Chapter 18
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 18
Chapter Title: Kobold Forest (2)
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The decisive difference between kobolds and goblins.
Kobolds always move in packs.
That's why they're specialized in multi-target attacks.
Especially against opponents larger than themselves.
Just like hyenas.
Slash! Slash!
"Kek…!"
"…Grah!"
Slicing down the first two that charged in was a piece of cake.
But then three more, four more came rushing in one after another.
Slash! Slash!
I swung my blade without pause.
One swing was enough to cut a kobold like paper.
Obtained additional effect from <Hunt Begins> passive.
※This effect is a temporary ability. (Duration: 2 minutes)
Then the notification popped up right in front of my eyes.
'Hunt Begins? Is this awakening?'
Slash! Slash!
After slicing down two more kobolds, another notification appeared.
The more enemies I killed, the less fatigued I felt—in fact, I grew sharper.
Every muscle in my body felt alive, breathing.
This ability granted extra stamina with each kill.
I could feel my body lighten as my stamina rose.
There were so many that even wild swings hit their mark.
I backed away quickly while striking, thanks to my enhanced stats.
The moment you're surrounded by them, it's over.
"Arrows… arrows… shoot!" Whoosh!
Most of the arrows the kobolds fired missed, embedding in trees, but I couldn't let my guard down.
These guys shoot first and ask questions never—whether it's at allies or trees.
Still, the ones headed my way, I deflected with my blade.
"Surround him! Surround him!"
The kobold pack circled to my flanks and pounced.
I spread my arms wide.
"Flame Pillar."
Roooar!
"Flame Pillar."
⟨ Flame Pillar ⟩
A powerful flame magic erupted from my body, spreading in all directions.
The kobolds caught in the pillar burned mercilessly.
The more enemies I killed, the stronger I got.
Of course, with only two minutes duration, it wasn't infinite.
The burning kobold corpses ignited spots throughout the forest, starting small fires.
Soon, flames filled the area.
Yet the kobolds pressed on without fear.
'Hoo!'
Switch Weapon. Spear.
To maintain distance while delivering powerful close-range strikes, the spear was ideal.
And a spear's long blade offered a wider attack range and easier hits than a sword.
I wrapped lightning around the spear to pierce their armor.
Since the slime weapon was liquid-based, the lightning grew even stronger.
Each swing made the blade flash brilliantly.
"…Spear… spear!"
"Attack with spears!"
They countered with spears too.
Four kobolds charged in a line, spears thrust forward.
I switched again.
Switch Weapon. Axe.
Swoosh!
From a low angle where they couldn't easily counter with spears, I smashed their weapons with my axe.
Crack! Crack!
Once you close the distance, spears are easy prey.
Of course, my superior speed and power made it possible.
Kobold corpses piled up around me.
Eventually, I had to step over them.
Still, more kobolds swarmed in, a sea of bodies.
"…Die! Human!"
Thud.
One kobold dropped from a tree onto my back.
As it tried to stab my back with a dagger, I flipped it over my shoulder in one motion.
A shoulder throw I'd stolen from Mitsuda's moves—one that ensured the kill.
"Gak…!"
The kobold's neck snapped, and it died instantly.
Next. Next!
Thud… thud…!
"Kuaaaah!!!"
A massive kobold champion lumbered between the trees.
It swung a whole tree like a club.
Whoosh—.
I barely ducked the swinging tree.
Wiping my dry lips, I grinned.
"…Perfect. Just the chance I wanted."
Mana density thick enough to shatter rocks.
That's ultra-condensed mana.
I hadn't shattered a rock yet, but a meaty lump like the kobold champion? I could kill it.
I leaped onto its body, clinging tight.
"Gak?"
Crackle-crackle-crack!
I unleashed all my mana at full force.
A lightning spell stronger than any I'd cast before exploded.
Sparks flew wildly, knocking down nearby minions.
The charred kobold champion toppled forward limply.
Boom!
A few more kobolds crushed under its corpse.
"Haha… hahaha."
A hollow laugh escaped as I stared at the roasted champion.
In my past life, this monster would've taken hundreds of swings to fell.
Now, one skill did it.
Normally, I'd be gasping for breath by now.
Yet my heart pounded wildly.
Like a killer who'd tasted blood.
"Kill! Kill!!!"
"Charge all at once!!!"
"Kill him!"
Even facing the oncoming kobold horde, a grin crept onto my face.
Slash! Slash!
Each kobold I carved apart sent thrilling ecstasy surging through me.
My blade never rested.
I swung relentlessly, again and again.
The kobolds were slaughtered.
Limbs severed, heads rolling, they screamed for mercy.
I didn't let even the fleeing ones escape.
Monsters had no place in this world.
No pity stirred in me as I massacred them.
"All together! All together! Attack!"
"Kieeeek!!"
Dozens charged with spears raised.
Without hesitation, I charged right back at them.
"Class President. 11 o'clock. Flames rising."
"Got it."
C Platoon swiftly moved toward Kang Tae-hyun's position.
Melee, tanks up front; Yoon Ah-young's ranged squad in the second line; Olivia's priest squad in the third.
Movement was swift, but they followed Lee Jae-yeol's orders and tactical doctrine.
The fast-response melee squad handled traps and ambushes.
Mitsuda was at the center.
"Kek!"
A kobold hidden in the bushes leaped out with a dagger toward the second line.
Yoon Ah-young, on alert, didn't even notice it coming.
In that instant, Mitsuda grabbed it with one hand.
"Kek?!"
