Chapter 17: Back To Floor 1 (2)
I had declared that I would defeat the guardian of the 1st floor, but of course, that didnt mean right now.
After all, I still lacked the absolute specs, and it was obvious that I wouldnt even be able to properly fill the minimum contribution points.
What was important right now was to become stronger. And the fastest way to become stronger was, of course
The gacha.
Huh? What did you just say, Jonah?
It was the next day. This time, I was properly equipped with weapons, and Lydia, who was leading the way in the labyrinth, turned around.
Her bright red eyes stared straight at me. I, too, without avoiding her gaze, asked in a serious voice.
Miss Lydia. Could you lend me about 100 gold?
What do you need that much money for?
Lets see, to explain gacha in an easy-to-understand way
Gambling?
Absolutely not.
Why nooooot! Ill pay it back if I win!
Stop talking nonsense. Just get ready for battle. Theres a goblin up ahead.
I know that too. Ill be right back.
I briskly walked past Lydia. There was an area with an uneasy feeling about 5 meters ahead, near a thick tree.
Its plan must be to wait atop the tree, then jump down and kill whoever fell into the hidden trap.
It must have thought it was thoroughly camouflaged, with the trap covered with a thin layer of soil and it hiding among the branches
But true to goblin nature, the execution was somewhat sloppy.Updated from novelbIn.(c)om
If you look closely at the trap, its outline is visible through the dirt, and the goblin, though hiding, seems unable to stay still, constantly rustling.
With a bit of attention, it was a threat that could easily be seen through. Just the difficulty level youd expect from a first-floor monster.
I walked defenselessly forward, pretending not to notice, then the moment I neared the tree, I screamed loudly as if I had fallen into the trap.
Aaaah!
Gobureubut! Stupid little human! Become my husband!
The goblin, completely fooled, dropped from the tree with a gleeful expression. It seemed to use the momentum of its fall to strike me with its club, but
I wasnt actually trapped and unable to move, and I knew where the goblin was, so why let it hit me?
I dont understand why youre in heat for someone of a different species.
Muttering so, I kicked off the ground and leaped up. But once wasnt enough, so I aimed diagonally towards the tree.
Pa-pat!
I stepped on the trunk of the tree and jumped again in a triangular movement. The distance closed in an instant.
The goblin, who had only lifted the club above its head, was not yet ready to swing. I grabbed it with both arms wide open as if embracing it.
My smoothly curved arm dug into the goblins joints and then firmly restrained it.
Gobubbeut?!
Ahem. Lets go a bit deeper, Jonah. Youre more than skilled enough, Jonah.
Yayy!
But before that, come here for a moment.
Crouching in place, Lydia tapped the ground beside her. Curious, I crouched next to her, and there was a goblins crude trap.
Were going to disarm this.
If you know its a trap, cant you just avoid it? Why bother?
Even if you know its a trap, there are times you cant avoid it. Do you know the difference between a Wandering Goblin on the outskirts and a Hobgoblin in the central regions?
The civilization.
Overall, Hobgoblins are bigger and stronger, and occasionally, even have shamans, so theres definitely a racial difference.
But still, theyre goblins. The difference in specs wasnt tremendously large.
Therefore, the biggest difference was their way of life.
Wandering Goblins always move alone or in small groups, never exceeding three, living a barbaric life.
In contrast, Hobgoblins gather in dozens to form tribes, creating their own civilization and living systematically.
Hobgoblins have primitive huts and fences surrounding them, use a wider variety of tools, and have a clear class distinction.
Therefore, they disdain Wandering Goblins, considering them barbarians but since their sexual desire is just as strong, they exceptionally accept all the males that come their way.
Male goblins are said to never leave their home, not work, and spend their days mating until the end of their lives, hence called the breeding class.
Its a bit enviable, but when you consider that all their partners are goblins, the appeal quickly fades.
Wait. So, is that why Wandering Goblins get excited whenever they see me?
All the males must have gone to the Hobgoblins, leaving only females behind. Its clear that they get excited firsthand, regardless of species, if they see a male.
Shivering at the memory of the goblin that wouldnt take its eyes off my groin until the moment it died, Lydia started patting my head again.
I really wish she would do this with her armor off.
Correct. If Jonah goes deeper, it will be inevitable to clash with the Hobgoblins. Theyre not the strongest monsters, but they are the most numerous.
So, we need to know how to disarm traps?
Yes. Hobgoblins dont just throw traps hoping someone will get caught; they use them in a way that makes it impossible not to get caught. So, well practice in advance. If you cant avoid a trap, how to disarm it, and if youre already caught in it, how to escape.
Nodding, Lydia began to demonstrate on the trap that was in front of us.
Professional trap disassembly is quite difficult and complex, so only a few scouts have mastered it but goblin traps are crude. Anyone who is an adventurer should be able to do this much. Look at this. Easy, right?
Oh.
Afterward, as we made our way toward the center, we encountered several traps. However, as Lydia had mentioned, they all had a simple structure, making the disarming process straightforward.
Yet, after detecting and disarming traps multiple times, a thought suddenly struck me.
Goblins fight in a cowardly manner, so is there any reason for me, whos weaker than a goblin, to fight fairly with just a dagger and a crossbow?
Considering making traps like theirs wasnt a bad idea, I realized there must be other methods as well.
Thus, I decided to let my imagination wander. Specifically, into darker territories, pondering how I could tilt a fight in my favor.
Surely, this will prove to be useful someday.
