I-is This For Real?

As soon as I entered, a translucent window updated in front of my eyes.

It was a unique feeling in many ways.

Seeing something only seen in ‘GAL’ appear with such vivid three-dimensionality.

‘…The sensation of feeling extremely on the sensitive side, brushing against my skin as soon as we enter together.’

This was magic.
Hot yet cold.
A vast energy that was hard to define had filled this place.

Strength surged from within my body.

How should I put it?

It was like plugging energy drinks into every single pore of my skin.

Ma Hana, who was next to me, and Moon Bora, who had climbed up and were perched on her shoulders, both seemed to be quietly catching their breaths, indicating that this must be the norm.

‘…So this is a dungeon.’

Inside the gate, a completely different world unfolded, just as the words suggested.

The high-rise buildings we were just in, and even the ‘Hunters’ employed for surveillance and response, had all vanished, replaced by a jungle-like place where dense forests stretched endlessly.

With not a single proper path and grass reaching up to the waist, with giant trees densely packed, I could immediately understand why this place, ‘Goblin Village (D),’ was unpopular.

‘Wasn’t it a place where beast-type monsters appeared on a possibility?’

Though goblins were the main inhabitants, the average difficulty was not too high. Occasionally, beast-type monsters would appear and launch surprise attacks.

Just walking around here was enough to accumulate fatigue, and it was said that one must be prepared for a ’surprise attack’ at any time.

It was indeed understandable why it was avoided.

‘That’s why the subjugation was pushed to us.’

“Now, you two. Please focus.”

Leading like a true leader, SD version of Bongdae-du Moon Bora was briefing from atop the shoulders.

She had a cute in appearance, but the strange charisma she exuded was the dignity of someone experienced.

Woong!

Uniquely, blue flames seemed to flicker from the bodies of Moon Bora and Ma Hana, who carried her on her shoulders.

It might be startling at first glance, but knowing what it was and having been briefed before entering, I didn’t react much.

‘[Wave of the Mind].’

It was the passive skill of Moon Bora, who had become a ‘backup’ now.

The effect was the ability to continuously recover the mana, or MP, of the ‘Striker’ to whom she was bound.

Because of her passive skill, Moon Bora was often utilized in various combinations in the game, even if she was rejected as a dealer.

“First, we’ll organize the formation. Ma Hana will take the vanguard. Yu Seha, please handle the middle and rear. If you notice anything unusual, speak of it immediately.”

Then, as if she had forgotten to take the answer, she continued.

“And now, in this situation, if you have any [Traits] that could be helpful, please activate them immediately.”

At those words, Ma Hana closed her eyes tightly and then reopened them.

Her ordinary irises turned a yellow hue, and a cross-shaped pattern was engraved in the center.

[Night Vision]
One of the basic [Vision] system traits.

Though it was only of normal grade.
It allowed one to see well even in the dark and increased the maximum vision distance, making it a good trait to possess.

But it didn’t end there.

As she shivered, her hair stood on end and began to rise.

As if inflating one’s body to face an enemy.

‘…It seems she has learned all the basic skills.’

An obvious trait of the normal grade [Intuition]. It was a step higher than the Uncommon trait.

Ma Hana, being of the Myoin Tribe, had honed this trait to the point where it was virtually impossible to surprise her in combat.

Certainly, it was a good trait to possess, but it only becomes meaningful as it levels up.

For now, it was simply nice to have.

Anyway, that concluded my analysis of her.

‘I should activate my traits too.’

Whooosh!

“…!!!”

As soon as it was activated, a sudden sense of oddness overwhelmed me.

I unknowingly bent one knee.

“Mr. Seha?”
“Mr. Yu Seha!”

I raised my hand to the two worried people and smiled, showing I was okay.

Slowly, I stood up, limping.

Wow, this.

‘…this is tougher than I thought?’

It was red.
The color was red.
The entire world was red.

The greenish forest, once full of lush green, was now dyed red like surging flames, dancing as if being scattered by the wind.

I instinctively knew.
This red aura.
Considering all situations, it was a ‘crisis.’

‘…Seeing even the pebble right in front of me shine in red, it seems like even tripping is considered a crisis.’

This wouldn’t do.

Precisely, with my inexperience and a mental state of only [6], I couldn’t fully utilize this trait.

Taking a deep breath, I gradually narrowed the range.

‘I can do this…’

It was my first time, but it felt as free as if I were moving my own limbs.

‘That’s better.’

Now it felt more manageable.

As if no problems existed, I signaled, and Moon Bora, who had been watching me, nodded her head and quietly opened her mouth.

