TNHAS 09

Chapter: 09

The Golden Goblin

<Guide 2 has been completed.>

<The final reward for the Stage 1 Seed Quest will be issued.>

<Upon entering the Tower, you will be moved to the Event Stage. The waiting time is 5 minutes.>

<Would you like to enter the Tower?>

Ah, but before that.

“Would it be all right if I left work now?”

It was already past six.

However, for events like this, the real work began after the ceremony ended. That was when the cleanup started.

“Ah! Section Chief Lee! Did using so much power cause you to suffer from mana exhaustion? Of course! By all means! You’ve done a great job! A really great job!! Go home and get some rest!”

It was a misunderstanding, but I didn’t bother correcting him.

In fact, this would probably make things easier to explain later.

After saying goodbye to the Director, I immediately received my quest completion reward.

“It… it lit! It lit!”

The host’s urgent cry.

Everyone’s eyes turned forward.

What the host was staring at in astonishment was….

“The incense! The incense has caught fire! Something that has never happened even once in the past ten years has happened!!!”

The incense was burning.

White smoke rising from it stretched straight toward the sky.

“Is this real?!”

“Changhyun!”

“Mother!”

“Did the Hunter Management Agency do something?”

“What on earth is this…?”

“What has the Association been doing all this time?”

“Subscribers! Did you see that?!”

But that wasn’t the end.

<The conditions have been fulfilled. The power of souls has been imbued into Korea’s Tower.>

The Hunters sitting in the guild section all turned their eyes toward the front at the same time.

They had all heard the status window alarm.

They wore expressions of disbelief.

“Power? A new power?”

“Is there still a class that hasn’t been registered?”

“The power of souls?”

“A Necromancer?”

“Wasn’t that the power of the dead?”

<An item with the Soul attribute has been added to the loot of Korea’s Tower.>

<The Blessing of Growth will descend upon Korea’s Tower for 100 days. Experience gained when conquering the Tower will increase by 50%.>

But it was true.

A newly registered class existed.

The status window alarm sounded again, confirming that fact.

When the Tower grants the Blessing of Growth, it does not reveal the player’s nickname.

It was done to protect the new generation.

However, since most Hunters in Korea belonged to guilds, the guilds would sometimes announce the fact themselves.

It was because they could promote it at the guild level.

“Growth….”

The guild master of the ‘Raven’ Guild, Kim Yongho, had remained in his seat with a stern expression throughout the ceremony.

Even he opened his eyes wide the moment he saw the status window.

Could this really be happening?

By now, almost every class had already been recognized by the Tower.

Most of it had been completed during the early days.

When the Tower first appeared, Hunters had rushed toward it, and during that initial period, the Blessing of Growth had remained active throughout the entire year.

But that was a thing of the past.

The Tower no longer bestowed the Blessing of Growth.

As a result, Hunters who had reached a certain level were now standing before a gigantic wall.

A limit to growth that felt like an endless tunnel.

More than a few high-level Hunters had become frustrated and given up in front of it.

‘But at this point in time….’

What on earth had happened?

For an existing class to be renewed, one needed at least a Unique-grade Title.

But no such report had ever come in.

‘Or perhaps a Legendary-grade….’

Was there a recently awakened Hunter who possessed the Seed of a Legendary-grade Title?

There was no way.

A Legendary-grade Title couldn’t be obtained simply by awakening into a good class through luck.

What mattered was one’s ability before awakening.

That was important.

So far, only three people had obtained Legendary-grade Titles.

WWE Champion John Howard.

Fields Medal recipient and Nobel Prize in Chemistry winner Yui Sinclair.

And Andrea Lightning, the gold medalist who had swept every track event in Olympic athletics.

Those three were the end of the list.

Kim Yongho wasn’t the only one shaken.

The guild masters of Korea’s four major guilds were all present at this memorial ceremony.

In fact, they had originally planned to boycott the 821 Memorial Ceremony as a group this year. They intended to hold the Hunter Association responsible for losing two S-rank Hunters.

But partway through, the organization hosting the memorial ceremony had changed.

That was why they had attended today.

In fact, it was practically the same as coming here to lend their support to the newly established Hunter Management Agency.

They had hoped that something would change with the creation of the Hunter Management Agency.

Everyone had grown tired of the Hunter Association’s coercive and sometimes excessive demands.

But….

“I didn’t expect this much.”

The person beside Kim Yongho was chuckling so hard he looked like he was about to lose his breath.

It was the guild master of the ‘Blue Dragon’ Guild, Park Jongsoo.

“Honestly, I’m surprised. Hey, you too, right?”

Park Jongsoo repeatedly smacked Kim Yongho on the back.

Kim Yongho’s expression grew cold.

The ‘Zero’ Guild master, Jung Eunseo, noticed the change in his expression and gave Park Jongsoo a warning look.

“That’s enough.”

“Ah! It was just so funny. I’ll stop.”

Moon Taeoh looked at them and smiled faintly.

“It certainly is interesting.”

“See! Even the Taebaek Guild master says so! It’s way beyond anything we imagined, isn’t it? I’ll bet my hand that the Tower Buff is the Hunter Management Agency’s doing!”

