Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Goblin Slaughter and Gear Test
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The army clashed with the goblins four times over the course of the day. Roughly a thousand, then thirteen hundred, then eleven hundred, and another eleven hundred or so.
Not exact numbers, but that made about five thousand massacred.
A considerable achievement, but the soldiers were still far from hitting level 20.
‘Our side’s got numbers too, after all.’
Five thousand sounded like a lot, but we had 310 elite soldiers. In terms of experience points, it amounted to each one taking down just sixteen goblins.
‘Still, tomorrow at the latest. Day after that for sure.’
The sun had set before they knew it, and they set up camp. Amid the chill settling in the air, I summoned my close aides.
“Flower, how’s the healing going?”
“Yes, my lord. With healing magic, the difficulty of surgeries is incomparable to before.”
Flower, who had acquired the Priest (Rare) class, led a group of ten priests treating the soldiers after each battle.
They weren’t just ordinary folk handed a class and skill book. These were talents I had scouted from the former fourth-grade dragon vein holders of the [Garden of Tranquility]. Experts in surgical procedures rare even in this medieval land.
‘Not what I gathered them for, but... turning misfortune into fortune, I suppose?’
I thought that as I looked at Flower.
“What’s your level?”
“Level 13.”
I turned my head at her words.
“And you all?”
“Level 26.”
“Level 21.”
“Uh, I’m still only level 14...”
Steelstone, Hundred, and Smile in turn. I positioned Flower beside them and began my explanation.
“As you already know, I’ve pulled you out of the chain of command. Because you’ll be fighting outside the main unit from now on.”
Truth be told, I didn’t need to create the Thousand-Man Captain position. With around a thousand soldiers, the normal setup would be having the two knights each lead five hundred.
But I deliberately made the Thousand-Man Captain role and set the knights free to operate independently.
It was to ensure the army could execute operations smoothly even without knights or mages.
On top of that, I’d separated Flower from the other healers and formed a single party: [Steelstone, Hundred, Smile, Flower].
Because I had tasks for them to handle separately.
“We need to level up more. I told you—we have to clear that dungeon.”
The process of claiming a territory had two stages.
1. Clear the [Hell]-difficulty dungeon to receive the siege quest.
2. Win the siege battle with that guild.
Not every guild member had to clear the dungeon, but at minimum, the guild master did. Only the guild master could accept guild quests.
“That means we need to reach that level for it.”
“That’s not all. Select ninety-five more from the elites as well. We might have to do the siege with just a hundred.”
“...A siege with only a hundred men? Why reduce the numbers even further?”
Hundred voiced his doubt at the unreasonable situation, but there was no helping it.
‘A level 1 guild can’t accept more than a hundred members.’
To increase guild capacity, you needed to raise the guild level, and to raise the guild level, you needed guild experience points.
So how did you gain those guild experience points? Revenge players often thought, ‘It goes up by the experience points earned by guild members,’ but that wasn’t quite accurate.
‘It rises by the amount of Goddess’s Blessing consumed.’
In the game, it was no issue at all. Hunting in Revenge naturally consumed Goddess’s Blessing. Who in their right mind would hunt without it?
But Ardania was different. In this world, no one except me possessed Goddess’s Blessing.
No microtransactions, no feed—like push items—so everyone started fair and square at zero blessing points.
‘They auto-recharge up to 200 points in safe zones or while logged out... but there are no safe zones in this world yet. To level up the guild, we need at least one territory.’
I organized my thoughts.
There might be no limit on siege participants. With items unbound and critical hits, parries, and accuracy reduced to mere phenomena, nothing was guaranteed.
However.
“It’s not certain it’ll be that way. We just have to prepare for the possibility that the [rules] dominating that dungeon force it on us.”
“In that case... Understood.”
After he nodded and stepped back, I addressed the rest.
“Keep pushing battles like today. Goal is level 20 for the entire force. If problems arise or supplies run low, fall back to base and head out again—no issue.”
At my words, Steelstone asked.
“You plan to move alone, sir?”
“No need for me in these fights right now. Things to scout out too.”
“Won’t it be dangerous?”
“Dangerous.”
A chuckle escaped me.
I’d overcome orc warrior raids. Unlike the orc dungeon, where heroes popped on Hell difficulty, the goblin dungeon topped out at rares even on Hell.
And above all... I wasn’t the same person who’d fought that orc horde.
“You all don’t push too hard either. I’d like to see no changes in headcount when I return.”
With that, I opened the pet window.
[Steel Armored Rhinoceros Sting (Rare) is summoned!]
Thud thud!
From empty air appeared a rhinoceros covered head to toe in steel-forged scales. Its bulk rivaled a decent car.
“W-What, how does something like that appear from thin air...”
“Magic beast... no, beast? But it looks so ferocious, yet tame.”
“An incredible size. And steel-plated...”
Ignoring their astonished voices, I mounted Steel Armored Rhinoceros Sting. A saddle was already fitted, so no trouble settling in.
