[ Goblin (1) ]
After washing up, changing clothes, and having a meal that served as both breakfast and lunch, my head finally started to clear. Though I still felt my heart pounding a bit more than usual.
I thought the hangover was completely gone, but maybe not? It felt like my Willpower stat had taken a hit or something.
‘Considering the unexpected skill effect I discovered last night, I suppose it’s understandable.’
But still, something feels off.
Let’s start by organizing my thoughts.
- Never, under any circumstances, reveal the effects of the keyword to anyone.
There aren’t many people in this world you can trust with your life. Maybe if you could read minds, but you can’t possibly know what’s going on in someone else’s head.
Unless someone has a history of risking their life to save you, like Yuhyun, you can never trust them completely.
My stats are F-rank.
Always keep that in mind and be cautious. Having an L-rank skill doesn’t mean anything when an S-rank can flick you aside like a bug.
- Be extremely careful when using the keyword.
Right now, there are only four people, but if I keep using the same keyword, someone might catch on. Above all, using it in crowded places like last night is a definite no-no.
If getting caught only meant losing the growth skill, I could deal with it, but if the mental conditioning effect is exposed, there will be chaos.
So if I have to use the keyword, it should be in a one-on-one situation, with other words mixed in to keep it as safe as possible.
- Focus on monsters rather than people and quickly get S-rank monsters that can protect me.
Even five years later, no one had found a monster that could communicate with humans. So Peace and any future monsters I acquire will be safe to use the skill on without worrying about the effects wearing off.
If I keep just two or three S-rank monsters by my side, I can rest assured about my safety.
- Finally, never underestimate this damn system. Who knows what other traps are hidden? Be cautious, always cautious.
‘If I had S-rank stats, I wouldn’t have to worry this much.’
This is way too much. Ah, my mental state is slipping again. What’s wrong with me today? It feels like I’ve taken off the armor I usually wear.
…Maybe I’ve pushed my liver too hard.
‘Let’s just head to the training.’
I’ll feel better after resting for a day or two. Overdrinking is never good for the body.
“Mister!”
When I stepped outside, Yerim, who had been waiting, greeted me cheerfully. She was dressed in something fresh and cute today, as if she had a professional stylist.
“I heard you were really drunk. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Good. Don’t drink too much. It’s bad for your health.”
I’m already feeling the effects on my body. Look at this, my heart’s racing again.
While Yu Myungwoo still hadn’t come out, I had to ask her quickly.
“Yerim, by the way…”
I hesitated, but since no one else was around, I asked her directly.
“When you look at me, does anyone come to mind?”
“Does anyone… come to mind?”
Yerim looked flustered, her eyes darting around. Bingo. So there is someone.
“Well, um… I was trying not to show it, but…”
“It’s okay. Go ahead and tell me.”
As long as it’s not your mom.
“When I was little… back when we lived in a house, there was a Mister next door who took care of me.”
Mister! Hallelujah! Thank you, unknown Mister from Yerim’s neighborhood.
“He was younger than you, but I was even younger back then. Mom said he was just a student next door, but to me, he seemed like a grown-up, so I just called him Mister. He didn’t really look like you, but he was frail. Even as a child, I was worried about him.”
Though Yerim was looking at me, it seemed like her mind was far away, lost in a distant memory. She continued, reminiscing about the past.
“My family was well-off, but the house next door was even bigger and nicer. They had a pretty garden, too. There was a white swing chair, and they had a big dog. The Mister was so frail that he rarely went outside. But he played with me every day.”
“You must’ve liked him a lot.”
Yerim nodded enthusiastically.
“Yes. I really liked him. I spent more time with him than with Mom or Dad back then. Dad was always busy, and Mom would go to church volunteer work with the lady next door since I was playing well with him.”
So that Mister… the student ended up being the most influential caregiver for her. Maybe if Yerim’s parents had lived longer, things would’ve been different, but they passed away early.
“And I thought that when I grew up, I’d become stronger than him so I could protect him…”
Her voice trailed off. I could guess what happened next without her saying it.
Yerim swallowed something, perhaps a tear or a sigh, and looked at me anxiously.
“Do you find it unpleasant? That I’m reminded of someone else when I look at you… People usually don’t like that.”
“No, it’s fine. It’s not like he was a criminal; he was a good person, right? I’m actually happy that you think of me that way.”
Of course, some people might be annoyed, but this is my fault. Even if he was frail, he was a kind-hearted, wealthy young man, so I’m grateful.
Yerim looked relieved and smiled brightly at my words.
