Chapter 2: Sid the Unyielding: Slayer of 100 Goblins

[You have defeated a Lv. 1 Goblin.]

Chomp!

“Kieeek!”

A Goblin collapsed under the sharp tip of my sword.

It had been about ten minutes since I started hunting Goblins.

With this, I had slain twenty Goblins.

They weren’t impressive foes, not like the Goblins I once knew.

“You’re quite familiar with battle. Didn’t even use a Potion. Impressive.”

The Dwarf lifted his helmet and spoke.

He was no amateur either.

Thanks to his defense, we overcame several dangerous moments with ease.

“You’re incredible yourself. Your defense is flawless.”

“Keh heh heh, enough. If 2-star or 3-star say things like that, the 4-star over there will just laugh at us. Embarrassing, really.”

At my words, the Dwarf waved his hands dismissively.

A 4-star, huh.

Just as the Dwarf said, the Priestess looked at me with cold eyes.

Her buffs and healing were welcome, but there was something uncomfortable about her.

“Now that we have some breathing room, let me ask. What are these 2-star and 3-star things? And who were those giants from before?”

“Hm? Ah, there’s this thing called a ‘rank’ in this world. Depending on ability, you’re assigned stars. You have two, I have three, and that lady over there has four. Do you follow?”

“What? That woman outranks you and me?”

“That’s about right. By their standards, anyway.”

The Dwarf answered as if it was no big deal.

He thought for a moment, then lowered his voice.

“I think there’s a misunderstanding… I am Swordmaster Sid. I’ve attained the realm of the sword—a true specialist.”

“Really? I was a king, you know. There isn’t a Dwarf alive who didn’t know Iron King Moradin.”

“You were a king? You?”

“Keh heh heh, don’t be too surprised. You don’t seem like a Swordmaster to me, either. Sometimes you just have to accept things as they are. Everyone here was once someone of renown… and the fall from that is painful.”

The Dwarf replied in a calm voice.

‘Was he just boasting?’

‘A king, he says?’

It was hard to accept.

But just as he said, I probably didn’t look like a Swordmaster either.

‘Hmm.’

As we moved, picturesque hills rolled on ahead.

It was peaceful to the point of boredom, but felt unfamiliar to me.

‘Should I say it felt like a forced peace?’

A strange sense of incongruity lingered over the hills.

“There. More Goblins. Should be easy now, right?”

“Leave them to me.”

At the Dwarf’s words, I charged at the Goblins.

[You have defeated a Lv. 1 Goblin.]

[You have defeated a Lv. 1 Goblin.]

It didn’t take long to dispatch three of them.

“So, you asked about the giants before, right?”

The Dwarf, fixing his shield, asked.

Wiping the blood from my sword, I nodded.

“Yes. They seemed like children. Do you know who they are?”

“Of course. They’re a type of god. Beings we call ‘Players’ who give us trials.”

“Players? Those giants are gods?”

“Right. We can see each other, but can’t really talk. Maybe they misunderstand our words? I just accepted it. It’s better that way. That’s just how this world is.”

The Dwarf shrugged and smiled.

As if resigned.

It was a self-deprecating laugh.

“I see. Those giants are gods… Even so, these battles are easy. At this rate, we’ll win easily.”

I said, glancing at the Dwarf.

The fights were easier than I’d imagined.

If this continued, I’d reach the rewards in no time.

“Heh. Easy, you say?”

But the Priestess who’d been listening snorted.

She glared at me, her face proud.

“What’s so funny? I’ve done well so far. You sure have a lot of complaints.”

“No, not complaints. It’s just funny to hear. I thought the same thing my first time, you know?”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll see.”

“See what?”

“The end of the Prologue is always set up so you lose, no matter what. Players always say it’s a dungeon made to mess with you on purpose. That’s as far as ‘easy’ goes.”

She spoke in a chilly voice.

The Dwarf stroked his beard and nodded.

