Chapter 12: 2nd Floor. Goblins (3)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 12: 2nd Floor. Goblins (3)
“Technically, you’re absolutely right. It’s the only logical conclusion.”
It had been twenty years since the goblins first settled in the forest near the village. During that time, the village had done nothing but suffer.
Because they never fought back and only endured the abuse, it was inevitable that the youth would grow resentful. Even without Kang Jun-hyeok, plenty of soldiers had questioned this passive stance.
However, the Guard Captain and the other village elders had ignored every single one of those opinions. There was a reason for it.
“It’s not as if we were always fools who just rolled over.”
Twenty years ago, when the goblins first arrived, they had prepared a response. It was only natural, given that monsters had taken up residence right next to the village. They sent scouts to determine their numbers, built fences, and organized patrols.
When they felt they were sufficiently prepared, they gathered the village soldiers and set out to wipe the goblins out.
“Roughly thirty soldiers gathered. Half of them were veterans who had seen war. And they weren’t the only ones.”
A mercenary who had come to the remote village to rest had joined the subjugation as well.
“The mercenary was strong. He possessed skill and experience I couldn't even hope to match. He told us he’d wiped out dozens of goblin packs before and said he’d lead the way, claiming it would be a good warm-up.”
Under the mercenary’s command, they headed into the forest to exterminate the goblin horde.
“I was among them.”
The Guard Captain, then just a green youth who had only recently become a soldier, followed them while guarding the rear.
“How do you think that subjugation went?”
“I imagine it didn't go well.”
“Didn't go well? It was worse than that.”
The Guard Captain spoke with a heavy sigh.
“I was the only one who survived.”
Thirty soldiers, half of them battle-hardened veterans. And a mercenary who had cleared dozens of goblin dens. Every single one of them died.
The only one to return alive was the Guard Captain, who had been a mere recruit at the time. He continued in a voice that had sunk to the depths of despair.
“The goblins were incredibly intelligent. They dug traps for us as we entered the forest and used sounds to lure us in. Every move they made was cunning and devious. They aren't exactly low-intelligence monsters to begin with, but it felt like we were dealing with actual humans.”
Having let their guard down because they were 'just goblins,' they suffered significant losses.
“Even so, we were holding our own up to that point.”
Though four or five casualties occurred due to the traps, it wasn't enough to jeopardize the mission. Most importantly, the mercenary truly was a man of great skill. Under his swift command, they managed to bypass the rest of the traps. Eventually, they reached the goblin den.
But that was where the true disaster awaited them.
“There… we saw a monster.”
“A monster?”
Kang Jun-hyeok’s eyes narrowed. The Guard Captain took a moment to steady his breathing before speaking again.
“It was an unnaturally large goblin.”
A typical goblin is about the size of a human child. But the goblin the Captain saw was twice the size of an adult man.
“It looked like a mutant. Likely the Goblin King.”
The mercenary was killed with a single stroke of the Goblin King’s sword. The soldiers gritted their teeth and thrust their spears forward, but the Goblin King merely sneered and shattered their spear shafts with a casual swing of its arm.
In just two strikes, the mercenary and three soldiers were dead. Then, the shrieks of goblins erupted from all directions behind them. In that moment, the soldiers realized they had walked into a trap.
“Someone screamed for us to run. I just gave in to my terror and fled desperately. By the time I regained my senses, I found myself back at the village.”
Only the Guard Captain returned. Neither the mercenary nor the twenty-nine soldiers ever made it back.
“Is that why you haven't been able to move against them?”
“If we fight them head-on, we have no chance of winning,” the Guard Captain said bitterly.
There was no one in the village strong enough to face a Goblin King that could kill a seasoned mercenary in one blow. With more than half their soldiers dead, they were in no position to attempt another subjugation.
Kang Jun-hyeok spoke up, sounding puzzled. “But I haven't seen anything like a Goblin King.”
During the last three invasions, the Goblin King had been nowhere to be seen. According to the information he’d gathered from the village women, it hadn't appeared since that day twenty years ago.
“It’s been twenty years. Isn't it possible it’s already dead?”
“No. It’s not. That thing is still alive.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“…”
After a moment of hesitation, the Guard Captain opened a desk drawer and pulled something out. Kang Jun-hyeok frowned.
“Hair?”
What the Captain held was a distinctive bundle of red hair.
“This was left in front of the village a year ago.” The Guard Captain’s voice turned somber. “Shaine, who was taken by the goblins five years ago… she used to boast that her hair was as beautiful as a flame.”
“…Are you saying they’re holding hostages?”
“That thing is strong. And it is highly intelligent. It has learned to use the concept of hostages—something goblins don't usually do.”
The villagers who had been dragged away by the goblins over the years were all being held as hostages. There were at least dozens of them.
“It’s not like I just sat idly by. I tried to set out on a journey to seek outside help. But somehow, it knew. That very morning, a pile of hair was scattered at the village gate.”