Snap!
Mitsuda snapped the kobold's neck barehanded.
Ah-young blinked at him.
"…Th-thanks."
Mitsuda glanced at her sidelong and turned back to the front.
Then someone shouted.
"Look over there!"
Ah-young turned.
It was the burning forest.
Kobold corpses charred by fire or electrocuted, blackened everywhere.
"Front squad members, secure the perimeter. Central and rear squads, find the vice president. Olivia, prep emergency treatment."
At Jae-yeol's command, C Platoon moved efficiently to their tasks.
The stench of burning flesh was foul.
Some squad members retched or felt dizzy.
When they finally reached the slaughter site, they were stunned.
A gruesome scene.
Some kobolds were sliced beyond recognition.
No survivors… not a single one.
'…Massacre…'
The word 'massacre' was all that came to Ah-young's mind.
It looked like a battlefield.
And from between the piled kobold corpses, a man walked out.
He looked like a human returned from hell.
His upper clothes shredded beyond recognition.
Through the tatters, sword cuts stood out vividly.
Blood flowed, but Tae-hyun's face showed no fatigue.
A massive greatsword was in his hand.
He stopped dead upon spotting them.
Blood dripped from his blade. Drip, drip.
"Tae-hyun…? You okay?"
Ah-young faced him.
For some reason, her body trembled.
Overwhelming strength.
And a scene like divine judgment.
No one could feel fearless before it.
Kang Tae-hyun walked straight to Yone.
Yone trembled violently.
To him, Tae-hyun grinned, grabbing his hair.
"You… not scared of people?"
"H-heek…!!!"
Yone collapsed backward, panting.
He shook in utter terror.
His crotch was soaked.
"Tae-hyun!"
Ah-young grabbed his wrist.
His senses snapped back.
He looked like he'd just woken from a dream.
"You… really okay?"
Tae-hyun peeled kobold guts from his hair and answered.
"Yeah… I'm fine. Whole C Platoon's here?"
"Y-yeah… but seriously, you okay?"
To Ah-young's question, Tae-hyun gave an awkward smile and placed his hand on her head.
Her trembling stopped.
Unlike before, this touch held a warm emotion.
"I'm fine."
Tae-hyun passed her and headed to Lee Jae-yeol.
Ah-young turned, watching his back.
Why the trembling stopped.
He had strength that made even allies quake, but he was the most righteous man.
She felt relief that he was on her side.
'…'
Ah-young quietly placed her hand on her chest.
For some reason, her heart pounded madly.
"Hey. You really okay?"
"I said I'm fine."
I sat on a rock, bandaging my wounds.
Jae-yeol stuck by my side, asking repeatedly.
I told him again.
"I'm fine. More importantly, update me on the op."
"…Op's canceled. Haah. No helping it."
"Figures. Time limit's passed anyway."
Yone's solo act had triggered a butterfly effect.
C Platoon ultimately failed the mission.
Goal was stealth infiltration to the enemy base for total annihilation.
Once our position was exposed, mission failed.
Jae-yeol sighed deeply.
"Why'd you go off alone…"
"What?"
What nonsense is this?
"Huh? No, Yone said you went solo…"
Yone flinched when I looked at him, then started yelling.
"Because you broke formation! It's all Kang Tae-hyun's fault!"
The guilty one raging.
Blaming me for the mission failure.
Suddenly, all the squadmates eyed me.
Disappointment clear in their gazes.
'Idiot…'
I ignored the shrieking Yone and glanced at the hovering camera drone.
C Platoon warp in progress.
The notification appeared mid-talk with Jae-yeol.
Suddenly, warp began.
Blue energy enveloped me, and soon we were back at the academy.
Training over.
"…Good work, C Platoon."
The entire C Platoon warped straight to the briefing room.
Monitors and evaluators sat there.
C Platoon stirred in disbelief.
This eval was against 'virtual kobolds,' not real ones.
Special devices simulated real sensations perfectly—no one knew.
Of course, 'virtual' slashes hurt but didn't kill.
I knew, naturally.
That's why I kept my 'vice president' rank even when Yone went rogue.
'If it were real combat, I'd have half-killed Yone and dragged him back.'
The others looked betrayed, totally shell-shocked.
"Take seats by number."
Post-action review.
The mood was grim.
Once seated, instructors and evaluators approached.
Ha Dong-hwan shook his head, gaze down.
"C Platoon showed great teamwork and judgment in combat. Squad leaders and members harmonized well."
Unexpected praise drew small sighs of relief.
"However."
The instructor continued gravely.
"Yoon Ah-young, Cadet 32-0878. Breaking formation. Lee Jae-yeol, Cadet 32-1140. Mission failure and poor judgment. And all of C Platoon violated Hunter Law Article 2, Section 13: When a comrade is injured or in mortal danger, prioritize mission continuation and perimeter security before emergency treatment…"
C Platoon hung their heads silently.
Rescuing me under Jae-yeol's lead meant mission failure.
Hunter HQ valued ops over single lives, hence the rule.
They believed op success preserved humanity.
"Most disappointing: Disobeying a superior and desertion."
Yone trembled violently.
In real combat, he'd face hunter trial and prison.
People reveal true selves in crisis.
This training tested cadet reactions to death-like fear in battle.
The academy didn't make everyone warriors—only 'survivors' became them.
"Yone Chayengopski, Cadet 32-0124. You're expelled."
Trash gets filtered out.
No need for me to handle it—cowards don't stay here.
That's the law of this academy.
(To be continued next time)