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.