episode_0027

When we arrived at the village, we first headed to the village chief’s house. Patrick said that we need to meet the client first, get acquainted with him, and talk about various things about the request.

“Welcome.”

When we arrived at the village chief’s house, we were greeted by the village chief and his family. The village chief’s house was not as big as the village chief’s house, Seris’s.

It was the right size and gave a cozy feeling. The village chief’s family and we faced each other at the table in front of us.

There weren’t many chairs, so only Patrick and the village chief sat facing each other, and we stood behind Patrick.

“I’m glad the adventurers came early. Thanks to you, I was able to somehow meet the deadline.”

The village chief spoke first.

“Haha, not much to say. Now, about the request. I would like you to tell me what happened in the mine.”

“I understand. If it helps your work, you should do it. That was three days ago.”

It is said that a miner named Mac entered the mine in the middle of the night. He said he thought the lost item might be there. Instead of the object he was looking for, he found something strange in the dark mine.

“Those were the kobolds. Fortunately, Mac returned safely, and we all entered the mine together. There were more than seven kobolds inside.”

It is said that the men in the village tried to figure out what to do, but gave up for fear of casualties. So I requested it from the guild.

“How were those kobolds armed?”

“It was dark so I couldn’t see well…”

Patrick continued the conversation by asking for the necessary information. However, the conversation did not stop abruptly, but continued as naturally as water.

It was thanks to him reacting appropriately to the village chief’s words and timing his attack well.

‘…There’s a lot to learn.’

I listened carefully to their conversation. I thought it would be beneficial if you just followed along.

The conversation continued after that. The conversation ended only after hearing the internal structure of the mine.

After the conversation, we headed to the mine, and the village chief assigned a miner as our guide. We entered the mine with our guide.

“It’s a lot darker than I thought…”

Seris said in a slightly frightened voice. As she said, it was very dark inside the mine. This was because the torches embedded in various places were turned off.

We made our way, relying on the torches carried by me, Joey, Belita, and our guide. As we lit the torches hanging on the wall, the space behind us became brighter.

Squeak – The old wooden floor screams with every step you take.

“Ugh…”

Cerise was right next to me and grabbed my sleeve. She seems to be scared of this dark space.

I held her hand with my free hand. Tight as if to reassure you. Seris seemed surprised, but soon seemed to feel a little more relaxed.

When I thought it was enough, I let go of her hand.

“…”

But this time Kara came up to me and grabbed my sleeve. She drooped the corners of her mouth and said, ‘I am dissatisfied.’ This was expressed.

‘Why is he like this again?’

When I looked at Kara quietly, she held out her hand.

‘Are you asking me to hold your hand? But he’s not that scared.’

When I hesitated, Kara dragged my hand around as she pleased. She held my hand longer than my sister.

* * *

As we advanced through the mine, we found two kobolds. They were wearing only baggy cloth pants.

-Okay… I’m hungry…

-Just be patient. It’s meal time soon!

If you see them carrying torches, they appear to be a patrol team. Patrick said in a low whisper while looking at the two kobolds.

“Hmm, I only see two. At this rate, I think it would be okay if you just came forward. How is it?”

Patrick looked at me and Sister Cerise.

“You mean us?”

“Okay, are you not confident?”

I turned to Kara and Seris. We can handle up to five goblins without any problem.

So, does that also apply to kobolds?

At first glance, the kobold was bigger than the goblin and seemed stronger.

Although I was a little hesitant, I nodded.

“You can.”

If it were just me and sister Seris here, I would have been in a lot of trouble. However, there are veteran seniors next to us now.

Even if something goes wrong, they will help you.

Sister Cerise and I slowly walked towards the kobold.

“It’s okay. Just do what you normally do. Don’t be too nervous.”

Cerys and Kara nodded. While Seris looked a little nervous, Kara seemed more excited.

-Kung..? It smells strange!

As they got closer, they noticed. I spoke so softly that only Sister Cerise could hear.

“Let’s surround it.”

We ran and surrounded the kobolds to prevent them from escaping. The kobolds turned their backs to the wall and growled.

-Kung! Humans are here again! What do we do?

-What! There are only three of them, so we have to kill them.

Each kobold drew a weapon. One was holding a round blunt weapon, and the other was a sword with a bad blade.

Seris approached the guy with the blunt weapon, and Kara and I approached the guy with the sword.

-Kieeng!!

The kobold attacked first. It seems they decided that since their numbers were small, they should attack first. The guy swung his sword vertically at Kara.

Kang!

Kara blocked it with her sword. The kobold raised his sword again and brought it down. Kang! Kang! Kang! The sound of metal clashing echoed throughout the mine.

“Ugh…”

Perhaps the kobold’s power was stronger than expected, and Kara began to be pushed away little by little. Seeing that, the kobold got excited and swung his sword wildly.

Eventually, Kara’s posture collapsed a little, and the kobold burst out laughing. The guy raised his sword high to strike hard.

It’s a gap.

I ran straight up and hit him in the eye with the torch.

-Kkeggang!

The kobold groaned and clutched its struck eye. It must hurt because you got hit with something hot. I took advantage of that opportunity and brought the torch to the kobold.

Grumbling

The kobold’s fur caught fire.

-What?! Wow!!

The kobold was startled. He chose to turn off the light rather than close his eyes. I pounded the burned area with my hand.

Since the fire was not put on with oil and set on fire, it did not take long for the fire to go out.

But while the kobold was putting out the fire, I was already behind him. I wrap my arms around the guy’s neck and stab him with the dagger I’m holding back.

-Kkeaek, kekegaeng!! Let go of this! Let go!!

A kobold’s skin and neck were much thicker than a goblin’s. Thanks to that, he didn’t die at once, and the guy struggled.

