If Discipline is Needed (2)

Dodging the enraged goblins' claws and fangs. Thrusting out my fist. Just repeating that simple motion.

But I could feel it. There wasn't the slightest waste in my movements.

What happens if I can't dodge? If the attack misses, do I just get bitten? Would I die from excessive bleeding?

Thoughts anyone human would inevitably have. Yet Grandfell's mind and body ignored that worry entirely.

『His pride is immeasurably heavy and unshakable. Even if it means sinking and drowning under that weight.』

That 'setting' was drawing out the stats of a worthless demon hunter by a hundred—no, far more than that.

At this point, even I was astonished.

'He really was a severe case of middle school chuunibyou. Me.'

A guy who truly valued style over his own life. Dangerous.

But even accounting for that setting's influence, my bare-handed fighting skills were still abysmal.

'I never acquired any combat skills.'

Thud—

This punch, thrown with all my strength. Yet to the goblin...

"Grk, grrrk!"

It didn't inflict any meaningful damage.

……If this turns into a prolonged fight, won't I be at a disadvantage?

'It's a waste of durability, but I guess I have no choice but to use it.'

My mind made a perfectly rational judgment. But my body didn't change course.

How pathetic. My situation was like a swan gliding on a lake. To outsiders, it might look like I was truly disciplining these goblins.

But I was dead serious. Just like a swan paddling furiously beneath the surface to stay afloat, I was dodging and swinging with everything I had.

Regardless of my inner turmoil, a nonchalant line slipped out.

"Does it still lack discipline?"

That was when it happened. Seo Jeongyeon's shout rang out.

"Casting's done! Get out of the way!"

Flames surged from her staff.

Click—

Once again, I stepped aside with overflowing elegance.

The incoming spell was Fire Arrow. I knew next to nothing about magic. But I knew that was a low-grade spell.

Above all, the projectile's speed was slow. At this rate, it might miss.

I anticipated that and pondered my next move... but for some reason, the goblins weren't ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠moving.

"Kek, ke-geng!"

Their tails drooped. No more growling.

Seeing that, I remarked,

"Discipline proves inefficient on stray dogs, after all."

……There's a limit to shamelessness!

Even as I said it, I was dumbfounded by myself.

But in the end, it was like spitting in your own face. Pull yourself together, Lee Hoyeol. More than past sins...

"Yesss! It hit!"

Seo Jeongyeon pumped her fist.

If I kept watching, who knew what other nonsense might spill out. I shifted my gaze to the goblins.

Whoosh—!

In the spot where the goblins burned away, only items remained.

When you form a party, experience is shared by default. Items grant acquisition priority based on contribution. Of course, that system only applies to rare-grade items and above.

So these, I could take without a second thought.

'Thirty-two arrows, huh.'

That should be plenty for now. Arrows could be resupplied by hunting more goblin archers anyway.

I pulled my bow from my inventory. It felt perfectly comfortable in my grip.

Proficiency at a measly 21 percent.

'I was too busy with quests to hunt much.'

Pathetic compared to an archer-class specialist. But having the skill at all was leagues beyond brawling with fists.

Seo Jeongyeon approached me.

"Whoa, you can use a bow too?"

Of course. It was my only real weapon.

The other party members chimed in.

"Huh? Aren't you a martial artist type? That punching just now looked straight out of martial arts. You know, like... yeah! Tai chi? The way you deflected and countered—it was spot on!"

That wasn't tai chi; it was flailing.

"Anyway, that's a relief. We were short on ranged DPS with just Jeongyeon."

Yeah, now I could finally relax.

That's what I wanted to say. But I kept my mouth shut.

What was it again? Something like, With me here, you needn't worry?

'There's a limit to posing. Do I even have the right?'

More nonsense might spill out. Fortunately, the topic shifted quickly.

Choi Jeonghun, gripping his greatsword, muttered,

"By the way, what's up with that guy today? Hey! Cheolmin hyung!!"

He was calling Nam Cheolmin.

Nam Cheolmin had already passed the turnstile.

He beckoned.

"What're you doing? Hurry up!"

Seo Jeongyeon tilted her head.

"But... is he always like that? I don't have tons of party hunting experience, but... I've never seen a tank charge ahead alone like that..."

Han Seonguk, the shield-and-mace warrior, nodded.

"This kind of lack of coordination from the start is trouble."

"Ugh, seriously, sorry. Let me apologize for him. Cheolmin hyung isn't usually like this. Wonder what's up with him today? I'll talk to him later."

The mood chilled.

Understandably. What would be a problem even in a game was suicidal inside a rift where lives were on the line.

"Still, Cheolmin hyung's pathing is solid. Meeting other parties would just waste time."

"……But isn't he going too far ahead alone?"

"Yeah. I'll call him. Hyung! Cheolmin h—"

Whoosh—

It was an ambush. Hidden goblins revealed themselves. One, two... a total of ten.

