Episode 14 Return (1)
The moment Erwen picked up the arrow with a tense face.
I nudged her forward.
“to?”
Erwen, who had been suddenly pushed back, took a step forward, and in the process, her flesh made contact with the essence that had been floating in the air.
Shh …
The essence emits light and wraps itself around Erwen’s body.
“Oh my god, you crazy kid!”
So this was what those kids were aiming for.
“Don’t move! I told you not to!”
Within a few minutes, a group of four explorers arrived about ten meters away.
But what do I do with this?
The water has already been consumed by this guy.
I took a step forward without showing any sign of nervousness.
“Why should I listen to you?”
“That essence was ours!”
I can roughly picture in my head what would have happened if I hadn’t fed Erwen the essence.
He probably forced me to give it to him.
We caught it with an arrow from far away, or whatever. If we just attach a reason, it will work out somehow.
“If you want to fight, come at me. I’ll fight you as much as you want.”
Four and two.
Even though I was outnumbered, I responded strongly.
It’s a similar principle to the loud barking of small dogs.
Because I want to avoid fighting as much as possible.
People are like beasts, if you look down on them, they will bite you.
“… … .”
The redhead who seemed to be the representative of the opposing group gritted his teeth silently.
Well, I guess I’ll think about the map.
What if the integer remained in the air?
The owner has already been decided, so there is nothing to be gained by fighting us.
So it would be wise to just give up and turn back—
“…demand compensation.”
Are you going to try whining?
When Jeong-su appeared in front of his eyes and then disappeared, he must have felt regretful as well.
I have no reason to consider it though.
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“We have collected the essence we have acquired, so what kind of compensation are you talking about?”
“Do you have any evidence? That goblin we just hunted was one of ours.”
The question, ‘Do you have any evidence?’ is not necessarily asked.
Of course, that can’t be happening.
There’s no CCTV in the labyrinth.
In the end, what the powerful say will become the truth.
“I repeat, if you want to fight, come at me. I won’t dodge.”
I responded stubbornly, without hesitation.
If you’re going to attack, then attack. If you’re going to talk, then don’t be stubborn and just get lost.
It didn’t give me time to think calmly.
“I’ll give you three. If you don’t make a decision before then, I’ll consider you an enemy.”
“Oh, sir… … ?”
Why can’t he read the mood?
Hold on tight. Can’t you see that they’re all scared because I’m going strong now?
“three.”
“two.”
“I will step back.”
Before he could even count one, he made his choice.
Well, if it were me and a tattooed big barbarian counting numbers, I think I would do the same.
If it had really been taken from him, he would have been furious and wanted revenge… … .
They know better than anyone that that’s not true.
Soon they disappeared from our sight.
“Did you go?”
“Yes, I think so.”
“We’ll pick up speed until we reach the portal. Take the lead.”
At my words, Erwen ran without saying a word and made her way through the path.
I feel that way to some extent too.
Even though it passed without bloodshed, it’s not over yet.
“Any sign of them?”
“I don’t feel it. Oh, there’s a group of goblins at 3 o’clock, what should I do?”
“Ignore it.”
“yes.”
Originally, I was planning to take my time hunting goblins and return, but my plans changed.
Get off the second floor as quickly as possible.
And if possible, go down to the first floor and stay as far away from the portal as possible.
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Erwen tilted her head when she heard my plan.
“Surely you’ll follow me to the first floor?”
“It’s not that I’m following you. It’s just that the destination is the same.”
“What does that mean?”
It’s a simple guess.
There were four of them forming a party.
And four people is a pretty generous number to operate at the entrance of the second floor. But they’re moving towards the entrance instead of the outskirts?
The intention is obvious.
“It’s likely that they were planning to go down to the first floor and return to the city on the seventh day. That’s why they must have encountered each other here at this time.”
“ah…….”
To put it simply, they are just a bunch of idiots who only see each other on the second floor like us.
So, when the number doubled, they would get scared and run away from me.
Maybe it wasn’t even a proper party, maybe it was just a bunch of random people who met on the first floor.
“I see…….”
Erwen nodded quietly at my continued words, though I’m not sure if she understood correctly.
“As expected, you are amazing, sir!”
… You couldn’t do it, right?
“I will do only what you tell me, sir!”
Well, maybe this is better.
Because people who think clumsily end up having more accidents.
“Sir, it’s a goblin!”
“It’s going to get damaged.”
“But it seems like they’ve already spotted us over there? They’re running towards us now!”
“what?”
As soon as I heard the story, I felt a sense of alienation.
