Day 10: Goblin Hunt and the Valley Gamble
Five people pushed through a thicket of grass as tall as an adult's waist in the group tutorial zone. Suddenly, the woman at the front spotted something and halted. At her hand signal—Stop—the party members froze. She flashed a few more signals: Ranged attack ready. Everyone else, defensive positions.
Spotting the enemy, the party took up formation. Once the ranged attacker finished prepping, he shouted.
"Magic Missile!"
Boom.
"Kek!"
The magic missile slammed straight into the face of a distant goblin, killing it instantly. The remaining two goblins reacted with screeches.
"Kuuk!"
"Block it!"
The goblins charged with furious cries, but the party safely deflected them with their shields. The attackers waiting in the rear counterstruck.
"Kek!"
The goblins fell to the attackers' swords. Finally, the woman checked the bodies and declared, "They're all dead."
Relief washed over the party with a collective sigh.
"The dagger's junk, and the hides are in bad shape. Nothing else. Let's just take the meat."
Finishing her loot check, the woman began slicing the goblins' thighs—the only edible parts—with her dagger. She was Gisohee, the party's temporary leader. With her Presence Detection skill, plus sharp eyes from her Gathering skill, she handled scouting and loot inspection.
"Ugh... I'm gonna rest a bit."
With Gisohee's confirmation ending the fight, the mage plopped down nearby. He was Lee Guho, the party's firepower, the only summoned human capable of strong offensive magic.
"I'll handle this one."
The man who stepped up to butcher the head-shot goblin was Jo Jaehun, a shield expert anchoring the party's defense.
"Then we'll take the last one."
Kim Hoon and Gu Cheolwoo, lacking special abilities and serving as sub-fighters and odd-jobbers, started dismantling the final goblin.
It had been ten days since the group tutorial began. Conflicts and disputes had arisen among the summoned, especially after the first leader died, splintering people into small groups for survival. This neutral Korean-only party maintained amicable ties with everyone.
They carved the meatiest parts from the three goblins and stuffed them into the leather bag Kim Hoon carried. Gisohee asked, "Lee Guho? You recovered?"
His mana was crucial, so he nodded.
"Good! Let's move again."
They needed more food. Slowly, they resumed goblin hunting.
By sunset, drenched in sweat and blood, Gisohee's party reached their camp. In a basin a short distance from the summoning cave stood a tent barely big enough for five. It was isolated from other groups, free of frequent monster spawns, and visually concealed by the terrain—safe.
"Whew..."
Everyone dropped their gear and collapsed. But Jo Jaehun checked the remaining water.
Not much left.
Glancing at the setting sun, he said urgently, "We should hit the cave before dark."
Groups avoided approaching each other at night after past ambushes—an unspoken rule. To secure drinking water safely, they had to go now.
Gisohee frowned slightly but said nothing. Quick-witted Kim Hoon pulled two blood-soaked goblin chunks from the bag.
"Hyungnim, come with me."
"Grab one more chunk."
"Huh?"
"Water costs three chunks now."
"What the fuck."
"Those bastards..."
"Fucking chinks... damn it!"
The others cursed the cave group. They were jacking up the price of the cave's natural spring water. Still, Jo Jaehun shrugged helplessly. "We'll be quick."
He grabbed the bag with Kim Hoon and headed out.
Ten minutes through the woods, the cave appeared—the tutorial start point, defensible, safe, with abundant groundwater.
But a battlefield too.
Dozens of fights over it had claimed over twenty lives. More died to humans than goblins here, most battles over this cave.
Changed hands how many times... now...
Three shirtless men guarded the entrance, potbellies exposed, bored expressions. Chinese summoned—the cave now controlled by a 40-strong group.
"Who goes there!"
A Chinese man brandished a wooden spear. Jo Jaehun approached slowly. "Siurin, it's Jo Jaehun."
"Oh, Jo! Long time. Here for water?"
Jo Jaehun opened the bag, revealing three goblin chunks.
"Just like we said."
Per their leader's orders, Siurin had hiked the price. Jo Jaehun paid without complaint.
This party's got something special.
Greedy for more, Siurin pocketed the meat. "Special today—three chunks for water. Next time, four."
"What?"
Kim Hoon bristled, but Jo Jaehun stopped him. "Fine. Water, then."
Siurin grinned and led them inside.
The cave had changed a lot in ten days.
"Ugh... the smell..."
Kim Hoon pinched his nose. Jo Jaehun caught the stench too—sweat, semen, blood.
