Chapter 08: Clear

January 20, 2026

This past year has been very fulfilling.

【Name】 Mars Bryant
【Title】 -
【Rank】 Human - Baronet Bryant's Second Son
【Condition】 Good
【Age】 6
【Level】 14 (+5)
【HP】 82 / 82
【MP】 5578 / 5578
【Strength】 52 (+20)
【Agility】 55 (+20)
【Magic】 85 (+23)
【Dexterity】 73 (+22)
【Endurance】 50 (+20)
【Luck】 30
【Unique Ability】 Heavenly Gift (Lv MAX)
【Unique Ability】 Heavenly Eye (Lv 6) (5→6)
【Unique Ability】 Lightning Magic S (Lv 0/20)
【Special Ability】 Swordsmanship B (Lv 4/17) (3→4)
【Special Ability】 Fire Magic G (Lv 3/5) (2→3)
【Special Ability】 Water Magic G (Lv 2/5) (1→2)
【Special Ability】 Earth Magic G (Lv 1/5)
【Special Ability】 Wind Magic A (Lv 12/19) (11→12)
【Special Ability】 Holy Magic C (Lv 5/15) (4→5)
【Equipment】 Wind Dagger (Sylph Dagger)

First off, my stats have surpassed Zeke's. I definitely have the strength of a C-Rank adventurer.

Since Heavenly Eye reached Level 6, using Appraisal no longer consumes MP.

Also, perhaps because my Magic stat increased, I can now inflict fatal wounds on Goblin Generals even through their armor with a normal 《Wind Cutter》 without pouring extra magic into it. I became able to use a certain spell too, but I'll introduce that another time.

I still can't cast 《Wind Cutter》 while attacking with the Wind Dagger, nor can I cast 《Fire》 while running, but I did learn 《Fire Arrow》.

Maybe because my Dexterity is high, my 《Fire Arrow》 has better tracking than Ike's.

Also, it was a happy miscalculation that my Swordsmanship went up even though I'm using a dagger. Maybe it's because I'm using sword techniques rather than dagger techniques.

Next is Ike.

【Name】 Ike Bryant
【Title】 -
【Rank】 Human - Baronet Bryant's Eldest Son
【Condition】 Good
【Age】 9
【Level】 19 (+5)
【HP】 101 / 101
【MP】 840 / 840
【Strength】 69 (+20)
【Agility】 52 (+14)
【Magic】 37 (+10)
【Dexterity】 29 (+8)
【Endurance】 65 (+19)
【Luck】 10
【Special Ability】 Swordsmanship C (Lv 4/15)
【Special Ability】 Spearmanship B (Lv 6/17) (5→6)
【Special Ability】 Fire Magic C (Lv 5/15) (4→5)
【Equipment】 Flame Lance
【Equipment】 Fire Spirit Sword (Salamander Sword)
【Equipment】 Fire Bracelet

Ike has completely become a spearman, and his stats have surpassed Ralph, the Guild Master of Almeria.

And today, we’re heading to the room beyond the Spawn Room.

Right now, the four of us are strategizing in the Safe Zone.

Zeke and Maria already know that the Ike-Mars combo is stronger, so they’re building the plan around us.

Though "plan" mostly just refers to our formation.

We’ll proceed in the order of Ike, me, Maria, then Zeke.

We arrived at the Spawn Room, immediately defeated twenty Goblin Generals, and passed through.

Since this was our first time going past this point, we stayed sharp and alert. However, no goblins appeared in the corridor. At the end of the passage was a single room, but it was clearly different from the others.

The color of the walls was different.
They were a deep crimson, as if blood had been smeared all over them.

Seeing this, Zeke spoke.

"This looks like a Boss Room. I think there's a Goblin King inside, so be careful."

"What kind of moves does a Goblin King use?"

"I’ve never fought one myself, but I heard they’re basically the same as Goblin Generals. However, I’ve heard that half-hearted attacks are meaningless because their HP regenerates."

After ensuring we were fully prepared, Zeke made eye contact with each of us, signaling the go-ahead. Everyone met Zeke's gaze firmly and nodded. Zeke slowly opened the door to the Boss Room.

Entering the room, the first things that caught my eye were a small staircase in the center and an altar atop it.
There was nothing on the altar.

In front of the stairs stood a monster about three meters tall, possessing a large horn and wielding a magnificent sword.

