Goburin Subjugation #2
It was so shocking, but somehow I pulled myself together and checked the bulletin board again. Yeah. Let's think about this rationally. Strictly speaking, there's no law saying goblins can't appear in the Murim. Plus, they've even properly localized the name as "Goburin." So maybe it's fine?
"Guhk...!"
It's still hard to swallow! Why the hell are goblins showing up in a wuxia story?! I wanted to scream it out, but I forced it down and brainwashed myself into acceptance. What can you do when the world's like this? Without power right now, I can only go with the flow.
Come to think of it, goblins are yokai too. Just focus on the board.
"Hm."
Green skin. Short stature. Long ears and nose. Low intelligence. Hunched back. No matter how I looked at it, they matched the goblins I knew.
These Goburin bastards lived in tribal packs like wild animals, apparently swelling in numbers now and then to raid farms or manors. That's why they got periodic subjugation quests. Stronger than small fry like Little Blue Ghosts or Big Rat Serpents, but just a step up. Think of them as two skulls' worth.
"..."
I stepped back a bit and eavesdropped on the Murim folk's chatter.
"Looks like the Goburins are back."
"What a pain in the ass. They make weapons and resist, making them harder to kill than regular small fry."
"Heard a Togak-gwi showed up around here. Let's go hunt that."
"Goburins are such a hassle to deal with..."
Listening in gave me more details. They had enough smarts to craft weapons and fight back. That lined up roughly with the goblins I knew. Still, their small size gave Murim warriors an absolute edge. Their weapons too—without a proper forge, they'd just have crude junk. The sword I carried was hammered out by pros at a smithy. No way these yokai had that kinda setup.
Bottom line: Goburins' combat power was below humans. Not some optimistic bias—this was straight from the board's pics and info. Real small-fry yokai, stronger than Little Blue Ghosts or Big Rat Serpents, but still low-tier.
"..."
My mind was made up. How's the reward?
Goburin Pack Subjugation Success: 2 silver taels
"Holy shit...!"
This is insane! 2 silver taels?! That's equivalent to 2,000 copper coins! They pay 2 silvers for wiping out a pack of small-fry yokai?! Mad, totally mad! With 2,000 coppers, how long could I slack off?!
Just as I thought this is a must-do, a vague unease bubbled up, my heart warning my brain. This Murim doesn't hand out free cash. To earn it, you grind your ass off—and for 2 silvers, there's gotta be a matching risk. The Goburins must be tougher than they look...
What to do? Take it? Skip it?
At the crossroads, I sweated bullets, torn between fear of a new enemy and the fat reward. Throw myself into danger for money?
"Hup...!"
The answer was clear. Throw yourself in! Can't slack off! Back when I did odd jobs, or exterminated those Little Blue Ghosts—it didn't matter how hard I grinded for cash without power. I'd just get shaken down by thugs again! To survive this Murim, I need strength!
I gotta challenge myself and grow! Cash and martial arts! Without 'em, I'm just a corpse! I already killed human bandits—what's to fear?!
Steel resolve set, I decided to take the Goburin subjugation quest. As a Murim man, new challenges mean achievements.
Straight to the reception desk.
"Hey there. Here to register with the Haengdo Gate today."
The guy looked bored.
"Registration fee: 200 coppers."
Thud. That was my heart dropping. What? 200 coppers?! This fucker's running a scam, right?
"There's a separate registration fee?"
"Proves you've got the chops to pay it, at least."
"Heard that way, it's pretty damn reasonable."
True—paying 200 coppers itself showed capability. Plus, this was just a broker. Pay up, take quests, recoup quick.
"Got it."
Handed over the coins; he pulled out a plaque.
"Name."
"Kim Geun-hyeop."
"Origin."
"Anhui Province."
"Experience."
"Did jobs at Dahoebang, then decided to become a Murim warrior."
"Right..."
Scratch scratch. He carved the info with a knife. Some kinda ID plaque? Felt pointless—modern Earth was full of fakes. Studies said 30% of crimes involved forged IDs. Easy to fake, zero trust.
"Here. Thumbprint."
"Got it."
Did as told; plaque issued.
