Mana Lessons and the Goblin Dungeon Debut
Sophia sneezed repeatedly during the practice training—kerchoo, kerchoo. She couldn't catch a break, and it was so intense that tears welled up around her eyes.
It took another full minute before she finally stopped sneezing.
"A-Are you okay?"
"Ugh..."
Sophia nodded, rubbing her mouth. For some reason, her face was full of dissatisfaction.
"You shouldn't drink water that fast. It's not good for you."
"You little rascal, you think that's why?"
Stretch—! Sophia pinched my cheeks and pulled, but oddly enough, it didn't feel bad at all. Maybe it was because of her age inspiring some respect.
"Then what was it...?"
"The pond water. Who in the world drinks from a pond?"
She had the look of someone staring at a person utterly lacking basic common sense. As someone who'd heard the pond water was clean enough to drink, I felt deeply wronged.
"I heard this pond water was clean enough to drink."
"And did the guild members tell you to drink from the pond?"
"Ah, n-no, they said to get water from the guild building, but..."
I'd gotten permission, but I had no intention of stepping foot into that scary place on my own. People had apologized and felt sorry for me, but I still couldn't fully trust them yet.
"Looks like I need to teach you common sense first."
"It's not like..."
Being treated like someone deficient in basic knowledge left me dissatisfied, but it wasn't wrong, so I couldn't argue back. After all, I'd spent nearly eight years oblivious even to the existence of beastkin.
"I'll teach you important mana basics first, starting with attributes. Follow along closely."
"Yes..."
Well, fine. Learning this world's common sense wouldn't hurt. I planned to study hard and at least reach the level of an average person.
Pok-! Pok-! I dug up the grass next to the tent with a seedling trowel. It was an expensive one I'd bought for five thousand won at the nearby general store.
"So, at first, you'll instinctively sense mana, right?"
"Exactly. It'll come as naturally as breathing."
"Aha."
Was that why time had slowed down instinctively during that emergency? I tried focusing again with a deep hup!, but time didn't slow. I scratched the back of my head, embarrassed.
"But you can't rely only on instinct. Beastkin aren't mere animals."
"I see."
Pok-! Pok-! I stabbed the trowel into the soil as I replied. The high-quality earth gave way easily, sinking deep.
"By the way, what are you doing...?"
"Making a vegetable garden. This time, I'm growing cabbage too."
"...I see."
Sophia approached, leaning on her cane. She prodded the ground with its blunt tip, carving out perfect holes for seeds.
"Oh."
Was Sophia kindly offering to help? In my gratitude, I reached for the seed pouch at my waist—when familiar footsteps approached from behind.
"Gyeowol, Lady Sophia."
It was the girl's voice—Han Yeoreum. Sophia and I turned to her in unison.
"You rascal, don't call me 'Lady.'"
"Then what should I call you...?"
"Just Sophia."
Sophia grumbled, poking the ground again. I planted seeds in the holes she'd made. Han Yeoreum drew near us.
"Gyeowol, thanks to you, something great happened at the guild."
"Something great...?"
"Yeah. We're starting exchanges with the Korean beastkin groups."
Why was that thanks to me? Not understanding, I just rolled my eyes side to side.
"...Is that really good?"
"Yeah, super good. I want to repay you somehow. Anything you need?"
"Uh..."
The situation was so sudden I glanced at Sophia. But she was focused on planting seeds.
"It's not free. You're doing so well, so it's a proper reward."
"Th-then..."
"Then?"
"Could you buy me one hamburger...?"
I watched her reaction as I spoke, worried it might be asking too much.
"G-Gyeowol. You could ask for something bigger."
"Something bigger?"
"Yeah. A single hamburger feels too unbalanced for this."
Was the beastkin exchange that big a deal? After some thought, I held up two fingers.
"Th-then, how about two?"
"Two? Can you eat two hamburgers, Gyeowol?"
"No. One's for Sophia Gra— ma'am."
Sophia flinched at "grandma," but my quick reflexes cut it off.
"Hmm... that's a nice idea, but no huge requests besides hamburgers?"
"Uh..."
