Chapter 3
Baru stepped out of the blacksmith’s shop.
A patched brown leather jerkin now covered his torso, and a battered iron sword hung at his waist in a frayed scabbard.
Only twelve copper coins remained in his pocket. These two items had drained nearly all his savings. According to the blacksmith, this iron sword was magically enchanted with *Sharpness*—its blade would stay razor-sharp no matter how many monsters it felled.
Normally, it’d cost at least ten gold coins. But the kind-hearted smith took pity on him—a kid trying to make his way in the world—and sold it at a huge loss.
*What a saintly boss!*
*Once I earn money, I’ll repay his kindness.*
Remembering the smith’s "kindly" smile as he took the coins, Baru patted his sword hilt. Energy surged through him.
*This must be what they call meeting a benefactor right at your doorstep.*
He sprinted toward the Adventurers’ Guild.
When he emerged again, a silver metal card rested in his palm—his official adventurer ID.
He’d accepted a lowliest Grade-G quest: clear a goblin den spotted on the Verdant Wilds outside the city.
Reward: fifty copper coins upon completion. Plus three coppers per goblin ear.
Though the guild counter lady urged him to form a party, he refused. Splitting the fifty coppers? No thanks.
Goblins were the weakest, dumbest monsters—child-sized, magic-less, and brainless. He was certain he could solo this.
...
South of the city, after half a day’s run, Baru reached his destination: the Verdant Wilds.
Endless green grass stretched before him, dotted with sparse trees.
He found the goblin cave on the southern edge without trouble.
Two dim-witted goblins wandered aimlessly near the entrance.
Baru swallowed hard. Crouching low, he crept through the tall grass toward them.
The goblins remained oblivious.
Seizing his chance, Baru leaped from the grass. Holding his breath, he swung his sword with all his might at a goblin’s neck!
*Swish!*
The goblin’s head flew off, confusion frozen on its face.
The headless body thudded to the ground.
Baru’s eyes widened. He panted heavily, foul-smelling blood splattering his face. The kill ignited his blood; his heart hammered wildly in his ears.
*Ha... haha! I did it!*
Grinning at the corpse, he turned just as the second goblin screeched and charged.
*Swish!*
Another slash. The second goblin collapsed, spraying blood.
*So weak!*
Baru stared in delight at his expensive iron sword. Sunlight glinted off its silver blade. *Maybe it’s not that goblins are weak... this magic sword is just that strong!*
*What incredible luck—to meet such a generous smith!*
Glancing at the dark cave mouth, Baru grinned again. He slipped inside.
Darkness swallowed the cavern. Faint light from the entrance barely outlined the space.
Baru inched forward—then *crunch*. He’d stepped on something.
Bones. Small animal bones, picked clean of flesh.
He’d worried only two goblins lived here. But these bones meant more. *More goblins... more copper coins on legs.*
Deeper he went. The darkness thickened. Even with adjusted eyes, shapes blurred.
Regret prickled him. *Should’ve bought a glow lamp for a few coppers.* Too late now—returning to town would waste hours.
*It’s just goblins. I could kill them blindfolded.*
Gritting his teeth, he pressed on.
But the blackness deepened until he could barely see his hand before his face. The stench worsened too—a rotting-corpse reek from the slums’ sewers. He gagged, bile rising.
Then—a scrawny goblin appeared ahead in the gloom.
*What now?*
Baru strained his eyes, gathering every shred of light. *One more kill. Just one. I’ll buy a lamp tomorrow. Gotta earn enough for a meal.*
Decision made. He lunged, sword raised to cleave the goblin’s head—
—and caught a sly smirk on its face. *You fool!*
The goblin flicked its wrist. *Splat!*
Mud-like filth slapped Baru’s face, oozing into his eyes. The source of that stench. His stomach heaved; he vomited violently.
Danger screamed in his mind. Ignoring the vomit, he scrubbed his face with his sleeve.
*“Agh!”*
White-hot pain exploded behind his right knee. He whirled. Another goblin—hidden by darkness—had circled behind him. It gripped a crude nail-studded club, slick with Baru’s blood.
*“Damn you! Die!”*
Fear and rage drowned his thoughts. Ignoring the pain, he spun and slashed at the ambusher.
But this time—the goblin’s head didn’t fly.
The once-razor-sharp blade *jammed* in its neck.
*Notched?!*
Baru’s heart leaped into his throat. *Wasn’t this supposed to be enchanted with Sharpness?!*
*Notched after two goblins?!*
*Damn it—*
A heavy *thwack* slammed against his back. He stumbled, trying to yank his sword free. *It’s notched, but I can still stab—*
Despair hit him. The goblin’s bones had locked the blade tight.
*Forget the sword.*
He dropped the hilt, snatched the fallen club, and whirled to face the other goblin—
—and froze.
A searing fireball shot from the cave’s depths.
Terror turned Baru’s blood to ice. He tried to dodge—but his wounded knee buckled.
*BOOM!*
The fireball exploded against his chest.
His cheap jerkin vaporized. Baru crumpled. Before darkness took him, he smelled his own flesh burning.
...
He woke in the goblin den.
A campfire crackled in the center. A crude rack of branches held roasting meat.
A goblin draped in garish robes stood before him, skull-topped staff in hand. It chattered angrily, scolding a dozen kneeling goblins.
Baru lay still, ravenous but unbound. *They think I’m dead.*
His chest was a charred ruin. For anyone else, it’d be fatal. But Baru? He’d survived a knife to the gut as a kid. Sleep healed him.
His eyes darted. His notched sword lay nearby. And the robed goblin—*the leader*—had its back turned.
*My only chance.*
Facing that spellcasting goblin head-on meant death.
Slowly, silently, Baru inched his hand toward the sword.
His fingers closed around the cold hilt. The shaman kept ranting, unaware the "corpse" was rising.
*“DIE!”*
Baru roared, driving the sword into the shaman’s heart with all his strength.
*Squelch.*
Bloodied steel burst from the goblin’s chest. It looked down, mouth bubbling crimson.
Baru gritted his teeth and yanked the blade free. The shaman collapsed.
The other goblins froze. *How’s the dead human alive? He killed our shaman?!*
*“RAAAAAGH!”*
Baru bellowed, a sound that shook the cave. Firelight painted his blood-smeared face into a demon’s mask.
Leaderless, the goblins shrieked and scattered into the darkness.
When silence fell, Baru’s legs gave way. He slumped to the ground, gasping. *Bluff worked. If they’d charged... I’d be dead.*
*Gurgle.*
His stomach growled louder. *Can’t stay.*
After catching his breath, he stood shakily. He sliced off the shaman’s ear and pocketed it. As he turned to leave, his gaze snagged on the skull-topped staff.
*Might fetch a few coins.*
He grabbed it—
—and a strange chime echoed in his mind.
【+1 Enhancement Point Obtained】
Enhanceable Skills: 【Unyielding Grit LV1】 【Basic Swordsmanship LV1】 【Slow Regeneration LV1】
Baru: “???”
