Chapter 19
Chapter 19
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 19
Chapter Title: Hidden
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Hobgoblin Champion.
Its presence sent chills prickling across my skin. My flesh stung.
A technique that only the chosen among elite warriors could wield.
Fighting Spirit.
That was what it was emanating.
-Grrrrrr.
It growled at me.
I stared back with the coldest gaze I could muster.
"The Hobgoblin Champion has Brutal Onslaught as its signature move and tends to go berserk easily. Long reach, ferocious aggression, but low defense."
"Regeneration?"
"It has decent regen, but nothing exceptional mid-battle. Still, its vitality is tenacious, so don't let your guard down."
Slash.
Ermé aimed her sword at the Hobgoblin Champion.
"Cut off its limbs midway or when it senses its life is in danger—be careful then."
"Why?"
Teresa asked in response to Ermé's words.
Ermé kept her eyes locked on it as she replied.
"That's when the Berserker Gift activates. You of all people should know why to be cautious, Teresa."
"Yeah, I'll be careful. You too, Yuseong."
"Yuseong'll handle himself just fine."
"......"
I had no idea what a Berserker was.
But I could guess. Probably ramped-up aggression, blood-crazed or something.
In game terms, that kind of berserk power-up.
'Does it have lifesteal or anything?'
-Lifesteal's a vampire thing, isn't it?
'No, like filling up on blood from attacks.'
-As if a monster like that would have such a cheat skill.
Rishiel gave me a look like she couldn't follow.
And at that moment.
-Roooaaarrr!!
The Hobgoblin Champion leaped high into the air.
It raised its greatsword overhead.
Countering up close might've seemed ideal.
'But that's dangerous.'
Me, Ermé, and Teresa all fell back far.
Boom!
The ground cracked like a spiderweb, as if a cannon had gone off.
-A monster, indeed. In terms of sheer brute force, it might be a bit much for your party.
Just as Rishiel said.
It was a monstrous thing.
I'd thought Volkan was all muscle.
But this was a walking muscle heap.
-Of course, that's assuming you're not here. It's fast and nimble, but at the cost of low stamina.
'Drag it into a war of attrition?'
-Not that you'd go for that.
True enough.
A long fight wouldn't be bad if possible.
'But Glasses is the issue.'
He's paralyzed right now. A drawn-out battle, and who knows what happens to him.
We can dodge fine, but he might not.
'And.'
Our party's built for quick kills anyway.
'Got its measure.'
I charged straight at it.
Whoosh!
At the tip of my silver rapier, pale green wind began to gather.
It sharpened into cutting gusts.
The rapier's point targeted the beast.
Clang!
Sparks flew off its greatsword. Up close, I saw red energy coating the blade.
'Whisper of the Wind type of gear.'
Didn't feel like a level 5 monster.
If it were, Ermé wouldn't have brought us here.
And it wasn't that fast. Nothing beyond Rishiel's level.
'The problem is.'
That strength—like Rishiel plus a few elves combined.
I leaped back and pulled a bow and arrows from my inventory.
Twang.
I loosed an arrow skyward; it arced toward the beast.
Thud.
The Hobgoblin Champion eyed me indifferently. As if a puny arrow could harm it.
'Ranged weapon drawback.'
My bow skill's solid, but no specialization.
My real strength?
'Swordsmanship.'
I rushed the Hobgoblin Champion. It swung its greatsword wide. Teresa ducked low and dove in.
Ermé leaped high. Her twilight eyes deepened as her sword plunged down.
'Dark Moon...'
Couldn't use it properly yet.
Cast time's too long.
'These blue lines in my vision.'
The Sword Master's guidance lines.
They were faint. Rare outside facing foes way above me.
'Like with Volkan.'
This thing's lines were sporadic.
Volkan and Lucia? Never saw them, no matter what.
Compared to that, this was manageable.
"Hup!"
I cut breath sharp, slashing the visible blue lines. Felt the slice—but.
'Shallow.'
The Champion's gaze stayed fixed on me.
Even as Teresa swung her mace.
Even as Ermé slashed.
It parried or deflected them, eyes only on me.
'Why me?'
Fatal Constitution drawing aggro?
Or instinct sensing my Dark Moon threat?
'Haven't even used Dark Moon.'
Who knows.
But it focusing like that meant I couldn't prep Dark Moon either.
'Fine then.'
Flip the script.
I'll blind it.
Activated Fatal Constitution.
Ermé and Teresa flinched.
The Hobgoblin Champion?
'...Its eyes rolled back.'
Its eyes turned red.
Just as I'd guessed. Pure conviction.
It glared at me with burning intensity.
-Groooaaar!
It swung. Target: me. Teresa and Ermé tried blocking, but it took scratches and lunged huge.
'What speed...!'
Shouldn't something that size be slower?
3 meters tall—supposed to be lumbering.
But wielding a greatsword its own size, it moved unnaturally nimble.
'Feels faster than me.'
Ferocious speed; blade whistled at me.
I thrust Whisper of the Wind forward.
'Can't clash head-on.'
