Assault on the Goblin Den
I decided to spend some points preparing for the fight in the goblin lair. My Strength stat had risen a lot more than before, so I could finally ditch the dagger. Boldly tossing it aside, I shelled out 20 RP for a short sword and equipped it right away.
I'd gotten a few potions from the tutorial, so no need to buy those. But just in case of poison, I paid 5 RP for an antidote vial. As the saying goes, defense comes before offense in a fight. Not that I'm scared or anything...
With that in mind, I decided to grab some decent armor too. Helpfully, each item listed the stats needed to wield it proficiently. The short sword I'd just bought, for example, required about 8 Strength.
I'd love to cover myself head to toe in thick plate like Kariel, but my current Strength wasn't up to it. [Boiled Leather Armor 25 RP] In the end, I bought a set of boiled leather armor requiring 7 Strength for 25 RP and slipped it on.
I tried holding the short sword one-handed in my leather armor. Felt kinda empty, and then it hit me—the other hand was free. What to get... As I pondered, I spotted something perfect in the shop.
[Round Shield 25 RP] Required Strength around 5... No problem with my current stats. I imagined myself looking badass in armor with a short sword and shield. Just the thought made me grin. All told, that came to 75 RP spent.
Left with about 100 points... Should I buy more? Then I remembered nearly dying to that gloomy chick and how I'd blown all my RP to escape mortal danger. Does that mean I can use RP flexibly in a pinch? Even if not, dumping everything in a life-or-death moment could save me, so I decided to save the rest.
***
Preparations done, I headed to the meeting spot and waited. Soon, noisy voices echoed from afar.
"Hurry up, Ellis!"
"I told you I can't run that fast!! You idiot!"
"What? Idiot?!"
"Rimm, that's mean. You didn't save any jerky for me..."
"You ate it all earlier, you blockhead! And I told you not to shorten my name like that!"
Sounded like my new party members, so I walked toward the voices.
"Oh, you're already here? Sorry if we kept you waiting."
"No..."
The group was impossible to miss. A girl with a suspiciously round-tipped staff, a female warrior pushing 190cm tall, a woman in a silver veil covering her eyes, and an archer with freakishly pointy ears... Add legal shota me, and we'd make the weirdest party ever.
Ahem... "Before we head out, how about introductions? We all know each other, but you don't... I'm Ellis Habern, your mage."
Ellis introduced herself while staring right at my crotch again. Persistent crazy bitch.
Next, the female warrior thumped her chest—huge tits jiggling with every smack.
"I'm Rien Dier. Hobby's speed-eating pie."
"Hey! Rien, I said no unasked-for info!"
"Pie-eating's serious business."
"What the... I'm Kiel Rimhari, your rear-guard archer."
Was Kiel embarrassed? Her long ears shook wildly as she spoke. Once she finished, the veiled woman chimed in.
"I'm Cloe Ilona, in charge of your healing. Pleased to meet you."
"Your eyes..."
Oddly, Cloe's veil covered another cloth over her eyes. Could she even see?
"My eyes are blessed by God, so no need to open them. Feels like you pried... Is Cloe some weirdo?"
"I'm Baek Sejun, handling the front line."
Clap clap—they all applauded me. Is this the power of the cock king...? Though these bitches would taste it soon enough, so we're even?
"Alright, let's move out."
And so began my journey into gang-rape territory.
***
Goblins. Before hunting, I asked the guild receptionist about them. Borrowing her words: the ugliest, most horrific, slyest bastards. Weak but cunning—veteran adventurers who slack off get sent to hell. Especially obsessed with human males, targeting them first.
But she said they're no big deal if you're alert; tension's enough to handle them. Plus, Ellis and the others were D-rank—two steps above me—so they'd manage goblins better.
"I'll take point. Let's dive in and wrap this up quick for some rest."
Kiel struck a pose. Rien snickered.
"Rimm, rest time's just jerk-off hour anyway. What's the rush?"
"Shut your mouth..."
Kiel's flushed face was a sight. Rien patted her shoulder, grinning, and strode ahead.
"I'll lead. Protecting you lot's my job."
"Posing for mere goblins."
Entering the cave, a stench hit us—like rotten beast breath. Nauseating.
"Urgh, fuck... Always reeks."
Kiel grimaced, following Rien. "Sejun, archer shouldn't lead."
Hearing that, I quickened my pace, passing Kiel.
"Hold up."
Cloe's clear voice stopped us.
"What's up, Cloe?"
"God says there's an ambush ahead."
