Chapter 23: The Shaman’s Fall

“Ke-ek! Human! What on earth is that ominous mana!”

The goblin shaman’s expression changed.

From a condescending look to a face that seemed to have seen something it shouldn't have.

“What do you think? It’s the mana you’ll love to death.”

What Kim Hyun-jun could tell from its expression was that either way, that guy’s face was truly ugly.

Swaek!

As sticky black mana enveloped the spear, Kim Hyun-jun launched the first attack.

A thrust extending in a straight line.

Teok!

An attack so clean and fast it couldn’t be compared to an ordinary spearman’s.

However, the goblin shaman, fitting for a boss monster, raised its staff and parried the attack.

For a shaman, he sure is strong.

“Keke! Do you think you can kill me with an attack like that!”

The goblin shaman smirked at the attack meant only to test the waters.

The look of disdain had returned to its face.

It made sense.

Since it really wasn't much of an attack when parried.

But, for the following thrust, the creature allowed the attack to land almost futilely.

‘Vital Point Thrust.’

There was no way to avoid it.

Although the mana consumption is high, the accuracy and power are definitely guaranteed for this skill.

Since the creature was being careless in the meantime, it was natural that it wouldn't miss.

Pu-hwak!

“Kie-e-ek! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you, human!”

Green blood gushed out as if its abdomen had been deeply pierced.

The attack landed properly, but as expected, a boss monster is still a boss monster.

It showed no intention of falling.

Instead, as if its anger had been stoked, it swung its staff around and cast a spell.

‘I didn't think I could end it in one blow either.’

The goblin shaman uses two types of debuffs.

The Curse of Weakness, which drains stamina and strength, and the Curse of Exhaustion.

The lower the level and the lower the hunter’s grade, the greater the effect tends to be.

[Curse of Weakness is applied. Stamina decreases.]
[Curse of Exhaustion is applied. Strength decreases.]

Kim Hyun-jun felt his strength fading, but he didn’t stop.

Because he also had something to rely on.

“Kie-e-ek!”

The goblin shaman swung its staff here and there, but it wasn't difficult to parry.

Compared to the officer's sword he had parried before, it was child's play.

After deflecting the heavy staff, he continued his counterattack.

Thrusting, slashing, and kicking the creature's wound.

How much time had passed?

The goblin shaman was panting heavily.

“Ke-ek….”

Eventually, it even dropped the staff it was holding in its hand.

Seeing the creature’s hands trembling, Kim Hyun-jun smirked.

“Did you think you were the only one who had something like that?”

The Magic Spearman's mana, which weakens monsters, had worked properly.

Currently, Kim Hyun-jun's mana was clinging to the creature's body.

It started as a lump of mana no bigger than an acorn at best.

Because it was so small, the goblin shaman didn't pay any attention to it either.

Since the effect of weakening the monster was also weak.

However, as time passed, the mana clinging to its body began to spread gradually.

The black, sticky mana was like a living tick, showing no sign of falling off the creature's body.

“Ke-e-ek!”

The goblin shaman shook its body here and there to shake off Kim Hyun-jun's mana, but it had no effect.

[The monster has been weakened.]
[All stats of the monster decrease.]
[The monster's defense decreases.]

“This is just the beginning. Stay right there.”

Since even the system messages had given confirmation, there was no need to hesitate any longer.

Kim Hyun-jun squeezed out his remaining mana and spun his body around once.

A Spiral Slash rushing toward the boss monster's neck with his full weight behind it.

The black mana grew even darker.

Was it because of the changed mana?

He could feel that the skill's power had increased even further.

“Hmm?”

Degurureu.

The severed head of the goblin shaman rolled on the ground.

The boss monster, which he thought would take at least three or four more skills to die, had died in a single skill.

The expression of the creature, which died with its eyes wide open, looked quite resentful.

It was understandable, as it had died without even being able to use its strength against a single human it had looked down upon.

“It's already over?”

Kim Hyun-jun was slightly taken aback.

Because he didn't expect it to end this quickly.

“No matter how much of an experience point lump he is, he should have been tough.”

