How a Black-Haired Barbarian Survived the Labyrinth in Another World-Chapter 18: Lung Party Defense

"So, what are we going to do?"

At Jeong Yushin's question, the group fell silent.

Even if they talked about the goblin leader or theories of learning, what really mattered was their plan going forward.

"It's possible to fight short-term."

"Even though I'm in this state due to the negative imprint, I was once a mid-level explorer. If I panicked and fled on the second floor, I’d be a laughingstock."

Del and Dito raised their voices. Meanwhile, the mage and the dwarf remained silent.

"Ainhofer, what about you? Useless."

"I’ll keep going. I’m fine."

"Let’s at least take some goblin ears. We need money."

Dito stood up and said.

The group diligently cut off the ears of the hobgoblins, smelling the blood and burning meat.

Where the fireball had exploded, there were only chunks of broken flesh, so there wasn’t much to salvage. However, there were plenty of ears from the rear guard, where Del and Dito had been.

"Ugh. This one is still alive?"

Dito backed away in disgust as she saw the twitching goblin.

"It’s true. Its mouth’s ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) been ripped wide open, and it's still alive."

Del said, holding a dagger and slowly closing the distance.

"Look at this. Barbaroi, this is your work."

Del called, and Jeong Yushin approached.

The hobgoblin was panting and making strange noises.

Jeong Yushin briefly looked down before stomping its neck with his walker and crushing it.

Crack.

Del gave a sour expression at Jeong Yushin’s nonchalant behavior.

"Be honest. You’re not a beginner, are you? Were you an adventurer?"

"What’s an adventurer? Is it different from an explorer?"

"There are people like that. Unlucky guys."

"He's a Barbaroi. Where would his fighting skills go?"

Dito interjected, teasing, and Del shrugged his shoulders and spoke.

"Yeah. Whether she’s a virgin or not, what does it matter? As long as she’s good."

"This Barbaroi is a virgin. Just remember that."

Dito’s serious declaration made Jeong Yushin’s face flush slightly.

"Let’s just cut the ears."

"What’s this? Your face is all red? Embarrassed?"

Del chuckled.

"There were ears here too."

Jeong Yushin made a rough gesture, and Del jumped back in surprise.

The three of them bickered as they gathered the ears.

Excluding the goblin pieces shattered by the fireball, they managed to gather thirty pairs of ears by carefully collecting them.

"If we go a bit further, there’s a shelter ahead. Let’s camp there."

Dito, holding a torch, led the way.

Jeong Yushin sheathed his arming sword and walked with a club in hand. He wiped the fat off his sword, but just in case, he picked up the club as a backup weapon.

As the battle dragged on, stances become sloppy, and the sharpness of weapons diminishes. He thought the club would be useful if needed. Plus, it was free.

They passed through the darkness and discovered a small cave.

There was no sign of people.

Dito peeked inside and gave a signal that it was safe.

The group entered, unloaded their gear, and lit a fire with some firewood. They hung a barrier at the entrance to keep the light from leaking out.

Gathering around the campfire, they ate.

The menu hadn’t changed. Dried meat and biscuits.

They broke the hard biscuits in half, put them in their mouths, and rolled them. It was okay if they let them soften with saliva.

"How do we assign the night watch?"

"Karlton will use alarm magic. Sleep well."

Del said, crunching on some nuts.

That night, they were able to sleep for a long time, even if lightly.

They woke up after about eight hours, packed their gear, put out the slowly burning campfire, and picked up torches.

Their bodies were stiff, but they could bear it.

Dito, holding a torch, led the way again.

The party traveled through the darkness for hours, but they couldn’t find any hobgoblins.

They only saw a few rudimentary traps.

"This is strange."

Dito mumbled.

"Where did all those goblins go?"

"We should rest for a bit. Is there any shelter around?"

Del glanced at Ainhofer and spoke. The dwarf was breathing heavily.

With the negative stamina imprint and heavy armor, it wasn’t surprising that he was exhausted.

Dito scratched his chin and fell into thought.

"Hmm... we just need to go a bit further. About ten more minutes?"

"Yeah. Ainhofer, just a little more, hang in there."

Del reassured.

"Huff, sorry."

"No problem."