Kim Yongho’s expression became even colder at those words.

“‘Doing’?”

“Ah! Sorry, sorry! I mean, it’s thanks to them. Things really are different when the government gets involved, huh? They went all-in, and look at that. Ten years of pent-up resentment just vanished in one shot!”

Kim Yongho clicked his tongue at Park Jongsoo’s exaggerated gestures.

“We still don’t know the reason.”

“Even so, it’s clear that change has begun.”

Nobody here disagreed with Jung Eunseo’s words.

Jung Eunseo was famous for being cold and detached.

Yet even she was smiling now.

“An opportunity for growth has come to everyone.”

And the people who would benefit the most from it were the top-ranked Hunters gathered here today.

<The Blessing of Growth will descend upon Korea’s Tower for 100 days. Experience gained when conquering the Tower will increase by 50%.>

<The Tower you are entering is Floor 2 of the Gwanaksan Tower.>

Flash─!

“Huh? Landlord?”

[Landlord!]

Just as I had expected.

When I entered the Tower, the ghosts from the corners of my house were summoned along with me.

“Landlord, are you conquering the Tower right now? Great!”

The second floor of Gwanaksan Tower was another grassy area similar to the first floor.

But somehow, the atmosphere was strange.

It was clearly daytime, yet everywhere around us was dark as if it were nighttime.

Then suddenly, the lights came on, and music began playing from somewhere.

<It’s time for us to go home~! See you again tomorrow~!>

It felt like an amusement park or supermarket closing for the day after business hours had ended.

“Huh? This song?”

Cha Junhyuk seemed familiar with the situation and hummed along with the song.

Then a status window alarm appeared.

I felt as though my body had floated upward.

And in an instant, our surroundings changed into something resembling an Olympic stadium.

“The Event Stage! Wow! How long has it been?!”

Cha Junhyuk’s face visibly brightened.

[What’s an Event Stage?]

“A floor that randomly appears when you’re conquering Floors 10 through 25? But it doesn’t appear above Floor 25. You get something completely different called the Trial Stage. But how did this happen? Landlord, you’re still Level 2, aren’t you?”

“I received it as a quest reward.”

“Huh? Where?”

“On an uninhabited island. It said it was because I discovered traces of the First Tower.”

“What? I even went there to stop the Tower from exploding?!”

Cha Junhyuk was feeling thoroughly wronged again today.

“Anyway, Event Stages are really great!”

I soon learned exactly what he meant.

<Catch the Golden Goblins.

Time limit: 10 minutes.>

As soon as the status window alarm appeared, an announcement began playing through the stadium speakers.

<Let’s introduce today’s match!>

<Catch the Golden Goblins!>

<Our participant is Player Jack Rich_07!>

Waaaaaaaah!!!

A roar erupted simultaneously.

Before I knew it, the stadium was packed with spectators.

There wasn’t a single empty seat anywhere, whether I looked at the first, second, or third level.

“Shall we begin?”

Crack.

Crick.

I heard Cha Junhyuk casually loosening up his hands.

[I’ll do my best!]

Whoosh!

Swoosh─!

The spiritual energy orbs summoned by Chae Seonhwa began revolving around her body.

<Beginning the countdown!>

<5>

“Five!”

The stadium was filled with a festive atmosphere.

Every time the announcement came over the speakers, the spectators shouted along.

<4>

“Four!”

<3>

“Three!”

<2>

“Two!”

<1>

“ONE!!!!!”

<Begin the match!>

Waaaaaaaah─!

Flash!

At the announcement, the enormous electronic scoreboards positioned on both sides of the stadium lit up.

<Time Remaining: 09:59

Goblins: 0/1,000

Coins Held: 0/10,000>

At the same time, Golden Goblins carrying sacks on their backs appeared inside the stadium.

At first, they appeared one or two at a time.

But as Cha Junhyuk and Chae Seonhwa instantly wiped them out, Golden Goblins began pouring from the sky in huge masses, as if it were raining.

The Golden Goblins all differed in size, appearance, and personality.

But they had one thing in common.

They all shone golden.

Cha Junhyuk and Chae Seonhwa moved far apart from each other, establishing their own territories and began slaughtering the goblins.

[Die!]

Slash─!

With perfect posture and movements without a single wasted motion, Cha Junhyuk cut through the goblins’ necks with an elegant sword dance.

[Spiritual Energy Orbs─!]

Chae Seonhwa wasn’t going to lose either, summoning a large number of spiritual energy orbs.

The orbs shot toward the goblins with such ferocity that they seemed to possess wills of their own.

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

Coins poured out every time a goblin was killed.

Shining golden coins exploded from the sacks the goblins had been carrying.

<Time Remaining: 09:20

Goblins: 200/1,000

Coins Held: 1,000/10,000>

It took the two of them less than thirty seconds to kill 200 goblins.

The excited spectators screamed.

Waaaaah─!

Get them!!

Kill them!!!

Rich! Rich! Rich!

A wave swept through the stands as the spectators began doing a wave.

From right to left, from top to bottom.

Every time the wave moved, the cheers grew louder.

