Chapter 81
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: A Motet for Goblins
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Swoosh!
Yuhyeon vigorously unrolled a parchment scroll across the ground.
The solution he had come up with to break the current stalemate was none other than composition.
Anyone else would call this crazy
But Yuhyeon wasn't just gambling on his 'Magic Score Creation' ability alone.
In truth, they probably don't want to die.
After all, any living being is driven by the purpose of survival, profit, and procreation.
This was true even for the goblins living in this world.
Setting traps to corner users and coveting treasureit's all for the same reasons.
So for such a goblin to ask a user to kill it?
It was clear that they were afflicted by 'something' so painful that death seemed a preferable alternative.
Cedric had a debuff called 'Chicken-hearted,' too.
The problem was time.
At least with Cedric, there had been plenty of time to compose. Right now, his companion was dying.
This meant that time wasn't just shorter than usual; every second counted.
Yuhyeon's gaze, fixed on the parchment, suddenly grew calm.
What kind of performance could break the goblins' curse
As he quieted his mind, musical inspiration began to well up within him.
Perhaps a motet.
Quickly seizing the inspiration, Yuhyeon drew a single note on the staff with his quill.
Shhk!
Just one note.
But a precious note that could save someone.
With that thought, his grip on the quill tightened, and it soon began to dance vigorously across the staff.
Shhhk!
A peaceful melody densely filled the staff.
It was a moment of beautiful, fluid calligraphy, blossoming within the cave.
Hah, haah!
Kain gasped for breath, struggling to block the goblin's club with his longsword.
Kkiek, eeeek!
With a weary expression, he held a defensive stance with one hand while skillfully pulling out a potion with the other.
Gulp! Clink!
There's no end to them. At this rate, I'm going to run out of potions
He had already chugged over a hundred potions fighting the goblins.
And they were all intermediate potions, each restoring nearly 20 of his health.
What the hell are their health pools made of? They just won't die, no matter how much I hit them.
Despite his efforts, not a single goblin had died.
To be precise, it wasn't that he couldn't kill them, but rather that they 'couldn't die.'
I can't tell how much health they have left. I don't know how many phases there are. They don't even seem to get tired from fighting.
Kain tried to figure out the best course of action in this situation.
Have I ever encountered a monster like this before?
Every monster had a strategy to defeat it.
No matter how strong they were or how complex their mechanics, a war of attrition would ultimately end in the user's favor.
This was because they had critical weaknesses, and unlike users, they didn't have 'potions.'
Damn it, I've never fought a monster that wouldn't die when you hit it!
To be precise, none except for the undead, and they weren't monsters you'd find in a beginner zone.
What if, for some reason, the goblins have become undead?
Kain's eyes narrowed.
Their bluish skin and the mold growing in patches certainly made them look like the undead.
If that's the case, then there's absolutely no way to win right now
Thwack!
Keoheok!
Was it because his mind had wandered for too long?
A goblin's club finally struck Kain in the side.
Fighting one was already a struggle; when two attacked simultaneously, he had no way to dodge.
Tiring!
You have suffered a critical blow. Your health has dropped below 10!
Debuff: You are now Bleeding.
Debuff: You now have a Concussion.
If you do not recover your health quickly, you will die.
Ugh
As his vision blurred, Kain took out a potion he had prepared and drank it.
Tiring!
You used a High-Grade Potion and recovered 50 of your health.
Debuff: The Bleeding effect has been removed.
Debuff: The Concussion effect has been removed.
Eeeek! Two of you ganging up on me is cheating!
Kain used the flat of his blade to push one away and kicked the other back.
What in the world is Yuhyeon doing?
His eyes, frantically searching for Yuhyeon, widened.
What? He's writing something on the ground
For a moment, Kain doubted his own eyes.
Is... Is he insane?! Composing right here, right now?
Unless he was seeing things, Yuhyeon was definitely composing.
At this very moment, while he was locked in a bloody struggle with two goblins!
I thought he was going to give me a buff, but what on earth is happening.
It would have made more sense if he'd asked him to buy time so he could play.
