Blitzing the Goblin Plains

Tower climb begins.

As my master had said, clearing the floors wasn't difficult for me at all.

I knew that swinging a sword required advanced technique.

But thanks to mana, my arm ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠strength had grown, and the blade's cutting power was so sharp that the goblins shredded apart in an instant.

The next floor was the same. There were more goblins, but slicing them down was still no challenge.

My master was right.

Climbing the floors with my current skill was no big deal, and racking up EXP to level up was easy too.

"Bring out the fresh meat!"

Of course, as I ascended, the number of goblins increased, and so did their intelligence. The ones on floor 3 spoke clearly, unlike the first batches.

But they still charged mindlessly, and cutting them down was effortless.

That said, controlling the sword's reach is key.

Swinging the sword a few times revealed a few things. The longsword's range was shorter than I'd ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thought, so I sometimes missed. Just flailing my arm wasted more energy and tired out my muscles.

Fixing those flaws made it even easier.

Twisting from the hips and waist together is more efficient.

Did I need to understand muscle positioning? ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I wasn't an expert in swordsmanship, but rotational power seemed crucial. It saved strength and made cuts smoother.

Applying the lesson once I'd grasped it actually sped up my clear times. Now I could slash every goblin the moment I saw them.

It felt like it suited me more than I'd expected...?

The fifth floor felt different from the ones before. Fewer goblins, but they were bigger, gray-skinned—not like the previous trash. And the chieftain was about my size. To them, he must look like a giant.

"Kill—him!"

At the chieftain's bellow, a staff-wielding goblin began muttering.

Fireball!

A Goblin Shaman. It could use magic, had high intelligence, and pulled dirty tricks. Obviously dangerous if not taken out first.

Hitting level 5 let me pick a trait. Mine was obvious...

The first option. Vitality surged through my legs—like riding the wind. I slashed past the blocking goblins before they could ready themselves.

"You idiots! The shaman's in danger!"

I cut down the shaman effortlessly.

Whoa... it actually works.

With the shaman gone, the rest was simple. Slash and repeat. Like mowing weeds with a sharp scythe.

It took less than 10 minutes to clear floor 5. A rush of dopamine scrambled my brain. Nothing like the high from games or workouts. Never tried sex, but this must be what it's like.

An extra clear reward! Everyone knew faster clears meant bonus loot.

Necklace of Curse?

What was that? No description. I skipped the first—master said levels unlock better traits later, no need to rush.

Pass on the scimitar too.

My current weapon was way better. That left the third. Necklace of Curse... The name sounded ominous, but it was all that remained.

What the hell? Useless effect. Better than the scimitar, though. I'd heard collectors buy this junk—could sell it to one.

Obviously, I chose the next floor. Difficulty would tick up, but I had potions—and master guaranteed it.

After clearing floor 10, I'd be even stronger. Players make bank—live however I want. My heart pounded.

Three years ago, Master Ryu Ga-eul fell into deep thought.

At twenty-seven, her feminine allure was starting to fade.

High-level players didn't age, but turning thirty brought pressure that made her anxious.

"Oh! Ga-eul, long time no see."

Shopping at the mart, she ran into a junior from her newbie player days.

"Ha-neul... Oh, long— "You're exactly the same as ever." "What's with that belly?"

Ryu Ga-eul witnessed something unbelievable. Her old party member's stomach was hugely swollen.

"You haven't heard? Makes sense—you skip reunions. I'm pregnant. Six months along."

"W-with who?" "Wanna move somewhere quieter?"

What shocked her more was that someone had impregnated her acquaintance, Go Ha-neul.

Might as well say she got knocked up by a raccoon dog.

Go Ha-neul was infamous even among players as a lunatic. She'd sliced two in self-defense, eaten their flesh, earning the nickname Cannibal Ghost. The scars on her face screamed she was far from maternal. Yet... why?

"Met him last year."

"Blind date?"

Moving to a secluded spot, they whispered like conspirators.

"How do players meet normals? Low levels can't even get pregnant easily—you know that."

High-level players struggled with kids; genes mutated. Most married other players.

"Took a disciple."

"A d-disciple? You, doing something so annoying?"

"I was desperate~? Works like a charm."

The explanation was shocking. Scout decent marriage material via interviews. Mold them to your taste, dominate with level gap and hierarchy, then fuck them. They might resist at first—even pretty faces reject higher-level players sexually. Fear of gene theft from a superior predator.

"Gotta train them gradually. Like porn—starts with 'no' but ends in submission. Drag 'em into pleasure's swamp."

"Crazy..."

Clear crime. Her head knew it, but her heart thought differently.

"Everyone does it. Yu-rim snagged an eight-years-younger guy and toys with him."

"The one who decapitates heads for tower displays?"

"We're almost thirty. Time to marry, pop out kids, raise 'em. How long you gonna hole up jerking off?"

Ryu Ga-eul nodded, entranced. Back home, she held interviews for her type.

It was grueling at first—only rejects showed.

Finally found him.

The cute disciple she discovered at thirty... She wouldn't let him go. No second chances.

"Ahem~"

Regrettably, Ryu Ga-eul's highest education was middle school—and a girls' school with free uniforms.

Harsh reality twisted her tastes badly.

Dress him in a uniform for roleplay.

And so, a monster was born.