episode_0017

“Sorry for being late, Minsu Choi and Garyeong Kim. For now, let’s talk while running.”

“Ah, yes! Okay!”

When I opened the door, Choi Min-soo and Kim Ga-ryeong were standing there in the same clothes they had seen during the day. With equipment using items obtained from Sarah’s house and other houses.

After briefly saying hello, we quickly went down the stairs again.

“So first of all, what’s going on? When I see everyone doing this, I don’t think it’s normal.”

“Emergency quest. You have to do it before others, and the reward is extraordinary. I thought it would be better to move as quickly as possible first, so I quickly called my brother.”

If Sarah is talking like this, something unusual must have happened.

Anyway, it’s competition. Not only do we have to compete with monsters, but now we also have to compete openly with people. Just like it appeared in a web novel I read a long time ago.

Although it was not my level of concern, I could already clearly see the same people fighting among themselves and behaving as if they were doing so inside the dungeon gate. I laughed out loud, feeling a little bitter.

But that doesn’t mean I have any intention of falling behind others.

“What is the content of that quest? How do we compete?”

“It’s a war of occupation. According to the announcement, several minimal areas were merged, and a colony of monsters was created within the merged areas.”

“…Monster?”

Now that zombies aren’t enough, are monsters appearing?

“And they said that they would elect a leader who would integrate and govern the area through a competition to eliminate it first.”

“Leader? Huh, really… ”

It was a random thing. Suddenly you’re a leader.

It’s not something that happens naturally, it’s not a vote or something, but a competition to determine the leader of a district?

… Isn’t this a little different from what the fairy said? Apparently, from what he said, there would be almost no official compensation except for the first time. Did you change something on that guy?

Anyway, that’s not important right now. What is important is the victory conditions for this war of occupation.

“So what should we do? Do you have an end goal or something? Like annihilating them all or killing the leader.”

“You just have to deal with the boss monster. It was said that the person who kills the boss monster at the end will have the right to select the leader of the newly designated area.”

“…Boss monster? Last processing? Leader?”

“I don’t know either. It really feels like some kind of game… There was no description of the leader. It looks like they will probably explain it only after the emergency quest is over.”

It’s not some kind of dungeon gate, it’s a boss monster?

I was a little annoyed by the sudden noise. The appearance of zombies wasn’t enough, now even monsters?

What if it’s a monster I can’t handle? I was worried that I might be disturbing a still beehive for no reason.

Since the competition method is to attack the monster first, it is true that you have to move quickly. I don’t know what kind of leader it is as a reward for emergency quests, but it’s what those who grant magical power and create this world do. It can never be ordinary.

… Especially considering the guys I saw earlier, it’s a name I can never pass up.

However, it is impossible to move recklessly.

As I quickly went downstairs, I asked Sarah for some more information.

“What is the monster? Did you know this in the notice? Any additional information or strategies?”

“It’s called Goblin. They said they were forming a group and taking a seat in the front yard of a commercial building. I think the boss monster is the Goblin King. There was no other strategy or anything specifically written down.”

“King… For some reason, it seems a bit strong. Even in the game, there wasn’t a monster with that title that wasn’t weak.”

“…Did it come out for no reason? It might have been better to prepare slowly and come out… ”

Although Choi Min-soo and Kim Ga-ryeong came out, they seemed anxious that they might have done something unnecessary.

Sarah was also trying to act as calm as possible, but her anxious feelings were probably not much different from theirs. Because all humans have a fear of the unknown.

But I was rather relieved.

Fortunately, the monster I was going to face had the same name as the Dungeon Gate monsters I knew.

‘They’re monsters that are just right to be with the people I’m with now.’

Goblins are monsters whose difficulty ranges from F-level to E-level. Although they are basically weak, some of them have special abilities.

Because they have awakened mana, they will be stronger than F-class hunters, but weaker than E-class hunters, so they are the perfect opponent to give them real combat experience. In addition, it is also good to see how much stronger I have become.

The Goblin King I know would be a D-class dungeon gate boss monster.

But the world didn’t always have good news for me to hear.

“Ah, oppa. And there’s something else important. They say some of the zombies have been transformed into special zombies.”

“Even zombies? It’s a special paper… ?”

Sarah shared some unexpected news. This is a bit harsh.

Usually, monsters of one type or series are gathered at a dungeon gate, but in the case of special or high-level dungeon gates, several types of monsters exist together, and there are even cases where they cooperate.

… Suddenly, I remember my time at Hunter Academy and my head hurts. If so, what will the number be?

“But they said that this only applies to areas where people are no longer alive and where zombies are still alive. So I guess we don’t mind.”

“Really? Phew… That’s a good thing.”

It almost got into big trouble.

It may be okay for regular zombies, but for entities with special abilities, the difficulty level increases significantly. In the case of command entities, the overall risk rating is such that there is an entity that is evaluated as a B-class dungeon gate boss monster.

For a moment, I corrected my broken heart.

I must not waver here. My life is not the only thing in my hands. Choi Min-soo and Kim Ga-ryeong are trying to find their children. And now Sarah, who has become a precious person to me.

Get your mind right, Park Hyun-seong.

It doesn’t exist here anyway. Never mind. What I have to do now is deal with the goblins that will appear in front of me, protect these people, and grow.

