Betrayals Across Lifetimes
Choi Changseok furrowed his brow.
The equipment was mediocre, and Kang Yoonsoo didn’t look particularly strong. Even with a level advantage, it was difficult to overcome a numerical disadvantage. Moreover, traps had already been set near the entrance.
That was when it happened.
Loud footsteps echoed from the far side of the cave. A horde of goblins came charging in formation from beyond the darkness.
These were no ordinary goblins. Their bodies were bright red, and their frames were far larger.
“Kyarrk-! Kyararak-! Kyarorok-!”
Choi Changseok quickly drew his sword.
“Damn it, there were still stragglers left. It’s a pack of Hobgoblins! Everyone, prepare for battle!”
“Kyaruruk-!”
“Hah!”
The crimson goblins rushed forward with daggers raised. Choi Changseok, leading the charge, swung his blade in a wide arc.
Clang!
The enemy’s dagger shattered, and the Hobgoblin’s jaw was deeply gashed. While the creature howled, Choi Changseok drove his sword straight into its heart.
“Haa…… haa…… damn it!”
There was no time to catch his breath. Another goblin swung a longsword at him. Caught off guard, Choi Changseok squeezed his eyes shut—only for Hong Garam to bring his twin axes crashing down.
The Hobgoblin collapsed, its entrails spilling across the floor.
Yet countless more Hobgoblins still surrounded them.
From the rear, Lee Yuri cried out in panic.
“Oppa! I picked the wrong habitat. These aren’t regular goblins—they’re Hobgoblins!”
“It’s too late to run! Stop whining and shoot your arrows already!”
Hobgoblins. A subspecies of goblins with crimson skin. Not only were they armed with proper equipment, but their bodies were significantly larger. Most were seasoned warriors, each around level 30.
Choi Changseok was level 36. The other three were roughly level 30. While he could hold his own, they were hopelessly outnumbered. At a glance, over a hundred Hobgoblins had encircled them.
The creatures quickly sealed off the exit and closed in. Compared to regular goblins, they were stronger and far more skilled with weapons.
After piercing another Hobgoblin’s heart, Choi Changseok gasped for air.
‘Damn it! How did that guy take these things down alone?’
He glanced at Kang Yoonsoo. The man fought with a sword in one hand and a spear in the other, crossing the two weapons fluidly. He dodged attacks with ease and decapitated foes in single strikes—his movements were so precise they seemed almost mechanical. He had already slain over thirty Hobgoblins.
‘Is his level actually extremely high?’
Yoonsoo’s equipment was strange, but that was the only explanation Choi Changseok could think of. Without extensive hunting experience, no one could display such masterful swordsmanship. Levels improved physical stats, but it was the user who had to wield them effectively.
Yet Choi Changseok’s assumption was wrong.
Kang Yoonsoo’s level was only in the twenties—the lowest among the group. Still, his movements, which allowed not a single wound, were impossible to believe belonged to a novice.
“Urgh-!”
A Hobgoblin’s blade grazed Kim Minsu’s shoulder, sending blood spraying. His armor was especially lacking. Gritting his teeth against the burning pain, he pressed down on the wound—only to leave himself wide open.
In an instant, three Hobgoblins lunged at him.
“Mercenary’s Fighting Spirit!”
Hong Garam activated his class skill without hesitation. Unique skills were granted upon choosing a class, and higher classes unlocked even more. They could be learned from masters, special tomes, or through personal effort.
Hong Garam’s eyes turned red. His arm muscles bulged as he swung his axes with tremendous force.
Thud!
Not only did he fell three Hobgoblins at once, but the impact sent fragments of their bodies flying into the cave wall.
“Th-thanks, Garam!”
“Huff! Huff!”
Unable to respond, Hong Garam dropped to one knee. The skill temporarily boosted physical abilities but placed immense strain on the body. Dual-wielding heavy axes already consumed vast amounts of stamina; only battle-hardened veterans could use it repeatedly.
