Chapter 68
Chapter 68
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Linked Quest Unlocked
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A few days after finishing their rest and fun on the beach.
Jin-woo's group finally began their full-scale exploration.
"Shall we get going, then?"
Hilde and Shin Seom-hwa nodded.
Their expressions mixed half tension, half anticipation.
They'd spent a decent vacation on the beach,
and stocked up on food during that time—all for this day.
Thanks to that, they had plenty of supplies and stamina.
But everyone knew this uninhabited island could throw anything at them.
"You know the exact location?"
"Roughly, since we've got the map."
Jin-woo unfolded the map.
A crude one, not fully complete yet.
But good enough to head for the marked X.
'No idea what could be there.'
This island warped not just space, but time itself.
What could be waiting at a spot marked so deliberately?
Pure curiosity was kicking in now.
"Let's take it easy for now. If needed, we can forage food on the spot. Even if some decent monsters show up, the three of us can handle them."
They'd gathered plenty of items and combat experience by now.
He was confident they could take on a wolf pack head-on.
The trio set off right away.
Whatever else, the sunny weather was perfect for walking—clear skies and warm sunlight.
"But what's at that mark, really?"
Hilde, leading with her Valkyrie Spear in hand, spoke up.
Jin-woo pondered briefly before answering.
"Hmm, since it's marked on purpose, maybe some dangerous monster?"
"...And we're heading straight for it?"
"Gotta prepare for the worst. If a real monster's there, it'd be trouble."
Of course, it was risky.
But a hundred times better than getting ambushed blind.
"Plus, it's one of the few clues about this island."
Living here forever... wasn't impossible.
In a way, it was paradise—food, women, everything.
No need to say how fun daily romps with these two beauties were.
'But I can't do this forever.'
What if disaster struck suddenly?
What if real dangerous monsters existed?
Even some mystery illness?
Unlike society, too many variables here.
To escape this logic-defying island,
adventure was the only way.
"This might be our one shot at a hint to get off the island."
"Hng~ So you were thinking of leaving."
Shin Seom-hwa said, sounding surprised.
"I figured you just wanted endless sex every day."
"What do you take me for?"
......Honestly, yeah, he'd thought about it.
But he'd leaned toward escaping eventually.
'Now that I'm this strong, no need to stay stranded.'
He could beat A-rank Shin Seom-hwa already.
Back in society, riches would come easy.
Fame and status? Guaranteed.
'And leaving won't reset our relationships.'
Hilde wouldn't change, obviously.
Shin Seom-hwa, his old boss?
She was already hooked on sex with him.
Even back in society, she'd crave this pleasure.
'With power, money, and women, society's a thousand times better.'
If the chance came, he'd escape this island somehow.
One thing he'd love? Giving those backstabbing bitches a taste of vigilante justice.
Lost in thought, how long had they walked?
Suddenly, Hilde stopped.
"Master, monsters here too."
"Monsters? Wolves?"
"No, goblins."
Goblins?
Jin-woo frowned but ducked into the brush first.
Better safe than sorry.
'Two of them?'
Peeking out, yep—goblins.
But maybe because he'd gotten so strong... they looked ridiculously weak.
'Appraisal.'
A run-of-the-mill goblin with some basic gear. Low stats mean it's not much of a threat, but the weapon demands caution. If you're skilled enough, snipe it from afar for an instant kill!
Level 2, barely.
Nothing special beyond the gear.
'Hmm, goblin colony nearby?'
Makes sense—this was the shaman goblin's map originally.
Goblins here wasn't weird.
'Maybe wolves took goblin turf... something like that?'
Plenty of food around, no need for direct fights.
But territories would've existed.
"What do we do?"
He turned; Hilde and Shin Seom-hwa watched him.
Leaving the call to him.
"Take 'em out. No reason to leave them."
Monsters, however weak, were potential threats.
Better thin the herd while they could.
"I'll do it. Cleanest way."
Mana flowed from Shin Seom-hwa's hand.
