Chapter 13
Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: Storming the Butcher's Hut
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The Butcher's Hut was located quite a distance from the goblin tribe's base.
Rotting entrails and filth lay abandoned everywhere.
The stench was so bad that even fellow goblins shunned the place. The tribe's "scouts" rarely visited the hut except to deliver prey or restock meat.
"The scouts already stopped by once, so there should be some time before the next team shows up. We'll charge in during that window and take him down."
"...Isn't a head-on fight a bit risky? Can't we wait for night and ambush them?"
"No can do. See those black birds roosting on the hut? They're like geese—if anything unfamiliar gets close, they'll raise hell."
"...Ah."
An ambush wouldn't be easy.
To pull it off, they'd need to snipe four or five geese at once from range before rushing in. But if they had the skills and numbers for that, they could just steamroll the place without sneaking.
Plus, luring the guy out to make the kill easier meant going in bold was actually better.
"—So we're going straight in. If the geese spot us on entry, he'll probably come charging out. Hot-tempered bastard like him usually leads with an attack from over there..."
"...And after that?"
"Tae-jin-ssi holds the line solo for about a minute. I need to get inside the hut to finish him."
"...."
Hyun Tae-jin fell silent for a moment as the explanation sank in.
Maybe the reality of facing it head-on was starting to hit home.
"No need to trade blows. The guy's way too big for a goblin—direct confrontation's impossible anyway."
Just pull his attention and kite him away. But don't let his aggro shift to me, or we're screwed. Stay close enough."
"...Understood."
Not an impossible ask, at least.
Warriors got a temporary stat boost while Inner Force Activation was running.
Plus, he'd handled himself decently against those ants.
Solid build and good instincts to boot.
Not some shut-in gamer like me. Pavarintos might play different in a game, but out here in reality, guys like him would hold up way better.
I'd just fill in the gaps with strategy and know-how.
...Right?
Eh, whatever.
"...Once I've held him off, what's the next step?"
"Simple. When I give the signal, you bail like your life depends on it—which it will. Land the attack, we clear. Miss, and you run without looking back."
Straightforward tactic.
The annoying parts were the Butcher's strength and defenses.
The thing was bigger than your average human and almost certainly packing a defensive passive skill—most attacks just glanced off.
Lucky break: it was slow.
As long as it didn't turn into a mindless slugfest, death probably wasn't on the table.
...Probably.
"You're sure we can take him down, right?"
"Not a hundred percent—call it seventy? Nabbed him nine times out of ten in-game. Same strat should work here."
"Hrm... That's workable."
Hyun Tae-jin nodded along with the rundown.
Clear-cut agreement, calm but decisive.
On a whim, I tacked on a warning.
"That said, it's not exactly safe. You could die. Or end up crippled."
"I'm good. Gotta steel yourself for that much in this world anyway."
"...."
...Real man's man, huh?
But he had a point.
There were no perfectly safe routes in Pavarintos.
Even if there were, some other lunatic walking a tightrope circus act would snatch the rewards while I played it cautious.
Every path had its risks.
You just had to eat some dirt eventually.
"Plus, you said there'd be rewards if we pull it off."
"...Yup. Rewards are a lock."
"Now that's the part I like. Personally, I'd love some slick armor—"
Hyun Tae-jin shrugged and pivoted the topic.
That breezy tone—was it just banter to shake off the fear?
Didn't matter.
No need for perfection.
That's why parties existed: to cover each other's weak spots.
As long as I could patch his gaps, we'd be fine.
"...Ready to head out, then?"
"Huh? Already?"
"Sooner the better. Goblin scouts keep tight schedules. We kill quick and ghost before the next patrol."
"...Hoo. Got it. Let's go die once."
"Sure. Just don't actually die."
"Yessir."
Hyun Tae-jin dropped his backpack, and I prepped for the raid.
[Glug, glug—]
"...Why dump the water?"
"Just in case. Strat might call for it."
"Ah."
"...."
...This guy.
Not even gonna ask how I'm killing it?
Whatever. No biggie.