“Yeah. Soon, the Goblins will swarm in. If you’re lucky enough to have a 5-star hero trio, you might make it, but with our lineup, not a chance. Anyway, dying here isn’t really dying, so don’t worry. You know, right? Death here isn’t the end. No need to be so serious. Relax.”

The Dwarf patted my waist and chuckled.

Finally, I understood what the apprentice had meant.

I don’t want to die.

In the First Strike, you die no matter what.

So that’s what they meant.

“And you, you always get these newbies trying everything they can to survive? Just get used to it. After a few times, you will.”

The Priestess looked at me as she spoke.

“Hngh! This time, I hope it’s quick. If you don’t die in one hit and have to heal, it hurts.”

The Dwarf stretched as he looked out over the hill.

“What the…”

But I couldn’t accept it.

No matter if this was Valhalla, how could they be so numb to it?

I’d spent my days fighting to survive.

To be told to get used to death—I couldn’t understand it.

[A horde of enraged Goblins is approaching! There’s no end in sight!]

Suddenly, strange letters appeared in the air.

Kugugu…

At the same time, the whole hill began to tremble.

“Kieeek!”

“Keeeek!”

Countless Goblins flooded over the hills.

“The tree! Let’s back up to that big tree! If we keep it at our backs, we can hold!”

I shouted, backing up to the tree.

But the Priestess and Dwarf didn’t move.

They just shrugged at me.

“Told you to just get used to it.”

Chomp!

As he spoke, the Dwarf was struck by a Goblin’s sword.

[★★★ Dwarf Shieldbearer has fallen!]

[★★★★ High Priestess of the Silver Flash has fallen!]

The Priestess, dressed in simple robes, fell with barely a struggle.

“Tch!”

[You have defeated a Lv. 1 Goblin.]

“Kiek!”

I swiftly killed one Goblin.

Then I picked up the two fallen shields and staffs,

[You have defeated a Lv. 1 Goblin.]

“Kkuik!”

Dodging a club, I sliced through another Goblin’s neck.

The Priestess and Dwarf offered no resistance, even though they could have.

[You have defeated a Lv. 1 Goblin.]

[You have defeated a Lv. 1 Goblin.]

“Hngh! Huff! Hngh!”

Pressing my back to the tree, I cut down Goblins.

One, two.

It didn’t take long to slay three.

But the tide of Goblins didn’t abate.

Countless scars formed on my arms and chest.

[☆ Healing Potion consumed to restore ★★ Sid the Wandering Swordsman.]

Yet the pain didn’t last long.

Potions hovering in the air restored me in real time.

[★ Goblin Scimitar has reached zero durability!]

Crack!

By the time I’d cut down about twenty, the scimitar snapped.

It made sense that it dulled after so many kills, but to break so easily, like a toy?

“Hngh!”

But I wasn’t one to freeze up.

Wham!!

[You have defeated a Lv. 1 Goblin.]

“Kkuak!”

I smashed a Goblin’s skull with the staff.

I drew the sword at my waist, blocked flying stones from all sides, swung the staff, and took down every foe who came near.

I was so absorbed in fighting, I didn’t even have time to read the messages in the sky.

“Ha ha. I told you, it’s easier to just die.”

“Huk!”

Suddenly, a voice rang out.

The Dwarf, now ghostly blue, stood before me.

He chuckled, stroking his beard.

“See? This is just how it ends. Death isn’t the end in this world. Don’t work so hard. I say this for your own good.”

“Hey, couldn’t you just die and get it over with? What if the Players get annoyed?”

The Priestess, now a ghost, also returned.

Shouting at the nagging ghosts as I swung my sword, I yelled, “I don’t need to hear that from ghosts!”

“Don’t you get it? You’re only holding on because we died instantly. You’re hogging all our Potions. Why aren’t you dying yet? What kind of Swordsman is tougher than a Shieldbearer?”

She grumbled.

Now that I thought of it, the giants had said the same.

As long as you don’t die instantly, you’re healed with Potions.

