Chapter 36: Gobori the Explosomaniac

Kugugu…!

With a fierce flash of light, the stage trembled.

[★★ Goblin Sentry] Lv. 40

[Can be amplified as follows!]

[1] [★★★ Goblin Sharpshooter]

[Skill Enhancement: Rapid Fire usage increased by 2. Attack speed increases by 50% after using Rapid Fire.]

[2] [★★★ Goblin Shooting Squad Leader]

[Ability Enhancement: Attack power +40%. Defense +20%.]

[3] [★★★ Sneaky Goblin]

[Trait Enhancement: Collector’s Cunning → Looting Collector. High chance to steal items from defeated enemies.]

[4] [★★★ Sane Explosomaniac]

[Trait Enhancement: Normal attack power +50%.]

[New Trait: Bomb Pouch That Leaks]

[Upon death, scatters bombs that deal critical damage to nearby characters.]

And four names appeared in the air.

Four similar ones like me?

I stroked my chin and watched quietly.

Since Gobori was the one being amplified this time, I decided to wait until he made his own choice.

“Hey. How about Sneaky Goblin? Your strength is stealing things! If you bring items back every expedition, that’d be amazing, right?”

Rose was the first to speak.

The class Rose recommended was Sneaky Goblin.

It was a trait where you brought back items from defeated opponents, and I thought it suited me well, too.

“Hoho. Gobori’s opinion is what matters most. The user was just listening to our conversation. You’re probably still listening now. Why don’t you say something?”

Then Dulv added his voice.

He’s the oldest in our party, huh?

That was a considerate, seasoned gesture.

I smiled and nodded.

“Yeah. If it’s your choice, the user will listen. You’re their favorite character, after all.”

“What are you saying? If you say that, what does that make me? Am I the only one clueless here?”

“Pft. You know it was just a joke.”

“It wasn’t a joke! Hmph!”

Rose flapped her wings in irritation.

“Uh……”

Gobori stared blankly into the air for a long while.

The thrill of becoming a 3-star.

I could understand that feeling all too well.

“Explosion……”

“Explosion?”

“You mean using explosions?”

“Sane Explosomaniac?”

At Gobori’s words, Dulv, Rose, and I all reacted.

Sane Explosomaniac?

I expected him to pick Shooting Squad Leader or Sharpshooter, so the name caught me off guard.

“Yes. To be honest, my shooting skills aren’t great. I can’t hit anything unless it’s very close, and I’m always the first to die once combat starts. If I’m to be useful, then being an explosomaniac is perfect. Mid-range suppression requires powerful crowd control.”

Gobori spoke with a bright expression.

He seemed to have already made his decision; his face was serious.

“Wow. That’s some deep self-reflection. So you know you’re the first to die, huh?”

“Hmm. This amplification is for the good of the entire party rather than personal growth. That’s very much like Gobori.”

Rose and Dulv chimed in with their approval.

Mid-range support, huh?

That means he wants to help me.

I had nothing to add.

Since Gobori knew and studied the most among us, I decided to respect his choice.

“Are you sure about that? Sane Explosomaniac?”

I asked Gobori again.

“Pft. Of course. Leave your back to me, bro!”

Gobori answered with a thumbs-up.

Quite a spirited reply.

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac]
[Amplification costs 1,000 Gold.]
[Gold Owned: 3,410/1,000]

I pressed confirm and amplified Gobori.

I had just spent a lot on repairs, but I could easily earn this much gold again.

Kwahng!

“What! They really understand us! What kind of user is this!”

“Hoho! It’s time to get used to it!”

Rose and Dulv said.

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac has learned a new trait!]

[Trait: Bomb Pouch That Leaks]

Kugugu…….

With a faint aftershock, Gobori landed.

He looked his body over, puzzled.

He seemed amazed to be 3-star.

“What, are you crying?”

“Hm? Haha! It’s just that good!”

But Rose and Dulv raised their voices.

Crying?

He was crying.

His eyes were red, wiping away tears.

“It’s been four years…….”

“Hm?”

“I dropped into Valhalla and couldn’t join a party for so long……. Then the user chose me. Thanks to such a good user, what a luxury this is……. Thank you, User! I will serve loyally for life! Loyal!”

