Chapter 9: The Goblin Test

A short while later, Kang Juho arrived at the southern gate.

“Wow, and it’s not even the weekend…”

Even though it was late at night, a surprising number of users were out hunting rabbits. It was odd, considering tomorrow was a weekday.

“Why are you stealing my kills when there’s plenty of rabbits!?”

“Sorry! I didn’t see you—really sorry!”

Of course, the competition was nowhere near as intense as it was during the day.

At this hour, there were plenty of rabbits to hunt without needing to fight for them.

‘Might as well hunt some.’

Instead of standing around, Juho decided to go for some rabbits—at least he could collect materials.

Whack! Bonk! Thud!

With a single hammer blow, the rabbit collapsed.

Given that even stone foxes took only two hits when buffed, it was no surprise a rabbit died in one.

After collecting the rabbit hide, Juho started walking and continued hunting.

‘Let’s try the shield this time.’

Curious, he eyed the shield slung across his back.

A shield wasn’t just for defense—it could be used to attack as well.

In fact, it had 60 physical attack power, even more than his hammer.

Spotting a freshly respawned rabbit, Juho swung his shield.

Whack! Bonk! Thud!

One strike, and the rabbit dropped. As expected.

‘Small ones are easier with the hammer, though.’

While the shield was strong, it was awkward to use against small monsters like rabbits.

The hammer was more practical for quick kills.

Just then—

“Hey, bro!”

A familiar voice rang out. Juho finished off another rabbit and looked up. Kim Seokju came running toward him.

“Whoa!”

Juho let out a brief exclamation of surprise.

Seokju’s gear had changed drastically:

A metal staff replaced his wooden one, and he now wore a red-feathered hat, bright yellow shoes, and a deep purple cape.

“You bought four new items?”

“Yeah! I’m broke now,” Seokju replied with a sheepish grin.

“You only got the shield?”

“Yep. Spent every last gold I had.”

“No way, that thing cost 350 gold? What are its stats?”

Juho shared the item info.

“Wow, that’s really nice.”

“Right? I knew it wasn’t just ‘Common’ quality when I saw it.”

Although it was technically listed as ‘Common,’ the Toben’s Iron Shield had great attributes.

“I can’t even imagine what ‘Rare’ or ‘Heroic’ shields must be like.”

Excited, they started walking toward the Forest of Stone Goblins.

“When are you leaving Villeme?”

“Hmm…”

Villeme, the starting city, had monsters ranging from level 1 to 70.

Past a certain level, moving to another region was more efficient—but doing so too early, just to avoid competition, was dangerous.

Outside of Villeme, the monsters got much stronger.

“At least level 50.”

The weakest monsters in the next area were around level 70, so it would take level 50 just to survive.

“What about uncharted zones?”

“Maybe level 400?”

In every nation, monsters went up to level 450, excluding bosses and special events.

Anything beyond that was considered “Uncharted Territory.”

Juho planned to reach level 400 before attempting it.

“No quests?”

“Nah. Not worth the time.”

Although quests could offer better efficiency, finding the right quest took too long.

Grinding was simply faster.

As they talked, they reached their destination.

[You have entered the Forest of Stone Goblins.]

They stopped and immediately surveyed the area.

Their expressions were serious—unlike when hunting rabbits or stone foxes.

Understandably so. Rabbits and stone foxes were non-aggressive mobs, but Stone Goblins were aggressive and usually moved in packs of three to four.

“There’s a group right there.”

Seokju pointed to four goblins walking slowly.

“Check the surroundings. I’ll take the right, you handle the left.”

They couldn’t just rush in—they needed to check for nearby groups first.

If more goblins joined mid-battle, it’d be a disaster.

“One group nearby, but I don’t think they’ll come this way.”

“Nothing on my side.”

Safe for now.

“Let’s do this. Buff me.”

“Physical Boost. Attribute Enchantment.”

[Your physical attack power increases by 20% for 2 minutes.]

[Your weapon is enchanted with the Water attribute for 2 minutes.]

[Your shield is enchanted with the Water attribute for 2 minutes.]

Buffed and ready, Juho gripped his hammer and shield and approached.

-!@#$!

-1q2w3e!

-123qwe!

The goblins spotted him and shrieked.

One of them charged forward alone.

‘Nice—‘Contempt’ state!’

If a monster’s level exceeded the player’s by too much, it entered “Contempt” mode—it wouldn’t take the player seriously and wouldn’t use its full strength.

In a group, only a few might engage.

The opposite was “Fear,” which made monsters flee.

Thanks to this, only one goblin came forward.

Wham!

The goblin swung its iron club.

Juho could’ve dodged but instead raised his shield.

Clang!

The club slammed into the shield. Juho checked his health—only 30 damage lost, out of a total 2750.

‘Even if I don’t block, I can tank four of these guys easily.’

With 200 physical defense and a 40% damage reduction, he could survive even without a clean block.

Now, he tested how long it would take to kill one.

Smash!

His hammer hit the goblin’s side.

It recoiled, and Juho lunged with his shield—imbued with water and stronger than his hammer.

Boom!

The goblin tumbled backward.

As it tried to rise, Juho struck again.

‘If only the shield’s attack power added passively too…’

Unlike defense, which added passively, shield attack power only applied on direct strikes.

A frustrating limitation.

Smash!

“Bro! The others are coming!”

The stunned goblin shrieked.

The others snapped out of their ‘Contempt’ state and advanced.

“Bind them!”

Seokju had hit level 20 and now knew “Elemental Shackle,” a skill that immobilized enemies.

“Got it! Elemental Shackle!”

Whoosh!

Water streamed from his staff and snaked toward the charging goblins, binding all three.

They squirmed, but couldn’t escape the water—especially since water was their elemental weakness.

“13 seconds!”

“Perfect!”

Juho responded and finished off the first goblin.

[You have obtained: Stone Goblin’s Hide x1]

Only seven hits: six with the hammer, one with the shield.

‘At this rate, I could handle five at once.’

Most goblins didn’t vary much in health or defense.

Seven hits per kill was the average.

Simulations running in his head, Juho sprinted toward the bound goblins.

Less than three seconds later, he arrived.

Shield-first, he slammed into the closest goblin.

Crash!!

The water exploded on impact, sending the goblin flying.

It hit the ground and trembled, unable to stand.

Juho stood over it, ready to finish the fight.