“…Then, we’ll start.”

Everyone, please focus.

Trudge, trudge.

20 minutes later, we were moving forward smoothly without encountering any crises.

Of course, the scene only appeared peaceful on the surface.
To my eyes, to my sixth sense, it wasn’t the case.

‘…Are they watching?’

A faintly reddish energy rose beyond the bushes.

At the same time, two circles that seemed to be eyes were tracking us like lasers.

It meant someone was watching over this place.

“I can’t tell if that’s a monster…or just a wild animal.”

It was my first time turning it on today, so I wasn’t really getting the feel of using it yet.

But I suppose I would adapt with more experience.

“You might already know, but the monsters that mainly appear here are goblins.”

As we walked, Moon Bora provided a lot of information under the guise of a briefing.

“Usually, they are the common type. That is… just a normal bunch without proper orders, but very occasionally, a superior grade appears.”

Superior grade.

A lineage that had evolved through specific experiences, triggers, the purity of magical power within the dungeon, and other complex reasons within the same species.

“…A superior grade?”
“Goblin Archer.”

Goblin Archer—its stats hadn’t changed much from a goblin.

But they had a bow, which was a threatening weapon to face.

They applied a special venom that would cause complicated status effects.

“Some of the more experienced ones have the [Precision Shooting] trait, making them very hard to evade, especially in a surprise attack.”

Having finished speaking, Moon Bora reached out to her waist.
A large glass bottle appeared in her hand.
The swishing red liquid was presumed to be a type of ‘healing potion.’

“Currently, we don’t have a proper healer with us. I’ve brought emergency potions, but please prioritize ending the battle safely without using them if possible.”

“Yes!”

“Understood.”

Indeed, Moon Bora was a reliable leader in the game, just as she had been before.

It wasn’t for nothing that my past self had chosen her.

Flinch.

That was when it happened.

My feet stopped moving on their own.

My head naturally turned.

Beyond the bushes.
It looked like several figures, like red paint that had been squeezed out too hard.

‘…A total of 4.’

Were those goblins?

‘No.’

They were much smaller in size and different in form than the goblins I knew.

Moreover, those creatures.

Even though they blatantly stuck their heads out and revealed themselves, their proper form caught the eye.

There was only one thing this implied.

‘Skill.’

And it was undoubtedly a [Stealth] category skill.

Tap. Tap.

I lightly tapped Moon Bora’s back and continued in a low voice.

“To the side, rear. There are monsters activating [Stealth].”

“…Where exactly?”

Moon Bora showed a puzzled look, but she was willing to listen to what I had to say.

“It’s roughly 80 meters to the side. Do you see the bush with the red fruits growing on it? They are clustered together inside. There are a total of four. They seem to be holding weapons… From the looks of it, they appear to be clubs.”

“…”

Accurate distance and location description.

Along with the number and the equipment they were holding.

Moon Bora looked at me with eyes that went beyond being perplexed, clearly bordering on disbelief.

Well, I understood her reaction.

It was the norm here not to expect anything from a man, let alone a female hunter, to be this competent.

‘…Still, it must hurt her pride a bit, doesn’t it?’

“…Understood.”

Moon Bora sighed lightly, as if to say it was a needless effort.

But the respect given was probably because the words came from a fellow party member.

Glancing briefly at the spot I had pointed out, she clenched her small, fern-like hands together.

With a stealthy presence, a blue light of magic began to swirl around.

Magic power condensed in mid-air, clashing and activating an astonishing energy.

It was classified as a [Skill], but this sensation was distinctly alien.

It was ‘Magic’.

In [Backup] state, the character’s skills and traits were sealed; instead, [Backup] exclusive skills were unlocked.

With very few exceptions, two types were provided: passive and active skills.

‘And this must be Moon Bora’s active skill.’

However, something felt a bit off.

More precisely, the magic’s wavelength was much stronger than I had anticipated, and the magic circle was more complex.

‘…Could it be a derivative skill?’

A higher concept of skill that naturally opens up when the original skill is refined to a certain extent.

Sure enough.

The unfolding scene immediately made me feel that my prediction was accurate.

“Haa!”

Moon Bora exhaled a short breath and moved her hand precisely towards the said location.

Papang!

Then, three to four ice pillars, each the size of a man’s thigh, burst forth, freezing the area.

[Ice Pillar]

It was a Rare-grade skill that could only be learned by a somewhat grown Moon Bora.

Squeeeaaak!
Immediately after, a scream close to death came.

At that sound, Moon Bora, who had just attacked, uttered in a dazed state.

“…Wh-why is this…?”

I-is this for real…?