Chapter 4: Starter Pack Heroes

[Please create an account!]

[New users receive 10 Starter Support Packs!]

I stared at the screen for a long time.

User.

That was the word for a giant, right?

Support Pack meant receiving cards.

Alright.

I understood up to this point.

‘Even if I didn’t know anything else, I was sure about these two.’

‘But create an account?’

‘Giving support packs to new users—could that be interpreted as “creating an account grants user privileges”?’

Guess I’ll have to try.

If something goes wrong, I’ll just claim ignorance.

If this really did give out privileges, then it would be the Valkyrie’s fault for not stopping it.

Still, I couldn’t help feeling nervous,

“Um… Valkyrie? Are you there, Valkyrie? I was thinking of heading to the square?”

I called out for the Valkyrie, just in case.

But there was no answer.

Whatever happened from here on out would be due to the Valkyrie’s negligence.

I picked up the ‘Uruk Slayer’ and some items, then turned my focus back to the screen.

[Create]

‘Is this what I’m supposed to press?’

[Please enter your name!]

An empty rectangle appeared.

The language was the same.

I saw the common script of the continent, so I wrote that in.

[Create as SID. Is this correct?]

‘Should I go with “2-star Swordsman” for creation?’

I immediately pressed the confirm icon.

[Confirmed! Welcome to Valhalla!]

[Benefits for new users!]

[10 Normal Cards have been issued.]

Ten cards appeared on the screen.

Whew.

I calmed myself before pressing the cards.

Whatever happened with my actions—

It might annoy the gods, but I didn’t hesitate.

Everything was my choice.

[☆ Healing Potion]

Thud!

The first item was a Potion.

Yeah, it would be a Potion.

Most of the cards were Potions.

I smirked and flipped the next one.

[☆ Healing Potion]

[★★ Necklace of Protection]

“Oh!”

A silver necklace dropped down.

Two stars—so it’s not bad?

If it was the same rank as me, then it was a decent item.

Anyway, a good find.

Boom!

[★★ Goblin Sentry]

At last, an explosive sound rang out.

The sound that only played when a hero descended.

At the side of the stage, a Goblin with a confident look appeared.

“Who called for a Goblin? I swear my loyalty! Loy-al-ty!”

The Goblin saluted with a shout.

He stared off into the distant void.

Normally, there should have been giants there.

Now, he simply gazed into pitch black emptiness.

“Huh?”

The Goblin seemed startled.

He frowned at the void, then turned and spotted me.

“Eek! Go-go-Goblin Slayer! Please spare me! At least my life, please!”

He rolled on the ground, screaming.

‘Goblin Slayer?’

‘Ah, my trait?’

I reached out and tried to calm him.

“Relax. We’re comrades, aren’t we? Didn’t you also come from a card?”

“C-c-comrades?”

“Yeah. We’re supposed to fight together, right?”

“Uh….”

The Goblin smacked his lips for a while.

Then, all of a sudden, he jumped up and grabbed my hand.

“Haha! That’s right! Gosh, I made a mistake again! I look forward to working with you, big bro! We’re comrades, so we won’t kill each other, right? Right, big bro?”

“Of course. Let’s do our best.”

“I’m honored, big bro! Deepest respects! Hehe!”

‘Pfft.’

A smile spread across my face at the Goblin’s friendliness.

Then, curiosity arose.

I showed the screen in front of me to the Goblin.

“By the way, can you see this? This shiny thing here.”

“Huh? What? I don’t see anything?”

“What? You really can’t?”

“Why are you messing with me, big bro! We’re comrades, aren’t we?”

“Nah, just joking. Don’t get scared.”

I waved my hand to soothe him.

So, the Goblin couldn’t see it?

Well, that’s fine.

Leisurely, I flipped the next card.

[★ Heater Shield]

Just what I needed—a shield.

[☆ Healing Potion]

[☆ Healing Potion]

And two more Potions.

Potions……

I wish they’d stop coming out already.

“Um, big bro? I’m curious about something.”

“Yeah? What is it?”

“Where are you? Normally, your face shows up over there somewhere. Why can’t I see you? Where did the user go?”

The Goblin looked around as he asked.

“That’s true? They haven’t been around since I got here.”

I lied without blinking.

When telling these sorts of lies, it was best not to hesitate.

“Hm. Is this what they call playing on a computer? Ah well, I get it! Hehe.”

The Goblin seemed to accept it.

He started counting the items on the floor.

“Let’s see. Four Potions. That’s two each for you and me. One necklace, one shield. That’s eight already, right? This really is a Starter Support Pack, huh!”

