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I can't remember exactly when I started feeling this way. But I had grown to intensely hate being ordinary, being normal. I developed a strong sense of disgust towards my mediocre self. Lacking personality, gradually being absorbed into the background like those around me. So I decided to change myself. That's why I wanted to go to the dungeons that have been causing such a stir in society recently. I thought that if I went there, something might change...

Dungeon I Want to Be Extraordinary

As I turn back on the path I came, ready to leave, it's there.

Hidden in the susuki grass, with an orange-tinged yellow eye, intently watching me.

Its distinctively green skin, unsettling eyes, and a height even smaller than my 160 cm - there's no mistaking it. That's a 'Goblin'.

Holding a wooden stick, it stares at me fixedly.

Fortunately, it seems to have poor eyesight, or hasn't noticed that I've spotted it. There are theories that goblins have good night vision, and in this bright layer, they might be dazzled. These details haven't been fully published yet, so internet discussions are filled with speculation.

The distance is too far for a single leap. But we're definitely seeing each other.

A soft sound breaks the silence, and I remember I'm still holding my water bottle. Should I throw it?

I quickly reject this thought. Once things start moving, they'll likely spiral out of control.

So I suppress my body's urge to move hastily and my thoughts threatening to panic, and consider the next steps.

First, I need to switch from the water bottle to a weapon. Throwing the bottle at the goblin and then drawing the knife tucked in my belt - removing its cover - would normally be the best approach.

But from experience, I know: the bottle might hit, but I have a high chance of dropping the knife! When I panic, I'm the type to mess things up.

No, I don't need that kind of confidence.

So before the goblin moves, I'll slowly draw the knife and remove its cover. What about the water bottle? If I drop it, the goblin might move, so I'll wedge it between my ring and pinky fingers.

Now, I just have to fight. I've come this far - I have to do it!

Decided on my course of action, I slowly reach for the knife at my waist amid my tension. It's okay, the goblin isn't moving.

I slowly draw the knife with my left hand from my belt.

I'll grab the cover with my right hand and just pull it off!

The water bottle slips from my fingers.

A unique, indescribable sound of a liquid-filled bottle hitting the ground.

The goblin reacts and charges out.

I recklessly remove the knife cover. At least it wasn't the knife, but I dropped the water bottle! I'm almost in tears at my own uselessness.

I hesitate for a moment at the fact of pointing a blade at a living creature. In that instant, I'm struck by the wooden stick.

Ignoring the next potential blow, I leap at the goblin and stab it repeatedly.

As I keep stabbing, the sensation in my hand becomes increasingly unpleasant.

"Hah... hah... hah... hah... hah... Is it over?"

These words escape my lips as I catch my ragged breath. It's done. I've killed it.

But no guilt rises, and this slightly confuses me. I'd imagined something more mentally challenging. Perhaps it's because monsters vanish into black mist when defeated.

During the stabbing, the goblin should have been bleeding from its mouth and wounds, but by the end, everything disappears cleanly. So I'm left with just the unpleasant physical sensation. I don't want to think it means my heart is breaking.

This is what remaining items are called - "drops" or "drop items". Probably familiar to anyone who's played video games.

Chapter 8