Chapter 10: Beginner's First Steps 5
After our first encounter with the goblins, Han Se-ah gained confidence and strode forward with relaxed shoulders.
She now knew that among the four types of monsters I had explained—slimes, horned rabbits, horned foxes, and goblins—the most dangerous, goblins, could be defeated in a single hit.
"This time, let's go this way!"
Goblin, goblin, slime, horned fox, slime, horned rabbit – she appeared surprisingly warrior-like as she defeated each monster with a single blow.
Goblin, goblin, slime, horned fox, slime, horned rabbit—Han Se-ah surprisingly demonstrated the qualities of a warrior, vanquishing each monster with a single blow.
Even a strong farmer would have to hit the first-floor monsters two or three times, but she diligently hunted them down one by one with her staff.
"If you didn't possess the qualities of a mage, you could've just picked up the spear."
"Hehe, thank you for the compliment!"
Thanks to her efforts, we collected the lowest-grade magic stones smoothly, despite a few setbacks.
She seemed quite familiar with the game, keeping the entrance in mind as we circled around and searched for monsters.Fearlessly wielding her weapon against the charging monsters, she proved her worth as a streamer.
Considering she was doing more than her fair share in battling the first-floor goblins, I couldn't be more grateful.
"Since it's our first day, let's just gather about 10 magic stones and then head back."
"10... got it!"
Han Se-ah's confident stride suddenly halted due to the reason I had explained earlier about why inexperienced players might die.
Two goblins in front, one behind.
As she approached a single goblin, another emerged from the bushes beside her, and while we hesitated, yet another appeared behind us and began to sneak up.
Facing a 3:1 numerical disadvantage seemed inevitable, even though she could defeat them one at a time.
"There are three... three goblins?"
Although I was by her side, she exhaled a deep breath to calm herself.
She still didn't ask me for help and slowly sidestepped, pointing her staff at the goblins.
Perhaps her plan was to confront all three head-on rather than being surrounded.
"Win a 3:1 without getting hit for 100,000 won? Are you an investor? You hit the jackpot... You just wait... Wait a second, if senior intervenes, it doesn't count, right? I just need to not show any signs of anxiety? Easier said than done."
She murmured to the viewers about the mission she received and then immediately stepped forward.
The bald-headed warrior had taught her a simple push attack, but it certainly resembled an excellent thrust.
Was it due to the player's stat adjustment?
Her staff, slicing through the wind, struck the goblin closest to the center right in the forehead with a 'thwack!' sound.
The goblin, hit by a powerful thrust, staggered back and transformed into a magic stone with a 'poof!'
Kiieeek!
Kyaaak!
Seeing their companion's fate, the remaining goblins on both sides charged at her like wild beasts, wielding their rocks and wooden clubs.
'Do I need to step in...?'
Frightened, she seemed to cower, but there was no need for me to intervene.
The staff she extended forcefully swung from right to left like a baseball bat, striking the head of the goblin on the left, who was slightly closer.
Kyaaak?!
Kkieeek!
Although it didn't die due to her clumsy posture, the goblin dropped the stone it held and was left staggering.
The club-wielding goblin, which had relied on its fallen companion, screamed as it charged at the defenseless Han Se-ah—
"Stay back!"
'Thwack!'
Her slender leg stretches out and kicks the goblin, sending it tumbling backward.
Though she doesn't finish them off in one go, she manages to deal with them one at a time.
Thanks to viewing this as just a game, she was bolder than an ordinary country bumpkin and appeared much more like a warrior.
While one goblin staggered from her kick, the other dropped its stone, clutched its head, and wobbled as it stood up.
As soon as it managed to steady itself and open its eyes, it was met by Han Se-ah's thrust, who had also regained her stance.
Thwack! Another goblin turned into a lowest-grade magic stone.
"You definitely have a good combat sense. However, remember that these kicks only work on goblins, and as we go higher up, you'll have to deal with them using magic."
"Yes!"
UUtilizing the range and size difference of her weapon, she hindered her opponents' movements and created multiple one-on-one situations.
There was no doubt about her talent, as she moved swiftly and confidently using her own body instead of a keyboard and mouse.
To be honest, when I first arrived in this world and was surrounded, I only won due to my physical strength.
In reality, I was a gamer, so I didn't instantly become a genius shield wielder.
I had to struggle quite a bit.
"Hmm, ten lowest-grade magic stones. We gathered them faster than I thought."
"Is it usually harder to collect them?"
"Goblins and weaker monsters don't usually drop them as often, and novice adventurers often hesitate to hurt goblins, taking up more time. Considering that, Hanna, you have excellent qualities as an adventurer."
As I continued to praise her, she couldn't help but giggle, her lips curling upward.
She had argued with her viewers several times, but she seemed unaccustomed to being openly praised, squirming adorably.
Even as she did so, her eyes shifted slyly to one side.
-She does seem to have talent, managing 3:1?
