First Battle-yang!
"Got it? Even if Mijeong child's stamina stat is D-rank, that stat is determined by a comprehensive judgment of regeneration, durability, vitality, stamina, and so on. So Mijeong child might actually have very high regeneration but very low vitality, which could make it come out as D-rank. In other words, never let your guard down just because the opponent is a mere goblin—"
...Unnie Yumina's words were too many—surpassing a thousand demons to become a million-strong demon army. So I just let them flow in through my right ear, bypassing my brain entirely, and straight out my left ear. If all that got into my head, it'd be a full-on Ten Thousand Demons Dominion brain quake, rattling my noggin until I turned into a total idiot. And right now, becoming an idiot would be a real problem.
Instead, what's swirling around in my brain is, naturally, a continuation of my earlier worries. How much does Unnie Yumina know about me... about 'Ryu Migun' and 'Mijeong'? Why is she even shopping with someone like me today and going to a gate together? Actually, that's why I was so tense yesterday. I have no idea why.
The other person is an A-rank hunter directly under the Hunter Administration. Someone incredibly busy and amazing. There's no way she'd pay attention to a nobody like me on her day off. At first, I thought maybe it's because little lamb Mijeong is just too cute. But Unnie Yumina's a girl too. Do girls go out of their way for other girls just because they're pretty?
Next, I wondered if she'd figured out I'm the black magician Ryu Migun. ...But if that were the case, she wouldn't be so kind to me from the start. So I kept agonizing over it, but in the end, it all felt pointless. I don't have any choice anyway. 'Ryu Migun' is a mute E-rank hunter who can't speak. Job: black magician. 'Mijeong' is a tiny 8-year-old kid. Got nothing. There's no way I could refuse an A-rank hunter's 'order,' no matter which one I am.
She wouldn't think just because a sentence ends with a question mark that she's asking for my opinion, right? She's overwhelmingly stronger than me, and I'm still the weak one. ...I know. It might just be my paranoid delusions. But whether it's an order or a question, I have no clue why she wanted to meet today. So I don't know what would happen if I refused. What if she did a background check on me? If it were far in the future, maybe, but not now. I'm still living in 'Ryu Migun's' house—everything would be over.
Or run away? An A-rank hunter would probably have ways to track someone like me even if I bolted. ...And yesterday, when Unnie Yumina scolded me, I could feel she was worried about me. That's why I didn't run and came out. Plus, I'm super-cute little lamb Mijeong right now? That blank-faced black magician Ryu Migun? Who's that even-yang?
And today, while shopping and eating together earlier, I definitely realized something. Unnie Yumina nags a bit much, and sometimes glares at me for no reason. But she bought me spaghetti, waited while I ate. ...And she calls me 'Mijeong child' a lot, so maybe... I thought it might not be because I'm a 'little lamb' but just because I'm a 'child' that she's helping me. But now I'm not sure again. Why did she ask the gate manager about my past self? Just like that? For no reason? An A-rank hunter?
...Maybe she already knows everything and is giving me a chance? Yeah. I have a voice now. Should I just apologize first? Be honest. Tell her I didn't do anything bad when I summoned the demon, didn't harm anyone, it was all my own effort. So I'm still a good kid. Unnie Yumina's a good person, so if I tell her straight up...
...No. I can't do that. Snap out of it. Have you forgotten why you had to wish to a demon of all things? No one in the world likes the black magician Ryu Migun. The reason Unnie Yumina's kind to me is because I'm little lamb Mijeong. If I reveal my true identity here. I'd become Ryu Migun again. And then... back to the old days.
... .. .
Bzzz~ We'd arrived at the gate entrance before I knew it. It wasn't far to begin with. It was a short distance, but my head had been spinning at maximum speed. Unnie Yumina's million-demon dominion sermon racing through my ears had finally ended.
"Mijeong child... no, Mijeong hunter. Are you ready?"
"Yep! Ready-yang!"
"Good. Do you know how to enter a gate, just in case?"
"Yep!"
As I approached the gate, a notification popped up in my status window.
Would you like to enter the Goblin Den?
I didn't even need to say it out loud—just thought 'yes' in my head. If I'd had to say it aloud, I'd have entered three years ago.
Entering the Goblin Den.
The Goblin Den feels like an ant colony gate. There are decently sized caverns here and there, connected by narrow passages wide enough for one or two people. Normally, it'd be dark and hard to see, so you'd have to watch for ambushes and traps... But here, the internal map is fully complete, and magic lamps are installed everywhere, securing visibility. Traps? Not sure if there were ever any to begin with, and the lamps are super sturdy, mounted high up—no worries about them breaking.
