Chapter 27

Chapter 27

Quests are up to you.

After appeasing Shim Young-jin yesterday, a new quest had arrived.

[Quest]

Category: Sub (Elatra)

Content: Empathy is seeing and understanding another’s true feelings. To achieve true empathy, eliminate Hoi-in and take revenge. Then you shall be granted the ability to see more. (Achievement: 0/10)

Limit: 48 hours (Time Remaining: 36 hours 11 minutes 30 seconds)

Reward: Golem’s Eye Enhancement

Failure: Golem’s Eye Usage Restriction (Indefinite)

A sudden subquest arrived.

As if watching Dojae in real time.

‘Elatrala…’

For the first time, a specific name appeared next to the quest category.

It feels almost 100% certain that ‘Elatra’ is the name of the goddess who gave the Golem’s Eye.

‘Restricting the Golem’s Eye for quest failure? Giving it only to take it back?’

The Golem’s Eye is an incredibly useful skill.

You don’t notice it when you don’t have it, but it’s always helpful when you do.

It’s one of those skills you absolutely cannot afford to lose.

Besides, Shim Young-jin was already on my mind. If I could at least bring back the heads of the bandits, wouldn’t that ease my guilt a little?

‘If it’s only about ten, it should be fine to hunt them quickly and come back.’

That was precisely why he deliberately moved separately.

If a dangerous situation arose, he could escape on his own somehow.

But if the others were with him, it would clearly become quite difficult.

Better to leave the golem behind and go alone.

‘Is this where it begins?’

He looked at the map displayed on his smartphone.

He alternated between checking the map photo showing the operation area and the GPS-enabled map.

The mountain’s entrance, where trees clustered sparsely.

Beyond that lies the territory of the Hoi-in.

Clank-clank-clank.

Dojae deployed his golem armor.

Unlike the Grade 7 Red Oak, the Hwain are Grade 5.

He drew the Hapiqueen’s Fullum, completed his preparations, and stepped onto their territory.

***

Whoosh.

The sound of trees swaying in the wind was refreshing.

Tall trees block the sunlight, making it dim even in broad daylight.

Truly a natural fortress where the Hui people thrive.

‘Should I try that?’

Dojae stood still and concentrated.

To sense the presence of mana.

The faint trace of mana he had vaguely sensed while hunting a golem identical to himself last time.

Back then, he had quickly pinpointed its location by casting skills while dodging attacks. But as time passed and battles repeated, his sensitivity to sensing its presence grew.

No, thanks to the golem’s eyes, which were influenced by the ‘Spirit’ stat, and because he had invested points into it, he could now sense it even more clearly.

‘Nothing special…’

Mana is an energy possessed by all living things.

Animals, insects, even plants possess mana.

Of course, the lower an organism is on the food chain, the less mana it possesses.

It’s as if energy grows larger as it moves up the food chain.

And Dojae still couldn’t detect these small energies.

Sssshh-.

Only his keen ears compensated for the imprecise detection of mana traces.

Dojae turned his head toward the direction the foreign sound came from.

‘Something’s there!’

Where Dojae looked, swaying branches and falling leaves suggested something had been there just moments ago.

It couldn’t have been a small animal.

Because from the moment he entered, it had been too quiet, not even a bird’s song.

Shh-shh-shh-!

The sound of movement came again.

Dojae immediately looked in that direction.

He could see a single gray squirrel standing on a branch.

“Kyaaah!”

The hawk, its long black feathers trailing behind, bared sharp fangs as it aimed its arrow.

Dojae immediately gripped his sword tighter.

“Kyaaah. Kyaaaah. Kyaaah!”

The creature babbled in an unknown language.

Though the words were incomprehensible, the intent was clear.

‘Is it threatening to attack if we don’t leave? What a kind creature.’

Why was it hostile yet not attacking immediately?

Was it wary because of yesterday’s battle?

Either way, Dojae wasn’t here for fun.

He had to complete the quest and avenge Shim Young-jin.

“If you won’t come to me, I’ll come to you.”

This moment, alone with Hoi-in, is the perfect opportunity to quickly take one down.

Dojai leapt forward, determined to finish it swiftly before the enemy could call for reinforcements.

POW!

Dojae’s sword aimed for Hoi-in’s chest.

But Hoi-in’s bow slightly deflected the blade’s trajectory, only cleaving an innocent tree in half.

“Kyaaah?”

Hoi-in, startled, backed away to a safe distance.

The trembling of his bow-gripping hand revealed Dojae’s sword strike hadn’t been light.

“You dodged that well.”

Though he attacked with speed and power, what Dojae lacked was technique.

Hunters and extermination troops were those who hunted monsters based on the physical strength and magic they gained through awakening.

Those who employed techniques worthy of the name were rare.

Doja was no exception, making his attacks rather monotonous.

‘Maybe I should learn swordsmanship.’

Kim Hwan-su flashed through Dojae’s mind.

He resolved to ask for sword training at least once while at Chilgok University, then aimed his sword at Hoi-in once more.

Pishuuung-!

Bang-!

If skill won’t do it, then he’ll have to push through with sheer power.

He catches the arrow flying with tremendous force directly with his golem armor.

There was a slight impact, but it was negligible.

Dojae continued blocking the relentless barrage of arrows with his sturdy golem armor, closing the distance to Hoiin.

“Kyaak! Kyaruru!”

When the arrows no longer worked, Hoi-in abandoned his bow and charged in to attack.

His sharply grown claws slashed across Dojae’s chest.

