Chapter 5
We moved forward through a narrow and dark passage hidden inside the cave.
With the flame conjured by the magic-type hunter lady lighting up our path.
The leader positioned himself at the very front of the group, while the lady took the rear.
Han-gyeol and I stayed in the middle.
I clearly explained to them that the Holy Knight class is meant to be a tank.
So, I said I’d take the lead position, but I was immediately turned down.
As a D-rank hunter, he insisted on confidently taking the front himself.
Well, let him do as he pleases.
“Han-gyeol, have you ever experienced a rare dungeon before?”
“Uh, um… I haven’t actually experienced one myself.”
Han-gyeol answered with an awkward expression, scratching his cheek.
At that moment, the leader, who was walking ahead, spoke up.
“I’ve been through one before.”
“What was it like?”
When Han-gyeol asked, the leader glanced back and forth between Han-gyeol and me.
He let out a deep sigh and continued.
“Goblins were hiding in a secluded space. The moment we stepped into an open area, they ambushed us from the front and back.”
“Wow… I learned a few patterns at the academy, but that sounds brutal.”
“You’re an academy graduate?”
“Yes. Though I only graduated recently.”
Hiding monsters, huh….
I didn’t sense anything around us, so it must be different this time.
My curiosity was satisfied, but it wasn’t exactly useful information for now.
“Anyway, since I’m the one with experience, just follow my instructions, and everything will be fine.”
“Understood.”
“Huu…”
Suddenly, a loud sigh came from behind.
When I turned my head to look back, I saw the lady staring at me.
Her brows were furrowed deeply.
“……?”
“Stop worrying and keep your eyes ahead while walking, will you?”
Why does she always seem so angry? That’s not good for her health.
I nodded indifferently and turned back to face forward.
I wasn’t curious enough to wonder why she was angry.
* * *
The magic-type hunter lady glared at the person in front of her.
That glossy, pure white hair was glowing red under the light.
It looked like a beautiful painting.
The more she looked, the more jealousy flared up inside her.
Originally, she, as a magic-type user who specialized in offensive spells, should have been the one valued in the party.
She should have been the one garnering all the men’s attention.
But what’s the reality now?
The gazes of both men were glued to that woman ahead.
Even in the midst of battle.
They openly watched her, as if prepared to jump in and help at any moment of danger.
If only this woman were incompetent.
Then she could have bullied her openly.
A newly awakened rookie hunter who doesn’t even know how to use the status window.
No matter how many monsters charge at her, her posture never falters.
Does that even make sense?
I thought she was crazy for wearing a skirt in a dungeon.
But not once did her skirt even flutter.
In terms of performance, she was only pulling her own weight.
But I can’t help but question whether she really is just pulling her weight.
“We’ve reached an open area.”
“Ha, finally.”
The woman sighed in relief.
Her mana was almost depleted, and she wanted to finish this quickly.
The group looked around the clearing.
It was about the size of a small auditorium.
There was nothing special, except for a chest visible on the opposite side.
“It’s a treasure room!”
“Wait!”
The lady dashed towards the chest.
The leader tried to stop her rash action, but it was too late.
Just as the woman was about to touch the chest.
She was blocked by an invisible barrier.
And at that very moment!
A magic circle formed in the centre of the clearing, emitting a bright light.
“Damn it, get over here, quickly!”
“Eek!”
The woman hurriedly ran back to join the group.
While she gasped for breath, the others prepared for battle, keeping a vigilant watch on their surroundings.
And then.
“Kerrek!”
“Kekekek!”
The familiar sound of monsters laughing.
It was the goblins.
Small in stature and weak in strength, often disregarded monsters.
They began pouring out from the darkness.
“Th-There’s too many, isn’t there?”
“This is bad.”
It wasn’t just one or two.
They started approaching in groups of ten or more from every direction—front, back, left, and right.
No matter how skilled a D-rank hunter might be, the number of enemies one can handle at a time is limited.
And if you’re surrounded like this, it’s hard to move freely.
The leader quickly made a decision.
“There may be a lot of them, but they’re all just goblins. We can handle this! Stay calm and take them down one by one!”
Before the encirclement could tighten, he stepped forward and initiated the battle.
Keeping the magic-type hunter in the centre, Han-gyeol and Si-hyun also began fighting.
Han-gyeol used his skills repeatedly without pause.
There was no time to conserve mana.
Fortunately, he felt great today.
His body was lighter than usual, and he felt more energized.
He felt like he could accomplish anything.
Fuelled by this surge of energy, he relentlessly slashed through the goblins.
“Kiaaaah!”
“Where do you think you’re going!”
Another goblin charged at him head-on.
Han-gyeol slightly moved back to avoid the attack and immediately countered.
At the same time, two goblins swung their clubs at him from both sides.
‘I’ll have to take at least one hit. I can endure it!’