"Ambush? ...Well, you're never wrong... Ellis!"
"Y-Yes?!"
Ellis startled, lost in thought maybe. She raised her staff; blue sparks flew from the tip.
"Fireball!"
The spark became flame, condensing into a ball and launching. Boom!
The dark cave lit up. Before impact, I glimpsed goblins hiding in crevices. Ugly as described: massive noses, green skin, deformed everywhere.
"Incoming."
Ambush foiled, they charged en masse for melee, armed with rusty daggers and clubs.
"Hah!"
But their puny weapons couldn't pierce Rien's huge shield. She bashed the frontrunners back.
-Kiek!
-Kyaak!
In the tight cave, the lead goblins tripped, dominoing the rest.
"Ice Spear!"
Cold frost gathered on Ellis's staff, launching as icicles. They pierced throats, then arms and guts of those behind.
"I'll go too. Cover me, Kiel."
I drew my short sword, decapitating a rising goblin. Another swung a club at me, but my shield blocked with a clang—thrust to the throat. Kicked the corpse off my blade, lunging at the next, but an arrow beat me to its neck.
Twang, whoosh—arrows flew fast. Goblins charging got crippled in shoulders or legs.
"Now!"
On Kiel's cue, I dashed, slashing the downed ones easily.
"Don't rush ahead, kid!"
Thwack! A blind arrow hit my exposed shoulder between armor plates. Archers too...? Pain surged, but I deflected an incoming bola with my round shield. Fucking where?
"Lots of archers, shooting from the dark?"
Kiel muttered, firing back. Clang! A wooden spear flew next—nearly skewered my head, but Rien leaped forward, blocking it.
"S-Sorry..."
"I'll pull it. Brace yourself."
"W-Wait...!"
Before I could protest, Cloe yanked the arrow. Rip—flesh tore with it, blood gushing.
"Gaaahhh!"
"Healing now."
Warm light poured from Cloe's palm. It knit the wound closed.
"Hic..."
"All done."
Gulp...
Ellis, that bitch—did she just swallow hearing my groan? Creepy as hell...
"Healed? Get up and fight!"
Rien's shout snapped me alert. I jumped up, readying myself.
"Can't find an opening to charge... Ellis, big spell!"
Rien gripped her shield tighter, muttering from the front.
"Hehe... that little guy..."
Ellis drooled, staring at me with glazed eyes. Gross.
"Ellis!"
Crazy bitch's head full of raping me...
Ahem... "Wind Cutter!"
Green winds gathered, flowing past me to her staff, forming shape. She swung—the crescent blade of wind vanished into the dark.
-Kek!
-Kieeeek!!
Screams echoed; arrows and bolas dwindled with each.
"Go, kid."
Rien deflected stray projectiles, advancing. I hustled after her. Neatly bisected goblin corpses littered the path—I swallowed hard. Mages are terrifying...
Occasional archers appeared; Rien smashed them casually with her shield like roaches. Just wielding the weapon looks stronger...
We reached five or so goblins.
"No more archers."
My turn? I blocked a club swing with my shield, caving its skull with my short sword. A spear thrust missed—I sidestepped, slashed its neck.
The last three hesitated, then rushed together.
"Hoo...!"
Before club therapy, I smashed one's head with my shield like Rien did. Dead.
"Hmph, not bad."
The infiltrator's blade was faster. I stabbed deep into one's gut, skewering the one behind too.
"Hoo..."
The long battle ended. Exhaustion hit; I collapsed.
As I sat, Kiel's voice from behind: "Hey! Rien, I said don't charge ahead!"
"Already cleaned up."
"What...? Oh... impressive?"
Kiel eyed the goblin corpses, then me approvingly, exhausted as I was. Cloe offered a hand, pulling me up.
"Quick... let's get out... too wiped..."
"Yes, let's. The rot's already stinking."
We trudged out of the cave.
***
Crackle—campfire wood pops. Too drained to return to town, we camped near the cave for the night.
"Kid, not bad."
Rien handed me liquor in a skin—made from goat milk, maybe.
"Ah... I..."
"From my homeland. You've earned it."
"...Don't like booze much... Heading to bed."
I enjoy drinking, but who knows what drunk-me might trigger? Plus, every muscle ached; rest first.
Unrolling my sleeping bag away from the group, a rustle came from behind as I climbed in.
"Hm...?"
"It's me..."
Ridiculous conical hat, suspiciously round-tipped staff—Ellis.
"What for..."
"You look exhausted, so..."
She stepped closer.
"Want a massage?"