Chapter 59
Chapter 59
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Solidifying the Base #7
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Fucking dangerous!
"Uwaaaaaaaaah!!!"
A wolf bigger than a lion? Shit!
If that bastard comes over and takes just one bite out of me, I'll be torn to shreds! And no way is a beast like that settling for one bite! It's definitely the type to chomp me up and then rip through all my minions too!
I dove into the cave with Sharan right behind me, hiding our asses fast!
"Formation! Get the formation up!! Form up facing the cave entrance!!!"
"Ke, Kerruk!"
I bellowed, and the goblins who'd been busy with other tasks rushed over to form up.
"Ke, Kerruk?!"
"Kerurruk!"
"Kerring?!"
But as they were forming, they spotted the wolf and let out terrified yelps! Hell, their shoulders were shaking too!
"Fuckin' hell!"
All these bastards were scared shitless!
"Shaaa...!"
Sharan was on high alert too! This was seriously dangerous—first time I'd ever seen her this tense!
"Shit!"
A do-or-die crisis!
"No way in hell am I dying here!"
I had to survive no matter what! We couldn't all croak in this dump!
The second that thought hit me.
—Huuu!
I sucked in a deep breath!
"—Don't you fucking panic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I roared with every ounce of my soul!
"Kerruk!"
"Kerruk?!"
"Shaat?!"
We couldn't show fear in a spot like this! Yeah, I was scared out of my mind, knees buckling, about to piss myself—but I swallowed all that terror down!
A commander has to stay cool and confident at all times! If the top dog's shaking, how the hell are the troops gonna muster any guts?
"Hold the formation!!! Keep it tight!!! Front line, shields up! Rear line, spears ready!! Raise 'em high!!! We'll attack on my command! Trust only me! I'm right here with you! So—"
I unleashed a rallying speech to steady my troops. And hell, it was for me too.
What I pictured was.
The ultimate badass. No.
Kang Ho-dong, Korea's toughest entertainer.
That Kang Ho-dong, soul-shredding on 1 Night 2 Days with "It's all on meeeee!!!"
"Just trust meeeeee!!!"
I bellowed it with my whole damn soul!!
And with that shout—
"Kerruk!"
The trembling goblins' shoulders froze.
"Ke, Kerruk!"
data-start="299" data-end="302">"Keruuuuk!"
data-start="313" data-end="316">"Kerraaaaaak!"
Then battle cries exploded out!
"That's right! I'm right here! Buril, you sorry fucks! Your big bro's got you!!!"
"Kerurrurruk!"
data-start="462" data-end="465">"Sharan! Boss is here!"
data-start="488" data-end="491">"B, Boss!"
Maybe it was all that yelling.
—Grrrrowl...
The wolf—bigger than a lion—started prowling back and forth ahead, like it was scouting us out.
Good. Lucky it didn't charge right in. Yeah, better than standing still—make some noise, keep it wary.
"Kerruk...!"
"Yeah. Buril. Stay calm. Just grip those spears tight."
I faked composure, talking in my usual tone.
"..."
Pure edge-of-your-seat tension.
—Prowl, prowl.
The massive wolf prowled through the bushes ahead. Looked just like a lion-sized wolf. Fur patterns different, fangs protruding a bit, not exactly Earth wolves, but close enough overall.
It kept prowling. No sign of leaving. It was sizing us up.
Luckily... the entrance was sealed tight. Kobold cave ceiling wasn't some open jump spot either—no way it could leap over. Phalanx would hold it.
But the massive problem?
Our weapons were just rods and clubs.
Shit. We came geared for kobolds, not this crap.
What now? How do we survive?
Calm down. The Maasai on the savanna hunted lions with a single spear. With my crew, I could win too.
"Boss! Big one's dangerous! Shaa! Shaa-sha!"
"Yeah. But we're good. We've got numbers."
Sacrifice. Odds of losing minions... sky-high. Horrifying, but I had to face it.
