Last updated: Jan 17, 2026, 11:05 p.m.
View Original Source →"I'm Allen. I’m here regarding the quest to cull the Goblins."
"Oh, so you’ve come. I am the village head. You’re quite the young lad, aren't you? Well, I’m counting on you. No one has stopped by for nearly half a year, and we were beginning to worry."
After exchanging greetings with the elderly village head, I was shown to a small hut where I’d be staying. Per the contract, the village provided lodging free of charge, though I was responsible for my own food and water.
The reward for the hunt was 1,500 Cent per Goblin. That price included the value of the Magic Stone required as proof of the kill.
From an adventurer's perspective, Goblins were bottom-tier targets. You couldn't eat the meat; their weapons were usually tattered, useless junk; and unless you stumbled upon a rare, oversized specimen, their Magic Stones fetched a pittance. To make matters worse, they hunted in swarms, making them a genuine lethal threat. They were the definition of high-risk, low-reward.
If they had established a nest, like the one in the Royal Capital ruins, you might find a hoard of stolen treasures. Otherwise, they were a waste of time for anyone looking to make a living.
Because of those circumstances, a village had to offer at least some amenities to entice adventurers to visit. Even with free lodging here, however, the lack of complimentary food and water meant my daily living expenses ran about 2,000 to 3,000 Cent.
It’s no wonder nobody has come here in six months, I thought. Once I’m finished leveling up, I doubt I’ll ever take this job again either.
The following morning, I set out toward the Goblin Labyrinth.
Cradled in my arms was an AK-47-style automatic rifle I had created using my 【Alchemy】 skill. I called it "Karashi." The name was, naturally, derived from the Kalashnikov.
Instead of using gunpowder to propel the rounds, this version utilized Wind Magic to fire bullets with high-pressure air bursts.
I’d struggled immensely with the magazine and reloading mechanics. I had been developing it in parallel with the Vuitol, and today finally marked its first official deployment in live combat.
Why am I so well-versed in firearm mechanics? That’s easy. I was a massive gun nut in my previous life.
Back then, I was obsessed with planes and guns; my childhood dream was to be a fighter pilot. In university, I’d even gone on tours through the former Soviet bloc and Southeast Asia specifically to experience test-firing, maintenance, and full disassembly of various firearms.
Though I ultimately ended up as an aviation engineer, I saw no reason to exercise "self-restraint" now that I’d been dropped into this world.
I spotted a Goblin in the distance, likely a stray that had wandered out of the labyrinth. I shouldered Karashi, took aim, and squeezed the trigger.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Out of the three shots fired, only one managed to hit the Goblin’s right chest. Accuracy was proving to be a challenge. I realized I needed to start splitting my time between sword practice and range training.
Crack!
I approached the slumped Goblin and delivered a final, decisive shot.
Unfortunately, I didn't yet have the marksman's touch required to hit vitals from a distance. If I couldn't rely on sniped headshots, I’d have to change my tactics.
I activated my Stealth skill to vanish from sight and began hunting for my next targets. Before long, I came across a group of three Goblins traveling together. I crept up behind them, closing the distance to a mere five meters before letting loose a full-auto spray.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
At this range, the spread didn't matter. The bullets shredded them where they stood. I walked up to the twitching bodies and put a round through each of their heads to ensure they stayed down.
"Ha... Haha. Wow. This is a piece of cake."
I felt a rush of adrenaline. At eight years old, a group of Goblins had been a walking nightmare, yet now I was wiping them out without breaking a sweat. Still, I made sure to stay professional. If I didn't burn the bodies, the scent of blood would just attract more monsters.
I extracted the Magic Stones and quickly incinerated the remains.
By the end of the day, I had culled fifteen Goblins in the surrounding forest. Satisfied with the day’s work, I headed back to the village.
"Here is today's haul: twelve Magic Stones from twelve Goblins. Village head, please verify the count."
I handed the freshly harvested stones to the old man.
"Hmm. Yes, quite right. Your Guild Card, if you please."
I held out my card. The village head produced his own—a different color than mine—and tapped it against mine.
Request Number: RR1STL154, Permanent Quest. Objective: Goblin Culling. Count: 12. Approved by Client.
With that, the completion was registered. This world could be strangely high-tech in the most convenient ways, but it was originally a poorly-balanced otome game world. If I start questioning the logic now, I've already lost, I reminded myself.
The next day, I returned to the hunt.
For the record, of the seven Goblins I hadn't reported yesterday, one stone had been shattered by a bullet, and the other six had been fed into my 【Alchemy】 to manufacture more ammunition.
Using my Stealth skill, I’d ghost behind a pack, turn them into Swiss cheese, finish off the survivors, and harvest the stones. Then, I’d burn the evidence. It wasn't even combat anymore; it was pest control.
After a week of this routine, the woods surrounding the village were effectively cleared. It was finally time.
I decided to head into the Goblin Labyrinth itself.
Hanging from my belt was a Magic Lantern that had cost me a staggering 300,000 Cent at the Guild.