As the atmosphere continued to heat up, I did what I had to do as well.

That was to walk around and hunt goblins in my own way.

One thing I discovered through observation.

These guys weren’t all diligent workers either.

Because so many goblins were released at once, there were some who were truly carefree about everything.

“Cover the nose and mouth, and that’s the end of it.”

If basic respiration was prevented, even goblin monsters would die.

To be able to sleep even in a situation like this.

They were truly remarkable creatures.

Still, the goblins that fell victim to me could consider themselves lucky.

They were able to die peacefully in their sleep without suffering.

<Time Remaining: 07:17

Goblins: 990/1,000

Coins Held: 4,275/10,000>

Waaaaaaaah!!!!!

Kyaaaaaaaah!

The spectators’ cheers had grown so loud that they were almost screams.

The noise reverberated throughout the stadium, echoing from every direction until my ears felt numb.

<There are 10 goblins remaining.>

<10>

“Ten!”

The countdown to death began once again.

<9>

“Nine!”

“Counter─ Strike──!”

With a spirited blow from Cha Junhyuk, the heads of three goblins were severed simultaneously.

<8>

“Eight!”

<7>

“Seven!!”

<6>

“Six!!!”

Then, as if she had been waiting for it, Chae Seonhwa blew up the remaining three goblins.

[Fly!]

Rapid-fire─!

Boom─!

<5>

“Five!”

<4>

“Four!!”

<3>

“Three!”

Like a baton pass, another goblin lost its life to Cha Junhyuk’s quick-draw sword technique.

<2>

“Two!!”

The last one was Chae Seonhwa.

[Go─!]

Tat-tat-tat-tat-tat─!

Spiritual energy orbs flew one after another and embedded themselves into the body of a single goblin.

And then came the explosion.

Boom! Bang─!

And just like that, even the last goblin remaining in the stadium disappeared.

But….

<1>

“One!!!”

There was still one final count remaining.

<Time Remaining: 06:54

Goblins: 999/1,000

Coins Held: 5,000/10,000>

“What happened?”

“Huh? It’s normal. This is normal.”

Cha Junhyuk looked completely unfazed.

[But why is there one goblin left?]

“You don’t know?”

[No. I don’t.]

“No, I don’t know either.”

[…What?]

“It’s always like this.”

“Always?”

“Yeah. Look.”

Cha Junhyuk swept his gaze around the entire stadium.

“We killed them all.”

He was telling the truth.

There wasn’t a single living goblin left in the stadium.

[No, but why…?]

The spectators were going wild as well.

Booooo─ Boooooo──!

Get it!

Finish it!!!

Kill them all!!!!!

“But it’s really over, though? We tried all sorts of things when it happened to us, but nothing worked.”

Cha Junhyuk lamented before simply sitting down on the spot.

“We have no choice but to wait. At least the reward for 999 goblins still comes out properly.”

But somehow, I felt like I knew the reason.

“You.”

“Me? Why me?”

“No. The thing beside you.”

Cha Junhyuk suddenly flinched.

“Whoa─! What are you talking about? All of a sudden?!”

[Why are you so startled?]

“Wouldn’t you be startled?! My heart almost fell out!”

What kind of reaction was that supposed to be from a ghost?

Anyway, something that wasn’t alive had slipped in between us.

“It’s you, isn’t it? The last one.”

Perhaps it understood what I was saying.

The Golden Goblin spirit standing beside Cha Junhyuk turned its head toward me.

Around the golden goblin, which glanced at me and smiled, I could see a clear, rainbow-colored halo.

It somehow looked holy.

The goblin opened its mouth.

[Kieeeek─!]

“…….”

[…Um, Landlord? Who are you looking at right now?]

“Yeah! Why are you acting so scary?!”

“Chae Seonhwa, you can’t see it?”

[No. I can’t tell what’s going on….]

This was unexpected.

Cha Junhyuk could be excused because he was currently human, but Chae Seonhwa was also a spirit.

I had expected her to be able to recognize the Golden Goblin spirit.

“Chae Seonhwa.”

[Yes, Landlord.]

“Move three steps to the right from there.”

[Like this?]

Chae Seonhwa hopped over to the side.

“Hold out your right hand. No, wait. Try firing one of your spiritual energy orbs.”

[Huh? The orb?]

Although puzzled, Chae Seonhwa fired an orb as I instructed.

At the same time, a status window appeared.

Tap. Tap. Rollrrrrrr.

The spiritual energy orb passed straight through the goblin and rolled across the floor.

[Ah?]

Chae Seonhwa hurriedly threw herself forward and swallowed the spiritual energy orb back up.

[…I’m fine!]

“Good job.”

Bound spirits cannot exert influence over other spirits?

Then did that mean I was the only person here capable of directly dealing with it?

I had already used Exorcism.

So the skills I had left were….

Summon Spirits, Materialization, and Eye of Truth.

“So that’s what this is for.”

I understood.

I understood why this skill existed.

I smiled gently back at the Golden Goblin, which was wearing a sinister golden flame-like smile amid its rainbow-colored halo.

And then I activated the skill.

“Summon Spirits.”