I haven't been in other gates, but from hunter videos on Mitoob sometimes, they look seriously terrifying... This place? When I first came here, I worried about 'what ifs,' but really, not even once. Of course, even goblins are dangerous in groups, so you gotta be careful. No safety personnel stationed here, after all.
"Mijeong hunter's job is warrior, right?"
"Yep!"
"Good. For level-ups, you'll need to swing a melee weapon or block enemy attacks... so take the lead."
"Got it-yang!"
Actually, my real job isn't warrior, so I'm not sure if that'll work for leveling up. But it's not some totally unrelated job, so it should be warrior-related, I guess. My new job. ...Please, just let me level up once. Hiiing.
"Before proper party play, I'll confirm Mijeong hunter's skills once more."
"I can do it great-yang!!"
"...If anything happens, I'll handle it, so don't worry."
Clop clop clop. Click clack.
"A kid, up front...? Trash, to me...?"
Whine. Unnie Yumina's saying something, but I can't hear well. ...Doesn't matter, but she still doesn't trust me much, huh. It's fine. Once she sees for herself, she'll change her mind for sure!
Gripping Partner tight in my right hand, I take the lead, trotting down the narrow path do-do-do-do, and spot them in the cavern ahead. Green-skinned, small human-like monsters—goblins. Three in total. Clumped together. Haven't noticed us yet. Facing the other way.
...Hold on. Why do some look a tiny bit bigger than me? Ha.... Why does this world keep making me realize how short I am?
"...Can't forgive that-yang!"
I lower my stance, power into my legs. Ping-!! I launch forward. A goblin fills my vision in an instant. My right hand gripping Partner is already aimed at the ceiling. So, just—
Thwack-!! Slam it down. My light body floats upward from the axe swing's recoil. Swoosh- This is the key moment. If I don't grip tight, the axe stays embedded in the goblin's head while my body floats to the ceiling alone. Never let go till the end. Then—
Squelch- Partner unmounts from the goblin's head, following my rising body. Up to here, about 2 seconds? The remaining two finally notice their buddy's dead and turn toward me. My plan was to keep floating up, hit the ceiling, then whoosh- boom!! and turn the rest into mana stones too. Wonder if I can pull it off.
Swooooosh- Float~ Ah. Stopped in midair. Hiiing. For my first battle, I wanted to show Unnie Yumina my whoosh-boom!! and start cool. The cavern ceiling's a bit high.
"Sigh-yang."
Too bad, but no midair stomp for a double jump or anything. Precisely, my leg strength's so good now that an air kick could get a boing-! but falling at that speed probably wouldn't one-shot the remaining two. Not boom-!!! but just thud! And jumping up won't reach the ceiling. Swoooo~ Losing speed, softly descending.
Look down— the other two have clubs ready. If I were a normal 8-year-old, I'd go splat! then get goblin-beaten and waaah~. But it's fine. I confirmed last ranking eval that I don't need whoosh-! My body descends slowly. 6m. Eye contact with Unnie Yumina back at the passage. I grin hehe. 4m. Look down again. Goblins mad. 2m. Grip Partner with both hands tight.
My body drops right between the two goblins.
"Keeeee!!!!" They laugh.
And. Whirl!! Right before landing, I spin twice. Partner, charged with double centrifugal force—
Kaboom!! The last two get shredded without a scream.
Blood and guts spray from the mangled goblins, soaking me. The scent of blood vibrates from my body. And it's warm.
...Honestly, not sure if endlessly respawning monsters via the gate's weird power even count as living things. Sorry. But I gotta eat to live too. Bye, goblins. You were just born in my E-rank days, mere mortals.
"......"
Man, this gruesome smell—been about a week? Feels like ages. Honestly, I don't like it much. Who likes the smell of blood?
"......"
But after three years, I'm totally unfazed now. Actually, it kinda makes me wanna laugh?
"......Urp."
Come on, hold it together!! What's this!? Why now? This doesn't usually... No. Just endure. Must endure. It'll fade soon, leaving just mana stones.
"......Sniff!"
No, please. Gotta show Unnie Yumina my cool side. Then she'll trust me and let me go. If I do 'that' here, with Unnie Yumina's personality so far, she'll nag nonsto—
"Urp!"
"Mijeong child!?"
... .. .
Ah, looks like no spaghetti for me anytime soon.