While the arrows I fired sliced through the air and pierced the enemies' vitals, Ian swung the heavy greatsword he received as a reward, crushing the remaining stragglers.
Ian, whose chest armor was dented inwards like a tin pot from taking a bear's front paw head-on, and whose shoulder guard was precariously dangling with a broken leather strap, laughed heartily and said:
"Wow, it was ridiculously easy thanks to you, Savior. Thanks to that, I think I've completely adapted to this hardcore game".
Anyone looking at him would think he had barely survived, but he himself was radiating a triumphant look in his eyes, as if he had become the conqueror of this area.
"I was also glad to push through the quests quickly thanks to you, Ian. It's comfortable firing arrows since your tanking is solid".
It wasn't empty flattery.
To me, who valued efficiency like my own life, a reliable frontline support like Ian was the best partner.
As if we had promised, we stood a short distance apart and opened our respective status windows.
The numbers embedded in the transparent hologram window had risen heavily, proving our desperate hunting up to this point.
[ Status Information ]
─────────────────
Name : Savior
Level : 15
[ Health ] 310 / 310
[ Mana ] 120 / 120
─────────────────
[ Combat Stats ]
Attack Power : 85 (+12)
Defense : 42 (+5)
─────────────────
[ Attributes ]
? Strength (STR) : 14
? Agility (AGI) : 35
? Constitution (CON) : 18
? Intelligence (INT) : 05
? Perception (PER) : 15
─────────────────
The shock of the birth of the Mythic-grade pet that shook the server had not yet faded.
Someone had pulled far ahead with miraculous luck, but the stats and level honestly accumulated right before my eyes also approached me as a substantial fun and 'capital' that was no less than that.
'Numbers don't lie.'
I felt as if my body had become as light as the increased attributes.
The sensation of growth provided by virtual reality was delivering a thrill on a completely different level from looking at numbers behind a monitor.
Covered in the traces of our death struggles, we arrived at the village in front of the castle gates.
However, my steps heading towards the village square were lighter than ever.
"Haa, I really feel like I can live now".
Ian adjusted the heavy greatsword slung over his shoulder and let out a heartfelt sigh.
We headed straight for the quest completion counter.
[Notice: Main Quest 'Predator of the Forest' completed!]
[Reward: 80 Silver and Experience Points have been distributed.]
The sound of silver clinking as it filled my inventory.
To me, who cherished efficiency more than life itself, there was no sweeter music than this.
However, the lingering emotion of our triumphant news was short-lived.
As soon as the completion stamp was affixed, a new notification with a reddish hue was posted on the information counter's bulletin board.
[Main Quest: Veiled Terror, Attack of the Goblin Legion]
Mission:
1. Eliminate 100 Goblin Warriors and Marauders
2. Boss: Eliminate Black Tooth Matus (0 / 1)
Progress: 0 / 100 | 0 / 1
Obtainable Rewards:
1. [Select] Rare-grade Weapon Selection Box x1
2. [Consumable] Premium Health and Mana Recovery Potion Bundle x1
3. [Experience] 3,000 EXP
4. [Currency] 5 Gold
Clear Privilege: Unlocks access to the 'Premium Shop' and 'Integrated Auction House'
"......Crazy".
An exclamation mixed with a curse popped out without me realizing it.
[Rare-grade Weapon Selection Box].
Madness colored my eyes as I faced the 'ultimate production tool' that would allow me to hold a chainsaw alone and monopolize the market while others were swinging axes.
Ian also checked the quest details next to me and made an expression as if his jaw was about to drop.
"Savior, isn't this an error? 100 of them? Plus, that guy named 'Matus' with a skull mark next to his name... he looks to be on a different level from the bear we just caught. Are they telling us to do this right now?"
Ian's voice was trembling slightly.
To him, whose entire body durability had been wrecked just from catching a single bear, the words 'Goblin Subjugation' and 'Mid-Boss' must have been no different from a death sentence.
However, my gaze remained fixed on the clear privilege written below it, unmoving.
'Premium Shop, and Integrated Auction House.'
To a gold farmer, an auction house is not simply a place to sell loot.
It means the opening of a true 'currency exchange' and 'workplace' where in-game items can be converted into real-world currency.
And as long as Matus bore the title of a boss, it was practically guaranteed that there would be at least one decent piece of loot worthy of putting up on the auction house.
"Ian, hey, why are you acting like this. You're not planning on backing out here, are you?"
I lightly nudged Ian's shoulder, who was gripping his greatsword tightly out of nervousness.
Looking at his thoroughly intimidated eyes, I offered the most relaxed smile I could muster.
"You know I came all the way here trusting only you, Ian. If I don't have a 'sturdy' tanker like you, Ian, I'll be setting up a tombstone the moment I enter, you know? My life is practically hanging on your greatsword, Ian".
Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
I pointed with my chin towards the system message floating high in the sky above the blacksmith shop in the distance.
"Don't you see that? The Auction House. That needs to open for us to start doing business or whatever in earnest, right?
We need to put our items on the auction house as quickly as possible to sell them for a high price.
Right now, that den over there is the definition of a blue ocean, are you going to regret it after letting others take it all? We have to sweep it all up while we have an ace tanker like you, Ian".
Beyond the village entrance, the Goblin tribe stuck deep within that forest was not some terrifying monster den to me.
It was a massive event reward box filled with gold coins that had to be looted, with Ian taking the lead.
"It might be a bit tough. But it's exactly in situations like this where a 'jackpot drop' pops up.
If you just hold the line in the front, Ian, I'll take care of the rest. Okay?"
I lightly pressed the [Accept] button while observing Ian's hesitant reaction.
"Let's go. I'm going in trusting you, Ian. Let's go loot it thoroughly and properly claim our share".
"Ugh, alright! Let's go! I was planning on going anyway, you know? It's this way, right?!"
To Ian, who was coughing unnecessarily and turning down the wrong path, I spoke shortly with a straight face.
"It's this way".
Although the real-life pain was reduced to 30%, it didn't lessen the fear of a tanker who had to take the attacks on the front lines.
Ian just kept swallowing dryly, full of tension.
As we pushed through the rough forest path in front of the village, the Goblin tribe finally revealed itself.
Around the perimeter of the tribe, a log fence with sharply carved ends was densely erected like a castle wall, boasting a rather fortress-like majesty.
Inside the fence, crude tents made by attaching pieces of fabric drawn with bizarre patterns to wooden supports were scattered everywhere,
and at the center, a massive barracks that looked like a place where a boss would stay sat imposingly.
As we neared the barracks, we saw a small number of players who had already established their positions.
'The competitors have decreased a lot compared to the beginning...'
It meant we were slightly ahead of the others.
I lightly moistened my lips and called out to Ian, who was standing next to me.
"Ian, let's go!"
"Yep, here I go!"
It was the moment we crossed over the fence.
Rustle-
The grass parted, and a light green-skinned monstrosity that came up to my waist popped out.
Yellowish glowing eyes, drool disgustingly pooling at the corners of its mouth. The crude dagger the creature held wriggled with murderous intent.
"Kieeeek-!"
The den had noticed us.
I released the bowstring without hesitation.
Thwip- Thwack!
With a sharp sound of tearing air, the arrow pierced deeply into the goblin's shoulder.
The creature tumbled backward from the impact, but soon let out a bizarre shriek and sprang up like a coiled spring.
"Kiek!"
The moment he faced that madness-filled sight, the look in Ian's eyes changed.
The coward who had been trembling just moments ago was nowhere to be found.
The goblin's arm raised high to bring down its dagger. The yellow drool pooled at its mouth scattered into the air due to the speed at which it was running.
"Come on!"
With a thick shout, Ian pulled his greatsword far back.
The heavy blade, riding the momentum, drew a horizontal arc at a terrifying speed and slashed the creature.
Crunch!
The edge of the greatsword, loaded with rotational force, dug precisely into the goblin's neck.
[Critical Hit!]
The creature couldn't even let out a single scream before it was smashed straight into the ground.
'What... this is nothing special, right?'
It was carelessness. No sooner had that thought crossed my mind than the bastards lying in ambush around us poured out in droves, screaming.
"Kieeeek-!"
"Kiek!"
"Savior! More are coming! Front!"
"Yep! Confirmed!"
Four goblins kicked off the ground simultaneously.
The desperate moment when the bastards raised their deep blue daggers in mid-air.
Thwiiiip- Thwack! Thwack!
Two arrows that left my hand accurately planted themselves in the foreheads of the creatures leading the pack.
[Critical Hit!]
While the two bastards were knocked away without even being able to scream, Ian reacted.
Clang-!
Ian raised the broad flat side of his massive greatsword like a shield, deflecting the flying dagger.
He then swung the sword with ignorant force, throwing the clinging goblin away like a piece of luggage.
"Keugh!"
It was then. A single arrow flying from somewhere grazed past Ian's forearm.
Swish-
I quickly turned my gaze and glared in the direction the arrow had flown from.
Four warriors and two scouts. A total of six goblins were pressing us, as if surrounding us.
"Ian! Just hold out like you just did! I'll cut off those annoying scouts first!"
At my shout, Ian pulled a red potion from his chest and downed it in one gulp.
"Just leave it to me! Something like this!"
Taking his resolute answer as a signal, I pulled the bowstring while slipping behind Ian's back.
The target was the scout pestering us from the rear.
Thwiiiip- Thwack!
[Critical Hit!]
Simultaneously with the first bastard's head exploding, I let the second arrow fly.
Thwip-
[Critical Hit!]