From the fourth day until now, not once has a goblin discovered us first.
Erwen’s sensing ability was that excellent.
Even if we were to run and move differently than before, this couldn’t be a simple coincidence.
Hasn’t this guy even absorbed the essence now?
“First, let’s take a detour in the opposite direction.”
“yes!”
Erwen turned at my direction.
And at that moment.
Wheeeeeek!
An arrow is shot from the direction of the bend.
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I grabbed Erwen by the back of the neck as soon as I found out.
“Ouch!”
Erwen groaned as the pressure from her prayers became too much… … .
It might be better to just choke for a while.
Rather than having your throat pierced.
bang!
As soon as I hugged Erwen and covered my upper body with my shield, the arrow bounced off my shield.
Even though it was hit by a stray bullet, it was still quite heavy.
Is that the kid holding the crossbow earlier?
“I, I… I can avoid it on my own… .”
Erwen mutters something while grumbling.
Sorry, but I don’t have time to listen.
“There was… … .”
“Just run.”
I started running again, with Erwen ahead.
“Sir, if another arrow flies, there’s no need to pull it like that… … .”
“Be quiet. I’m thinking.”
Erwen bit her lip as she spoke in a low voice.
I continued to think while running cautiously around my surroundings.
I don’t know how they did it, but they lured the goblins and they’re waiting in the opposite direction to ambush us.
If I just keep running away like this, will I be able to arrive at the portal safely?
‘No way.’
I looked into the possibility, but it was judged to be extremely low.
There’s a crossbowman over there.
The goblins will continue to pursue us.
With all this, if you’re lucky, you might make it out alive… … .
Well, at least I’m not that lucky guy.
“I guess we have to fight.”
Time to catch your breath.
In it I came to a conclusion.
“Erwen, use your power.”
“Is this possible?”
“It’s telling me to use the power of the essence.”
The essence dropped by monsters contains each individual’s special ability.
For example,
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[Goblin Archer]
Agility +2 Flexibility +4 Vision +6 Smell +2 Perception +2 Perception Block +6 Accuracy +8 Poison Resistance +4 Obsession +7
(P) Poison Arrow — When using an archery weapon, inflicts poison damage.
(A) Thief’s Step — Gain Stealth.
In the game, this information was displayed like this.
Stat increase, one passive, and one active.
This information will apply in this world as well.
There have been some variables so far, like demons, starting points, etc., but at least in this regard it has always been consistent with the game.
“But, I don’t know how to use it… … .”
I smiled as I watched Erwen panic at the unreasonable request.
“Okay.”
“Is it okay?”
“It means that you have gone into hiding.”
Erwen’s body, which was running, became blurry.
Even so, it is so faint that it can be seen from far away… … .
“Stop and see.”
If you stop walking, the stealth effect becomes stronger.
This is why the character moved so slowly in the game. As time passed while standing still, he became almost transparent rather than translucent.
There is a clear sense of incongruity in the outline, but it will not be visible unless you are up close.
Especially in a dark forest like this.
“Wow… … .”
Erwen exclaims in admiration as she looks at her own body.
I find it strange too.
The points are a bit different from his.
It’s not a starter word or anything like that, but a mechanism where skills are activated in response to will.
Anyway, let’s study this in more detail later.
“Erwen. Take this.”
“yes?’
I handed the backpack over to Erwen.
And he continued speaking at a rapid pace.
“You hide here and when I give you the signal, shoot the crossbowman first and kill him. You must never come out before that. Do you understand?”
“What are you talking about… …”
“There’s no time. I think you understand.”
I quickly finished what I wanted to say and started running.
“Wait a minute, signal! How about the signal—!”
I heard a small shout from behind, but there were too many leaks to turn back.
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Thump.
I stopped only after moving about 30 meters from my original location.
I had no intention of going far in the first place.
If you run like this and step on a trap in the bushes, you’ll be in big trouble.
“Greuk geuk!”
As we turned back, we heard that goblins were rushing in from the front left.
And the chews…
I still don’t know where it is.
It has blocked the first step and has not yet revealed itself.
But I’m not too worried.
Because it’s obvious what these kids are thinking.
“Greuk, greuk!”
If you’re fighting goblins, they’ll appear first.
That must have been the intention behind luring the goblins in the first place.
Back in the present, I looked at the rushing goblins.
“Grrrr!!”
Among the fifteen goblins, two are inspectors.
Fortunately, there were no archers among the goblin horde—
Bang!
There it is.
I charged into the goblin horde, blocking the flying arrows with my shield.
Of course, I couldn’t run wild like before.
