Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Iron Rank Adventurer Reti (2)
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Near Oakwood lay a beginner dungeon called the Glowing Cave.
As soon as we hopped off the carriage and stepped into the entrance, it was immediately clear why it had that name.
"Whoa... it's so pretty."
Sena's eyes sparkled in awe.
Enormous stalactites hanging from the ceiling emitted a soft blue glow, like LED lights.
The cave was bright as day—no need for torches.
It was a mystical sight, but the atmosphere was anything but.
"Out of the way! Coming through!"
"Looking for a party! Healer needed!"
"Mana stones for sale! Freshly mined, nice and hot!"
The first underground floor was a total marketplace.
Rookie adventurers swarmed the place, fighting over single slimes.
In one corner, street vendors had already set up shop, hawking potions and snacks. It was ridiculous.
At this rate, it felt less like a dungeon and more like a theme park.
"Too many people..."
Sena drooped her ears, looking fed up.
More humans than monsters.
Any decent mana stones or herbs had already been swept clean by the locust horde.
"Let's head deeper. The second floor should have fewer people."
"Yeah, got it."
We wove through the crowd and pressed on.
The passage to the second underground floor was narrow and steep.
The blue light faded as we descended.
A chill breeze brushed our skin.
No sign of other people.
"Hey, Reti, why do you think monsters spawn anyway?"
Sena fiddled with her short sword hilt as she asked.
"Dunno. Mana clumping together? Or some kind of ecosystem?"
"Our church teaches that they're manifestations of the world's evil. So hunting them is a sacred purification rite."
Sena drew a holy symbol with a serious expression.
"They're bad things that torment people, so we have to wipe them all out! In the name of justice!"
"Sure, sure. Justice is great, but let's focus on making a living first."
Innocent or just well-indoctrinated?
Either way, that sense of duty meant she wouldn't cut and run in a fight. Reassuring.
That was when it happened.
"Kirik!"
A familiar, grating cackle echoed from the darkness.
I stopped dead and grabbed Sena's shoulder.
Ten meters ahead. Shadows behind the rocks.
Goblins.
Five in total.
They shuffled toward us with rusty clubs and daggers, eyes gleaming with greed.
They hadn't spotted us yet.
"Sena, ready?"
"Yeah!"
Sena nodded briskly and pulled a round shield from her back.
It was wooden, rimmed with iron, almost as big as she was.
How did she even carry that thing? Guess ratkin had some serious strength.
"Eyes front! Hearth Goddess, grant your fiery blessing!"
Sena chanted a brief prayer and drew her short sword.
Whoosh! Red flames erupted along the blade.
"Magic?"
"Magic? This is the goddess's holy blessing!"
A flaming sword in the dark!
One thing was certain.
Cool as hell.
"Whoa..."
I loaded my crossbow, murmuring under my breath so Sena wouldn't hear.
'Lord, can I get one of those? Fire sword—total fantasy dream.'
[Ahem! Playing with fire gets you wet pants! And us rats are supposed to fear fire!]
Rodentia cleared her throat dramatically and dodged the question.
Yeah, wasn't expecting much anyway.
"I'll shoot first—the one with the big club!"
I held my breath and aimed.
Stock snug against my shoulder.
Through the wire sights, the lead goblin's forehead.
Hold breath. Squeeze the trigger.
The instant it raised its club.
Thung!
The dull vibration thrummed as the bolt flew.
It sliced the dark and nailed the goblin right in the forehead.
Guh!
It toppled backward without a scream.
The other four panicked, shrieking as they flailed.
"Now!"
Sena charged, shield first.
Incredible momentum from such a small frame.
Bam!
One goblin took a shield bash straight on and flew back.
Sena swung her flaming sword.
"In the goddess's name! I purge evil!"
Flames carved a red arc through the air.
Two goblins ignited, howling.
They panicked in the blaze, trying to flee.
'Nice fighting.'
I couldn't lag behind.
Quick reload—foot stirrup, crank the string.
Three seconds.
Bolt into the back of a fleeing one.
Pfook!
Sena finished the last.
Battle over in a flash.
We smoothly harvested goblin ears as proof.
Guild paid a few coppers each.
Checked their pouches too.
Just rotten teeth and pebbles.
"Poor as dirt, as expected."
"Look at this, Reti! Mana stone beetles!"
Sena pointed to rock crevices.
Big beetles crawled, glowing faint blue.
Mana stones inside those shells.
We smashed them gleefully.
No aggression—just stab and bash.
Crunch!
Had to hunt some down, but no worries.
"Come out, Horned Rat!"
My call summoned the blessed Horned Rat.
It squeaked, scampered, and led us to more beetles.
Sena's eyes went wide.
"Whoa! Horned mouse? Like a unicorn! So cute! Your summon?"
"Yep. Gift from my goddess."
"Goddess?"
Sena tilted her head.
"Yeah, goddess of us ratkin."
Time to rack up some converts.
"Ratkin have a goddess? We learned beastkin don't have racial gods."
"Nah, we do. Lord of the Hamster Wheel—super great one."
