Chapter 28
Chapter 28
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: True Detective
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Reunion in the Gnoll Fields
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I led my companions toward the source of the noise.
Of course, I didn't rush in just because I was curious about who our opponents were.
We had no idea what kind of people they were yet.
I didn't want to confront them without any information.
At least the grass around here is tall enough to our advantage.
The grass in the gnoll habitat varied in height.
Some reached up to the knees, while others were as tall as reed beds that could hide a person's body.
Fortunately, the direction we were heading had grass at reed-bed level.
We approached to a certain distance, then hid in the underbrush and silenced our footsteps.
"Fuck! These monsters are way too strong!"
"Who the hell said we should come here!?"
"Who cares about that right now!?"
"Kyaaah!"
Through the tall grass blocking our view, I spotted a group locked in fierce combat.
There were a whopping seven of them.
Considering four to five was the optimal team size, this was excessive.
"They brought every last headcount they could muster? Then why are they so weak?"
"Yeah. They even outnumber the gnolls."
Park Sang-gu and Yoon Ho-chan voiced the questions on my mind.
The seven-person group was struggling against just six gnolls.
Clang!
"Argh! My arm!"
"You idiot! Don't drop your shield!"
"It's, it's breaking through! Someone cover me!"
"Hold the line! If it breaks now, we're all dead!"
Their composition was six warriors and one mage.
It should've been a simple setup—one warrior per gnoll, with the mage providing support from the rear.
But absurdly, even the warriors were struggling in one-on-one fights with the gnolls.
"What level are they that they can't even handle a gnoll one-on-one?"
"Right? At level 9, they'd win no problem."
"No, it's not a level issue."
I chimed in as I observed the fight closely amid my companions' chatter.
"Their movements show they have zero combat skill. They panic every time an attack comes, like they've barely fought before."
"Huh? But to get here, they must've at least beaten hobgoblins, right?"
"They've probably been bulldozing through with sheer numbers so far. Now that the numbers are even, they're falling apart."
You could tell just from the mage's panicked state.
She was trembling, afraid to fire at allies even though she had spells left.
Not everyone was useless, though.
"You bastards! Shut up and fight, you worthless shits!"
Clang!
"Keheng!?"
A sharp woman's voice rang out, and one gnoll staggered back.
It was the female warrior on the far right among the pioneers.
Shield in one hand, mace in the other—a perfect combo.
The female warrior deftly blocked attacks and pressed the gnoll relentlessly.
Her attack power's lacking due to her level, but otherwise, she's flawless.
Her movements weren't polished from long practice.
She was purely compensating for technique and experience with raw instinct.
With enough experience and levels, she'd be several times stronger.
Anyway, thanks to the woman's heroics, victory seemed assured for the pioneers if things continued...
"Kyaaak!"
Thud!
"Argh! Aaaargh!"
...Like hell it was. One finally buckled and rolled on the ground.
As the front line crumbled, the mage panicked but managed to cast a spell.
"Ma-Magic Missile!"
Boom!
"Kyak!"
But perhaps due to her level, even a direct hit only staggered the gnoll briefly.
And that shot seemed to be her last; the mage's face paled.
Frustrated by her team's screw-up, the woman warrior gritted her teeth as she shoved back a gnoll.
"I told you to hold, and you still...!"
Her face came into clear view from an angle that had been obscured.
I flinched for a moment at the revealed features.
The woman charged to save her teammate after repelling the gnoll, but it was too late.
The gnoll's rusty sword swung down at the fallen warrior with a sinister grin.
"Black Missile."
Splat!
"...!?"
My spell blew the gnoll's head clean off.
Boosted by the magic power stat from hitting level 20, the impact was devastating.
With half its head gone, the gnoll toppled sideways into the grass.
"Wh-what?"
"Keeeng!"
"Hyung?"
Shocked exclamations came from three directions.
One from a human, one from a gnoll, and the last from my companion.
I shrugged as if to say I'd explain later, then stood up.
The startled pioneers gaped at me.
"Who...!"
"Cursed Lightning."
Crackle-crackle-bzzzt!
"Keeeheeeek!"
"Kyaaaaak!"
Before words could form, spells erupted from my hand.
The five remaining gnolls, struck by purple lightning, screamed and collapsed on the spot.
Everyone's eyes bulged as the gnolls they'd barely held off died in one shot.
I stepped forward, dusted off my hands, and looked at the female warrior.
"Long time no see, Ha-eun."
"Jong-min...?"
The woman who'd smashed goblin skulls on the first day of the apocalypse blinked blankly.
"Kim Jong-min here. Leader of this team."
"...Jin Jong-su."
Stepping forward instead of Yoo Ha-eun was a man who looked five or six years older than me.
He introduced himself with a distinctly displeased expression.
For some reason, he didn't seem to like me.
Pretending ignorance, I put on an innocent face and asked.
"Anyway, how did you end up in gnoll territory? You don't look like you've even hit level 10 yet."
"So you're level 10, huh?"
His probing tone was so obvious it only made me chuckle.
