Chapter 2
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: Black Forest Escape (1)
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Something felt off.
That was Jun's first impression when the captain of his mercenary corps came back giggling, having accepted the mission.
'Goblin extermination?'
Goblins.
The poster children for fodder mobs, the kind that sometimes showed up as mid-dungeon bosses for newbies.
But that was just a story from the game world.
This place where Jun lived was cold, hard reality.
"Why the long face?"
The mercenary sitting next to him noticed Jun's unconsciously furrowed brow and asked.
"...It's nothing."
Even so, Jun didn't voice his thoughts aloud.
Voicing negative opinions about a mission the captain had brought back was tantamount to undermining his authority.
In the worst case, it could get him expelled from the corps under mercenary code—or beaten black and blue.
"Come on, what's up? Tell me, just between us. You know I can keep a secret."
But the guy kept pressing Jun.
'Name was... Popkin, right?'
A skilled swordsman who'd joined the corps about a month ago.
He'd adapted quickly after getting various tips from Jun right from the start and was one of the few mercenaries somewhat friendly toward him.
Though he still looked down on him as a frail mage.
With that, Jun quietly shared his opinion.
Not in a way that outright rejected the mission, but more like pointing out things to watch out for.
"This extermination op. The target area's the Black Forest, right?"
"Yeah."
"Goblins are easy opponents, sure, but the Black Forest brings all sorts of problems."
"You know something about the Black Forest?"
"A little."
As a game veteran from his past life, how could he not know about the Black Forest, the early-game backdrop?
"The Black Forest is basically a dense woodland. Plenty of natural resources too."
That was one reason the Imperial Family had mobilized a ton of mercenaries to clear it out.
But that also meant it was crawling with monsters—especially goblins.
"Goblins' main weapon is poison."
"Even so, it's just paralysis poison."
True to their fodder mob rep, goblins weren't all that strong physically.
But they had enough smarts to mix poisons, and as Popkin said, their go-to was paralysis toxin.
"The Black Forest has a ton of toxic plants, though. Real nasty ones."
Plus, the trees were all massive, giving endless hiding spots and food sources—perfect for highly prolific breeders like them, so their numbers could explode.
But Popkin just tilted his head at that.
"They eat their own kind, though. Their numbers can't grow indefinitely."
True to his skill as a swordsman, he shared what he knew about monsters.
But Jun didn't agree.
'That's only when food's scarce.'
Not an issue in the resource-rich Black Forest.
Still, Jun held back from elaborating.
Popkin was one of the few who'd listen to him here, but Jun didn't trust him completely.
These brute mercenaries hated having their knowledge challenged.
Classic strong-against-weak types.
Popkin had that vibe too, so contradicting him outright wasn't smart.
'No need to piss him off and get stabbed in the back during battle.'
Jun had seen it happen right in front of him—and been on the receiving end—so he was certain on this point.
"Well, no harm in preparing properly. Tell 'em to stock up on low-grade paralysis resistance potions at least."
"Hmm... We get reimbursed for materials again, right?"
"Of course."
"Tch. Fine."
Popkin shuffled off, clearly not taking it seriously.
"Eh, no need to worry that much about puny goblins. Frail mages like him are the ones fretting."
He muttered it softly, but Jun heard every word.
Still, Jun just shrugged it off lightly.
"Everyone makes their own choices."
He was about to stand up when a voice came from behind.
"Senior. Could you tell me more about what you just said?"
"Oh, Aiden."
The one speaking to him had joined a month ago, like Popkin.
The difference? He'd started as a porter.
"This is my first mission. I'd like the details."
'His skills were better than expected, got promoted to full member in a month.'
Jun personally rated him higher than Popkin.
"Not complicated."
Unlike Popkin, Aiden never belittled Jun.
Even after becoming a full member, he still called him "senior" and stuck close—a solid junior.
"Just like I said. This extermination's gonna be tough."
So Jun explained differently than with Popkin.
"Why do you think that?"
"Example: An adult with a sword versus a kid with a bow. Who's stronger?"
"The adult, obviously."
"Right. Now change it: Adult with sword versus ten smart kids who know the terrain, all with bows?"
"Hmm..."
Aiden finally got it and nodded.
"That's the deal. The extermination force is underestimating the Black Forest. Oh, and don't go blabbing I said this."
"Haha... I'm not that clueless."
Jun nailed it home to the awkwardly smiling Aiden.
"Like I said before, get a proper low-grade paralysis resistance potion if you wanna live."
"But the price..."
Aiden had just become a full member; he wasn't flush with cash.
"Tch. How much you got?"
"That's it for now."
Aiden held up three fingers.
"30,000 gold?"
Way short for a finished potion. Properly made ones by certified mages cost a fortune.
"Can't be helped. Gimme that? I'll handle it."
"Got it."
"Whoa."
Aiden handed over the coins from his pouch without hesitation.
Seeing that, Jun suppressed a rising smile.
Worth looking out for this one.
'Been a while since I visited a merchant guild.'
"Jun! Where's that bastard!"
"Bring the potions!!"
"Gaaah!!"
