Chapter 11
Chapter 11
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Toward the Butcher's Hut
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After the brief feedback wrapped up, the looting continued.
"Eugh-"
"...If you hate it that much, you don't have to do it, you know."
"No. I have to do it even if I hate it. Gotta get used to this—aaargh!"
"..."
A whisper-like, muffled scream escaped her lips.
This was pretty gruesome.
The giant insect corpses right in front of us were far more horrific than anything I'd vaguely imagined—or even glimpsed through a monitor screen.
They'd been tolerable alive, since I could frame it as combat, but dead? Unbearable.
A surge of disgust and nausea welled up from deep inside me.
Bugs really are the worst.
At least cockroaches felt somewhat familiar after years of cohabitation... but ants on this massive scale? No way.
Even so, I forced myself to raise the dagger and slice open the ant's belly.
I blocked the gushing bodily fluids and innards with telekinesis as best I could, then manipulated another telekinetic mass to rummage through its insides.
Finally, the object I'd been after revealed itself.
"Huh, this is...?"
"A mana stone... yeah."
"...Mana stone?"
"Yep. That classic from light novels, anime, and hunter webnovels."
Mana stones.
In the Ominous Cave, any mob level 1 or higher possessed one.
Low-tier goblins didn't have them, but magic beasts like these ants came equipped by default.
After all, you needed a mana stone to qualify as a magic beast.
Of course, possession didn't necessarily mean greater strength.
The giant ant's level 1 stone merely overcame the physical limitations of its enlarged exoskeleton.
Physically speaking, a bear outclassed it by far. Level 0s ripping apart level 1s wasn't uncommon, depending on the matchup.
...Take us right now—if this giant ant ran into a gray bear, it'd get shredded.
"So, what's it for? Can I eat it or—"
"—Eat it, and it'd hurt like hell."
"...Not for eating, then?"
"Not impossible, but best avoided. Like mana grass, they have properties—raw, it's basically poison, and absorption or digestion is poor anyway."
Not something you ate raw.
Processed into pills or elixirs, maybe.
Raw mana stones typically acted like poison in humans.
There were ways to consume them uncooked, but specializing in a 'mana absorption technique' build just for that? Performance was too meh.
Dumping capacity into digestion meant sacrificing other aspects—it was inevitable.
"Then what's the point?"
"Currency substitute. That's what trades usually ran on."
"Ah."
In any case,
mana stones had diverse uses.
Crystallized pure immaterial mana essence wasn't exactly common.
They only formed inside mana-using organisms, so artificial synthesis or natural mining was impossible.
Hence, they served mainly as trade goods.
In the game, various tools measured total mana content, letting them function as currency based on value.
"Gotta collect 'em all, then."
"Yeah. Quick now—linger too long, and more ants might swarm."
"...They're coming back?"
"They release pheromones on death. From the thorax area, slow release, so you usually don't notice... but sticking around? Risky."
As I answered, I sliced open the second ant's belly.
More fluids poured out, and amid them, a faintly glowing mana stone.
A bit more used to it now.
Still horrific, but for money? I'd stomach anything.
"Urgh..."
"...Want me to take over?"
"No. You'd get soaked in fluids, but I can manage without thanks to telekinesis—"
[Splat-]
"—Ah."
"..."
Aaaah—
Horrible.
My hands were absolutely caked in sticky goo.
...Should've just skipped one.
Of course, we didn't stop collecting mana stones.
After scraping every last one from the three ants scattered at a safe distance,
we moved farther out to take a break.
[Whoosh-]
[Rustle.]
About twenty minutes from the combat site, in some clearing.
I scanned the surroundings, then signaled Hyun Tae-jin.
'Halt' and 'short rest' hand signs.
Grown familiar now—he responded with an affirmative gesture.
We were plenty far from the ant corpses.
Time to replenish spent spells.
A bit farther ahead lay goblin tribe territory.
'...Memorize, Lightning Strike.'
Memorizing spells didn't take long.
Basically same time as casting. Recharging Lightning Strike, Mana Arrow, and telekinesis? About three minutes total.
No need for deep focus, so I tuned into ambient sounds.
'...Nothing. Quiet.'
