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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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Of course, I couldn’t buy them, being broke. I immediately thanked the shopkeeper and went outside. While I was disappointed that I couldn’t buy the coveted item, the vambraces on my arms gave me a sense of security.
“Okay.”
I made up my mind. I’d diligently acquire equipment while hunting demons. Just buying a pair of Monster Hide Vambraces made a world of difference. What if I also bought those five-silver-coin Pigaksa boots?
“Truly perfect…!”
And if I also wore a vest sewn with small iron plates and lower body armor over my pants, would I just be a martial artist? I’d be a fantasy warrior. Since things had turned out this way, I might as well change classes to a warrior.
But I’m still too short on money.
What do I have to do to cover living expenses, martial arts training fees, and equipment costs? I can’t act cute and ask my aunt for allowance; there’s really no solution. Back then, I’d get an allowance just by massaging her.
“As expected, there’s no other way but to hunt stronger demons.”
With that resolve, I returned to my lodgings.
Whatever happens, I’ll get a good rest today.
Honestly, losing half a silver coin in one go was a huge loss. Even though I bought the Monster Hide Vambraces, my stomach ached… If I don’t rest, I’ll definitely get sick.
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The next day.
I immediately went to Haengdomun to look for work.
It had only been the day before yesterday that I’d finished subjugating the gobulins, but as I’d resolved, there’s no time to rest.
I’m not a shoe-obsessed poor person, but those five-silver-coins Pigaksa boots were too tempting. Honestly, the shoes I’m currently wearing were completely tattered from rough use.
Even soldiers covet good boots. In these times, there’s no hotter item than good shoes.
“Hmm.”
Thinking so, I scanned the bulletin board.
[Gobulin Sighting, Subjugation Requested]
There was a request to subjugate gobulins!
“Okay!”
Lucky me.
Now, let’s take a closer look.
This request didn’t seem to be from the authorities but from an individual. It seemed to have come from a village a bit further from here… The reward appeared to be one silver coin, but according to the information, it was a small settlement, so I should be able to clear it without any problems.
I immediately went and applied.
“I’d like to undertake the request about a small gobulin settlement discovered in a village.”
“Please wait a moment… Ah, here it is.”
The clerk, unfolding a ledger, said,
“No one has signed up yet.”
“Then put my name down,” I said, presenting my identification tag. “I’ll be waiting at Chunil Inn.”
“Alright.”
Shall I head to the inn then?
No.
“Let’s call Jaemison.”
I heard where he lived while we were drinking yesterday. It would be good to work with him since we’re already working. We’ve also worked together before, so there’s trust.
Let’s see, where did that guy say he lived? He definitely said Bangsam Inn… I can just go and call him. It’s not like we have phones.
I immediately headed to Bangsam Inn.
“Waiter!”
“Yes, sir. Are you lodging here?”
“Ah, no, that’s not it.”
I handed a copper coin to the waiter who greeted me and asked,
“Here. Is there a martial artist named Jaemison here? I’m a friend of his.”
“Jaemison…?”
“That strange guy who uses a weapon that looks like a trident with the middle prong removed.”
I gave him another copper coin, and the waiter’s face brightened.
“Ah! That gentleman is staying upstairs!”
As expected, there’s no such thing as privacy protection in this world. This waiter sold a guest’s information for a mere two copper coins. This guy was born in the wrong era; he’d quickly rise to manager if he worked at a Korean telecom company or bank.
“But he went out early this morning and hasn’t returned!”
“Hmm… Is that so?”
In a world without cell phones, there’s no way to contact someone in this situation. There’s no helping it. I wanted to work with Jaemison, but it can’t be helped.
“When he returns, please tell him his friend Kim Geun-hyeop came by in the morning about a new gobulin subjugation request and left. Tell him I wanted to work together but it’s a shame it didn’t work out.”
“Yes!”
Having received the coins, the waiter would fulfill his duty.
So I returned to Chunil Inn and waited for the gobulin subjugation team to gather. But this indefinite waiting was very tedious.
“Waiter! Two dumplings and green tea, please!”
“Yes!”
It’s no wonder martial artists gather at inns to eat dumplings and drink hwaju. Still, drinking before work wasn’t my style. I’m a responsible specialist.
Song wouldn’t do something like drinking before hunting demons. Thinking about that made me worship him even more.
I sipped my green tea with a reverent heart.
Slurp.
Drinking green tea and eating dumplings was so incredibly boring that I couldn’t stand it.
“Where’s my smartphone?”
Do I need to save up money and buy a book to carry around? People in the pre-smartphone era used to read books or newspapers while waiting. The time has come for me to do the same.
“Is anyone here for the gobulin subjugation!”
Just then, someone entered.
Finally.
“Over here!”
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A total of four people gathered this time.
Since it was a one-silver-coin job, five people weren’t necessary. So we agreed to divide it 250 copper coins per person.
