episode_0013

Childhood.

This is a story from the time when I was taken in by someone who could be called my father.

I was probably around 7 years old?

The man I called father used to say often.

Whether it’s a person or an animal, the most frightening moment is when one is acutely aware of their mortality.

A wounded beast is the true embodiment of terror.

Honestly, I just thought, “Well, that’s how it is,” and moved on.

After all, either you die or you kill.

I never considered being stuck in such a lukewarm state.

“…Uh, um.”

But maybe I needed to adjust my thinking a bit.

The straight line of vision extended not only in range but also in depth.

It would likely overflow trying to delve into the depths of the ‘Kappa Rhino.’

“Wow… Look at those eyes?”

However, the gaze of the Kappa Rhino showed no signs of death.

Instead, it carried a look that seemed determined to kill no matter what happened, sending a shiver down my spine.

I wasn’t scared.

I’ve seen and experienced this level of determination countless times.

The issue lies in the power it possesses.

Though it hadn’t directly hit me, I sensed it.

“…If even one lands, it’s game over, right?”

My body’s endurance was far too weak to withstand the relentless attacks of the Kappa Rhino.

“Woooh!”

At this rate, I’d be skewered by those terrifying horns and transformed from ‘Yuseha’ to ‘Yuseha-ed.’

“But it was effective enough.”

I was certain that even the creature oozing out like sausages from its entrails wouldn’t escape unscathed.

“Woooh-!”

Of course, surviving and dealing with it somehow was essential, but…

In an instant,

Bang, bang, bang! The sound of metal clashing echoed through the air.

Machana, drawing a dagger from her waist, was banging a shield loudly like a drum.

Although the purpose was to attract the attention of the Rhino with a discordant noise.

“…”

Regrettably, the Kappa Rhino glanced at Machana once and then paid her no further mind.

Since it wasn’t a proper [Provocation] skill, it had no effect.

“…Tsk.”

As mentioned, Mnyangi lacked a [Provocation] skill.

While she could learn it to some extent, it was impossible for her to acquire it naturally.

With decent defensive capabilities based on speed, despite characteristics like being able to carry loads and having useful traits like [Cat’s Intuition] and [Night Vision], the main reason she wasn’t chosen was that as a dealer, she inevitably drew aggro from enemies.

Failing to resolve this issue posed a significant risk to the party’s safety.

“There’s no other way.”

I resolved to dodge diagonally when the Kappa Rhino charged at me.

My current speed attribute was ’12.’

“I should be able to narrowly evade it.”

As I put strength into my legs,

I witnessed something swiftly flying towards the Rhino.

Plop! It burst, emitting a dense brownish smoke.

Simultaneously, a pungent odor wafted through the air.

“…Woooh?!?!?”

“…You piece of crap!”

Recoiling hastily due to the acrid stench that provoked curses from both sides.

“Woooh! Woooh! Mwueeeek!!”

The Kappa Rhino, struck head-on, turned back with tears streaming down its face.

The one who threw it was none other than Machana.

And I immediately grasped what she had thrown.

“…A feces bomb?!”

[Feces Bomb].

Also known as ‘Dung Blast,’ it was a grenade made by mixing excrement with poison ivy, serving as a forced aggro-raising item.

Some Mnyangis did possess this item among the numerous items they could obtain through gacha, but I never dreamed I’d see it used like this.

“Thanks to that, the aggro is now on Machana.”

However, there was a significant issue with the ‘Dung Blast.’ The monster hit by it could only be attacked once. It granted the [Anger] trait.

[ trait granted to Kappa Rhino.]

[Kappa Rhino’s attack power temporarily increases by 20%.]

“Woooh!!!”

The attack power is overwhelming, and it seems like he has no intention of stopping there.

Lifting his front paw high and bringing it down to smash the ground.

In an instant, a dense magical energy gathers like a lump along his body.

[Rampant Charge].

A skill of Rare grade.