No sounds yet.
Good, no enemies... but not entirely reassuring.
Unlike humans, vampires had blood intake limits.
Miss a feeding, and bloodlust plus exhaustion loomed. Needed blood soon to relax...
【Aaaah-!!】
"...!"
"..."
...But not like this.
This wasn't the method I'd hoped for.
A sharp scream pierced from afar.
Undeniably human.
The moment we heard the scream,
Hyun Tae-jin and I locked eyes.
A beat of silence.
He whispered first.
"...What should we do?"
Quick on the uptake.
But would he follow my lead?
I wouldn't suggest charging in blindly.
Rescue attempt? Probably too late anyway.
Unless they surrendered outright, they'd fought goblins and taken wounds—and we had no healing.
Best we could offer a dying soul was last rites.
【Sob, ugh... P-please... spare... Kyaaak!】
【Sorry! I'm sorry! I was wrong—!】
[Thud-]
"...?"
...This was different.
After the scream echoed, pleas followed.
'Captured alive...?'
Had that ever happened?
In-game, goblins never captured players alive.
...But they did have a concept of 'prisoners.'
'Deep zone' goblin city.
Not players, but NPC slaves sometimes spawned there—non-goblin.
Mines, farms, guild areas, massive arenas.
The game clearly had traces of other races and human slaves.
Plus, occasional 'half-breed goblins' popping up—
'...Hmm.'
Worth rescuing after all?
Risk was high, though.
If we'd farmed enough to solidify, maybe.
No skills yet—clashing with a goblin pack? Suicide.
...Flip side: rewards were clear and substantial.
Border zone slave spawns? Typically two spots.
'Tribute Storage' and 'Butcher's Hut.'
Tribute Storage impossible now, but Butcher's Hut? Viable. Success meant massive farming and growth boost.
'...Just tail 'em?'
Scouting the location had value either way.
[Whoosh.]
"..."
I raised my hand in signal—he gaped slightly, surprised.
Eyes questioning if serious.
...What did he think I was?
I whispered an addendum.
"No fighting. Just location check."
[Nod-]
That eased him—he nodded with visible relief.
Hid it well, but he'd wanted to save them.
...Kinda impressive.
No need to risk for strangers we could ignore guilt-free.
Not mocking or dismissing him, though.
Even villains prefer good people. I leaned toward those hesitating humanely over cold pragmatists.
Actions aside...
...Just found it admirable.
Doing the 'right' thing here? Tougher than it sounds.
Luckily—or unluckily—
tracking the captives wasn't hard.
"..."
The blood scent lingering at my nose.
Vampire sensitivity?
We had wide detection range for 'blood scent.'
Minutes turned to dozens following the sweetly tantalizing aroma teasing my tongue.
[Rustle-]
We bypassed ground traps and booby-traps, tailing the goblin-held prisoners.
【Ugh...】
【Sob, hic...】
[Thud, thud-]
Cautious steps in the dark, punctuated by groans and sobs.
'Three people? All women, seems.'
'Goblins: five. Scout party, then. Condition... all intact.'
'Seriously, they suck at fighting...'
Couldn't fight—or wouldn't?
Surrendered on sight?
They had skills; combat should've cost the goblins.
...Reality check, though—this was it.
Some fight to the death; others surrender to survive.
Made sense, but couldn't help docking points inwardly. Swallowed a sigh, trailing an hour and a half total.
[Thud, thud-]
[Halt.]
Suddenly, distant footsteps echoed to a stop.
Not tight-space reverb—wider dispersal.
'Clearing.'
They'd arrived.
Ears strained, I focused on every sound.
[Nirat, Krosha-]
[...Gruk. No bakun...]
Faint guttural chatter.
Hoping for clues, but
'Ah.'
No need.
Thick blood scent hit my nose.
Plus a rotting, foul stench.
Instant recognition: their destination.
Not 'Tribute Storage'—'Butcher's Hut.'
'This...'
This meant opportunity for us.
Unlike Tribute Storage, the hut's butcher was doable at our stage.
And this chance we pondered? Sole salvation for those captives.
Butcher's Hut.
Not a place to enslave prisoners.
A place to butcher them.