Chapter 10: 2nd Floor. Goblins (1)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 10: 2nd Floor. Goblins (1)
[Topic: Question regarding the 2nd Floor Quest]
[Has anyone actually heard a single compliment from the Captain? I think I’ve been sworn at enough to last a lifetime.]
[Kim Min-ah (4th Floor): I haven't heard anything good, for one.]
[Pham Minh Duc (22nd Floor): Same here.]
[Maruima Atsuya (14th Floor): I guess he’s just an NPC programmed to hurl insults from the start. Best to just ignore him.]
* * *
The 2nd Floor Quest.
You are cast as a resident of a fantasy village and assigned a specific role. The player's objective is to defend the village from invading goblins as one of its members.
That was the standard progression of the quest.
The Captain roared at the top of his lungs.
“Everyone! Take up your arms! Form a line!”
The quest begins the moment the goblin invasion starts. At this point, most players are frozen in shock, unable to process the situation as they fumble about in a panic.
Naturally, Kang Jun-hyeok was different.
Clang!
The soldiers gripped their shields and weapons. Kang Jun-hyeok moved fluidly to join the formation. Holding the basic-issue shield, he used the Master of All Weapons to pull out a spear.
“Kreeee!”
“Skreeeee!”
The goblins let out shrill cries as they charged, colliding violently with the defensive line.
Thump!
“Ugh!”
“Gah!”
The line buckled.
The goblins were small in stature, barely half the size of an average adult. Their individual physical strength was low, but the line staggered under the sheer pressure of their overwhelming numbers.
However, this didn't apply to Kang Jun-hyeok.
“Kreeee!”
A goblin swung its axe at Kang Jun-hyeok’s shield. Jun-hyeok thrust his shield forward, timing the impact perfectly.
Clang!
The goblin was sent tumbling backward, sprawling across the dirt. The creature’s eyes widened in shock.
Thuck.
A spear pierced its throat. The goblin collapsed with a wet, gurgling sound.
Kang Jun-hyeok moved his shield rapidly to defend. Goblins hammered away at him, but he didn't retreat a single step.
Kang Jun-hyeok’s current Strength was 20.
There was no reason for him to be pushed back by mere goblins. To him, their attacks felt like nothing more than children throwing a tantrum.
Jun-hyeok held his ground, stonewalling the goblins. In that opening, the soldiers hurriedly reformed their line.
“Kreeee!”
“Kyeeeeee!”
The goblins grew frenzied, running wild. Blood splattered as weapons clashed against shields. Shouts and screams echoed through the air.
This was a battlefield.
Most players, having lived peaceful lives, would eventually succumb to panic and flee into the village even if they somehow survived the first clash.
Kang Jun-hyeok, however, stepped forward and thrust his spear.
Thuck.
“K-Kaaaak!”
He pierced the arm of a goblin that was about to swing its axe. The goblin thrashed about, screaming. He lightly suppressed its movement and thrust his spear once more.
“Kegek!”
The goblin died with a final gasp. A typical 2nd Floor player would have had to struggle for quite a while, but since Kang Jun-hyeok’s Strength stat was so high, they died as long as he stabbed them reasonably well.
Thuck.
“Kyeeek!”
He didn't even need to hit their vitals. In the Tower’s system, damage was absolute. Even stabbing them in the arm or leg was enough to kill them without issue.
[I figured as much.]
The Master of All Weapons spoke in a tone that suggested it had expected this. There was no reason for the current Kang Jun-hyeok to struggle against mere goblins. With Jun-hyeok leading the way, the defenders slowly began to seize the upper hand.
“Kyeeek!”
“Grrrr!”
The goblins began to flee, shrieking in retreat. Sensing victory, the soldiers chased after them and cut down a few more. A few minutes later, the goblins disappeared beyond the forest.
They had won. Realizing this, the soldiers erupted in cheers.
“Whoooo!”
“W-we held them off!”
“We won!”
The soldiers shouted with joyful faces. There were a few wounded, but no one had died. It was an achievement beyond all expectations.
And the soldiers knew exactly how it had been possible.
Several soldiers approached Kang Jun-hyeok and patted him on the shoulder.
“Kang Jun-hyeok! It’s all thanks to you!”