Unlike the immediately activated [Charge], this was a derived skill of [Charge] that required a preparation process to gather strength, boasting not only increased attack power but also speed.

“Hana-ssi!!! It’s dangerous!!!”

“Mwooohhh!”

Before my shout could finish, the phantom of Kappa Rhino’s physique stirred ominously.

Mahana, with a resolute expression, raised his shield in response to the charge that encapsulated direction change and acceleration.

*

‘…Can I block it?’

It’s a crowd.

It’s impossible.

Thoughts flickering through Mahana’s mind.

In a sudden crisis, he had no choice but to throw out the ‘Shield Bomb’.

He lacked both the strength and ability to block that blow.

‘But I have to do it…’

If he crumbles, everything will end.

He had to give Mahana a chance to finish off Yuseha somehow.

That was the duty of the main tank.

Deceiving the innocent Mahana and selfishly coming this far was the price he had to pay.

“Concentrate, Mahana-ssi. Your judgment was correct. And you can definitely block it. Believe in yourself.”

At the tense moment, Moonbora, who was on his shoulder, murmured softly.

Through her hands, delicate magical energy swirled like a melody.

Crack―!

Four [Ice Pillars] precisely rose in Kappa Rhino’s path.

Not sharp for piercing but solely focused on defense, these thick pillars concentrated on defense alone.

Boom―!

It didn’t completely stop Kappa Rhino’s charge as expected.

However, it wasn’t ineffective.

Perhaps because the strength of the ice was higher than anticipated, its force significantly diminished.

“Now’s the time!”

“Mwaaa-!”

At Moonbora’s shout, Mahana dashed forward without hesitation.

As he exerted strength throughout his body, magical energy surged within Mahana, covering even his shield.

“[Raise Shield]!”

A basic skill of Guardians and an excellent defensive tool dubbed ‘Taesan.’

Due to the temporarily heightened defense, Mahana’s physique began to harden like stone.

Thud―!

A massive impact.

Kappa Rhino’s horn clashed with Mahana’s shield.

Though the surface of the shield cracked, it successfully blocked the attack.

Watching, Moonbora clenched her fist.

‘Good!’

It went as planned.

Although the sudden increase in attack power due to the ‘Rage’ trait became a variable, with his [Ice Pillars] added, Mahana could still endure.

Moonbora didn’t miss a beat.

She gestured, creating [Ice Pillars] at Kappa Rhino’s wounded area.

With a fierce crack, a crimson pillar imbued with blood emerged, disturbing his internal organs and spreading coldness throughout his body.

“Mwooohhh!!!”

“Good job, Hana-ssi! Now just move your shield aside and step back!”

At her command, Mahana calmly shifted his shield.

However.

Ping―!

“…Huh?”

Suddenly hit by dizziness, Mahana momentarily froze.

The accumulated fatigue and bodily injuries took their toll.

Staggering―!

In the end, Mahana inadvertently relaxed his grip on the shield.

“…!!! Hana-ssi, snap out of it!”

“…Ah!”

With Moonbora’s belated admonition, it was already too late.

“Mwooohhh!”

As Kappa Rhino felt his opponent weaken, he lowered his horn triumphantly.

Boom―!

In an instant, he sent both flying.

“Cough!”

“Sob…”

Mahana, thrown onto the earth without resistance, coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The same fate befell Moonbora, fixed on his shoulder.

‘Backup’ Position.

It may seem like an easy position, but it’s a story of an outsider who knows nothing.

When a bound striker suffers damage, the backup inherits a portion of that damage.

So far, every injury Mahana has sustained, Moonbora has also fully inherited.

“…Not good.”

This strike is different from all the previous skirmishes.

Moonbora felt like her internal organs were twisting in pain, on the verge of losing her mind right then and there.

But she must not fall.

Kappa Rhino.

His gaze was once again fixed on Yuseha.

Just a temporary increase in aggro due to the diversion bomb.

In the end, Yuseha was the one most at risk.

“…He is our hope.”