With two fighters incapacitated, the situation deteriorated rapidly. Lee Yuri fired a few arrows from the back, but most missed their targets—some even flew toward Choi Changseok or Yoonsoo, disrupting the fight.
Then Kim Minsu, wounded and fallen, gritted his teeth and stood up.
“Damn it. Sword’s Soul!”
The Swordsman class skill. While its physical enhancement was weaker than Mercenary’s Fighting Spirit, it dulled pain and injury temporarily. It also increased attack power with lower stamina cost.
Despite his injured right arm, Kim Minsu swung his sword with everything he had. Hong Garam forced himself up through the muscle pain and brought his axes down once more.
Hours later, after the four fought desperately, the last Hobgoblin fell—impaled by Yoonsoo’s spear.
The party finally caught their breath.
“Wow, we actually wiped out that many Hobgoblins. I can’t believe it.”
Hong Garam muttered while massaging his numb arms. Kim Minsu pulled bandages from his pack and wrapped his wound.
“Changseok, how many did we kill?”
Choi Changseok checked his Terminal and replied.
“Ninety-nine. So close—one more and the quest would’ve been complete. But more importantly……”
He turned and glared at Lee Yuri. She flinched and lowered her head.
“Hey, Lee Yuri. What the hell? You said you’d use your detection skill to find a goblin habitat. So why did Hobgoblins show up? We almost died because of you.”
“I’m sorry, oppa. But my skill clearly told me there was something incredibly valuable in this cave.”
“For god’s sake, you should’ve checked the monsters properly instead of just thinking about the reward. Low-level detection skills have a low success rate, sure—but we’re risking our lives here. Do you even realize you’re the only one not pulling your weight?”
“What? Oppa, aren’t you being too harsh? It’s not my fault the skill was wrong!”
“Ah, fuck. This is what happens when I go easy on you because you’re a girl!”
The argument escalated. Lee Yuri’s voice grew tearful while Choi Changseok’s expression turned vicious. Kim Minsu and Hong Garam secretly enjoyed seeing her get scolded and deliberately looked away.
Meanwhile, Kang Yoonsoo sat quietly on a rock across from them. His level had risen by ten. Once again, he had invested everything into Strength. He was now level 31.
He glanced at the group. Two arguing, two watching in silence. Memories of countless past lives flashed through his mind.
“I’ve killed all of you many times before.”
The moment Yoonsoo spoke, the cave fell silent. Choi Changseok’s brows furrowed deeply.
“What did you just say?”
“In a past life, you betrayed me and nearly got me killed by Hobgoblins. That was the tenth life—when I first killed you.”
The group’s gazes turned sharp. Yoonsoo continued without pause.
“There was a time I tried to change things. I traveled with each of you. Kim Minsu betrayed me and fled during a pack of Werewolves. Hong Garam stole my weapons and ran while I slept. Choi Changseok took credit for my achievements and became the mercenary leader. Lee Yuri committed every kind of evil she could while hiding behind the guise of a weak woman. No matter what, no matter how, I was always betrayed.”
His dry, emotionless voice made the accusations feel ice-cold. Choi Changseok stormed over with a furious expression.
“What the hell are you trying to say?”
“Killing you brings me no regret. That fact has never changed across any of my lives.”
Choi Changseok grabbed Yoonsoo by the collar. Yoonsoo merely looked back with indifferent eyes. Choi Changseok bit his lip, rage twisting his face.
“Ha! This bastard. Just because you fought a little, you think you can run your mouth? You think everything you say is justified just because you’ve got a hole to talk out of?”
At that moment, the cave trembled with heavy footsteps.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Something massive approached from the far end. The shadow was unmistakably that of a Hobgoblin—yet several times larger.
Choi Changseok released his grip and reached for his sword. A gigantic, blood-red Hobgoblin emerged, a massive machete gleaming in its hand.
“Krororok-!”
Giant Hobgoblin (Boss, Level 52) has appeared.