Its speed was one thing.
Its strength was monstrous. Power struggle's the worst play.
So.
'Deflect as much as possible.'
But could I?
Never tried.
'No.'
Not could I.
To live, I had to.
I swung. Info flooded my mind. I backpedaled max, deflecting the greatsword.
Scraaaape!
Not clean. Its power overwhelmed.
But.
'Trajectory twisted.'
Good enough.
Bounced with Whisper of the Wind.
'Blood-Soaked Dagger.'
The bloodied dagger pierced its flesh.
-Grk!
Unlike others.
This sank deep into its thigh.
'Still, dagger's tiny compared to it.'
Won't hold long.
Whisper's winds whipped up. Something drained from inside me.
Shriiiiek!
Shredded its leg.
'Mobility's gone...'
The Champion's eyes glowed red.
As my wounds riddled its leg.
Its greatsword swung at me.
Craaaack!
I crossed both swords, forcing it back.
'What strength...!'
Felt like I'd hurl. Now I knew gut-churning shock.
'This is it.'
It kept pushing, slamming me to the wall.
Boom!
Sent flying by insane force.
In that gap.
Ermé dashed at the Champion.
Her sword gleamed crimson.
Slice.
Quietly severed one arm.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "There's a limit to underestimating someone."
Ermé muttered, eyeing the Hobgoblin Champion.
She got it.
Even teammates flinched at Yuseong's occasional killing intent.
'Just.'
Lethal.
Different from the initial prickly threat.
This choked the breath from anyone nearby.
Yuseong wouldn't think so.
But when he flipped his Constitution, calling it 'judgment'—not empty words.
Average foes couldn't breathe right facing him.
She didn't want to face that head-on.
But the Champion did.
'I've got skills too.'
In this party, Yuseong wasn't the only threat.
Otherwise, no reason to pretend discovering this place.
-Roooaaarrr!
It bellowed in rage. Red eyes intensified.
'Berserker Gift.'
One of its patterns.
When life flashes before it, extreme offense surges. Limbs lopped? It'll take you down too.
Greatsword swung wide.
"Careful."
Teresa warned Ermé, charging ahead.
'You're a Berserker.'
But so was she.
Emotionless eyes filled with spirit. She swung her mace huge.
Boom!!
Smashed unprotected gut.
'Solid hit.'
One reason.
Support Enchanter Marcel had recovered, buffing Teresa.
And with footing freed.
Champion swung greatsword huge again. Target: Teresa. Fresh swing.
Clang!
Flicked her mace up. Then slashed to kill—
Chill.
Even from afar, goosebumps.
Champion spun fast.
Teresa's blow had stunned it.
Ermé smirked inwardly.
Her strike hurt, but stole its sight a beat.
And then.
'The real danger.'
Feet freed.
Han Yuseong appeared.
Whisper forward, blood dagger back—dual-wield stance.
Thankfully, that hit from the Champion looked minor.
'Something...'
Off.
Ermé sensed it.
Dark cave darkened further?
Possible?
'No illusion.'
Creeping.
Darkness polluted from his swords. His area blackened.
Crossed blades.
"Dark Moon."
"Dark Moon." ⟨ Dark Moon ⟩
A pale moon emerged.
Splat!
Darkness blanketed everything.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 'Thought I was dead.'
When the Champion blasted me.
I'd worried for my body.
'But I'm fine.'
Not tough or anything.
Reason it wasn't bad?
"Cough."
Glasses.
Some magic cushioned impact, telekinesis rebounded it.
"Phew, I'll live."
Glasses pulled a red potion, chugged it. Color returned.
Recovery potion.
'Those exist.'
Too pricey for me.
Last payout fell short.
'Ermé bought mine, gave me one.'
Glasses adjusted specs, stood.
"Thanks for the save."
"My line."
"Haha, not many parties hand out heals like charity even if you're hurt."
"...?"
Why not?
Party weakens, we're all at risk, right?
"Plenty in this world lack that sense. Or rather, short-sighted ones. You saw what they said about you."
"......"
Scavengers, was it.
They hadn't seen right.
But shocking scene.
Labyrinth encounter—Ermé ready to kill on sight.
"Anyway, let's loot. Should drop good magic stones."
"Yeah."
As I stepped forward.
Teresa acted weird.
Light scattered from her body.
"Oh, rare sight."
"What is...?"
"First time seeing a level-up? Makes sense."
Level-up.
Each level massively empowers.
But Gift ceilings vary.
'Wonder what mine's like.'
Suddenly curious.
Light fully absorbed into Teresa.
✨ LEVEL UP! ✨ Teresa "...Ah."
I looked at Teresa.
Blue lines much fainter than before.
Previously, gaps everywhere—good odds for me.
'Fight now.'
Odds flipped against me.
'What if I level up?'
Ermé grinned, approaching her.
"Congrats, Teresa."
"Thanks."
"First in three months? Impressive pace."
Glasses marveled.
Three months since adventuring?
'Weird.'
Odd.
EXP feels absorbed from kills.
But.
'Feels like I'm close too.'