Was it that big a deal? I stared blankly up at Han Yeoreum, then dashed into the tent.
"Gyeowol?"
Ignoring her as she followed, I pushed aside the dirt in one corner. A hidden earthenware jar emerged from the ground.
"I have a ton of money, see?"
Opening the lid revealed stacks upon stacks of bills. They were crumpled and dirt-stained, but...
"Yeah, you're rich, Gyeowol."
"Yep. This all adds up to three million three hundred thousand won, but I'm worried keeping it here."
"Ah, you want me to hold onto it?"
"Yeees..."
Han Yeoreum was super rich, so she wouldn't steal a mere three million three hundred thousand won. I handed her the whole jar—after pulling out fifty thousand won for the cafeteria donation and emergencies.
"Okay. I'll keep it in the safest place in the world."
"Th-thank you."
I'd been fretting over not having ID to open a bank account. Having Han Yeoreum as a secure vault was a relief.
Whew. As I sighed in relief, the tent flap opened, and three beastkin entered.
"Gyeowol, time to head out."
"Where to...?"
"You've learned the theory—now for practice. Let's go to the hunting grounds."
"Ah! Me too!"
Whoosh—! I nodded along with Han Yeoreum, who shot up her hand. Theory learned, now I needed to apply it in real combat.
Hunting grounds are ranked by numbers, from lowest to highest. If you're born human, anyone can hunt in the Beginner Hunting Ground—ranked Level 0. The '0' was assigned because no one has ever died there.
So how tough is the first numbered rank, the Level 1 Dungeon? Kim Min-jun, the dungeon's public servant manager, could confidently say: anyone with a year of basic weapon training could clear it.
That made the Level 1 Dungeon easy, so Kim Min-jun's daily life as its manager was more peaceful than expected.
"Yawn."
At the makeshift desk outside the Goblin Dungeon, Kim Min-jun yawned and scanned the area.
'Still better than the Beginner Hunting Ground.'
Rookie adventurers gripped their weapons tensely. Unlike the carefree Beginner Hunting Ground, the tension here was satisfying to see.
Dreamers carrying the seeds of adventure. That's why he'd applied to be a dungeon manager—the romance of it all.
Heh heh. As Kim Min-jun chuckled and reached for his paperwork, the rookie adventurers outside started buzzing.
'Huh?'
Their eyes were fixed on one group. Kim Min-jun instinctively looked over.
"That's..."
Han Yeoreum. One of Korea's top ten hunters. Walking beside her were two beastkin warriors who looked plenty strong at a glance.
Beastkin warriors, whose racial traits were called 'combat' for their sheer power. They had to be top-tier adventurers at least.
Kim Min-jun raised an eyebrow at the mismatched group for a Level 1 Dungeon.
'What's going on?'
Was the dungeon rank suddenly rising? As Kim Min-jun spun wild theories, Han Yeoreum approached him.
"Hello."
"Yes, what brings you here?"
"Not just hello—we're applying to enter the dungeon."
"Pardon...?"
A top hunter requesting entry. This was anything but ordinary. Kim Min-jun thought of the rookies inside and shot to his feet.
"Is there a problem in the dungeon?!"
"No, just training our kid a bit."
"Kid...?"
Kim Min-jun's gaze followed hers. Behind Han Yeoreum and the two beastkin was a child—white hair, droopy cat ears. A beastkin kid who looked terrified at first sight.
"Th-this is a Level 1 hunting ground? It's super dangerous..."
Shiver shiver. Unlike the fierce beastkin, the child seemed fragile. Scared stiff and risky-looking, but with Han Yeoreum as guardian, he couldn't forbid entry.
'...Should be fine?'
Han Yeoreum, one of Yeomyeong Guild's elites, plus two beastkin warriors. What kind of existence was their kid? Definitely not ordinary.
Recalling his boss's order to report notable adventurers, Kim Min-jun handed over the permit.
"You know you can't clear it solo, right?"
"Yes. We'll just catch a few and leave."
"I-I can't catch many. Let's just get one and go out. Okay?"
Kim Min-jun chuckled at the kid tugging Han Yeoreum's hem and whining. The laugh slipped out unbidden.