Chapter 155
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 155
Chapter Title: Kobolds and the Underground Labyrinth
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For some reason, the horde of kobolds reminded me of the Human Wave Tactics, surging toward us like waves in a human sea.
Both in the previous battlefield and now with reinforcements pouring this way, it was clear their numbers were insanely larger than I'd imagined.
—Kyurrrrsaak!!
Leading the charge was a roaring Kobold Warrior, followed by the savage little rats swarming and screeching wildly. Seeing these bug-like bastards coming at me in a swarm brought back one horrific childhood memory.
Back in my boyhood, I, Kim Geun-tae, was a pure country kid so obsessed with bugs that they called me the Bug Boy.
After giving up on baseball, bugs were all I had left. Naturally, my interests shifted from baseball to insects, and I'd confidently declare my dream job was to become an entomologist.
Anyway, this was back then.
Like all boys at the time, I was obsessed with a certain ritual: gu poison, the sinister forbidden art of brewing the deadliest venom.
Looking back, it was probably a socially problematic trend, but in those pre-smartphone days, what else were kids supposed to do? Every popular boy had his own gu jar.
Anyway, gu poison involved throwing all sorts of bugs, insects, and small critters into a single jar, letting them fight to the death, and using the sole survivor to make the toxin. A classic curse.
And best of all, it used the insects I loved. The temptation was irresistible. So, I jumped on the bandwagon and started making my own.
With my limited info back then, I thought it was just tossing bugs in a jar for them to duke it out. So that's what I did: found a big jar and started collecting.
Yeah.
It wasn't really gu poison or anything.
Just simple bug collecting.
The "gu" part was pure kid exaggeration. Anyway, I remember roaming the mountains with friends, filling a huge jar with every kind of bug. It was a blast at the time...
"Oh... no! Noooo!!!"
I clutched my head.
Boys' boundless energy was beyond imagination. Before long, the jar was over half full of every bug imaginable. We'd rampaged through the mountains till sunset—what did I expect? Time to head home.
As dusk fell and we parted ways, our friendship evaporated like a lie. We fought over who got the jar.
We'd collected so many bugs.
This was sure to make the ultimate gu.
It fueled that boyish desire to dominate our peers... Sharp glares sized up friends' strengths, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Winner takes all—one survivor devours the rest, just like gu.
"That's... not right!"
The brawl ended in my victory (baseball training paid off). After beating all my bug-hunting buddies for the day, I happily carried the jar home.
I couldn't wait to show Dad this trophy. He hated bugs more than necessary.
The guy couldn't tell a stag beetle from a cockroach.
Opening the lid at home revealed a hellish writhing mass. Impressive as hell. I'd already said I loved bugs—no shock, just joy. Boyish innocence is brutal, especially when pounding friends.
Anyway, home meant bath time.
Mesmerized by the bugs, I drifted to the bathroom like a zombie. Mom was half-OCD and wouldn't let filthy me slide. I could admire them leisurely after washing up.
"No more... stop!"
...It was a gu curse come to life.
Freshly bathed, I realized I hadn't closed the lid. The once-packed jar was empty save for a few corpses. I wasn't too young to know what that meant.
"Get out of my house... out of my house!!! Uwaaaaaah!!!"
Half-mad with rage, I slashed at the lead Kobold Warrior. My rigorously trained sword traced a sharp arc, severing its carotid.
—Kyurrut?!
Foam sprayed from its neck.
The body crumpled instantly. I remembered Dad coming home, opening the door, and screaming... Please, please stop hitting me, Dad! I didn't make that gu to curse you!!! "Planning to curse me with this gu, huh?!" he'd yelled. Denials fell on deaf ears. He'd spotted my gu-making with one glance!
"Die! Die! Die! You fucking bastards!!!"
This wasn't a natural kobold den—it was an artificial underground facility... Evoking that ominous jar... No, by then the jar had lost its function. The moment the lid opened, our house itself became the gu brewing vat!
"Sis! The darky's flipping out again!"
"It's fine. He fights well anyway."
The high ceiling prevented their wall- and ceiling-crawling tactics.
Stepping forward, I marked the Kobold Warriors adeptly.
Without these brave fighters, the Workers weren't much threat. I'm not the old me anymore. Trusting my thick armor, I boldly thrust my foot forward and stabbed.
—Kyuuuusaak!!!!
Kobolds wrapped only in their hides couldn't withstand my steel-backed strength.
Thrust in, pull out, twist the wrist to rake. The blade scatters reflected light as hot blood sprays. Life's flame extinguishes. Kobolds died before me one by one.
