There were two more ambushes after that.
I stayed back as much as possible, only providing support when absolutely necessary, keeping watch on the front lines.
Goblins lunged out from the sides, swinging crude spears and daggers, or stones flew suddenly from the darkness.
But just advancing with the large shield held out front was enough to block them without taking any real damage, allowing an immediate counterattack.
It hit me then, for the first time, why in RPG party games the tank—second only to the healer—is so damn noble.
No wonder Kras, our current tank, seemed to have gained some real confidence compared to before.
"See that? One counter from me and it went flying!"
"You little shit, you're darting around like a pest. But good job anyway. Keep it up, you punk! You're a born vanguard."
Tomi was encouraging Kras now, unlike at the start.
Mouth like a sailor, but he knew how to handle people.
Hand a newbie to him, and they'd turn into the kind of employee who volunteers for overtime and weekend shifts out of sheer passion.
To avoid becoming a voluntary slave in your youth, you gotta watch out for guys like that.
Hope Kras doesn't go off the rails on him.
Things were going smoothly like that when the front-line soldiers suddenly halted.
"Captain! It's the exit!!"
"Exit?? Does this cave connect somewhere else?"
Ferio and I hurried forward to check it out.
The ground sloped gently downward into a wide, flat space where the ceiling had caved in. A crude analogy: like an open-top chamber pot tilted to one side.
Light filtered through the hole in the ceiling, and seeds must have blown in, because weeds of all sizes were growing here. The air felt cleaner for it.
The soldiers, squinting against the sudden sunlight, cautiously scanned the entrance as they filed out into the open space and formed up.
That was when it happened.
"Kyaaack!!"
"Goblins on the mound!! Two, three… damn it! Over thirty!"
"Orcs behind them too! Three of 'em!"
As the soldiers shouted urgent reports, the ground trembled lightly.
"Th-this is bad!! All units, scatter!"
With Ferio's frantic command, the goblins and orcs started hurling and rolling what looked like construction materials down the slope.
Stuff that'd probably become house beams or fortifications in a few days.
"Logs coming down!"
"Watch the rocks!!"
Ku-ku-ku-kung!!
Moments later, the roar and dust settled, and the screams faded.
"Sound off! Anyone hurt?!"
"Seven here, all safe!"
"Four including me, no casualties!"
The squad had scattered left and right from the entrance.
I was with a shield soldier, a rearguard, and Ferio—four on the right.
I took the chance to learn the two soldiers' names: Kerry and Enis.
We quickly checked each other for wounds and assumed defensive positions.
"Well, this is…"
We stared at the pile of materials they'd dumped and rolled down—right over what had been the entrance.
Not impossible to clear with time, but…
"They won't just let us, will they?"
They hadn't blocked us coming in, only now on the way out. Their intent was clear.
Let's throw down right here!!
The orcs and goblins atop the mound glared down at the soldiers in unison.
"Just need to blow the whistle and the match starts. Hey, Ferio, what now?"
Ferio kept her eyes on the enemy, drawing her emergency dagger once to check it, inspecting her gear and positions overall. Final pre-battle checks.
She finished, drew her sword, and pointed it at the foes.
"Got it. Understood."
The goblins and orcs advanced slowly, pressing down on us.
"Fire the signal flare."
Shiiik!!
"Kraaack!!"
A goblin's scream from my arrow kicked off the clash between our lines.
I loosed one more shot, dropped the bow, and raised a spear from the ground.
Adrenaline surging, a goblin half my size charged with an arrow in its gut, ignoring the wound as it shrieked.
I'm no Legolas. Never expected one-shots anyway.
That's why they say the king of weapons is the spear.
Puk!
The spear—thicker and sturdier than any arrow—skewered the charging goblin in an instant.
But there was more than one. With the weight added, I swung it straight at another incoming goblin.
That's when blood sprayed from the side.
Ferio had sliced the arm, then neck, of a goblin trying to flank me—the splatter from that.
No time for thanks. Just noted my comrade's reliability and eyed the next target.
The shield soldier—Kerry—was why only a few goblins came our way.
She single-handedly blocked four with shield bashes and swings.
But she couldn't cover every angle, and one had latched onto her back, stabbing away.
Looked like a soldier jamming a grenade into a tank.
Couldn't let that slide.
I ditched the heavy skewered spear and charged, drawing my ever-present sharp hunting dagger. Peeled the goblin off Kerry and stabbed its throat and lungs like finishing game.
Even a raging beast doesn't last without air.
The mortally wounded goblin collapsed, convulsing, foaming blood, then went still.
Kerry bled from her back but held the shield firm.
Meanwhile, Ferio and I flanked her shield, carving and stabbing the goblins pressing in.
Enis behind us jabbed and swung her spear to guard the rear.
A small, solid formation took shape.
…
Oddly, not a word passed between us. No time for it.
It was pure chaos in just 2-3 minutes.
We'd moved on pure trained instinct.
Talk only when truly needed.
"Front! Orc incoming…!!"
Before the words finished, a massive axe buried into Kerry's shield. The impact staggered her, and goblins body-slammed the shield, toppling her.
"Enis! Help!"
"Yes!"
At Ferio's order, Enis rushed the goblins about to hack Kerry.
The formation shattered, turning into a total melee.