He had just thought of it as easy because it was weak in direct combat, but the goblin shaman was ultimately a boss monster.

That means its health pool is much larger compared to normal monsters.

But since he dealt with it more easily than expected, he couldn't help but feel dazed.

“Is the changed nature of the mana that threatening to monsters?”

It was the first time Kim Hyun-jun had seen mana stick as tenaciously as a tick.

He had no idea the Magic Spearman's mana had such an effect.

It was also his first time using it in actual combat.

[You have defeated the boss monster.]
[You have obtained a large amount of experience points.]
[You have obtained 100 gold for defeating the boss monster.]

[Strength stat has increased by 1!]
[Stamina stat has increased by 1!]
[Agility stat has increased by 1!]
[Spearmanship stat has increased by 1!]

[The spell applied to the goblins inside the dungeon is dispelled.]

Seeing the mess
age pop up, it was definitely over.

Rewards incomparable to when catching normal monsters.

First of all, the amount of experience points he could obtain was different.

Although his level didn't go up, he could feel that he had almost reached level 4.

‘I just became a Private First Class, and I’m already close to level 4? That’s incredibly fast.’

It's a level that's difficult to achieve even after serving nearly a year in the Hunter Army.

The gold obtainable through the hidden trait was also several times more than that from normal monsters.

“It’s no wonder it doesn’t feel like much when several people share this guy.”

As expected, monopolizing the boss monster, even if it meant overdoing it, was the right choice.

Looking at it this way, it might seem unfair that only the Hunter Army shares experience points, but in fact, private guilds use the same strategy.

Unless someone is exceptionally skilled, it is normal to form a raid team to clear a dungeon.

“The Hunter Army gives even low-ranking soldiers a chance to catch them, but private guilds are ruthless.”

In severe cases, they say you have to clean up after guild members for over three months before they let you catch a monster, so that says it all.

“By the way. I won't be under any strange suspicion, will I?”

Looking at the boss monster's corpse, Kim Hyun-jun scratched his cheek.

What the platoon leader allowed was strictly the neutralization of the boss monster.

However, beyond neutralization, a mere Private First Class had decapitated the boss monster alone.

“I'll just make something up.”

Kim Hyun-jun wondered for a moment if he should take the head rolling on the floor to the platoon leader.

***

Meanwhile.

The 2nd Platoon raid teams, who were struggling with the frenzied goblins, finally caught their breath.

“Their eyes have returned to normal!”

The goblins' eyes, which had turned red, returned to normal.

As the boss monster, the goblin shaman, was killed, the spell was lifted.

“Push them back!”

“Die, you bastards!”

“Hey! These guys have lost their strength!”

Perhaps due to the backlash of the dispelled spell, the goblins couldn't exert much strength.

“Ke-ek!”

“Kie-e-ek!”

The tide of battle was reversed in an instant.

The soldiers, despite being exhausted, somehow drew out their strength to strike down the goblins.

The number of goblins killed that way was about 20.

It was a similar number to when clearing a C-grade dungeon, but the soldiers were panting as if they were about to collapse.

It was understandable.

Because the goblins had become so strong due to the unexpected appearance of the boss monster.

“Everyone, don't let your guard down and take a rest.”

“Yes, sir!”

At the platoon leader's command, the soldiers finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But the platoon leader's mind was not at ease.

Because although the goblins were dealt with, the boss monster remained.

‘Seeing that the goblins' eyes returned to normal, Hyun-jun must have done well.’

Kim Hyun-jun had succeeded in neutralizing the boss monster by himself.

There was a reason he was so confident.

‘What on earth is the ability of his mana.’

Questions about that can wait.

First, confirm that Kim Hyun-jun has returned safely, then reorganize the soldiers and deal with the boss monster.

That was Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo's plan.

Tiring.

That was the plan, but… at some point, a message appeared before the soldiers' eyes.

[Dungeon cleared.]

The same message appeared to Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo as well.

“Huh?”

He couldn't help but be flustered.

Because that message was equivalent to saying that Kim Hyun-jun had killed the boss monster.

“Platoon leader! Hyun-jun is coming over there!”

“Hey. That thing in his hand. Isn't that a monster's head?”