"That's your Haengdo Gate ID. Needed for quests. Keep it with this membership cert—don't lose 'em."
"Reissue if lost?"
"Not unless you're famous enough folks recognize you."
"...Understood."
Gotta tuck this safe in my bosom from now on.
"Anyway, got the plaque—time to take a quest. Interested in Goburin subjugation. Can I handle it?"
"Hold on."
He checked a ledger.
"Perfect—four already gathered. I'll add your name."
"Four?"
"Five-man party by agreement."
Ah, party quest. They'd posted for recruits here, waiting for a full group. Makes sense—no way one guy solos a 2-silver gig. Needs four or five Murim warriors to clear.
Per person, that's 400 coppers? Sweet.
"Got it. Their names...?"
"Gu Juman. Jae Mi-son. O Gi-su. Song-ssi."
Sketchy names.
"Where at?"
"Waiting at Chunil Guesthouse nearby... Fetch 'em. Confirm and report quest start."
Nodded and turned. System seemed solid. No net or phones, so they ran it like this. Off to Chunil Guesthouse.
Arrived at the guesthouse—decent crowd inside. Being next to Haengdo Gate, probably Murim folk gathered here to form parties before quests.
Time to find my party.
"Sir. Party of how many?"
"Ah, meeting mates. Call if ordering."
"Yes, sir."
Shooed the waiter, then yelled:
"Over here! Any warriors heading out to subjugate Goburins?!"
All eyes flicked my way for a split second, then back to chow—routine stuff for them.
"Yah! Last guy's here! Over here!"
"Oh."
Shorter than me but stockier guy waved wildly. Four sat munching buns and such, resting up. Level? Hard to tell, but all mid-tier. Third-rate warriors, say.
Fresh faces felt good. Whoever they were, Murim folk beat that fucker Go Seok-sam. Reliable comrades at worst.
Excited already for Goburin hunt with these guys.
"Pleased to meet ya. Kim Geun-hyeop. You lot Gu Juman, Jae Mi-son, O Gi-su, Song-ssi?"
"Yeah! Gu Juman here!"
The welcomer bellowed full hype.
"Kik... Our comrade for today, eh."
A gloomy guy beside him chuckled darkly.
...What the?
"You?"
"Ah, that's Jae Mi-son. Personality's a bit twisted, as you see. Kinda weird dude."
Gu Juman answered for him.
"Know each other?"
"Nah, all first-timers."
"Cool. Nice to meet ya, Jae Mi-son."
Greeted while sizing him up. Skinny type. Classic gamer hunch even sitting. Shaggy hair to his eyes—visual novel protag vibe. But that weapon? Beyond unique—psycho killer weird. Like a trident minus the center prong, blades jury-rigged with daggers.
I-sang Je-go... Homemade? Spearman? Freaky.
"Jae Mi-son... Kim Geun-hyeop."
"That odd weapon a unique weapon?"
"You see it..."
He tore a bun in half, offered it.
"Eat... Spot my weapon's worth... You're a solid warrior."
Didn't spot shit—hell, mentally called him spearman insult—but took the bun gratefully. Ate.
"Kik..."
Guy's off, but whatever.
"So who's O Gi-su?"
"Me. O Gi-su. Saber user. Handled small yokai a few times."
"Oho, reliable! Me too!"
O Gi-su looked prim and naggy, arms crossed sternly—fiery temper, probably. Kept it bright.
"Then you must be Song-ssi!"
"..."
Song-ssi nodded silently.
"Song-ssi here's the quiet type. Anyway, welcome, Kim Geun-hyeop. Swordsman, huh?"
"Yep. Training at Baekgeom Martial Hall."
"Oho! Proper martial arts! Great addition!"
Gu Juman lit up at my training.
"Knew you had that heroic build! This quest's a cakewalk!"
Couldn't say shit since I'd never fought Goburins.
"Haha, music to my ears, Gu Juman. Anyway, all here—let's talk quest. Anyone subbed Goburins before?"
Sat, took charge like the leader. Last to join meant least pull—had to speak up first.
"I have!"
Gu Juman boomed confidently. Time to gather intel from him.