I advanced through the narrow, dark passage hidden inside the cave.
The female magic hunter’s flame lit up the surroundings as we went.
The leader stood at the very front of the group, and the aunt had gone to the back.
Han-gyeol and I took the center.
I clearly explained to everyone that the paladin class was a tank.
So, I said I would stand at the front, but was immediately rejected.
The D-rank hunter insisted he would stand bravely at the front.
Well, suit yourself.
“Han-gyeol, what rare dungeons have you experienced?”
“Uh, um…none that I’ve personally experienced.”
Han-gyeol scratched her cheek with an awkward expression.
At that moment, the leader, ahead of us, spoke up.
“I’ve experienced it once.”
“Really? How was it?”
“…”
As Han-gyeol replied, the leader glanced back and forth between us.
He let out a deep sigh and continued.
“There were goblins hiding in a corner. The moment we stepped into the clearing, we were ambushed from both sides.”
“Wow… I learned some patterns at the academy, but they really are ruthless.”
“Were you from the academy?”
“Yup. Well, I just graduated not long ago.”
Hiding monsters, huh…
I didn’t feel anything around, so I guess this time it’s different.
My curiosity was slightly satisfied, but it wasn’t any useful information right now.
“Anyway, since I’m the experienced one, you just need to follow my instructions.”
“Got it.”
“Phew……”
Suddenly, a loud breath came from the back.
I turned to look, and the aunt was glaring at me.
With her brows furrowed deeply.
“…?”
“Stop worrying and just keep your eyes on the front, okay?”
Why is she always so angry? It’s not good for her health.
I nodded absentmindedly and looked back ahead.
I wasn’t even curious why she was angry.
*
The female magic hunter glared at the man in front of her.
Her glossy white hair gleamed, tinted red by the light.
She looked like a painting.
The more she looked at her companions, the more jealousy bubbled up inside her.
Originally, being from the magic sector, especially with attack magic, she should be revered in the party.
She should have taken all the interest from the men.
But what’s happening now?
The gazes of both men are glued to that woman before them.
Even amidst battle.
As if prepared to help at any moment, the men were openly watching her.
She thought, if only that girl had been incompetent.
If so, they would have harassed her outright.
But even though she’s a newly awakened beginner who doesn’t even know how to use her status window properly…
No matter how many monsters came at her, her posture never faltered.
Is that even normal?
She thought she was some crazy girl showing up in a skirt in a dungeon.
Yet, the skirt didn’t even flap in the wind.
Looking at the results, she was only doing a single person’s worth of work,
But she started to doubt if that was really the case.
“A clearing has appeared.”
“Ha, finally.”
She let out a sigh of relief.
Her mana was almost depleted, and she wanted to wrap things up quickly.
The team looked around the clearing.
It was about the size of a small auditorium.
Nothing special was around, except for a chest on the opposite side.
“It’s a treasure room!”
“Wait!”
She rushed towards the chest.
The leader tried to stop her from her impulsive action, but it was already too late.
Just as she reached for the chest…
She was blocked by an invisible wall.
At that moment!
A magic circle appeared in the middle of the clearing, emitting a bright light.
“Damn it, come here quickly!”
“Eek!”
She hurriedly ran to rejoin the team.
As she gasped for breath,
The others were preparing for battle, keeping watch around them.
And then.
“Ke-rek!”
“Ki-ki-kik!”
The familiar laughter of monsters.
The goblins, small and weak, often overlooked.
They began to swarm out from the darkness.
“Um, isn’t there too many?”
“This is bad.”
There were not just one or two.
Dozens were approaching from front, back, and both sides.
No matter how strong a D-rank hunter is, there are limits to how many can be dealt with at once.
And being surrounded like this restricts movement as well.
The leader quickly made a decision.
“Though there are many, they’re all goblins. It’s manageable! Let’s calmly take them out!”
Before being surrounded could tighten, he stepped forward to begin the fight.
Keeping the magic hunter in the center, Han-gyeol and Si-hyun each started their own battles.
Han-gyeol continuously used her skills without stopping.
This wasn’t a time to save mana.
Fortunately, her condition was great today.
She felt lighter than usual and full of energy.
She felt she could accomplish anything.
In a surge of momentum, she ruthlessly sliced through the goblins.
“Kyek!”
“Where do you think you’re going!”
Another goblin charged from the front.
She slightly pulled back and avoided the attack before counterattacking.
At the same time, she swung her sword to dodge two goblin clubs coming from the sides.
‘I have to take at least one hit. I’ll endure!’
Steeling herself, she took down the goblin on her right.
Then prepared for the impact coming from the opposite side.