Gobori saluted into the air.

“And bro! Rose! Dulv bro! Thank you all. Why are you so kind to me! Please take care of me from now on! Thank you!”

Then he bowed to everyone.

Rose and Dulv couldn’t speak up immediately.

“What is this nonsense? It’s just 3-star! Anyone would think you got 5-star!”

“But… but… wahhh!”

“Stop crying, dummy! Cut it out!”

Rose shouted in a panic.

I felt a bittersweet ache in my chest.

2-star.

And Valhalla.

What if I hadn’t gotten this ‘screen’?

If I couldn’t train myself and had to wait around vaguely?

Would I have been any different from the subordinates who just drank in the channel?

I felt a deep sadness thinking about how those subordinates must have felt in a Valhalla where they couldn’t even get drunk.

“Hoho. It may seem small to others, but to Gobori, it’s a precious step. Think about how many heroes get frustrated not even taking that one step forward. It’s a tear-worthy achievement.”

Dulv nodded as he said this.

I gave a small laugh as I looked at Dulv.

“Like when you joined the forge?”

“Hm? Haha! It’s the same thing! That’s right!”

Dulv laughed heartily.

Indeed.

You shouldn’t belittle small dreams.

Everyone’s dreams have value just as they are.

[Lv. 41: Raging Spirit Maw]

Shall we head back into the dungeon?

I manipulated the screen and headed for the dungeon.

The afterglow of amplification was enjoyed enough.

Thump!

The cool air shifted into hot, dry air.

I gripped my sword and stared ahead.

It was a desert with endless rolling hills.

“Hoho! Let’s go! 3-star Gobori will lead! Lululala!”

3-star Gobori took the lead.

That guy.

Is it really that exciting?

I smiled and followed him.

“Ultimate! Gobori Bomb Rapid Fire!”

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac: Rapid Fire Skill!]

Kwak kwak kwang!

[Lv. 40 Lizardman Assassin defeated.]

[Lv. 40 Lizardman Assassin defeated.]

“Screak!”

“Shk!”

Three bombs exploded.

The Lizardmen had no chance to flee in the dense barrage.

“Kuu. Can you feel the power difference? This is 3-star! Haha!”

Gobori puffed out his chest with a grin.

“Hmph. You got stronger. I have nothing to do now.”

“Hoho. Let’s keep pushing to 4-star! Fighting!”

Gobori laughed heartily and charged ahead.

“Bro! Over there! Over there!”

Soon, a statue appeared below a hill.

It was a large broken statue scattered around the terrain, with a few Lizardmen grilling something.

“This is a cutscene! Just watch it!”

“Kuuh. The desert’s first boss fight! This dungeon’s actually pretty fun to clear!”

Rose and Gobori said.

So this was the boss fight?

No need to worry much.

I hid behind the statue and slowly approached the Lizardmen.

“Screak! Shk shk shk!”

“Shahakak!”

The Lizardmen were talking somehow.

“Screak?”

“Ʌ?”

But the surrounding sand trembled and sank.

The startled Lizardmen fled under the sand, but—

Kugugu… Kwang!

With a massive roar, the sand burst upward.

A monster over 5 meters long emerged from under the sand.

A ferocious, toothed worm swallowed the fleeing Lizardmen whole.

Quite an impressive spectacle.

Dun dun! Dun doo dun! Dun dun dun dun dun!

A different soundtrack played compared to the orc fight.

[Boss: Raging Spirit Maw] Lv. 41
[Boss monster has appeared!]

Raging Spirit Maw.

A giant antlion, maybe?

I drew my sword and climbed onto the statue.

I vaguely remembered the strategy from the guide.

“If you get on the statue, it won’t attack. Stepping on the sand draws aggro.”

“Exactly! Can’t believe it’s only your second day in Valhalla!”

Gobori snapped his fingers as he replied.

This boss detects vibrations to find prey, and climbing the scattered statues avoids its attacks.

It seemed like a deliberately prepared trap, similar to the Overlord’s falling rocks pattern.

“All right! Let’s begin! Get ready!”

Gobori picked up a rock.

This was the dungeon’s strategy.