I pitched shamelessly.
"Goddess of rodent prosperity and tech. Wanna try? Pray and get blessings. Good food too."
"Hmm... heresy?"
"Huh?"
Sena eyed me suspiciously.
"Ratkin god? Monastery taught all about gods and their words—no mention. Possessed by a demon?"
She advanced slowly, fire sword ready.
Chills down my spine.
'Wait, this could go heresy cult real quick.'
Gods were real here—tread carefully.
Tension peaked, then Sena lowered her sword.
"Eh, doesn't feel evil!"
Phew, relief.
"Reti! Might just be a spirit you believe in!"
"Spirit?"
"Yeah! That horned rat too—no dark magic. But spirit worship isn't proper faith! Let me teach you the right way!"
Right, she was clergy too.
Tried to proselytize a priestess—got evangelized instead.
We kept hunting amid Sena's cheerful preaching.
"Beastkin aren't so different from regular humans! That's why the Pantheon Temple's chief gods are ours too!"
"What about dwarves or elves?"
"They've got their own lesser gods—smaller scale!"
Apparently, ratkin were too small, weak, and scattered for a proper faith system.
Most followed human gods or folk beliefs.
"So, Lord of the Hamster Wheel? Probably mistaking a spirit. Pray to the real chief gods later!"
"Ah, okay..."
Almost got converted myself.
[Oh woe! My descendant prays to some spinster hag!]
Rodentia wailed, rolling in her wheel.
[My children forgot me! What happened while I slept?! Preach my greatness to her! Quick! Squeak!]
Absence makes the heart grow absent.
Anyway, over ten mana stones collected.
Sun setting—time to head out.
Urgent quests could wait.
We hummed heading up.
Then the mood shifted.
Thoom!
Ground shook.
Screams and shouts from above.
"Hold the line! Front row, maintain formation!"
"No way! Too big! Shield's busted!"
Bloody adventurers fled down.
Chased by a massive shadow!
Double the size of a normal goblin. Lumpy muscles, iron club.
"Hobgoblin!"
Sena screamed.
"Hobgoblin?"
"Iron-rank parties can't handle it! Run!"
[Hobgoblin! Apostle, flee!]
Even Rodentia warning.
Bronze-rank minimum—probably higher.
No sooner said...
It swung—lead warrior's shield crumpled like paper.
"Gaaargh!"
Warrior spat blood, flew.
Its bloodshot eyes locked on us.
Killing intent poured out.
"Run!"
I grabbed Sena's hand, bolted back.
Fight? Hell no.
Survive first.
Goblin pack joined—chaos.
We weren't alone anymore.
"Gyaah! I'm still Iron-rank!"
"Run! Getting caught is bad news!"
Horde of adventurers fleeing the passage.
I fired backward while running.
"Die!"
Thung!
Bolt hit hobgoblin's shoulder—it snorted, charged faster.
Won't stop it with this crossbow?
"Just run! Up ahead, it'll narrow!"
Then...
Someone charged from the entrance passage.
"Move, rookies!"
Thunderous roar.
A hulking bald man brushed past.
His party followed.
He met the hobgoblin head-on with a massive mace.
Clang!
Sparks flew from club and mace.
Raw power clash.
Hobgoblin recoiled.
Overwhelming physique.
"Ooh..."
Sena and I gawked.
But the hobgoblin was no pushover.
Thud! Boom!
Mace and club traded blows endlessly.
It roared, charged again.
"Grraa!"
Thud!
Another clash—weapons locked in a test of strength.
The bald man grinned.
"Bye, loser!"
His free hand dipped to a belt pouch.
Short, stubby iron rod.
Pressed to hobgoblin's chest.
Boom!
Ear-splitting blast.
Cave shook.
White smoke billowed between them.
Acrid smell hit—déjà vu.
'Wait, this scent...?'
While tracing it, fight ended.
Hobgoblin collapsed, fist-sized hole blasted in chest.
"Gr... grrk..."
Dropped without a scream.
Thud!
"...Whoa."
That smell. That scene.
A gun.
Undeniable firearm.
'Musket!'
The man kicked the corpse.
"Rookies, handle the small fry!"
Party swarmed, massacring goblins.
One-sided slaughter.
Silver badge gleamed on his chest.
"Silver-rank adventurers!"
Sena cheered.
Silver-rank. Different league.
But what caught my eye was the gun.
'Guns in this world.'
Other adventurers' reactions and party members suggested it wasn't ultra-rare.
[Apostle! Did you see?!]
Rodentia bounced in her wheel.
[That boom-stick! Insane power! Thunderclap and dead!]
"Yeah. It's a gun."
[Gun? That's its name? Anyway, we need one! With that, my holy relic's easy!]
Her eyes glittered greedily.
[Arm our rodent kin! Conquer the world! Oooh!]
Intriguing to me too.
Then unease crept in.
'Powerful weapon like that—why swords and bows everywhere?'
Must be a reason. Costly, maybe.
Crisis averted anyway.
We trailed the adventurers out safely.