Swoosh.
The sharpened dagger dug into the hobgoblin’s corpse.
Body fluids sprayed and a foul stench wafted up, but I didn’t stop. Discarding the head, I neatly carved off the back and belly skin, stacking them carefully.
“Excellent technique.”
“…Thank you.”
It was Team Leader Choi. His kind voice made me feel guilty. To harbor such childish jealousy toward someone like him.
And even dredging up that illusion I’d decided to forget.
Not like I’m going through puberty.
Finally finished working with a red face.
About 10 minutes total, so 20 seconds per corpse? Im Kkeokjeong approached, jaw dropping at the speed.
“Damn, did you do nothing but this your whole life?”
“Lots of people can do this level.”
“Lots my ass, you’re a complete pro.”
Hmm. Feeling slightly proud.
Though I acted humble earlier, truth is, as Im Kkeokjeong said, not many hunters can butcher this cleanly at this speed.
“I’ve got quick hands.”
From factory jobs during school to attaching doll eyes—I’ve done it all. In some ways, I started this before becoming a hunter.
“Kept doing it during raids too.”
“You switched to focus on this?”
“No. Just did both. Two jobs.”
“Two jobs?”
Team Leader Choi, who’d been quietly listening, suddenly cut in.
“Ah, yes.”
“Exactly what kind?”
“Just splitting break time after combat to work.”
“Do you get extra pay?”
“Of course. It’s still work.”
“How long have you been doing this?”
“The whole time. From start to now, continuously.”
Im Kkeokjeong clicked his tongue.
“You crazy bastard. I couldn’t do that.”
“You get used to it. Helps build stamina too.”
“Building stamina when your life’s on the line? Wahaha. Team Leader Choi, didn’t I tell you? No one works as hard as this kid Tae-kyung.”
You said that?
“Hmm.”
Instead of answering, Team Leader Choi stared at me for a moment before turning away.
“Since we’re done processing, shall we move on?”
What was that reaction? As I stood puzzled, Im Kkeokjeong gave an enigmatic smile.
“Keep at it.”
No seriously, what’s going on?
The raid progressed smoothly. The E-rank hunters who’d worked together so long they moved like one body reduced monster numbers, then Team Leader Choi took over.
SLASH-
Blood fountained without fail with every sword swing. I took in every detail of the battle unfolding before me.
He definitely fights well.
Of course, can’t help thinking about Murim.
Having seen and learned real martial arts—not those dance-like movements practiced in public parks at dawn.
…Huh?
No way, but maybe? Though it sounds ridiculous. No way it would work, but worth trying.
It won’t work, it won’t work… but I hope it does.
Just as I was about to carefully lift my foot…
“Mr. Tae-kyung, please clean up.”
Team Leader Choi’s voice snapped me back to reality. I must be completely insane. Getting distracted during a raid.
Focus.
Whatever I do later, the raid takes priority right now.
That’s courtesy to teammates, and the conviction that will keep me alive.
“Yes sir!”
I rushed over like the wind and started dismembering corpses.
Team Leader Choi and Im Kkeokjeong hung around during the entire break, seemingly untired.
Annoying as hell.
Im Kkeokjeong came without fail during the next break too.
“Tae-kyung, how long have you been using spears?”
“Seven years.”
“Wow, you’re a real master then, a master.”
“…?”
And the next break.
“Tae-kyung. Were you top of your training class?”
“Yes. But only among F-ranks, so not much meaning.”
“Man, that’s amazing! I graduated dead last.”
“…That’s impressive too, hyung. But this work…”
“Ah, right.”
And the next, next, next break…
“Tae-kyung. Tae-kyung. Tae-kyung.”
“Hyung. I think my cochlea’s rupturing.”
“How many years did you work at your previous guild?”
“Ah.”
I want to switch to mage right now. Cast a silence spell on that bastard’s mouth.
This is driving me crazy.
Only one solution. Finish this work before blood really starts flowing from my ears. I gritted my teeth and moved my hands.
Slice, slice, slice.
“Tae-kyung.”
Save me.
I sent an SOS to Team Leader Choi sitting nearby, but he just slipped away as his answer.
“Work complete.”
I stood up, shouldering the bag that had grown heavier since the start.
Hobgoblins were generous monsters. Poison-resistant leather, a few usable weapons. And they even dropped two E-rank mana stones.
Good leather condition, and two mana stones. This should be worth something.
Team Leader Choi will probably take about half since he contributed most, but with few people, it’s still profitable for other members.
Ah, except me of course. According to the contract, 300,000 won base pay is all I get.
If he’s in a good mood, maybe he’ll throw in a little extra.
Team Leader Choi is quite a generous employer. Plus, despite being a far superior C-rank hunter, he always speaks respectfully, and though he’s a bit odd, he’s quite decent for this field.
And a reliable skilled fighter.
Thanks to him, we’ve made it this far at a stable, quick pace.
All that’s left is the gate’s finale.