Flanking the horned monster were two enlarged Goblin Generals holding swords instead of axes. Besides them, about twenty ordinary Goblin Generals wandered the room.

First, I appraised the enlarged Goblin General.

【Name】 -
【Title】 -
【Race】 Goblin Lord
【Threat】 C
【Condition】 Good
【Age】 3
【Level】 5
【HP】 108 / 108
【MP】 21 / 21
【Strength】 60
【Agility】 42
【Magic】 5
【Dexterity】 1
【Endurance】 63
【Luck】 1
【Special Ability】 Monster Summon G (Lv 1/5)

Threat Level C! The strongest monster yet! Its stats are almost equal to Ike's!

Next, the horned monster.

【Name】 -
【Title】 -
【Race】 Goblin King
【Threat】 C+
【Condition】 Good
【Age】 3
【Level】 5
【HP】 150 / 150
【MP】 31 / 31
【Strength】 82
【Agility】 53
【Magic】 5
【Dexterity】 4
【Endurance】 74
【Luck】 1
【Special Ability】 Swordsmanship E (Lv 3/11)
【Special Ability】 HP Recovery Promotion F (Lv 2/8)
【Special Ability】 Monster Summon G (Lv 1/5)

Threat Level C+!? This is bad... If Zeke, Maria, and I attack with magic from a distance, and Ike lands the finishing blow during the opening, maybe we can manage.

When I relayed the stats to everyone, Zeke exclaimed, "A Goblin Lord!? First I've heard of that!" He immediately deployed 《Earth Fortress》, and Maria simultaneously deployed 《Ice Fortress》.

The moment I took down the twenty Goblin Generals with 《Wind Cutter》, Ike charged at the Goblin Lord on the left.

Their stats were roughly equal. Since the Goblin Lord was taller, its sword reach matched Ike's spear reach, but Ike's Spearmanship level was higher. Accustomed to combat, Ike overwhelmed the Goblin Lord. Plus, the weapon in Ike's hands was incredibly powerful. With Fire Magic Enchanted on it, and support from Zeke and Maria, he pressed the attack and brought it down.

However, the instant he landed the killing blow, a new Goblin Lord was summoned. The Goblin King was summoning them.

Realizing we had to take out the King first, I tried to head toward the altar, but before I knew it, the Goblin Generals I had supposedly killed were surrounding me.

The Goblin Lords were summoning Generals.

This had become a mess.

If I asked Zeke and Maria to join the melee like before, their MP might deplete instantly. I wasn't the only one thinking that; Zeke immediately shouted orders.

"Ike! Mars! Mom and I will save our MP to protect you if you get in trouble! Mars! Be ready to cast 《Heal》 at any moment! Damn it! I've never heard of a Goblin King summoning reinforcements!?"

Apparently, normal Goblin Kings don't have summoning abilities.

Holding back was pointless, so I decided to use the new Wind Magic I learned: 《Tornado》.

I told the family I was using 《Tornado》, and Ike fell back to Zeke and Maria’s position.

"Everyone but the Goblin King should be in range. Ike-nii, please handle the King."

Ike nodded, and I unleashed 《Tornado》.

《Tornado》 has low killing power, but it robs opponents of their freedom.

Furthermore, since I can fire other Wind Magic simultaneously, I could mix in 《Wind Cutter》 to increase lethality. However, I daringly chose not to mix in 《Wind Cutter》.

If I killed the Goblin Lords here, the Goblin King would just summon new ones.

While I kept the Goblin Lords pinned down, Ike would go kill the Goblin King.
Since killing the King ends the battle, Zeke and Maria provided support fire.

The battle between Ike and the Goblin King was fierce.

The King dodged Ike's thrusts; Ike backstepped to dodge the King's sweeps.
When he couldn't backstep in time, he was forced to block with the Flame Lance, but the difference in brute strength meant he got knocked back. When the King tried to pursue, Zeke and Maria drove it back with 《Earth Bullet》 and 《Ice Arrow》.

Occasionally, their spells hit the King, but attacks to vital areas were dodged or guarded by its sword. Even when non-vital hits landed, the wounds gradually closed due to HP Recovery Promotion.

After several minutes of this offense and defense, Ike's Flame Lance finally pierced the Goblin King's abdomen.

