Chapter 13: 2nd Floor. Goblin (4)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 13: 2nd Floor. Goblin (4)
[You’re certainly putting me to good use.]
The Master of All Weapons grumbled.
Approaching silently using the Stealth skill and swiftly dispatching two enemies with the Master of All Weapons—it was a textbook execution.
However, this was the first time Kang Jun-hyeok had truly utilized both the Stealth skill and the Master of All Weapons in tandem. No matter how well one understood the theory, applying it in actual combat was a different matter entirely.
Yet, Jun-hyeok’s movements were those of a seasoned veteran. It was enough to make the Master of All Weapons feel embarrassed for trying to offer smug advice.
[Those movements look like they’ve been practiced thousands of times.]
Jun-hyeok offered a silent smile at the weapon's remark.
The proficiency of an Active Skill increases based on how effectively it is utilized. Since he had used Stealth to silently assassinate two goblins, his skill proficiency had surged significantly.
Jun-hyeok hid the bodies to ensure they wouldn't be easily discovered and moved on. Once the goblins realized their scouts hadn't returned, their alertness would skyrocket. He had to finish everything before then.
From here on, it was a race against time. Jun-hyeok moved deeper into the forest at a rapid pace.
Various traps appeared before him along the way, but Jun-hyeok disarmed them one by one without much difficulty. Despite the darkness making it hard to see even an inch ahead, his handling was incredibly skillful and flawless.
And the Tower always rewarded action.
[You have acquired the Passive Skill: Trap Disarming.]
“Good.”
Acquiring another passive skill on the way to the den was a satisfying reward.
The Master of All Weapons muttered as if incredulous.
[Was your original profession a hunter or something?]
“I did something similar,” Jun-hyeok replied briefly, pushing further into the woods.
Eventually, he arrived at the goblin den.
Jun-hyeok’s face contorted.
“…What is this?”
In the middle of the forest, there was a bizarre clearing. The goblins had likely cleared the woods to establish their settlement, but that wasn't the point. The problem was what stood upon that clearing.
There was a castle.
A perfectly constructed, clean-cut castle.
* * *
Walls twice the height of a man came into view. Inside them stood a single, soaring castle. Guarding the entrance to those walls were two goblins.
[The Royal Castle of the Green Beasts. I’ve never seen anything like this.]
The Master of All Weapons muttered in wonder.
Crude fences surrounded the clearing, and two goblins stood guard at the gate. It meant the master of this castle was a goblin.
“Are goblins intelligent enough to build a castle?”
[No. At most, they build huts. This 'Goblin King' must be something special.]
Jun-hyeok stared at the castle for a moment before asking, “How long do you think it would take to build a castle that size?”
[Considering they’re green beasts, it would take at least several decades. It’s a miracle they even thought to build such a thing.]
This meant that twenty years ago, immediately after settling in the forest, the goblins had begun construction.
“Do they want to build their own kingdom?”
Muttering to himself, Jun-hyeok kicked off the ground. He approached the back of the wall, avoiding the gaze of the guards at the gate.
The wall was high—about twice the height of a man. It wasn't a height reachable with a normal jump. However, Jun-hyeok’s stats were over 20.
He bent his knees and put strength into his feet. He leaped as if springing forward, lightly grabbing the top of the wall and pulling himself up. The interior of the walls came into view.
The inside was even more of a spectacle. It wasn't just a castle; numerous buildings were visible. There were structures that looked like houses, outposts for soldiers, a small farm for livestock, and even a forge for making armaments.
It was, quite literally, a human village.
[Bizarre,] the Master of All Weapons muttered.
It was a sight Jun-hyeok had never seen before either. After all, no one had ever made it this far during the 2nd Floor Quest.
Jun-hyeok let out a hollow laugh as he scanned the interior.
“They even have a quenching tank.”
The core technique of cold weapon manufacturing—plunging heated metal into oil or water to cool it, thereby increasing its strength and hardness. It meant they weren't just mimicking the appearance of a village. As Jun-hyeok surveyed the area, he noticed one more thing.
“It’s not finished yet.”
Inside the goblin village, there were still buildings under construction. However, there weren't many left. It would be completed within a few months at most.
“They really are doing it all,” Jun-hyeok muttered as he slipped into the village.
First, he had to find the hostages.
Finding them wasn't difficult. If there were hostages, they would have built a prison, and there would be a jailer guarding it. Among the buildings, there was only one where two goblins stood guard at the entrance.
Jun-hyeok quietly approached the prison. The moment he judged he was close enough, he moved.
[Stealth.]
Crunch.
He pierced a goblin’s neck from behind. Before the other goblin could even react in shock, he drew his sword and severed its vocal cords. He stabbed it through the heart before it could scream.
“Ger-ruk.”
With a wheezing sound, the goblin collapsed. Jun-hyeok quickly scanned his surroundings, but since it was late at night, no one was in sight. Confirming he hadn't been detected, Jun-hyeok entered the prison.
Inside, just as he expected, were the hostages. Dozens of people were huddled together, their faces gaunt. Among them, a woman staring blankly at the entrance spotted Jun-hyeok.
“…You, you’re…”
Her eyes widened. Just as she was about to cry out instinctively, Jun-hyeok covered her mouth.
“Quiet. There are goblins outside.”
“…”
The light in the woman’s eyes quickly settled. Judging that she had calmed down, Jun-hyeok removed his hand. The woman spoke in a trembling voice.
“Ka—Kang Jun-hyeok? Is it really you…?”
“Yes.”
Jun-hyeok nodded.
“Kang Jun-hyeok?”
“Wh-what? Why are you here?”
