Episode 015. Trial of Competition (4)
Immediately after the end of the horse, the battle began.
A group of about ten goblins attacked at once.
Kieeck!
At the same time as a scream echoed, a goblin with bright yellow eyes rushed at me.
Even though he was small, he had many things hanging around his body.
Poison dart leather armour, arm guards, spare daggers, and more.
It was crude, but it was equipped with quite a few equipment that could be used in battle.
Even this is completely different from normal goblins.
Even those weak goblins have been upgraded to match the difficulty level.
Whoops!
The rusty dagger in the goblin’s hand rushes in a crescent-shaped trajectory.
A neater and more sophisticated knife than the worker orc seen on the previous floor.
This also had a distinct difference from the goblins you would normally see.
however.
‘I can move better, but my physical abilities are no different from worker orcs.’
The movements are easily read as if there was no need to be nervous.
Kaaang!
After reading the goblin’s attack as it was, he lightly deflected the dagger with his shield.
There was nothing particularly special about the process.
It’s just a gap that comes from the overwhelming difference in ability.
Is that why?
Fuhuaak!
The goblin didn’t respond properly until a dagger was lodged in its heart.
It made me wonder what the hell the equipment was for.
‘Well, I don’t need to know anymore.’
However, Lee Seong-hoon, who was in the back, didn’t seem to be like that.
“What kind of goblins move so systematically…!”
Lee Seong-hoon was barely blocking the attacks he had avoided by reading the trajectory with his eyes.
Turtle Tongue!
He uses his greatsword as a shield to block the goblin’s poisonous sting, but there is no room for that.
Just like Mercury, it only rushes to block attacks.
Even the poison needles could not be properly blocked, and the body armor was bouncing them off.
The first thing that came to my mind when I saw the scene was a question.
‘Are you trying to play with the goblins…?’
Of course, I wouldn’t commit such an inefficient act.
Otherwise, this absurd situation cannot be explained.
Shouting out so confidently, he was embarrassed by the two goblins.
But soon, that doubt was dispelled by the sound of shouting.
“You bastard, what are you doing! Hurry up and fight!”
I sighed when I said that without even seeing them fighting.
At this point, I had no choice but to know even if I didn’t want to know.
That’s what you’re really struggling with with the two goblins.
It was to some extent expected that there would not be a big difference in skill between them.
My unique trait was Growth Specialization, and I’ve received quite a few additional rewards of this kind.
Still, since they climbed the tower with the same difficulty level in the Tower of Trials, they thought it would be similar.
But reality always surpasses imagination.
It was just such a situation right now.
Lee Seong-hoon was neither stronger than me nor on the same level as me.
If I had to evaluate it clearly, Lee Seong-hoon was weaker than me.
‘I’m a fully armed goblin, but I can’t beat that.’
It was to the point where I doubted what I had done while climbing the tower.
At that time, Lee Ha-yeon, who was behind me, said as if squeezed.
“If you hold on for a little while, the magic will be completed soon. Just hold on until then…”
“Don’t talk nonsense and use auxiliary magic! as soon as possible!”
It seemed to be cramped since he could only use the greatsword as a shield.
However, I don’t think I’ll do very well even after receiving auxiliary magic.
“….”
The sight is speechless, but the solution is obvious.
After all, to some degree, I had to take care of these goblins.
Of course, it is possible to defeat the goblins by protecting Lee Ha-yeon in moderation.
‘It’d be better if we went safely.’
Cast secondary magic on Lee Seong-hoon, and I will protect Lee Ha-yeon.
Just keeping that simple structure could safely end the battle.
However, there is ‘remaining time’ in this ordeal.
In other words, it is a time attack with a fixed time.
‘But there are also competitors here, so I’ll have to clear it faster.’
I could have died if I had wasted time like this from the beginning.
Isn’t it rather like begging to be killed?
Even if he had to step out on his own to resolve this situation, he would be able to proceed with the ordeal properly.
If that happens, there is only one problem…
‘Then, can the situation be resolved before these goblins touch Lee Ha-yeon?’
The goblin’s physical abilities are comparable to the worker orcs we saw on the second floor.
