After eating breakfast together with everyone, we enjoyed dandelion tea as a dessert.
When we had tea, Yeoreum invited Jung Yu-na and Choi Jinhyuk to join us.
It was to benefit from the buff effect said to be in my tea.
"How is it, isn't Gyeoul's tea amazing?"
"It sure is..."
Choi Jinhyuk took a big gulp of the steaming tea in one go, all without flinching, as if the tea wasn't hot at all.
As expected, high-ranking adventurers like him surely had trained their inside as well.
"Gyeoul, I'll pay you for the tea after I return from the dungeon, okay?"
"You don't have to pay. There are plenty of dandelions around here anyway."
They had helped me a lot.
I didn't want to charge them for every cup of tea.
"No, you don't understand how incredible this buff is, Gyeoul."
That's right, that's right.
Jung Yu-na and Choi Jinhyuk chimed in with Yeoreum's words.
"But it's just a cup of tea..."
"Don't worry about it, I'll be heading out soon, let's catch up later?"
Yeoreum dashed off somewhere with the other two.
The dungeon they were heading to was said to be level 5.
It was a dangerous dungeon that was beyond my current capabilities.
Though it was somewhat funny that the monsters there were merely horned rabbits.
'...To think I'd ever underestimate a horned rabbit.'
I, who once struggled to even catch a single horned rabbit, was now hunting goblins.
I realized belatedly that it was all thanks to Yeoreum.
'If only she wasn't hiding something.'
But still, I owed her a lot.
So, serving her free tea every day seemed like the least I could do.
After digesting, I quickly grabbed my bow and arrows and put on the top I had sewn this morning.
I planned to follow the guild members and head to the dungeon early in the morning.
"...Gyeoul, are you really going to wear that?"
Sophia looked at my clothes with a displeased expression.
I knew they weren't in the best condition, but I had no choice.
I wanted to wear something that I wouldn't regret losing at any time.
It was a lesson I learned through the thief last night.
"Yes. This is like a talisman for me."
Come to think of it, I was wearing these clothes when I got stabbed in the stomach by a horned rabbit.
I absentmindedly stroked the torn part of the clothing.
"Sophia, I think it's quite a stylish outfit."
"Right! The leader is so wild!"
Encia and Argo stood by my side.
Unlike Sophia, they always took my side.
That didn't mean I disliked Sophia.
She gave me advice and guidance for my own good.
In fact, I should be wary of Encia and Argo who only ever said nice things.
Not that they were bad people.
"...Well, fashion is a realm of self-satisfaction. Maybe I was being unreasonable."
Sophia nodded her head and grabbed her cane.
It was time to forget about clothes and head to the hunting grounds.
I led everyone there.
It always felt strange to be the one leading the group.
✧✧✧✧✧
Thwack!
The arrow pierced through the goblin's head.
It was a goblin at a considerable distance, but now, such a feat no longer filled me with pride.
"I've hit ten today."
"Then let's go now. It's rude to other adventurers if we catch too many."
"Okay."
I quickly gathered the mana stones and prepared to leave.
As I was pulling out a knife from my pocket, I heard a group of goblins in the distance.
"Huh?"
I estimated there were about five goblins from the sound.
But among them, there was a distinct and significant noise.
The footsteps were heavier than those of ordinary goblins, moreover, their cries were rougher.
It might have been a [Named] monster.
"What is it? is there something strange?"
"Yes. There's an unusual goblin over there."
"Hmm..."
Sophia stroked her chin, pondering, then tapped my back, suggesting we should check it out.
"Isn't it dangerous?"
"With Encia and Argo with us, we'll be fine."
"...Okay."
A monster stronger than a goblin.
Despite my heart pounding with tension, a sense of competitive pride surged within me.
Such arrogant feelings weren't good.
After taking several deep breaths, I led everyone towards the location of the Named monster.
"That is..."
"A Hobgoblin."
"Hobgoblin?"
"Yes. If ordinary goblins are like regular citizens, then Hobgoblins are like well-trained soldiers."
Soldier goblins.
I wanted to try catching one.
But, I had already reached today's quota.
As I fidgeted with my bow, feeling regretful, Sophia asked me seriously.