“But once more.”
I glanced back lightly, nudging Sting’s flank.
“No deaths.”
Thud! Thud thud! Rumble rumble rumble!
Sting accelerated in an instant, charging across the earth at ludicrous speed.
‘Rare-grade indeed. Nice.’
Pets in Revenge were commonly classified into three types. Buff types that boosted player stats or granted special abilities. Combat types that fought alongside the player. And mount types that carried the player.
The Steel Armored Rhinoceros Sting I rode straddled mount and combat types.
“Well, just barely combat... but how’s it in reality?”
In the game, mount pets ignored monsters and didn’t fight back...
But no beast existing in reality would fail to fight, no matter the mount type. Especially a rhino this viciously sized.
“Human! Human! Human comes alone!”
“Pounce! Topple him! Stab with spears!”
“Yeah! Right now! Block the front... Huh? Wha!?”
“Eeeek!”
Boom crash!
Sting never slowed, bulldozing the goblins blocking its path. Those impaled on its steel horn or crushed underfoot exploded into ruin.
A few leaped to cling to its flanks, of course.
[Critical hit!][Critical hit!]
I casually swung my sword, severing their necks.
‘No issues attacking from a pet mount at all.’
In Revenge, barring specific jobs, you couldn’t attack while mounted—a clear advantage now that game had become reality.
But there were penalties absent in Revenge too.
“Snort! Snort!”
After thirty minutes of dashing, Sting, which had steamrolled goblins so fiercely, began panting roughly.
“Let’s see... tired already. Well, sustaining that speed with this bulk, makes sense.”
In the game, it was different. Revenge had stamina, sure, but only for skills—basic attacks and movement didn’t consume it.
‘Who’d design an auto-hunt game where basics drain stamina? It’d never work.’
I patted Sting’s heaving back lightly, slowing our pace. I’d ridden horses plenty, but never a rhino—yet this one took to my commands like a natural.
“Human! Human stopped!”
“Huff huff... huff huff... Heads to human village! Kill it!”
“Steel beast too scary! Surround and block!”
“Call friends, friends!”
Shining silver Sting and I atop it drew eyes everywhere, so aggro was maxed.
“Let’s see... about two thousand?”
Surveying the surroundings, I swapped gear.
Flash!
Equipping from inventory slotted a helmet onto my head.
[Rough Might Mithril Helmet (Rare) +4].
Silver plate armor clad my formerly light garb.
[Rough Might Mithril Breastplate (Rare) +4], [Rough Might Mithril Leg Armor (Rare) +4], [Rough Might Mithril Gauntlets (Rare) +4], [Rough Might Mithril Boots (Rare) +4].
Full-body mithril plate covered me, triggering the set effect.
[Rough Might (Rare)]
20% of pure strength applied as buff.
“Armor! He’s armored up!”
“Poison needles won’t work!”
“Try throwing stones!”
The goblins encircling me roundly hurled rocks with shrieks.
Attacks I could dodge or deflect easily—but I just stood still, watching.
Clang! Thud!
Goblin throwing power was impressive for their size. Flinging fist-sized stones at 80-90 kph, a careless hit could smash a skull.
But.
“Wow, for real.”
Laughter bubbled up.
“Not even a tickle.”
Full-body plate I hadn’t obtained even as lord. Rare mithril gear draped over me—no impact at all.
Sure, stone barrages were attacks, accumulating minor shock.
‘Direct head hit and still no damage.’
Fear of diving solo into enemy ranks? Never there to begin with. Goblins weren’t my foes.
But confirming the armor’s performance...
This transcended fearlessness.
The battlefield.
Felt like home.
“Talk of gear carrying was endless, but this is insane...”
Amazed, I donned the rest.
[Sword of Conviction (Superior) +9].
My first +9 weapon.
[Rough Might Earrings (Rare) +6], [Runic Stone Earrings (Superior) +6], [Rough Might Necklace (Rare) +6], [Rough Might Ring (Rare) +6], [Ring of Stalwart Life (Rare) +6].
Accessories bought efficiently, balancing options and price.
[Bracelet of Valor (Heroic) +3], [Giant’s Bracelet (Rare) +3]. [Belt of Struggle (Heroic) +3].
And cash accessories outclassing even those.
Not even the end.
-Rooooar...
An aura rose behind me. The goblins couldn’t see it, but its mere presence granted ferocious spec boosts and potent buffs.
Wandering Troll (Guardian Spirit).
Never Die (Heroic). Level 11.
“Wow, my god.”
Standing still, taking incoming stones, I groaned.
Back when I’d geared a Heroic job with collection bonuses, I’d thought, ‘Ten past mes couldn’t take me.’
That was true.
Even without mana’s mysteries or enlightenments, humans could grow strong. Spec wasn’t negligible, and I wielded it fully.
And now, after spending ten million won in startup funds efficiently...
“Power creep, nuts.”
Even ten past mes couldn’t touch me.
Overwhelmingly.