His combat sense was about that of an Orc sentry if he was good at it, but that was the case for now.
I thought about it for a while, but the conclusion came quickly.
“Excuse me for a moment.”
At this level, you can afford it.
At least he had the confidence not to let Lee Ha-yeon draw attention.
“yes? what is that…?”
Lee Ha-yeon questioned whether she didn’t understand what he meant, but she just decided not to care.
I didn’t have the heart to explain any more, since it was just a statement.
bang!
Even faster than that, I kicked the ground into the place where the goblins were gathering.
The moment when the body accelerated like a cannonball was fired and the distance quickly narrowed.
Chow!
The head of the goblin in front of him rose into the air, spraying blood.
The agility ability he had developed while absorbing the spirits began to shine.
Only then did the goblins, realizing that I was approaching, hurriedly fired their poison darts.
Of course, as before, the shield perfectly blocked the poison needle.
Although it was awkward to block them in that they shot all at once, it was only awkward.
You just have to block it after you see it with your own eyes.
It wasn’t even that difficult.
It was something anyone could do if they had a high level of ability.
Taking down an opponent based on overwhelming ability.
I had no choice but to do this because I couldn’t completely subdue these goblins with my technique.
Turtle Tongue!
I hit the poison needle with my shield and took another big step and swung my sword.
With the effect of the hunter-style dagger technique applied, my movements were smoother and sharper than before.
It was thanks to the skill-specific additional effect of deepening mastery of daggers.
Should I say that I can see the way the sword should go?
His body seemed to tell him where to stretch the dagger and how to stab it.
The theory of dagger technique, which he only knew in his head, was naturally applied to his body.
With that alone, this dagger skill paid for itself.
However, the goblin tried to block the dagger with a wrist guard, as if it would not be taken lightly.
You were wearing a wrist guard to use it like that.
It must have been used by blocking the blade and using the gap to dig into the bosom and stab the sword.
Should I be smart or should I be cunning?
‘I don’t know about blunt weapons, but I’m sure it’s tricky for those who use blades.’
Those that rely on cutting power, if not the kind that give an impact, will be blocked by this wrist guard.
However, he did not think of retrieving the sword he wielded.
It is obvious that swords will be blocked, but that is the case with general blades.
The black iron dagger is a weapon with a proper grade attached, and at the same time I have a hunter-style dagger technique.
A skill effect that increases weapon cutting power by 1.5 times when using a dagger.
I was sure because I felt the sharpness of this black iron dagger in the waiting room.
Only this piece of iron would not be able to block the blade of the black iron dagger.
And that conviction soon turned into reality.
Slow-!
I had to stumble a little since I hit the iron, but there was nothing like that.
Just like cutting paper with a knife, the goblin’s wrists were neatly cut along with the protectors.
hooked!
After stabbing the dagger into the neck of the goblin whose arm had been cut off, he then headed for another goblin.
Awesome! hooked! Fuhuaak!
Every time I swing my dagger and stab it, the goblins pour out blood.
Even if the equipment he was wearing was fine, he would be able to fight properly, but there was no such thing, so it was a natural result.
‘It seems like there was just a lot of equipment and nothing was that good.’
If you’re lucky, you’ll be lucky.
If the quality of the equipment had been good, I wouldn’t have been able to move so boldly.
The moment I killed about four goblins in succession.
「The achievement ‘Goblin Hunter’ has been completed.」
Suddenly, such a message popped up in my sight, and my body felt much lighter.
I guess it must have been the achievement system that allowed me to gain burn resistance on the second floor.
“Agility increases by 1.”
It didn’t give the skill like that, but it was a more useful effect than that.
There was no longer a need to block stingers with a shield or to see all sorts of equipment being used.
That would be the case too…
The goblins couldn’t keep up with my faster movements.
It took an instant for the dagger in his hand to take the lives of the goblins.
hooked!
When the number of goblins he defeated reached eight, there were no more to attack.
The battle is over.
It seemed that all the monsters that appeared in the fortress city had been dealt with.
At least for now, there was no sign of any more monsters appearing.
‘For now, this must be the end.’
Taking a deep breath, I looked around.
At some point, Seonghun Lee had also defeated two goblins.
