Chapter 4
Chapter 4
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 004
Chapter Title: The Tutorial Begins (3)
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Choosing the spear was an excellent choice. With combat experience limited to childish scuffles, how were they supposed to fight goblins—monsters, small as they might be?
“Keeek!”
If they had picked swords or bows, they would have been torn to shreds by the goblins charging like mad.
“D-Don’t panic!”
“Fuck!”
“Crazy monster bastards...!”
“Get away! I said get away!”
The group thrust their spears forward, trying to intimidate the goblins. At a glance, their movements were clumsy and awkward. There was no coordination at all—everyone was just scrambling to save themselves.
But thanks to the nature of the spear as a weapon, the pint-sized goblins couldn’t close the distance easily. Even their blood-smeared wooden clubs were useless against those long shafts.
“Kekeek!”
Kang Mu-hyuk quickly scanned the battlefield.
Stay calm! If you keep your cool, these are opponents you can handle anytime! They’re small, aren’t they? So don’t panic!
He had no combat experience either, but like the man stepping up first, he took action.
“Everyone, huddle up! If we stick together, it’s nothing! They’re just goblins at worst!”
Just straightening out the scattered lines was enough to reverse the mood.
The others caught on to what Kang Mu-hyuk meant right away. They pressed their backs against nearby “comrades” or aligned shoulders.
“Come on! Come at me!!”
“Get lost!”
“You monster scum!”
“To think mere goblins dare...!”
Forming ranks had a massive effect. Feeling safer with allies beside them, the group forgot their fear and struck back at the charging goblins.
Puk!
A sharp spear was lethal with a simple thrust. And its length meant little risk of counterattack.
The tide turned in a flash.
“Th-These things aren’t so bad?”
“We got scared over nothing!”
“I could take one too...!”
“I’ll kill it in one shot!”
“Dieee!!”
The taste of obvious victory fired them up. Killing something felt less repulsive that way.
Well, it already felt like a “game” more than anything, dulling the aversion even further.
Puk! Puk! Keeek!
Alice clapped enthusiastically at their swift response and adaptation, beaming with genuine delight.
“Yes! That’s it! As chosen ones, losing to goblins would be absurd, right? Ridiculous! Goblins should be nothing—a light sweep! In that spirit, second wave incoming!”
But she had no intention of going easy. Alice summoned the next batch of goblins.
“Kieeeek!!”
Ten of them again.
So what about Lee Sang-hyun? The sole sword-picker out of ten—what was his situation?
Right now, he was experiencing something unbelievable. The world seemed to move in slow motion? Like a life-flashing montage, the goblins’ actions played out “slowly.”
“......”
Hard to believe, but it was real.
The charging goblins, the ones screaming and thrashing wildly—they all looked slow.
He could clearly see exactly where they were lunging, what they were aiming for.
Thump. Thump.
But Lee Sang-hyun didn’t swing his sword. He simply stood there watching, not joining the fray.
To the others, he looked frozen stiff with terror.
“What the hell’s that guy doing? Why’s he just standing there like an idiot?”
“Leave him be! He’s already freaking out enough!”
“He’s never even held a sword!”
“Maybe he just doesn’t wanna fight!”
“Without these spears, we’d be the same! Ignore him—focus on the goblins!”
Some even snickered inwardly.
Idiot!
Why grab a sword if you can’t even swing it?
That guy’s dead last for sure.
Lee Sang-hyun didn’t care a bit. He hadn’t even heard them.
Because in this slowed world, he was observing everything.
Goblins, humans, fairy— all of it.
Thump... Thump...
For the moment, that was plenty.
Interesting.
They’d fought a total of thirty goblins without a single casualty. Every corpse sprawled on the ground was a goblin’s. Even more astonishing—no one was worn out.
“As you can feel, chosen ones outclass the unchosen! Vastly superior! And with a constellation’s favor on top? Unimaginable, right?”
Alice addressed the crowd, who were no longer ordinary.
Her words made them marvel anew.
“Yeah... It’s totally different. I moved like crazy, but I’m not even tired.”
“Same here. My workouts were just pilates or yoga, but now I’m wielding weapons in combat.”
