Chapter 123. The Kobold Hunting Competition (4)

The group hiked the mountain until nightfall. After the first battle, the kobolds didnt attack again.

The knights Weaver and Rhodi stopped when they discovered a large clearing.

We will set up camp here for tonight!

We will be taking watch in rotations, so finish your supper quickly and get some sleep.

They had been moving nonstop since they left the city when the sun rose until sunset. Not only that but they had battled against hundreds of kobolds halfway through. Even though all the participants were veterans, they couldnt help but feel a little tired.

Phew, Im starting to wonder if it was worth coming here. Its so tiring

I know, right? I thought Id be able to gain a lot of levels and EXP.

All we did was walk all day! I shouldve just done a Quest or something.

Complaints started to spill out everywhere.

Tsk, tsk.

The Frost Queen clicked her tongue.

Those weaklings. They have so many complaints, she said.

They probably didnt have this in mind when they signed up for the competition.

Frankly, this wasnt what Seo Jun-Ho had in mind either. But that didnt mean he was disappointed like the others. The encounter with the blood kobolds had put him on edge.

Contractor, look over there. The Frost Queen tugged on Jun-Hos hair and pointed. There, Baek Geon-Woo was sitting at the foot of a large tree, eating riceballs by himself.

The best time to start a conversation is when someone is eating alone, she commented.

You know your stuff...

As Seo Jun-Ho strode over, the other Players started to look at him.

Is this seat taken? he asked.

As Baek Geon-Woo looked up at him, he started to stand up.

Embarrassed, Seo Jun-Ho quickly shook his hands. Oh, no. Im not asking you to move.

...

Baek Geon-Woo stared at him. His eyes were as clear as a creek on a summers day. A moment later, he spoke. No. His voice was plain. Baek Geon-Woo turned back to his riceballs and resumed his meal. Seo Jun-Ho immediately sat down beside him.

My name is Seo Jun-Ho, he said, taking out his meal.

...

Baek Geon-Woo focused on his meal as if he didnt hear Seo Jun-Ho speak. He had no desire to get close to other Players.

They only ever come approach me for one of two reasons.

They either wanted to feel a sense of superiority, or they pitied him.

It had always been one of those two

Seo Jun-Ho The articles and rumors about him didnt leave a bad impression.

He was famous for his heroic deeds. He had saved dozens of Players in the Burning Dunes and then pulled Players from a crisis into victory in the Wild Forest. In other words, he would be too self-secure to approach Baek Geon-Woo for his own ego.

Then Is it pity?

Baek Geon-Woo didnt feel any particular emotion about it. If he got mad, he would be the weird one. Even though the sympathy was unsolicited, the people who pitied him never really had bad intentions.

But sometimes, that sincere kindness hurt even more.

Baek Geon-Woo knew this all too well from his past experiences. That was why he didnt bother trying to create relationships with people.

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However, his impression of Seo Jun-Ho changed when the latter spoke.

Why dont you use any weapons?

...? Baek Geon-Woos hand paused, riceball in hand. He slowly turned to Seo Jun-Ho and stared into the latters eyes, trying to understand what was his intention behind the question.

Im not trying to mock you. I am asking because Im genuinely curious. Seo Jun-Ho explained.

Humans were stronger when they fought with tools instead of their bare hands. This had always been true since ancient times. Rocks were stronger than fists, and swords were stronger than rocks.

Spears were a good option too. The spear was known as the king of primitive weapons, easy to master yet still mighty.

...

Baek Geon-Woo lowered his riceball. He got the feeling that Seo Jun-Ho wouldnt leave him alone until he answered.

Its related to my skill, so I cannot tell you.

Oh I see. Im sorry for asking. Seo Jun-Ho apologized. He started to eat with an embarrassed expression. They ate in silence.

Ugh, I cant breathe! This is suffocating! Trapped between the two, the Frost Queen, clutched her throat, trying to breathe. At that moment, Baek Geon-Woo finished his riceballs and stood up before he disappeared.

Phew She let out a deep breath. That man is quite hard to approach. Unlike you, he is not a pushover.

Its not good. I want to get closer to him, Seo Jun-Ho muttered.

May I ask why? I do not quite see the benefit of that.

Just Instinct? I get the feeling that hell get stronger at some point. It would be like an investment. He explained.

Of course, he didnt know when or how much stronger Baek Geon-Woo would get in the future. There had been many times his instincts were wrong, so this could just be a dud.

But

The most important detail was that they shared the same pain. For that simple reason, Seo Jun-Ho wanted to watch over him.

...Anyway, those fiend bastards. They really dont know when to stop, Seo Jun-Ho whispered, looking up at the hazy crescent moon.

***

Luckily, Seo Jun-Ho got the first watch. He had a suspicion that Weaver had placed him there with his skills in consideration as if telling him to rest up before the big fight tomorrow. Thanks to that, Seo Jun-Ho felt nice and refreshed the next morning.

There was no ambush during the night.

He had actually been preparing for one. If he were the ruler of the kobolds, he would have seized the chance to attack when most of the group were asleep.

But why didnt they attack? Did they think the terrain was disadvantageous for them?

The large clearing was more advantageous for the group. Even if they managed to successfully snuck in, the Players could easily launch a counterattack.

