100 Floors All Master - Chapter 12

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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All Master of 100 Floors Episode 012

2nd Floor. Goblin (3)

“Actually, if we’re being honest, you’re completely right. That’s the correct argument.”

It had been 20 years since the goblins settled in the forest near the village.

During that time, the village had always been on the receiving end of damage.

Since they didn’t respond actively and only endured attacks, it was inevitable that complaints would arise one by one from the young people’s perspective. Even without Kang Jun-hyeok, there had been quite a few soldiers who complained about this.

However, the village elders, including the Guard Captain, had completely ignored those opinions.

There was a reason for that.

“It’s not like we were idiots who just took beatings from the beginning.”

Twenty years ago. They had prepared to respond from the moment the goblins first settled. It was natural since monsters had established themselves right next to the village. They sent scouts to determine their numbers and built fences. They sent soldiers on patrols.

And when they thought they were sufficiently prepared, they gathered the village soldiers and set out to exterminate the goblins.

“About thirty soldiers gathered in total. Half of them were veterans who had experienced war. And it wasn’t just them.”

A mercenary who had come to the frontier village for rest also joined the extermination.

“The mercenary was strong. He had skills and experience that someone like me couldn’t even approach. He said he had exterminated goblin hordes dozens of times, that it would be good exercise, and that he would take command.”

Under the mercenary’s command, they departed for the forest to exterminate the goblin horde.

“I was among them too.”

The Guard Captain, still young and having just become a soldier, followed along guarding their rear.

“What do you think happened to that subjugation?”

“It probably didn’t go well.”

“Didn’t go well? It was far worse than that.”

The Guard Captain said with a sigh.

“I was the only one who survived.”

Thirty soldiers, half of whom had experienced war. And a mercenary who had exterminated goblin hordes dozens of times.

All of them died.

The only one who returned alive was the Guard Captain, who had been a new recruit. The Guard Captain spoke in an endlessly sunken voice.

“The goblins were extremely intelligent. They dug traps for us who entered the forest and made sounds to lure us. All of it was cunning and crafty. They weren’t originally low-intelligence monsters, but it felt like we were truly facing humans.”

Those who had let their guard down thinking they were just goblins suffered considerable damage.

“Still, up to that point it was manageable.”

Though four or five casualties occurred from falling into traps, it wasn’t enough to cause problems with the goblin extermination. Most importantly, the mercenary was truly skilled.

Under the mercenary’s quick command, they managed to avoid all the traps. At the end, they arrived at the Goblin Den.

But that was a great disaster for them.

“There, we saw… a monster.”

“A monster, you say.”

Kang Jun-hyeok’s eyes darkened. The Guard Captain took a breath to calm himself before continuing.

“It was an abnormally large goblin.”

A typical goblin’s size was about that of a human child. But the goblin the Guard Captain saw was twice as large as an adult.

“It appeared to be a mutant. Probably the king of the goblins.”

The mercenary died in a single strike from the sword wielded by the Goblin King. The soldiers gritted their teeth and thrust their spears, but the Goblin King sneered and lightly swung his arm, breaking all the spear shafts.

In just one exchange, the mercenary and three soldiers died.

And behind them, goblin cries could be heard from all directions.

At that moment, the soldiers realized they had fallen into a trap.

“Someone shouted. To run away. I was just terrified and desperately fled. When I came to my senses, I had somehow arrived at the village.”

Only the Guard Captain returned. Neither the mercenary nor any of the twenty-nine soldiers came back.

“Is that why you can’t set out for extermination?”

“Because if we fight head-on, we have no chance of victory.”

The Guard Captain said bitterly.

There was no one strong enough in the village to face the Goblin King who could kill a skilled mercenary in one strike. With over half the soldiers dead, they were in no condition to attempt subjugation. Kang Jun-hyeok spoke as if finding it strange.

“But I didn’t see any Goblin King.”

During the past three invasions, the Goblin King was nowhere to be seen. According to the information he heard from the Village Woman, it seemed he hadn’t appeared since then either.

“Since it was 20 years ago, isn’t he already dead?”

“No. No, that bastard is alive.”

“How can you be so certain?”

“…”

After pondering for a moment, the Guard Captain opened a drawer in the table. He took something out from there. Kang Jun-hyeok frowned.

“Hair?”

What the Guard Captain took out was a bundle of distinctive reddish hair.

“Hair that was placed in front of the village a year ago.”

The Guard Captain said gloomily.

“Shine, who was taken by goblins five years ago. She used to boast that her hair was beautiful like flames.”

“…You mean they’re holding her hostage?”

“That bastard is strong. And highly intelligent too. The goblins have come to use the concept of hostages, which they originally couldn’t do.”

All the village people who had been taken by goblins so far. They were all being held as hostages by the goblins. Their number was at least dozens.

“It’s not like I was just sitting idle. I tried to leave on a journey to somehow seek help from outside. But somehow he found out, and that morning. A pile of hair was scattered in front of the village gate.”

At that time, the Guard Captain had truly felt chills.