The Guard Captain had been chilled to the bone that day. From then on, the village’s will to resist the goblins was broken. The Captain spat out the words with a distorted expression.
“That thing is definitely alive. Yet it hasn't shown itself for twenty years. I don't even know why they’ve been raiding us periodically for the last two years. It feels like… like we’re being raised as livestock. Why? Why would they do this?”
“We can find that out from here on,” Kang Jun-hyeok said calmly.
Even after hearing the Captain’s story, his eyes remained steady. Seeing this, the Guard Captain muttered with a strange expression.
“You’ve certainly grown. You’re right. The ones who should take action aren't old men like me, paralyzed by the past and fear, but young men like you. Since I’m an old man, I should act like one and provide the support.”
The Guard Captain gave a refreshed grin. “What do you plan to do?”
“The information you have is twenty years old. First, I’ll need to determine the number of goblins and the location of their den.” Kang Jun-hyeok continued, organizing his thoughts. “If they are as intelligent as you say, their response will likely be swift. They are spying on the village. If they sense anything unusual, they’ll harm the hostages. Speed and decisiveness will be key.”
“…Do you intend to settle this within a few hours?”
“Yes. So, Captain, please quietly gather the soldiers without alerting the goblins. I will move ahead alone for now. Once the hostages are rescued, I’ll need your help immediately.”
“…I’m putting a lot on your shoulders. It’s shameful as an elder. But… I don't possess power like yours.” The Guard Captain nodded with a grim face. “I’m counting on you, Kang Jun-hyeok. Please, save the village.”
“Leave it to me.”
Kang Jun-hyeok gave a short reply and stepped outside. As he left the village, the Guard Captain’s quiet voice drifted behind him.
‘Well then.’
Time to go.
Kang Jun-hyeok kicked off the ground silently.
* * *
It was night.
A bright full moon hung in the sky, making it possible to discern the outlines of objects even deep within the forest.
Kang Jun-hyeok moved quickly into the woods. He had already received the approximate location from the Guard Captain before leaving. He pushed through the thickets toward his destination.
This is where it gets important.
He had paved the way. Now, all that remained was to walk that path perfectly.
The first objective: Rescue the hostages perfectly.
If any hostages died during the rescue, he might not reach 100% completion. It was highly likely he needed to save every single one of them. To do that, he first needed to approach the den without being detected.
Entering the forest, Kang Jun-hyeok began to stifle his sounds. As a result, he spotted them: two goblins sitting halfway up the forest slope, keeping watch over the surroundings.
Kang Jun-hyeok’s face darkened with annoyance. Two of them.
It seemed they even understood the concept of a buddy system. The goblins had something like whistles hanging around their necks. Unless he killed both simultaneously, one would blow the whistle and sound the alarm. He had to take them out at the exact same time.
The problem was that there was a significant distance between Kang Jun-hyeok and the goblins. The undergrowth was so thick that approaching them silently seemed impossible.
Watching this, the Master of All Weapons spoke up as if sensing an opportunity.
[You seem to be agonizing over how to handle this. Regardless of the circumstances, you are my master. And my abilities are not limited to simply storing weapons.]
The greatest characteristic of the Master of All Weapons was that it possessed an ego. Because it was knowledgeable and had once reached the pinnacle, it could offer various pieces of advice to its user. That was one of the values of the artifact.
[I shall grant you a piece of advice worth a thousand gold. Think carefully about what you currently poss—]
The Master of All Weapons tried to continue, but before it could, Kang Jun-hyeok lunged forward.
There was a dense thicket between him and the goblins. It was impossible not to make noise. Therefore, he would make it so the noise didn't exist.
[Stealth]
Active Skill: Stealth.
Effect: For 3 seconds, it erases all sounds made by the player.
Kang Jun-hyeok closed the distance to the goblins in an instant. The bushes rustled violently, but not a single sound could be heard. Since the night was dark, the goblins didn't notice his presence until he was right on top of them.
Kang Jun-hyeok reached out. He pulled a spear from the Master of All Weapons and thrust it straight into a goblin’s throat.
Crunch.
The neck was pierced through. A vital point strike. Combined with the momentum of his acceleration, the goblin died in a single blow.
“Kack!”
The goblin next to it jumped in shock. It scrambled to reach for its whistle.
Kang Jun-hyeok was holding a spear. It was a weapon that couldn't be used for another attack until it was retracted. He was bound to give the goblin enough time to blow the whistle.
Therefore, he didn't retract it.
Kang Jun-hyeok shoved the spear back into the Master of All Weapons exactly as it was. Then, he pulled out another stored weapon: a sword.
Slash!
He severed the goblin’s arm. Just as the goblin’s face contorted in pain and it prepared to scream, he covered its mouth.
Thwack.
“Gurgle…”
The goblin, its throat pierced, died without being able to let out a single cry.
[Proficiency in Stealth has increased significantly.]
Kang Jun-hyeok spoke as he lightly sheathed the sword. “What were you saying?”
[…No. It was nothing.]
The Master of All Weapons replied gloomily.