Battle stains everywhere, human odors from heavy use... but the main culprit was...
"Haahk... Ah! Ah!"
Thud. Thud. Thud!
"Ah! Stop! Haahk... Ahk!"
"You fucking bitch. Spread 'em!"
"Y-yes. Haahk! Ha!!"
In a corner, a woman's moans echoed. Dozens of naked women serviced scores of men in a massive orgy. Most of the fishy reek came from there.
As the tutorial dragged on, society split into rulers and ruled. Rulers wielded water and food as weapons. Strong fighters secured grub; cave holders claimed the spring.
Oppressed by the cave group's tyranny, others formed parties and split off. The weak became the underclass, trading everything for scraps. Men gave labor; women, their bodies. They became the cave crew's sex toys.
Passing the "bedroom"—the orgy zone—to reach the water, Jo Jaehun and Kim Hoon saw it all.
"Haak... Haa."
A panting woman braced against the wall, legs trembling, white fluid dripping from her crotch post-fuck. Another man dropped his pants, erection ready, and approached.
"Please... just a little rest..."
Slap!
He smacked her ass hard. "Shut it, bitch!"
He thrust in roughly, pounding away.
Thud thud! Thud!
"Ah. Ahk! Ah!"
More men lined up behind. This repeated everywhere: ten-plus naked women against walls, men queuing to rape them in turn. Day and night, sating male lust for meager food and water... the survival of the weak-willed who wouldn't risk their lives.
As they passed, Kim Hoon whispered, startled. "Hyungnim. Look there!"
"Yeah? Oh..."
A pretty woman on all fours took it from behind.
"Haahk... Thank you! Ah!"
Moaning gratitude as she submitted. It was Shuran.
Former party mate with Jo Jaehun and Kim Hoon. A classic queen bee—seducing men, stirring conflict, leveraging looks despite no skills. She overplayed her hand, failed her harem management, splintered the fighters. Party dissolved.
Abandoned by all, she survived solo three days, then joined as a cave meat toilet.
"Th-thank you. Ah!!"
They passed bittersweetly, ignoring her ongoing thanks amid thrusts.
At the spring, they filled canteens and talked.
"Hyungnim, group's grown. More guys, more girls."
Indeed, fighters and sex slaves had multiplied.
"Even more depraved."
The women's status hit rock bottom. Youthened by summoning, battle violence amped libidos. Sex slaves ballooned; treatment devolved to fucktoys.
Siurin chimed in. "Best spot ever. Fresh pussy daily. Heh, join us?"
Jo Jaehun just smiled, no reply. Joining meant grunt hunting till death.
"Or next time, extra chunk. Pick any girl."
Kim Hoon swallowed hard but shook his head; Jo Jaehun too. Lust raged, but they clung to Earthling civility.
Back at camp with full canteens.
"You're back!"
Gu Cheolwoo, smoking goblin meat at the entrance, greeted them.
"Right on time. Dinner's almost ready."
Gisohee prepped simple fare. Lee Guho stirred from nap.
"Good trip? Dinner ready?"
Even mana-drained Lee Guho rose. The five ate.
"Tonight: karollan fruit, roasted grubs, mystery grass."
Gisohee's gathering skills shone. Gu Cheolwoo offered a green, rank-smelling chunk. "Goblin for whoever wants."
Lee Guho sighed at the stench. "Hah. Eating to survive."
He sliced and chewed. Others followed with goblin and sides.
They hadn't eaten goblin at first—rubbery, green, rank. No one touched it. But food was scarce: no berries for 100-plus, normal game tough. Easiest? Goblin meat from attackers.
After three hunger days, they broke.
"Quit whining."
Kim Hoon ribbed Lee Guho audibly. Reality: many starved without goblin.
"Yeah, goblins are thinning."
Gisohee's party found just seven today. Numbers dropped near the cave.
"Ten days left in tutorial..."
Shared worry: surviving the rest.
Silence fell. Jo Jaehun broke it. "Let's move to the valley."
Three hours from cave—clean water aplenty. But...
"Goblin central. Risky."
First leader died expanding there. Many casualties.
"But unless we join the cave... we need water. Valley's key."
Gisohee agreed. "Right. Water, non-goblin food abundant. We've grown strong enough."
Others nodded. Valley it was.
From afar, someone watched their dinner debate.
This party's the one.
Namgung Seojun lounged in a tree, snacking leisurely.