“And I’ll emphasize this again, but if anyone flees during battle, they won’t get a share. This is only natural. If we risk our lives fighting and have to share with deserters, everyone will run away.”
“You’re right.”
The swordsman, Oh Geunsik, nodded.
“Understood.”
“Alright.”
Then Do Samcheol and Jang Yeomin, also swordsmen, replied.
Overall, they looked like ordinary, third-rate martial artists. You can’t judge a book by its cover, but their skills seemed mediocre. Well, I’m probably similar.
“Then lastly, does everyone have experience subjugating gobulins?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Me neither.”
“I’ve subjugated other smaller demons many times.”
“Hmm.”
I was the only one with experience.
It’s a bit concerning that everyone is a beginner, but honestly, gobulins aren’t difficult opponents. A martial artist can handle them sufficiently.
Moreover, the last job was a request from the authorities. The gobulin group was also company-sized. But this time, it’s a one-silver-coin job and they said it’s a small group, so even a beginner party should be fine.
“They’re not difficult opponents if you don’t get scared. I’ve subjugated a group of about thirty gobulins before, so just trust me.”
“Ooh!”
“During combat, if we gather and form a formation, there won’t be a problem. They said it’s a small group, so if we just maintain formation, no one will get hurt.”
“You sound reliable!”
I spoke confidently, and the three martial artist looked at me with trusting eyes. They seemed like they would listen well.
All we have to do is move according to principle and fight while maintaining formation.
This group is sufficient.
“Let’s depart then!”
So we got up and headed towards Sojichon, a village on the outskirts.
How can we find such a place without a map?
There’s no need to worry about that. We don’t need to look at the stars; they said it’s along the main road.
“Shall we practice our formations on the way? Would that be alright?”
“Not bad.”
“Here. Gather to form a line.”
At my suggestion, everyone came forward and drew their weapons. A four-person line formation. Kim Geun-hyeop, Oh Geunsik, Jang Yeomin, and Do Samcheol stood in order and swung their weapons.
Whoosh!
Everyone’s movements were clumsy, but fighting together mitigated those weaknesses.
“Next is the East, West, South, North formation!”
A four-person back-to-back formation covering all four directions. Everyone was a bit awkward, but they moved as instructed.
“Sufficient. Even just maintaining this formation will make it difficult for the gobulins to harm us.”
“Kim Geun-hyeop, you seem quite experienced?”
Oh Geunsik, the bald one, asked.
“Not that much. I’ve just been gaining experience subjugating smaller demons and now I’m just hunting gobulins.”
“Those vambraces… where did you get them?”
Jang Yeomin, who looked frail, showed interest in my vambraces.
“I bought them with the money I earned from subjugating gobulins. They’re made from Donjeogwi hide.”
“Donjeogwi! That’s a strong demon!”
Do Samcheol, the short one, exclaimed in surprise.
“Well, I didn’t hunt it myself. But it wouldn’t hurt to try hunting one later. If I keep gaining experience and improving my skills by subjugating demons, I’ll be able to someday. Now, let’s move again. We need to hurry to Sojichon.”
We arrived at the entrance of Sojichon quite late. My legs ached from the long march.
It’ll take some time just to go back and forth like this. In the future, I’ll need to consider the distance to the request location.
“We’re entering. Hey! We’re the martial artists who received the request!”
As I shouted, a head appeared above the village’s wooden fence.
“Request?”
“Yes. Didn’t this village put out a gobulin subjugation request?”
“Ah, yes. I’ll open it for you.”
Being a small village, the wooden fence was flimsy. Honestly, it wasn’t even at the level of a wall. Still, having a fence gave a sense of psychological security.
Creak.
The man opened the crudely made village gate.
“Welcome to Sojichon.”
“Thank you. Ah, I’d like to meet the village head.”
The village head is the representative of the village. I should coordinate with him regarding this request.
“I’ll guide you.”
We immediately headed to the village head’s house.
Even though it was the village head’s house, it wasn’t particularly large. It just looked a little more intact than the other buildings. A rural village in the Ming Dynasty era couldn’t be too grand.
“Village head! The martial artists have arrived!”
“Ah, you’ve arrived quickly!”
The village head came out and greeted us.
“Nice to meet you! I’m Joo Eul, the village head of Sojichon!”
“Hehehe, I’m Kim Geun-hyeop, the leader. Those friends over there are Oh Geunsik, Jang Yeomin, and Do Samcheol.”
“Nice to meet you!”
“Then, let’s talk business, no, work. Please tell us information about the gobulins.”
“Certainly. Come in.”
We entered the village head’s house and sat down.
“First of all, we put in the subjugation request right after a gobulin was spotted on the mountain over there.”
“One? Any other information?”
“I don’t know. One of the village youths witnessed a single gobulin, that’s all.”
Wait a minute.
This is a bit strange.
“Excuse me, village head. Didn’t the request clearly state a small group of gobulins? But saying only one was sighted, that’s strange?”
What is this?
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