Chapter 10

"Where are you looking, you idiot! -- Charge!"

I kicked the head of the guy who had just popped his face out of the hole, facing in the wrong direction, while charging at full speed.

Well, well, things are going more smoothly than I thought.

It's currently 3 PM, and I leveled up to 5 around 9 AM.

I've already defeated four goblins, five horned rabbits, and two moles today, which is a decent amount of kills.

The water source seems to attract monsters, making it easier to encounter them. Since I've established a flow for defeating each type of monster, the time spent on each one isn't too much.

I've been moving and killing, moving and killing, so I should have covered a considerable distance by now.

By the way, unlike yesterday, today's movement is through the mountains, with a river nearby.

The skill of defeating skill-holding monsters.

Considering this point, it's better to actively defeat the stable targets like horned rabbits and goblins as much as possible.

Of course, the top priority is to head for civilization, so I won't deviate from the riverbank unnecessarily...

However, I've decided that it's more efficient to go through the mountains where encounters are more likely.

Especially, there are two types of goblins: unarmed and club-wielding.

Whether they are higher-tier individuals or rare variants, the possibility that different individuals of the same monster have different skills means it's better to defeat as many as possible to gather data for future growth.

By the way, all the goblins I've encountered today are unarmed.

As expected of a mob, the symbol of cannon fodder, it's sad that unarmed types are confirmed to have no skills.

Even though I got hit and scratched by them...

And then there's the mole lying on its back behind me.

Because of this monster, I ended up walking along the river yesterday, but I realized that avoiding it isn't an option given its valuable skills.

【Earth Magic】 is confirmed, and it was also revealed that it has 【Presence Detection】.

With two useful skills, it would be a clear loss to run away.

If possible, it's better to get the skill experience now.

Especially, 【Presence Detection】 seems to be more meaningful when I'm weak, and if I can obtain it, it might help me defeat more moles.

This isn't a safe town. It's a field where monsters roam freely.

Of course, I value my life and don't want to die, but being too timid and passive will cost me the chance to survive.

Because I don't want to die needlessly, I will hunt the valuable enemies.

That said, I'm not challenging the mole without a plan.

Even now, if it targets my head, there's still a possibility that my head will cave in, so it's still a source of fear for me.

So I think and analyze.

The last time I encountered it, it cast a spell from about 10 meters behind me.

Despite the 5-second delay before the stone generation.

This means the mole must have emerged from the ground immediately after I passed and cast the spell.

Otherwise, the distance between me and the mole would have been much greater.

So, I came up with a strategy to make it emerge by using its 【Presence Detection】 against it.

Both pockets of my jacket are stuffed with pebbles.

They're a bit heavy and reduce my mobility, but if I throw them about 10 meters ahead, it sometimes pops its head out.

That was the pattern just now.

While it can appear on the side, this greatly reduces the chance of a surprise attack.

Alright, let's go.

I can move for another two hours until the sun sets.

Just as I started walking, I heard a sound.

"What...? A voice... a goblin? No, it's different... a woman, or... a human?... A human!?"

I couldn't help but look around, my face lifting.

A voice, gradually getting louder, was a scream and a shout.

The urgency of the situation made my skin prickle, but the thought of possibly meeting a living human took precedence.

My feet moved forward on their own.

I ran, almost losing my shoes, and threw away the pebbles in my pockets.

If there's a human voice, there must be a settlement nearby.

Finally, finally, I can step into the human world... but that's a thought for later!

First, I have to help.

I don't want to see any more dead humans.

The voice gradually grew louder.

Not just a woman, but men too. Multiple people?

It would be bad to enter the mole's detection range.

Strangely, a mole has its head out in front of me.

Is it targeting someone coming this way, or is it not looking at me?

Then it's in the way. Crush it before it notices me!

(Charge!)

I kicked the mole hard and moved forward... There!

Two men and one woman!

An unarmed woman and a man with a basket are heading this way, while another man is guarding the rear, swinging a knife.

...Two goblins... no, three.

Seriously... they're training.

Moreover, the goblin in the center is wielding a sword I've never seen before.

It's holding a long sword, at least a meter long, with a shiny blade...!

What should I do...

My rule is to immediately retreat if there are more than two.

But these three have no will to defeat the three goblins... they've probably given up and are running.

If I let them lead the goblins, they'll eventually be caught and die.

...They all look like children, about my age.

Ah... Ah!!

There's no choice but to do it!!

I shouted at the boy with the knife.

"Hey!! Over here! I'll take two!! Can you handle one!?"

"Wh-What are you saying! Calm down first!!"

There's no time to coordinate.

I'll do what I have to do.

The enemies are on the left, center, and slightly to the right... so I'll take the center and left.

I moved to the left, looking at the knife-wielding man coming this way.

I can't worry about you, so you have to handle one.

I'm sorry... but I'm weak too, just like you.

Phew... a deep breath.

I threw my bag, took a screwdriver in my right hand, and a flashlight in my left.

With two at once, I can't use my usual strategy of shining the flashlight to stop them and then stab them.

The other one will float.

Then what should I do...

I have to take the initiative!

I ran towards the goblins.

The two goblins stopped in surprise and then braced themselves.

The sword-wielding goblin is in a high guard position...

Aim for the face.

No, a direct attack is tough, and I might not be able to pierce the chest... so the throat!

Stay there and take it.

(Charge!!)

I closed the distance in a flash when I was about 3 meters away.

First, I aimed for the sword-wielding goblin, who would definitely be a problem if left alive.

I aimed the flashlight and thrust the screwdriver into its throat with both hands.

Thud...

"Gyaaah!"

Damn! It slipped and went to the side!

I immediately hit the sword-wielding goblin with the flashlight.

"Gyaaah..."

It's not dead yet, but it's crouching and holding its head, so I'll go for the other one.

I stepped on the dropped sword and shone the flashlight at the second unarmed goblin coming towards me.

"I'm used to this flow!!"

One hit to the head with the screwdriver, first one down!

Next...!

"Ugh...!?"

When I turned around, the goblin I had hit with the flashlight was glaring at me, swinging its arm from a crouched position.

It hit my side... but it's just painful and makes breathing difficult. I can handle this.

The goblin, bleeding from its neck and head, was in a bad state...

But its eyes were still full of anger, showing no sign of giving up or running.

As expected of a monster.

It doesn't seem to have the option to retreat.

Behind it, I could see the bloodied boy with a knife sneaking up.

So, you managed to take one down...

You're trying to stab the goblin from behind while it's focused on me.

You've shown courage to face the monsters and managed to take one down, so why are you training...?

But that's a great impromptu teamwork.

The boy, now in range, ran towards the goblin with his knife.

The goblin, noticing the sound, turned around, but the boy was right in front of it.

It was too late for the goblin to react.

Thud...

So, I stabbed it.

I grabbed the goblin's head as it turned and aimed for the throat.

"Wha-?"

The boy muttered something, but I couldn't hear it.

I could clearly see his shock.

But, boy...

We're not in a party.

I was the first to attack after entering combat mode—

'Level up to 6'

The experience value for the 【Swordsmanship】 skill this goblin likely has, and the right to the last attack, are mine, right?