Chapter 27
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Goblin Village
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“Keeek!”
In the meantime, the goblins who had reloaded fired off another volley from their slingshots. Having gotten the hang of it, all three shots struck the orc square in the head.
“Grahhh!”
The impact must have been severe, because the orc immediately went berserk.
“Close your mouth. Your breath stinks.”
I hurled a spear at the rampaging orc. But it swung with monstrous strength and batted the spear away.
Looks like when it wasn’t charging, it could handle big wind-up attacks like spear throws just fine.
‘Doesn’t matter. This was just to draw its attention anyway.’
While the orc was fixated on the spear, the hobgoblin was sneaking up behind it.
“Now!”
The hobgoblin timed his strike perfectly with the moment the orc deflected the spear, bringing his axe down on its heel.
“Krek!”
The orc lost its balance and toppled over. Even as it fell, it swung its axe backward, but the hobgoblin had already ditched his weapon and bolted.
That created another opening.
“Where you lookin’?”
I pulled out a throwing axe and smashed it into the orc’s neck with all my strength. The blade sank about a third of the way into its nape before stopping with a thunk, like it had lodged in solid wood. Must’ve hit bone.
“Ugh!”
A chill ran down my spine. I dropped the axe and backed away.
The orc flailed on the ground, desperate to take someone down with it, but me and the goblins kept our distance, pelting it with slingshot stones.
“Grwooo—”
With a pitiful wail that almost evoked sympathy, the orc finally went still.
Yeah, it had to feel hard done by. It had just taken hit after hit. It hadn’t even landed a single attack despite going berserk, and its charge never got off the ground before its ankle was gone.
‘Easier than I thought?’
Part of it was my own growth, but I’d really reaped the benefits of my minions getting stronger.
The goblins especially had gained attack power rivaling 2-star monsters once they unlocked slingshots.
Of course, up close it’d be a different story, but in terms of ranged, they’d definitely surpassed the limits of 1-stars.
“This is about enough... time to head out exploring.”
Ever since that orc had invaded the dungeon last time, I’d been hustling to prepare countermeasures.
Internally, I’d been training myself and drilling the minions. Externally, I’d had Moemoe-chan scout the surroundings to get a jump on any threats.
Thanks to that, she’d been circling nonstop around the dungeon for the past two months. And today, the map was finally complete.
“You’ve worked hard. Moemoe-chan.”
“Worked hard? Are you seriously trying to brush off all the life-risking effort I’ve put in with just one word?”
“Uh, huh?”
Moemoe-chan must’ve built up a lot of grievances, because she started venting.
“Do you have any idea how tough it’s been for me? Scouting all alone, fighting dream demons every so often— I could’ve used two astral bodies and still been short!”
“Sorry. Once I’ve got some mana to spare, I’ll summon more succubi.”
“......You need to give me a vacation too.”
“Got it. Got it. I get how hard you worked, so hurry up and show me.”
Only after a good long soothing session did Moemoe-chan finally start her report.
“Just like you ordered, Master—‘All by myself!’—I’ve mapped out the surrounding terrain. Take a look. Hya! Illusion!”
An illusion unfurled from Moemoe-chan’s fingertips. The forest, mountains, and river took holographic 3D form, filling the dungeon.
“This is our dungeon.”
The dungeon sat in the middle of a vast forest. To the east stretched the Ija Mountains in a long vertical line, while to the north a massive river flowed from east to west.
Look closely, and you’d see wing markings on the mountains, a snake tail on the river.
“Harpy—2-star monsters—in the mountains, and lizardmen—also 2-stars—in the river.”
“2-star monsters this close? Whew. At least the terrain keeps them separate.”
I let out a sigh of relief despite myself. Harpies wouldn’t venture into a forest this thick with trees.
Lizardmen almost never came ashore either. As long as we stayed away from the mountains and river, we wouldn’t run into them.
“What about elsewhere?”
“As you see, wasteland stretches endlessly to the south, and dense forest continues west. Oh, and we found multiple goblin villages in the western forest. Marking their locations now.”
“More goblin villages than I expected.”
I’d figured there were some around here, but not this many.
Five small ones dotted the area right around the dungeon alone, and over ten larger ones lay to the west.
“And we found an orc village in the wasteland. Seems orcs sometimes come into the forest to hunt goblins.”
“So the orc that invaded this time came from the south too.”
“Yeah. Probably came hunting goblins and got drawn in by Master’s mana.”
“Are orcs the only monsters living south?”
“There were plenty of humanoid types too, like werewolves. Master.”
“Hmm. I see...”