“Yeah. Seems like it.”

“Wow. Our user sure has no luck! Eight draws and only two 2-stars! Ah, not that I mean you and I are useless! But hey, isn’t there still a chance for a 4-star hero from the last two? If we get a 4-star hero, we’re set! Or more! Hehe!”

***

The chatty Goblin rambled on.

Now that I thought about it, wasn’t a 4-star guaranteed from the Starter Support Pack?

The cards I’d actually drawn were “all but one”—that was seven, not counting myself, but I had no idea what kind of character might show up.

Maybe a friendly Dwarf.

Or a surly Priest.

I took a breath and flipped a card.

Boom!

[★★★★ Scroll: Haste]

An explosive sound I’d been waiting for.

A 4-star?

A white scroll dropped to the floor.

“Wow! A scroll! Wow! Haste!”

“A scroll? What’s that?”

“Oh, first time seeing it, big bro? This can teach anyone a skill! Well—not just anyone, you have to have the right class. Still, it’s a rare item! Yep!”

The Goblin held the scroll with delight.

I was hoping for another comrade, but oh well.

Let’s open the last card.

“That’s nine now! A 4-star hero is guaranteed! Who’ll it be? Paladin? Berserker? Or Mage? Mage would be nice!”

But the Goblin’s story sounded odd.

I tilted my head and asked again.

“What do you mean? Didn’t we just get a 4-star?”

“Huh? Ah, big bro! There’s a lot you don’t know! The 4-star guarantee is hero-only, you see. Even if you get a 4-star scroll, a 4-star hero is guaranteed too! Yep, that’s it.”

The Goblin grinned.

‘So the 4-star guarantee was hero-only?’

Then there was still a chance.

I flipped another card.

Boom!

[★★★★ Rose Fairy]

A 4-star hero appeared.

When I was treated as 2-star, it was unpleasant.

But now that a high-rank appeared, it felt pretty good.

“Hah! Who called me? The cute, tiny me!”

On stage, a palm-sized fairy appeared.

She flapped her two pairs of wings, circling the Goblin and me.

If I remembered the Dwarf, I thought she might be quiet—

“Ugh! What’s this! You two came out of the Support Pack with me? Dammit!”

She spat curses right away.

Despite her looks, the fairy was fierce.

“Gah! A fairy from the 4-star? We’re doomed!”

The Goblin grabbed his ears, horrified.

That seemed to set off the fairy.

“Hey! Watch your mouth. Acting cocky for a 2-star? Out of all of us, you’re the lamest, you dumb Goblin!”

The angry fairy pointed at him.

“Look, big bro. I think we’re finished. That fairy, she can’t do anything except support. We’re going to be the ones suffering, for real.”

The Goblin shrugged as he spoke.

“Let’s work together. Nice to meet you all.”

I nodded my head in greeting.

The fairy puffed up her cheeks in a huff.

“What? Is this your first game? Say hi at the first meeting and you’ll get looked down on!”

“It’s not my first time. Just… let’s call it a fresh start.”

I smirked and flipped the final card.

[★★ Stuh Helm]

Just a basic helmet.

That was the last of the cards.

“Huh? Eleven? Did eleven items drop just now?”

The Goblin, counting the cards, looked confused.

The fairy snorted in laughter.

“You must’ve miscounted. Goblins are dumb anyway.”

“Hey, you stupid bug. Why are you talking down to me? You keep calling that guy ‘big bro’ but treat me like trash? Are you dumb? Don’t you know who’s above and below?”

“Because that big bro is a Goblin Sla—ah, anyway, he’s super awesome!”

“I’m super awesome too! Call me Miss Fairy!”

“No way, you dumb bug!”

“Eek! You little greeny!”

“Ahh! My ears! Come here, you!”

The furious Goblin chased after the fairy.

While the two of them bickered, I checked the remaining functions.

[Check your Traits!]

[Heroes have something called Traits!]

Several icons appeared on the screen.

Sortie, Expedition, Training, Shop, Storage, Events.

The gold icon at the far right—was that Gold Coins?

And the blue one next to it—Jewels?

There was so much stuff.

The only things clearly illuminated on the stage were the three figures.

The images of a dwarf-like me, a Goblin, and a fairy.

I was supposed to press on one of them, it seemed…

I pressed on the dwarf who resembled me.

[★★ Wandering Swordsman] Lv. 7

[Goblin Slayer]

[Stray Dog Hunter]

[Unyielding Warrior]

[Equipped Gear]

[★★★★ Uruk Slayer]

[★ Ragana Tomahawk]

[☆ Broken Paulownia Shield]

A lot of info appeared.

