Chapter 8: 8. Goblin Hunting (1)

I am a casual player with casual knowledge of the game. Pick a random hardcore player of Magic and Monstrosity out there, then place him in my situation— I can guarantee that person to be shaking in excitement regardless of circumstances. I also kind of expect the said person to possess grand ambitions of whatever fucked up glory there is to pursue...

It is not too late for me to become a hardcore gamer. To supply my lack of understanding of the game Magic and Monstrosity, I began skimming on the different tutorial guides in my inventory. There are a lot actually. They range from different class guides, legends, and lore.

The book I am currently reading is a unique monsterpedia I got as a reward from daily draws. I always do that you know, playing the free ten daily draws that I can't get enough with. It is not that they are addicting, they are just supplemental to MMORPGs.

Just a reminder, I never spent a single cent with that gimmick of a trap— suck that, capitalist gaming companies! I never spent money on gacha.

Page after page, I read the monsterpedia with interest and curiosity. It doesn't pale in comparison to the zoology books I have read in passing.

What makes this monsterpedia unique is that it has a lot of trivia, plus comprehensive information on monster biology. It is almost too academic that I m starting to get bored.

I was reading the book single-mindedly, researching the goblin tribe's structure, different monsters, variants, and their different evolution caches.

While I am working my ass off, Kieffer was guiding me to where the goblin cave is... We already had our exchange of pleasantries after all the dramas finally subsided.

I introduced myself as Wally to him, to which he replied in kind. Kieffer is from a town south of the goblin cave. He and his elder sister with some of the like-minded youth formed a party of four to face the trial of fate.

The trial is familiar to me. It resembles the first quest I took when this world was all a game. It is about something along the lines of awakening your potential. After the quest, the player will then be qualified for a class change— in the form of awakening their magic resource. It has many names, mana bar, magic gauge, mental strength, MP, and so on...

The trial of fate is a tradition among adventurers in which after the advent of magic, is passed over to the magic guild.

In the era of adventurers, the said trial is seen as a test of bravery. But in the era of magic, the trial serves a more practical purpose— to awaken an individual's magic potential.

"Lord sorcerer, this is the cave!"

"I have to correct you on that one, I am a wizard. Okay?"

We arrived at the cave in the setting sun. There is no difference if we choose to enter it now than later. It would be the best of our interest if we do it faster. It is not just Kieffer's sister's life at stake, but also many others that might be still breathing inside this cave.

If fantasy stories in my world were right, then what I am about to see might be something my modern mindset can't take.

***

Goblins are weak-ass monsters that can be dealt with by a party of four level-4s or a lone level 7. I don't know what level is Kieffer and his compatriots, so I am not quite sure what is the reason for their party's demise.

"Arcane Clarity. Stay close with me, Kieffer." I softly spoke, casting my magic on the both of us. Arcane Clarity gave us both extra vision in the darkness of the cave. Allowing us the convenience of not bringing any torch.

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Kieffer stared in amazement at the magic, then followed suit to his savior's words.

"Sir, is this magic? Awesome."

"Quiet down. There might be special goblins in here ranging from hunters and scouts. To a thriving goblin community, hunters and scouts are what allows them to coordinate their ambush."

It looks like my knowledge of goblins is paying its due early. I admit it, my intelligence stat is contributing the most of what I've read.

Arcane Clarity is used to detect stealth enemies, but with the influence of human logic, it has become something more~ night vision, better eyesight, and all of its convenience.

I must experiment with this line of thought after this goblin incident. Goblins are a good practice target with such experiments, but the unknown variable might provide more trouble than its worth. I don't want the cave falling on us.

"Arcane bolt." A blu shimmer of energy strikes from the tip of my wand. A goblin fell from my magic without commotion. It is a goblin scout, who barely reacted to my magic. Speaking the name of the magic spell is cumbersome, but necessary. If it were still a game, this would be the chanting animation.

After this goblin incident, I will also add to my priorities the researching some silent casting skills.

We strode forward unafraid of what is to come. Even Kieffer is bold enough to check the dead goblin scouts meandering our way.

These goblin scouts are something else. According to their physical characteristics, they are about in the level 10s, at least to the monsterpedia's judgment. An unnatural number for a goblin cave in the wild forest.

The goblins have longer ears than what a level 1 is... It's no wonder Kieffer's party didn't even see it coming.

"Sir, I see a torch," Kieffer whispered in my ears. Yeah, kid. I can as well see it, duh?

"Run further back, make sure your steps are loud. And also, don't go far away. There might be goblin scouts in our rear." I slowly formulated a plan In my head.

The enemy party looks like to be aware of our presence. I cast "Arcane Stealth" on myself to erase my presence.  I only learned this spell in the endgame of the last event, so my proficiency points on the skill are very low.

My smoke bombs have better stealth points, but I am already running out of those, so I want to conserve them. Considering the flavor text I remember from the skill, it looks harmless enough to be cast in my situation.

Arcane Stealth: Enshroud the caster with his own mana to achieve some level of stealth.

Kieffer's running footsteps echoed in the cave. This earned a frantic reaction from the advancing goblins. They must have a goblin hunter on them.

Let the hunt begin.

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