Surviving as the Emperor's Assassin

Chapter 6. I Fought Goblins.

“Scared? Then turn back now.”

The old man spoke as if teasing me.

Scared? What nonsense.

This body beat down bandits barehanded.

Now with a weapon, the chances of winning were much higher.

……Probably.

“You two, please stay here.”

Still, coming all this way just to turn back was a waste of time.

It wouldn't hurt to gain some experience and swing the sword around.

-Krrrk…!?

As I approached, the goblins startled and raised their weapons.

The goblins here looked quite different from the goblins in my preconceptions.

They didn't have hooked noses, pointed ears, or sharp, protruding teeth.

They had round eyes like rabbits, droopy ears like retrievers, and a nose and mouth resembling a pig's.

‘Are they… kinda cute?’

After pondering for a moment, I shook my head.

No.

Not cute at all.

Their bodies looked like hairless monkeys.

The head and body didn't match, creating an overall bizarre form.

They were about as tall as my hip, and though not as much as humans, they walked and ran quite well.

That movement evoked even more discomfort.

It felt like a creature deliberately made to evoke instinctive human revulsion.

This was a monster. This was a goblin.

“Killing guys like these probably won't cause much guilt.”

Me, Yoo Seung-Jae.

On Earth, I was such an animal lover that I'd wait inside my blanket until a moth that entered the house left on its own, but in this world, I inevitably had to take other lives.

I took a deep breath and gripped the sword.

The green creatures called goblins approached.

‘One, two, three, four…….’

They moved around so much it was hard to count.

The sight of them charging with sharply broken stones in hand felt unreal.

Still, at least they weren't running away.

Chasing them would be time-consuming and tiring.

“Hup-”

The body of a charging goblin split open from the sword I swung with all my might.

Monster hunting was less of a big deal than I thought.

Green blood splattered.

It looked somewhat like insect guts bursting.

“Ugh, gross.”

I instinctively took a step back.

The distance didn't widen because the goblins were rushing in.

I kicked away a goblin that got close, then twisted my body to dodge one that jumped.

I just swung the sword wildly as best I could, unsure how many I killed.

Before I knew it, goblins surrounded me.

It was inevitable since five advanced while I dealt with one.

On my arms, on my legs.

Goblins clung on, swinging stone axes.

“Kyaaaak-!!”

Nilia screamed upon seeing me swallowed by the goblin horde.

“I'm fine! Calm down!”

I yelled while shaking off a goblin clinging to my arm.

Even though I wasn't wearing proper armor, the goblins' stone axes didn't even hurt.

It felt like a kindergartener hitting with cotton-ball fists.

I wasn't sure if it was because my body was tough or because the goblins' strength was pathetic.

Either way, they dealt no damage to me.

‘I think I understand why the other mercenaries didn't want to take this job.’

Swinging the sword splatters body fluids, and they charge with strange persistence.

Annoying, truly.

So this was why she wanted to bring three people.

It was a wise thought.

Just lacked the money to back it up.

Budget issues are a problem everywhere.

* * *

“What are you doing! A supposed mercenary struggling against just a few goblins!”

The old geezer nagged from behind.

He talked a lot for someone not fighting himself.

“A few! There are dozens, you know?”

I quickly shut down the old geezer's dirty trick of downplaying my achievement.

I hadn't counted properly, but I had killed at least ten.

Goblins still swarmed around me.

No matter how many green things I cut down, there was no end in sight, making it feel more like weeding than hunting.

Grrrk-

The goblins seemed to feel no fear even as their kin died, charging relentlessly.

“Hyaa!”

With a shout, I gripped the sword with both hands and swung.

Two goblins tumbled backward at once.

There was a satisfying feel to it.

Finding a rhythm as I thrust the sword, it even started to feel a little fun.

‘Maybe… mercenary work suits my aptitude?’

Of course, mercenary work isn't just about hunting monsters.

“Aigo! Th-That ignorant fool! What you're holding isn't a club! You have to do it like this, like this!”

The old man's voice grated on my ears.

He should at least pay me before nagging; a penniless man just being noisy.

The old man, looking frustrated, mimicked swinging a sword with his cane, but for someone criticizing me, his form was hard to watch.

“Isn't it enough if I just take care of all the goblins? I told you I'd handle it.”

Goblins rushed towards me as I stood still, and I swung the sword from my position.

With goblins blocking every direction—front, back, left, right—there was no other way.

Regardless, the number of goblins was steadily decreasing.

I had not a single scratch, and plenty of stamina left.

Even if it took some time, victory was assured in this fight.

‘Hmm, but the old man’s words aren’t entirely without merit.’

I could fight like this because the opponents were goblins. If they were strong monsters or properly trained humans, the presence or absence of combat skills would directly determine victory or defeat.

Certainly, learning swordsmanship would help with survival.

The first person who came to mind was, of course, the Sword Saint.

That old geezer seemed incredibly strong.

The problem was that the Sword Saint was in the Imperial Capital, and heading to the Imperial Capital was suicide for me.

It would have been nice if I received a swordsmanship manual or something before we parted.

“Stop! Retreat!”

Suddenly, the old man screamed.

Lost in thought, mechanically cutting down goblins, my reaction was a bit slow.

“Yes? But I've almost caught all the goblins……”

Just then.

Grrrr.

A sound that was neither goblin nor human cut in.

Turning my head to check, I saw a pack of wolf-like animals surrounding the goblins.

‘What are those now?’

The reason they were wolf-like animals and not wolves was that wolves don't usually have three eyes or horns.

Even at a glance, these were monsters.

“……Didn't hear anything about other monsters being here?”

“Those are Hond Wolves from the Kezoc Mountain valley! They came smelling the goblin blood!”