Thinking this was the deciding moment, Ike pulled out the Flame Lance to follow up, but the Goblin King grabbed the lance with its left hand, refusing to let go. Not only that, but it swung the sword in its right hand at Ike, who was trying to pull the weapon free.

Ike struggled desperately to retrieve the lance, but the King's strength was greater. Unable to pull it out, he abandoned the spear and tried to dodge the sword at the last second. But his decision was too late—his left arm was slashed, inflicting a deep wound. His arm hung limp.

"Guh!"

As Ike clutched the slashed area with his right hand—

" "Ike!" "

Zeke and Maria screamed. dissolving 《Earth Fortress》 and 《Ice Fortress》, they ran to Ike, frantically firing 《Earth Bullet》 and 《Ice Arrow》 to somehow protect him from the King. Thanks to that, their MP dropped significantly.

I immediately canceled 《Tornado》 and sprinted to cast 《Heal》 on Ike.

Ike's HP had dropped to 37/101, but a single 《Heal》 brought it back to 87.
Based on my previous calculations, with my Magic at 85, 《Heal》 should recover 10 + (2 / 85) -- wait, no, 10 + (Magic/2)? No, the formula was... anyway, it should have healed 52, but it only healed 50. Perhaps 《Heal》 has a recovery cap of 50.

I cast 《Heal》 one more time to top off his HP.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to let my guard down, but... honestly, one-on-one with the Goblin King might be too tough... I need to find an opening somehow," Ike said, frustration seeping into his voice.

"In that case, I'll take down a Goblin Lord while you're fighting. The King might try to summon again, so use that opening."

Ike nodded, gripped the Salamander Sword in his right hand, and ran toward the Goblin King.

He had just been gravely wounded by the King moments ago; it wouldn't be strange for his legs to freeze in fear. Yet, Ike showed no trace of such emotion as he engaged in a fierce sword fight with the monster.

However, the Goblin King's wounds were gradually closing. That HP Recovery Promotion is truly nasty.

Keeping an eye on their duel, I wiped out the near-death Goblin Lord and the Generals. When the Goblin Lord fell, the Goblin King summoned a replacement during a brief gap in the sword fight with Ike.

Because of the strength difference, Ike got knocked back whenever he took a hit, creating the opening for the summon.

Immediately, two Goblin Lords were summoned, and they began summoning Goblin Generals.

It seems increasing their numbers is the goblins' top priority.

I tried to kill the Goblin Lords before they could summon, but a few Generals still got through. Eventually, the second Lord summoned until there were twenty of them again.

This is rough.

"Mars! The summoning is too fast; creating an opening is impossible!"

"Let's retreat to Father and Mother!"

After protecting Ike from the King, we fell back to where Zeke and Maria were watching the battle. The goblins chased us, but the Goblin King didn't join the pursuit.

If only it had chased us, I could have caught it in a 《Tornado》.

But then, I realized something.

As long as the King doesn't join in, isn't this basically the same situation as the Spawn Room?

The only difference is that it's a constant 2 vs 20. If we keep killing Generals, the Lords will just keep summoning, preventing them from joining the fight.

I told Ike my terrifying plan. He smiled and nodded. To execute the plan, we simply slaughtered Goblin Generals.

When Generals stopped being summoned, we killed a Goblin Lord.
When a Lord died, the King summoned a new Lord, who then summoned more Generals. Then Ike and I hunted those Generals.

The plan I told Ike was... massacre.

Looking at the Goblin King's MP, it had dropped to 15.

It was halfway gone. My MP was also running low. It was a contest of whose MP would run out first: the King's or mine.

That was when my level went up from killing so many Generals.

【Name】 Mars Bryant
【Title】 Wind King / Goblin Slayer
【Rank】 Human - Baronet Bryant's Second Son
【Condition】 Good
【Age】 6
【Level】 15 (+1)
【HP】 82 / 87
【MP】 1952 / 5580
【Strength】 55 (+3)
【Agility】 58 (+3)
【Magic】 90 (+5)
【Dexterity】 77 (+4)
【Endurance】 53 (+3)
【Luck】 30
【Unique Ability】 Heavenly Gift (Lv MAX)
【Unique Ability】 Heavenly Eye (Lv 6)
【Unique Ability】 Lightning Magic S (Lv 0/20)
【Special Ability】 Swordsmanship B (Lv 4/17)
【Special Ability】 Fire Magic G (Lv 3/5)
【Special Ability】 Water Magic G (Lv 2/5)
【Special Ability】 Earth Magic G (Lv 1/5)
【Special Ability】 Wind Magic A (Lv 13/19) (12→13)
【Special Ability】 Holy Magic C (Lv 5/15)
【Equipment】 Wind Dagger (Sylph Dagger)

I finally got Titles. Wind King and Goblin Slayer. I wanted to check the details, but I didn't have the luxury.

