Who Is Your Master? (1)
Adventurers are the wind.
They follow the path their hearts desire, creating their own unique flow.
That wind can be a gentle breeze through the mountains one moment, then sharpen into a blade the next, leaving its mark across the world.
Truly, an untamable, romantic gale.
And today, as part of that wind, our destination is...
"Goblin Cave..."
"..."
A foul stench and the drip of water echoed from inside the cave.
My romantic notions crumbling, I wrinkled my nose. Chaerin's lips twitched.
"...No choice. Our levels are too low, so the quests we can take are limited."
My level was 34, Chaerin's even lower at 15.
Perfectly beginner village territory. Though who the hell locks a level 34 in a starter village?
"We rushed ahead ignoring everything. There's so much to do in the beginner village. Do them one by one, and you'd hit 40 in no time."
"Ah."
So we were just too hasty.
"Let's finish quick and head back."
Water splashed underfoot as I stepped forward at Chaerin's urging. A faint sentimentality rose with the sound, but the darkness deepened around us.
Come to think of it, didn't we forget a torch?
My senses were sharp enough to manage without sight, but Chaerin?
A flicker of worry made me grab her hand.
"!"
"Hold on tight."
"I'm fine..."
"You can't see."
"...Light."
"?"
A soft orb of yellow light bloomed from Chaerin's hand. Not blindingly bright, but enough to secure our vision.
Chaerin squinted slightly behind the glow.
"Good now?"
Yeah, sight secured. I released her hand.
"...Let's go."
"Sure."
I turned with a light reply to her urging. Silence stretched, filled only by splashing footsteps—until faint noises from deeper in halted me.
"They're here."
"Huh? What?"
Two small, bipedal creatures shuffled toward us from 50 meters in, grunting.
"Doesn't seem like they've spotted us."
"What are you talking abou—?"
Distance closing. Perfect for an ambush.
I gripped my scabbard, assuming battō stance, ready to launch.
"Chaerin, can you kill the light for a sec?"
"Uh, sure."
She doused it without question—small trust earned. I closed my eyes.
Three seconds later...
"Hey, that's a torch..."
"Shh."
Silencing her, I gauged: 40 meters now.
Could charge, but caution for variables. Wait.
30 meters.
20 meters.
Battō activated.
Swiftness activated.
10 meters.
Ting—
8 meters.
"...Draw."
——!!
Half my katana whipped from its sheath at my waist.
In that split-second before it could even scream, bone-severing feedback raced through my hand.
But my blade halted midway.
Sword precision is perfect!
Critical rate increased by 50% due to Precision skill!
No explosion.
"...Tch."
——!
The survivor screeched, flailing its club wildly.
Clang—!
Parried. Its club flew to the ceiling.
Off-balance from the parry, I kicked it up and spun.
Rotation's key: smooth flow from head to toe, momentum like a whirlwind surging toward its neck.
"Ishina-ryū, Fire Leaf Whirl."
——!
Sword precision is perfect!
Critical rate increased by 50% due to Precision skill!
-42 HP
Critical burst: goblin's torso severed from head. Blood and chunks pattered down, "42" floating lazily above the remains.
Even trash mobs outlevel me.
A strange feeling settled as I sheathed my blade.
"Light's fine now."
"Yeah, but let's use this instead." Chaerin picked up the dropped torch and offered it.
"Save your mana."
True enough.
I nodded slightly, ignoring the torch, and turned back.
"...Cheapskate."
Trying to pawn off a torch like I'm your bus?
Irritation bubbling, I mentally noted it and crouched by the goblin corpse.
"What're you doing?"
Habitually sheathed, I drew reverse-grip—
"W-Wait!!"
"?"
"Stream! Stream!"
"...Oh right."
3 hours 30 minutes since release, inmate voices soared sky-high.
Glancing up: 8,000 viewers.
"Kyaa away."
Chat unyielding, I swiped the end button.
Chat cleared instantly.
"Let's go."
"...Is this really okay?"
Slashing through goblins, we reached the cave's end.
Curious, I rummaged the tent: low-grade mana stones, crude weapons. Spoils? Goblin hides and meat...
"Wait, goblin what?"
"Hide and meat."
"Why would you... Wait, when did you even...?"
"While you were poking the tent."
"..."
"Camera covered too."
"...Fine then."
"...Not really."
Munch munch.
"You're not eating goblin meat, right?"
"No."
"...Then the hide?"
"Nope."
Goblin meat aside, goblin hide?
What does she think I am?
"Not either makes me more anxious."
"Goblin berries."
"What?"
"Gob... gulp. These."
I clenched my fist around my pocket find and thrust it before Chaerin's eyes.
"...?"
Her gaze followed. I unfurled.
Goblin eyeball: boing!
"Kyaaaaack!!!!!"
Chaerin toppled backward in shock. I grinned triumphantly.
"Told you I'd get revenge later."
"Wh- wha- uh- wha?"
Perpetrators never remember. Cosmic truth reaffirmed, I pocketed it.
"Y-You were eating that just now...!!??"
Nyam.
"Eek!!"
"Why? Why?"
"Gulp. Dehydrated."
"Dehy... dration..."
This game's thirst and hunger systems slash total stats up to 20% if ignored.
Already stat-poor; can't afford that.
Ate apple wine en route, but booze doesn't hydrate much.
Water? Forgot to buy.
"Eyes got lots of moisture. Nyam."
"Eek...!"
Chaerin's face paled ghost-white.
"Want one?"
"Heeeeeek!!!"
Eyeball thrust, she crawled back three steps.
Fun. Boing!
She retreated more: "Hiyaak!"
Then a head popped by her face and nyamed the eye.
"Hiyaaaaaaaack!!!!!"
"Blergh... Tastes bad..."
"Eat without spitting to grow big."
"Wh-Wh-Wh-Who...!?"
"Eat eyes good, become like master?"
The Dokkaebi Girl sparkled, ignoring Chaerin.
Master? Me?
"Who the hell is your master?"
"I'll be disciple, so you're master now!"
My-pace overload. I yanked her cheeks viciously.
"Hweeeeeeaaaaah!"
"Wh-When did she...?"
"From before prelims, at the restaurant."
"From the start...? Why didn't you say anything...?"
"Didn't ask."
"...?"
Chaerin plunged into confusion.