I shrugged lightly.
"No, level 20."
"What? Say that again?"
"Level 20. My companions here are all level 19."
"What the fuck!"
Jin Jong-su spat curses, his eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and shock.
"Is that for real? You're not lying?"
"Why would we lie about that?"
"Well..."
He hesitated, glancing back.
Yoo Ha-eun, catching his eye, scowled deeply.
Aha, got the hots for the rice pot, huh.
Before I could respond, Park Sang-gu slammed his mace into the ground.
Thud!
"This prick's been talking shit from the start. Attitude's all wrong too. Wonder if a smack to the head would fix him?"
The impact made the ground rumble, startling everyone—thanks to the strength stat from level 19.
"Sang-gu, don't butt in when I'm talking."
"This guy's been pissing me off nonstop. Hyung saves their asses, and not even a thanks?"
"They were literally on the brink of death. People forget manners when they're out of it."
Yeah, when your head's spinning, even basic courtesy slips.
I reined in Park Sang-gu while lacing my words with subtle barbs.
Only then did Jin Jong-su pale and bow his head.
"S-sorry. Come to think of it, I didn't thank you. You saved our lives. Truly grateful."
Look at that quick pivot.
Bends like a reed the moment there's a threat.
He'd been cocky even after seeing my power earlier.
A few exchanges, and his personality was crystal clear.
I nodded, keeping my smile.
"It's fine. Like I said, it happens when you're rattled. Better late than never."
"Uh? Oh, y-yes."
My pointed words made him shrink further.
Figures—he judges by strength, but personality too.
Types like him rampage more if they think you're too nice to fight back.
How did a sorry excuse like this become their rep?
"Anyway, where'd you all come from? I thought we were the only ones around here."
"Th-that's... it's a bit hard to say..."
"We came from the forest path back there. Honestly, we're the shocked ones. We thought the next safe zone was way farther."
"Ha-eun!"
Yoo Ha-eun spoke up, and Jin Jong-su barked at her.
But she scowled even harder.
"Jin Jong-su, how many times have I said not to use my name? I told you to speak casually.
With 'ssi' attached."
"Hey, I'm older than you. What's your problem?"
"Age or no age, I said I hate it! Who said you could drop honorifics!?"
Her sharp retort made him flinch.
Yoo Ha-eun glared at him with utter contempt.
"And stop pretending to be a big shot when you can't even negotiate. It's pathetic watching you cling to your worthless pride when you don't have the guts to back it up."
"...!"
"Above all."
She jerked her chin toward their comrades.
"You think they still see you as leader? After dragging everyone to the edge of death? The fact you assume you still have a say is impressive."
"What?"
"Don't get it? Look behind you."
Enthralled, Jin Jong-su turned.
He jolted at the cold stares pouring from all sides.
A chill emanated from his comrades' eyes.
"Got it now? You're not our leader anymore."
"Ha-eun, you can't just decide that on your—!"
"I can. Everyone else agrees—except you."
Yoo Ha-eun pointed coldly behind her.
"Get lost. I'll handle the rest."
"Y-you...!"
Jin Jong-su's face flushed beet red, like it might explode.
He couldn't accept the tide had turned.
Just as a yell was about to erupt, I spoke.
"Jong-su."
"I'm busy now—talk later!"
"Step back."
"I said later... Huh?"
"I said step back. Ha-eun seems easier to talk to."
Not expecting me to join in, he stared blankly.
When he stayed silent, I pointed at him like I might cast a spell any second.
Finally grasping the gravity, he bolted inside in a panic.
Yoo Ha-eun watched him pitifully, then smiled at me.
"Long time no see, Jong-min."
"Yeah. Met sooner than I thought."
"Twice in this world, and still so formal? Drop it. I'll call you oppa."
Shed told him off for casual speech earlier.
"Still, manners matter, and we don't know ages."
"I'm twenty-six. Not older than you, right?"
Just a year younger—close enough.
No point refusing further, I nodded.
"Alright, got it. Casual from now on."
"Perfect. Sounds way better."
With honorifics settled, Yoo Ha-eun clapped and looked at me.
"Like I said, we came from over there. Straight ahead is our safe zone."
"Hobgoblins in those woods?"
"Yeah. What about where you came from?"
"Same deal—woods, then our safe zone."
Straight info exchange flowed naturally between us.
Unlike that idiot's clumsy haggling.
Quests were identical across the board.
Some completed, some failed.
Leaders recently elected.
But that's where stories diverged sharply.
"You're not the new leader?"
"Was a candidate, but lost. No votes."
"Pure vote? Unreal."
Yoo Ha-eun gaped like she'd experienced culture shock.
I explained the full situation while at it.
Seo Chang-woo won, but nothing functioned properly.
No commoners stepping up aggressively.
Leading to mockery from other factions.
Once done, she rubbed her dry face.
"Can't believe it. That peaceful?"
"Tense, but yeah."
"No way. Absolutely no way."
"How's yours? Their vibe seemed pretty rough."
She gave a wry smile.
"This place is hell."