Chapter 77 - 75: Denunciation

Chapter 77: Chapter 75: Denunciation

A Goblin Nest is probably the most conspicuous of all monster lairs.

There’s no need to even search for it. Just get close, and you’ll spot it in a heartbeat.

No, you don’t even need to look. All you have to do is smell.

The pungent stench—a mix of rotting food, feces, and blood; the messy pile of rocks resembling a large burial mound; the desolate and deathly silent surroundings... The whole scene was as jarring as a puddle of vomit on a white floor.

And in a crevice within that pile of rubble, there was a dark, deep cave entrance about half a man tall.

Small bones, broken pottery shards, and unidentifiable trash were scattered around the edge of the entrance, a clear sign that it was frequently used.

"Anyone who can bring themselves to enter a place like this must be a Divine Being."

Lying behind a rock on higher ground, Lu Wei pinched his nose in disgust. Even though they were still dozens of meters away, it already felt like he was bathing in the Ganges River.

"It’s a bit more spacious on the inside."

Mirana, who had experience entering a Goblin Nest, explained in a low voice, "You can barely stand up straight in the tunnels. The main cavern is usually several dozen square feet, depending on the number of goblins."

"If it’s a nest with a Leader Level Goblin, it’ll be even bigger."

"Well, I’d still prefer to deal with them out here, anyway."

Muttering to himself, Lu Wei looked at the few Little Greenskins sunbathing outside the cave and frowned. "But we can’t determine their exact numbers like this."

"Generally, the intel on Leader Level Monsters isn’t wrong."

Mirana analyzed seriously, "Especially with goblins. It’s rare for a colony to have two leaders. So, the discrepancy is likely in the number of Ordinary goblins."

"That’s probably why the two previous squads failed."

"Based on the current situation, there are probably more than twenty Ordinary goblins."

"That many... Should I be the one to lure them away?"

Lu Wei thought for a moment. "I remember the Leader Level Goblin almost never leaves the nest. So, I’ll lure the Ordinary ones away, and you can go in for a direct decapitation strike."

"That way, we can also avoid a situation where we both go in and are hampered by the confined space."

"...Alright."

Mirana considered for a moment, then nodded. "As soon as I’ve dealt with the leader, I’ll come help you right away."

’I don’t really need it, to be honest.’

’Besides, I want to test just how badass "Gravity Field" is,’ Lu Wei thought, shaking his head nonchalantly.

"Anyway, I’ll handle the Ordinary ones, you take the leader. Whoever finishes first backs up the other."

"If anything unexpected happens, retreat first. We can regroup and make a new plan later."

"Alright... Since the plan is set, let’s head back."

"Okay."

...

...

By the time the two had finished their Reconnaissance and returned to Moon Creek Forest, the sun had just begun to dip below the treetops.

Mirana needed to conserve her energy for the big battle tomorrow, so she sat perfectly still upon their return.

She was unresponsive when he tried to talk to her. Bored, Lu Wei decided to head back into the woods to catch a rabbit to supplement their dinner.

Meanwhile, as the two of them were enjoying their "life as a couple," the busy-all-day Furen and his three companions finally finished laying the foundation for the general store.

Their speed was nothing short of astonishing.

"Phew!"

Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Furen looked at the large pit before him and let out a long sigh of accomplishment. He suddenly realized that building a house seemed to be a pretty good workout.

He even felt as if his Physique had increased a little.

Of course, that might have just been his imagination.

After all, a Magic Dullard who couldn’t check their Attributes could only rely on feeling to roughly estimate them; it was impossible to get an exact number.

This would also make things very troublesome when it came time for his Professional Assessment.

"Sigh..."

Sighing helplessly, Furen tossed his shovel aside. He stopped thinking about such distant matters, went to the creek to quickly wash his face, and then returned, ready for dinner.

By the campfire, Bai Ya was slumped on the ground like a limp noodle, too lazy to even open her mouth.

"Is the soup ready?" Furen asked, looking at her.

"Mmm."

"Then I’ll call Zovir and Anna over to eat?"

"Mmm."

"Zovir! Anna! Time to eat!"

Furen shouted to the two small figures organizing goods in the distance, then ladled a bowl of soup for Bai Ya first.

"Here, for you."

"Just put it beside me. I’ll eat later."

Bai Ya squirmed listlessly. "So tired..."

"I told you last night, Swordsmanship isn’t something you can master overnight."

Furen sat down across from her and muttered, "You’re not a Magic Dullard. It would be great if you learned a few Magic spells. Even a Trick would be good."

"Mmm, I wonder how the Captain is doing..."

"Don’t worry, he’s definitely fi—wait, are you even listening to me??"

"I’m listening, I’m listening!"

Bai Ya managed to push herself up, mumbling, "But I don’t have money to buy a Skill Book. And even if I did, my Perception is so low that I can’t learn most Magic spells anyway."

"I can only learn the most basic Ordinary Combat Skills, and that’s it."

’Who are you calling Ordinary?!’

’Jump Slash isn’t Ordinary at all!’

’It’s an incredibly powerful Combat Skill!!’

Hearing this, Furen immediately got worked up.

’But considering Bai Ya was a bit slow on the uptake and just said whatever came to mind, so...’

’Wait!’

’So this is what she really thinks, isn’t it!’

"Even Ordinary Combat Skills require tremendous effort to learn!"

"And even with the most basic Combat Skills, if you keep practicing, one day you’ll be able to unleash immense power!"

Furen’s sudden outburst startled Bai Ya.

"Huh? What’s gotten into you? Why are you suddenly yelling?"

"I just don’t think you should be so quick to say you’re not good enough."

Furen frowned, his expression incredibly serious. "Your Perception may be low now, but you can definitely raise it with training. And if that doesn’t work, you can boost it with Equipment."

"But I can never change the fact that I can’t perceive the Magic Net."

"But even so, I haven’t given up on myself."

"So why should you give up on yourself?"

"Saying ’there’s nothing I can do’ when you run into a problem, instead of thinking about how to overcome it—that’s not the attitude an Adventurer should have when facing hardship!"

"Think about Lu Wei! Aren’t his kindness and courage worth learning from?!"

Staring at Bai Ya, Furen’s voice grew louder and louder until it bordered on a harsh lecture.

This was the first time he had ever spoken to Bai Ya in such a tone.

As for why, perhaps it was because Bai Ya’s recent defeatist attitude frustrated him with her untapped potential. Or maybe it was because he saw her as a true companion and wanted to see her rally.

Then again, maybe he was just trying to encourage himself.

In any case, Furen had clearly lost his composure.

He’d even scared Zovir and Anna so much that they didn’t dare approach.

As for Bai Ya...

"You..."

She stared blankly at Furen, seemingly unable to process what had happened, and it wasn’t clear if she understood the meaning behind his words.

Furen, however, had snapped out of it. He immediately regretted his harsh words and scrambled to apologize.

"I’m sorry, I got a little carried away. I just wanted to say..."

"Furen."

"Don’t take it to heart... Huh? Did you just call my name?"

"Mmm. Thank you."