"Saint! I'll cast a holy blessing on you!"
"Oh! Nice!"
Elise, fresh from smashing a kobold skull, chanted. Pzzt. Holy light emanated from my blade. Holy Enchant. Winia simultaneously fired a flame arrow.
—Boom!
—Gyusa aaaak!!!
The arrow exploded. Soaring flames evoked Buddhist hell. The engulfed kobold screamed like an eternally tortured sinner, flailing into its comrades. Chain splash damage spread, screams contagious.
Just like me back then!!!
Centipedes crawling from under my pillow at dawn!!!!
In utmost frenzy, I swung wildly!
"Luminous Moon Severing Wave!!!"
Light burst from the blade—tension maxed. Felt like destructive power boosted. Slash, kick the victim away, slash and stab, slaughtering kobolds.
—Kyurs aak!
A snarling Warrior swung. I raised my gauntlet, blocking effortlessly. Not even painful. Stab the throat—done.
Honestly, even dozens swarming were no match; their base physicals sucked. Snapping the few Warriors' necks plummeted their forces.
Left side: Cloudy guarded Winia, piling corpses. Right: Elise bashed heads with her mace. Horrific scene.
Staying sane amid this was miraculous. Battle lasted about 30 minutes. Felling the last one revealed dozens of kobold corpses strewn about.
Not one fled.
Kobolds in their lair fight to the death.
"Easier than expected."
I slumped casually, catching my breath.
"Darky, got a knife or something?"
"Hm? Yeah, why?"
"Hand it over."
Pulled a dagger from my pouch. What for? As I offered it to Winia, she grimaced and spoke again.
"Use it to extract the Kobold Warriors' fangs and claws. They fetch good money. Used as magic reagents sometimes."
"Oh, really?"
I'd thought kobolds worthless; news to me. Jumped up, grabbed a Warrior's foot, sliced off its raptor-like claws... nah, whole fingers.
Pried open the mouth, carved out fangs. Elise did the same—familiar monster part harvesting ritual.
"...Still, can't let our guard down."
I said while methodically chopping fingers.
"This space is wide, but trapped in a narrow spot? Real trouble. No counter if they come from walls and ceiling."
"True. But if push comes to shove, we could handle it."
"Yeah, our party's got it."
Everyone's overleveled anyway.
Counting loot: piles of fangs and fingers. Asked Winia prices; she said she'd sell them—no worries. Best from a mage like her.
"Let's check elsewhere."
Kicking corpses aside to move, Elise hesitated. Glancing at the stele repeatedly—regretted leaving it.
"What, Elise? Wanna smash it?"
"I'm going mad... Can't now, obviously. But at least deface that evil rune."
The 2.5-meter stele's top bore a sinister rune. Couldn't destroy, but deface? Her odd fixation aside, doable.
"Then... I'll help!"
"You will?"
"Yeah! Hop on my shoulders!"
Elise was too short. Piggyback time. Seoul sightseeing, anyone?
"Hurry!"
Kneeling one knee, optimal piggyback pose. She could reach from up there. Bashing with mace should mar the rune.
"Darky, what're you doing?"
Winia narrowed her eyes.
"As you see: piggyback for Elise."
"...Never had one?"
"Want one? Next time. Elise, hop on."
"Understood. I'll gladly accept."
She approached, climbed aboard. Skipping skirt-lifting details. We stood before the stele.
"...Here we go."
Chant from above. Buffed mace slammed down hard.
—Kwaang!
Stele unmoved.
"How's it? Working?"
"A bit more."
—Kwaang!
—Kwaang!
Holy-glow mace battered the rune repeatedly. Hammer or chisel would've helped. After ages, Elise paused.
"Progress?"
"...A scratch. Seems impossible. Can you let me down?"
"Shame."
Set her down. Cloudy, watching, approached.
"Katt. Why not stack corpses for stairs?"
"Oh, yeah."
"Darky's an idiot."
Smart call. Wouldn't have worked anyway. Satisfied with thigh feel via ears. On to next room?
"Good idea. Let's try."
...Not giving up.
I helped move corpses. Winia squatted, chin-propped, bored. Cloudy kicked heads playfully.
Corpses dragged—sticky blood trailed. Stacked before stele. Blood pooled deep.
Corpse staircase complete.
Somewhat sadistic.
"Here I go."
Elise, thrilled, climbed the gruesome steps. —Splush! Swung arm full-force, mace into rune.
—Kwaang!
Then.
—Kurrrr rumble!!
"Wha—what?!"
Huge vibration. Rune glowed!
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Strange floatiness—then falling!
The floor collapsed.