“Then it’s okay. Everyone, let’s start now. Are you physically fit?”

“Don’t worry, Mr. Hyunseong. Even though I look like this, I am famous for my stamina of steel among medical school professors at Korean universities. Staying up all night doing surgery and writing papers was a daily routine. On the contrary, my body is healthy now, I sleep well, and I feel completely fine.”

“Me too. I and I took turns taking a nap. It’s amazing that my physical strength is as good as when I was young, but I don’t think there will be any problems.”

The other party members also don’t seem to have any physical problems at all. When I look at Sarah again, she nods, saying the same thing as before.

“Good. From now on, we will quickly hunt down the goblins in the same formation as before. I will be the lineman and Sarah will be the lieutenant. We hope that Choi Min-soo will continue to protect healer Kim Ga-ryeong.”

“Haha, just leave it to me! When I was playing X of XX Raft, I played as a tank… ”

“This is real! This isn’t a game! I’m losing my mind again! Then and now, really… !”

“No, I’m not like that… ”

I stood forward again, slightly ignoring Choi Min-soo, who was getting scolded again.

… Sera won’t do that later, right? I need to show it well in advance now. I don’t want to be treated badly when I get older.

* * *

It wasn’t long before I was able to meet the goblins.

“…It’s true. Monsters that look like you see in movies… ”

“Oh my god… It was very shocking during the zombie era, but now seeing this, it feels like the world that existed until yesterday was all a lie.”

We were able to find 10 goblins wandering around while holding our breath in a flower bed.

It would be better on this side where there are people with awakened magical powers in terms of physical ability, but they are more numerous than us on that side. You must never let down your guard.

Our goal is a landslide victory without anyone getting hurt, not a victory achieved through sacrifice.

“After putting out their lights, we will launch a surprise attack right away. Don’t forget your faction. We will try not to go to the rear as much as possible, but you must not let your guard down until the end.”

“I will keep this in mind. I will definitely protect it.”

After reminding Minsu Choi of the importance of his role, I began the battle.

‘Wind chime (風靈).’

I quietly called to the wind spirit and used the wind to extinguish the torches that the goblins had lit.

Kiek?

Kyaaa!

Hey! Ker!!

Just like in the dungeon, the guys start to panic.

As expected, they are not much different from what I have experienced in terms of appearance, habits, and anything else.

Feeling more confident, I powerfully called out to the fire spirit in my heart.

‘Hwaryeong (fire spirit)!’

Grumbling!!

The fire spirit that responded to my cry created soccer ball-sized fireballs from my hand, and the fireball shot out from my hand rushed towards them.

Fuuu!

Kiheeek!

Haha!!

Two goblins falling down while screaming.

And at the cost of their comrade’s death, they became aware of the presence of the attackers.

Wow! Kyarheuk!!

“Choi Minsu!”

“Okay!”

Grumble!

Choi Min-soo lit the torch he had brought along while eating earlier to ensure visibility. It was fortunate that these were among the items Sarah had prepared in advance.

Likewise, while eating earlier, Minsu Choi held up a makeshift shield that he had simply modified by cutting off the top and bottom of a wooden door.

“I leave the rest to you! Sarah!!”

“Okay, oppa!”

“Okay!”

Leaving Choi Min-su, who had lost his sense of fun, behind, Sarah and I rushed towards the goblins.

“Water spirit!”

Summoning the water spirit, he created a water sphere from his hand and fired it at the burning corpse of the goblin.

Cheeek!

The fire of the goblin corpse quickly goes out.

As their only source of light disappeared, their confusion worsened.

Kiek! KEEE!!

I’m used to hunting in the dark, and I’ve already adjusted my eyes to the darkness of the night sky, so this isn’t a problem for me now.

I immediately waved my arms aimlessly and cut off the head of the goblin running towards me with my axe.

Wow!!

With a dull sound, the goblin’s head broke apart along with its cervical vertebrae and flew through the air.

KEEECK!!

Several of the excited goblins, aware of their comrade’s death, fly toward me.

And one of them was running towards Sarah.

“Sera!”

“Don’t worry! Because I can see everything clearly!”

Sarah, who had obtained the job of assassin, grabbed the knife I had briefly been taught and lunged at the goblin without hesitation.

Clearly superior physical capabilities. It was obvious who the winner would be.

Suddenly!!

Although it would be difficult for a beginner to cut down a goblin with a single sword, Serah did it without difficulty. Thanks to my job skills, I’ve gotten used to night vision and am compensated for using blades, but it’s quite a feat.

But praise later.

“I will neutralize them as much as possible, so you can kill them!”

“Okay! Thank you, oppa!”

I moved around busily, leaving nothing to say.

I don’t level up by catching them. I become stronger through spirits, not just by killing a few dozen goblins. For that to happen, you should have gotten stronger a long time ago. Like other hunters. Like absorbing magical power or something like that.

But the rest of us are different. They are given power by something else, and must develop their power accordingly.

Then it would be better to give up the last hit here.

Stealing the last hit inside a dungeon gate is an act of great disrespect that could be considered murder, but there is no need to be conscious of that here.

Kyahaaa!!

The cries of wounded animals briefly awakened my thoughts and reminded me that the hunt was not over yet.