“My god! When did you get this strong?”
They surrounded Jun-hyeok, making a fuss. Just as they were about to bombard him with questions, a voice boomed.
“Move aside! You lot!”
The Guard Captain strode toward Kang Jun-hyeok. Jun-hyeok looked at him.
It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that face.
The village Guard Captain NPC. He was notorious among players.
A player on the 2nd Floor acted as a member of the village, specifically in the role of a soldier defending it. However, most players were too dazed to maintain the formation and were busy backing away, unable to participate properly in combat.
To the Guard Captain defending the village, such behavior was seen as nothing but trash. Consequently, most players were subjected to a barrage of verbal abuse from him. Since the Guard Captain’s face was incredibly fierce, the memory became a trauma for quite a few players.
The Kang Jun-hyeok of the past hadn't been quite that bad, but he had received similar treatment.
But not anymore.
“Kang Jun-hyeok! You are strong! When did you become this powerful?!”
The Guard Captain patted Jun-hyeok’s shoulder with a broad grin. It felt strange hearing a Korean name from a Westerner's mouth, but since he was currently a member of the village, it was only natural. Jun-hyeok replied calmly.
“I have been training in preparation for an event like this.”
“Hahaha! I see! My, my. To think you’d turn into such a godsend!”
The Guard Captain’s face was full of favor and trust as he looked at Kang Jun-hyeok. It was a look Jun-hyeok had never seen in his past life.
“There will be two or three more goblin invasions! I’ll be counting on you to keep up the good work!”
“Leave it to me.”
At Jun-hyeok’s answer, the Guard Captain gave him a look of deep reliance.
The next day, the goblins invaded again. Once more, Kang Jun-hyeok stood at the front of the line and withstood their attacks.
And this time, he didn't stop there.
“W-waaaah!”
One soldier, overpowered by a goblin's strength, tumbled to the ground. A goblin stood over him, shrieking as it brought its axe down. The soldier’s face turned pale as he braced for death.
Thuck.
In that instant, blood splattered across the soldier’s face.
It wasn't his own blood.
Kang Jun-hyeok had pierced the throat of the goblin targeting the soldier. The soldier’s eyes widened.
“K-Kang Jun-hyeok!”
“Get up.”
Kang Jun-hyeok spoke while guarding the soldier.
“The village is behind us. If we fall, the village is destroyed. We have to protect it.”
Those weren't exactly the words a Player of the Tower, Kang Jun-hyeok, would normally say. However, they were the right words for a soldier of the village.
The fallen soldier stood up with a face full of determination.
The Master of All Weapons watched this scene with curiosity.
[……Hmm?]
They defended against the second raid without much trouble. Kang Jun-hyeok alone had killed over twenty goblins. The Guard Captain was extremely pleased and commended him.
That night, Kang Jun-hyeok checked the System while standing guard.
[Level Up.]
[Health +10]
[Strength +1]
Kang Jun-hyeok’s level increased by 1.
Considering the number of goblins he had slain, it was a bit disappointing. However, his level was already far too high for this floor. Since the level gap between him and the goblins was so large, it was actually surprising that he leveled up at all.
But it was fine. The rewards other than the level were sufficient.
[You have acquired Passive Skill: Shield Technique.]
[You have acquired Passive Skill: Spearmanship.]
[You have acquired Passive Skill: Swordsmanship.]
[Passive Skill: Shield Technique]
• Rank: Lowest-Grade
• Proficiency: F
• The technique of handling a shield. You have become more proficient in using a shield.
[Passive Skill: Spearmanship]
• Rank: Lowest-Grade
• Proficiency: F
• The technique of handling a spear. You have become more proficient in using a spear.
[Passive Skill: Swordsmanship]
• Rank: Lowest-Grade
• Proficiency: F
• The technique of handling a sword. You have become more proficient in using a sword.
He had acquired three more passive skills.
The Master of All Weapons, who had been watching, muttered as if it found the situation absurd.
[Anyone watching you would think acquiring passive skills is easy.]
In reality, it wasn't. An ordinary human could kill a thousand goblins with a spear and still not acquire the Spearmanship skill. Acquiring it after killing only twenty meant that Kang Jun-hyeok’s movements were just that precise and perfect.
