Chapter 7
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 7
Chapter Title: Goblin Nest Time Attack
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"Thank you. Here are the potions you purchased and the equipment you requested."
As the Adventurer's Guild staff member placed the potions and gear on the counter, they vanished in an instant, slipping straight into Woojin's inventory.
▶ Lowest-Grade Potion x10
▶ Bread x5
▶ Water Canteen x1
Murmur... Murmur...
The people glanced at him and began whispering among themselves.
"Isn't that guy...?"
"Yeah. Haven't seen him standing around in the square lately."
"See? Once we ignored him, he gave up."
"......"
Woojin ignored their words drifting over.
It didn't matter anymore how they judged him.
He had things he needed to do.
"I'd like to pick up a quest..."
"You haven't received your badge yet. In that case, just choose one from the requests on the bulletin board over there."
Following the guild member's guidance, Woojin turned to the wall on the right, plastered with posters.
[C-Rank - Gray Wolf Hunt]
[E-Rank - Collect 30 Wild Herbs]
[D-Rank - Collect 10 Goblin Teeth]
As he approached the bulletin board, pop-up windows detailing the requests appeared one after another.
'To leave Moretti Village, a beginner area, for another village, you need to complete at least 10 requests here.'
After that, you receive an official registration badge from the Adventurer's Guild, allowing you to head to a mid-tier city.
'Level up to 50 in a mid-tier city to reach the Labyrinth Tower on the central continent...'
Only then could you cross to the central continent, where you'd earn the qualifications to tackle the towers—the main storyline of Evil Tail.
'The community says it takes at least three months just to reach the central continent.'
A journey by no means easy.
'I don't know how it happened, but...'
Even players who'd finished that long trek couldn't easily obtain runes, making his otherworld experience a truly massive gain.
'...I wonder if I can go back?'
The thought struck Woojin suddenly.
If even low-tier beasts like gray wolves dropped runes... what about other monsters?
But he shook his head right away.
'Too dangerous.'
He didn't even know how he'd gone to the other world or how he'd returned.
'One wrong move, and I might never come back.'
Better to seek answers in the reality he knew than gamble on uneasy what-ifs.
"Goblins, huh..."
Woojin tapped one of the quest pop-ups.
Among the beasts in the Dark Forest, orcs were the strongest.
Though only level 10, with his current stats, he could wipe out the Orc Citadel solo.
He'd completed nine quests so far.
One more, and he could leave Moretti Village.
That's why he chose this one.
He had something he wanted to confirm.
"Forming a party!"
"Tank needed for nest clear—come on over!"
"Looking for a DPS spot!"
As he left the village and stepped into the Dark Forest, he saw people recruiting for parties.
The reason for partying was simple.
To hunt beasts faster and in greater numbers.
'But for me, it's unnecessary.'
Thanks to the Solitude trait gained from Raoul's essence, solo hunting suited him better.
'All the traits from essences are tied to Raoul.'
The realization left Woojin with a faintly bitter feeling.
How long had Raoul wandered the continent alone to acquire such traits?
'Well, I'm grateful for it...'
Woojin was already known from the logout incident. He wanted to avoid entangling with people as much as possible.
"Recruiting one DPS level 15 or below for Goblin Nest time attack!"
It was then.
Amid the shouts recruiting parties everywhere, a voice caught Woojin's ear.
'...Time attack?'
Woojin turned his head.
'Right... there was that.'
An achievement rewarding bonus clears if you conquered a dungeon within a time limit.
"Hm."
He placed his hand on the stone monument before the Goblin Nest.
[Current Record Rankings]
[1st: Keruga's Party (4 members) - 15:37]
[2nd: Tramell's Party (4 members) - 16:21]
[3rd: Lykan's Party (4 members) - 19:10]
A window appeared above the stone.
'Impressive... born superior.'
Woojin let out a low exclamation at the rankings on the board.
Keruga, ranked first.
He was the leader of the Phoenix Unit, hailed as the world's top raid group.
Once you hit level 15, rankings no longer applied, so no one had broken the record Keruga set years ago in his beginner days.
'Back then, early in the game, even the auction house wasn't fully active.'
Woojin glanced at the player recruiting for the time attack party.
The gray-tinged armor gleamed subtly in the sunlight.
'Armor made from the hide of Ashmane, a rare monster with low respawn odds in the Dark Forest.'