The other hostages, realizing Jun-hyeok’s presence, were struck with quiet shock one by one. Jun-hyeok spoke to them calmly.
“I’ve come to rescue you.”
“…!”
“Oh, heavens.”
Tears streamed down the woman’s face. Her expression was that of someone who had found a ray of light in the depths of hell. The others desperately tried to hold back their sobs, but their expressions were no different from hers.
“Are there hostages anywhere else besides here?”
“N-no. There aren't. This is everyone.”
“I see.”
The hostages here were all of them. Jun-hyeok checked their numbers.
‘Thirty-two in total.’
Jun-hyeok frowned as he counted. It was more than he expected. Could he escape the goblin village with all of them and get everyone back alive? No matter how he thought about it, it would be difficult. He couldn't protect this many people at once.
In that case...
Jun-hyeok asked, “Is there anyone among you who is unable to walk?”
At that question, the hostages hurriedly scrambled to their feet. They moved quickly, as if fearing they would be abandoned if they said they were struggling.
“N-no. Everyone seems fine.”
“That’s a relief then. Please stay here for a moment.”
“…Huh?”
“Are you… are you leaving us behind and going back?”
Despair instantly clouded the hostages' faces. Jun-hyeok shook his head.
“It’s not like that. I can’t protect all of you while returning to the village on my own. So, I will act as bait.”
“…Bait?”
“I’ll draw the goblins away from here. When you judge that the surroundings have gone quiet, escape silently. The Guard Captain has also moved out, so you’ll be safe once you reach the middle of the forest.”
“Y-yes.”
“Understood.”
The hostages looked anxious, but knowing it was the best way, they didn't protest. Once the atmosphere settled, Jun-hyeok stood up. Before leaving, he asked one question.
“By any chance, did you all help in building this village?”
At those words, their bodies flinched. After a brief silence, the woman spoke like a criminal.
“…Yes. They held spears to our throats and said they’d kill us if we didn't. I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need to be sorry.”
He had asked to confirm a fact, not to blame them. Having verified the final piece of information, Jun-hyeok stepped out the door. The woman spoke cautiously.
“Jun-hyeok. Be careful.”
“You don't need to worry about me.”
“Right. …But why are you speaking so formally? We’re childhood friends, aren't we?”
“…No reason. It’s just been a while.”
Jun-hyeok gave a casual reply and stepped outside.
‘So the setting was that we were childhood friends.’
Jun-hyeok shook his head. It wasn't a major issue. He reached out his hand, and a sword appeared in his grasp.
* * *
Jun-hyeok first headed toward the entrance of the goblin village. The gate was firmly shut. Opening it would normally create a significant amount of noise, but that didn't matter. He just had to make sure the sound didn't travel.
[Stealth.]
For three seconds, every sound he made would be silenced.
He kicked the gate violently. The goblins standing in front of it didn't even have time to react before the back of their heads were slammed by the gate.
“Kek, ke-ek?”
“Kiek!”
Before they could scream, he swiftly covered their mouths and pierced their throats.
‘This really is a jackpot skill.’
A situation that would have been quite troublesome was handled with ease thanks to the Stealth skill. He was extremely satisfied. And that wasn't all.
[Proficiency in Stealth has increased.]
[Proficiency in Stealth has increased from F to E.]
‘Oh.’
Proficiency had reached E. To reach E after only a few uses—it was a remarkable speed. As expected of a lowest-rank skill, the proficiency increased rapidly. Jun-hyeok smiled pleasantly.
He wanted to check the details immediately, but there was no time. He could do that after everything was over. Having dealt with the gatekeepers, Jun-hyeok had the hostages hide in the nearby bushes.
“Don't move for now. Once I cause a commotion, the ones out on patrol will come back. Use that opportunity to run.”
“Got it.”
The woman nodded firmly. Jun-hyeok headed back into the goblin village. He needed to cause a scene—a commotion loud enough to draw in all the goblins, including those out on patrol.
The method was quite simple. Jun-hyeok picked up a whistle hanging from the neck of a dead goblin in front of the prison. All he had to do was blow this. The goblins on patrol would come rushing back in a panic. That’s when the hostages would make their escape.
However, the goal of the quest wasn't just rescuing the hostages. That was merely a condition for 100% completion; the real quest was the extermination of the goblins.
To achieve that, there was something he had to do beforehand. Jun-hyeok moved his feet.
Where was the King of the Goblins?
There was no reason to agonize over it. If there was a king, he would naturally be in the castle. Jun-hyeok kicked off the ground and entered the castle. Though it was called a castle, it was only about a third of the size of a human one.
Jun-hyeok ascended the goblin castle. There were guards blocking his path, but he killed them one by one in silence. And finally, he reached the deepest room of the castle.
Jun-hyeok opened the door very quietly.
The room was quite lavish. Crude carvings decorated the walls. In the center sat a massive bed, and upon it lay a goblin, fast asleep. It was a mutant goblin, twice the size of an adult human.
That was the Goblin King.
There was no reason to hesitate. Jun-hyeok lunged forward.
[Stealth.]
Not a sound could be heard. In total silence, Jun-hyeok attempted to drive his sword into the reclining Goblin King.
At that moment, the Goblin King’s eyes snapped open.
Grab.
The Goblin King caught Jun-hyeok’s hand. The tip of the sword stopped right in front of its heart. Jun-hyeok’s eyes widened.
‘What?!’
Stealth was clearly active, and there hadn't been a single sound.
He realized I was there through pure instinct alone? While he was asleep?
The Goblin King’s pupils shifted to look at Jun-hyeok. Its mouth opened.
“Hu… man.”
The goblin spoke.
At the same time, an explosion erupted. The King’s chamber was blown to pieces.