But…
“Huh?”
What? She felt no pain at all.
Upon checking, she found the goblin clutching its forehead in pain.
Unsure of what was happening, but still amidst the fight.
Han-gyeol quickly cut down the goblin.
Thanks to fending off three goblins in a flash, she caught her breath briefly.
She looked back slightly.
Si-hyun was surrounded by numerous goblins.
She seemed to be performing some miraculous moves, dodging all of the attacks.
Every time she countered, the number of goblins steadily decreased.
Is the paladin class supposed to be like that…?
Isn’t that the fighting style of a martial artist or something like that?
Though the image was slightly different, she was relieved that she seemed to be okay.
The magic hunter seemed to be assisting the leader.
It seemed like if she just concentrated on her role, everything would be fine.
Han-gyeol turned her gaze back to the goblins in front of her.
Meanwhile, the leader felt cold sweat running down his back without showing it.
In just one space, the goblins appeared in numbers comparable to those found in an E-rank dungeon.
If Si-hyun hadn’t drawn aggro from nearly half of the goblins,
The party would have undoubtedly fallen apart and injuries would have started to accumulate.
It was possible there could have even been casualties.
The magic hunter had turned into a human totem just to maintain the light.
‘Is that a freshly awakened E-rank hunter…?’
Is this what they call talent?
The leader felt there was a glow surrounding Si-hyun.
“Finish them!”
“Kyek!”
After a fierce battle, they finally took down dozens of goblins.
The hunters let out a sigh of relief.
Just as Si-hyun was about to say something to them…
“Keheh!”
“Ki-kik!”
Goblins began to appear from the darkness once more.
And even in the same numbers as before.
At that moment.
The leader instinctively took a step back.
He felt death coming closer.
They had fought with every bit of mana and stamina, was exhausted, and now a wave of new enemies was coming without a break?
Both physical and mental limits had been pushed to exhaustion.
This was impossible.
Absolutely impossible.
Even if they could take them all down,
Would there really be no next wave?
We shouldn’t have ventured in here in the first place.
Greed had overtaken them.
Due to a wrong judgment, everyone was facing death.
If it came to the last moment, if anything, he would show a heroic final stand.
The leader made a decision.
“Si-hyun!”
“…?”
Keeping his gaze on the goblins,
The leader shouted with all his bravado.
“I will focus on clearing out the monsters toward the exit! If anyone can escape, it will be you!”
“Hey! What are you talking about!”
The magic hunter shouted in disbelief.
After all, it was absurd for him to just spit such nonsense.
If they had to survive, they’d all survive together, and if they died, it would be together too.
To suddenly give up and save just one person?
Especially not me, but that girl?
He must be out of his mind. Absolutely crazy.
With a killing gaze, she glared at the leader.
However, the leader paid no mind at all.
That dazzling talent shouldn’t be wasted here.
Bringing her here just to gain points had been a mistake.
He wanted to leave a strong impression here, in this battle.
“If just one must survive, it should be you, Si-hyun!”
“I’ll help too!”
“No, damn it!”
As the leader shouted, Han-gyeol also agreed, taking up position.
The irrational behavior of the men drew a curse from the human totem.
Though ignored once more,
As she looked at them, Si-hyun tilted her head.
Why were they suddenly speaking as if they were heroes, all serious?
Was it because they were about to face their demise?
“Ke-rek… Kek!”
She kicked away one approaching monster.
And began to think sharply to accurately assess the situation.
She had just wanted to do a single component’s worth without drawing attention.
No one seemed to notice the unease except herself.
At a glance, they seemed like normal goblins,
But the truth was they were all fake monsters.
When killed, their bodies disappeared, and no magic stones came out.
The fact that she hadn’t noticed this when entering the clearing meant that from the start, ‘non-existent beings’ had suddenly appeared.
“Get moving before it’s too late!”
“As long as we hold on!”
“Stop talking nonsense and focus on the fight!”
No one could comprehend the gimmick.
Si-hyun shook her head.
She had no intention of participating in that odd farce.
If left unattended, it would only delay the time.
She might stand out a little, but it would be better to wrap things up quickly.
She wanted to finish this and go back to eat something delicious with her younger sibling.
“…I’ll take care of it. Just hold on.”
“Uh?!”
“Now is not the time for such words!”
“Oh crap, is she going insane as well!”
Geez, they’re so loud.
Seeing them full of energy, they seemed to be holding out just fine.
She could sweep everything away at once.
But then she would definitely stand out too much.
If rumors spread, it would be bothersome.
Reluctantly, she had to move her body.
Si-hyun cast a buff on herself that was on a whole different level compared to the previous ones.