But there was no way claws could pierce armor that even taut bowstrings and sharp arrowheads couldn’t penetrate.

Swish-!

Swish-swish-!

Hoi-in deftly dodged Dojae’s attacks with his long arms and legs.

Rolling and leaping like an acrobatic gymnast.

But that too was only momentary.

Thud-.

“Kyar?”

Hoi-in suddenly stopped in his tracks.

He squirmed, trying to move, but something held his legs fast.

“This is possible too.”

What was wrapped around Hoi-in’s legs?

It was the stone fragments extending from Dojae’s golem armor.

Thin as threads, the stones stretched from below his thighs, climbing up from the soles of his feet to immobilize him.

Push-shh.

Harpy Queen’s Fullum pierced Hoi-in’s chest.

The creature collapsed, bleeding black blood that matched its ashen skin tone.

– [Zaroideuk] effect applied.

– Level Up.

‘Nine more to go.’

Dojae retrieved the golem armor that had been wrapped around Hoi-in’s legs and moved deeper into the darkness.

***

Team 2, led by Kim Jun-seo.

Kim Jun-seo, Son Jeong-gyu, Yook Hyeon-jae, Jang Pil-ho, Lee Ji-woong.

They were currently taking a brief rest.

“Pil-ho, isn’t this amazing?”

“What is?”

“I mean that over there.”

Lee Ji-woong asked Jang Pil-ho, who was resting.

He was pointing at Dojae’s golem.

“Being on the same team as a monster—isn’t that amazing?”

“It is kind of strange.”

The golem stood completely still, not moving an inch.

To an outsider, it would have looked like a uniquely shaped statue that had always been there.

“But can we really trust that thing?”

“Why, are you doubting it?”

“Of course. Golems are monsters. Who would trust a monster?”

Lee Ji-woong’s eyes narrowed sharply.

His gaze toward the golem was clearly displeased.

“Once before, I fought alongside a monster.”

“Really?”

When Jang Pil-ho brought up the story, Lee Ji-woong showed interest.

Jang Pil-ho began recounting the past.

“Was it two years ago? Before I came to Chilgok, when I was in another unit.”

“Ah, I heard about that. When you were stationed down south? Namwon, right?”

“Yeah, back then we were conducting a suppression operation to clean up a dungeon break that happened in Namwon. The unit commander at the time was Captain Park Seong-gil, the tamer.”

“The 1st Corps Commander?”

“That’s right. He’s risen to become the 1st Corps Commander now.”

“Wow, is that even possible? From a mere unit commander to Corps Commander in just two years?”

“Promotions in the expeditionary force depend on merit. He’s exceptionally strong and handles things efficiently… Wait a minute. I’m talking here!”

Jang Pil-ho, who had been digging through his memories, snapped at Lee Ji-woong’s interruption.

Lee Ji-woong clasped his hands together and gave an apologetic look.

“Anyway, getting back to the story, back then the commander had four wyverns and six drake under his command.”

“Damn, ten dragon-type monsters…”

“We didn’t have anything specific to do. Just make sure to finish off the monsters that were already on their last legs.”

“But isn’t that basically our role anyway? Here, all we do is hunt low-level monsters. Only the regular members get to do anything worthwhile.”

“Hey, then why did you ask?”

“Huh? I didn’t ask. You just brought it up…”

Jang Pil-ho smacked Lee Ji-woong’s forehead hard.

Lee Ji-woong exaggeratedly acted hurt.

“Ow! Why’d you hit me?!”

“Just because. It’s really pissing me off.”

“Why take it out on me? Take it out on that thing.”

Lee Ji-woong points at the golem again.

“Are you crazy? That’s the captain’s golem.”

“Captain or whatever, honestly, what has the captain ever shown us? Jung-gyu seems totally out of it, and I’m barely getting by even with the captain around. I can’t trust that thing.”

“So what do you suggest we do?”

“Just wait and see.”

Lee Ji-woong stood up from his seat.

Looking around, the other three were each too busy resting to notice.

“Follow me.”

Lee Ji-woong crept quietly toward the golem.

With a flick of his finger, the golem began moving toward Lee Ji-woong.

Thus, Lee Ji-woong and Jang Pil-ho led the golem to a spot a little further away.

“Watch closely.”

Lee Ji-woong drew his supply sword.

Before Jang Pil-ho could stop him, he attacked the golem.

“Hey! What the hell….”

Thud.

Just before the sword touched its body, the golem raised its arm to block Lee Ji-woong’s strike.

One arm fell to the ground, kicking up a shallow cloud of dust, but it quickly reattached itself as if nothing had happened.

“Huh. Blocked?”

“Hey, you bastard. What the hell are you doing?”

“Bro, this is pretty good, huh?”

Lee Ji-woong didn’t stop, continuing to attack the golem.

The golem defended against the attacks, and even if its body shattered, it regenerated in an instant.

Sometimes it launched light attacks, but they weren’t threatening.

It was the perfect, ideal punching bag.

“What is this…? You look really excited?”

“Wanna give it a shot, bro? The feeling of hitting it is killer, you know?”

“Really? Maybe I’ll give it a try too?”

Jang Pil-ho, who had been watching quietly, joined the attack.

The golem began to be pushed back little by little.

But soon, it showed enough speed to match the two of them and began dodging their attacks.

“Wow, this is fun.”

“Right? Let’s tell the captain and use it for training.”

“Alright. Here, if you can block this too, you pass.”

Jang Pil-ho gripped the spear with both hands.

He was determined to give it his all.

And so, the two men’s play began to heat up.