Chapter 48: Dungeon-bound
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 48: Dungeon-bound
I slowly began to open my eyes. I was back in the Green Goblin Clan's village, having returned after the battle. Beside me, Jung Hayeon was sleeping with a strangely pleasant expression on her face.
Only three days had passed since the battle in the pit. Despite that, the aftereffects still lingered in my body. I had collapsed immediately upon returning to the village, and it was only after waking up that I heard from Mev how things had concluded. I slowly began to recall the memory.
“That fat human you were fighting is dead. I think that woman killed him. The other humans were collecting the body, so I couldn't get any closer.”
“....................”
“To think she'd run off without a word after we helped her so much. You really can't trust humans. Be careful. That woman you're mating with was originally human, too.”
She even whispered the last part, referring to Jung Hayeon, but there was no way Jung Hayeon hadn't heard her. When Jung Hayeon shot Mev a glare, Mev simply left the tent with a brazen look, as if to say she'd only spoken her mind.
Mev didn't have any particular ill will toward Choi Seulgi, but it seemed this incident had soured her opinion a little. It wasn't so much jealousy as the feeling of a pet running away, ungrateful for the kindness it was shown.
Still, I could understand why Choi Seulgi left without a word. Choi Seulgi, who doesn't know I regressed, probably moved to another city for her revenge or some other purpose. I figured she wouldn't have had the time—or the face—to say goodbye.
Come to think of it, Choi Seulgi had been counting on our Blood Dagger Clan. From our perspective, giving battle-loving Green Skins such an opportunity wasn't bad, but from her perspective, it was no different from setting a trap that could make us clash with the Red Cross Clan.
She couldn't have been certain a battle would break out just by calling us to a cave where a "gift" was waiting. She was probably half-relying on luck. If she had truly wanted to trap the Blood Dagger Clan, she would have leaked our exact location to them. Instead, Choi Seulgi waited for us to ‘discover’ them first.
‘Clever.’
She's the same as in the past. Still just as clever.
Choi Seulgi's ultimate target is probably the Sword Saint. In the coming era of warring states a few years from now, the cities will be in constant conflict, so it's hard to predict where she might have gone, but she most likely settled in the North.
After all, no matter what anyone says, it was the ‘North’ that dealt the greatest blow to the Sword Saint.
I put aside my worries about Choi Seulgi. It wasn't that I didn't think of her, but I knew we could meet anytime if we set our minds to it. Our goals are perfectly aligned. She must grow stronger in the embrace of humans, and I in the embrace of monsters. Choi Seulgi is important, but right now, my own situation is urgent.
‘I have to get stronger.’
For Choi Seulgi, for myself, and furthermore, for all my clan members, I must become stronger. I didn't lose to Lee Youngdon. It would be more accurate to say I won. Nevertheless, that doesn't erase the sin of collapsing from exhaustion in the middle of the battlefield.
I almost got everyone, including myself, killed.
No, before that, if I hadn't awakened my Unique Ability, or if Lee Youngdon hadn't fled, I might have been the one to lose.
‘Still not enough.’
Perhaps because of these useless thoughts right after waking, my body began to heat up again. As I gently pushed aside Jung Hayeon, who was clinging to me, to get up, she suddenly started rubbing her eyes. My attempt to go outside had unintentionally woken her up.
“Mmm... You're awake?”
“Go back to sleep.”
“No, it's fine.”
Jung Hayeon had brightened up considerably after confirming that Choi Seulgi was completely gone. It seemed she'd really considered her a thorn in her side. I didn't bother stopping Jung Hayeon, even though I knew Choi Seulgi had also regressed. For one, my relationship with Choi Seulgi was very simple. But more importantly, this battle made me realize that Jung Hayeon had truly become indispensable to the Blood Dagger Clan.
She depends on me, relies on me. Considering her potential for growth, it's only natural to look after her. Not only is she necessary for my goals, but a magician of her caliber is an extremely valuable asset right now.
In any case, I pushed the Alraune Jung Hayeon, who was trying to get up with me, back down. If she got up now, it would just be more of a hassle.
I picked up my greatsword, the ‘Greatsword Too Large to be a Sword,’ the ‘Weapon-Breaking Longsword,’ and finally, the weapon Lee Youngdon had used, and headed outside.
My body felt hot, so I felt the urge to swing a sword.
Once outside, I quietly found a spot. Naturally, the first thing I did was examine the weapon I'd taken from that bastard.
[Broad Magic Longsword]
[A magic longsword that facilitates the smooth infusion of mana. It is a standard-issue weapon for ancient warriors, but its performance is exceptional for a standard-issue item.]
[Mana +1]
“Nice.”
The word escaped my lips before I knew it. Weapons with bonus stats aren't common. Only then did I understand how that bastard Lee Youngdon had been able to maintain his Unique Ability for so long. He had benefited greatly from this item's effect of making mana flow more smoothly, even more so than from the Mana +1 stat itself.
It was the perfect item for a brute like him, a strength-based warrior.
