Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Is This Your First Time Seeing a Saintess Who’s Good at Magic?
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We pushed forward through the narrow, dark passage hidden inside the cave.
The magic hunter lady illuminated our path with her fire spell.
The leader took point at the front, while the lady brought up the rear.
Hankyeol and I stayed in the middle.
I’d clearly explained to everyone that the Holy Knight class was a tank role.
But when I offered to take the lead, they shot the idea down immediately.
They said something about how a D-Rank hunter like him should stand tall at the front.
Whatever. Do what you want.
“Hankyeol, what rare dungeons have you experienced before?”
“Uh, um… I haven’t actually been in any myself.”
Hankyeol scratched his cheek with an awkward look.
That was when the leader up ahead spoke up.
“I’ve been through one before.”
“How was it?”
“……”
As Hankyeol answered, the leader glanced back and forth between us.
He let out a deep sigh before continuing.
“Goblins were hiding in a secluded spot. The second we entered the clearing, they ambushed us from the front and back.”
“Whoa… I learned a few patterns at the academy, but damn, that’s nasty.”
“You’re an academy grad?”
“Yeah. Graduated not too long ago, though.”
Monsters hiding in ambush, huh…
I wasn’t sensing anything around us, so maybe this time was different.
It scratched my curiosity a bit, but it wasn’t immediately useful info.
“Anyway, since I’ve got experience, just follow my lead and you’ll be fine.”
“Got it.”
“Hoo…”
Suddenly, a heavy, frustrated breath came from behind.
I turned to look, and the lady was staring right at me.
Her brows were furrowed tight.
“…?”
“Ignore it and keep watching ahead.”
Why was she always so pissed off? It couldn't be good for her health.
I nodded indifferently and faced forward again.
It wasn't like I cared why she was mad.
The magic hunter woman glared at the person ahead of her.
Sihyun’s glossy white hair caught the firelight, glowing a deep, vibrant red.
She looked like a painting come to life.
The more the magic hunter looked, the more jealousy boiled up inside her.
She was the magic hunter—the attack magic specialist. She should’ve been the star of the party.
She was supposed to be the one hogging all the men’s attention.
But now? Both guys’ eyes were glued to that woman in front of her.
They wouldn’t look away.
Even in the middle of combat.
It was like they were ready to jump in at any sign of danger, openly watching over her.
If only the bitch were useless.
Then she could’ve bullied her outright.
A fresh E-Rank newbie who didn’t even know how to use her status window properly.
But no matter how many monsters lunged at her, Sihyun's stance never wavered.
Was that even possible?
The magic hunter had thought it was insane to wear a skirt into a dungeon.
But that skirt barely even fluttered.
Sihyun was only pulling her weight—technically one person’s share.
But even that felt questionable to the magic hunter.
“There’s the clearing.”
“Haa, finally.”
The woman let out a sigh of relief.
Her mana was almost drained, and she just wanted to wrap this up quickly.
The party scanned the open space.
It was about the size of a small auditorium.
There was nothing special about it, but there was a chest sitting on the far side.
“It’s a treasure room!”
“Wait!”
The woman dashed toward the chest.
The leader tried to stop her rash move, but it was too late.
The moment she reached out for it,
An invisible, transparent wall blocked her path.
And right then!
A magic circle formed in the center of the clearing, emitting a brilliant light.
“Damn it, get back here quick!”
“Eek!”
The woman scrambled back to the group.
She was panting hard as she caught her breath.
The others readied for battle, their eyes scanning the surroundings.
And then.
“Keruk!”
“Kikik!”
The familiar cackle of monsters echoed through the room.
Goblins—small, weak, and often underestimated.
They started pouring out from the darkness in droves.
“Th-that’s a lot, isn’t it?”
“This is bad.”
It wasn't just one or two.
Over a dozen were coming from every direction—front, back, and the sides.
Even for a D-Rank, there was a limit to how many you could handle at once.
And getting surrounded like this restricted their movement even more.
The leader made a snap call.
“There are a lot of them, but they're all goblins. We've got this! Stay calm and clear ‘em out!”
Before the encirclement could tighten, he charged forward to start the fight.
Keeping the magic hunter in the center, Hankyeol and Sihyun each engaged the horde.
Hankyeol spammed his skills non-stop.
There was no time to conserve mana.
Luckily, he was in top form today.
His body felt lighter than usual, power surging through him.
It felt like he could do anything.
Riding the momentum, he slashed through the goblins mercilessly.