Doesn't need the details—just follow orders.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
A heavy thud echoed through.
[-Thump.]
"Urk..."
A rhythmic noise that chilled the spine.
They'd started tuning it out somewhat. But every so often, a massive boom would reverberate, stabbing sharp into their hearts and dragging dormant terror to the surface.
But the real horror...
...came when the sounds stopped entirely.
[...]
Sudden silence crashed in.
No more noise. Han Se-in, Kim Ji-yul, and So Hye-jin cautiously lifted their heads to exchange glances.
"...."
"...What the...?"
"The sound... stopped?"
No sounds.
Maybe the "thing" had dozed off?
If so, this could be their chance—
[Thud, thud—]
"Ah..."
"...N-no."
—No such luck.
The thuds had ceased, but now coarse footsteps rang out instead.
Heavy steps approaching the cage where the women were trapped.
"W-what do we do...?"
"U-urgh..."
Terror spread amid the advancing footfalls.
So Hye-jin and Kim Ji-yul clung to each other, choking back sobs. The lone woman, dazed and bound, simply hung her head low.
And Han Se-in...
'Please...'
...prayed in her mind.
Didn't show it outwardly, but she desperately hoped the next victim wouldn't be her.
That was all she could do.
[Bang.]
The cage door swung open.
A massive goblin silhouette appeared, backlit by torchlight.
...Whether it even qualified as a goblin was debatable.
Tall as a man, bloated with layers of fat. Face twisted in ugliness, skin rough and pebbled like glued gravel.
The stench of rot and blood was nose-assaulting.
But worst of all...
Its outfit.
A single layer of leather draped like an apron.
Caked in dark red stains.
Fresh crimson blotches stood out amid the old.
"...Grh."
A guttural breath—laugh or exhale?
The goblin huffed coarsely once, then lumbered toward the women, exhaling foul reek.
"H-hic..."
"...G-gulp."
"...."
Its yellow eyes gleamed.
A judging expression crossed the hideous face. The gaze swept over the bound women one by one.
[-Whoosh.]
Then it turned and left the cage.
"...Huh?"
"I-it left...?"
"...."
As it vanished, So Hye-jin and Kim Ji-yul's faces lit with relief. But Han Se-in couldn't smile.
The door hung wide open behind it.
[Thud, thud—]
"Ah..."
"N-no, I hate this..."
And as she'd feared.
The footsteps returned toward the cage.
Ignoring the women's whimpers, it approached—clutching a crude wooden bowl.
'...A bowl?'
What was its game?
Trembling from unknown dread, Han Se-in forced herself to stare it down.
She had a vague inkling of what it'd done.
Part of her wanted to drop her gaze and hide from those yellow eyes right then...
But why?
She refused to just roll over.
The moment Han Se-in's defiant glare met the "Goblin Butcher's" eyes—
"...Grh."
[Thud—]
"Eh...?"
"...Huh?"
It set the bowl down before Han Se-in with a grotesque grin.
Not for the others.
Only her spot. It'd brought just the one bowl, so obvious in hindsight.
But... what did it want?
"...."
It said nothing.
Not that it'd matter if it did.
The Goblin Butcher stared at Han Se-in with that twisted smile.
Like it was testing her.
Chill instinct prickled her spine, but she peered cautiously into the bowl anyway.
Stains everywhere, but inside... food, probably. Chopped meat stewed and boiled.
Even amid the hut's stench, the aroma wafting from it was vividly savory.
For Han Se-in and the other two, starved all day, it was torture—
"—Urk! Bluuuugh—!!!"
"Eh...?"
"...S-Se-in... why?"
—Or not.
The instant she clocked the meat in the Goblin's bowl, Han Se-in retched involuntarily.
'Fucking psycho...!'
The meat's true nature wasn't hard to guess.
The sounds they'd heard till now clicked too. The other two tilted heads in confusion, but Han Se-in knew.
Horror she'd rather not imagine replayed in her head, forcing out vomit laced with curses.
"—Krnak, saruta."
But.
Vomit or no, the hulking "Goblin Butcher" growled low.
