Chapter 14. Goblin Hunt
“Amazing…”
Yuel couldn’t stop exclaiming in awe as she gently brushed her hand across Hamel’s Lever Harp.
It was perfect.
Even with her hand running directly over it, she could feel no trace of imperfection.
If she hadn’t known it had been repaired, she would never have guessed.
“He fixed it so flawlessly… it’s like magic.”
Could something like this even be possible?
If it were her, she doubted she could’ve done it—
no, she wouldn’t even have tried.
When everyone said it was impossible, only Aren had stepped forward and said he could.
“A strange outsider… He didn’t even use any special powers. He just relied on his own skills…”
Her heart raced.
“I want to be like him.”
She wanted to become like that—
a carpenter who could take pride in their craft.
It had been five years since she joined the guild, driven by her dream to build things,
but over time, she’d grown lazy and hopeless, numbed by her own lack of talent.
And yet, watching Aren work had rekindled a long-lost fire inside her.
“Can I do it too?”
No—
“I’ll try.”
Nothing could be done without taking that first step.
Saying I can or I can’t was just another form of self-imposed restraint.
Better to try and fail than to give up without trying.
“It’s better to be a defeated fool than one who never fought.”
And with that resolve, she took her first step forward.
“Here! This is for you!!”
[You have received a special gift from Yuel.]
[You have acquired: Intermediate Carpenter’s Hammer.]
Aren looked down at the hammer in his hands.
It looked far finer than his old one—heavier, but perfectly balanced.
“Inspect.”
[Intermediate Carpenter’s Hammer]
Grade: C
Description: A hammer suitable for carpenters with moderate experience.
Not ideal for combat, but it would definitely hurt if someone got hit with it.Attack Power: 20
Requirements: Level 15+, Strength 10+
Durability: 50,000 / 50,000
Options:
Strength +2
Work Efficiency +10%
Accuracy +10%
Work Speed +10%
Not bad at all.
“Is it really okay for me to accept this?”
“Of course! Thanks to you, that cursed harp was finally repaired! Do you have any idea how much trouble it’s been giving me?”
Yuel looked genuinely happy.
And why wouldn’t she be?
That harp had caused her endless stress—especially thanks to that pompous noble who owned it.
“Honestly, when he came storming in, I wanted to bash his head with the broken harp…”
But that nightmare was finally over.
Her grin refused to fade.
“Finally… I can rest easy!”
“Aren, thanks to you, it feels like a huge weight’s been lifted off my shoulders! I’m so grateful!”
“It’s nothing.”
“But, now that I think of it—it’s a bit late to ask, but what brought you to the guild in the first place?”
“Oh.”
Aren blinked, remembering the original reason he’d come here.
He explained his situation, and Yuel listened carefully, thinking deeply.
“Ah! I think I remember something! Grandpa Rex mentioned it once… He said there’s a cave connected to the village well’s groundwater.”
“A cave?”
“Yes. He told me when he came by to take on a commission. Back then, the well had problems too, and it turned out a monster had nested in the cave.”
“Monster?”
“Yeah. Once they cleared the monster out, the well worked fine again.”
“Do you know the exact location?”
“North of here… Sorry, I don’t remember the details.”
“That’s enough.”
Aren rose to his feet.
He’d found a lead—and intended to check the cave immediately.
“Alright, let’s go back… Oh, right.”
He remembered the gold he’d received as a quest reward.
“I should grab some bread and materials for furniture before heading back.”
“Looks like that’s the place.”
“Indeed. It’s the only cave we’ve come across that fits the description.”
Upon returning to the village, Aren and Alfredo quickly located the cave connected to the underground water.
“Bread again, sir? Don’t you get tired of it?”
“What’s there to get tired of?”
Aren spoke casually while tearing into his loaf. Alfredo sighed.
“You’ve been eating that same bread for over a week.”
“I can’t help it. It’s cheap and cost-efficient.”
“And the taste?”
“Efficiency.”
Alfredo groaned.
“Perhaps you should try something else.”
“No money.”
“You’re the village chief, aren’t you?”
“I haven’t started collecting taxes yet… There’s nowhere for money to come from.”
Indeed, no taxes were being collected.
The infrastructure wasn’t stable enough yet, and taxing the residents now would only cause unrest.
“Besides, this bread fills me up just fine.”
In Illusion, there was a system called Satiety.
If your Satiety dropped too low, you’d receive debilitating debuffs,
and ignoring it long enough could even result in starvation.
“Satiety management is crucial.”
But eating regularly cost money—money he didn’t have.
This bread was made for people like him.
“One loaf fills you up, and it’s cheap. What’s not to love?”
[Lethe Bread]
Grade: F
Description: Cheap bread sold in Rete Village.
It doesn’t taste good, but it fills you up.Requirement: Level 1+
Effect: Satiety +30%
It was F-grade and tasteless—but it was cheap.
Taste didn’t matter as long as it kept him from starving.
“Shall we head in?”
“Wait a moment.”
Aren opened his status window.
[Status Window]
Name: Aren
Level: 19 (EXP: 35.55%)
Class: Star Carpenter
HP: 2,600 / 2,600
MP: 1,300 / 1,300
Attributes
Strength: 24 + 5
Stamina: 21 + 5
Agility: 11 + 3
Wisdom: 10 + 3
Special Attributes
Dexterity: 116 + 41
Unallocated Points: 4
After finishing the harp repair, he had reached Level 19.
He allocated his remaining points into Dexterity, which affected his bow’s precision.
When he finished, he closed the window.
“All set. Let’s go.”
“Yes, sir.”
Together, Aren and Alfredo carefully stepped into the cave.
Ding!
[You have entered the Goblin Den.]
[Recommended Level: 25]
[You’ve discovered the cause of the well’s contamination.]
[A colony of Goblins has made its home in the groundwater cave.]
[Eliminate the Goblins to restore the well’s purity.]
“Goblins?”
So monsters really were the cause.
“Chief, up ahead…”
“I see them.”
They pressed themselves against the cave wall and peeked around the corner.
Cackling voices echoed faintly.
“Kik-kik!”
“Kiiieek~!”
Small, hunched figures moved about in the dark—Goblins.
[Goblin — Lv. 25]
Five of them, gathered together and chattering.
Aren found himself wondering, absurdly—
“What would Dad have said if he saw these things?”
He let out a small laugh at the thought of his father’s overreactions.
Then Alfredo whispered,
“Five of them, sir. What’s the plan?”
“What do you mean? We take them down.”
“But you’re a carpenter, sir! How are we supposed to fight monsters? Shouldn’t we get—”
“Quiet.”
Aren drew Hector’s Hunting Bow.
“The range is perfect.”
He took his stance, nocked an arrow, and pulled back the string.
His posture was firm, his breath steady.
A voice from the past echoed in his mind—one belonging to an old customer who’d once taught him how to shoot.
“Even if it’s just one shot, put your all into it. Aim as if missing means the end of everything.”
He had to make this shot count.
There were five of them—if the first arrow didn’t land, they’d be overwhelmed.
“Accurately… with all I’ve got.”