-Fact: Another female streamer cried just making eye contact with a goblin
-3:1 or not, there are many who get lost after not listening to the explanations ㅋㅋ
-She got her first 6★ NPC, so the early game is sweet
-Look at her smile!
[Han Se-ah and the party obtained 10/10 lowest-grade magic stones on the first floor ※ CLEAR]
[Reward: Access to Han Se-ah's stream]
Unable to resist my curiosity as Han Se-ah continued to glance at the chat, I secretly used the stream access I received as a reward while the camera drone focused on the low-grade magic stones on the ground.
As expected, her skills were better than other streamers.
'Watching this chat is surprisingly fun.'
Living in a medieval fantasy world with only things like duels, operas, and plays for entertainment, the chat filled with slang and abbreviations was quite addictive.
It had been 10 years since I last saw a forum and chat window, so even the pointless laughing and chatting was amusing.
After browsing the chat for a while, I spoke to Han Se-ah, who was diligently looking back and forth between the magic stones and the chat as the camera turned back to me.
"We shouldn't overdo it on our first day. Let's gather the magic stones and head back."
"Okay! Um, Senior Roland?"
Yes?"
"I'm curious about how strong you are. Can you show me?"
She playfully squinted her eyes and laughed awkwardly.
I wondered what she was talking about, but I noticed her eyes kept sneaking glances to the side.
Was there some kind of request in the chat?
Han Se-ah seemed a little embarrassed and hesitant to ask me to demonstrate my strength, but I saw no reason to refuse.
If I could show off in front of the viewers and Han Se-ah, my chances of being taken along as a party member would increase.
I knew that they wouldn't abandon an NPC with such unique performance as a 6★, but it's better to be certain about everything in a quest opportunity that I finally obtained after 10 years.
'But what should I show?'
The problem was that I was a tank, not a mage or a swordsman.
If I were a rogue, I could demonstrate invisibility or stealth techniques.
If I were an archer, I could show off the skill of hitting an arrow shot first with a later arrow.
If I were a mage, I could demonstrate powerful attack magic that could wipe out a plain.
These were often used as bragging techniques by advanced adventurers.
However, I was a tank – a heavily armored knight who relied on physical strength and items like shields and armor.
I could block a giant's club with my bare hands or withstand the breath of a dragon, but there was nothing to demonstrate in an empty plain.
"Hmm, to demonstrate…"
"Oh, I'm sorry if I came across as rude."
"It's not a rude request. Adventurers usually love to show off their skills. I'm just not sure what to demonstrate in an empty plain."
I quickly comforted the darkening Han Se-ah and continued pondering.
I could easily crush a goblin with a single blow, but would that look impressive?
Han Se-ah herself could kill one with a single swing of her staff. As I looked at the message board and chat window, I could feel my own adventurer's vanity rising.
I wanted to impress Han Se-ah with my strength and prove my might in a way that would pique the viewers' interest.
With that in mind, I fiddled with my adventurer's badge while pretending to look at the waypoint, taking a peek at the chat window.
-I'll donate 300,000 won if Roland gives a strength demo
-There must be something to show off, right? Not some grass-pulling show.
-Bro, can't you just take off your armor and show off your body?
-But wouldn't it be embarrassing to show off your strength against a goblin that falls unconscious from Se-ah's kick?
-What can a high-ranking adventurer show off on the first floor?
Some odd chats were mixed in, but the contents were similar to my thoughts.
I noticed one opinion that quickly passed by.
Han Se-ah and the other viewers may not have noticed it, but it definitely caught my eye.
"Hmm, this might be amusing to show."
"What is it?"
Se-ah hurried over to me, not wanting to miss the 300,000 won mission, reacting like a fish to bait.
"Since another goblin has appeared, I'll show you."
"Okay!"
Catching a slime would have been annoying due to its squishy nature, and if it were a horned rabbit or a horned fox, it might have appeared like animal abuse.
Fortunately, it was an ugly little monster – a goblin. As I reached out with my bare hands, having even removed the gauntlet from my plate armor, I heard a surprised gasp from behind me.
Kyaaak!
The small monster swung a sharp rock at my hand, which was holding onto it.
Of course, the rock couldn't even scratch the skin of a 6★ tank who had been leveling up for 10 years.
The goblin tried to cause a ruckus with its sharp teeth and claws, but my pale white hand showed no sign of even a red scratch.
"Are you okay?"
"I can take a nap without my armor on among monsters below the 10th floor."
"Wow..."
With a mixture of curiosity and admiration, I flexed my arm and threw the goblin high into the sky, as if tossing a fastball.
Kyaa-yaak!
The camera captured the perfect angle.
***
Enjoy the chappy!
Please give the book a rating and a review on NovelUpdates.
It helps the website and helps people find this novel!
Novel illustrations are also found on the ko-fi link below! Check out the gallery page inside the ko-fi page.
If you'd like to make a one-time donation to support our translations or subscribe to read up to 15 chapters ahead, you can do so via Ko-fi.