Unintelligible words.
But the meaning landed crystal clear.
「Eat.」
That's what it said, probably.
Two cleavers dangling at its belt.
From its twisted smile as it pointed at its "knives," Han Se-in read the intent.
'...Eat, or die...?'
She wanted to live.
And she was starving.
Stomach rumbling, throat parched.
But she didn't want this.
She wanted life, food—but as a human.
To live and eat as a person.
But... no eat, no live.
"...Fucking bastard..."
"—Kagut."
So.
Lips trembling, Han Se-in bit down hard and bowed her head.
Fine. She'd eat. For now.
But someday...
...Someday, she'd kill it.
Vow set, she leaned toward the soup—
[Honk, hreeeek—!!]
"...Uta?"
A random screech echoed from afar.
.
.
.
Hm.
That goose cry...
How to put it—way more grating than expected.
[Hreek, honk, hreeeeek—!!]
"...They're seriously loud."
"Tell me about it."
The geese squawked exactly like the game audio.
Deja vu hit hard—like the opening sequence playing out IRL. As we watched the scene unfold quietly, the hut door in the clearing's center burst open.
[Bang—!]
"...Roduk—!!!"
The massive "Goblin Butcher" emerged with an enraged bellow.
It kicked the door wide, glaring at us with blazing eyes.
Unintelligible tongue.
Goblins' game language was never translated—even devs claimed ignorance. Probably meaningless...
...But that line? Felt like "Who the hell are you?"
Typical ambush-response dialogue.
Not exact, just a hunch.
"...Ready?"
"...Think so."
Hyun Tae-jin was already in stance.
Faint haze of Inner Force Activation, shield raised, arming sword ready.
Couldn't win a straight fight at our specs, but tank-and-evac with shield? A minute easy.
I tightened grip on my Mana Arrow Staff's right hand.
Familiar sensation.
But tension gripped me too.
"It's all you."
"...I'll give it my all."
"Don't go too all-out—"
I whispered the warning, aiming my staff at the distant "Goblin Butcher."
'Mana Arrow.'
[Shiiik—]
Mage kiting 101.
Mana Arrow spell streaked like a light beam with signature whoosh.
Regular tribe goblins? One solid hit ends 'em.
But...
[Thud—]
"...Huh."
"...."
"Guy's insanely tanky."
Not this one.
The Butcher raised an arm and swatted the arrow aside effortlessly.
...Blocked? More like ate it with his arm.
Looked fine, though. The arrow lodged in his pebbled skin slowly dissolved per magic's timer.
"...Gawk. Mucha."
Thick rage twisted its ugly mug.
"...Did that do anything?"
"Nah. Best hold fire. He's got Rock Skin—magic, physical, won't stick."
"...Rock Skin?"
"Later. Name give it away enough?"
Of course it'd have that.
Rock Skin.
Top-tier defense passive. Skin turns stone-thick, slashing damage across the board from spells or blades.
Silver lining: speed tanks hard.
...Could even call it a boon.
Speed was our one edge right now.
"Raaaagh—!!!"
[Thump, thump, thump, thump—]
Patience gone?
The Goblin Butcher roared and charged.
Eyes glowing red.
Faint haze rising off its body.
Dim glow on the short cleavers in both hands.
'Rage, Inner Force Activation, Weapon Enhancement.'
'No Light Stance... small mercy.'
Not bad.
Enemy specs confirmed.
Speed definitely ours.
Win chance: solid.
"Urgh...!"
"...Don't engage—just stall."
"G-got it."
I stepped back, leaving trembling-voiced Hyun Tae-jin to hold.
"...."
Eyes on the hut it'd burst from.
Combat start: sprint in ASAP, grab the tool.
'Not yet...'
Aggro pull now would suck.
With Rage up, it'd tunnel nearest target.
Timing crucial.
And—
[Boom—!!]
"Hup—!?"
—right then.
Hyun Tae-jin raised shield into Heavy Stance, blocking the Goblin Butcher's cleaver.
[Vrrr—]
I triggered prepped Telekinesis to launch toward the hut.
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