Chapter 18
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Goodwill
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Title: Newbie's Brain Just Froze...
Author: Newbie
I'm freaking out right now. What the hell is going on?
Suddenly the system goes 'Aww~ Intruders entering in waves~' and this damn human comes in first, with hobgoblins showing up three hours later...
That getup she's wearing in women's clothes makes her look less like an intruder and more like some slave kid...
I'll attach a pic of the human intruder below ㅠㅠ Take a look...
Right now, Newbie Champ is pulling off Demon Slayer breathing techniques on his own kind like an oni seeing the Ghost Slayer Squad for the first time—total dizziness...
This isn't some new trap, right??
Anyone with guesses, drop a comment...
What's Demon Slayer breathing, you weeb...
Staggered entry?? Not super rare. Good luck or bad luck? lololol
Your metaphors are classy af lol
Feels more DunGal-like as it goes on... Not hating this newbie?
Emergency situation!
Not really!
Dreamland was armed to the teeth in Zone 1 with doppelgangers and mazes, and even without minions, Zone 2 was ready to go.
Even if Dreamland wasn't fully complete yet, those thick-headed hobgoblins were beyond the level of just being intruders.
For me, who needed to farm points to finish Zone 2, this was actually a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
No, it was just a normal opportunity.
Happens sometimes. Intruders don't pop right in when they enter the dungeon—they chill in some mystery space until the wave starts, then wake up all at once. (DunGal official)
Wave cycle's a week, right? So there's a week outside before entering, and more time passes?
Yeah, true
Staggered entry happens when intruders come in multiple times—like one entered three days ago, another five days ago, and the dungeon summons them sequentially ㅇㅇ
Got it
So yeah.
The human entered Dreamland three hours before the hobgoblins—that's what caused it.
But why tho?
Huh?
They're intruders either way. From your post, seems like you're hung up on the human, so I was curious.
I was about to reply to that when.
Hold up!!!
?
Lemme speak for Newbie's inner thoughts here.
Suddenly?
No humans live in the Low Jinrat Mountains. Last time, manticores threw a wrench in, so black mages came to Dreamland, but this is totally different! So our Newbie's wondering why this human's in the Low Jinrat Mountains, or if the escaped intruder from before leaked dungeon info outside!?
That's probably why he's interested in the human, sez me. BTW I'm in the PhD program for Newbie Studies at Dungeon University—no rebuttals or Qs, right Newbie? lol
PhD in Newbie Studies my ass, that's not it ㅇㅇ
Shut up
lololol ;;;
Well, Asylum Bro wasn't totally off-base.
I was curious about the woman's identity—might even get useful info out of it.
Unlike the manticore or black mages, she didn't seem hostile at all.
Normal intruders—even dumb trolls—bring at least one weapon, but this ragged, dirt-covered woman looked more like a refugee than an explorer.
N-n-newbie sir...
Yep! Delivered!
No no, not that—could you zoom in on the pic? I can tell if it's a trap... Sorry if that's overstepping...
No no no, I'd be super grateful if you did...
Magic Hero—nerd vibe, but.
He's top-tier in magic knowledge among DunGal's vets.
I screenshotted the monitor and uploaded it.
No sketchy magic at play. Not a mage anyway, and no spells on her...
Thanks for the info...
lol...
Probably fled into the dungeon then.
Seen types like that occasionally.
Hmm.
Fleeing from hobgoblins maybe.
Dungeons look scary from the outside, sure.
But they're also handy hideouts to dodge immediate danger.
Makes sense in a pinch.
Newbie, wanna spare the girl? (Prof of Newbie Psych & Ontology here)
lol...
Talking's not great unless you're prying info then killing. But wanna ask anyway!
Sly Bitch Hound's sharp as ever.
I think if I get something from her, I gotta give back.
She could rat you out to humans later? Looks like South Kingdom constable—could bite you in the ass, who knows.
If you had brainwashing or something, go wild, but now? Need points too—no reason to keep her alive?