I stabbed the dagger wildly, being careful not to miss the guy. When the leather on the kobold’s neck became stained with blood, a notification window appeared.

[5 Karma has been obtained.]

I turned towards Seris. Seris was holding up better than expected. I avoided the kobold’s attack by blocking it with my shield or stepping back.

“Yay!”

Kara ran towards the blunt kobold and stabbed it with her two-handed sword. The kobold, who was only focusing on Seris, was caught off guard and a two-handed sword was deeply embedded in its stomach.

-Wait… kkieeek!!!

The kobold convulsed and swung the blunt weapon. It was a desperate attack, probably because he thought he was already dead.

“Damn, damage Kara!”

Even if you run to Kara right now, you can’t reach her. I changed the dagger to essence and got ready to throw it.

But before I could throw it, Seris intervened.

Bah! Seris’ shield struck away the blunt object aimed at Kara. It was parrying. The kobold’s arm flew out and the arm holding the Seris sword moved.

“Don’t touch my little brother.”

Ceris’ sword pierced the kobold’s chest. The cold blade pierced the kobold’s back. The guy fell down while looking at the sword that pierced his chest.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

“Seris, is Kara okay?”

I approached them.

“Ugh, yes I’m fine.”

“I’m okay too.”

As Cerys said that, her gaze was focused on the fallen kobold. Her hand holding the sword trembled slightly.

I patted her shoulder.

“Good job. If it weren’t for you, it would have been dangerous.”

Only then did Cerise’s hands stop shaking. Kara massaged Seris’ arm holding the shield.

“Sister, is your arm okay? Didn’t it hurt?”

A voice filled with worry.

Seris stroked the side of Kara’s head.

“It doesn’t hurt that much, so don’t worry. You blocked it with a shield, right?”

“Still…”

Kara looked at Seris and hesitated. Then he said softly.

“Thank you, sister.”

The corners of Cerise’s mouth rose at that. She wrapped her arms around Kara and hugged her.

“Uh, you’re a little sick..!”

“Hold on a little.”

I chuckled and stroked Kara’s head.

* * *

“Good job. He fought well. As expected, he is a newbie who is doing well these days.”

Patrick said with a chuckle.

“Still, there were some disappointing things. For example, you.”

Patrick pointed to Cerise.

“When blocking blunt weapons, it is best to block with the iron part in the center of the shield. In your case, didn’t you just block randomly and your shield got damaged?”

I glanced at Seris’ shield.

The circular shield made of wood was damaged beyond comparison to before entering the mine.

“Of course, the best way is to avoid or ignore it, but that requires some skill. It’s hard right now.”

After that, Patrick gave me some advice. It was all useful advice for us newbies.

“Hey, why were you blank when I stuck the knife in you earlier?”

In “? Oh, the sword wasn’t drawn…”

“Does that mean you’re just saying you’ll search around if you stay blank? In that case, you should throw away your sword and take it out. Then the secondary weapon… What, you don’t even have a secondary weapon?”

Belita also gave Kara some advice. It felt more like a scolding than advice, but it was okay if it helped.

“Um… When will I move again?”

The guide asked cautiously.

“Hmm, the conversation got longer. Let’s get it moving again.”

We entered the mine again. It wasn’t long before we found four kobolds.

“We’ll handle it this time. Please watch carefully.”

The senior adventurers walked towards the kobolds.

-Kheng? human!!

The kobolds rushed at the seniors, drawing their weapons.

“Inhale!”

Patrick dodged one kobold’s attack and blocked the other with his shield. Belita plunged her sword into the side of the guy who hit the shield.

-Kung!

A kobold was behind her, swinging a blunt weapon. Belita narrowly avoided the attack and kicked the kobold’s knee. The kobold sat down.

-Wow..!

She pulled the sword from the kobold’s body and swung it. The head of the guy who was sitting down fell off.

“…cut that.”

The neck was really thick. I glanced at Seris.

‘Couldn’t he do it too?’

Just as I was thinking that, I heard a loud voice.

“Wow!”

With Andrew’s loud cheer, the kobold’s arm was cut off. The kobold cried in pain, clutching the cut end.

“Noisy!”

Joey rammed it into the kobold’s chest. Meanwhile, Belita took care of the remaining one.

“Wow…”

“Huh…”

Kara and Seris were impressed by their seniors. It would be nice if I learned something from watching that.

I also just reproduced Belita’s movements.

‘The movements were quick and there was no unnecessary effort. The judgment of hit and run was also good.’

She handled three of them alone. I think Belita is the most skilled of those three.

“What do you think? Was it worth seeing?”

Patrick asked.

“Yes, there was a lot to learn. Thank you.”

“Then you are lucky. Okay then, let’s keep going. I caught 6, so there won’t be much left. I have to finish it quickly and go back.”

After that, we continued to roam the mines and catch kobolds. When the numbers were small, Sister Cerise and I fought, and when the numbers were large, the seniors stepped forward.

“Something is strange…”

Patrick frowned.

“We already exceeded 10, but…”

Just as he said, the number of kobolds we killed on our way here exceeded twenty. Belita grabbed the guide by the collar.

“Hey, what is this? They say there are about 10 of them. But why the fuck are there more than twenty?”

“Uh… That’s not something we know for sure… That’s all we saw in the dark…”

“Are you saying that? Rip my mouth open?”

“Oh, no. Sorry…a million…”

An ax flew from somewhere and hit the guide’s head. The guide went limp with a short sigh.

“…What is it?”

Belita let go of the guide’s collar. The body flopped to the floor.

We looked back towards where the ax came from.

More than ten kobolds were gathered together. I looked back. It was the same behind. We were surrounded by about thirty kobolds.

“Ha… That sucks.”

Belita was shocked.