“It should be morning by now.”
Jeong Yusin yawned and muttered to himself. He had spent the night drifting in and out of light sleep. With only a blanket covering the narrow entrance to the crevice, it was difficult to fully relax. The cold, damp floor only added to his discomfort, the chill seeping into his bones and pricking at his heart.
Kael and the others also seemed to have had a restless night, tossing and turning several times. Especially when Jeong Yusin was on watch, they seemed particularly uneasy. Of course, it was understandable to feel wary when an outsider joins a party of fellow townsfolk.
“Ms. Scath will take the lead today.”
As they were about to leave the crevice after eating and packing their belongings, Kael approached, looking tired with dark circles under his eyes.
“Alright.”
Jeong Yusin accepted the torch and took the lead, with Dell walking just behind, guiding the way.
“Turn right here.”
“Acknowledged.”
There was no sound of anyone descending below. Unlike yesterday when they encountered several other parties, today they saw no one.
The only sounds were the footsteps of the party echoing through the long, narrow tunnel.
As Jeong Yusin walked with the torch, it became clear: the light was weak. The distance that should have been illuminated was instead swallowed by a strange darkness, making it impossible to see even vague silhouettes when moving too far away. Entranced, he stared into the darkness as he walked.
“Keeek!”
“Kek!!”
Jeong Yusin’s shoulders stiffened.
Hobgoblins.
“Prepare for battle!”
Quickly shouting, he drew his longsword.
“Zaak!”
A sound that tore through the air.
Jeong Yusin instinctively raised his shield.
Clang!
An arrow fired from the darkness struck his shield.
“Zaak!”
More sounds overlapped, arrows raining down.
Clang! Clang!
He barely managed to block them; the force pounding on his shield was immense, indicating the archers were much closer than expected.
At that moment, Kael suddenly charged forward into the darkness.
Jeong Yusin was taken aback by his sudden dash.
“Mary!”
Kael called out.
“Light!”
The holy glow pushed back the darkness, filling the cave with light. Everything was now revealed.
Five hobgoblins.
The hobgoblins screamed and covered their eyes against the sudden brightness.
Kael charged forward with incredible speed, swinging his sword.
“Zaak!”
A hobgoblin head flew off, its blood splattering the cave walls.
‘I need to stick close to Kael.’
Jeong Yusin couldn’t let him be surrounded alone and quickly rushed forward.
Clang!
An arrow grazed his left shoulder, embedding itself in the chest of a hobgoblin. Turning back, he saw Ann holding her bow.
By the time he arrived, Kael had already swung his sword, severing another hobgoblin’s head.
There were two left.
Coming to their senses, the hobgoblins swung their daggers and charged simultaneously.
Their target was clear: Kael’s unprotected side.
Clang! Clang!
Jeong Yusin’s shield deflected all the incoming dagger strikes.
PuuK.
Jeong Yusin thrust his longsword into the chest of a hobgoblin whose stance had collapsed, piercing through the sternum beneath its hard chestbone.
“Guek!”
The hobgoblin collapsed backward. Jeong Yusin immediately swung the pommel of his sword and struck the cheek of the nearby hobgoblin.
“Keek!”
The hobgoblin’s teeth shattered and one side of its face caved in. Just as Jeong Yusin was about to finish it off, Kael rushed in and cut off the hobgoblin’s head. Blood spurted from the neck, splashing all over Jeong Yusin’s face and body.
“Hoo. Ms. Scath, we make a good team, don’t we?”
Kael chuckled, his eyes glinting with the excitement of battle.
“Alright,” Jeong Yusin replied, wiping the blood from his face.
He was surprised when Kael suddenly charged into the darkness earlier, but now realized, ‘You had this planned all along.’
“Uh! It’s disgusting.”
Mary, who had come closer, looked repulsed. The holy light was gradually fading and soon disappeared.
When the rest of the party regrouped, Kael spoke.
“They said we need hobgoblin ears as proof of their elimination. Will Dell and Scath help collect them?”
“Sure.”
“Yes.”
Dell and Jeong Yusin assisted Kael in cutting off the hobgoblin ears. Dell’s face was pale, and her trembling hands struggled to sever the ears.
On the other hand, Jeong Yusin cleanly sliced them off, thanks to his daily work at the Demon Disassembly Site. He felt no guilt over taking a life; it simply felt like an extension of his demon disassembly duties.
Thanks to Jeong Yusin’s efforts, the ears were quickly collected—ten in all from the five hobgoblins.
“Here, please hold onto this for us, Ms. Scath.”
Kael handed him a pouch containing the hobgoblin ears.
“Are you sure you want me to take this?”
Jeong Yusin asked, eyeing the pouch which smelled of filth and blood.
“I trust you’ll take good care of it, Ms. Scath.”
It was somewhat bewildering.
‘Is this the same guy who couldn’t sleep last night while I was on watch?’
He couldn’t say no, at least not now. After all, Kael was the party’s leader, and the other party members were his long-time friends. Plus, Kael’s swordsmanship was impressive.
A single swing severing a head wasn’t something just anyone could do without talent and skill.
“Yes.”
Jeong Yusin accepted the pouch and tucked it into his backpack.
The group continued forward, with Jeong Yusin still leading the way.
Following Dell’s guidance, they successfully exited the central area.
They encountered demons again.
“It’s Black Slimes!”
Three slimes were squirming against the cave walls.
“I’ll handle it.”
The red-haired Ann stepped forward with her bow.
Zing!
The arrow swiftly pierced the slime’s core, causing it to tremble violently before falling off the wall.
‘Wow.’
Her archery skills were impressive.
Ann fired another arrow, piercing the core of the remaining slimes.