How'd you know she's a constable?? Kinda creepy??
Look close—torn, but mark on right shoulder ㅇㅇ
Observation skills on emperor level...
World's our enemy. I like that you're a good guy, Newbie... but if it bites you later, I'd hate that.
And you haven't checked if the dungeon's safe for you yet... Honestly, iffy.
Sly Bitch Hound had a point.
As a Dungeon Master, his take was probably the right call.
Decades of DM experience meant solid data, and it was undeniably rational.
But.
What can I say.
I don't wanna kill someone with no beef against me.
Just felt right.
She could be a good person? Maze can't be helped, but Zone 2 isn't active yet so I can clean up, quick delivery via Vroomie might work? No core room invite. I'll have her chill in Zone 2.
And if shit hits the fan, just beat her ass... She's Lv 30 ㅇㅇ... Beats hobgoblins easy...
Sigh ㅡ_ㅡ
Thanks for caring, Love Bug...
Don't get hurt. Promise.
Got it. Promise.
Some folks are just wired that way. Goodwill comes back as goodwill, they say. I like Newbie's choice.
Believing in proverbs?
Proverbs have their shine between the lines...
If it's your call, no reason to stop ya. Dreamland's your nest.
Way to remove intruders without killing—tell ya later.
Why'd your tone switch?
I switch for serious talk ㅇㅇ
Understood
Alright, decided.
I hopped on Vroomie.
"Ugh."
While driving, plopped Squishy on my lap, knife in my pocket.
Just in case, grabbed a backpack of jerky (looted from black mage corpse) for Maze.
Sprinklers weren't due yet.
Gotta nab her before Doppel shines.
Passed constructing Zone 2, hit Zone 1.
Living Maze was grinding today too.
"Gonna lose my mind."
Searching this huge maze for the human was dizzying.
But I could check her position vs mine via system, no cameras needed. Confident in maze-solving too.
Vroooom—
As I twisted the throttle, huh?
┐
│
│
│
Weird stain on the floor.
Looked up—black liquid dripping from sprinkler.
I blinked.
Brain blanked from sheer absurdity.
No way.
Pointing the way?
ㄱ...ㄱ...
Letters forming on the floor.
Couldn't help but chuckle.
Maze, you sneaky bastard...
You could do this too...?
Restia.
The human intruder in Dreamland stared at the maze in dazed despair.
She was a rookie constable from South Kingdom, chasing criminal black mages.
Heard recently the black mages followed a manticore into Low Jinrat Mountains, so she boldly set off with her boss and squad.
Too bad—the mountains were troll and goblin turf.
Ambushed by goblins led by a troll mid-track, then hobgoblins piled on.
Now scattered from her squad, holed up in this bizarre dungeon.
Name: Dreamland.
"......"
Sadly, she was a constable, not a dungeon expert.
"Hiiing..."
Eerie. Spooky.
White corridors stretched infinitely.
First dungeon like this.
Or were all dungeons like this?
Even dungeon noobs knew you couldn't exit after half a day.
Crack behind her now.
Could leave anytime, but.
Injured, going out meant death.
Low Jinrat monsters don't forgive humans.
On the edge of life and death.
Restia collapsed mid-stride, bursting into tears.
"I never wanted to come here! Didn't wanna chase black mages! Just patrol the city, collect civil servant pay, grow old and die... How'd I end up... waaah."
Die trapped in dungeon.
Or exit and get eaten.
Death either way.
"Wanna go home, miss Mom. Where'd the seniors go..."
Restia hugged her knees, sniffling.
As despair hit peak.
Vroooom—!
Sharp engine roar pierced her ears.
Looked up.
A man gripping a knife.
"Hiiik..."
His grinning face looked like the Grim Reaper come to claim her.
Restia's face drained pale.
"Grook..."
Foam at her mouth instantly.
Thud.
Restia passed out right there.
"Huh? Hey! Breathe! Breathe!"
The Dungeon Master panicked.
Shook the fainted girl hard.