Other than that, there is no one here who can bring down Kappa Rhino.

She couldn’t afford to fall here.

*

“…Damn it.”

Yuseha spat out a short curse.

Slowly bending her body, she raised her hand to the hilt of her sword.

She forcibly suppressed the desire to rush to Mahana immediately to check on her condition.

The reason she could do that was that the red world unfolding with ‘Unprecedented Sensation’ indicated that Mahana was alive.

“Just once.”

If she lands one more ‘Ryucham,’ it will be enough.

Neither of them is in perfect condition.

Literally a silent struggle for each other’s lives.

Kappa Rhino was the first to react.

“Mwoooh!!!”

Is it because he doesn’t have the strength? Or did he think he could dodge it?

He used not a reckless charge but just a charge. The power decreased significantly, but by taking the initiative, the approaching speed became even more threatening.

Facing his bulky mass like a dump truck, she calculated the optimal timing.

“…Dodge. And counter simultaneously.”

It can be done.

Even with her original body, it was as easy as eating rice.

Even if it’s this bastard Yuseha, it’s entirely possible.

As he was about to reach her…

“Moonbora casts .”

“The power is greatly enhanced temporarily.”

“Mwoooh?!”

Kappa Rhino, who was charging, suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Looking beside him, Moonbora extended her hand towards Rhino, blood trickling from her lips as she cast the spell.

She forcibly raised her power, prepared for injuries.

“Moonbora. Nice!”

I rushed towards the bewildered Kappa Rhino with frozen legs.

Dodging under his surprised attack, I raised my hand to the hilt of my sword, inhaling deeply in sync.

The flow of magic power along my arm generates a unique explosiveness.

I swiftly unleashed my footwork skill towards him.

“…Ryucham!”

Swoosh―!

A flash of light emits a chilling noise spreading in all directions.

Crack―!

Cutting through sturdy metallic skin, thick muscles, severing solid bones, and finally cutting off the source of life.

“…Mm, uuu…”

The pained cry of Kappa Rhino echoes.

It’s a bizarre yet chilling sound.

“This damn beast. How dare it harm our characters, who are small, cute, and defenseless?”

To me, it was nothing short of a satisfying sound.

“Your unyielding speed forms a sharp blade.”

“Your will injects new strength into the inexperienced blade.”

“Proficiency in greatly increases.”

“ level increased by 1.”

“Strength increased by 1 due to skill level up.”

Kooong―!

The massive figure collapses.

Unable to endure any longer, Kappa Rhino grotesquely bends his four legs and lies on the ground.

“Mwoooh… Mwoooh…”

Rough breathing.

His large pupils flicker towards me.

Trembling, it was a look of incomprehension, as if this scrawny character had defeated him.

“What can you do.”

I slowly raised the sword without even tempering it.

I grip it with both hands.

Whether it was due to my [swordsmanship] or perhaps the experience of handling crude weapons before being possessed here, it snugly fit in my hands like an extension of my limbs.

“If you lose, you die.”

Without hesitation, I brought down the sword to strike.

It was a simple yet powerful vertical cut that preserved the sharp cutting force.

Splat-! Warm blood sprayed out and splattered across my face.

[“Goblin Stronghold (Breakout)” successfully conquered for the first time!]

[Dungeon normalization in progress. The overflow of magic flows into the bodies of the great conquerors who cleared the dungeon!]

[Strength +1, Speed +1, Endurance +1, Magic Power +1, Mental Strength +1 increased.]

[Item drop rate increased by 100% as a ‘Breakout’ adjustment.]

[Confirmed reward: Rune of Kappa Rhino (C) will drop.]

[‘Nekomata’s Luck’ is activated. Temporarily blessed with ‘Good Luck.’ The Rune of Kappa Rhino (C) increases by one grade.]

[Luck reset to 0. It will rise again when the caster’s mind strengthens.]

Finally, I slowly placed my foot on top of the rolling head of the Kappa Rhino.