“Really? You’re a really good person, too, Mister. I thought so from the moment I first saw you!”
…And this is the same girl who shouted she wasn’t into older men.
“Do you remember when you first thought of that Mister when you looked at me?”
“Yes. At the barbecue place, right after you started talking nonsense. I think it was that weak-looking expression that reminded me of him.”
If it was after I started talking nonsense, that would be right after I said the keyword, “love you.”
So the effect from the keyword really does work.
“I’ll definitely protect you, Mister!”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Yerim clung to me as usual, but unlike before, I felt a chill in my chest. Knowing that this was all because of the skill made it somewhat frightening.
…As long as I’m careful, there won’t be any problems, but why do I feel so anxious? Is it really because of my liver? Did it get that bad overnight? Or is there some other reason—
Clang.
“Did I keep you waiting?”
Yu Myungwoo came out the door.
“No, not really. Let’s go. We’re going to be late.”
Today’s a theory class, so I’ll just listen and go home early to rest.
The rookie hunter theory classroom was smaller than I expected. Unlike the Association’s facilities that could accommodate around a hundred people, there were only five desks here. Well, considering Haeyeon’s strict screening process, having more than five new recruits at once would be surprising. Even now, the only real rookie was Yerim.
‘The chairs are nice.’
They must be expensive.
Once we all took our seats, the instructor for the theory class soon appeared. The person who entered the room was a woman in her early twenties, wearing light sandals and a tropical-style long dress.
She looked ready for a beach vacation rather than teaching a class. Is she really the instructor? Her round glasses and familiar face made me think I’d seen her somewhere before.
“Hello.”
The woman at the podium set down the materials she was carrying and spoke.
“My name is Seok Hayan. I’ll be your theory instructor today.”
Seok Hayan! The name triggered my memory. Dr. White, the authority on dungeon studies.
She originally studied statistics and was researching dungeons and awakened beings in Korea before moving to the U.S., where she played a significant role in uncovering the rules of dungeon creation. She was a young genius.
She looked so much younger than on TV that I didn’t recognize her at first. I remember her being older than me, but with different makeup and clothes, she looks like a total babyface.
What is someone of her caliber doing here? She’s still in Korea at this point, but shouldn’t she be doing something more important than teaching rookie hunters?
“First, I’ll teach you the basic knowledge of dungeons.”
Seok Hayan handed out printouts to each desk. Then she stopped right in front of mine. Through her round glasses, her equally round eyes looked down at me directly.
What’s this about?
“…Do you have something to say?”
“You’re Han Yujin, right?”
She said, as if she’d been waiting to speak to me.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“My uncle—I mean, the Haeyeon HR team leader—has told me a lot about you.”
…HR team leader? Uncle? Now that I think about it, they do have the same last name. But wait, what exactly did she hear about me? Didn’t Seok Gimyeong promise to keep my information as secure as the guild master’s? Did he really spill the beans so quickly, even though nothing’s been verified yet?
That doesn’t seem like him.
“I’m not sure what you heard, but I think the team leader might be overestimating me.”
“You’re being modest. My uncle isn’t the type to overestimate. He’s very meticulous.”
Seok Hayan smiled warmly. That guy is definitely meticulous. But when it comes to me, it really is just an exaggerated misunderstanding.
“I’m not being modest. But could you tell me what exactly he said?”
“He said you’re incredibly knowledgeable about dungeons and awakened beings—so much so that it’s surprising.”
He didn’t mention the part about predicting dungeon types, huh? At least he didn’t completely misjudge me. I regained my composure and smiled.
“That’s a bit too much praise. If you came here just based on his words, I’m afraid I might disappoint you.”
“I’m here at Haeyeon to meet a ‘goblin.’ Of course, I took the teaching job because of you, though.”
“A real goblin, or do you mean a hunter?”
“Yes, a hunter known for their special skills.”
I know all about the Goblin. Or rather, I can’t really say I know them.
True to their moniker, the Goblin wore a traditional mask and dressed like a character from a traditional Korean play. Even five years later, their name, age, and gender were still unknown.
They weren’t even registered with the Association, but they were famous because of their special skills.
Medium-range teleportation and invisibility.
Unlike teleportation, which is blocked by obstacles, the Goblin’s teleportation allows them to go anywhere. Add invisibility to that, and they were truly a mysterious figure, just like a goblin.
‘They were also good at maneuvering through situations.’
Being able to sneak into any place is an extremely threatening ability. If the Goblin wasn’t careful, they could become a target for everyone.