The old man shouted from afar.

Nilia, beside him, had a pale face and just looked around nervously.

The goblins, who had fearlessly charged at me, now cowered intensely at the appearance of these Hond Wolves.

It was a scene that blatantly showed they were stronger monsters than goblins.

These things looked stronger than the ‘rats’ I saw in the sewer.

Though perhaps weaker than that ‘snake’.

I definitely thought this was a beginner quest, but this made the atmosphere strange.

“Stay still! Hond Wolves rarely attack humans! If you don't attack, they'll target the goblins first……! Get out when the number of goblins decreases!”

The old man said urgently.

Monsters not particularly hostile to humans, regardless of their strength.

It meant they understood the danger of humans, implying relatively high intelligence.

“……I don't think it'll be that easy.”

Because within the Hond Wolf pack, a particularly large individual was staring right at me.

While tangling with the goblins, my entire body got stained with goblin blood.

There was a high chance those things saw me as just another goblin.

A particularly large goblin in the center of the goblin horde…….

‘Am I the Goblin Chieftain?’

Not very pleased about that.

Cold sweat trickled down.

Regret for not looking for another request kept rearing its head.

“Hond Wolves are monsters only real mercenaries can handle! Don't get any funny ideas!”

“Could you maybe tell that to those guys instead?”

As the old man said, the Hond Wolves looked dangerous.

In size alone, they rivaled the lions or tigers I'd seen at the zoo.

Their claws and teeth were sharp as blades, and a charge with their horns looked like it could pierce steel plates.

And there were a whopping ten of them.

“How, is there a way……”

The old man and Nilia, having lost their composure, just paced anxiously.

Useless humans.

Pushing the thinking part onto me when I was already busy enough with the physical part.

But what could I do?

Work always piles up for the competent one.

* * *

“……”

Fortunately, the Hond Wolves didn't charge immediately.

Cautious, for monsters.

They said Hond Wolves rarely attack humans.

In other words, they have the intelligence to distinguish humans from other animals.

If so, appearing strong might actually intimidate them into retreating.

“……Go get help from anyone! Old man, hide somewhere!”

I shouted towards Nilia.

Since the old man had difficulty moving, Nilia had to go.

“O-Okay! I'll be right back!”

Hearing my words, Nilia ran off without hesitation.

“Damn it……!”

The old man moved in the same direction.

But his aged body wasn't permitted to run.

As if frustrated by this, the old man groaned and moved his steps.

“If I can hold out until support arrives……”

I didn't know how long the round trip to the village would take.

It would be nice if it were quick, but things rarely go as planned.

Left alone, I readjusted my grip on the sword and steeled myself.

Strictly speaking, I wasn't alone.

Because the goblins were beside me.

These idiots, who were just clinging to me swinging stone axes moments ago, were too preoccupied with the Hond Wolves to even look at me.

When the battle started, they would attack the Hond Wolves rather than me.

That was enough.

“Phew.”

Sweat pooled in the hand gripping the sword.

The giant individual kept meeting my eyes.

“Damn it.”

It was likely the pack leader.

Like a leader, it was clearly targeting the leader of the goblins.

Even if I insisted I wasn't a goblin, they wouldn't listen.

Wouldn't dying as the Emperor's assassin have been better than dying treated as the Goblin Chieftain……?

I shoved the fleeting, useless thought to the back of my mind.

Just don't die.

How great could Hond Wolves be?

Awooooo-!

The howl wasn't much different from the wolves I knew.

Awooo-! Awooo-!

Wolf howls overlapped one after another.

The Hond Wolves' attack began abruptly.

Karrr- Bark!!

As expected, the leader charged straight at me.

Clang!!

I raised my sword to block its gaping maw as it lunged.

I blocked it with the blade, but the combination of the Hond Wolf's thick hide and my dull sword only left a scratch on the leader's snout.

I immediately understood why the goblins were so terrified.

‘Hmm.’

Hunting Hond Wolves with stone axes was impossible.

Dozens of goblins could be taken down by even a single Hond Wolf.

However…….

“This is more manageable than I thought.”

Being able to go on a rampage against goblins applied to me too.

Luke Ivers' body was excellent.

Taking the leader Hond Wolf's charge only pushed me back slightly.

The leader Hond Wolf immediately pushed me away and created distance.

Grrrr-

It was a wary creature.

It looked puzzled as to how a goblin blocked its attack.

“I am not a goblin.”

I kindly explained, but the Hond Wolf didn't even pretend to listen.

The leader Hond Wolf's movements changed.

Previously, it charged in a straight line, but this time, it circled me widely, hiding its attack timing.

I turned my body, following the leader Hond Wolf, ready to react to an attack at any moment.

Finally, the leader Hond Wolf charged.

“Hup!”

I swung the sword with all my might.

The blow that sent several goblins to the netherworld.

Whoosh.

The sword cut through empty air.

Because the leader Hond Wolf momentarily lowered its body.

Grrrrowl!!

The leader Hond Wolf, which had flattened itself, sprang up.

Its jaws opened, aiming for my neck.

I had put too much force into the swing, and my stance collapsed.

In the time that felt slowed down, I made a decision.

My shoulder was facing forward from the sword swing.

I kicked off the ground and charged with my shoulder.

The Hond Wolf's heavy body bounced off lightly.

“Uraaaah-!!”

A similar flow repeated several times.

Neither the leader Hond Wolf's attacks nor mine inflicted fatal wounds on each other; we repeatedly clashed and separated.

The goal of buying time was being achieved to some extent.

But the problem arose elsewhere.

“……This is troublesome.”

The number of goblins was decreasing faster than expected.