Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: The Clan's Hideout
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There was no longer any need to keep watching.
It wasn't like in the game where people fought each other, and now that we'd confirmed the other side's identity, there was no reason to stay hidden.
[Rustle-]
"Huh?"
"...Who goes there!"
As Hyun Tae-jin and I stepped out into view, one of the people on the other side jumped in alarm and shouted.
He spun around, crossbow at the ready, but soon tilted his head in confusion and lowered his weapon.
"...Humans?"
Humans, yeah.
Though it wasn't like we'd never met before.
Just in case, I raised both hands to show I meant no harm and called out to the man.
"We surrender."
"...."
Maybe a bit too much of a joke.
He looked dumbfounded for a moment, then shrugged and asked,
"...You're not goblins, right?"
"Well, my mom's human, at least."
"Good enough."
Glad he played along.
Anyway... they seemed pretty relaxed.
Not rattled at all, even surrounded by blood and corpses.
After that lighthearted exchange, the man offered a handshake.
"Kim Seon-gil."
"Lee Do-hwa. This is Hyun Tae-jin."
"...Figured as much. Had a hunch."
"...?"
Had a hunch?
A bit of an odd response, but I figured out why soon enough.
"Ah...!"
"...You two are alive."
"Haha. Yeah. Though I didn't really do much..."
In a passage a short distance from the clearing where the battle had taken place.
As expected, familiar faces were waiting there.
Lee Chae-hwa and Han Se-in.
The two had already joined their group.
But... the other two were missing.
"Where are the other two? Dead?"
"No. They headed back to the hideout first."
"Hideout...?"
"...It's the base the group's using."
Lee Chae-hwa was the one who answered.
Her expression was still dark, her voice low and subdued.
But there was a hint of relief in her eyes.
She'd been worried, in her own way.
...Makes me feel bad for knocking her out.
Anyway,
the other two had left first.
Not a bad thing, really.
No need for all four to trail after us in a line.
More importantly...
"...So, the bag's safe?"
"Yeah. I've been carrying it the whole time."
"Good. Well done."
...This was the important part.
The backpack Han Se-in was wearing.
Only the best loot was in there, so losing it would've hurt bad.
Not just food, but the mana stones we'd gathered, the Scroll of Records, and even the Heavenly Demon Divine Art.
The Divine Art could've been ditched, but... it might sell.
The staff was already broken, so losing this too would've brought tears of blood.
I praised her with relief, and she stared at me blankly.
"...."
"...What? Blood on my face or something?"
"No, your face is clean... Just surprised you're talking casually now."
"Oh."
Right.
Relief made me drop the formalities without thinking.
"Should I call you unnie too?"
"...You don't even know my age."
"Twenty-two. Mine's younger."
"...."
Bold answer.
Fair enough. At that age, most people would be unnie or oppa material.
I didn't love it, but pushing back now would look weird.
With a sigh, I nodded.
"...Fine. Do what you want."
"Got it, unnie."
Hope this doesn't make me sound like a girl...
.
.
.
After the brief chat, Kim Seon-gil approached.
This time, with the 'ogre' in tow.
[Thud, thud-]
"...."
Footsteps that made the ground tremble faintly.
The sound, like a massive boulder lumbering about, was hard to get used to.
His towering height forced you to crane your neck, his body rippling with muscle sans an ounce of fat. And that ferocious face, a brutal mix of man and beast.
The 'Goblin Butcher' had been pretty big, but this guy was on another level.
...Honestly, a little scary.
Not just his looks, but knowing I couldn't beat him yet.
Standing exposed in front of him felt unnerving.
For a split second, I considered activating [Full Body Guardian].
"This is Jo Kang-yun. Looks rough, but... he's human, technically."
"...Hyung, I got a mouth too."
"I know. But they might misunderstand. So just stay quiet."
"Misunderstand what..."
"Kid, look in a mirror. You're misunderstandable."
Fortunately,
they lightened the mood first.
Jo Kang-yun scratching his head and grumbling, Kim Seon-gil casually ribbing him.
If the goal was to defuse the intimidating vibe, it was a solid strategy.
Though my interest lay elsewhere.
"How'd you make it out here?"
"Well... Huh?"
"You, Jo Kang-yun. A level 1 ogre can't move much during the day. Wondering what brought you outside the hideout."
"...."
Not a huge deal, but I was curious.
Kim Seon-gil gave a wry smile and shook his head.
"Knew it..."
"...."
Jo Kang-yun, meanwhile, looked intrigued.
No words from him, so Kim Seon-gil handled the talking.
"...You're a Player too, huh."
"Yeah."
No need to lie.
