitive names.

[Electrocute] is a status ailment magic. When hit, the goblin can’t move for 1 minute.

[Fireball] is attack magic. It turns goblins into charcoal.

I don’t know [Whirlwind] yet because I haven’t used it.

[Charge] is a card that was in the deck from the beginning, and it strengthens the next card you play after using it.

If you use [Charge] – [Fireball], a stronger fireball will fly.

“At this point, there’s no way I’ll lose to the likes of goblins.”

I feel a bit confident.

It’s also because the only monsters I’ve fought so far are goblins.

Actually, even if a slightly stronger monster appears, it won’t matter.

Even if an orc, which is a fundamental of medieval fantasy, shows up, I feel like I can take it on.

Thud, thud.

Confidence builds in my steps as I walk proudly.

After walking for about 10 minutes like that…

The end of the long tunnel was visible.

For the first time, I see a light other than torches.

“Is this finally the exit?!”

With anticipation, I walked at a faster pace.

As I went out to the end of the cave, a wide space appeared.

A prison-like atmosphere with torches sparsely installed.

Did I leave the cave and enter a dungeon?

Maybe a monster other than goblins will appear.

With a bit of tension, I walked inside.

‘Perhaps it might be a boss room.’

At that moment, I discovered them.

Three people trapped in wooden cages.

“……!!!”

However, they all put their index fingers to their lips, signaling me to be quiet.

I carefully approached.

“Um…”

But then a slight question arose.

Could it be that they don’t speak the same language?

At least they patched the language, right?

A man inside with one arm cut off said with a panicked expression.

“R, run away. It’s a trap!!”

It’s definitely not Korean, but it’s automatically translated in my head.

But he says it’s a trap?

“Two groups of adventurers have already died!! Yes, adventurers wearing the same scarves as you!”

At that moment.

A strange laughter began to be heard.

Kihileeleegilkirikeel!!!

“O, it’s coming…!!”

Swaaaaa.

The torches hanging on the wall suddenly start to go out one by one.

It’s an atmosphere that makes it clear that a boss is about to appear.

Thud!!!!

Then something fell from the ceiling.

A monster appearing from the darkness.

It’s a goblin.

But it’s different.

Its arms and legs are particularly long.

Its size is also 1.5 times bigger than me.

Above all, it’s holding a spear taller than me.

I was speechless at the overwhelming majesty.

『Encountered a monster. Draw 5 cards.』

[Shield] [Shield] [Strike] [Electrocute] [Wind Blade]

“Snap out of it!!!”

Then the woman in the cage shouted.

“Get us out of here quickly! Are we all going to die here?!”

[Strike]

Thud!!

The wooden cage door hit by the strike completely fell off.

“That guy is a Goblin Hero.”

“Are you a magician! We’ll take the front lines!!”

“Ugh…, i, is it possible to live?!”

Three men and women skillfully emerge.

“Is there anything we can use as a weapon?”

Handing a shield and sword to the man, I use [Wind Blade].

Shluk!!

Three sharp winds fly and cut the Goblin Hero.

I aimed for both legs and the neck, but…

Only one hit.

It seems to have good senses, since it dodged the rest.

The three men and women charge forward with a shout.

The man without an arm has a shield.

The woman with a crushed face has a sword.

The limping man has a wooden stick.

However, the Hero aimed at me with his spear.

Suddenly feeling death.

I used [Shield].

Clang!!!

Through the shield that was broken in an instant, the spear comes in and pierces my stomach.

“Aaaaaaaagh!!!”

A voice comes out naturally.

It didn’t pierce deeply thanks to the shield, but still, it pierced about 2-3cm.

“Damn it!!!”

“Stop him from getting close!!!”

The three fight fiercely with the Hero who is trying to retrieve the spear.

However, it is difficult to inflict meaningful damage.

In the end, I have to deal the damage.

“Aaaaaaaack!!!”

I pulled out the spear with a shout.

I almost lost consciousness for a moment.

Fortunately, I didn’t lose it.

Thud!!

I smashed the shaft of the spear with [Strike].

That will turn that bastard into a weaponless idiot.

Of course, I don’t think there’s only one spear, but at least I can buy some time.

『44… 43… Until the next draw…』

…I hear the sound of death.

“Uwaaaack!!!”

Thwack!! Slash!!

“Uh…!!”

“S, save me!!!”

“Mo…ther…”

“Kikigigil!?!!!!”

