Chapter 24: Goblin Slayer Part 5

With each step deeper into the cave, the ominous premonition that gnawed at Alex intensified. An icy certainty coiled in his gut – whatever awaited him on the other side wouldn't be pleasant. He shook his head, forcing the thought aside. Progressing seemed the only option, despite the dread tightening his chest.

A sudden chime echoed in his mind, followed by a thought:

"Congratulations, Master! You've leveled up!" A surge of surprise mixed with relief washed over him. The recent goblin encounter, though unnerving, had yielded some reward.

Eager to see his progress, Alex mentally called for his status screen. A translucent blue panel materialized before him, displaying his statistics in elegant text:

『[Status]

[Alexander Kael Touch]

Class: Magic Gunman

Age: 17

Male

「 Rank 1」

Level 8

Experience Value (XP): 30/900

Magic Power: 1130 ? 1140 +20 BP (1160)

Magic: None

Attack: 150 ? 160

Defense: 135 ? 145

Agility: 170 ? 180

Intelligence: 170 ? 180

Luck: 120 ? 130

BP: 0

Gift: Two Guns * Half-sealed*

Skills: [Normal Appraisal Level 1] [Language Comprehension] [Item box Level 1] [Swift Fingers Max] [Divine Sense Level 1] [Throwing knife Level 3] [Night Vision Level 1] (New Skill)

Titles: [Otherworlder] [The one who can't use Magic] [The one whose fingers are faster than Flash] 』

With a practiced hand, Alex allocated his newly earned points, pouring them all into Magic Power. This boosted his reserves, allowing him to fire twenty-three silenced shots before needing to recharge. Pleased with his optimization, he ventured further, soon reaching a crossroads: two dark tunnels beckoned, one left, one right.

Hesitation flickered across his face. Just then, Silveria's voice cut through the silence. "Master, proceed through the left tunnel. The right may be shorter, but treachery lurks within."

"My gratitude, Sil," Alex murmured, appreciating the intel that saved him precious Mana.

He plunged into the left passage, the darkness oppressive despite his Night Vision. Minutes crawled by, measured by the rhythmic crunch of his boots on the rough-hewn floor. Finally, a faint light ahead signaled the tunnel's end. Relief washed over him.

He deactivated Night Vision and gulped down a bitter Mana potion, replenishing the energy spent navigating the darkness. With careful steps, he peeked through the opening.

What he saw froze him in his tracks. Bile rose in his throat, churning his stomach. A guttural groan escaped his lips as he scrambled back, unable to tear his eyes away from the horrifying spectacle.

Dry heaving overtook him, forcing him to empty his stomach onto the cold tunnel floor. Silveria's voice, though disembodied, offered soothing comfort, a phantom touch stroking his back in his mind. The illusionary gesture did little to quell the turmoil within.

As the nausea subsided, cold fury replaced it. A chilling growl rumbled deep within him, escaping in a voice so cold it surprised even him.

"Unforgivable," he muttered, the word carrying the weight of vengeance.

"Indeed, Master," Silveria agreed, her tone laced with caution. "But do not let your righteous anger cloud your judgment."

The image of the grotesque scene burned behind his eyelids, fueling a hatred for the "ugly green-skinned monsters" responsible. His heart, once filled with apprehension, now thrummed with a steely resolve – one fueled by disgust and a thirst for retribution.

What he saw was utterly grotesque and inhumane.

A male human was impaled against the cave wall by an array of swords, his armor in ruins and his body covered in gruesome wounds. Some injuries were so deep that his bones were exposed, and his limbs were twisted unnaturally. Lifeless eyes stared wide open, filled with a mixture of immense hatred and guilt.

"Master, it appears he took the right tunnel to reach the center of the cave, encountering numerous traps along the way," Silveria explained. "He was injured even before he could escape. As for the girl, she must have taken the left tunnel."

Alex's eyes burned with anger at her words. It was clear that there was another victim, a girl. Though he only caught a glimpse, the sight was indescribable. Her clothes were torn, and goblins were subjecting her to unspeakable acts. The other goblins watched, some even cheering. The girl's silence hinted at her demise, yet these vile green-skinned creatures continued to defile her body.

The memory made Alex sick to his core. Though he had read about such horrors in novels back on Earth, witnessing it firsthand shattered any illusions. He felt an overwhelming surge of anger and hatred towards these monsters.

