Severed Arm and Midnight Execution
A savagely torn-off arm hanging from a tree. Yet the area around it was eerily calm, as if no battle had ever taken place.
"That emblem... Knights' Order?"
There was a small crest on the shoulder of the dangling arm—a blue bird with wings spread wide. The emblem of Baron Howard's Knights' Order. And right now... the Dan-gun raid team had been assigned that very role in the dungeon.
The owner of that arm was one of Dan-gun's raiders.
"...On the cliff above, huh."
I'd been too focused on the bizarre surroundings to notice right away, but there was a commotion coming from near the goblin lair. The severed arm must've fallen from up there.
"So much for my accident-free streak."
Why does every glimmer of hope for something good always have to shatter? Sighing at the mess already unfolding, I headed up the cliff.
By the time I climbed the mountain path to the top of the cliff and reached the goblin lair, it was absolute chaos. Pure pandemonium.
"Merchant slash incoming! Dodge!!"
"Parry the next attack and prep counter!"
"Someone, healing skill here! Yerin's bleeding won't stop!"
"My mana ran dry ages ago—what healing?!"
Blood splattered across the ground, metal clashing violently, screams piercing through the relentless downpour. A massive goblin wielding a greatsword was tangled in combat with the Dan-gun raid team.
Lucky for me, I was hidden in the nearby bushes. Getting caught in that would've left me without even bones to pick.
Can't just stand here gawking—they need an opening, even if it's just for a second...
From the looks of it, this was an evolved Goblin Lord, way stronger than I'd imagined. Each swing of that greatsword sent gusts of wind pressure rippling all the way here. But I couldn't just watch.
"Tankers! Block that attack!!"
"We're at our limit too!"
One glance told me Dan-gun was getting pushed back hard by the Goblin Lord.
Of course, I wasn't unprepared for something like this.
Already loaded. Just need to fire.
You think I'd enter a dungeon without a weapon? Back when I did my rank test, I'd gotten an Association-issued original training pistol—the real deal, a monster-hunting revolver. Official name was K&M Magnum, I think? Whatever. Point was, I had an ace up my sleeve.
The problem? Whether I'd hit or not.
One shot, one kill.
It had a silencer, but this was a hunter-enhanced gun—recoil and report were no joke. Joining Dan-gun directly? No way, not with the Goblin Lord in between. Miss, and I'd be dead.
But death? I'd experienced it plenty. Not scary at all.
...Total bullshit. My legs were shaking like a leaf right now, scared shitless.
Please just die clean...
*Click.* I poured mana into the hefty metal lump in my hand, sighting down on the Goblin Lord. To end it in one hit, I slammed in every drop of mana I had. The air around me chilled, temperature plummeting as I condensed icy cold into the bullet. Finger on the trigger.
Bang—!
The recoil nearly snapped my wrist. The bullet screamed toward the Goblin Lord.
"Kieeeek!!"
Direct hit. It punched a neat little hole right through its chest.
"Kurrrghaaak!!"
"Fuck, why won't it die!!"
Problem: the Goblin Lord didn't drop dead.
The shot landed perfectly, but I'd overlooked something.
"Kuhek, krkhek!!"
"What the—gold?!"
Some special specimen, maybe? Suddenly, it yanked gold coins from its pouch and started chewing them, hauling itself back up.
Judging by the vibe, it had a skill that healed by scarfing gold. What a random-ass twist.
What is this, a treasure goblin?!
Everyone knew goblins loved gold, but not like this.
Thankfully, the amount was small—not a full recovery. In its death throes, it charged straight toward the gunshot.
Straight at me.
"You crazy bastard!"
I wanted to plant a second bullet in its face, but no dice. Revolver was loaded, but aiming and mana-charging took time.
"It's fleeing! Chase it!"
"Warriors first—it's dangerous!"
Worse, Dan-gun was in full defensive formation—no help there. I tried lining up a minimal-mana shot at its head, but...
My hand...!
Recoil from the overcharged mana shot had slowed my right hand to a crawl. No choice—switched to my left. But no confidence hitting with my off-hand.
"Kieee!!"
Ignoring my plight, the Goblin Lord closed in fast. Evolved body specs were insane.
But brains? Not so much.
"You should've watched your damn feet."
"Ki-ek?"