Bracing himself, he slashed down the goblin on his right.
Then, he prepared himself for the impact from the other side.
But.
“Huh?”
What’s going on? He didn’t feel any pain.
When he looked, the goblin was clutching its forehead, writhing in agony.
He didn’t know what had happened, but the fight wasn’t over yet.
Han-gyeol quickly struck it down with his sword.
He had just dealt with three goblins in an instant and finally got a moment to catch his breath.
Han-gyeol glanced back slightly.
He saw Si-hyun surrounded by countless goblins.
She was dodging every attack with extraordinary movements, as if performing some kind of stunt.
Every time she counterattacked, the number of goblins steadily decreased.
Is this what the Holy Knight class is supposed to be like…?
Isn’t that the fighting style of a martial artist or something?
The image is a bit different, but anyway, it’s good that she’s safe.
The magic-type hunter seems to be assisting the leader.
It seems like everything will be fine as long as I handle my part.
Han-gyeol turned back to face the goblins in front of him.
Meanwhile, the leader was feeling cold sweat trickling down his back.
A number of goblins equivalent to the total monster count in an E-rank dungeon had appeared all at once in this single space.
If Si-hyun hadn’t drawn the aggro of nearly half the goblins.
The party would have surely collapsed, and injuries would have been inevitable.
It might have even led to fatalities.
The magic-type hunter was nothing more than a human totem keeping the lights on at this point.
‘And this person’s supposed to be a newly awakened E-rank hunter…?’
Is this what people call talent?
The leader felt like he was witnessing a radiance emanating from Si-hyun.
“Finish them!”
“Keek!”
After a fierce battle, they finally brought down the dozens of goblins.
The hunters let out sighs of relief.
Just as Si-hyun was about to speak to them.
“Keh-heh-heh!”
“Kekekeke!”
Once again, goblins began appearing from the darkness.
And there were just as many of them as before.
At that moment.
The leader involuntarily stepped back.
He could sense death looming right in front of him.
They had squeezed out every last bit of mana to get through the first wave.
And now, without even a moment’s rest, the same number of goblins were swarming in again?
Their stamina and mental strength were both completely drained.
This was impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
Even if they somehow managed to kill them all.
Could they really be sure there wouldn’t be another wave?
They shouldn’t have come in here at all.
They got greedy and overstepped.
A poor decision was going to cost everyone their lives.
Since things have come to this, at the very least.
He’d try to go out in a cool and dignified manner in his final moments.
The leader made up his mind.
“Si-hyun!”
“……?”
While keeping his gaze on the goblins.
The leader shouted, full of bravado.
“We’ll break through the monsters toward the exit! If it’s you, you can escape!”
“What the hell are you saying?!”
The magic-type hunter yelled in disbelief.
This crazy bastard suddenly started spouting nonsense.
If we’re going to survive, we do it together; if we’re going to die, we die together.
He’s already giving up and trying to save at least one person?
And it’s not even me but that woman?
He’s lost his mind. He must be crazy.
She shot a murderous glare at the leader.
But he didn’t care at all.
That radiant talent must not be wasted here.
It was a mistake to drag her into a place like this just to gain some favour.
At the very least, he’d leave a good impression by showing some dependability.
“If even one person has to survive, it must be you, Si-hyun!”
“I’ll help too!”
“Damn it!”
When the leader shouted, Han-gyeol also agreed and took his stance.
The human totem swore at them for their sudden actions.
She was ignored once more.
Si-hyun tilted her head, watching the men.
Why are they suddenly acting all heroic, saying lines like they’re about to die?
Like they’re facing their last moments or something?
“Kehr… Keck!”
She kicked away one of the goblins rushing at her.
And she started to think about the situation.
She only planned on doing her part and not standing out too much.
But it seems that no one except her noticed the anomaly.
At a glance, they appeared to be ordinary goblins.
But all these monsters were fake.
When they were killed, their corpses vanished, and no mana stones dropped.
The fact that she didn’t notice them when entering the clearing.
It means they were ‘non-existent beings’ that suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
“Hurry up before it’s too late!”
“We’ll hold them off as long as we can!”
“Shut up and just focus on fighting!”
They’re so noisy.
Si-hyun shook her head.
She had no intention of joining in on this ridiculous farce.
If she left things as they were, it would only waste time.
Standing out might be unavoidable, but.
It’d be better to handle things directly and end it quickly.
Then she could go back and have a nice meal with her sister.
“…I’ll take care of it. Just hang in there.”
“W-What?!”
“This isn’t the time to—”
“Damn it, she’s lost it too!”
They’re really loud, all of them.
But since they look so energetic, they should be able to hold out just fine.
I could wipe them out in one go if I wanted to.
But that would draw too much attention.
If word gets out, it’ll be annoying.
So, I’ll just have to do it the old-fashioned way.
Si-hyun cast a higher-level buff on herself than before.
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