I must have survived this long thanks to hogging them all.

[You have defeated a Lv. 1 Goblin.]

“Kiek!”

Even so, I couldn’t stop.

Dying in battle was one thing, but giving up was humiliation.

“Six Potions left. You’re finished after six more injuries.”

The Dwarf looked up at the sky and spoke.

Only six Potions left to keep me going.

“Idiot. Doesn’t it hurt? Just stick your head in front of a sword and be done with it. If you die, it’s over. Why not?”

The Priestess asked, bluntly.

Damn, how could they talk about dying so lightly?

Whew, chomp! Slash! Swoosh!

As I kept slashing without rest—

[You have held off 50 Goblins!]

[The Goblins are changing!]

Words floated in the air.

The once-white staff was now caked in grimy blood.

“What’s this? I’ve never seen a message like this before.”

The Dwarf, watching, spoke.

“Just die already, will you? Why are you dragging this out! You’re going to die anyway!”

The Priestess grew more foul-mouthed by the minute.

I wiped the blood off the staff.

“I don’t want to die! I’m not used to it!”

“It’s not like I want to die either! I hate it too!”

“Then why did you?”

“Dammit…! Keep going! Suffer! You stubborn fool!”

The Priestess cursed, pointing at me.

The Dwarf pounded his belly, laughing.

“There are all kinds of heroes! Over your head! A Goblin’s climbing up the tree! Watch out!”

“Thank you!”

[You have defeated a Lv. 1 Goblin.]

“Kiek!”

Thanks to the Dwarf’s warning, I killed the Goblin.

Even as a ghost, he was helpful.

***

[You have held off 70 Goblins!]

[The Goblins realize something is wrong!]

Seventy down.

But the Potions ran dry.

[★★★ Sage’s White Staff has reached zero durability!]

Snap!

The staff I’d been swinging split in two.

I rammed the broken half into a Goblin’s eye.

[You have defeated a Lv. 1 Goblin.]

“Hngh!”

I quickly drew the shortsword at my waist.

I swung the shield, smashing a Goblin’s head,

Crack! Thud!

And drove the shortsword into another’s neck as it staggered.

[You have defeated a Lv. 1 Goblin.]

[You have defeated a Lv. 1 Goblin.]

One after another.

The numbers slowly climbed.

“Ho! You’re like a Berserker! Wild as a beast!”

The Dwarf exclaimed in awe.

“Idiot! Just die! Moron!”

The Priestess was now nothing but a foul-mouthed specter.

[You have defeated a Lv. 1 Goblin.]

‘Huff, huff!’

Still, I didn’t stop.

It was like when the village was attacked.

Back then, I knew nothing of tactics.

I fought simply to survive.

For revenge, I fought with abandon.

Relying on that same feeling, I let my body move as it willed.

[You have held off 90 Goblins!]

[The Goblins begin to feel fear!]

Ninety Goblins down.

“Kieeek!”

“Keeuk! Keeuk!”

The horde of Goblins hesitated.

None wanted to be the first to attack.

“Whew…”

Slash! Slash!

I caught my breath and whittled the broken staff into a spear.

Shaping the staff into a makeshift spear.

Incredible.

“Who would’ve thought there’d be an event like this? Looks like you get a breather after 90 kills.”

“So! Is this fun for you? Spending thirty minutes just on a Prologue?”

The Dwarf and Priestess, now ghosts, spoke.

‘Whew, whew.’

Their voices didn’t matter.

Only the Goblins after my throat mattered.

As another Goblin rushed at me, “Hngh!”

Chomp!

[You have defeated a Lv. 1 Goblin.]

I stabbed the spear down, pinning it to the ground.

My body was at its limit with no Potions left.

“Kkeek… Kkeeek!”

“Kkueek!”

The waiting Goblins lunged at me.

Sensing my limit, they aimed for the end.

One.

Two.

I took them down in order, Slash!

“Keuk!”