However, either because my level rose and my Magic stat spiked abnormally, or perhaps due to the Title's effect, my 《Wind Cutter》 began piercing through Goblin Generals, killing two at once.

Thanks to that, my efficiency skyrocketed.

It became much easier to kill them, and the tide of battle turned completely in our favor. I poured a little extra magic into a 《Wind Cutter》 and fired it at the Goblin King.

Since there was significant distance, it managed to block with its sword, but the sword snapped in half, and I managed to inflict a cut on its arm.

I thought I could finish it off anytime, but the Generals and Lords were good experience points, so killing the King could wait.

Finally, the Goblin King's MP hit 0... meaning it summoned the last Goblin Lord. We wiped out all the Generals, and no more appeared. The Goblin Lord's MP was 0 too.

Monsters apparently don't faint when their MP hits 0. We killed the Lords, leaving only the King.

How many hours had we been fighting? Over a thousand magic stones littered the ground.

Zeke and Maria were speechless at the spectacle.

Ike nodded to me and sheathed his sword. He was telling me to finish it.

I fired a 《Wind Cutter》 without chanting.

During the battle, while desperately killing goblins, chanting became a hassle. I tried firing without words, and it worked.

The Goblin King couldn't react at all, and its head flew.

It was finally over. The moment I thought that, the tension left my body, and I collapsed on the spot. Zeke, Maria, and Ike rushed over to me with expressions of pure joy.

"Well done! Mars! Ike! If not for you two, forget winning—we wouldn't even have made it this far!"

Zeke said this, and Maria hugged both me and Ike.

"I'm so glad you're safe!"

They must have been worried sick.
This room was on a different level of difficulty. Even a C-Rank party like Zeke and Maria's would have died.

While we were celebrating, a treasure chest popped up on the altar, and a large treasure chest appeared where the Goblin King fell.

First, I appraised the large King's chest nearby to ensure there were no traps before opening it. Despite its size, the Value was 3.

Inside were precious Mythril Silver Ingots. One hundred bars, each weighing one kilogram. Even without knowing the market price, I knew this was expensive.

Ignoring Zeke and Maria, whose eyes had turned into dollar signs, I appraised the chest on the altar.

【Name】 Treasure Chest
【Special】 -
【Value】 4
【Details】 Drop rate and contents vary based on 【Luck】.

I opened it.

【Name】 Fire Phantom Beast Ifrit's Robe
【Defense】 40
【Special】 Magic +2, Endurance +4
【Value】 A-
【Details】 Can only be equipped by those with Fire Magic aptitude. Repairs itself when Enchanted with Fire Magic. Strong Fire Resistance.

When I announced the effects, Ike happily equipped it.

What is going on with my Luck stat... As I slumped in depression, everyone told me that next time we went to the Royal Capital, they would buy me a piece of equipment. They said that by converting some of the Mythril Silver Ingots and magic stones into cash, we could buy something amazing.

Ideally, I wanted something from a Dungeon chest, but if there's something good in a shop, I'll take it. Though, I don't intend to force them to buy something unnecessary, only if it's truly "the one."

Thinking about that reminded me of the Titles I received. Excitedly, I appraised them.

【Wind King】 Title given to those ranked within the top ten Wind Magic users in this world. Wind Magic Power UP.

【Goblin Slayer】 Title given to the one who has killed the most goblins in this world. Attack Power drastically UP vs Goblins, Defense Power drastically UP vs Goblins. If another person becomes number one after this title is acquired, the title is granted to that person as well.

I got some good stuff.

When I told Zeke, he shouted, "What! Titles!? I've never even seen a Title holder! And two of them!?" He was excited and happy for me.

Even if I'm not blessed with treasure chests, I have my hard work. I'll just keep grinding steadily.

Vowing that to myself, I hurried home to where Lina was waiting with the members of 【Blue Fang】.