Trees began crashing down one after another, and heavy footsteps shook the ground. It sounded like some massive creature was approaching.
Hidden in a nearby bush, three figures lay in wait, watching everything unfold.
The footsteps drew closer. With a roar, more than a dozen tall shadows slowly emerged from the forest.
The creatures were huge and muscular—each nearly twice the height of a Warrior Captain—but unbearably ugly. In their hands they carried crude wooden clubs that looked like uprooted branches.
Trailing behind them were roughly fifty smaller figures, short and green-skinned. Goblins—the very targets Naohara and the others had come to hunt. Each one looked wretched and sleazy.
"Oh? Didn't expect trolls too."
Crouched in the bushes, Naohara sounded pleasantly surprised. He'd assumed it would just be Goblins. This was a nice little bonus.
"Goblins and trolls, huh?"
Herohero's tone was flat as he observed the monsters. With his detection ability, he gauged the trolls at around level 10, while the Goblins were mostly level 6.
At that level, he felt like he could spit and wipe them out.
"This is what adventure's about. You never know what you'll run into."
Momonga sounded genuinely pleased. This was exactly the kind of unpredictability he'd been hoping for. Compared to the rigid structure of a game, this felt far more alive.
That said, he was a little disappointed. He'd secretly hoped they might run into some rare individual.
As a hoarder at heart, Momonga was fascinated by anything out of the ordinary. If there had been a special Goblin among them, he would have considered bringing it back to Nazarick to raise.
Unfortunately, it seemed the Goblins of this world had missed their chance at a meteoric rise.
"Alright, Blackie, Momonga—let's go. I'll take the lead."
Still lying in the bushes, Naohara suddenly shouted, pulled out his "junk" weapon, and—before the other two could react—charged straight at the trolls and Goblins.
Trash Weapon Name: Genesis Dragon Knight Sword
Grade: Relic
Description: A weapon forged from dragon fangs. The blade is silver-white and engraved with magical patterns. Comes with the ability: Minor Armor Break. (Pairs with the Genesis Dragon Knight Armor. When used together, grants additional attribute bonuses.)
"That's dangerous, Naohara! I'll back you up!"
Maybe he'd gotten too immersed, but Momonga's first reaction was genuine concern. He grabbed his staff and rushed after him.
Herohero remained in the bushes for a second longer, staring at the two of them in disbelief. Then he sighed, drew his dagger, and leapt out as well.
If he waited any longer, there wouldn't be anything left for him to do.
"Humans?"
"Reinforcements?"
"Only three?"
"Kill them."
"Eat them."
The trolls and Goblins turned at the noise. When they saw only three opponents, their initial hesitation vanished. Their bullying instincts flared up instantly. In their eyes, Naohara and the others were nothing more than a free meal.
Free food was free food.
"Oh? You're not running—you're charging at me instead?"
Watching the trolls and Goblins roar as they rushed toward him, Naohara grinned.
He slowly raised his sword overhead, gripping it with one hand. Keeping his strength suppressed to roughly level 30, he swung lightly forward.
He activated his class skill.
[Sword Saint].
"Slash."
The air split apart in an instant. As Naohara murmured the word, a massive blade of energy burst forth and tore violently toward the trolls and Goblins.
"???"
Before the monsters could even react, the enormous slash cut through them like paper. A faint metallic scent of blood spread through the air.
Trees were cleaved apart. Flesh was ripped open. A deafening roar echoed across the forest as the attack plowed forward, smashing through everything in its path before finally disappearing into the distance.
A massive, straight fissure split the earth, stretching far into the depths of the forest.
"…Damn. I think I overdid it."
Naohara's expression stiffened as he looked at the devastation. He might have killed a few too many. These were all living beings, after all. He was supposed to leave some for Momonga and Blackie.
"Naohara! We agreed on one-third each! What do you think life is, huh?!"
Just as he feared, Herohero rushed over with dark lines practically hanging over his head and began complaining.
"Alright, alright. Just count the extras against my share."
Momonga stepped in with a smile when he saw Naohara completely wilt under Herohero's scolding. While mediating, he discreetly snapped a photo with his camera.
Nice. This one would make a great addition to their adventure album.
"Momonga, you spoil him too much."
"If it were you, Herohero, I'd do the same."
"…Is that so? Fine. I'll let it go this time."