Of course, it seems that even that was solved by Lee Ha-yeon’s auxiliary magic.
However, the atmosphere was a bit odd.
Lee Seong-hoon’s face was hardened, and Lee Ha-yeon was looking at me with her eyes wide open.
Then, as if Lee Seong-hoon had come to his senses, he opened his mouth.
“You seem to have quite a bit of skill in the subject of Ji aspirants. It seems you were lucky, only dealing with weak goblins.”
For a moment, I couldn’t understand Lee Seong-hoon’s words and only blinked my eyes.
I couldn’t understand what the hell he was talking about.
At that time, Lee Ha-yeon, who was behind him, blatantly frowned at Lee Seong-hoon.
“…Anyway, I don’t think I was lucky.”
“Do I have to refine it beyond this for dealing with only weak goblins?”
Even Lee Ha-yeon, who was hiding herself, spoke out with a straight face, but Lee Seong-hoon spoke more boldly.
“You did it with pure skill, but it’s a bit harsh to say that.”
At those words, Seonghoon Lee glanced at me as if looking at the liver, then raised the corner of his mouth.
Lee Seong-hoon’s mouth became more active as if he had accepted my quiet appearance.
I wonder how the hell he saw me and said that.
“What is your skill? If only the wannabe killed this many goblins, you’re lucky.”
‘You’re lucky.’
I think I now understand why I was staring at her in surprise.
Unlike Seonghun Lee, who couldn’t handle even two goblins, I dealt with eight goblins.
So, Lee Seong-hoon must have been quite proud of himself.
Most overconfident people react like that when they taste the bitter reality.
It was just like that when those who were talented among the aspiring hunters were broken horribly.
Trying to put down the opponent and preserve one’s own value.
Of course, it’s ugly, but if it was outside, I would have just passed on it.
As an aspiring hunter for 10,000 years, I didn’t have the right to say anything.
But not anymore.
“Stop talking nonsense about being lucky or saying the goblins were weak.”
Lee Seong-hoon is my teammate and at the same time he is the one who criticizes me.
I didn’t know if I had any skills, but I had no choice but to treat him harshly.
If you want to build a hierarchical relationship that far, you have to do what you want.
“What did you just say…!”
Belatedly, Seonghun Lee blushed and opened his mouth, but I spoke faster than him.
“You’re an aspiring hunter, so stop grabbing the pods from a while ago.”
“You said that when you caught the pod…” “
Because you were an aspiring person, you told me to play the role of a shield, and you just said that you were lucky, and that you only dealt with weak goblins.”
“…”
“I think I’ve endured a lot even though I’m in the position of the same challenger who only passed one floor.”
To be honest, I didn’t even want to endure it anymore because I had suffered so much.
Outside and in this tower.
I’ve been patient all this time, but that has now reached its limit.
“Isn’t it funny that, in a life-and-death trial, they are trying to argue rather than cooperate?”
Trials are done by putting one’s life on the scales.
However, with such a complacent attitude, I couldn’t do it even if I didn’t want to say anything.
“At least one day is left, and the competitors are still killing monsters.”
Lee Seong-hoon’s expression hardened when he talked about wasting time from the beginning of the 4th floor.
It seems that Lee Seong-hoon also felt uncomfortable with it to some extent.
“If you feel like you can’t do your part, you’d better keep your mouth shut.”
Having said that, I strode towards Lee Seong-hun.
“After all, the trial won’t fail unless all of the team’s challengers die.”
In other words, he is prepared to kill you if you interfere.
Of course, I don’t want to abuse the trial failure condition, so it’s nothing but bluffing.
This direct threat worked well for Lee Sung-hoon.
“What is that…”
“If you have any complaints, tell me now.”
After hearing that, Lee Seong-hun was startled and then took a step back.
I looked at him all the time and continued with a hard tone.
“Fortunately, you don’t seem to have any complaints.”
I wondered if it was a bit excessive, but I had to do it like this so I wouldn’t look down on her any more.
I looked straight into Lee Seong-hoon’s eyes and spat out the last words.
“Then let’s work together for the rest of the time.”
Of course, the answer to that word was fixed.