It was a magic item powered by mana. I’d brought torches as a backup, but they were a hassle to carry, so I’d splurged on the luxury model. I probably could have made one myself with enough effort through 【Alchemy】, but since I couldn't use Fire Magic, the research would have been a nightmare. Some things are just easier to solve with money.
I moved slowly through the labyrinth, guided by the lantern’s steady glow.
The place wasn't exactly crawling with monsters, but I was ambushed roughly every five minutes. Sometimes it was a lone scout; other times, a pack of five would rush me.
Interestingly, while I kept Stealth active the entire time, I couldn't pull off a true "perfect" ambush. Even if the Goblins couldn't see me, they definitely saw the light from the lantern. They would wander over with confused expressions, trying to find the source of the floating light.
Of course, shooting them point-blank while they were distracted was still a surprise attack in its own way. I felt a bit like an anglerfish luring in prey.
The expedition proceeded without any real danger. I’d played through this area so many times in the game that I knew every turn by heart—along with the depressing fact that there was no good loot to be found here.
The Goblin Labyrinth consisted of five floors. The boss room at the bottom contained a Goblin Lord, two Hobgoblins, and two Goblin Mages.
I reached the bottom floor in record time. By then, the number of Magic Stones in my bag had easily surpassed a hundred. Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I shoved open the heavy doors to the boss chamber.
Creeeeeak...
Inside were the five bosses, exactly as expected. I leveled Karashi and opened fire on the Goblin Mages first. The best defense is an overwhelming offense.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
I emptied the magazine, leaving the two mages in a bloody heap before they could even finish a single incantation.
Switching gears, I used Wind Magic to whip up a gale, tossing a handful of sand I'd created via Transmutation into the remaining bosses' eyes. I owed a debt of gratitude to that perverted God for the 【Chantless】 skill. No matter the source, a skill is a skill, and this one was a godsend.
While they were blinded, I swapped in a fresh magazine. I activated Stealth, flanked the Hobgoblins while they were frantically searching for me, and unleashed a barrage into the back of their skulls.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
After dumping a significant amount of lead into their heads from five meters away, I vanished behind another smokescreen. I reloaded again and crept up behind the Goblin Lord.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!
I poured everything I had into the back of its head.
"GAAAAAAH!"
Despite being covered in gore, the Goblin Lord roared and swung a massive arm at me. As expected of a Lord-class; even in the game, their high physical defense and health bars were a nightmare. However, I’d planned for this.
I grabbed several Goblin Magic Stones I’d harvested earlier and used Transmutation to create a specialized "water balloon." I chucked it directly into its face.
Upon impact, a clear liquid splashed across its eyes.
"GYAAAAAAAAAAAH!"
The Goblin Lord collapsed, clutching its face in agony. The "secret weapon" was simple: a highly concentrated solution of capsaicin—essentially, liquid pepper spray. "Karashi" (Mustard/Pepper) indeed.
I showed the blinded, writhing Lord no mercy, pumping round after round into its body.
Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat... Click.
Empty. The Goblin Lord was face-down on the stone floor, though it was still twitching. Even after being turned into a pincushion, it was still clinging to life. Its vitality was frankly absurd.
I took aim at its neck and cast Wind Cutter using my 【Wind Magic】 skill. I saw a thin line of red appear on its hide. I focused, firing off a rapid succession of blades at the exact same spot. Thanks to 【Chantless】 and 【Multi-Cast】, a relentless storm of vacuum blades carved deeper and deeper until, finally, the head and torso parted ways.
That thing was tougher than I thought, I mused. In the game, throwing chili powder would stun it for a few turns, so I’d prepared the liquid version as insurance. It was a good thing I did. If I’d gone in without it, I might have taken a hit that would have ended my run right there.
I definitely needed to re-evaluate my gear.
I quickly dismantled the corpse to retrieve the Magic Stone. The Goblin Lord’s stone was particularly important; presenting it to the Guild would grant me certification as a Labyrinth Conqueror—a significant boost to my adventurer's record.
As I mentioned before, there was no treasure chest waiting at the end. This labyrinth had been cleared long ago, and the original conquerors had cleaned it out. That lack of loot, combined with the low value of Goblins, was why this place was so unpopular.
I walked to the back of the room, where a polished black sphere floated in the air.
The Labyrinth Core.
I reached out and touched it. Instantly, I was enveloped in a warm light. A moment later, I was standing back at the entrance of the cave.
Feeling a deep sense of accomplishment, I began the long, leisurely walk back to Stresen Village.
Author’s Note on Gunshot Sounds:
The "bang" or "crack" sounds typically associated with firearms aren't just from the gunpowder explosion; they are primarily the result of the sonic boom created when a projectile exceeds the speed of sound. Consequently, even an air rifle will produce a similar report if the pellet travels at supersonic speeds.
If you search for terms like "supersonic air rifle," you can find videos of high-powered air guns making these exact sounds. Please check them out if you're interested!
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