Wake up, everyone! Well have a brief breakfast before we start moving again.

Our goal today is to reach the kobolds cave at the peak of the Hainal Mountains!

The two knights woke the group, loudly banging on their breastplates.

Ow My muscles ache.

Dammit, my calves hurt. It has been a while since Ive walked for so long.

Ugh. I was too laid back about this.

Everyone was grumbling, but being veterans, they still started preparing to leave without much protest.

Wake up, Seo Jun-Ho said to the Frost Queen. She couldnt use the fancy dollhouse in the woods, so she had gone back to using tissues as her bedding.

Mhmm Contractor She thumped her chest as she whined. I hate being away from home Hurry up and defeat the kobolds so we can go back

Its just one more day. Based on what they said, I think well get to their cave later.

Ah, wellEven if there are blood kobolds there, I suppose it wont be too dangerous, she muttered.

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Yup.

671 veteran Players and Adventurers made for a formidable force. As long as they didnt let their guards down, they wouldnt be bested in battle.

As long as we dont let our guards down

The march began again. As they got closer and closer to the summit, the Players started to become warier and on edge. Befitting as veterans, they were preparing for a battle.

We were worried for nothing. Seems like everyones got it together now. I can feel the pressure in the air, the Frost Queen observed.

Youre right. I underestimated them. But I wonder where the kobolds went? Seo Jun-Ho asked.

They hadnt seen a single kobold from morning to noon. This was his second day of filming, but he hadnt been able to get anything good. The battle from the day before had been too one-sided.

If we cant get anything, my PPHuh?

Seo Jun-Ho saw something glint from the top of the mountain. There was a sharp flash, like sunlight bouncing off a mirror.

What is that?

The moment he stopped and the question popped into his head, confused screams started to erupt around him.

W-Woah!

W-what is that?

He felt something explode under his feet.

Rrrrrrrr!

The mountain started to shake violently as if it would collapse at any second.

Its an earthquake!

Dammit, what shitty luck!

Didnt you feel something explode underground just now? Is this a trap?!

An earthquake in the mountain was scary enough, but some people quickly realized what would happen next and their faces started to turn pale.

W-we have to get down an Adventurer whispered.

From the front lines, Weavers face fell and he shouted, All forces! Descend the mountain! Immediately!

Boom!

His voice was lost under a loud explosion. The Players eyes filled with fear.

Rrrrrrrrr!

A-A landslideIts a landslide!

Dammit! How the hell are we supposed to go down after coming all the way here!

We cant! We have to hold out!

Dig into the ground for cover! Thats the only way!

It was like a tsunami on land. A wave of earth started to flood down toward them at alarming speeds.

Their forces numbered 671, but that only made it worse. Their screams echoed as they started to trip over themselves and bump shoulders.

Contractor!

...Shit.

Seo Jun-Ho bit his bottom lip, hard. He had never even imagined this kind of situation.

Youre telling me that the kobolds have someone capable of organizing this kind of trap?

No one could have predicted this. Even a Player of Seo Jun-Hos level needed time to prepare an artificial landslide.

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Wait, time to prepare

He realized that they had been bamboozled.

The kobolds in the Hainal Mountains had been quiet for the past few months, but it wasnt because they were scared. They had been waiting for a moment like this. They had been fully prepared for their campaign.

Its the same reason why they didnt ambush us at night.

There was no need to risk it when they had a more surefire way to win.

Barrier.

Woosh!

The mages started to activate barriers in preparation for the incoming impact.

But it made no difference

Crack!

From above, the kobold mages had started to cast spells. Four kobold mages could be seen through the continuous rush of dirt, trees, and rocks.

Craaaack!

Their fireballs exploded on the mages barriers, causing them to shatter.

Goddammit! Theyre really making me curse!

How did those inferior kobolds manage to outsmart us?

This makes no sense. They play dirty, but they shouldnt be able to use tactics of this level!

Thats not what you should be worried about right now! Everyone gather here!

How the hell is the barrier supposed to block the landslide?! Dig! We have to dig!

The Players and Adventurers quickly started to gather into small groups. They started to dig together and crawled inside the holes they made.

I-Its coming! someone shouted. The landslide swept the frontlines of the group, but most of them had managed to dig into the ground, so only a few of them were swept away.

Contractor! You cant hide underground!

...I know. Thatll only delay the inevitable.

It would take a considerable amount of strength and energy to dig out of the hole even once the landslide passed. In fact, he could even die if he ran out of oxygen.

And most importantly, those guys wont just stay still

On the summit, hundreds of blood kobolds were already holding their weapons, ready for battle. Once the landslide passed, they would start to kill those crawling out of the ground.

Contractor! the Frost Queen yelled.

Now was the time to make his choice

There are three options.

First, he could use Watchguard of Darkness and Shadow Step to avoid the impact. Or, he could use Frost to shield himself from the landslide. However, either option would require him to reveal one of his skills.

But

Seo Jun-Ho bit down on his lip and decided to go with the final option. Even as he made up his mind, he still wasnt sure if it was the right choice.

Someone has to remain and stop the blood kobolds

Otherwise, their group would be massacred.

But no matter how he thought about it, there was only one person who could do that.

...Booster.

It was Seo Jun-Ho himself.

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