Like that incredible buff he had received when they first fought the bandits.
But composition?
Kain's mind simply couldn't comprehend it.
Nevertheless, he had no choice but to trust Yuhyeon.
Those eyes, full of conviction. As if he has a plan
Yuhyeon's gaze as he composed was just that intense.
It was the gaze of someone with convictionserious and unwavering.
Yunaring! How many potions do you have left?
F-Fifty-something!
Fifty... Fifty, you say... Then from now on, Yunaring, you stick right next to Yuhyeon!
Wh-What?
I'm asking you to protect Yuhyeon instead of covering me.
Kain slowly advanced into the heart of the enemy ranks.
K-Kain, what are you going to do?
If Yuhyeon's method doesn't work, escape immediately! I'll buy you time from the front.
Wh-What are you saying!
This situation is mostly my fault, after all.
Strictly speaking, he was the one most responsible for putting Yuhyeon and Yunaring in danger.
He had triggered the goblins' special mechanic using the sleep incense in his search for a hidden piece.
You two are newbies who just started, right? You can't afford to lose precious gear and experience.
Kain wanted to prevent Yuhyeon and Yunaring from suffering a death penalty, even if it meant he had to die.
It was a final gift for the party members who had given him fond memories over their brief, two-day acquaintance.
I'm a veteran, so I can recover quickly even if I die.
He forced a smile as if to reassure them.
Alright, let's see this through to the end. This won't be over until one of us is dead.
Just as Kain, resolved to die, advanced toward the goblins.
Piiii
From somewhere, a cheerful sound, completely out of place in the damp cave, could be heard.
.
It was a sound that even Kain, a layman in music, had heard at least once in his life.
The light, cheerful sound of a wind instrument, tickling his ears like a gentle breeze.
An instrument? Don't tell me
Kain stopped in his tracks and turned his head.
Hearing an instrument here must mean that Yuhyeon had found a way.
Piiii
There stood Yuhyeon, holding a recorder.
He'd thought the sound was familiar, but of all things, it was a recorder.
Why?
The flicker of hope in Kain's eyes was soon replaced by despair.
I heard wind instruments are the weakest part of a minstrel build
And a recorder, of all things.
Isn't that an instrument for elementary schoolers? How impressive could a performance on that possibly be?
Besides, wind instruments gave life skill buffs, not combat buffs.
But Kain's doubt didn't last long.
Piii.
This is a recorder?
One reason was that the melody was so beautiful he forgot he was in the middle of a battle.
Kereuk
Gugyagyak!
The other was that the moment the music started, the goblins' movements suddenly stopped.
Huh?
Some goblins perked up their ears with mesmerized expressions, while others screamed and shook their heads.
Wh-What is this
Just as Kain was staring at the goblins' strange behavior.
Tiring!
The curse on the Golden Goblin, 'Fatal Insomnia,' has been lifted.
A notification with an incomprehensible message appeared before him.
The curse is lifted?
Kain's eyes widened like saucers.
A few minutes earlier.
A performance that can break the goblins' curse
Having drawn a single note on the staff, Yuhyeon thought to himself.
A motet?
The motet was a style that emerged in the early 13th century, which could be simply understood as a form of sacred choral music.
It was a significant style, so much so that it would be no exaggeration to say it represented the development of choral music in the church.
Among them was a piece by Antonio Vivaldi, famous for his concerto 'The Four Seasons,' titled Motet RV 630.
The very piece known to the world as 'Nulla in mundo pax sincera.'
What if I could play a healing melody for the goblins, just like in that piece?
A motet is a hymn dedicated to God.
In other words, it sought to be pure and noble above all else, always guiding the listener toward a righteous path.
It proclaimed that where there is suffering, there is also peace, and it extended a comforting hand to those in agony.
It was that warm melody that allowed it to be loved by so many.
This was also why the motet was beloved by people all over the world.
The deep, warm resonance of the music transcended its religious meaning to bring peace and solace to all who listened.
Because in music, there is no race, no gender. Not even the barrier of language.
The same was true for the goblins.