I nodded casually, and he said,
"For the record, I'm not. Just a regular guy."
"...Really?"
"Obviously. See? Human. If I'd been a Player, I'd have picked elf."
"...."
Was that a joke?
Felt pretty sincere.
I didn't respond, but he continued unfazed.
"Anyway, your story'll take time. Let's walk and talk. Like you said, Kang-yun can't stay out long."
"...Sure."
Fair point.
We were tired too, but as a vampire, I could pull an all-nighter.
More than that—
"Oh, one sec."
"Yeah?"
"...We left our stuff at the end of that passage. Could you grab it?"
"Stuff...?"
Might sound like a hassle, but it wasn't that bad.
In Pavarintos, "stuff" usually meant spoils of war.
"Yeah. Two backpacks. Rushed over and left 'em. Ignore the dead goblins nearby."
"Goblins...? You two took them out?"
"Yep."
Me alone, technically, but no need to specify.
I glanced at Hyun Tae-jin, who nodded like he got it.
"...Got it. We'll fetch it."
"Thanks."
"No need. We'll charge delivery fee."
"...."
Well, can't argue with that.
.
.
.
Thankfully, the clan's hideout wasn't far.
About an hour from the skirmish site.
Not super close, but
considering the fight, hardly distant.
Close enough that a raid could hit anytime.
[Thud, thud-]
[-Clack]
"Who goes there!"
"...Told you not to do that. Goblins don't talk anyway."
"Oh, Scout Leader."
They had sentries at the hideout entrance, for good reason.
"...Scout Leader?"
"Embarrassing, but yeah."
"Don't look embarrassed."
"Ahaha. Busted? Feels good every time, honestly."
"...."
...This guy.
Doesn't seem all there.
Guessed it from the casual banter amid corpses, but...
"Seon-gil."
"Yeah."
"You a Thief class by any chance?"
"Why ask?"
"...."
And a Thief too, apparently.
Could argue it's just a job, but picking Thief screams unhinged.
"I'm a Thief too, unnie."
"I know. You said earlier."
"...Oh?"
What the hell.
Thief party incoming?
Anyway.
We followed Kim Seon-gil through the hideout's "main gate."
"...."
The setup looked solid.
Fence of woven logs, sturdy wooden gate that slid open and shut.
Goblin-proof, probably—watchtower behind the fence.
Not pre-existing.
They built it themselves.
The leader here had real leadership chops.
"...Who's the leader?"
"Guild Master? Player. Sort of."
Guild Master, huh.
Suits for casual use.
Clan Lord's a mouthful, and Pavarintos didn't have formal guilds or clans anyway.
They made up their own terms.
Obviously the Guild Master's a Player.
More than that...
'This place... no way.'
I'd suspected,
but the hideout looked familiar up close.
Vast cavern.
Village inside.
Log cabins dotted within the fence, big one in the center.
"Feels like a village."
"Ah, yeah. Used to be one."
"Huh... Used to be? You didn't build it?"
"Nah. We've only been here a bit."
Hyun Tae-jin and Kim Seon-gil's exchange.
Stuff I'd already guessed.
Obviously, they stormed in and took it.
Place this size, dozens of goblins must've lived here...
...Though one ogre probably handles any number.
"Here we are. Guild Hall. Where our Guild Master stays."
As expected, the "Guild Hall" was the central house.
Kim Seon-gil led us there and addressed the group.
"Alright. It's late—rest up, folks. Only those who wanna talk, come in."
"Can I rest?"
"Nope."
"...Tch."
Tried my luck, got shot down firm.
Strict about this stuff, huh.
"Unnie, we..."
"You two, go rest. Guard the bags."
"...."
The others had already headed to their spots.
The ogre Jo Kang-yun too, and his escorts.
I sent Lee Chae-hwa and Han Se-in off first—half excited anyway—and entered the hall with Kim Seon-gil.
[Creak-]
"Come on in."
"...Me too?"
"Up to you, Tae-jin."
"...Right."
Hyun Tae-jin nodded resolutely.
Turning tail to sleep would've been funny, but good he didn't.
He stood tense by my side, scanning the interior.
...No need to be that stiff.
Killing each other was game stuff—reality's different.
Just people talking.
Nothing serious.
"...Finally here."
...Nope.
Strictly speaking, not "people."
Humans and... others.
No need to distinguish before, but maybe now.
"Hm? Guild Master. How long you been listening?"
"A while. Heard you guests enter the village."
In the hall's living room.
A dark elf male stood there.
Deep brown skin, pale golden hair. He waved lightly at us.
"Woo Hyang-tae."
...As expected.
Dirty handsome face.