He most likely either went through hell to get it or saved up points to buy it.
I gave it a swing. It was lighter than my greatsword, but it felt good in my hands. A hefty weapon, somewhere between the longsword and greatsword I already owned. In fact, being shorter than my other blades, it seemed specialized for delivering more powerful blows. And since I could easily imbue it with mana, it was only natural that it could produce even greater force.
If my greatsword was used to pressure enemies from long range, this one would cover the mid-range.
And then there was the one thing I couldn't overlook: my Unique Ability.
[Weapon Switch]
[Switches between held weapons. For a certain period after switching, attacks made with the new weapon have an increased chance of inflicting a critical wound.]
“Hngh…”
At first glance, it didn't seem bad, but it was lacking something to be considered truly exceptional. It was heartbreaking that it wasn't the kind of Unique Ability that could turn a flash of light into a stun grenade, completely ignore defense, or endlessly draw out holy power like the Sword Saint's.
If I had to rate it among the countless abilities out there, it would be ‘average’ at best, or perhaps even below. But this ‘critical hit’ aspect is genuinely useful. The feeling of an attack that shouldn't have landed connecting solidly—I still couldn't forget it.
Looking back, it felt like it brought new vitality to my body. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say I'd swung my sword recklessly, wanting to land just one more hit.
‘For now, I'll use it.’
Unique Abilities can evolve, or you can even buy them from the Item Shop if you save up enough points. If anything, obtaining an overly exceptional ability might slow down my own growth. Nodding to myself, I began to swing the sword again, and soon, morning dawned once more.
As soon as morning broke, the Green Goblin came to see me, as expected. He had come to consult with me about our affairs, in addition to our usual training.
“Blood Dagger.”
“Green Goblin.”
“Kkireuk. I heard the news of your victory in the honorable battle. Even our Hobgoblins expected you to lose, but as expected, Blood Dagger is incredible. Kkireuk. Kkireuk.”
“I was just lucky.”
It was just as I said. It was a battle that could only be described as truly lucky.
“Luck is also a skill, Blood Dagger. To think you gained an ability in less than three years. Some of our goblins still haven't awakened one.”
“Is that so... Krrrr...”
It was good news, but I couldn't just smile about it, so I began to explain my new ability to him. His expression was neither good nor bad. In fact, he watched me with a look of amusement.
“It's good.”
“...?”
“Is it not a good ability? To gain a power that allows you to fight while trusting in your own body.”
He seemed drunk on the Green Skin way of thinking. Just when I decided there was no point in talking to him further, he spoke again.
“That's not all, Blood Dagger. Kkireuk. This dagger I'm holding. Can you take a look?”
At his words, I slowly looked at the dagger.
[Rusty Ancient Dagger]
[The dagger used by the legendary goblin assassin, Grich. Miraculously, though it has rusted, it has not lost its sharpness. Increases the chance to poison an enemy struck by the blade. Increases the chance for an enemy to contract a disease.]
[Mana +1, Vitality +1, Agility +5]
‘Shit...’
To be honest, it was ridiculously good. Of course, it couldn't compare to the Sword Saint's blade, but it was clearly a top-tier item. The Agility +5, in particular, was absolutely overwhelming. I had never seen an item that raised a stat by that much.
If you added this item to the Green Goblin's natural speed, I couldn't even imagine how fast he would become. But seeing his item, I couldn't help but realize why he'd said my Unique Ability was good.
‘It’s all about the gear.’
It was funny, but he was telling me to arm myself with items. Seeing my expression, the Green Goblin began to laugh quietly.
“A dagger I acquired from the shop prepared by the God of the Battlefield. Kkireuk. Kkireuk. Do you understand what I mean?”
I nodded without a word. I wasn't sure if what he was thinking and what I was thinking were exactly the same, but it seemed clear he was telling me to arm myself with good items.
Take the Queen of the North or the Green Goblin, for example. For them, carrying a bunch of items on their backs would be ‘inconvenient.’ It would only hinder their movements. Even if the items raised their stats, unused weapons hanging off them would be anything but comfortable.
Of course, stat increases are important, but what's more important is the fight itself. However, my case is a little different from theirs.
For someone like me, whose fighting style already involves using numerous items, weapon variety and quantity are absolutely indispensable. The more special weapons I have, the better, and I can use them to confuse future enemies.
Some might say, ‘Aren't you just fighting with the same kind of swords? Isn't swinging them all the same?’ But the advantage of the Unique Ability ‘Weapon Switch’ is that it allows me to control the distance between myself and my opponent, which makes it an excellent ability.
Greatswords, medium swords, longswords, daggers, and other weapons I'll add in the future—each will surely have its own distinct characteristics. Furthermore, if I collect items with additional effects like disease or poison, like his dagger, I can sow even more confusion.
I'll make up for my lacking physical abilities with stat-boosting equipment and utilize my weapons to the fullest.
It's funny, but it's a fighting style and a method of growth that perfectly suits the nickname humans gave me: ‘Weapon Merchant.’