Chapter-10 · EP-153

Episode 153: First Goblin Battle

We finally descended to the third floor, our destination for today.

Murasakimura muttered, sounding deeply moved.

"I never thought we'd reach the third floor so smoothly. Especially since I was level 1 on the first floor not long ago."

Hearing that, Sendo also voiced his agreement.

"Definitely. Not only the first-floor boss, but clearing the second floor in a single day is something I never would have imagined if I'd only had academy classes."

Akaishi nodded silently in affirmation.

What? I'd been saying from the start that we should explore floors one level above our own, but you guys didn't believe me?

But getting sulky wouldn't help, so I began explaining.

"Various monsters appeared on the second floor, but only goblins appear on the third floor. That makes it simple, but the problem is that goblins sometimes form groups. A single one isn't a big deal, but they're troublesome in numbers. If you encounter four or more goblins at once, I'll join the fight. If it's three or fewer, try to handle it yourselves."

"Got it. But are we really okay at level 2?"

The academy curriculum said to reach level 3 on the second floor before going to the third floor.

Murasakimura still seemed a bit uneasy.

"Even so, you just defeated a second-floor monster in one blow when you were still level 1. Iori was defeating even the second-floor boss, the Giant Lizard, in one hit at level 2. I think it's better to gauge your effectiveness by how the fight feels, rather than just looking at your level number."

"I see. That makes sense."

With Murasakimura convinced, we advanced through the third floor.

The goal was for each to defeat ten goblins, raising Sendo and Akaishi to level 3. Ideally, if each could defeat twenty, Murasakimura would also reach level 3.

Twenty each would be sixty total. No, wait, I'm also in the party, so counting mine, that would be eighty. That would be inefficient. And we probably wouldn't encounter that many in a single day anyway.

If each of them could fight individually, it might be more efficient to disband the party and have each fight solo, since experience is distributed in a party.

But considering safety, keeping the party as is for now was probably fine. Besides, they didn't need to level up in a single day. They could come again another time.

If they came every weekend, Murasakimura would probably reach level 3 within a month. He'd struggled just to reach level 2. I wanted them to understand that this was far more efficient than trying to reach level 3 on the second floor.

As I walked, doing these calculations in my head, Sendo detected another monster.

"I sense monsters ahead. Probably two of them."

Sendo's skill, "Presence Detection," apparently allowed him to detect monsters at a distance. He'd found monsters many times today. It seemed like a very useful skill.

I'd just swiped... copied it, so I tried to secretly use it too.

"Ah… Sendo, you detected those monsters with your skill just now, right? How do you use your skill?"

Since I didn't know how, I asked directly.

"How do I use it? It's hard to explain; I just concentrate and send out my senses. It's more of a feeling."

"Huh, is that so…"

"What's with that reaction?"

My poor questioning seemed to have made him suspicious.

I couldn't tell him I could copy my companions' skills.

Following Sendo's explanation, I tried to focus on the distant area ahead.

I got a vague sense that there were monsters far away. Was this Presence Detection?

And I somehow sensed there were two, as Sendo had said.

"If there are two, try fighting them without my support."

As we advanced, two goblins appeared, just as Sendo had said.

Short, green-skinned monsters. Their faces were ferocious, with pointed ears, sharp eyes, and pointed fangs bared from their mouths.

Murasakimura, raising his wooden sword, commented on seeing a goblin for the first time.

"Seeing a real one moving is creepy."

"Don't let your guard down."

"Yeah, I know."

The three – Murasakimura, Sendo, and Akaishi – walked toward the two goblins, weapons raised.

One goblin watched them, then tried to attack Akaishi. Sensing this, Akaishi tried to strike first, swinging his mace down. The goblin sensed the danger and jumped back.

The other goblin went for Sendo. Sendo swung his wooden sword down at the goblin's head.

Thunk! The sound of hitting bone. The next moment, the goblin grabbed Sendo's wooden sword with both hands.

Bleeding from its smashed head, the goblin desperately held onto Sendo's sword. Sendo panicked and tried to pull it away.

Just as Sendo was struggling to shake the goblin off, Murasakimura attacked it from behind.

He struck the back of its head, and it let out a "Gyah!"

The goblin's grip loosened, and Sendo hurriedly pulled his sword back, then immediately struck again.

Caught between attacks from front and back, the goblin died.

The other goblin and Akaishi continued to stare each other down.

The goblin dodged Akaishi's attacks, waiting for a chance to pounce, while Akaishi aimed to land a solid hit with his mace.

The moment the goblin took its eyes off Akaishi, realizing its comrade had been killed, Akaishi's mace crushed its head.

The three's first battle against goblins ended without injury.