Hoarding In Hell [EN]: Chapter 38

38. Experienced Newbie (4)

Swish, scrape, thud!

The Redcap Goblin’s blade narrowly missed, leaving another wound on Noh Eul’s left arm.

It wasn’t a deep wound, but the problem was the sheer number of them. Noh Eul felt a mix of emotions.

‘Why is a goblin like this here?’

Stat-wise, she was definitely stronger than this Redcap Goblin. But the Redcap Goblin didn’t engage Noh Eul head-on.

Instead, it actively used the numerous traps and tools hidden among the corpses of its kin and the newbies.

Whenever a situation became even slightly disadvantageous, it would charge towards the newbies, forcing Noh Eul to put herself in a vulnerable position to protect them.

Most of her injuries were a result of that. The goblin, on the other hand, was unscathed.

‘I need to end this quickly.’

Noh Eul bit her lip. But the goblin was focused on evading rather than fighting properly, making it difficult.

“Everyone, fall back for now!”

However, the newbie group couldn’t move easily. They only needed to grab the return stone right in front of them to return safely.

What if another goblin like that appeared if they retreated into the forest without Noh Eul? Noh Eul couldn’t help but consider that possibility.

‘Do I really have to use a skill?’

Noh Eul couldn’t believe she had to use a skill against a goblin in a 1-star dungeon.

But whatever the reason, her pride had already hit rock bottom just from being injured.

It was the right decision to subdue it quickly before her stamina dropped further, and then quickly escape and report.

‘To think I’d have to use this in a 1-star dungeon.’

Noh Eul sighed and tightened her grip on her sword. As if sensing something, the goblin began to move slowly, aiming its blade at Noh Eul.

Noh Eul took a deep breath and charged forward quickly. It was a normal attack. But at that moment, she muttered briefly.

“Accelerate.”

In that instant, Noh Eul disappeared from the goblin’s sight. The goblin let out an undignified shriek and leaped backward, but it saw two blades covering its vision in an instant.

The acceleration skill Noh Eul used doubled the user’s perception and speed for a certain period.

Acceleration activated at maximum speed was a speed the goblin couldn’t keep up with.

A pair of ring swords crossed, aiming for the goblin’s neck. The goblin barely managed to block one blade, but the dagger was deflected by a force far stronger than before. In that moment, another blade rushed towards its neck through the exposed gap.

‘This is the end!’

But Noh Eul belatedly realized that the goblin was holding something in its empty hand.

Just before she cut its throat, a pouch burst open, releasing a cloud of powder. Noh Eul, with her enhanced perception, saw it clearly but couldn’t avoid it due to her increased speed.

‘Tear gas! How could a goblin…?’

It was a tool on a different level from using simple traps. Noh Eul had no choice but to close her eyes to prevent the tear gas from entering them.

Noh Eul’s ring sword narrowly grazed the goblin’s neck. She felt a slight cutting sensation, but it wasn’t enough to inflict a fatal wound.

“Kehk!”

And Noh Eul realized that the goblin wasn’t attacking her but retreating straight back. She remembered it moving sideways just before she used her skill. She hadn’t thought about it because it was away from the newbie group, but there was one thing she had missed.

“Seo Moon Park!”

Noh Eul hurriedly pushed through the tear gas and looked where Seo Moon Park had been dragged. But she already saw the goblin there, holding a rusty dagger and aiming it at Seo Moon Park’s neck.

“…It’s even taking hostages?”

It knew the value of a hostage and could negotiate, exchange information, and compromise. Noh Eul had no choice but to completely revise her fundamental knowledge of goblins. She didn’t know if this one was special or not, but it was at least as intelligent as a human.

“Seo Moon Park, are you conscious?”

There was no answer. But outwardly, only one leg was bent in an odd direction, and there were no signs of severe injury.

Noh Eul weakly confirmed that Seo Moon Park’s body was convulsing. Then the goblin opened its mouth.

“Human. Keek, put down your weapons. Keereuk.”

The shock Noh Eul received was indescribable. It had long been concluded that communication with monsters was impossible. No monster had a proper language system, so translation was impossible. But a monster that used language, even human language?

‘This feels like a major incident beyond my control.’

But resolving the immediate situation was the priority.

‘I’m sorry, Seo Moon Park.’

Under no circumstances should there be any fatalities, but she couldn’t let this Redcap Goblin go. If that thing continued to roam the 1-star dungeon, other novice groups would definitely suffer. Even if Seo Moon Park was killed, the goblin had to be captured and analyzed now.

Noh Eul gripped her sword tightly. She focused her consciousness, intending to end Seo Moon Park and the goblin in one swift move.

“Noh Eul.”

It was Kang Hyun-moo who spoke from behind.

“I think that’s enough.”

***

‘Somewhat disappointing.’

Hyun-moo felt an inexplicable disappointment from Noh Eul.

Noh Eul was, in her own way, the ‘mid-level hunter’ he admired.

But the fact that she was struggling against a mere level 21 goblin was disappointing.

Moreover, Kirson had all his equipment removed except for the dagger that other Redcap Goblins carried. If he had the Black Hand, he would have completely overwhelmed Noh Eul.

As a result, Kirson was pushed to the point of taking hostages, but Hyun-moo saw it as simply trying to get the best result within the given resources.

Besides, Hyun-moo had already instructed Kirson not to kill anyone.

Because the evaluation score would drop.

‘At this level, there’s nothing more to see.’

“Wouldn’t Noh Eul be exhausted if that thing dies?”

“Kang Hyun-moo, it’s not your turn to step in! Step back!”