“Kieek!”
“Where do you think you're goin’!”
Another goblin charged straight at him.
He dodged back lightly, then countered instantly.
At the same moment, goblin clubs swung in from both sides.
‘Gotta tank one. I can endure it!’
Bracing himself, he cleaved the one on the right.
Then he prepared for the impact from the left.
But.
“Huh?”
What? There was no pain.
He checked—the goblin was clutching its forehead in agony.
He had no idea what happened, but the combat wasn’t over.
Hankyeol quickly finished it off with his sword.
Having taken down three in a flash, he caught a breather.
He glanced back briefly.
Sihyun was surrounded by a swarm of goblins.
Like some kind of magic trick, she dodged every attack with uncanny precision.
Whenever she countered, their numbers steadily dropped.
Is that how Holy Knights fight…?
Doesn’t that look more like a fighter or something?
The image was a bit off, but she seemed fine. Good.
The magic hunter was backing up the leader.
If he just handled his share, they’d be okay.
Hankyeol turned back to the goblins in front of him.
Meanwhile, the leader was struggling.
He didn’t show it, but cold sweat was trickling down his back.
The goblins that poured out numbered as many as a full E-Rank dungeon’s entire monster population.
If Sihyun hadn’t pulled aggro from nearly half of them,
The party would’ve crumbled, with injuries everywhere.
Maybe there would have even been deaths.
The magic hunter was just a human torch at this point.
‘She’s a fresh E-Rank Awakened…?’
Is this what true talent looks like?
The leader swore he saw a faint glow around Sihyun.
“Finish ‘em!”
“Kek!”
After fierce combat, the dozens of goblins finally fell.
The hunters sighed in relief.
But as Sihyun turned to them, about to speak—
“Kehehe!”
“Kik!”
More goblins emerged from the dark.
It was the same number as before.
In that instant,
The leader instinctively stepped back.
Death was looming right in front of him.
The first wave had squeezed every last drop of mana and stamina from them.
There was no break, and now the same horde was coming again?
With their endurance and mental strength pushed to the brink,
It was impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
Even if they somehow cleared this wave,
Who's to say there wouldn't be a third?
They never should’ve come here.
Greed had gotten the better of them.
His bad judgment was going to kill everyone.
Fine, then. At least he would go out like a man in his final moments.
He would show some style.
The leader steeled himself.
“Sihyun!”
“…?”
Her eyes were still on the goblins.
He shouted with all the bravado he could muster.
“We’ll break through the monsters toward the exit! You can make it out!”
“Hey! What the hell!”
The magic hunter shrieked in disbelief.
The crazy bastard was spouting nonsense all of a sudden.
They lived together or died together.
Quitting early just to save one person?
And picking her over me?
He’s lost it. He's totally insane.
She glared daggers at the leader.
But he ignored her completely.
That brilliant talent couldn’t be allowed to rot here.
Bringing her was his mistake, just to score points.
It was time to man up and leave a heroic last stand.
“If one survives, it has to be you, Sihyun!”
“I’ll help too!”
“No, fuck!”
As the leader yelled, Hankyeol chimed in and took a stance.
The human torch spat curses at the men’s sudden stunt.
She was ignored again.
Sihyun tilted her head at them.
Why the sudden heroic faces and dramatic lines?
It was like they were about to meet their end.
“Keruk… Kk!”
She kicked an approaching goblin flying.
Then she assessed the situation coolly.
She’d planned to just do her share and stay low-key.
But no one else seemed to notice anything off.
They looked like normal goblins at a glance.
But they were all fakes.
There were no corpses on death, and no mana stones.
She hadn’t noticed it when they first entered the clearing.
Meaning these “non-existent” things had suddenly appeared.
“Hurry before it’s too late!”
“While we hold them off!”
“Shut up and focus on fighting!”
No one clocked the gimmick.
Sihyun shook her head.
She had no interest in their weird drama.
Letting it drag on would just waste time.
It might draw a little attention,
But it was better to end it quickly and properly.
She wanted to wrap this up and grab something tasty with her sister.
“…I’ll handle it. Just hold on.”
“Wha?!”
“Now’s not the time!”
“Argh, fuck, now she’s lost it too!”
Everyone was so damn noisy.
They had plenty of energy left; they’d manage.
She could wipe them all at once.
But that’d be too flashy.
Rumors would be a hassle.
It was better to move and handle it manually.
Sihyun cast a buff on herself that was leagues beyond what she’d used so far.