Boss zone.
Behind this stone door waits the gate’s boss monster and the magical field that will let us out.
“Whew, all that moving around made me hungry.”
“Let’s finish quick and get some soup. Coming, Tae-kyung? And Team Leader Choi?”
“I’ll pass. Ordering sushi separately.”
Talking about food in front of the boss zone. And one guy’s even going to order sushi alone.
Should we really be this relaxed?
Though I’m not one to talk. Just being a porter and butchering between fights earned me a day’s wage.
Until I find a new guild, I hope Team Leader Choi calls me often. I’d do this sweet gig a hundred times over.
“Well then, shall we head in?”
“Yes.”
At Team Leader Choi’s response, Im Kkeokjeong struck the stone door with his tower shield.
BANG-!
As the door burst open, stone dust and debris rained down. I followed the team members into the boss zone.
And there…
“Keruk.”
It was there.
A shaman?
That’s the first word that came to mind seeing it.
A robe covered in indecipherable patterns.
An old hobgoblin holding a twisted staff in one hand and a sharp dagger in the other.
“Kruk. Chi. Akto.”
It mutters something, ignoring the loud crash of the broken door. With each syllable, black energy rises from the corpses strewn around.
Wait. Corpses?
I saw right. On the altar lay about a hundred dead hobgoblins. Looking closer, they were the ones we should have fought in the boss zone.
What the hell is this.
As everyone including me froze at this unprecedented situation, Team Leader Choi shouted like lightning:
“Get out! Now!”
That’s when the mysterious old hobgoblin turned its head.
Clink. Its staff shook lightly.
“Mita. Alo.”
The air trembled. Magic manifestation.
“Behind the shields!”
The tanks hurriedly raised their tower shields. But that was the wrong call. What it used wasn’t an attack spell.
THUD. THUD. THUD!
“Behind! The passage is being blocked!”
“Run! Quick!”
Damn it. Too late.
Like turning back time, the shattered stone door had perfectly restored itself. The changes didn’t stop there.
The scattered rubble built double, triple walls, and vines from the cave walls bound them tightly.
“Everyone move!”
It was Im Kkeokjeong. His muscles bulged like they would burst, probably using a strength enhancement skill, as he charged at the stone door with his tower shield.
“HAAAAAP!”
CRASH! CRACK!
“…Fuck.”
Im Kkeokjeong dropped his heavily cracked tower shield with a dumbfounded face. Even an E-rank hunter using a skill couldn’t break through—just broke his shield instead.
Reinforcement magic?
Whatever it is, one thing’s clear.
That old hobgoblin wielding such magic is at least a rank or two above.
And…
SWOOSH!
Someone exists among us who can face it.
When did he-?
Team Leader Choi was already rushing toward it. Like someone certain the passage wouldn’t open.
“Wind descends. Haste.”
His figure glides forward. The hundred-meter distance closed instantly. With five steps remaining, the sword at Team Leader Choi’s waist drew out.
SLASH!
A C-rank hunter’s full-power attack.
But the old hobgoblin just smiled eerily.
“Karuk. Chi. Akto.”
The change happened instantly.
WHOOSH.
The hundred or so corpses on the altar shriveled and scattered like sand. The black energy completely extracted merged together and struck Team Leader Choi’s side.
THWACK
“Kugh.”
Team Leader Choi, knocked back quickly, said with a twisted face:
“We have to stop it. Right now.”
“…That thing?”
Already too late.
What was just formless energy seconds ago was rapidly taking shape.
A 3-meter giant. Into a monster with bursting muscles wielding a massive greatsword.
“What is that…” Someone muttered in a daze.
Like me, this was their first time seeing such a phenomenon too.
Only Team Leader Choi knew their identity.
“Hobgoblin Great Warrior. C-rank Rare Monster.”
Shocking as it is that that hulk is a hobgoblin, the latter part is even more shocking.
C-rank Rare Monster?
Fuck, why is that here?
Rare Monsters are unique monsters that appear with low probability in gates.
Moreover, this Great Warrior being C-rank means it’s an existence we’d never encounter in our lifetime.
…Well, not anymore.
“We have to fight that?”
“Those, actually.”
Team Leader Choi pointed at the old hobgoblin.
“Hobgoblin High Priest. Also a C-rank Rare Monster.”
“Ah shit…” The curse escaped involuntarily. Im Kkeokjeong asked with a grim face.
“Our chances? Give it to us straight.”
“If we take out the High Priest first, there’s hope. However…” THUD THUD.
Team Leader Choi’s words cut off. The Great Warrior was approaching us.
Step by step. The cave floor shook.
“Need to bind that one for a moment.”
Who?
“Us?”
“No, you all.”
“KUWOOOOO!”
The Great Warrior’s roar knocked stalactites from the cave ceiling.
Team Leader Choi turned with the most resolute face I’d ever seen.
“Wind descends. Haste.”
Hey, you bastard.