“Feels like I’m stronger than pro fighters... Nah, probably not quite.”
“You are. Pros can’t keep fighting forever. Technique’s still lacking for us... but stamina and power? We’ve got the edge.”
“Me, stronger than pros...! And if a constellation picks me... What then?”
A sudden curiosity gripped them. Things were already unreal—what would a constellation’s choice bring?
Gulp.
Several times stronger than now, for sure. Rarer choices mean even more power. So win at all costs. Can’t let first place slip.
Kang Mu-hyuk craved the “pinnacle.” The apex of the chosen. Kingship.
He’d decided to become a “lord.”
The brief rest ended.
Alice spoke to the group.
“This fight’s one-on-one against burly orcs. You’ll go one by one. Fastest, most efficient orc-slayer gets top score.”
One-on-one with orcs? The sudden wall of muscle threw them into panic.
“Wh-What if we get badly hurt? We could die, right?”
If it were a group brawl, no one would’ve asked. Weakness might displease the constellations.
But solo? Fear of death hit hard.
Alice shook her head.
“You’re chosen ones. You won’t die, even if killed. So fight without fear. At least here, death isn’t permanent.”
They weren’t dense enough to miss the implication. Resurrection in a snap.
Means they’ll revive us.
Ugh! Still dying, though? Gotta hurt like hell...
No pain relief. That’s part of the test.
Just charge in? Die and revive anyway.
No death to fear... no reason to dodge. Even if limbs fly, fight like demons. Constellations’ll love it.
Each quelled their fears in their own way. No death meant no terror.
The opener was Kang Mu-hyuk.
Hands had been raised for a volunteer to face the orc first. He’d won out.
He exhaled steadily, locking eyes on the 180cm slab of burly orc.
Stay calm. Act calm, and it’s winnable. Calm. Fight calm!
Liar if he claimed no fear. Similar height, but twice the bulk.
Yet he showed none. He’d turn that fear into the fuel to topple the beast.
Here goes!
The fight opened with a sharp thrust. Kang aimed to end it quick, spearing at the belly.
Whoosh!
The tip targeted the wide-open gut. Even off-angle, it’d hit.
But it whiffed. Contrary to expectations of slowness from that bulk, the orc dodged nimbly.
Kuh!
Kang yanked back the spear, creating distance. Simultaneously, the orc’s greatsword crashed down.
Boom!
The power behind it was monstrous. A head hit would’ve split him in two.
Barely evading, Kang swung the spear to ward off approach.
Damn!
But that split-second hesitation was all it took. The orc was faster and sharper than he’d figured.
“Kuhuhu!”
It clocked his amateur spearwork and didn’t overcommit. It watched the tip religiously, slipping into gaps with veteran savvy.
Kang ended up the hunted.
Mere orc...!
Anger surged, but no room to unleash it. He backpedaled desperately, taking minor cuts from probing strikes.
It was a heartbeat.
“?!!”
Instinct twisted his body. The greatsword grazed his thigh.
Whoosh!
0.2 seconds? 0.1? He’d dodged the slice by a hair. Any slower, and the leg was gone.
Kang scrambled back. The orc pursued at a leisurely, relentless pace.
Damn it...!
He gnashed his teeth at the orc’s unhurried but dogged assault.
Damn it!!
No opening in sight. Even a newbie could see stepping in meant death.
“Kuhuhu!”
Time for a call. Kang steeled himself for death.
The longer this drags, the worse for me! So... all in on one shot.
Doubtful it’d flip the script, but one truth stood: no other options.
Now!!
The moment arrived. He lunged at the orc’s exposed gap.
Spear tip straight for the heart.
Of course, it was a deliberate “trap.” Baiting a desperate counter—obvious ploy to lure and punish.
But a fatal miscalculation. It never dreamed he’d charge ignoring death.
“?!!”
The orc planned a casual arm-sever. Kang bet his life...
Puuk!!
Kang’s bigger stake won. The orc landed a brutal wound too, but nothing like taking a life.
“Kuhhh...!!”
Gritting through the searing pain, he pressed harder. And felled the orc.
Boom!
Right arm gone, side gashed, ribs shattered, guts spilling—messy as hell. But Kang claimed victory.