As the distance shrank to under a meter, it suddenly slipped—like sliding on black ice. Comically.
"Trap, dumbass."
When the first shot failed to kill, I'd iced the rain-soaked mud to buy time. A half-assed "whatever happens" trap, but the idiot ate it up.
"Kieeeek!!!"
Of course, ice wouldn't kill it outright, but...
Bang—!
It bought me enough time to pump a bullet into it. Point-blank, under a meter—headshot, obviously.
"Grk..."
"Fucking dies ugly."
With that, the Goblin Lord sprayed blood and guts everywhere in its final spasm.
The raid on the C-rank dungeon, Green Devil's Lair, had come to a close.
The cause of the incident inside was simple: Kim Minho, never fully trusting me to the end, had fed the team fake clear times. As expected, he'd bolted overseas, leaving his raiders like lost chicks.
"B-rank longsword destroyed?"
"Yes. This was my entire savings—what do I do...?"
"If repairs are possible, the Association can cover part of the cost. Check the relevant programs."
"Got it..."
Poor guy shuffling off with his broken sword, but he was on the better end of things.
"Senior, damage tally's done."
"Lay it out."
"Monetary loss: 230 million won. Injured: 11. And... one fatality."
Gear shattered left and right, tons injured, one raider dead. Word was, before I arrived, the Goblin Lord's greatsword had split his side open. Healer out of mana—no golden hour save. Tragic.
"Also... one Dan-gun guild member requested an Association interview."
"Roger. Let's go see them now."
And today: the interview with the deceased's teammate—and lover.
Heavy-hearted, I opened the interview room door with my senior. A somewhat familiar face greeted us.
"...Hello."
"Nice to meet you, Hunter Kim Ye-seo."
The woman who'd lent me her tie.
"Injuries healing up okay?"
"Haha... Association heals work wonders."
C-rank mage Kim Ye-seo. Youngest on Dan-gun's raid team, fresh out of newbie hell. This mess must've rocked her world.
"So, what brings you to the Association?"
"Just... something I wanted to ask."
But she launched in calmly, no complaints.
"I didn't know at the time, but raid leader pushed too hard."
"That's correct."
"Lots of people got hurt because of it."
"..."
Not blaming the Association, not dodging her own fault.
"If I'd caught on to the raid leader's plan, could I have stopped it?"
She was blaming herself.
Even though it wasn't her responsibility. Clear victim, yet she thought that way.
"Not your fault, Hunter Kim Ye-seo. Blame lies with the Association for this incident..."
"But... I could've stopped it, right?"
Not her fault, but she could've. If she'd sniffed out the plan early, convinced the team, swept goblins fast.
Impossible for her, clueless as she was—but she pinned it on herself like an idiot.
"Just... had to get that off my chest."
"..."
"Haha... sorry for wasting your busy time. I'll head out."
She stood to leave, and I couldn't muster a word.
Why? No clue. Words just wouldn't come.
"Oh, keep the tie. I don't use it much anyway."
With that, she left the Association.
An awakener has died.
Loading saved points.
You have looped!
Work at the Association wrapped up, looping me back to right after entering the dungeon.
With the raid info now public, I could steer things more favorably. That's what I was working on now.
"Milady. Calling me here in the dead of night... what is it?"
Day 1 in the dungeon, nighttime. I'd summoned the family butler to my room.
"Being alone with you like this could spark rumors. Get to the point."
Per Dan-gun's prior loop record broadcast, this guy was one of the cultists running the ritual. Weakest of the bunch, doubling as the Baron's head butler and info-leaking spy.
But trusted deeply by the estate folk, so handling him needed care.
Tell Baron Howard, gather spy evidence bit by bit? Time sink, and boring as hell—not a regressor's style.
"Butler."
"Yes, miss?"
"Just die."
Bang—!
Clean mana-infused shot to the heart.
The butler's face twisted in agony.
"Guhk...! What the—?"
"Sneaking into a lady's room at night? Clearly impure intentions."
"You called me...!!"
He yelled his innocence, but who listens to a vile cultist? I tuned it out, drilled a few more holes in his chest. He croaked and slumped lifelessly.
"Be good next life."
Next day, the Baron estate was in uproar over the butler's attempted assault on the wicked young lady.
All fabricated bullshit, sure—he'd feel wronged. But corpses don't talk.