And that wasn't all.
The iron sword at his side wasn't guild-shop fare—it was high-end gear forged by central continent blacksmiths.
Woojin eyed the insignia on the man's shoulder.
Sword and hawk emblem.
Belonging to the Jaina Clan, one of Evil Tail's top ten clans.
'Figures. Only major guilds can even attempt time attacks.'
"20-minute clear for the basic achievement! Come join!!"
Despite top-tier gear, he wasn't aiming for the rankings.
He had no choice.
'Keruga's record is from four years ago, but second place—Tramell's—was set just half a year back.'
Murlan, leader of the Tramell Clan, one of the top ten, had staked his clan's name to break Keruga's record.
Compared to four years ago, gear and skills had advanced clearly.
Everyone expected Murlan to set a new mark, but astonishingly, Keruga's stood unbroken.
'His challenge only proved Keruga's greatness.'
Challenges from other clans followed, but none shattered Keruga's record.
It had become entrenched.
'Records set by elites from major clans pouring everything into it...'
No wonder no one dared challenge the rankings.
"Hm."
Woojin frowned slightly.
In fact, not just the Goblin Nest—the top ten clans created fresh accounts to redo every beginner dungeon this way.
'They claimed it was to challenge Keruga's records.'
Their aim was obvious.
[Top 3 dungeon board teams earn titles, with effects varying by member count.]
Woojin gazed at the note at the bottom of the ranking board.
'That's what they're after—these titles.'
Titles earned from specific achievements in Evil Tail came with various effects.
'Titles are great, sure... but they're not restarting on new accounts just for them.'
As Woojin pondered, a group nearby grumbled disdainfully about the top ten clans.
"But aren't the top ten clan jerks too petty?"
"Dirty bastards. Fuck. They make new accounts to bump rankings so no one else gets titles."
"That's how the haves stay ahead."
"Hey, hey, drop it."
"Ahem..."
Not having it themselves, they kept others from it too—a petty move that irked, but no one openly challenged the top ten clans.
Listening to the chatter, Woojin felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
'In that light, Keruga really is impressive.'
His Goblin Nest record withstood even the top ten clans' assaults.
"Title effects vary by member count..."
The key to time attacks: clearing the dungeon fast.
Naturally, more party members meant faster hunts, so full parties were standard for time attacks.
Skimp on numbers chasing better rewards, and you might miss rankings entirely.
"Keruga's unbreakable record, even against the top ten clans' schemes. But even he missed something."
Woojin grew curious.
'What if I beat his time with fewer members than his party...?'
What then?
Sneer...
He smiled faintly.
No need to overthink.
If curious, just do it.
[Entered the Goblin Nest.]
[Kieeeek---!!!]
The moment he entered the nest, goblins charged at Woojin.
Five in total.
'Four regular goblins, one swordsman.'
Woojin quickly assessed their lineup.
Fortunately, no ranged ones.
He'd learned fighting beasts in the other world.
One less thing to worry about made hunting so much smoother.
Shing...
He drew his sword.
Toward the goblin swinging a shabby club, he slashed without hesitation.
Bam---!!!
The goblin's head exploded, turning to ash before it could even hit the ground.
"...?!!"
Just one strike.
Woojin, who'd attacked, and the goblins witnessing their comrade's death were equally stunned.
[Kr... Kruk.]
From the hesitating goblins stepped the goblin swordsman, gripping a crude blade and advancing.
The short dagger—barely qualifying as a sword—trembled pathetically at its tip.
[The goblins begin to feel fear.]
Could anyone one-shot a goblin in this level 15 dungeon?
Even the great Keruga couldn't.
Yet Woojin had just done the impossible.
[The goblins lose the will to fight against overwhelming power.]
Clang...
The goblin swordsman dropped its blade and froze in place.
[The goblins fall into panic.]
[The goblins' movements are restricted.]
"Well, now."
No one had ever done it.
So naturally, no one knew the outcome.
Slash...
Woojin cleaved the head of the statue-still goblin like chopping a scarecrow.
[Kieeeek---!!]
Unable to resist, they vanished into screams and ash.
[Ke... Kekuk...!!]
He looked up, locking eyes with the remaining goblins. They shrieked in surprise and fled.
"Ha... haha."
Watching them scatter, Woojin laughed awkwardly, at a loss.
"This is a problem..."
Because it looked like he'd clear it too quickly.