NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3
The goblins of the Hop were nowhere to be seen.
Before me, goblins rapidly approached, swatting away the mana-infused magics I was readying with daggers and spears in hand.
“Ahhh… please… save me…”
These goblins had become playthings, forcing women into horrendous situations, while the limbs of children were torn off, leaving them barely clinging to life.
Dozens of goblins lay there, gasping their last breaths, their bodies having turned cold.
The approaching numbers reached maybe seven or eight. Since these goblins were the lowest of the low, it wouldn’t matter if I just threw some punches to take them out.
Keyal’s mouth curved like a crescent moon, enhanced by magical power.
With a long reach, he gave a thumbs-up and then pressed it down into a grim smile, declaring war on the surviving goblins trying to resist him.
“Kaahhh…!!!”
They looked as if they would pounce any second, drooling and glaring, but Keyal blatantly ignored them.
‘ Of course, they’re just goblins.’
They were already consumed by magic and couldn’t move. The remaining goblins, apart from the frontline, couldn’t muster the courage to charge forward.
Holding their heads, they prayed silently for me, the one who spread the magic, to disappear quickly.
In a dark cave where even sunlight couldn’t reach, they didn’t realize nobody would come to their rescue, even if they prayed.
Even if they dared to step outside the cave, monsters may as well be lurking, wanting to take a crack at them instead of aiding them.
The front line goblins licked their lips, eyeing their target. However, trembling in fear, they hesitated to approach.
At this point, one would think they’d attack, yet here they were, standing still.
The answer was simple.
Goblins are not intelligent.
But they are cunning.
For them, every action leads back to instinct as they idle their time away for fun.
Yet, they understand the concept of the food chain.
Strong prey on the weak.
While they sneak about the stronger ones, if they sense weakness or frailty, they’ll jump in like wild dogs ready to tear apart.
That’s the goblin way.
To put it simply, a particularly weird goblin in the center let out a shrill roar. Of course, it was too pathetic to even qualify as a roar; it couldn’t penetrate Keyal’s mana.
I can attack from anywhere, but they can’t easily move or advance because?
‘Because I’m stronger than them.’
“Kerheuh!!”
A goblin clicked its tongue in disappointment.
‘Yeah, right, it won’t reach!’
I chucked a transparent blade of gathered magic at that goblin, pretending to throw it at the one behind.
In a flash, the head of one goblin exploded, instantly staining the goblin den with blood.
The front row of goblins, drenched in cold sweat, looked back at the bursts of gore behind them.
But as I said? Too late.
Immediately, Keyal seized the goblin in the middle by the crown and delivered a swift kick right in the face.
The goblin, caught unaware, seemed more stupefied than in pain as its body threatened to split in two.
Fumbling with its torn limbs, the goblin tried to pull itself back together.
Yet, Keyal wasn’t about to give it a breather, lifting the goblin’s body and ripping it apart.
The remains of its torso were presented to the goblins cowering behind.
“Kerhaaaack..!!!”
The severed head was tossed to the four who were cautiously glancing at me and my weapon.
“Kerheuh…!?!!”
“Uburgh——!!!”
I forcefully shoved the words down their throats as they stood there, facepalmed.
“How’s that? Is your boss tasty~?”
As they foamed at the mouth, the goblins were smaller than a human’s forearm, clustered like they were one single hobgoblin, making these ludicrous acts possible.
When their eyes began to bulge and their pupils vanished, I hefted it against the wall.
“Kaahhh…!!”
With the head, and the phrase, ‘What a waste of good dinner!’
The head of the goblin, squished beyond recognition, was crammed into the foul mouth of the four stuck to the wall, while the wall itself crumbled down, covering the cold, lifeless bodies beneath it.
“Bug cut!”
*
Covered in blood, singing happily as I opened the door to the Narhan shop,
“I’m back!”
Keyal spread his arms wide as if giving a high-five, warmly greeting the bewildered employee.
“U-uh… w-wait… uh…”
The worker stood there stammering like a deer caught in headlights, clearly distressed.
This only made Keyal’s excitement bubble over more.
On his way out of the goblin den, he unexpectedly bumped into two hobgoblins returning to their lair.
Dripping in magic and soaked in the scent of his fallen kin, the hobgoblins couldn’t hide their shock as Keyal rushed forward, delivering a refreshing smash to their pathetic skulls.
With the bowed, bulky frame of the hobgoblin bouncing off the ground, they vanished like fireworks, leaving this world in an exhilarating rush.
A nobody back on Earth, I had taken down a hulking hobgoblin over three meters tall in one strike?!
‘Kuh, I can’t stand by!’
With that, Keyal hopped through the woods right after exiting the lair.
What’s different about entering the Adventurer Guild?
Unlike the infected body and mind of other adventurers, his optimistic demeanor seemed odd to the worker.
‘Oh dear.’
Noticing her gradually deteriorating expression, Keyal quickly adjusted his behavior, striding towards the employee’s desk.
‘Haha… I should stop here.’
Going further would be overkill. Best to wrap it up.
The rising banter from within was a solid sign that he was still struggling to contain his excitement.
‘But seriously, how can I manage this?!’
Clearing his throat, he paused and bowed his head in an apologetic gesture.
“I’m sorry. I got a little too excited.”
“Ah, no, it’s fine. Just a bit… flustered…”
The worker, taken aback, waved both hands as if to say stop. I too relaxed my posture and managed a smile.
The familiar scent of blood must have filled the Adventurer Guild, pungent and medical, where everything suddenly felt eerily quiet.
As if someone intentionally swept all the adventurers away…
“Is anyone but me here today…?”
I had just registered as an adventurer and rushed straight to take care of the goblin den.
However, that was roughly an hour ago; not so long and it was only noon.
In the eyes of the guild and employees, returning after an hour equates to just a quick bathroom break during a gathering.
Yet, was it possible that everyone had disappeared in just an hour?
So completely?
‘Something feels off…’
As my gaze swept the tables, the suddenly serious employee seemed to sense something.
“U-um…”
She pointed behind me.
“…?”
Then came the sound of footsteps, the kind that echoed like high heels on the searching ground, making me unconsciously expel my mana and turn around.
The lights were out.
It was dark—nothing was visible.
A familiar yet oddly peculiar scent wafted in the air as the silhouette drew nearer, trembling softly as if sobbing.
“Is… is it truly you, Master?”
No, she was genuinely crying.
Tears dropped to the floor,
Her voice, clear and pure, made me feel as though I was not in a guild but deep within a forest.
With long, silvery-green hair flowing like waves, shimmered under the faint light, and her cloak looked like it was crafted for royalty—soft and luxurious.
“Ah… oh… Master… Master… Master…”
Pointed ears perk as she shouted.
“Eek…?!”
‘ … ’
“Haahh… Master… I’ve really, really missed you…”
She enveloped me as if cradled like a mother’s embrace, and even upon seeing her once, I recognized her instantly.
The dumbfounded employee fell silent, while I stood there like a fish, mouth agape.
“Um… uh, Eleina?”
The legendary hero, the first in the guild and strongest elf character, ‘Edric’s’ greatest companion—all of this wrapped up in her essence.
“What in the world…?”
“Hmm… please don’t leave again… I’ll protect you… Master…”
Having run into the first hero I had acquired in-game, the serendipitous reunion felt unreal.
‘Uh… so now I’ve filled a slot… right?’