But one Goblin’s sword grazed my belly.

My strength left me, and I dropped to my knees.

“Whoops! Almost lost my beard! Looks like it’s over!”

“Die! Just die already! Are you stupid? Why are you hanging on!”

The Dwarf and Priestess shouted.

“Kieeek!”

“Kkeek!”

The Goblins attacked relentlessly.

I couldn’t tell if what was running down my face was blood or sweat.

‘Was this the end?’

Just as I felt the end approaching, Ding, ding, ding, ding!

‘Huh?’

A familiar sound rang in my ears.

The Potions that recharge every thirty minutes.

More Potions had appeared.

“All right! It’s been thirty minutes! You’ve got more Potions!”

“Dammit, just die already!”

The spectator-ghosts shouted.

I ignored them.

[☆ Healing Potion consumed to restore ★★ Sid the Wandering Swordsman.]

[☆ Healing Potion consumed to restore ★★ Sid the Wandering Swordsman.]

Chomp!

[You have defeated a Lv. 1 Goblin.]

“Kiek!”

Rising to my feet, I stabbed with my white spear.

The Goblin fell with the spear through its mouth, Thwack!

“Kkuak!”

I smashed the next one’s head with the shield.

Thud! Thud!

I climbed onto the fallen Goblin and kept bashing its head until it caved in.

[You have defeated a Lv. 1 Goblin.]

“Whew…”

The shield I’d hammered down with so much force came loose from its frame.

But it didn’t break.

[☆ Healing Potion consumed to restore ★★ Sid the Wandering Swordsman.]

My heavy body felt light again.

‘Was it the effect of the Potion?’

These Potions couldn’t even compare to those from my world.

As expected from Valhalla.

“Kieeek…”

“Hiek! Hiek!”

The terrified Goblins retreated.

Chomp!

I wrenched the spear from the Goblin it was stuck in.

I’d sooner die by their hands than give up.

“Come on! I’ll kill you in the order you come!”

“Kieeek!”

Wham!

[You have defeated a Lv. 1 Goblin.]

I killed the bravest Goblin as it charged.

[You have held off 100 Goblins!]

[Achievement: Defeated 100 Goblins in the final battle of the Prologue.]

[★★ Sid the Wandering Swordsman’s Traits have been updated!]

[Trait: Goblin Slayer, Goblin Exterminator]

Messages appeared in the air at the same time.

An achievement?

Trait update?

Before I could even process the oddity, a new sensation filled my body.

The Goblins before me seemed to shrink.

[★★ Sid the Wandering Swordsman: Goblin Exterminator effect!]

[The attack and defense of hostile Goblins decrease by 20%!]

“Oh! An update in your first battle! Looks like you’re well-suited to this place!”

“What the? How is this even fair? What is this?”

Even the Dwarf and Priestess couldn’t hide their amazement.

Clack!

‘Hoo…’

I lifted the loosened shield onto my left arm.

Both my gear and my body were battered, but I no longer felt like I’d lose to the Goblins.

Looking at them, I shouted, “If you won’t come, I’ll go to you! Come at me!”

“Kieeek!”

“Hiek!”

“Hieek!”

With that, all the Goblins fled.

Trampling each other to escape over the hills.

All those Goblins—gone.

[Achievement: Cleared the Prologue battle without dying.]

My victory was certain now.

[★★ Sid the Wandering Swordsman’s Traits have been updated!]

[Trait: Unyielding Swordsman → Unyielding Warrior]

[★★ Sid the Wandering Swordsman’s level has increased!]

[★★ Sid the Wandering Swordsman Lv. 2]

[★★ Sid the Wandering Swordsman Lv. 3]

[★★ Sid the Wandering Swordsman Lv. 4]

[★★ Sid the Wandering Swordsman → Lv. 5]

[★★ Sid the Wandering Swordsman Lv. 6]

[★★ Sid the Wandering Swordsman → Lv. 7]

Even the letters in the sky seemed to celebrate me.