Putting it together, north, east, and south were still off-limits for now. The central and western forests were the only places I could roam freely.
“Anything else noteworthy?”
“Oh! One goblin village near the wasteland border got totally wiped out by a massive orc raid.”
“Or cs moving in groups? That sounds dangerous.”
“It should be fine for now. They’ve stocked up on food from the big hunt, so they’ll probably stay quiet for a while.”
Fine for now, maybe, but long-term it was obviously a threat.
Goblins were orc food. Orcs would keep raiding the forest for them, and who knew when they’d hit the dungeon next.
No big deal if just one wandered in like this time, but if a whole pack invaded at once? No real countermeasures for that.
“Not the time to be leisurely practicing throwing skills, huh?”
Of course learning throws mattered, but first I needed levels to back it up.
The looming threat wasn’t goblins. Orcs. Maybe dozens at once.
“Gotta promote as fast as possible.”
That meant farming monsters for XP. Problem was, the only things I could hunt right now were goblins.
Since hitting level 10, killing one barely gave 0.1% XP.
To hit 2-star, I’d need to kill nearly a thousand goblins.
Hunting them one by one? No way. For max XP fast, one option.
‘Gotta raid goblin villages.’
Dozens of goblins clustered together. Probably some hobgoblins, maybe even goblin warriors or shamans.
If I could wipe them out, it’d be a huge haul. The catch: taking them all solo.
‘Think positive, positive. At least easier than facing an orc pack.’
Not like I had zero strategy. Enemies stuck in one spot, clueless about the attack.
I had stealth, illusion—perfect ambush skills—and the forest terrain offered hiding spots galore.
‘If I play it right, I could assassinate the whole tribe.’
Like in the game *Assassin’s Creed* or the anime *Kage Gatsu*—pick ’em off from the shadows, and wiping a group’s a breeze.
Not that it’d be *that* easy, but way better than charging in head-on.
‘For now, prep slowly and brainstorm strategies.’
I opened my inventory to check weapons. Full of ones I’d snuck out.
But tons of weapons, zero adventure essentials like food or tent. Couldn’t go far like this.
Even the nearest goblin village was a full day’s trek. Head out unprepared, and it’s a cold, hungry night.
‘Need to stock adventure gear and plan the hunt.’
Biggest issue: time. Tied to the academy. Couldn’t stay in this world long.
So far I’d snuck out an hour or two with the stomachache excuse, but serious hunting? No way with that.
Only free time was weekends without training, but even two days wouldn’t cut it.
Nearest village was two days round trip, plus sleep—minimum three days.
Conclusion: had to pop back to Earth midway somehow.
I pulled out the golden key.
‘No way there’s a door in this forest. Means opening a portal in empty air... but inventory proves empty space can hold real stuff.’
Inventory existed, even if invisible. Not seeing it didn’t mean it wasn’t there.
So maybe the golden key didn’t need a door? ...That was my hunch.
‘Dimensional doors are everywhere. I just can’t see them.’
Imagining an invisible door in front of me, I inserted the key and turned. Something caught at my fingertips with a ‘click’—phantom sound—and the familiar message popped up.
[Locations with saved coordinates: 3. Where to?]
[1. Home]
[2. School]
[3. Academy]
“......It worked. It actually worked.”
Opened a portal in thin air. Half-doubted it’d work, but it did.
Time limit solved. Food and sleep too.
‘No need to pack tons of food. Bring a day’s worth, eat, fetch fresh tomorrow. Sleep at home after dark—no night watch needed. Damn, this is OP.’
“Alright! Moemoe-chan, get more details on terrain and routes to the goblin villages, plus each village’s size. Planning to hunt next week, so ASAP please.”
No time. Routes, weapons, food, hunt sims—tons to prep. But Moemoe-chan shook her head firmly.
“No way! I just got back!”
“Please! It’s life or death for us all!”
“You promised vacation earlier!”
“Hey, with orc packs who-knows-when, what vacation? Just get past this crisis first...”
“Aaah—whatever, whatever! Not my dungeon anyway. Not doing it. Can’t! Kill me instead!”
Like she’d been possessed by some drama queen, Moemoe-chan flopped on the floor, flailing limbs.
“No! Not gonna!”
“Ugh. Can’t even kill the damn thing for real.”
In the end, I failed to convince Moemoe-chan. She went full dead-fish; no countering that.
“Fine. Fine. You win. I’ll summon more succubi. Happy?”
“Evil boss. Had spare mana and still worked me to death...”
Her mutter pricked my conscience a bit, but I schooled my face and summoned the succubi.