"Spear."
My spear was still good. Jam it in its throat or maw? Poke an eye at least? Might scare it off.
Watching it do that—
—Prowl.
The wolf edged closer.
"GRRRRROOOOOOAR!!!"
It unleashed a massive roar!
"You fucker!"
Trying to break our morale? Fuck that!
"Uwaaaaaaaaah!!!!"
I roared back louder! I've got demon cred—why flinch from some dog bastard?
"KRAAAAAAAH!!!"
Screaming it out, courage surged!
"Grrrowl!"
My yell worked? The approaching wolf coughed once, then retreated to prowl again.
"Huu!"
Probably wary 'cause I'm new to it. Goblins are easy prey, but me? Unknown. So even with size advantage, it held back. High caution. Doesn't know shit about me.
Exploit that... yeah. I've got my ace: Sharan.
And she obeys my orders.
"Sharan. When I say, rip that bastard up."
"Yes! Boss!"
Sharan's claws shred goblin muscle, snap bones. Like a full-force polearm or greatsword swing, in my book. That'd deal real damage.
"Grrrowl."
I observed the wolf's moves while thinking. Intently. All my focus on that wolf.
"Grrrowl...!"
Body low to the ground. Trembling hind legs. Sleek, glossy fur.
"That fucker."
It's coming, one way or another.
When it does? Gotta think nonstop.
I glared right back.
And then—
—Boom!
The wolf kicked off the ground.
"GRRRRAAAAAAAAR!!!!!"
A sky-shaking roar. A massive mammal, easily hundreds of kilos, charging like a freight train. Goblin strength couldn't stop that, formation or not. It's a goddamn tank!
"...!"
Its eyes, gaze! Track it! Who’s it targeting!?
Right now, staring me down!
"KRAAAAAAAH!!!"
I yelled, shifting left, slamming my shoulder against the cave wall! Distance closing fast.
Finally at the entrance, it leaped—
"GRRRRRRRROWL!!!"
—KABOOM!
"Keruuuuk!"
data-start="3487" data-end="3490">"Kerraaaaaak!"
The phalanx goblins flew like bowling pins!
Ignoring them all, eyes locked on the wolf!
"Demon Breaaaaath!!!"
—FWOOSH!
I spewed fire, thrusting my spear with everything. Burned all my demonic power to widen and extend the flames, exploded every muscle to drive the spear forward.
—Stab!
Vision filled with fire. Felt the spear tip pierce the wolf.
—Whoosh!
I got flung backward. Tank for real.
The wolf that shoved me mounted right on top.
But expected.
—FWOOSH!
The wolf's body engulfed in flames.
"Grrruuuh?!"
Its fur was oily as hell—burned nice. I just kept the spear wedged under my side, holding it upright to block its jaws.
"Uwaaak!"
Had to hold, fucking hold! If it gets its maw in, my head's gone!
Shit, arms shaking bad!
Sorry Sharan!
"Sh, Sharan!!!! Sharan! Claw the shit outta its side!!!"
"Shaaaaaaa!!!"
Sharan roared, slashing wildly at the flaming wolf's flank!
—Slash!
data-start="4413" data-end="4416">—Slaaaash!
data-start="4426" data-end="4429">—Slash!
Rippling frenzy of cuts.
"Grrruuuk?!"
Blood sprayed, groans erupted.
I gripped my lifeline spear to the end, and seconds later—
"KRAAAAAAAH!!!"
The wolf twisted and bolted from the cave!
—FWOOSH!
Still wreathed in flames!
We won! Survived!
Joy of living surged through me, but no time to bask.
"Goodbye, Ghost Rider...! Khack!"
"Boss!!!"
Sharan rushed to me. Her hands... burned.
Fucking hell...! Worst of all, Sharan got hurt!
"I'm fine... What about you, Sharan? Hurt bad?"
"Sharan no hurt! Boss! Boss!"