One sound disappeared.

Since the Goblin Hero’s strange laughter continues to be heard, someone else must have died.

I struggled to get up.

My head still feels like it’s about to explode.

But isn’t it better than actually exploding and dying?

『It’s your turn. Draw 5 cards.』

[Charge] [Shield] [Strike] [Fireball] [Strike]

First, I used one Strike card.

Thud!!!

A strong impact attacked the Hero’s leg.

Then the Goblin Hero falls over.

I used Charge and Fireball in succession.

“Dodge it!!!”

A huge fireball flies towards the Hero.

The one-armed man and woman avoid it after hearing my words.

Did the limping man die?

Whoosh!!!

The Hero’s body begins to burn.

“Kihikihik.”

But soon, the guy shakes off the flames.

How did he do that?

Of course, it seems like damage was dealt, since the flesh is a little burnt.

“Don’t you have anything bigger?!”

The woman shouts.

I’ve already used up all my energy.

“1 minute left!!”

As he avoids the Hero’s attack, the one-armed man shouted with a breathless voice.

“Ah, damn it!!”

The woman is also skillfully dodging attacks.

“…………”

However, the Goblin Hero suddenly stopped attacking.

The face that was smiling also changed to a serious one, and then he retreated.

The Goblin Hero goes into the darkness outside the area where the torchlight reaches.

“We can’t let him grab a new spear!!”

The one-armed man shouts urgently.

However, the darkness is the Goblin’s domain.

They can’t recklessly go outside the torchlight’s area, so they are only watching each other’s movements.

The man looks at the torch I’m holding and shouts.

“Don’t you have any more torches?”

“Here…”

I immediately took off the torn bag, found a torch, and lit it.

And I raised my head to hand it over.

“It’s here!!!”

Thud.

The woman’s head fell next to me.

Her head was blown off by the Goblin Hero’s spear.

The person I was just talking to died.

『5…4 Until the next draw.』

I made eye contact with her, whose eyes were not closed.

『3…2 Until the next draw…』

“When the hell will the magic be ready?!”

Crackling!!!

Along with the sound of the shield breaking, the Hero’s spear pierced through the one-armed man’s body.

『2…1 Until the next draw…』

Then the Goblin Hero throws the spear at me.

『It’s your turn. Draw 5 cards.』

[Whirlwind] [Strike] [] [] []

Without looking at the back cards, I use Whirlwind.

Whoosh!!!

The strong wind generated around me flies towards the Goblin Hero.

That wind slightly altered the trajectory of the flying spear.

Thanks to that, the spear pierced through my side.

Thwack!

“Uwaaaagh!!!”

I couldn’t help but scream.

Still, without closing my eyes, I checked the remaining cards.

[Strike] [Shield] [Strike] [Wind Blade]

I threw even the 0-cost card, Wind Blade, towards the Hero.

This is the best I can do.

Now, please kill that bastard!!

Whoosh!!!!

Slash slash!!

The Goblin Hero, swallowed by the whirlwind that slashes his whole body, gradually retreated.

“Krrr!!!”

Whirlwind is showing overwhelming power as a 3-cost attack card.

Thud!!

The Goblin Hero couldn’t withstand it any longer and flew, flying outside the range where the torchlight reached.

“……”

Did he die or did he live?

Should I create some distance right now, even a little?

At that moment, while looking around and making a plan for what to do next.

Clatter, clatter.

The Goblin Hero, covered in blood, appeared from the darkness.

To think that I can’t kill him even with this.

“…It should be within reason.”

Of course, the Hero’s condition doesn’t seem normal either; his hands are shaking.

Same for me, though.

Now, my remaining means of attack are…

Only two torches.

“Uwaaaaaaaa!!!”

I tried to get up with a shout, but I couldn’t get up.

On the contrary, the wound in my side widened and blood flowed.

Seeing that, a smile appeared on the Hero’s face.

“Do you think I’ll die alone?”

Whirr.

I held up two burning torches.

“Come at me, you shithead!”

However, as if he read my thoughts, he wasn’t approaching and was circling around.

Good, please buy me some time like that.

『23… 22… Until the next draw…』

“Keeeek!!!”

Then, the Goblin Hero comes in at an off-beat.

I held out the torch for now.

Tap!

However, contrary to my expectations, the guy stopped right in front of me.

He reached out towards the spear that was pierced into the ground after piercing through my side.