Golden threads shot toward the goblins in an instant.
-Slash!
No sound at all.
The goblins probably never knew what hit them.
Just like that, both heads rolled.
"Wow! As expected, Seom-hwa's magic is amazing! Even swinging my spear full force, I couldn't do it that cleanly!"
"I-it's not that great."
Shin Seom-hwa blushed unusually.
Still weak to Hilde's praise.
"Kinda different reaction from when I compliment you, huh?"
"Shut up, you perv."
Jin-woo grumbled at the undeserved insult and approached the goblins.
No others around.
Inspecting the corpses, his eyes narrowed.
At their weapons.
"Suspected as much—real metal weapons."
"Hm? So?"
"No one on this island makes stuff like that."
Hilde and Shin Seom-hwa's brows rose slightly.
They'd overlooked it—crude and weak.
But he was right.
"Washed ashore? Or looted somewhere?"
"Unlikely."
Iron weapons were rare here. Nonexistent.
Even Jin-woo, with modern knowledge, got his via gacha.
And these scrubs had them like candy?
No way.
"Goblins made them?"
"Hate to think it, but..."
Iron Age on the peninsula started around... BC something?
Dumb as they were, with time...
"Probably not."
But Hilde shook her head.
"No such thing in that goblin colony we wiped out. If they had the tech, they'd have better weapons."
"Yeah, true."
Island's size unknown, but still an island.
No way same species had that tech gap.
"Anyway, weird stuff happens here. But let's think rationally for now."
"One possibility, then."
Shin Seom-hwa snapped her fingers.
"Someone outside the goblins is arming them."
"Wait, survivors besides Master or Seom-hwa?"
"Hmm."
Can't rule it out.
Another survivor? Plausible.
But the supplier wasn't the issue.
Why arm goblins? That mattered.
'If someone's deliberately arming them...'
Maybe they could command goblins?
Building a goblin army?
'Human, another goblin, or something else—who knows.'
Honestly, goblins were pushovers now.
Dozens? He'd solo them.
But no slacking.
Always prepare for the best.
"Gotta change plans."
Jin-woo stood.
"More caution. Circle around, hunt every goblin we see, approach the mark slow."
"Yeah, got it. Take it slow."
"I think caution's smart too."
Both nodded in agreement.
'Mmm, wanted to cuddle with Master again tonight. Might work if we take our time...'
'Hope that person's not another woman. If so... kinda annoying.'
Time was on their side anyway.
No rush at all.
After that, the trio moved with extra care.
Mapping as they circled, wiping out any goblins spotted.
"Mmm, worried we'll end up eating goblin meat every day again..."
"Stashing bodies in inventory to hide 'em, but yeah, a ton."
Over 15 goblins hunted already.
Way more than that old colony.
"Hmm, Jin-woo. Goblins are increasing toward the mark."
"Figured."
Shin Seom-hwa and Jin-woo had hunted like this in society.
This pattern meant—
"The mark's probably their base."
"Another goblin colony?"
Hilde asked, wiping blood from her spear.
"Numbers and gear say more than a colony."
Even saying it, Jin-woo wasn't sure.
Goblin movements were off.
They were guarding something, sure.
But armed in these numbers? Better to cluster up.
Instead, they wandered solo.
Begging to get picked off.
No way they sent goblins out to guard the mark?
'If so, that bitch is a total moron.'
Felt like watching a dumb ex-teammate!
As an industry vet, it irked him.
"Anyway, area's scouted. thinned the goblins plenty—time to move in."
They advanced slowly to the marked spot.
Soon, a massive building loomed ahead.
'......A ruin?'
Huge stone structure.
Looked like a dungeon or temple.
If not for the island, he'd think Aztec civilization.
*Ding!*
▶ Ruin Exploration
Content: Having completed the island's map, you've discovered the uninhabited island's ruins at the end of your exploration. Explore the ruins and uncover the hidden secrets!
⏰ Time Limit: None
🎁 Rewards: Dimensional Movement Key, ???