"Heh heh, told you I'm good."
Sensations fuzzy, but nothing major. I'd staked my soul holding that spear. Timed the flames to blind it on impact. The wolf couldn't land a clean hit.
Worried about Sharan and the scattered goblins.
"Buril!"
"Kerruk...!"
Answered—alive. Thank fuck.
Buril dying? Can't even imagine the grief.
"Boss!"
"Sharan. I'm not hurt at all. Tell me where you're hurting."
"Sh, Sharan... h, hand lil hurt! But Boss hurt more!!!"
"Told you, I'm fine. No injuries."
"Boss hurt!!!"
Sharan freaked, stroking me all over. Face full of panic. Really worried about me.
"Boss...! Boss! Hurt lots!"
About to cry!
"Aigoo! Sharan! I'm fine!"
Maybe 'cause I was down! I shot up!
"See! Up like nothing!"
"B, Boss?"
"I'm good! Calm down, Sharan! Barely hurts!"
"Bossiii!!"
Sharan hugged me tight.
"Yeah, yeah. See? Fine."
"Shaaat!"
Comforting her, I checked around.
"Keruk...!"
Goblins crawling, scattered. No deaths—lucky. But banged up bad.
"Buril. You okay?"
"Kerruk... Kerruk."
Buril staggered up. Bruises everywhere, no fatal wounds. Huge relief.
"Thanks, Buril! For staying alive!"
"Kerulong!"
Buril grinned, nodded, started rounding up the crew.
Time for me to get back to work.
"Sharan. I'm good, so prep to head home. Can't stay here."
"Boss..."
"Gotta get home first. Think there. Can't do shit without getting home."
"...Yes, Boss."
The wolf fled. But not beaten. Just spooked by fire. My Demon Breath caught, but no fatal. Sharan's slashes hurt, but not lethal. It bolted from surprise.
Once it calms, assesses itself? It'll come back for revenge.
Realize we're not that tough? Guaranteed rematch.
Why? Strong monster. Strong ones have territory. Its turf—showing up proves it. Like I wiped hobgoblins, it'll defend its zone by erasing me. Nature's way. Wild rules. No yielding. Clash again for sure.
"Don't kill it, we die."
Etched that in my chest, calmed my pounding heart.
"Boss. What about kobolds?"
"..."
Abandon 'em.
"Kill one."
"Yes?"
Grabbed my spear, headed to bound kobold prisoners. Thrust without hesitation.
—Pffft!
"Kyusaaat...!"
The bound kobold spewed blood, died.
"Boss? Kill kobold?"
"Yeah. Leaving the rest."
No Domination. Save demonic power.
"Wolf comes back, it'll sniff blood. Gotta get home first. These kobolds... bait, sorry to say."
They'd buy time. Sorry to Kyuil almost getting a replacement, but necessary sacrifice.
"Yes, Boss."
Sharan nodded, got it.
If Domination? Mine. Protect 'em. But prisoners? Expendable. Priority: me and family's lives.
"Buril. Wounded!"
"Kerruk!"
"Hm."
Two spear-goblins with broken arms/legs. Out for a bit.
"Kyuil. Muturi."
Called 'em, stepped forward.
"Kyusat..."
data-start="7669" data-end="7672">"Grak..."
Scared shitless.
"You carry the wounded. Got it?"
"Kyusat."
Got it.
"Buril. Sharan. Heading home. Keep formation tight. Eyes everywhere. Clear?"
"Kerruk."
data-start="7842" data-end="7845">"Yes... Boss. Watch big one?"
"Yeah. Always."
Comes back? Screwed.
"Move out."
We bunched tight, vigilant all around, hustled back to the dungeon. Luck—no wolf return. But dawdle? Might've.
"Two-man watch shifts from now. Everyone. Gear stays on you, no armory."
Exhausted, but jobs first. Moved quick. Dig pit at entrance too.