Herohero fell silent for a moment before dropping the issue. Momonga was just too kind—it made it hard to stay annoyed.
Besides, he had only meant to tease Naohara. Actually getting angry? Impossible. If he ever truly got angry at Naohara or Momonga, the world would probably end first.
"Alright, go finish them off. I've pinned them down for you."
Naohara gestured toward the remaining trolls and Goblins still alive.
Earlier, he had quietly activated [Dragon Aura], suppressing any monster that survived [Slash] and locking them in place so they couldn't scatter.
If they started running everywhere, it would be troublesome. He might enjoy the chaos, but Blackie and Momonga hadn't even gotten started yet.
"Then I won't hold back."
Herohero walked calmly toward the trembling trolls and Goblins, who were crushed to the ground under the oppressive force. Without hesitation, he activated his skills.
It was "common knowledge" that Goblins and Trolls didn't feel pain, so he didn't need to worry about being too cruel.
[Fighter's Will]
[Impact Punch]
He slowly put away his dagger, raised his arm, and casually threw a punch.
A burst of air exploded outward. From his fist, a massive shockwave erupted, transforming into a devastating force that surged toward the immobilized trolls and Goblins.
"Boom!"
There was no resistance at all. Under that overwhelming force, the Goblins and Trolls instantly lost consciousness. Compared to Naohara's attack, their deaths were even more brutal—their bodies exploded into a cloud of blood mist and scattered into the air, leaving nothing behind.
"Nice."
Herohero nodded in satisfaction at his handiwork. It had been a long time since he'd enjoyed crushing weak enemies like this.
"Tsk. You're pretty ruthless."
Naohara clicked his tongue from the side. Compared to his own strike, Herohero's was far more violent. At least he hadn't buffed himself, and he'd even left some intact corpses behind.
"Sorry, Momonga. I think I accidentally killed part of your share too."
Herohero glanced at Momonga sheepishly. Like Naohara, he'd overdone it. Only around ten Goblins were still alive.
"See? You're the same as me. And you still had the nerve to lecture me earlier."
Naohara jogged over and thumped Herohero on the shoulder, grinning as he teased him.
"It's fine. Aren't there still about ten left?"
"That's enough for me."
Momonga smiled and quietly took another photo of the three of them. Their first completed mission. Definitely worth adding to the adventure album.
[Grasp Heart]
Unlike Naohara and Herohero, Momonga chose not to charge in physically. He was a mage—magic suited him better. After thinking it through, he decided to handle this gently.
He slowly reached out and grasped a translucent, illusory heart in midair. Then he clenched his fist.
A Goblin in front of him collapsed instantly.
"Hmm… that actually feels pretty good."
Momonga recalled the sensation of crushing the heart and found it oddly satisfying. He raised his other hand and continued casting.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
The sound of bursting hearts echoed repeatedly. Momonga smiled as he toyed with the phantom hearts before crushing them one by one.
Within a few dozen seconds, all the remaining Goblins were dead under [Grasp Heart].
"So? Was it fun?"
Naohara walked over and patted Momonga's shoulder with a grin.
"Not bad at all. Now I kind of regret not going first."
Momonga joked lightly.
"Want me to revive the Goblins and Trolls so you can kill them again?"
Herohero stepped forward, producing a scroll from his hand. Sealed inside was the sixth-tier spell [Raise Dead], capable of reviving recently deceased beings within a fifty-meter radius—though only those below level 30.
"It's possible… but forget it. There's no need to disturb the dead."
Naohara shook his head and rejected the suggestion.
He didn't object to killing. But resurrecting the dead purely for entertainment didn't sit well with him.
Killing for a purpose was one thing. Killing just for fun was unnecessary.
"Alright. Your call."
Herohero put the scroll away.
[So Naohara doesn't like that sort of thing. I'll be more careful next time.]
He personally felt no burden about reviving the dead for amusement. What mattered to him was that Naohara and Momonga were happy.
Momonga also nodded, silently committing Naohara's words to memory.
Don't toy with life without reason.
"Let's head back."
They cut off a piece of ear from the Goblins and Trolls as proof of subjugation, then used magic to duplicate enough to meet the quest requirements.
As they were leaving, Naohara paused for a moment. He lightly tapped the ground with his foot.
The earth shifted as if alive, rolling and folding in on itself, burying the remains of the Goblins and trolls beneath the soil.