Gun Chapter 37: The Besieged Adventurers (Patreon)

The leading goblin was at least a head taller than the others, and it looked especially fierce.

At the same time, though, its eyes were the most disgusting of the lot.

Wakasha’s steps landed soundlessly on the layer of rotting leaves. Deathbird sat firmly in his palm, the cold feel of the metal keeping him perfectly alert.

He did not rush out immediately.

In a forest like this, recklessness was never bravery. It was suicide.

Keeping low, Wakasha hid behind a thick ancient tree. Through the crisscrossing branches and low shrubs, his gaze landed precisely on the three figures surrounded at the center.

Three adventurers. Judging by the wear on their gear and clothes, they were probably newcomers who had only just entered the trade.

One man, two women.

The man held a rust-specked iron sword and stood in front of the two women, shielding them. His arms were trembling slightly, clearly pushed to the limit.

Several wounds of varying depth marked his body, and blood had soaked through his clothes. Every breath he took carried obvious pain.

One of the women held a short bow, but most of the arrows in her quiver were already gone. The other clutched a crude wooden staff, probably a novice who had only just started learning basic spells. Her face was deathly pale, her lips shaking so badly she couldn’t even recite a full incantation properly.

And surrounding them tightly were eight goblins.

These filthy, squat, green-skinned monsters had no reason in their eyes—only the rawest cruelty and lust.

They made ugly little noises from their throats, “gi-gi” and “heh-heh,” drool hanging from the corners of their mouths as their eyes roamed shamelessly over the two female adventurers. The malice in those looks was so blatant it almost felt tangible.

What made Wakasha frown even harder was that when some of the goblins looked at the male adventurer, their expressions were just as revolting.

Creatures like goblins didn’t care about sex.

Only strength and weakness.

To them, the weak were simply toys to vent themselves on and play with.

Wakasha’s eyes turned cold.

He hadn’t wanted to interfere.

The world of adventurers was cruel to begin with. If someone lacking the strength wandered too deep into the forest and got surrounded by monsters, that was as normal an ending as any.

He had no obligation to pay the price for every foolish rookie.

But...

The look on those goblins’ faces reminded him too much of that rabbit-beast earlier, the one they had ruined beyond recognition.

Some monsters polluted the air simply by staying alive.

Wakasha slowly raised Deathbird.

The muzzle silently lined up with the goblin on the outer edge, the one inching closer to the female adventurers.

It was the nearest, the least alert, and the perfect opening target.

A Mage Hand bullet was already loaded.

Pale blue mana flowed lightly inside the chamber. No long buildup was needed, no complicated incantation—this was the convenience of combining magic with a firearm: silent, fast, and lethal.

The wind stirred through the forest.

The next moment—

Bang!

A suppressed yet distinct gunshot split the stillness of the woods.

The bullet shot through the air like an invisible viper and struck the goblin squarely between the brows.

Green blood and pale brain matter burst outward together.

The goblin didn’t even manage a grunt. Its body froze for a moment, then toppled stiffly to the ground, completely lifeless.

[Monster Killed: Goblin. Gained 1 EXP

Talent: Law of the Jungle activated. EXP ×10. Actual EXP gained: 10

Concept Armament: Deathbird gained 10 Skill EXP

Spell: Mage Hand gained 10 Skill EXP]

The sudden kill stunned every goblin into stillness.

They turned blankly toward the direction of the gunshot, tiny eyes full of confusion and feral malice.

The three rookie adventurers also froze.

“Who’s there?”

The male adventurer forced himself upright and called out in a hoarse voice.

No one answered.

Wakasha had no intention of giving the enemy time to react, much less creating unnecessary trouble for himself.

The muzzle of Deathbird shifted repeatedly.

He loaded Mage Hand bullets in a smooth stream, mental power and mana circulating steadily through his body. The recovery from Gluttony flowed like a gentle current, constantly replenishing what he spent.

With his current mana pool and recovery speed, fighting goblins that didn’t even qualify as elites was like using a butcher’s cleaver to kill chickens.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The three shots nearly blended into one sound.

Three goblins charging toward Wakasha’s hiding place dropped where they stood, each with a neat hole punched through the forehead.

[Monster Killed: Goblin ×3. Gained 3 EXP

Talent: Law of the Jungle activated. EXP ×10. Actual EXP gained: 30

Concept Armament: Deathbird gained 30 Skill EXP

Spell: Mage Hand gained 30 Skill EXP]

Only then did the remaining goblins realize—

A terrifying hunter was hiding in the shadows, picking them off one by one.

Fear instantly overwhelmed their savagery.

Bullying the weak and fearing the strong was carved into goblin bones. The moment they realized their enemy far surpassed them, their first instinct was not to fight to the death, but to scatter.

The remaining four goblins shrieked and fled in every direction. Some bolted deeper into the forest, some tried to circle around, and some even rushed back toward the three rookie adventurers, clearly intending to seize a hostage and buy time.

“Looking for death.”

Wakasha muttered the words softly.

He stopped hiding and stepped out from behind the ancient tree.

In his hand, Deathbird moved like an extension of his arm, the muzzle turning ever so slightly with the goblins’ movements.

With the lock-on effect built into Mage Hand, these panicked, fleeing monsters were no different from stationary targets in his eyes.

Bang! Bang!

Two more shots.

Two more goblins dropped where they ran.

[Monster Killed: Goblin ×2. Gained 2 EXP

Talent: Law of the Jungle activated. EXP ×10. Actual EXP gained: 20

Concept Armament: Deathbird gained 20 Skill EXP

Spell: Mage Hand gained 20 Skill EXP]

Of the last two goblins, one was so terrified it lost all sense, scrambling desperately into the bushes.

Wakasha’s expression stayed calm as he followed at an unhurried pace.

He used no flashy tricks—just the simplest, most direct, most efficient precision shot.

Bang!

The fleeing goblin collapsed.

[Monster Killed: Goblin ×1. Gained 1 EXP

Talent: Law of the Jungle activated. EXP ×10. Actual EXP gained: 10

Concept Armament: Deathbird gained 10 Skill EXP

Spell: Mage Hand gained 10 Skill EXP]

Only one remained.

The one that looked like a mutated type.

Unlike the others, it didn’t flee blindly. Instead, it rushed straight toward the three rookie adventurers, raised the rusty short blade in its hand, and hacked down at the nearest female adventurer.

She squeezed her eyes shut in terror, unable to dodge at all.

The male adventurer tried to move to protect her, but his injuries slowed him by a crucial fraction.

Just as the blade was about to fall on her shoulder—

Clang!

A sharp metallic impact rang out.