“That's not just a regular goblin, is it?”

And a moment later.

Turning his head, he saw Kim Hyun-jun walking from afar.

In Kim Hyun-jun's hand, the severed head of the boss monster was held.

“Salute! I have defeated the boss monster, the goblin shaman!”

“Uh, yeah. Salute.”

Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo, who received the salute in a daze, asked Kim Hyun-jun what on earth had happened.

Naturally, he had clearly allowed independent action on the condition of neutralizing the boss monster.

He naturally thought he would retreat, but to think he would defeat the boss monster alone.

It was natural to be surprised.

“I think the creature was very careless because I looked weak.”

It was an answer that didn't make any sense.

“No. No matter how weak it is, it's a boss monster, isn't it? How can you catch that alone.”

“That's what I'm saying. If you say a Private First Class caught a boss monster, no one will believe it.”

“I thought he was a crazy guy because he went inside alone in the middle of all the chaos, but he really was a crazy guy.”

“Whoa. I couldn't do it even if they sent me to catch it alone.”

It seemed the other soldiers had the same thoughts.

It made sense.

If he had taken a long time and caught it slowly, it would be one thing, but it didn't even take 30 minutes for Kim Hyun-jun to go inside alone and return.

“Alright. As long as you're not hurt, it's fine. Well done.”

Still, he didn't intend to question it further.

Instead of praising a soldier who jumped into a dangerous place and produced excellent results, to question him.

It was something he shouldn't do as a platoon leader.

***

The 2nd Platoon dungeon raid team was only able to feel relieved after coming outside.

Although they suffered because of an unexpected situation, fortunately, no soldiers were seriously injured.

Since cases where a different boss monster than the one in the preliminary investigation appears were quite common.

It meant the soldiers' response wasn't bad either.

“Private First Class Han Deok-su, don't blame yourself too much.”

Second Lieutenant Kim Dong-woo comforted the shieldbearer, who was hanging his head.

Private First Class Han Deok-su said he picked up the crystal ball without realizing it, and upon investigation, that was correct.

Because the red crystal ball had a spell that lured and charmed enemies.

“Private First Class Han Deok-su. Yes….”

Perhaps because the other soldiers knew that, they didn't blame the shieldbearer any further.

“Good work, everyone. You can rest comfortably for 30 minutes.”

“Yes, sir!”

As soon as the platoon leader's permission was given, the soldiers lay spread out.

Some soldiers were already snoring and sleeping, showing how tired they were.

“Is it true we cleared a C-grade dungeon today? Not a B-grade?”

“If it were B-grade, we’d all be dead, you punk. Still, it was tough for a C-grade.”

They suffered more due to the unexpected appearance of the boss monster, but once they cleared it, everyone seemed proud.

“Hey. The reason we can lie here and talk like this is also thanks to Hyun-jun.”

Meanwhile, Corporal Han Ji-han mentioned Kim Hyun-jun.

At his words, the other soldiers turned their eyes to look at Kim Hyun-jun.

“Right. We had caught all the goblins and our stamina was almost gone. I was wondering how we were going to catch the remaining boss monster.”

“I'm not joking, I couldn't even put strength into the hand holding the sword hilt.”

“If Hyun-jun hadn't caught the boss monster… whoa. I think one of us would have been seriously injured.”

The seniors expressed their gratitude to Kim Hyun-jun, saying they survived thanks to him.

‘What. Is it that much?’

Kim Hyun-jun was slightly embarrassed.

Because he had only moved with his own interests in mind, yet everyone had thankful expressions.

Meanwhile, Corporal Kang Cheol-su had a sour face, but he didn't pick a fight or anything.

Seeing that he knew how to read the room at least a little bit, he was indeed a corporal.

“Private First Class Kim Hyun-jun. No, sir. It was easy for me to move because everyone blocked the goblins well.”

While he was trying to rest after giving a moderate answer,

Tiring. Tiring.

Notification sounds rang in Kim Hyun-jun's ears.

They were notifications sent by his hidden trait.

‘Ah. I want to go back quickly.’

From then on, the 30-minute rest period began to feel long.