"Let us unleash a massacre upon them," Alex declared, his voice cold and resolute. Unconsciously, a sinister grin formed on his face.

"Fufu! Indeed, my Master," Silveria responded, her tone oddly jubilant.

Alex couldn't help but feel relieved that she shared his sentiments.

Slowly, he retraced his steps, heading towards the location of those vile monsters.

In a situation like this, a normal person would experience two distinct emotions:

The first emotion would be fear. Witnessing fifteen monsters gathered together, toying with the lifeless body of a woman, with another human corpse nearby, fear would consume their thoughts. The instinct to flee and seek reinforcements would overpower their mind.

The second emotion would be rage. Confronted with such a scene, an individual would be overwhelmed with an intense fury, a burning desire to charge recklessly at the goblins and eliminate them, seeking vengeance for the two victims.

However, Alex's reaction was different. He did not feel fear. If he were to describe his emotions, it would be an all-consuming anger. Yet, amidst this anger, his mind remained clear. His judgment was not clouded, and he did not rush headlong into the fray. He was astounded by the clarity of his thoughts.

Why was he different? Alex did not know, nor did he have the luxury of pondering over it. With a composed mind, he walked alongside Silveria, his gaze fixed forward. In his right hand, he held three throwing knives, affectionately named Black Bettie.

Soon, Alex emerged from the tunnel.

The goblins were still engrossed in their depraved activities, oblivious to his presence.

"Perfect," Alex muttered.

Seizing this opportune moment, he swiftly launched the three Black Bettie knives towards the goblins on the right. Simultaneously, Silveria targeted the goblins who were desecrating the girl's lifeless body.

Pui! Pui!

Two bullets were discharged, the first piercing through the head of the goblin who was engaged in a grotesque act with the lower body of the girl, while the second penetrated the chest of the goblin violating her mouth.

In a matter of seconds, five goblins fell lifeless, their bodies collapsing onto the others. Astonishment filled their eyes as they struggled to comprehend how they met their demise and who had attacked them.

Finally, as the remaining goblins witnessed five of their comrades perish in rapid succession, they realized an intruder was among them.

Gyi~!

Gyi~!

They frantically scanned their surroundings, desperately searching for the source of the threat.

Taking cover behind a fortuitously placed boulder, Alex observed the panicking goblins. With precision, he aimed at another goblin and fired.

Pui!

Thud!

Another goblin met its end, leaving only nine remaining.

Growing even more frantic, the goblins scoured the area, searching for the assailant. None of them turned their gaze towards Alex's hiding spot. With the assistance of Silveria's silenced weapon, the sound of the gunshot was muffled, causing the goblins to only witness the fall of their comrades, with no clue as to the origin of the attack. Their shields proved useless against the unseen threat.

In this manner, Alex eliminated three more goblins, reducing their numbers to six. Just one more to go, and he would level up, no longer needing to conceal himself.

Just as Alex lined up a shot on one of the remaining goblins, a chilling realization struck him. He didn't know how, but he was exposed. A shrill screech pierced the air as a goblin spotted him and charged with a raised club, others close behind.

"So much for a clean level up," Alex sighed, accepting the challenge.

"Come now, Master," Silveria's playful voice chimed in.

"Don't dampen your spirits so quickly! This is merely a minor test after your earlier successes. Time to show your mettle!"

A wry smile touched Alex's lips. "You're right, Sil. Let's get this done."

He rose with newfound determination, aimed Silveria, and fired. A swift shot silenced the charging goblin, adding to his growing experience with the weapon.

The remaining goblins froze, fear clouding their eyes. Sensing their intent to flee, Alex reacted in a flash, his aim swift and precise. Bullets flew, cutting through the gloom, and within moments, the cave fell silent once more.

Taking a moment to compose himself, Alex closed the fallen goblins' eyes in a gesture of respect and covered their remains. Resting against a nearby boulder, he felt a wave of mental fatigue wash over him. The horrors he'd witnessed earlier weighed heavily on his mind.

Suddenly, a blue panel materialized before him, displaying a message:

"New title acquired: Goblin Slayer."

Ignoring the notification for now, Alex closed his eyes, seeking solace in a brief respite before the grim task of retrieving any salvageable items began.