A Goblin's First Lesson

Heejung and I talked about what had happened on the 11th and 12th floors.

According to her, sometimes things worked this way: consecutive floors funneled toward the next one without passing through a Waiting Room in between. Naturally, with no chance to rest, it was far more exhausting.

She said I'd been through the wringer, then gave me a brief rundown of what the 13th floor had in store.

Well, if that was how it had to be, there was nothing to be done about it.

Since Heejung hadn't gone into detail about the 13th floor, there wasn't anything more I could learn for now. Better to do things her way.

Huh. So that was how it worked.

I'd always assumed the Tower of Trials was nothing but sadistic, but it apparently had a surprisingly considerate side to it as well.

By the way, what am I going to do about the other party members?

If Heejung and I moved together, three would be left behind. The old man would pair up with Seo Harin, which left Cole on his own.

Hmm. Maybe I should ask Alexei if he had anyone spare in his party?

It would be a bit of a hassle, but thinking of Cole left all alone, that much effort was worth it.

I'll bring it up later, once the party members come up.

Aside from Heejung, every other climber was still on the 12th floor. Unlike me, their 11th floor had been short and their 12th floor long.

How Heejung had climbed this fast, I had no idea. Well, she was a regressor, after all.

Maybe she'd cleared a hidden mission or something.

Come to think of it, the same thing happened back on the 5th floor.

Back then, too, my floor had dragged on longer than everyone else's, and I'd caught plenty of grief from the other climbers.

The 5th floor and the 11th floor. That was already twice.

It was obvious the same thing would happen on the floors ahead as well.

If this kept repeating, the climbers would start getting suspicious. And sure enough, the chatter had already started.

Anxious, I hurriedly opened the community board.

Just as I'd expected, the board was full of posts about me. Until the other climbers reached the 12th floor, the rank-one climber sitting around on the 11th was bound to be the talk of the town.

And this wasn't even the first time it had happened.

But as I scrolled through the posts, a sudden worry crept over me.

Just as I had on the 11th floor, I might keep overcoming my trials later than everyone else. And sooner or later, someone was bound to ask why.

Would I have to explain, every single time, that it was because I'd done a hidden mission?

Hmm...

Hogging all the hidden missions for myself didn't exactly paint a flattering picture in other people's eyes, I realized.

Why does he get them and I don't?

Even setting aside whether they could actually clear one themselves, people could easily think that way.

On top of that, I had my sixth sense, and I'd be traveling with Heejung from here on out. These situations were going to come up again and again — whether it was a high-difficulty floor or a hidden mission.

If it happened once or twice, fine. But any more than that, and I might draw suspicion for no reason at all. Like, say...

Kwon Suhyeok knows what's coming on the next floor. He knows what the hidden mission is. But he keeps quiet so he can have it all to himself.

Rumors like that could absolutely start circulating. Humans were not rational creatures.

In the end, someday I would have to tell the other climbers that I was different from them.

Hmm. That was something I'd better discuss with Heejung first.

It sounded right to me. That was exactly what I'd been thinking, too.

And setting my own opinion aside, when it came to the Tower, Heejung simply knew more than I did. The psychology of the climbers, the dynamics of the crowd — all of it.

She had a plan of her own already, so there was no need for me to worry further.

Just then, Dobby came shuffling out of the bathroom. As ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠if he'd timed it perfectly — it was almost uncanny.

Standing in front of the bathroom, Dobby toweled off his bald head and hollered, "Kkiik! Suyeok! All washed up!"

With a bald head there was barely anything to dry in the first place, so why he insisted on toweling it off was beyond me. Ever since he'd seen me drying my hair the other day, he seemed to be copying the motion.

Well, it wasn't like I could tell him to stop. And honestly, it was cute, so I let it go.

I just gave a small nod. "Good work. You can rest now."

"Kkiik! Goblin! Sleeps now!"

"Yeah, yeah."

Dobby flung himself onto the bed with a blissful expression, his eyes shutting the instant he hit the mattress. He must have been thoroughly worn out.

What had he even done to get that tired?

I grumbled inwardly as I cracked my eyes half open. But the sight of Dobby fast asleep was adorable enough that, against my own grumbling, a smile tugged at my lips anyway.

I'd check out the training room later. For now, I needed a wash and some rest myself.

When I woke up, a whole pile of party messages had accumulated.

It seemed the party members had safely cleared the 12th floor and returned while I slept.