"Do you want to try catching it?"
"Is it okay for me to?"
"Of course. Your growth is what's most important."
Encouraged by Sophia's permission, I swiftly notched an arrow onto the bowstring.
The Hobgoblin wore an iron helmet.
I wondered if my arrow could penetrate it.
As I hesitated and drew the bowstring, an unknown power burst from near my heart.
"—!"
It was an intense energy I had never felt before.
It felt like my muscles had been amplified.
I could do this.
Seizing the moment while the Hobgoblin was giving orders to the others, I quickly released the arrow.
Bang!
The arrow, much faster than before, struck the Hobgoblin's iron helmet squarely.
The helmet crumpled and pierced through, vividly displaying the destruction.
Even the Hobgoblin's brain inside was penetrated.
Gah–
With a faint scream, the Hobgoblin fell.
I couldn't believe that I had killed a Named creature with a single shot.
"Gasp."
Blinking in disbelief, I looked towards Sophia.
But she, as if to bring me back to reality, poked my shoulder firmly.
"Don't celebrate just yet. There are still remnants to deal with."
"Ah, right."
Her words were true.
I couldn't let my guard down until all the remaining goblins were dealt with.
I immediately drew two arrows from behind my back, not just one.
'This might actually work...'
I notched both arrows onto the bowstring at once.
It might have seemed like a bluff, but with my current condition, I was confident it was possible.
Swoosh—
I finely adjusted the angle of the arrows with my fingers and shot them at the goblins, whose leader had just been killed and were in a state of disarray.
Bang!
The two arrows flew simultaneously.
Amazingly, each arrow hit a different goblin precisely.
"Wow!"
I couldn't believe it actually worked.
My confidence surged like never before.
I decided to swiftly deal with the remaining lesser goblins in the same manner.
✧✧✧✧✧
Today, I caught a total of fifteen goblins.
One of them was a Named Hobgoblin.
Lying on a mattress inside a container, I examined the mana stone that came from the Hobgoblin.
It was a radiant mana stone, about the size of a finger joint.
"Wow..."
I never imagined I would be able to hunt anything bigger than a horned rabbit in my life.
Lost in wonder, I stared at the goblin's mana stone, then suddenly got up from the mattress.
"Sophia, can you help me with something?"
"What do you need?"
"I want to sell all the mana stones we got today and cook a meal for everyone."
I had grown this much thanks to the help of those around me.
If I didn't show my gratitude, I would be no better than a beast.
But first, I had to distribute the mana stones among the party members.
Though I did all the hunting, I knew it was only possible because they were there with me.
I didn't want to be greedy in such matters.
"That's a wonderful idea. I'll gladly help."
"Thank you..."
I bowed to Sophia in gratitude and went outside to sell the mana stones.
Entering the guild building still felt awkward, and I wanted to ask someone else to sell them, but I decided to handle what I could myself.
It was the least I could do to show my sincerity.
"Ex…excuse me..."
I entered the guild building through the door.
I wandered around, unsure of whom to sell the mana stones to, when I noticed the adventurers inside the building were unusually busy.
"Hey, the team that went into the dungeon today lost contact..."
"Are you talking about Han Yeoreum's team?"
"Yeah. They're out of contact now because the dungeon blocks mana."
Yeoreum's team had lost contact.
My heart sank at the news.
"...A dungeon that blocks mana?"
"Yes. They can't communicate or clear the dungeon because of it."
"No wonder there are horned rabbits in a level five dungeon..."
"This is serious..."
The two adventurers discussing this hurried off somewhere.
I aimlessly watched their retreating figures, then stepped out of the guild building.
With everyone so busy, I decided to sell the mana stones later.
'My thoughts were correct...'
Having to hunt horned rabbits without mana was an incredibly dangerous task, like risking one's life.
Could Yeoreum's group handle it?
Worried, I returned to my container.
The memory of myself hunting horned rabbits without mana not so long ago surfaced, leaving me feeling uneasy.
'But they'll manage.'
After all, they are top level adventurers who have always fought risking their lives.
I shouldn't worry too much.
For now, I decided to focus on my own tasks.
<+>
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