Enemies and I alike struck at visible or easy targets.
No clear command—just survival.
We eyed each other warily, fighting when allies joined, retreating when foes piled on.
Of course, some targeted specifically.
Ferio beelined for the orc that broke our line, slashing obstacles.
Its stance, gear—it was the monster boss here.
On horseback, it'd be a duel right now.
The orc eyed her too.
I dropped the spear, drew my sword, and rammed the blade into a charging goblin's side.
Splitting bone even in a small body ain't easy.
Can't leave it stuck.
I spun big, sawing the sword out like a rip.
Only then did blood pour, turning the wound fatal.
Fuck!!
Drawing a bloodied blade never feels good.
A curse slipped out in my native tongue without thinking.
Yeah, this is fantasy.
Dungeon monster hordes. Boss raid in a closed space.
But why the fuck does it suck so much!!
Because the raid boss is just an orc?
No.
I'd been in the zone, body moving before thought, marveling at my growth even amid life-or-death stakes. A quiet pride.
Then it shattered, mood souring.
"Aaagh… Mom, sa… save me!"
That voice. From the goblin I'd just gutted.
Second time now.
First time, I thought Kerry was in mortal danger and glanced back.
But… goblins speak human?
Brain reeled, but body screamed Goblin! Kill! and speared its chest to finish.
Naturally, without pause.
Just moments ago, goblin noises were mere shrieks.
Mob chatter—I never really listened.
But they were talking.
About family, no less. Gratingly human.
Clutching its side with both hands, weapon dropped, collapsing—surely no fight left?
Yeah. Let this one slide. Slide.
Plenty more dangerous ones.
"H-help!! Somebody!!"
Again? Again?!
This time an ally. Familiar voice.
Kras, separated on the other side, swarmed by three goblins.
One clung to his back.
He'd shake it, two rushed front; he'd face front, the back one choked or battered him.
Like an uncle tormented by bratty nephews—but leave it, and uncle dies.
Shook off the unease, headed there. Spotted my dropped bow.
Kras, hold still!!
He listened mid-fight. Good! Stay put!
Goblins froze at my sudden support.
One. Two. Three. Each took an arrow, stumbling or falling.
"Kyaaak… y-you first!"
"K-kill you!"
One-shots are a pipe dream.
Arrow-hit goblins raged at me instead of Kras.
But I'm pissed too.
"You bastards!!"
Furious Kras cleaved a turning goblin's head.
Splat! Crunching crack.
The other two whipped around too late—I was right there.
Sliced one's neck; head lolled at an impossible angle as it dropped.
"Kya!? Kaa…"
Last one dropped its weapon, collapsed voiceless.
Will lost. What now?
Hesitated.
"You dog!"
Kras stabbed its gut. No choice.
We're in battle. Can't judge right or wrong now.
"See that? I got two!"
You okay?
"What're you saying?! Shut up—I'd have won without you! See? I got two!"
Got it. Got it.
Ego boost or battle high?
Anyway, not time to bicker with allies.
Spotted Ferio dueling the boss orc—bigger, better armed.
Sword and axe clashed; axe shattered. Turned to fisticuffs.
Raw strength difference—soon Ferio fell, orc mounted, fist raised.
"Hey! Where you going?! Can't even finish a goblin, punk!"
No time for Kras.
Rescue Ferio from the pummeling first.
Hold on, please hold! Ferio, don't die!
Positioned, nocked my last arrow.
Shiiik!
Like a chain-smoker's focus.
Arrow nailed the King Kong orc's nape mid double-fist slam.
It screamed, clawing at the shaft.
Ferio!!
Ferio, shielding her face with both hands, glanced my way.
Now!! Cut it down!!
She lunged for her dropped sword.
Orc weakened, choking on the arrow.
Grabbed it one-handed, twisted, slashed its throat clean.
Log-thick muscled orc neck, sloppy one-hand swing…
Sschwick!!
…severed perfectly!?
Magic!? Magic sword!?
Yeah, a chill gleam flashed on the swing.
Ferio stared at the blade, not the head.
More shocked by the clean cut than surviving.
"Kirgil, did you activate this?"
Me? I didn't do anything special?
"Wait, you're speaking that other language again."
"Huh? Oh! Right. Native tongue slipped out without thinking."
Tension regressed my mind or something.
"Cursed Ferio a ton. Good no one understood."
"Insulting a knight as a commoner can mean punishment. Be careful around others."
Even now, she takes jokes seriously.
Times like this, drop ranks and trade barbs—that's the fun.
This woman's such an asocial dork.
"Oh right. Not the time?"
Romance of the Three Kingdoms, medieval war flicks—they all have that post-boss ritual.
Blood and guts stench was familiar now.
I grabbed the orc's severed head and handed it to Ferio.
She got it instantly.
Raised the head high and bellowed at the fighting soldiers and goblins.
"Soldiers of Prosek! Hear me! The enemy leader is slain! We have victory!!"
With the lord's name, victory declared—our soldiers cheered.
Goblins and orcs visibly panicked, instant losers.
Our dozen or so turned the tide, roaring like hundreds, charging fearlessly.
This is the momentum of victory buff, huh.
Before long, the dungeon—no, orc and goblin sweep wrapped up.
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Read 291 more chapters ahead on NovelDex!
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