In the short gap while I pierced the bastards' heads, the four goblin warriors in front moved at the same time.
Two bastards struck downwards from above, and the remaining two dug in from both sides as if crawling on the ground.
"Keugh!"
Ian hastily raised his greatsword horizontally to block the attacks from above, but the lower section was the problem.
Before cold sweat could even flow, two sharp daggers dug deeply into Ian's side and thigh.
Stab!
"Keeugh......!"
Ian let out a groan filled with pain.
Without even having time to think, I sprang forward and kicked the solar plexus of the creature hanging onto Ian's thigh with all my might.
Smack!
The moment the bastard tumbled away, my hand was already releasing the bowstring.
Thwip!
[Critical Hit!]
As the arrow lodged deep between its eyebrows, the creature scattered into the air with blue particles without leaving a single scream.
"Heu-ah!"
Ian ground the pain of his stabbed thigh with sheer grit, roughly shoving away the bastard that had been clinging to him.
Soon after, the heavy greatsword drew a horizontal line.
Slice-
The upper body of the goblin, halved in a single stroke, rolled on the floor.
Now there were only two left.
Without delay, I pulled the bowstring and blew away the head of the bastard on the left.
Thwiiiip- Thwack!
Not missing that opening, Ian leaped towards the final bastard.
"Taaah!"
The greatsword he brought down with his body weight crushed the goblin onto the floor.
Clink!
The spot where the last creature became blue particles and disappeared.
Amidst a few silver coins dropped on the floor, an old book emitting a uniquely brilliant blue light tumbled down.
'......A Rare-grade skill book?!'
My heart sank.
The skill system of
Unlike the 'supply-type' skill books anyone could buy at the village shop, the 'drop-type' skill books that could only be obtained through field hunting were on a different level.
Even for skills with the same name, the grade was king.
Between Normal grade and Rare grade, from the damage multiplier to the cooldown time, the performance difference was like heaven and earth.
In other words, that blue light was not a simple item.
After quickly scanning my surroundings, I picked up the book emitting the blue light.
As I pulled up the information window with trembling hands, an unbelievable text filled my vision.
[Item Information]
? Name: Skill Book - Eye of the Abyss: Weakness Detection (Insight of the Abyss)
? Grade: Rare
? Restriction: Perception (PER) 15 or higher, Bow/Crossbow Mastery possessor
? Effect: A hunter's senses, pushed to the limit, materialize the enemy's fatal weak points as red identification dots.
? Additional Effects:
? 30% Critical Hit probability correction when striking a weak point.
? Critical Hit damage additionally increased by 80%.
'Crazy......'
My mouth wouldn't close.
This wasn't just a skill that simply increased damage.
If combined with the 'Perception' stat that would grow in the future, it was truly a 'graduation-level' passive for an archer, capable of turning me into a critical machine that never missed.
Ian, who was next to me, glanced over my shoulder at the skill information, then chuckled and shook his head.
"Ah, looking at the options, it's completely exclusive to 'Bows'. There's also a Perception stat restriction... this is just a scrap of paper even if I hold onto it".
Ian coolly waved his hand in refusal.
"You use it, Savior. Instead of that! Next time a warrior item or mine drops, you have to unconditionally give it to me then, alright? No bidding competition, deal?"
"Haha, of course! I promise".
There was no reason to refuse. Before Ian could change his mind, I quickly pressed the [Use] button.
Blue particles burst from my fingertips and seeped into both my eyes.
Along with a refreshing, cooling sensation, a transparent system message popped up on my retinas.
[System: You have absorbed the Rare-grade skill book, 'Weakness Detection'.]
[System: A new skill will be registered in your slot.]
[ Skill Information ]
─────────────────
Name : Weakness Detection
Type : Passive
Grade : Rare
[Effects]
1. The enemy's fatal weak points are visualized as red dots.
2. Critical Hit probability +30% correction when striking a weak point.
3. Damage increased by +80% upon a Critical Hit.
─────────────────
I desperately hid the feeling of wanting to fly, and continued speaking in a deliberately serious voice.
"Phew...... is that only 9 of them so far?"
91 more to go. On top of that, the fact that we had to face a boss made my breath catch in my throat.
"This is no joke, seriously......"
Ian downed a red potion in one gulp and wiped away his cold sweat.
"This is a big problem. If we mess up, we might be setting up tombstones here today, you know?"
It was then. Along with a presence from outside the fence, a cautious voice was heard.
"Excuse me...... if it's not too much trouble, could we party up together? We've just been busy catching one and running away just the two of us......"
When I turned my head, a man and a woman were looking at us.
A woman with long, straight black hair holding a wooden staff in one hand.
And a sharp-looking man with curly short hair wearing two daggers.
Above their heads, the nicknames [Succubus] and [Jude] were shining clearly with a blue light.