At that moment,

Dito’s ear twitched.

"Wait! Listen carefully."

Dito crouched and pressed her ear to the ground. The group quietly watched Dito’s actions.

"They’re coming!"

Dito jumped up and shouted.

The faces illuminated by the torch were pale like the skin of the dead.

"At least a hundred! They’re running towards us! We need to run!"

"Where to?!"

"To the shelter!"

"The shelter has only one entrance. If we’re surrounded, it’s over. Useless."

"If we get attacked from both sides here, we’re done! You’ll be wiped out before your magic even casts!"

"They’re coming!!"

Del shouted.

Sounds began echoing from far away. The ground shook with the massive sound of hundreds of footsteps and shouts.

"Run!"

Dito screamed and ran forward. Jeong Yushin and the others followed, running as fast as they could. There was no time to check for traps.

They ran at full speed, but the monstrous screams from behind only grew louder.

In the chaos, Ainhofer collapsed on the ground.

"Ugh. Huff. Go ahead without me."

The dwarf barely managed to speak as he panted.

"Hey! Shorty!"

Del screamed in panic, trying to pull Ainhofer’s arm, but the dwarf didn’t budge.

"Dammit! There’s no time! We have to go!"

Dito’s face was filled with fear.

Jeong Yushin quickly approached and lifted Ainhofer. The dwarf felt heavy, like carrying a chunk of iron.

"Let’s go. Del, take the axe."

"Okay! Thanks, Skar!"

Del thanked him.

"Sorry."

Ainhofer mumbled.

"No need to apologize."

Jeong Yushin ran at full speed, carrying Ainhofer.

"Huff. Huff."

His breath was nearly caught in his throat. It felt like he might die not from the goblins, but from exhaustion.

‘I can’t run anymore.’

‘No, I can do it. Think about when we first entered the labyrinth. This is nothing.’

‘Bullshit. I can’t keep going. Am I going to die like a fool helping someone? Leave him.’

‘Do you think you’ll live if you leave him? Shut up and run.’

His inner conflict reached a boiling point, and just before his self-control shattered, they reached the shelter entrance.

Jeong Yushin was the last to enter.

He set the dwarf down and dropped his gear.

His whole body was drenched in sweat, but there was no time to rest.

He grabbed the shield handle and raised the club.

Carlton immediately retreated to the far end and started chanting.

Del snatched the torch from Dito, placed it in the center of the shelter, and grabbed extra arrows, stuffing them into his quiver.

Dito was still shaking. She held a loaded crossbow but seemed disoriented.

"Dito! Snap out of it!"

Del rushed up and slapped her cheek, shaking her shoulders.

"Huff!"

‘What’s wrong with her? Wasn’t she a mid-level explorer?’

It was absurd to see her foaming at the mouth in fear.

"Shit! This is fear imprinting! Damn it, if you’re going to get this, at least tell me!"

"Was there another negative imprint?"

"Yeah. But at least it’s not too bad. With this imprint, you lose your sanity even at the smallest hint of fear. The fact that she hasn’t run off somewhere crazy is a miracle. Huff."

‘No wonder they call us the trash party.’

The noise outside, the goblin language, footsteps, and all sorts of sounds grew louder as they neared the shelter.

"Ki-ki-ki."

"Kil-kil-kil."

Sinister sounds came from outside the cave. It was clear they were all waiting outside.

A single hobgoblin poked its head through the entrance.

Schwick!

Del’s arrow struck the hobgoblin’s forehead.

Thud.

The creature fell dead, its body slumping to the ground.

Furious roars rang out from outside the shelter.

Jeong Yushin and Ainhofer positioned themselves near the entrance. They moved slightly to the side to give Del a clear shot.

Jeong Yushin stood on the right.

Ainhofer stood on the left.

The dwarf, ready to strike, gripped his one-bladed axe, his body tensed, waiting for the incoming enemies.

Jeong Yushin mirrored him. He raised his shield and lifted the club over his head.

Block the entrance.

If it breaks through, they’re dead.

They had to hold out until Carlton finished his chant.

Bang!

A goblin dashed into the shelter.

Ainhofer’s axe cleaved the goblin’s skull in half with a single stroke.

Splat!

Blood and guts sprayed across the floor.

