The Train to The Dungeon

Chapter 22: Goblin Settlement

As I exited the portal, there was a view of green grass stretching wide. There are wooden bridges that connect one plain with another. The sky was blue and bright, a cool breeze was blowing against my skin.

This place is like heaven, if there were no goblin settlements on it. Not far from the portal, I could see the shabby tents of the goblins. There are five settlements in the area, some goblins seem to pass by there, doing their daily activities.

“That's a goblin nest?” ask Chika, astonished.

“I also did not expect,” responded me. As I recall the information I read from the Hunter Association manuals, goblin nests are of two kinds. Nests located within the labyrinth, or nests above the surface, are usually settlement-shaped.

The thing is, the Hunter Association never said that goblin nests could be this big.

Goblin nests are usually simple and consist of only one settlement. However, in front of me were five settlements built. While on the most end and wide plains, there is a smaller settlement but looks more magnificent, visible from the size and number of levels of the building.

The goblin settlement has a wooden fence with pointed ends. Their houses are made of wood and a brownish red tarpaulin cover. There was a giant cauldron in the middle of each settlement, but there were also smaller fireplaces near those houses.

My eyes activated the scanner, trying to find the humans the goblins were holding.

“Me!” I cried when I saw the names of the kidnapped humans appear inside the system screen..

“What? What?” Chika was excited.

“There are several humans held inside the very end of the settlement. There are 12 people.”

“A lot!”

“Indeed, we must immediately save them.”

As Chika and I were preparing to leave, an unfamiliar voice in my ears stopped my steps.

“Wait, you two!” Ravi caught up with us. He exited the portal with a breath.

“I warn you once again! It's dangerous! It's not too late to come back!”

I'm already upset because this kid can't stop babbling. He underestimated me too much or this child did not actually have a heart. I turned and stepped in front of him. I stared at his black bead.

“Listen, Ravi,” my word is full of emphasis. “My family was kidnapped by this goddamn goblin, I don't care about all your bans. I'll save my family, whatever the risk.”

Ravi. He suddenly fell silent. Not because of my sentence, but because I currently exuded an extremely powerful killing aura at him. To the extent that, Chika who felt the aura of pressure from me also retreated backwards.

“I'm following you guys to help,” said Ravi, slowly. His eyes flashed, returning my gaze. “You are my responsibility!”

I let out a breath. There's no point in serving an idealistic boy like Ravi.

“Do what you want. But don't block me.”

I turned around and walked away, Chika stepped up to follow me. He had turned to Ravi and shook his head, as if to signal “don't interfere”.

Apparently, Ravi was firm as he said. He immediately ran after the two of us and arrived next to me in an instant.

“You are strong,” he said suddenly. “Hunter Without Rank is unlikely to kill a Class B monster like earlier.”

“What hardship did you get to suddenly praise like that?” my question, cynic.

“I only convey the facts,” reply. “Befit you just came to Re-Register.”

“It turns out to be you,” I muttered.

“What?”

“Forget it.” My attention was shifted because of the message from the system.

The tring!

[Quest: Reach the goblin leader location (0/0)

Kill Hobgoblin (0/100)

Kill goblins of any kind (0/200)

Reward: ??? ]

I grinned. Fantastic numbers for monster hunting. I imagined my level would rise in an instant after completing this quest.

“Quest I received,” gumamku. “Thank you, system.”

My chest is struggling to accept the mission. Both of my hands are already preparing with Grasscutter and Crimson Edge. Now, just set Chika and Ravi to not attack my prey.

“Two of you,” call me to Chika and Ravi.

“What's up?” tanya Chika, followed by a glance from Ravi.

“I will advance in front by myself, then you two clear the monsters that were missed by me.”

“If you mind, the portal door is still open at the back,” I replied to Ravi. “Please go.”

Ravi was silent a thousand words. His face showed anger, but he finally chose to give up and obey me. Good, better like that.

“Chika,” I called the girl who was stretching her legs.

Chika must be preparing to attack and follow my speed as before. However, this time I won't hold back my true strength, Chika can't possibly catch up to him.

I also can't be half-and-half while doing quests from the system. Wrong-wrong even my life later that floated.

“You called?” ask Chika.

I smiled gently at him.

“Be careful,” I said as I stroked his head. “If something happens to you, Aunt Tara will definitely be very sad.”

“I'll be fine!” answer Chika, sure. I noticed a red tinge appearing on his cheek. He looks adorable with a face like that.

“I'll protect him.” Ravi suddenly got into the conversation. I sighed, this one brat is really talented at ruining a moment.

“As far as you are,” I replied, lazy.

“You too, do not hesitate to ask for help if in front of there is a problem!” said Ravi.

“Already, you just take care of the back with Chika,” respond me.

We're getting closer to the first settlement. I started seeing Hobgoblins around the nest. Hobgoblins are an evolutionary form of goblins. They are strong, intelligent and dangerous. The Hunter Association classified them into Class B Monsters.

Hobgoblins have a stone-age human stature with large jaws and two lower fangs sticking out from between the lips. His nose was large with gold earrings. They are green or red. Has long black hair that is usually tied back. His body was muscular and wore clothes of skin. One of his hands used to carry a weapon like a mace or a sword.

“I'll attack now,” I said, giving Chika and Ravi a cue.

After taking a deep breath, I activated Shadow Move and shot instantaneously into the settlement. The hobgoblins who were relaxing were unaware of my attack. In an instant, those two-meter-tall monsters collapsed being hit by the second slash of my sickle.

Some of the Hobgoblins who had come to their senses immediately charged forward. They were assisted by Goblin Paladins and ordinary goblins who also lived in the settlement. They lifted up the cudgel and the sword, and drew it down toward me. Once again, I disappeared using the Shadow Move Skill, appeared behind them and instantly slashed the necks of those monsters to the point of breaking.

[You have leveled up!]

I grinned. It felt like a level harvest in an instant. Both of my hands tightly clenched the handle of the weapon, holding back the overflowing excitement.

In an instant, I managed to destroy the first settlement. Buildings collapsed, some were hit by bonfires and burned. The green grass that became the base of the settlement is now blood red. I casually stepped out of the settlement while shaking both of my weapons, clearing them of the remaining blood.

I saw that Chika and Ravi could only gap behind the bushes.

“He can't be Hunter Without Rank right?” ask Ravi to Chika.

“He used to tell me if he didn't manage to get Rebirth,” Chika replied, still looking at me with an astonished expression. “Is it possible for the Rebirth process to be delayed?”

“I've never heard of such a thing,” Ravi said.

“Hey, Ravi, you're A rank, aren't you?”

“Why?”

“According to you, is Arka's ability equivalent to the current A rating?”

Ravi seemed to think. “If his Job is Assassin, I can confirm it.”

“Arka doesn't have a Job, she doesn't even belong to Hunter any Rank.”

“Ah, true also.”

The two students of Hunter Academy there spoke so loudly that I could hear them from a distance. Yes, it's okay if they are just cool gossiping about me, meaning the situation around them is safe.

I turned towards Chika and Ravi, telling them that they were going to attack the second settlement.

“Come, we go too,” take Ravi on Chika.

The two of them ran after me in the back, a little far away. They stared at the horrors of the goblin settlement that had stood majestically now lived in rubble with corpses scattered. It was like seeing a massacre. But this time, it was the humans who slaughtered the monsters.

The system screen appeared again in front of me, telling the progress of the quest.

[Quest: Reach the goblin leader location (0/0)

Kill Hobgoblin (15/100)

Kill goblins of any kind (32/200)

Reward: ??? ]