Because not only goblin archers, but even human crossbowmen will be targeting me.
Bang!
After about 10 seconds, another arrow flies in.
This time it’s the goblin archer’s.
Bang!
I blocked the arrow with my shield and smashed the scimitar-wielding goblin swordsman’s dagger.
In return, I got my leg slightly stabbed with a carving knife by another goblin… … .
Push.
There’s nothing I can do.
This level of risk must be taken.
The number of goblins must decrease, but they will start to feel impatient and show themselves.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
As I was possessed by a barbarian and was beating up goblins, I started getting injured more and more.
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Arms, thighs, sides, etc.
If you look at them one by one, they are not serious, but when they pile up to this extent, they cannot be ignored.
puck!
A tingling sensation spreads from the injured area, as if the poison has started to spread.
But after enduring all this and killing a total of 7 goblins.
Wheeeeeeet!
An arrow flew.
Two at the same time.
Wheeeeeeet!
The direction was also different.
One would be for the goblin archer, and one would be for the crossbowman.
It’s hard to stop both.
I chose to block the crossbowmen’s arrows flying from the side with my shield.
bang!
A solid sound that is different from that of the Goblin Archer.
Indeed, is this the power of a crossbow?
Just as I was thinking that, a goblin arrow struck my left elbow with a thud!
“Fuck.”
sick.
Did it reach the bone? It hurts already, but after getting hit with one arrow, my arm doesn’t move at all.
Shit, I tried to somehow channel it with the shoulder pads, but it’s harder than I thought.
Bam.
I threw away the hammer in my right hand without any hesitation.
And he held the shield in his disabled left hand. If you have to choose between a hammer and a shield, the shield is definitely better.
Even more so in a situation like now.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
I struck down the three remaining goblins with the shield I held in one hand, and for the time being the surroundings were cleared.
The goblin archer also stopped shooting arrows as if they had bounced.
It was a bruising first round win, but did you manage to hold on?
I shouted.
“Come out!”
I didn’t know I would say this to a person and not a goblin.
Well, isn’t there any difference?
Wheeeeeeeeet!
The guy who told me to come out doesn’t come out and an arrow is shot from far away.
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It belongs to a human crossbowman.
Since it was expected, there was no problem in stopping it.
but…….
bang!
What the fuck.
The arrow pierces the iron plate, revealing its tip, as if it had hit the target straight away.
If I do it wrong, my hand will get chewed out too?
As I covered my upper body with my shield and stood guard over the bushes, I soon heard a noise.
“Barbarian.”
There were three people who showed up.
A redhead who is believed to be the leader.
A samurai wielding a single-edged sword, similar to that of Japan.
A long sword and shield held in one hand.
The crossbow is still not visible.
“As expected, it was you guys.”
“Yes, it’s us.”
I didn’t ask questions like, “How did you lure the goblins?”
Because if you do that, you’ll definitely be looked down on even more.
“Come at me.”
“Are you really a Barbarian? You’re still full of energy even after fighting so many goblins by yourself. Where’s that fairy girl?”
I thought there was a lot to say, but I guess that was the goal.
“I think I handed over the backpack too. If you don’t want to see me in pain, it would be better to just say it.”
As soon as I heard it, I burst out laughing.
Who do you think is a fool and says I’ll let you go if you tell me?
“That crazy guy.”
The leader frowned as he watched the day being torn apart.
An expression that seems as if one is tired of something.
I guess in his eyes I looked like a typical barbarian.
“Let’s subdue him first and then ask him questions slowly.”
The leader exchanged glances with his colleagues, then they all slowly closed the distance between them.
Seongpora… … .
It’s a nice story to hear.
Well, even if you kill me, it won’t make any difference.
There must be several reasons why they made a surprise attack.
The magic stones we collected over the course of 7 days, the equipment we wore, the pretty appearance of Erwen, and the fact that we didn’t have to feel any more pain in our stomachs at the luck we witnessed right in front of our noses.
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I feel it again.
“Everyone, don’t let your guard down and think of yourself as hunting a large monster.”
Seriously, there are too many efficiency freaks in this world.
Well, I guess that’s just how I grew up.
Swish.
I slowly raised my hand.
An arrow had lodged in his elbow, and now the paralyzing poison was starting to spread, so he forced his left hand, which was barely moving, up to above his head.
and…….
“What are you doing?”
He raised his middle finger high.
Wheeeeeeeeet!
So that anyone who has ever lived in this world would see it as a unique signal.
Phew-!
Soon a faint sound echoed through the forest.