So he knows that there are no variables if he throws the spear from afar.

Can’t you be a little stupid like a goblin, please?

“You son of a bitch!!!”

I immediately twisted my body and hung onto the spear.

The Goblin Hero retrieving the spear.

But I was hanging on it.

“Kieeek?!”

The guy’s eyes widened as if he was surprised that a person was suddenly attached to the spear.

I stabbed a torch towards his head.

Sizzle!!!

“Kieeek!!”

『17… 16… Until the next draw…』

The Goblin Hero wriggled in pain from being hit with a torch.

I stay close to him and burn his body with the torch.

Then he puts down the spear and attacks me with a one-edged sword.

Slash!!

I barely dodged it, so my neck wasn’t stabbed.

But my right arm was greatly cut.

『12… 11… Until the next draw…』

But there’s one more torch!

Sizzle!!

I stabbed the Goblin’s body with the torch in my left hand.

“Kiaaack!!”

“Haa, it hurts, right? It hurts me too, you bitch.”

Before the guy could come to his senses, I continued to pour out attacks.

The Hero also swings his sword, but I barely dodge it and stab again.

The side where the spear pierced is slowly feeling hot.

『5… Until the next draw…』

Hold on for just 5 seconds!! My body!!

“Kikiii!!”

After dodging my slow-moving torch, the Hero greatly slashed my chest with a one-edged sword.

“Ugh…!!”

『It’s your turn. Draw 5 cards.』

[Charge] [Strike] [Strike] [Shield] [Electrocute]

I throw Electrocute.

Zzzzzt!!!

“Kieeek!!!”

I don’t know how long the elite monster will be inflicted with a status ailment.

Regular goblins were released at around 1 minute.

I used Strike with the remaining 1 energy.

Thud!!

Strike breaks the Hero’s right leg.

Then the Goblin Hero loses his balance and falls.

I’m torching his gob like this. You son of a bitch.

Sizzle!!!!

“Just die, you bastard!!!”

Sizleeeeee!!!!

How much time has passed like that?

Before I knew it, the Goblin Hero’s head had turned black.

Swoosh.

Three cards float above it.

Card rewards.

I won.

Thud, thud.

Thump.

After walking a little, my legs gave out and I collapsed.

Taking out a potion from the bag, I poured it on my side.

“Uwaaaaaaaa!!!!”

Enduring the pain, I thought about what to do next.

There must be other goblins in the cave.

If so, what should I do next…

Thud.

The thought could not continue.

Because I lost consciousness and collapsed.

Maybe I died.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

『Deck List』

[Strike] [Strike] [Strike] [Strike] [Strike]

[Shield] [Shield] [Shield] [Shield]

[Charge] [Wind Blade] [Electrocute (New)] [Fireball (New)]

[Whirlwind (New)]

8 Attack Cards

6 Skill Cards

0 Power Cards

0 Curse Cards

Total of 14 cards.

*

“It’s terrible.”

Lane, a guild guide who came to investigate the missing persons case that occurred on the first floor of the labyrinth, shook her head.

There was a hidden space near where people went missing. There was a goblin’s den there.

The goblin’s corpse.

The deceased missing people.

Inside, there were piles of corpses wearing a scarf with a blue sun pattern.

Tears streamed from Lane’s eyes as she checked each and every face.

“I, I told them not to go this time…”

[Is anything going to happen?]

[Thanks for worrying about me?]

The conversation I had a few days ago is still vivid.

Lane, who closed the eyes of those who couldn’t close their eyes, realized that only one person was missing.

“Ivan? Ivan is missing?”

Lane ran right away.

Then came a huge room.

People were gathered in the center.

“Bring more potions!!!”

“Stop the bleeding!!”

“Where did the priest go?”

Lane’s gaze turns to the surroundings.

Traces of a desperate battle.

The most noticeable thing is the Goblin Hero, whose whole body is shredded and has burn scars from being burned.

In particular, his head was burned to the point of turning black.

‘Why is the Goblin Hero on the first floor? He clearly appears from the 3rd floor.’

An existence that the Blue Sun Clan can never oppose.

Who defeated that?

Lane immediately ran and looked at the face of the man being treated.

“I, Ivan…!”

I don’t know if I should call this fortunate.

But at least he’s alive.

Lane’s legs gave out and she sat down, crying loudly.

Perhaps he heard the sound.

A slight smile was on Ivan’s lips.