On closer inspection, the liquid had spilled onto the floor, and amid it, a different kind of stone shone brightly.
“Wow, it’s a magic stone. How pretty.”
Mary approached and crouched down. Kael picked up the magic stone and put it into a pouch.
“I’ll hold onto this. I can’t leave it all to Scath.”
“Ah, Kael is being considerate,” Mary teased, and Kael smiled, patting her head.
‘Suddenly getting all cozy, aren’t we?’
Jeong Yusin felt somewhat irritated inside.
That day, Jeong Yusin and the others camped at a nearby resting spot. His watch schedule was the same as the previous night, and there were no further attacks.
“Ms. Scath, we’re almost there.”
“Yes.”
Jeong Yusin replied disinterestedly to Dell’s encouragement as he walked, rubbing his gritty eyes while holding the torch. Of the torches he had brought, only one was left. Except for one used by Kael, the other party members still had theirs intact.
They walked for a few more hours.
They encountered five black slimes, which Ann again eliminated with her bow as she had the previous day.
Hobgoblin Elimination: 5/10 Complete
Magic Stone Collection: 8/10 Complete
Considering the requirements of the mission, they were practically done.
As they were walking, the end of the cave came into view.
At the end was an open space with a massive monument in the center.
As they approached the monument, a blue portal and a red portal opened.
Jeong Yusin recalled the training for newcomers: the blue portal led back outside, and the red one to the next level.
“Let’s head to the next level.”
Kael took the lead again.
“Hold on.”
Jeong Yusin interjected.
This was unacceptable. It deviated from the plan, didn’t it? It was supposed to be a Level 1 exploration party, as introduced by the registrar, and confirmed by Kael himself.
“What’s this about?”
“Isn’t this going against what was said? We were clearly told this was for Level 1 exploration.”
“Ha!”
Kael’s lips curled into a smirk.
“Ms. Scath, we need to complete the commission, right?”
“We can do that here. There’s no need to go deeper.”
“Only because there aren’t monsters at Level 1, right? Experienced explorers have told us, and we’ve experienced it ourselves, that Level 2 isn’t much different. Why waste time and resources wandering around looking for non-existent monsters?”
“Didn’t the new explorer training emphasize a golden rule…”
“Ah, shit.”
Kael swore.
“Ms. Scath, I mean, Scath. Are you getting old? I told you to gain practical knowledge. Go out, talk to people, and network. Explorer training? Golden rules? You naive fool, are they telling you to get killed just because they told you to?”
“…”
“Just admit you’re scared. That’s less embarrassing.”
‘What kind of sudden rage is this?’
It seemed like he’d hit a sore spot.
“I’ll part ways here then. I’m going back.”
“Where are you going?”
Kael unsheathed his sword, blocking the path ahead.
“You’re overstepping boundaries.”
Jeong Yusin drew his sword in response. The cold blade glimmered under the torchlight like a snake flicking its tongue.
“Get out of the way.”
“Hold on. Because of you, I’ve wasted time and money on commissions I can’t complete. You’re trying to run away without compensation?”
“Are you screwing with me?”
He raised his shield and took his stance.
“Ms. Scath, calm down.”
Glancing to the side, Ann was standing with her bow drawn.
Dell held a dagger, and Mary was quietly chanting a spell.
‘This is bad.’
“How much do you want?”
“Twenty silver coins.”
Kael’s answer was so outrageous that Jeong Yusin couldn’t help but laugh.
An amount one would only earn after working at the Demon Disassembly Site nonstop for two months.
“I don’t have that much.”
He told the truth. After accounting for the cost of staying at an inn, he had used most of his funds on weapons, armor, exploration supplies, and tuition fees.
All he had left were two silver coins and a few copper ones.
“That’s something we’ll find out when we check.”
Shit.
‘About getting shaken down by younger kids in this world.’
“Shut your mouth, Kael.”
With Ann’s cold rebuke, Kael became silent.
“Ms. Scath, let me be honest. We absolutely have to complete this commission. We need the money for a friend’s medical bills.”
“We can still finish here, right?”
“With minimal expense, yes. We’ve come here from the countryside with very little money, so we’re in a tough spot.”
“Why are you so sure? There might be no monsters on the next level either or we could get lost?”
“A senior explorer at the tavern said there would be more monsters starting on lower levels. If we complete the missions beyond the required quota, we also earn extra bonuses, so wandering around some doesn’t really matter.”
“Still, isn’t this deviating from the plan?”
He asked half-heartedly, already giving in.
“They at the Explorers’ Assembly know that plans often change. I’ve heard decisions are made by majority vote.”
By majority vote?
It was obvious they would all vote to go to the next level, excluding him.
He decided to stop questioning.
The Assembly wasn’t forgiving to those who defied decisions made by consensus. There would undoubtedly be penalties, as it was codified.
What happens when a “particular” someone’s advice during a training session contradicts the official regulations of the Assembly?
Does the advice outweigh the regulations?
He didn’t know.
“If you still don’t want to?”
“Your sword looks pretty good.”
“Isn’t that theft?”
“Transferring it through the Assembly isn’t bad either. Ms. Scath would lose her sword and also get penalized.”
A perfect dead-end.
This is fucked, seriously.
He sighed deeply.
“Alright.”
‘What could possibly happen? It’s only Level 2.’
He was somewhat complacent. Though Kael’s group was a bit strange, they did seem skilled, and he didn’t have the money to fight them anyway.
Kael approached and patted Jeong Yusin’s shoulder.
“Well then, it’s all good, right? Let’s try again. Sorry for speaking rudely. It just came out wrong because you sounded so lame complaining about returning.”
“…”
“Head in.”
Kael pointed his sword at the red portal.
Jeong Yusin stepped into the red portal.
