Chapter 10

As Luke and the goblins continued their hunt, Luke couldn't help but be impressed by their adaptability to the new weapons. Instead of charging headfirst, they had adopted a sneaky, ranged hunting tactic. Grut and Rok were surprisingly accurate with their bows, while Zog, though still preferring to chase down wounded prey with his club, was slowly getting the hang of it.

Luke spotted another boar, smaller than the first one he had encountered. His Archery Basics skill kicked in, and he felt a surge of confidence. His focus sharpened as he drew the bowstring, his movements steady and precise. He released the arrow, and it struck the boar in the hindquarters. The boar squealed and bolted, but Luke was ready.

He chased after it, his enhanced AGI and VIT stats making him faster and more enduring than before. Grut and Rok joined the chase, their bows at the ready. Luke stopped, nocked another arrow, and fired. This time, the arrow struck true, piercing the boar's side. The animal stumbled and collapsed, its life fading quickly.

[You defeated a Red-Backed Boar!

+10 EXP Earned.]

Luke ignored the notification, focusing on the hunt. They spent hours tracking and taking down game, their haul growing with each successful hunt. By the time they returned to the village, their arms were full of meat and pelts. But Luke knew they couldn't rest for long. The village needed more food, and he needed more experience.

As they set out again, Luke's sharpened senses picked up a noise in the distance. It wasn't the sound of goblins—Grut, Rok, and Zog were right behind him. He raised a hand, signaling for silence. "Hide," he whispered, his voice low but firm.

The goblins obeyed, their movements quick and quiet as they ducked behind bushes and trees. Luke activated his Scan Person skill, a holographic wave spreading out and highlighting four figures in the distance.

**[Scan Person (Level 1)

Upgrade (60 Tech Points)

Adventurer Party: 4

Warrior: Cray

Rank: F-Rank

Tank: Ronald

Rank: E-Rank

Mage: Selina

Rank: E-Rank

Support: Solus

Rank: F-Rank**]**

Luke's heart sank. "This isn't good. This area must be a hunting ground for adventurers. The skill is useful—I can determine how strong my opponents are. But I can't see their stats yet. Still, this tells me they're quite strong."

He clenched his fists, his mind racing. "The bad news is, I can't let them continue. They might stumble on our village. Even if we kill these adventurers, if one survives, they'll report it to a nearby town. More adventurers will come, and humans… I know how they react to fear. They're paranoid about their own safety and will do anything to eliminate a threat. Shit."

Grut crept up beside him, his voice a low whisper. "Lok, what you see?"

Luke kept his eyes on the adventurers. "Humans. Four of them."

The goblins' demeanor changed instantly. Their eyes narrowed, their hands tightening on their weapons. Grut, Rok, and Zog looked eager—and angry. "We hunt humans," Grut said, his voice filled with venom.

Luke shook his head, his tone firm. "No. They're strong. We can't handle them with just the four of us."

The goblins protested, their voices rising slightly. Luke hissed, "Quiet! Listen to me. There are four of us and four of them. They have better weapons, armor, and training. We don't. If we attack now, we'll lose. Go tell the chief about this. Warn him. In the meantime, I'll divert them away from the village."

Grut hesitated, his expression conflicted. "Lok… danger."

Luke nodded. "I know. But I've got skills they don't expect. I'll be fine. Just go. Hurry."

The goblins reluctantly obeyed, slipping away into the forest. Luke watched them go, then turned his attention back to the adventurers. He activated his Sneak and Hide skills, his movements becoming silent and his presence fading into the shadows.

"Alright," he muttered to himself. "Time to play."

Luke moved silently through the underbrush, his Sneak and Hide skills making him nearly invisible in the dense forest. He found a sturdy tree with low-hanging branches and climbed up, settling into a position that gave him a clear view of the path below. He nocked an arrow, his eyes scanning the approaching adventurers.

The party of four walked casually, chatting in a language Luke couldn't understand. He studied them carefully, his Scan Person skill providing him with their roles and ranks. His mind raced as he weighed his options.

"If I shoot the support first," he thought, "the mage can attack from range, and it'll be harder to escape. But if I take out the mage first, the support might heal her, but it'll give me time for another shot. Either way, they'll find my location."

He made his decision. "Mage first. Then the support."

Luke drew the bowstring, his Archery Basics skill guiding his aim. He adjusted for the parabolic drop and the distance, aiming slightly above the mage's head. He took a deep breath, steadied his hand, and released the arrow.

The arrow flew true, striking the mage just below her neck. She stumbled, clutching at the wound as blood seeped through her fingers. The party panicked, their voices rising in alarm.

"Serlina!" the tank shouted, rushing to her side. "Solus, Lækna hana!"