Shouts echoed from all sides.
Along with them, comrades he'd shared hardships with for months collapsed, bleeding from goblin poison needles.
But Jun's thought was:
'Anyone'd think I'd been trusted with their potions.'
Wind Cutter (2-circle magic)
A bit of distance away, Jun clicked his tongue softly after casting the 2-circle spell.
'Situation's turning sour, as expected.'
Just as Jun had foreseen, the battlefield was going south.
The mercenaries were slashing through goblins left and right.
But...
'Too. Many. Numbers.'
The dense forest packed with towering trees. Filled to the brim with goblins.
That many blasting poison needles from blowguns nonstop.
The captain wasn't dumb—he'd told everyone to prep paralysis resistance potions—but most hadn't, or brought the cheap stuff.
Simple reason.
Proper ones cost a bundle.
Cheap ones weren't bad per se.
Not great for real resistance, but they'd handle goblin paralysis toxin fine.
That is, against normal goblins.
"What kinda poison is this vicious...!"
"Damn it! My arm won't move!"
Unlike the outside world, Blackout's Black Forest goblins had high poison resistance themselves—and used extra-potent paralysis toxin.
Finally, Jun pulled out his own low-grade paralysis resistance potion.
"Sigh, what a waste."
Better drink it now than carry it to the grave.
Downing the bottle in one go, Jun kept his cool amid the screams, scanning the field.
'Skills are coming in clutch.'
Thanks to Bright Eyes and Steadfast Heart, even with death breathing down his neck, Jun could analyze calmly.
"Yeah, this op's a bust."
The front lines were crumbling, and the commander in charge looked grim.
"Retreat! Fall back!"
Sure enough, he soon shouted it.
But 'Idiot. We're already surrounded.'
As a mage in the rear, Jun saw the front had been threshed like grain.
Retreating now? Few mercenaries would make it.
"Hup!"
Then Jun spotted someone.
Aiden, holding his own amid the mercs.
He'd taken needles here and there, but the potion Jun prepped let him keep moving.
"Hmm..."
Though slower than usual.
'Potions give resistance, not immunity.'
Right then, Aiden—having heard the retreat order—turned, and their eyes met.
Jun beckoned; Aiden slowly fell back toward him.
To survive this, he needed Aiden's help.
"Senior. You okay?"
"I'm good. You know how bad this is, right?"
"...Yes."
His first mission, so he'd been gung-ho, but he knew the tide had turned.
"Captain's dead too."
Jun tsked at Aiden's pained words.
"Tch... No wonder I hadn't seen him. Guy always scraped by somehow. Guess his luck ran out."
"Heard the retreat order, but what now?"
"Too late. Escape's impossible."
"Huh?"
"See? Those green runts already finished encircling us."
"Ah..."
Aiden finally looked around and spotted glowing yellow eyes everywhere.
"Regular army might slip out somehow, but the mercs are done for."
Over half the hired mercs were dead or rolling on the ground from poison.
"We won't get out easy either. You're starting to feel the paralysis too."
Aiden's arms trembled faintly.
Proof it'd exceeded his resistance.
"Then... what do we do?"
"Play dead."
"Eh?"
Sleep
Target falls into deep slumber
"I'll explain later. [Sleep]."
"Wha? Sen... ior...?"
In that instant, Jun placed a hand on Aiden's head and chanted; Aiden's body swayed like he was collapsing.
"Whew, what's with this guy's magic resistance? Drained more mana than expected."
It took a decent chunk.
But for Jun with Demon God Body, it was like scooping a cup from a lake.
Anyway, the spell worked. Carefully laying down the falling Aiden, Jun scraped up rotten wood chips and grass clumps nearby.
Piling them over Aiden, Jun was about to camouflage himself similarly when—
"H-Hey. Jun."
"...Popkin?"
Somehow surviving the rout, a blood-soaked Popkin appeared before him.
Mostly goblin blood, but plenty of his own mixed in.
His body looked rigidly frozen from the paralysis.
Facing death, Popkin forced a smile.
"Y-You got... p-po-pot-ions, right?"
Slurring from paralysis, he stared at Jun with bloodshot eyes.
Jun sighed inwardly.
'Because I picked [Potion Brewing] for the rep gain? These guys see me as a damn pharmacy.'
His gaze on Popkin turned icy.
"G-Give it... t-to me."
Not asking permission.
No trace left of his usual friendliness toward Jun.
Right now, Jun was just loot to Popkin.
"What if I say no?"
"Then... you die!"
Popkin lunged like he'd been waiting, stabbing at Jun's heart.
Thung-!
His sword was blocked by a suddenly appeared translucent barrier.
"...?!"
Sleep
No resistance detected
Jun's incantation followed sharply.
[Sleep]
"You... bastard...!!"
Unlike Aiden, Popkin crumpled without resistance.
Staring at the fallen man, Jun let out a heavy sigh.
"Dumbass. Told you to prepare."
Jun stabbed his protective dagger into the sleeping Popkin's throat, dumped the body nearby, and resumed his camouflage.
"What a dogshit world."