Sure enough, this dwarf’s true identity was “me.”

But…

‘What were these Traits?’

‘Why did I have these?’

‘Ah.’

Suddenly, it clicked.

Emperor Slayer.

Demon Hunter.

Swordmaster.

The Valkyrie definitely called me those things.

It looked like those names had been toned down a notch.

Haa…….

My head hurt.

There was just too much to understand.

I’d have to save figuring it all out for later.

‘Hmm?’

When I scrolled down, I saw the Goblin and Fairy still fighting.

“Dumb greeny!”

“Stupid bug!”

The two were still at it on stage.

Apparently, what happened on stage was displayed on the screen.

[Obtained Rewards]

[☆ Healing Potion]

[☆ Healing Potion]

[★★ Necklace of Protection]

[★★ Goblin Sentry]

[★ Heater Shield]

[☆ Healing Potion]

[☆ Healing Potion]

[★★★★ Scroll: Haste]

[★★★★ Rose Fairy]

[★★ Stuh Helm]

The rewards I’d gained were neatly listed at the corner of the screen.

‘Let’s see.’

I tried moving the scroll over to myself.

Just like the giant handed the shield to the dwarf, maybe this would work.

[★★★★ Scroll: Haste]

[[★★ Wandering Swordsman]—Use?]

Oh.

Of course.

No reason to hesitate.

[[★★ Wandering Swordsman] learned [★★★★ Haste].]

Thwoom!

A pure white wind swirled around me.

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

The fairy and Goblin both jerked in surprise.

The fairy pointed at the air and shouted.

Are you stupid? Why would you use it on that dumb swordsman! You should’ve used it on me! Why waste such an expensive scroll on him!

She seemed to be complaining to the giant.

Even though there was no one there.

“Goblin. What are you good at?”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yeah. Like your class or specialty. Can you tell me?”

I looked at the Goblin.

He scratched his head and smiled.

“I’m pretty handy with a slingshot. But since I didn’t pull one… I’ll have to make do with my default equipment.”

He pulled out a slingshot.

Ah.

Just like I could use my personal gear, other heroes must have theirs.

Reasonable enough.

[★★ Necklace of Protection]

+10% Defense.

I checked the necklace’s info.

This would be…

Best for the fairy.

I dragged the necklace onto the fairy’s icon.

“Huh?”

A real necklace appeared around her neck.

The normal-sized necklace had shrunk to fit her.

Are you finally serving me now? You better treat me right! I’m the most valuable one here! But whatever, thanks for the neck… lace! I’ll accept it! Not that I’m grateful or anything! Hmph!

The fairy shouted at the empty air.

“That’s all an act. It’s the tsundere act. Nerds love it, I tell you.”

The Goblin whispered beside me.

What’s an “act” or a “tsundere,” I had no idea.

“You should take the shield. Can you at least protect yourself?”

I handed the Heater Shield to the Goblin.

He tilted his head, shield in hand.

“Huh? Even if you give it to me, will the user be okay with that…? Wouldn’t it be better if you used it? Your shield looks all tattered.”

He looked at my shield.

“Nah. Our user will want you to have it.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Just a hunch.”

I smiled and tightened the shield strap.

No need to hoard the gear for myself.

What mattered was my comrades.

And cooperation.

Greedily taking everything and losing comrades—that was the shortest route to ruin.

Clunk!

I put the helmet on.

‘Whew.’

Finally, everything was ready.

If I press “Sortie,” I’ll probably move on to the Prologue.

I pressed Sortie and focused on the screen.

[Regions available for sortie]

[Lv. 0: Prologue]

When I selected “Prologue,” the stage appeared.

[Select heroes for sortie!]

[Party size: 0/3]

The choice was simple.

Me, the Goblin, and the Fairy.

I added all three.

“Whoa! The Prologue. Let’s be on our toes!”

The Goblin mumbled.

“Hmph! What’s so hard about this.”

The fairy pouted.

Ding ding ding!

The Potions on the floor flew up.

They floated in the air.

Ding ding ding ding!

Even ten more Potions joined them.

Just like when it first began.

Bang!

A flash of light fell upon the three chosen.

“Goblin Sentry reporting! Ready for action!”

The Goblin shouted with a salute.

“Haa, is there no honeybee just for me?”

The fairy fluttered around with a cutesy act.

‘Whew.’

My heart pounded.

Bad stats, they said.

A hopeless situation, they said.

But I would carve out my own fate.

“Let’s go.”