Although they were beings with whom he couldn't communicate through language, the resonance of music would surely reach their ears.
Just as Cedric had overcome his chicken-heartedness through a performance and became a respectable knight.
A single recorder can't build harmony, so I'll use arpeggios to create a richer feel
Shhk!
A beautiful melody filled the staff.
The healing spirits dancing among the notes became visible.
I can't just focus on the perfection of the piece. This is, after all, a song for the goblins. I must draw each and every note with the intention of soothing their hearts.
Shhhk!
Yuhyeon's eyes narrowed in concentration.
The world seemed to slow down, while his hand drew notes without rest.
Shk, shhk!
After what felt like a fleeting moment, Yuhyeon's hand suddenly stopped.
And notifications related to score creation began to appear before his eyes.
Tiring!
Score creation complete.
Having finished composing, Yuhyeon smiled gently.
I don't know if this can be called a motet.
This piece was inspired by a motet, but strictly speaking, it was far from a traditional one.
It had no lyrics praising God, nor a choir to send him hymns of adoration.
But this, too, is a motet.
However, it contained the same warmth as a motet's melody.
It held a sweet melody that sympathized with the goblins' pain, and it was imbued with Yuhyeon's desire to embrace their weary hearts.
A Motet for Goblins.
If he had to give the piece a title, this is surely what he would have written.
This piece is a motet for goblins.
Tiring!
Calculating rank...
The rank of this score is...
Yuhyeon didn't bother reading the subsequent notifications.
What was important wasn't the score's rank, but what was in his heart.
He had transcribed a melody of peace that transcended the system onto the score.
Ssk.
And so, without a hint of hesitation, he raised the recorder.
Hoping this song would embrace the goblins suffering in agony.
Pii.
Soon, the beautiful melody of the recorder filled the cave.
A bright and cheerful melody, completely out of place on a blood-soaked battlefield.
A warm and cozy melody, reminiscent of a Sunday morning, dispersed into the air.
As if trying to fill the damp, dark cave with a melody of peace.
It was then.
Tiring!
The monster of the Eirn Mountains, 'Golden Goblin,' resonates with your music!
The Golden Goblin temporarily enters an awakened state.
A change begins to occur within it...
.
.
.
A notification window that only Yuhyeon could see and hear appeared.
An unknown power resists the buff from 'Player: Yuhyeon'.
Resistance has failed!
The original caster of the curse is enraged!
The curse on the Golden Goblin, 'Fatal Insomnia,' has been lifted.
Yuhyeon smiled gently.
Finishing his performance, Yuhyeon slowly opened his eyes.
.
.
The first thing he saw was Kain and Yunaring staring at him, their faces filled with astonishment.
Hmm. This is going to take some time to explain.
Yuhyeon let out a small smile as he looked at them. Whatever the case, explanations could wait.
What happened to the goblins?
He then turned his gaze to the goblins to see if the curse had been lifted.
Kereuk, kereuk?
Kerereuk! Kereuk!
The goblins were looking at each other, their faces filled with confusion.
But the pain that had tormented them for so long was completely gone, and their expressions were filled with joy.
Kikkik!
Kikik! Kikiik!
They soon raised their clubs high and began shouting noisily.
Kain, who had approached Yuhyeon, asked cautiously.
Y-Yuhyeon. What happens now?
In short, he understood that the curse had been lifted, but he wanted to know what they should do next.
After all, the goblins were still monsters, so it wouldn't be strange if the battle resumed.
Let's wait a moment, Yuhyeon replied calmly.
Kireuk!
Just then, a goblin dropped its club and suddenly shouted at Yuhyeon.
Kireureuk! Kireuk! Kikkiik!
Dropping the club was a clear signal of wanting to talk.
With that in mind, he listened carefully.
- Human! The human who broke our curse!
A rather unexpected message came from the goblin.
- Please, help us!
Help you?
Tiring!
You have reached a branching point in the bounty quest!
Conditions have been met, and the quest details are beginning to change.
And what's more.
A hidden quest has occurred!
Along with the notification that a hidden quest had occurred.