The arrows barely missed, but we ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠were outnumbered. Even with Nam Cheolmin joining, it'd still be two-to-one against us.

"Cheolmin hyung! No, hyung!!"

But Nam Cheolmin showed no sign of joining.

Choi Jeonghun's face flushed red with fury.

"What the hell, man?! Why are you doing this?! Hey, Nam Cheolmin!!"

The stairs to the platform. Nam Cheolmin just stood there, watching us get surrounded by goblins.

I looked into his eyes. Pitch-black pupils, unfocused.

For some reason... they felt familiar. Welcoming, even.

'……What? He's not someone I know.'

Shouldn't I be resenting him right now? Yet despite the doubt, my body moved on its own.

Smooth—

A flawless, textbook stance. Like an Olympic archer drawing the string.

I aimed at the goblins without a hint of agitation. Right up to the moment I released.

Whoosh—

My breathing stayed steady.

"Kek-geng!"

Headshot. Perfect hit to the skull. One goblin warrior down in a single shot.

Yet no joy stirred in me.

『What Grandfell first ingrained as the next family head was indifference to trivial gains and losses. The seat of the Claudy family head allowed no agitation whatsoever.』

Rejoicing over felling a mere goblin? Unthinkable for Grandfell.

I felt the same.

Whoosh—

Another headshot.

'Eight left.'

I nocked another arrow.

The goblins weren't just watching.

"Grrraaah!!"

Goblin warriors charged. Choi Jeonghun and Han Seonguk blocked them. Each handling two.

But they couldn't overcome the numbers.

"Damn it...! Watch out!"

Two goblin warriors charging me. Two goblin archers left, nocking arrows.

Seo Jeongyeon, mid-cast, whimpered,

"Wh-what should I do...?"

The warriors targeted me and her. The archers aimed at Choi Jeonghun and Han Seonguk.

Any choice meant casualties. She couldn't decide easily.

But ironically, I replied indifferently,

"Leave the goblin archers to you."

At the same instant, an arrow flew from my fingertips.

Hit. The goblin warrior charging her crumpled.

Thanks to that, Seo Jeongyeon finished casting.

"Please... hit!!"

Whoosh—!

Fire Arrow streaked toward the goblin archers.

Choi Jeonghun and Han Seonguk, tangled with their foes and focused on not getting hit, didn't notice it coming.

Too late by the time they felt the heat.

Now, only the goblin warrior charging me remained.

"Grrraaah!!"

I had no 'Rapid Fire' skill. Not enough time to nock another arrow.

But I had the crude shortsword from ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the goblins. Swing it somehow, buy time...

However,

"Regrettably."

What I raised wasn't the sword—it was my right leg.

The elegantly extended leg smashed the goblin warrior's head.

Thud—!

Just like in my first battle. The option of taking a counter never crossed my mind.

Thus, the peak reaction speed my body could muster.

"Kek, ke-geng!!"

Toward the goblin warrior sent flying by my shoe,

"I shall not permit you to splatter my blood."

Splat—!

I drew my bowstring with an expressionless face.

...

The others, excluding me, panted heavily.

"Hah. Thought we were goners."

"Didn't expect the ambush."

"……But why didn't you warn us?"

Without needing to ask who, all eyes turned to Nam Cheolmin, still watching from the stairs.

Choi Jeonghun was angriest, no doubt.

"Fuck. Hyung, you got some grudge against us?"

He stormed toward Nam Cheolmin, voice rising.

"Fuck. This is straight-up luring us into a trap! Fine, say it was a mistake. You didn't know about the ambush. But why the hell just stand there staring?! Huh?! Say something! You got a mouth, use it!"

The two drew closer. Things would turn to blows if left alone.

Seo Jeongyeon and Han Seonguk held Choi Jeonghun back from both sides.

"I get it, but calm down a bit."

"Yeah. Fighting here gains us nothing."

"No, wait. This is between me and hyung. Hyung! Hey, Nam Cheolmin! You think you're hot shit just 'cause I call you hyung and follow you around? Fuck, if you weren't my brother's friend, you'd be nothing..."

I stepped back and watched.

"Hahaha! Krhahaha!!"

Then Nam Cheolmin burst into laughter.

At the same time.

Flicker—

The dimly lit bulbs started blinking.

"Lost your mind? Why the sudden laughing fit?"

"Hahaha! Haa... So entertaining."

"This is entertaining? Fuck, you done talking shit?!"

I stared at Nam Cheolmin amid the flickering lights.

Incomprehensible behavior. The atmosphere heading toward catastrophe. Unfocused black pupils.

The inexplicable familiarity from those eyes.

And crucially, the text floating in my vision at that moment.

Click—

I looked at Nam Cheolmin and said,

"As I thought, you are indeed a demon."