Throwing a rock on the ground tricks the boss into thinking it’s prey, causing it to erupt upward. You attack during that opening, then retreat—a simple pattern.

“Wait. Don’t throw it.”

“Huh? Why?”

But I had another idea.

I smiled and pointed at Gobori.

“Your bombs. What if you throw bombs? Throwing bombs or stones will draw the same aggro.”

“T-That strategy…!”

“Whoa. If the boss swallows the bombs, won’t it explode inside? That’d be amazing!”

Gobori and Rose admired my suggestion.

No need to wait; we started the strategy immediately.

“Let’s begin.”

“Got it! Gobori! Delayed Bomb!”

Thunk!

Gobori threw a bomb.

The sand sank where it landed, and—

Kugugu… Kwang!

The giant worm burst out of the sand.

We waited for the explosion.

Kwahng!

With a heavy impact, the worm toppled.

Since the bomb exploded inside its mouth, the damage was multiplied.

“Attack!”

“Damage time!”

“Let’s go!”

Rose, Gobori, and I attacked the worm.

“…! ……!!!”

After a long attack, the worm writhed.

“Retreat!”

“Bro’s retreating!”

“Ugh! Why is this so fun!”

Gobori and Rose retreated with me.

The strategy we had imagined fit perfectly.

Thunk! Thump! Kwak kwak kwak…

The boss vanished under the sand again.

We dropped another of Gobori’s bombs.

…Kwang! Kwak kwak!

Kukuku…

With a massive explosion, the worm rolled over.

This boss seemed to have no learning ability.

“Attack!”

“Let’s go!”

“Muya-ho!”

We mercilessly attacked the worm exposed above the sand.

“…! ……!!!”

The worm emerged again, writhing.

[Raging Spirit Maw is in pain!]
[Deliver the finishing blow!]

It was time for the finishing strike.

I tapped the screen to use the finishing move.

“Wh-what? Why! Hyaaak!”

But Gobori grabbed a bunch of bombs and charged.

Ah, Gobori did the most damage, so it was his finishing move?

Rose and I quietly watched.

“What’s wrong? Why are you doing this? Are you crazy? Ack!”

Gobori, clutching a pile of bombs, ran at the worm.

Kwak kwak kwang!

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac: Artistic Trait: Explosion!]

“Oh!”

“ot.”

Gobori collided with the worm and perished.

A pillar of crimson flames rose as a fierce storm raged.

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac has fallen!]

[Raging Spirit Maw defeated!]

[Achievement: Defeated Raging Spirit Maw without taking a single hit.]

[Speed Run: Raging Spirit Maw] [8 minutes 21 seconds]

[Server First Achievement unlocked!]

[★★★ Indomitable Sword Stalker’s…]

[★★★ Indomitable Sword Stalker → Lv. 34]

[★★★ Indomitable Sword Stalker → Lv. 35]

[★★★ Indomitable Sword Stalker → Lv. 36]

[★★★ Indomitable Sword Stalker → Lv. 37]

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac’s…]

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac Lv. 2]

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac Lv. 3]

[★★★ Sane Explosomaniac Lv. 26]

[★★★★ Rose Fairy’s…]

[★★★★ Rose Fairy Lv. 41]

[★★★★ Rose Fairy Lv. 42]

[Mission Clear!]

[+1,000 Gold]

[Pet Bonus!] [+290 Gold]

[Pet Bonus!] [+130 Steel Shards]

[+200 Diamonds]

[+15 Common Cards]

The dungeon cleared with a satisfying notification.

Two achievements were earned.

“Hey, look over there. That explosion was incredible.”

Rose, watching the flames, said.

“What a spectacular color.”

“Ah, really. It’s like……”

Rose and I watched the flames together.

Gobori, transformed into a blue ghost, walked out from within the fire.

“Aah! What is this! A self-destruct finishing move! Ugh!”

It was a finishing move that made me laugh quite a bit.

‘Hm?’

But as the flames died down, something was visible on the corpse.

Something shimmering gold……

A key?

No, it was a large golden longsword.

A sword shaped like a key popped out from the worm’s belly.

[Twilight Guide discovered!]