“I don’t want to.”

Kang Hyun-moo picked up a pebble from the ground. He had been practicing, wondering what he could use for long-range attacks recently. Hell Darts had too little stopping power and were too noisy.

Fortunately, thanks to the Battle Helper, he was quickly getting the hang of it with just a few hours of practice a day. Noh Eul was bewildered, watching Hyun-moo twirl a wooden stick.

“If that thing dies here, Noh Eul gets hurt, and I do nothing, this expedition will be seen as having no results. And I don’t want to waste my time like that.”

Hyun-moo tossed the stone he was rolling in his hand into the air. Then he swung the wooden stick at the stone with all his might.

Bang! With a refreshing sound, the stone shattered, and the fragments shot out at a tremendous speed. Kirson immediately threw Seo Moon Park away and dove.

The fragments that Hyun-moo struck broke thick branches and disappeared beyond the forest. Kirson stared at him with a dumbfounded expression.

Hyun-moo felt slightly embarrassed.

‘The wooden stick’s attack power has become stronger.’

He never thought it would fly away as fragments. If Kirson hadn’t thrown Seo Moon Park away, he would have been fatally injured.

Kirson, looking like he had been grazed by a shotgun, let out a threatening roar.

At that sound, Noh Eul quickly moved. Now was the chance since Kirson had thrown the hostage. Hyun-moo followed closely behind. Noh Eul was taken aback when she saw Hyun-moo following.

“Be careful!”

“You too.”

Kirson looked back and forth between Hyun-moo and Noh Eul with confused eyes. Then he took out another tear gas pouch and threw it at Noh Eul.

He recognized her as the more threatening presence. But because of that, he was late in preparing for Hyun-moo’s attack.

Clang! The wooden stick Hyun-moo swung collided with Kirson’s dagger. The wooden stick cracked with that one blow.

However, the heavy force was enough to push Kirson back. Kirson glared at Hyun-moo with eyes burning with hatred.

“Oh, really?”

Hyun-moo kicked at Kirson.

Kirson was influenced by Hyun-moo’s will, but his free will was fully guaranteed.

Even when his level was higher than Hyun-moo’s, Hyun-moo’s will was not absolute.

The moment Hyun-moo’s foot flew at him, Kirson sincerely countered it.

Kirson evaded upwards and simultaneously aimed for the nape of his neck. Kirson’s dagger, which had quickly climbed up his body, narrowly grazed his nape.

Kirson shrieked and tried to grab Hyun-moo’s head and hang on, but Hyun-moo grabbed him as he was and slammed him to the ground.

‘If it were the old days, I would have been dead.’

Hyun-moo thought, looking at the coughing Kirson. Kirson, who had lost the Black Hand and his equipment, was barely Hyun-moo’s match, though it was close.

Kirson staggered but stood up, glaring at Hyun-moo. It seemed he had even lost the awareness that he was being controlled. His fighting spirit was commendable, but this wasn’t the time. Especially not against him.

Noh Eul was already approaching from behind Kirson. If Noh Eul joined the fight, Kirson would inevitably die. Hyun-moo sent his will to Kirson.

‘Behind you.’

Kirson flinched and quickly defended his back. At a precarious moment, Kirson’s dagger blocked two ring swords.

Noh Eul attacked again with a bewildered expression. With Hyun-moo joining in, Kirson could only be pushed back.

But at a critical moment, what collided with Noh Eul’s ring sword was not Kirson’s dagger but the face of the unconscious Seo Moon Park.

“Ack!”

Noh Eul’s ring sword stopped at a precarious distance. Kirson had somehow returned to Seo Moon Park’s side.

Hyun-moo stared in disbelief. He had told him not to kill people, but it seemed he thought it was okay to kill them using someone else’s hands.

Hyun-moo decided that this was enough. He had no intention of killing Noh Eul or Kirson, and he had shown enough of his abilities.

It would be troublesome if Noh Eul took Kirson and dissected him.

‘Get lost.’

Kirson let out a dissatisfied Kehk! and quickly threw Seo Moon Park’s body at Noh Eul.

Noh Eul didn’t panic and quickly kicked Seo Moon Park, dropping him just barely enough to avoid breaking his neck.

But it bought Kirson some time. The third tear gas exploded.

Noh Eul willingly jumped into the tear gas and swung her ring sword, but he had already disappeared. Having been covered in tear gas three times, she coughed with reddened eyes and issued instructions to Hyun-moo.

“There’s a blood trail. I’ll chase after him, so Hyun-moo, please take the others and evacuate.”

***

The first dungeon visit ended so ambiguously. It felt like they had fought a major battle, but as soon as they got outside the dungeon, the world was peaceful as if nothing had happened.

Seo Moon Park was barely alive and had broken bones all over, so an ambulance was immediately called and he was taken away.

The dungeon rewards were generous because they had defeated the Goblin Chieftain and Shaman, which were the second and third objectives.

Other party members also had authority, but they seemed mentally exhausted, so they all passed it on to the staff managing the dungeon and hurried back.

“I don’t need the items, so please sell them all and deposit the money into this account.”

Compared to the items Hyun-moo had, they were just trash, but he didn’t intend to waste a single penny.

It would be sold at a lower price compared to a hunter selling it directly, but considering that he could avoid wasting time, it was a fair price.

With just one expedition, 550,000 won [approximately $415 USD] was deposited into Hyun-moo’s account.

If they had only returned with the return stone, it would have been just over 200,000 won [approximately $150 USD] per person.

That was a great achievement for just one day’s expedition, but there were some who didn’t think so.

Noh Eul was one of them.