The support, Solus, began chanting, his hands glowing with a soft light as he prepared to cast a healing spell. The tank and the warrior formed a protective circle around them, their eyes scanning the trees for the attacker.

Luke smirked. "Too bad you're not looking up."

He nocked another arrow, this time aiming at the support's exposed back. The adventurers were focused on the mage, giving Luke the perfect opportunity. He released the arrow, watching as it struck Solus in the back. The support cried out, collapsing to the ground as his spell fizzled.

"Þarna!" the warrior shouted, pointing in Luke's general direction. "Hann er í trjánum!"

Luke didn't wait. He dropped from the branch, landing softly on the forest floor, and sprinted away from the village. His enhanced AGI and VIT stats allowed him to move quickly and endure the strain, but the adventurers were fast—and angry.

The tank and the warrior chased after him, their heavy armor slowing them slightly but not enough to give Luke a comfortable lead. He could hear their shouts and the clanking of their armor as they closed in.

"Shit, Shit, Shit, Shit, Shit!" Luke muttered to himself, his heart pounding. "Move your legs, Lok, faster."

He zigzagged through the trees, using the dense foliage to his advantage. His Sneak and Hide skills made it harder for the adventurers to track him, but he knew he couldn't rely on them forever. He needed to lose his pursuers—fast.

As he ran, Luke's mind raced with plans. "If I can lead them far enough away from the village, I can double back and lose them in the forest. But if they catch me…"

He shook his head, pushing the thought aside. "No. I can't let that happen."

The adventurers were relentless, their determination fueled by anger and a desire for revenge. Luke could feel the distance between them shrinking. He needed a distraction—something to slow them down.

Luke sprinted through the forest, his breath coming in short, ragged gasps. The warrior and the tank were close behind, their heavy footsteps and angry shouts echoing through the trees. Luke's sharp eyes scanned the area, searching for a way to lose his pursuers.

Then he saw it—a cave in the distance, its entrance guarded by a pack of sleeping wolves. A plan formed in his mind, risky but potentially effective. He veered left, heading straight for the cave. As he approached, he ducked behind a tree and climbed up into the branches, positioning himself between the wolves and the adventurers.

He nocked an arrow, his hands steady despite the adrenaline coursing through his veins. He aimed at one of the wolves and released the arrow, striking it in the side. The wolf yelped, waking the rest of the pack. Luke quickly activated his Sneak and Hide skills, blending into the shadows as the wolves surged forward.

The adventurers, still chasing Luke, stumbled into the clearing just as the wolves emerged from the cave. The two groups locked eyes, and chaos erupted. The wolves, enraged and territorial, attacked the adventurers with ferocity. The warrior and the tank fought back, their weapons flashing in the dim light.

Luke watched from his hiding spot, his heart pounding. The battle was brutal. The adventurers were skilled, but the wolves were relentless. Both sides suffered heavy injuries, and it soon became clear that neither would emerge unscathed.

As the fight raged on, Luke noticed movement at the cave entrance. Wolf pups poked their heads out, their small whimpers barely audible over the sounds of battle. Luke's chest tightened as he realized the implications. The wolves were defending their den—and their young.

The battle dragged on, and eventually, the wolves emerged victorious—but at a great cost. Only one wolf remained standing, heavily injured and barely able to stay on its feet. The adventurers lay on the ground, the warrior unconscious and the tank bleeding heavily.

Luke hesitated, his mind racing. He knew he couldn't leave the adventurers alive. If even one survived, they would report the goblin village's location, and more humans would come. He also couldn't leave the wolf pups to fend for themselves.

He climbed down from the tree and approached the dying wolf. It looked at him with tired eyes, its breathing labored. With its last bit of strength, it nudged the pups toward Luke, a silent plea in its gaze.

Luke knelt beside the wolf, his voice soft. "I'm sorry. I promise I'll take care of them."

The wolf let out a final breath, its body going still. Luke gently gathered the four wolf pups in his arms, their small bodies trembling against his chest. He stood and turned to the adventurers.

The tank was still alive, though barely. His breathing was shallow, and his eyes were glazed with pain. Luke's hands trembled as he set the pups down and drew an arrow from his quiver. He hesitated, his mind flashing back to the countless manga he'd read where the protagonist spared their enemy, only for them to return for revenge.

"I can't take that risk," Luke muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "Not with the village at stake."

He stepped forward and drove the arrow into the tank's chest, ending his life. The warrior, already unconscious, met the same fate. Luke's hands shook as he pulled the arrow free, his stomach churning.

"This… this is my first time killing actual people," he said, his voice trembling. "But I had to. For the village."

He wiped the blood from his hands and picked up the wolf pups, cradling them gently. As he walked away from the scene, his mind was a whirlwind of emotions—guilt, relief, and determination.

"I'll take care of you," he whispered to the pups. "You're part of the village now."