There were only one or two goblin attacks left at most. Once those were over, the 2nd Floor Quest would be cleared. With Kang Jun-hyeok’s strength, there would be no problem. Clearing it wasn't the important part.
That was why the Master of All Weapons muttered:
[You. You’re more soft-hearted than I thought.]
“Soft-hearted? Me?”
[Is that not why you helped the soldiers?]
Kang Jun-hyeok had helped the soldiers who were in danger during the second invasion. Not just once, but several times.
The 2nd Floor Quest was to defend the village against goblins. Protecting the soldiers was not the objective. The Master of All Weapons could only assume that Jun-hyeok did it because he didn't want to see the soldiers die.
[I suppose it’s understandable. They do look like ordinary people, after all.]
Protecting what you can protect was, in a way, natural. It was just unexpected. The Kang Jun-hyeok the Master of All Weapons had imagined wasn't someone who would be swayed by such things.
[But it is not good. If you care about every little thing like that, it will drain your emotions. If you want to live long, learn to restrain your feelings. My advice is worth its weight in gold, so take it to heart.]
The Master of All Weapons spoke boastfully, like an old man lecturing a child who knew nothing. Kang Jun-hyeok didn't deny it.
“Soft-hearted, huh. You’re not wrong,” Kang Jun-hyeok muttered.
He couldn't deny those words. After all, the biggest reason he had returned to the past was that he couldn't abandon the weak.
“But that’s not the only reason.”
There was a clear reason why he had protected the soldiers.
At those words, the Master of All Weapons spoke in a puzzled voice.
[You have a purpose?]
“What? You don't know?”
[How could I not know? I am the Master of All Weapons. I am one who knows what exists at the end of all this.]
“Then what do you think it is?”
[However, I shall allow you to explain it to me in your own words.]
Kang Jun-hyeok laughed at the Master of All Weapons’ words.
“You’re quite honest. Didn't you say you knew many things I don't? You even said you knew who the Master of the Tower is.”
[My knowledge was all implanted into me. It is not from experience.]
The Master of All Weapons’ knowledge of the Tower had been implanted. Since it wasn't from experience, there were bound to be gaps here and there. The Master of All Weapons groaned.
[I am not a being called a Player like you. I am a being from before that. Though it may be difficult for you to understand.]
“I know, though.”
[Hmm?]
The Master of All Weapons was flustered.
[You know?]
“No. Just kidding.”
[…….]
The Master of All Weapons flared up for a moment but soon realized it had done the exact same thing and shut its mouth.
However, Kang Jun-hyeok really did know.
The Unique Item, Master of All Weapons. The shopkeeper, Pixie. Beings bound to the Tower, closer to being parts of a mechanism. They were the losers of the Great War for cosmic dominion in the distant past. Among them, they were those whose spirits had been broken—beings no different from the dead.
But he didn't say it out loud. There was no need for him to poke at old wounds. Thus, Jun-hyeok changed the subject.
“You’ll find out in a few days.”
[I have no idea what you mean.]
The Master of All Weapons sounded puzzled. Instead of answering, Kang Jun-hyeok approached a woman walking on the village road. The woman gave Jun-hyeok a bright smile when she saw him.
“Kang Jun-hyeok! I heard the news. I heard you’ve been doing great! Wow. I had no idea you’d grow up to be this impressive!”
“I’ve been training hard for this moment.”
After a brief reply, Jun-hyeok asked:
“I have something to ask you.”
“Something to ask?”
The woman tilted her head. Kang Jun-hyeok asked her various questions. Though she looked bewildered, she answered them all.
Having received the answers he wanted, Jun-hyeok parted ways with her.
And the next day.
The goblin invasion occurred once more. Even then, Kang Jun-hyeok stood at the front, helping the soldiers and dealing with the goblins. They won without much difficulty.
Even after two days had passed since then, the goblins did not appear. They had given up on further invasions. The villagers erupted in cheers, thinking they had overcome the threat. Fittingly, a System window appeared before Kang Jun-hyeok.
[2nd Floor Quest Cleared.]
[Please meet the Guard Captain.]
The quest was complete. With this, the 2nd Floor was over.
But for Kang Jun-hyeok, it was far from over.