From then on, the village’s will to resist the goblins was broken. The Guard Captain spat out with a distorted face.

“That bastard is definitely alive. But he hasn’t appeared for 20 years. I don’t know why they’ve been periodically invading us for 2 years either. It feels like, like… they’re breeding us. But why on earth?”

“We can find out from now on.”

Kang Jun-hyeok said calmly. Even after hearing the Guard Captain’s words, his eyes didn’t waver. Seeing that, the Guard Captain muttered with a strange expression.

“You’ve grown a lot. Yes. The one who should act isn’t an old man like me who’s stuck in the past and paralyzed by fear, but a young person like you. As an old man should, I’ll just provide support.”

The Guard Captain smiled refreshingly.

“What are you planning to do?”

“The information you know is from twenty years ago. First, I need to determine the goblins’ numbers and the location of their den.”

Kang Jun-hyeok continued while organizing his thoughts.

“If they’re as intelligent as you said, their response will likely be quick too. Those creatures are spying on the village. If they think our movements are strange, they’ll harm the hostages. Then a quick decisive battle is important.”

“…You plan to settle it within a few hours.”

“Yes. So please quietly gather the soldiers without the goblins noticing. For now, I’ll move alone first. Once the hostages are rescued, please act immediately.”

“…I’m entrusting a lot to you. It’s shameful as an adult. But… I don’t have the same strength as you.”

The Guard Captain nodded with a stern face.

“I’m counting on you, Kang Jun-hyeok. Please save the village.”

“Leave it to me.”

Kang Jun-hyeok answered briefly and went outside. Behind him as he left the village, the Guard Captain’s quiet voice could be heard.

‘Well then.’

Shall I go.

Kang Jun-hyeok quietly kicked off.

The time was night.

What floated in the sky above was a bright full moon. Thanks to that, even in the forest, the outlines of objects could be distinguished.

Kang Jun-hyeok quickly entered the forest. Before coming out, he had already heard the approximate location from the Guard Captain. He pushed through the undergrowth heading toward his destination.

‘From now on is important.’

He had made the path. The rest was walking that created path perfectly.

First objective.

Perfectly rescue the hostages.

If casualties occurred while rescuing hostages, he probably wouldn’t reach 100%. There was a high possibility he needed to rescue every single one without exception.

To do that, he first needed to approach the den without being detected. Kang Jun-hyeok entered the forest and gradually silenced his movements.

As a result, Kang Jun-hyeok discovered them.

Two goblins sitting in the middle of the forest, keeping watch over their surroundings.

Kang Jun-hyeok frowned as if annoyed.

‘Two of them.’

It seemed they even understood the concept of teamwork. The goblins had whistle-like objects hanging around their necks. Unless he killed both simultaneously, one would blow the whistle to sound an alarm. He had to kill them at the same time.

The problem was that there was quite a distance between Kang Jun-hyeok and the goblins. The undergrowth was thick, making it seem impossible to approach silently.

Manbyeonggi, who had been watching this situation, suddenly began speaking as if sensing an opportunity.

[You seem to be troubled about how to handle this. Whatever the case, you are my master. And my ability isn’t simply limited to storing weapons.]

Manbyeonggi’s greatest characteristic was having its own ego.

It knew many things, and as someone who had once reached the pinnacle, it could offer advice both big and small to its user. That was one of Manbyeonggi’s values.

[I’ll give you advice worth a thousand gold. Think carefully about what you currently have…]

Manbyeonggi was about to speak, but before that, Kang Jun-hyeok kicked off the ground.

Between him and the goblins were countless bushes. It was impossible not to make noise.

So, he made it so no noise would occur.

[Stealth.]

Active Skill. Stealth.

Its effect erases all sounds made by the player for 3 seconds.

Kang Jun-hyeok instantly approaches the goblins. The bushes rustle violently, but no sound can be heard. The night was dark enough that the goblins didn’t notice his presence until he was right upon them.

Kang Jun-hyeok extends his arm. He draws a spear from Manbyeonggi and directly pierces the goblin’s throat.

Crack.

The throat is completely pierced through.

Vital Strike. Combined with the acceleration, the goblin dies in one blow.

“Gack!”

The goblin beside it is startled in shock. It frantically reaches for its whistle, trying to blow it.

What Kang Jun-hyeok was holding was a spear.

Once thrust, it was a weapon that couldn’t attack again until retrieved.

He would have no choice but to give the goblin time to blow the whistle.

So he doesn’t retrieve it.

Kang Jun-hyeok puts the spear directly into Manbyeonggi. Then he draws another stored weapon. A sword.

Swish!

He cuts off the goblin’s arm.

The moment the goblin’s face contorts in pain and tries to scream, he covers its mouth.

Stab.

“Gurgle.”

The goblin with the pierced throat dies without even being able to scream.

[Stealth proficiency has greatly increased.]

Kang Jun-hyeok lightly sheathed his sword and said.

“What were you saying?”

[…Nothing. Never mind.]

Manbyeonggi answered gloomily.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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