Huh. So they'd all just assumed I was doing a hidden mission too.

Apparently the old man had been the only one who thought I might be in actual danger.

So the only ones who worry about me are Heejung and the old man, huh.

After that, the messages kept coming for a while before cutting off — the party members must have chattered themselves to sleep.

Anyway, I'd need to find Cole a partner sooner or later. But the Tower hadn't sent a single message about it, so I couldn't bring the subject up myself.

Out of nowhere — "By the way, the next floor requires two people" — that would just be awkward.

Eh, the Tower would tell us eventually, wouldn't it?

I'd rested enough. It was time to check out the training room.

"Dobby! Hey, Dobby!"

I shook Dobby awake from his deep slumber on the bed.

"Kkiik?"

Bleary-eyed, Dobby peeled his heavy lids apart. His face was a portrait of pure annoyance — those half-closed, grumpy eyes seemed to ask exactly what the hell this was about.

Looking at his sleep-drunk face made me feel a little guilty, actually.

"Kkiik! Goblin! Already washed!"

"Yeah, I know."

Look, Dobby was a growing goblin, and rest was important and all that — but this had to be done.

I'd decided back on the 11th floor: I was going to train Dobby.

And it wasn't just for my own convenience. For Dobby's life and his future, it mattered far more.

"You've felt it every time we fight, haven't you? How hard I have to push myself to keep you safe. How long are you planning to just trail along behind me?"

"Kkiik? Suyeok, what mean?"

"I'm saying you should do combat training, like Harin. And look, we've even got a training room now."

"Kkiik!?"

Dobby's half-lidded eyes flew wide open. He seemed to be shouting what kind of bolt from the blue is that?! with his eyes alone.

Stay strong. It's all for Dobby's sake.

"Hey, Dobby. What if I mess up and let an enemy slip through because of you? What happens then? You just die?"

"Kkiik......"

"Huh? I can't be watching over you every second, you know."

"What if there's a whole horde of enemies, huh? Everything I do out there, I do to keep you alive. Got it?"

The wavering in Dobby's eyes gradually settled. Then, at last, he gave a small bow of his head.

He'd understood, and he'd accepted it.

Lifting his head again, Dobby leapt briskly down from the bed.

"Kkiik! Goblin! Understood!"

"Good. Come on, up! Time to go train."

But before that, the very first thing to decide was... his weapon, right?

"Let's see. Dobby, you used a crossbow back on the 1st floor. So you know the basics of fighting, more or less?"

"Kkiik! Knows!"

"Hmm. Then aside from the crossbow, are there any other weapons you can use?"

"Kkiik! Goblin! Sword! Can use a little!"

"A sword? Hold on."

My living inventory, Moongchi, was stuffed to the brim with all the weapons I'd scavenged on the 11th floor.

Swords, axes, spears...

Whatever Dobby asked for, odds were I could pull it out on the spot.

"Moongchi, cough up a sword in decent shape."

I gave the little mimic at my side a couple of taps, and his lid popped open on its own, spitting out a perfectly serviceable sword.

Even giving it a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠once-over, it looked like a solid blade. I gave it a swing or two to check its balance, then pressed it into Dobby's hands.

"All right. Now, off to the training room."

"Kkiik! Got it!"

Sword in hand, Dobby trotted along at my heels.

It was my first time seeing the training room. I opened the door with a flicker of anticipation — and was promptly disappointed.

Yeah, that figures.

Just as the notification had said, the training room was small. Nowhere near big enough to run around in freely.

About the size of a tennis court, maybe?

Just enough space to take a weapon in hand and swing it, or loose off a spell or two. Exactly that much, and no more.

Still... it should be plenty for a light spar.

As I took my position on one side, Dobby naturally made for the opposite end.

Contrary to my expectations, he didn't look sulky in the slightest. If anything, you might even call his expression resolute.

Watching him, I felt a swell of pride.

With a goblin that young, I'd expected a lot more grumbling.

Well, Dobby was dragged into the Tower of Trials too, after all.

In the days before I knew him, Dobby must have been through plenty. He'd lost his god, and he'd been half-brainwashed on top of that.

It was a reminder that I shouldn't just write him off as some naive young goblin.

Thinking of the trials still to come, I needed to take Dobby's training seriously.

So I readjusted my grip on my axe.

"You said you've learned a bit of the sword?"

"Kkiik! That's right!"

"No idea what level you're at, but let's find out. Come at me."

And with that, I charged at Dobby.