But the Goblin boldly revealed their abilities to the world.
‘My bundle is full of secrets, but as long as I’m safe, they’ll never be revealed.’
They declared this to the world.
Originally, the Goblin was a nearly impossible hunter to catch due to their skills. Now, instead of being attacked, they had to be protected. After all, there isn’t anyone or any group without secrets.
Thanks to this, the Goblin could move freely without belonging to any organization. They rarely participated in dungeon raids and instead acted as a courier, delivering important items or messages.
Because they could uncover any secret, they were, paradoxically, the most trustworthy person to entrust with secrets.
‘And a few years later, it was revealed that they could even create long-range teleportation portals.’
People were joking that the Goblin should be called the Goblin King or a deity instead. Their abilities were so useful that they were flooded with offers, but the Goblin only used their powers for rescue missions.
The Goblin became so famous and respected for saving countless lives during dungeon breaks and various natural disasters.
Their personality was a bit quirky, but they were kind and an incredible person.
“I didn’t know they were at Haeyeon. I’d like to meet them too.”
“You can, as long as you spend some time chatting with me until my appointment.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be teaching, Instructor?”
“You sound just like my professor.”
Seok Hayan rolled her eyes slightly and stepped up to the podium.
Her lecture was excellent. She had a deep understanding of both dungeons and awakened beings, and she explained everything clearly and engagingly. Her use of visual aids was top-notch.
Even though I already knew everything she covered, I found myself drawn in. But there were a few inaccuracies. No matter how hard she studied, she only had three years of data to work with, compared to my eight.
“That concludes the rookie hunter theory class. Thank you, Professor, for tolerating my shortcomings.”
…Why the “Professor” again? I didn’t even set foot in a university.
“Not at all. The lecture was very well done. You’re quite skilled at teaching. It was clear and easy to understand.”
Since she called me “Professor,” I figured I might as well give her some feedback. Seok Hayan rolled her eyes again.
“Thanks, but I saw the times you made that ‘that’s not right’ face. You looked just like my professor. I felt like a student again.”
Did I really?
“The first time was when I was explaining awakening. I said it usually happens when someone feels threatened, and the initial skill acts as a defense mechanism.”
She’s sharp and has a good memory. But then again, she’s a genius.
I gave a sheepish smile.
“It’s not entirely wrong. For the most part, it’s accurate. But I think the initial skill is usually…”
“Usually?”
Seok Hayan’s eyes widened. She looked eager to hear more. Is it okay to spill this? It’s not exactly top-secret information, but…
“It’s usually influenced by talent and environment. There are many initial skills that can’t be used in battle right away.”
“But aren’t most of them related to combat or support?”
“Most, but not all. And it makes sense given the environment during awakening. But if you check, you’ll find that the number of awakened people with non-combat skills has been increasing recently.”
Of course, since a life-threatening situation is the easiest way to awaken, combat skills will still make up the majority. But now that dungeon breaks are almost nonexistent, the rate of awakening in everyday situations has naturally increased.
The Hunter Association recently reported someone with a fishing skill and another with an earthworm summoning skill.
Seok Hayan fell silent for a moment, frowning slightly before nodding.
“Alright, I’ll check it out. And the second time you smirked was…”
“Wait a minute. Are you planning to go through everything?”
“I don’t have the time, but I can make it. You’ve got plenty of time, don’t you?”
“My time isn’t for you to use.”
Seok Hayan gave me a “what now?” kind of look.
“…Is there something you want? Should I offer you research funding?”
“I’d rather just relax.”
“I’ll book you a room at a five-star hotel. A suite with a great view.”
Why is a hotel even being mentioned? My room has a nice view and is comfortable enough.
‘What should I do?’
Getting to know her wouldn’t be a bad idea. She’ll eventually move to the U.S., but… Wait, could I give her a hint to crack the dungeon creation rules in Korea? Hmm… There aren’t enough dungeons.
The number of dungeons is proportional to the population and land area. That’s why Seok Hayan had to go overseas to continue her research on dungeon creation rules. Few countries allowed foreigners to study their dungeons.
The royalties were insane, though. It’s a shame. Is there no way to keep her researching here?
“I do want to meet the Goblin, so I’ll spend some time with you. But I can’t promise to answer everything.”
“Really? Thanks!”
Seok Hayan beamed and even clapped her hands. She’s really that happy?
–TL Notes–
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at patreon.com/MattReading
Join my Discord! https://discord.gg/BWaP3AHHpt