Another goblin entered, close on its heels.

Jeong Yushin swung the club down.

Crack!

The goblin’s skull shattered, its brain splattering across its helmet.

Before Jeong Yushin could raise his club again, another goblin burst in.

Schwick!

Del’s arrow hit the goblin’s forehead.

The goblins trampled over the fallen bodies and pushed in one by one.

Ainhofer swung his axe.

Then Jeong Yushin struck with his club.

Next, Del shot his arrow.

The coordinated attacks of the party flowed like gears turning endlessly.

Breathing hard, Jeong Yushin cracked another goblin’s skull.

‘If we keep this up,’

‘Maybe we can get through this without too much trouble.’

But disaster struck quickly.

Ainhofer’s axe missed. Fatigue had set in.

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Clang!

The axe hit the ground uselessly. At the same time, a goblin threw itself at Ainhofer, knocking him down.

A struggle ensued on the floor.

"Dammit! Ainhofer!"

The goblin gained the upper hand, pinning the exhausted dwarf beneath it and bringing down its rusty sword. Ainhofer raised his axe handle to block it.

Jeong Yushin couldn’t spare time to help the dwarf.

Goblin after goblin kept pushing in.

Now he was the only one who could handle it.

Bang!

He crushed the head of a charging hobgoblin.

"Shit!"

The club snapped.

He threw the broken club’s handle into the hobgoblin’s face. The creature grabbed its eyes and tumbled to the ground. He stepped on the fallen goblin and quickly unsheathed his arming sword.

"Choke!"

He thrust it into the hobgoblin’s neck.

"Ugh!"

No time to check if it was dead or alive. He quickly pulled the sword out and stabbed the next one in the chest.

"Ainhofer!"

Del’s scream echoed through the shelter.

The goblin, relentlessly hacking with its rusty sword, finally severed the wooden axe handle.

Del shot an arrow into the goblin's head.

In the short time Del was absent, the situation worsened.

Two goblins rushed past Jeong Yushin.

He tried to grab them, but couldn’t.

Three goblins clung to his shield.

One with a rusty longsword aimed a thrust at him.

He let go of the shield and dodged the longsword.

He was alive, but it was the worst possible move.

The goblins holding his shield fell to the ground.

He smashed one’s skull with his elbow and grabbed the longsword.

"Ready! Move aside at the entrance! Useless!!"

"Just a second!"

He discarded the arming sword and grabbed the rusty longsword with both hands.

A goblin charging with a mace was his next target.

He kicked off the ground and drove the sword into the goblin’s heart.

Thwack!

He felt the blade rip through flesh and reach the heart.

"Choke!!"

The sword passed through the goblin's back.

"Haahhh!!"

Jeong Yushin gritted his teeth, throwing his weight into the attack. Sword and mace battered and ripped through his body, but he ignored it.

He pushed through the tide of goblins, shoving them back toward the entrance.

‘Done.’

He let go of the sword. The goblins flailed, impaled on the sword like skewered meat.

He kicked the sword’s hilt deeper and stepped back.

"Shoot!"

[Fireball]

The blazing fireball hit the mass of hobgoblins outside the shelter.

Boom!!!

The heat and shockwave blasted through the shelter.

Jeong Yushin covered his face and flattened himself to the ground.

Chunks of flesh and horrified screams passed by him.

The magic didn’t end there.

[Ice Wall]

A massive ice wall shot up, blocking the entrance.

[Light]

A radiant light filled the shelter, dispelling the madness of darkness.

Jeong Yushin staggered to his feet.

He had bought them some time.

Looking around, torn flesh and body parts were scattered everywhere.

Still, Ainhofer and Del seemed to be unharmed.

Del was tending to Ainhofer, and Dito huddled in a corner, curled up.

She was holding the crossbow tightly, but it was unloaded.

‘Well, at least she shot.’

Jeong Yushin approached Carlton. He was holding his sword. Two hobgoblin corpses lay around him.

"Thank you. We’re alive."

Carlton nodded silently.

"We’ve bought some time. I’ll rest for a bit. Useless."

"Yes."

Then Carlton collapsed.

Thud.

Jeong Yushin’s eyes widened.

A bolt was lodged in Carlton’s back.