After dealing with the annoying wizard, I immediately dealt with the archer next to him.

 

Only then did the other goblins chase me, but I had already achieved my goal.

 

Without those who could attack from a distance, I wouldn’t be able to lose in a melee.

 

Alright.

 

Let’s continue!

 

When one goblin fell, the goblins still poured out their hatred toward me.

 

When two goblins fell, their movements became hesitant.

 

And when three goblins fell, fear was engraved among them.

 

It was chaotic.

 

Those who tried to attack.

 

Those who tried to put their comrades first.

 

Those who tried to run away.

 

Those who gave up and rushed in recklessly.

 

The goblins who had spread out were already in a state of recklessness.

 

Goblins are the weakest race when they are individuals.

 

It was very easy to defeat them when they became individuals.

 

After dealing with the last goblin, I swung my mace hard and shook off the gunk attached to it.

 

Hooray.

 

Originally, I was just going to hold on, but I ended up taking care of everything because of the excitement.

 

Thanks to that, I levelled up to level 4 and passed the ordeal, so the result wasn’t bad.

 

However, when I thought about the words I said during the battle, I lowered my head.

 

Crazy guy.

 

Even though I couldn’t help it in order to use the effect of the Mesugaki skill.

 

Trashy.

 

Sloppy.

 

A piece of shit goblin.

 

A mob for experience.

 

Even though I became a Mesugaki, I was disappointed in myself for naturally thinking of such words.

 

If I keep doing this, won’t I become a real Mesugaki someday?

 

My hands started shaking as I thought about myself laughing and saying words like sloppy and trashy even in my daily life.

 

That can’t happen.

 

A guy who’s almost 30 years old wouldn’t do that.

 

Even if it can’t be helped that it’s being translated because of the Mesugaki skill, I can’t yell like that with all my heart.

 

I hate myself for being an otaku and knowing what a Mesugaki was.

 

If I didn’t know anything, I would have been able to say that out loud just fine.

 

I took a deep breath and calmed my mind.

 

Anyway, as long as the results were good, that was all that mattered.

 

The training I had with Possell was meaningful.

 

He really anticipated all sorts of situations and trained me well, so I was able to deal with any situation that came up during battle.

 

For the first time, I felt grateful to Possell.

 

Even so, I couldn’t thank him enough because of the Mesugaki skill.

 

Hmm.

 

But you know what.

 

The test is over, so why can’t I hear Grandpa’s voice?

 

Hey.

 

Grandpa.

 

No matter how upset you are, if you passed the test, you should let me go.

 

There were no wounds on the statue, and there were no goblins to attack, so what are you going to do by wasting more time here?

 

While I was thinking about that, I heard footsteps in the darkness.

 

It was a heavy sound, different from the light sounds of the goblins.

 

If I were to compare it, it would be similar to the footsteps of Possell or Benedict.

 

The moment I heard him, I felt a chill down my spine and raised my head in a hurry.

 

A gigantic mass slowly emerges from the darkness.

 

Its size is as big as its footsteps.

 

Possell’s size is enormous for a human, but he was on a different level.

 

It was only natural.

 

However, this one was a non-human life form to begin with.

 

Brown leather covering its skin, and muscles underneath that were so large that they looked like they would tear through the leather at any moment.

 

Fists that were bigger than my face and were a threat in and of themselves.

 

A protruding snout and red tinted eyes.

 

And the two horns on top of its head, a minotaur.

 

…

 

Why is this thing coming out here?

 

It’s not your turn to come out here.

 

Why is a guy who should come out in the middle of the second year of the academy coming out here?

 

Oh, of course, there are cases where you appear in Ruel’s trials.

 

But that was when I reached level 32 and entered here.

 

My current level is 4.

 

4.

 

If you enter a dungeon of the appropriate level, you will meet goblins or orcs!

 

4!

 

You’ll be able to retaliate in the game.

 

I can’t stand it.

 

I was unable to breathe.

 

Only then did I realize that I was holding my breath.

 

Damn it.

 

If my Overcoming Fear skill hadn’t activated, I would have suffocated to death alone.

 

I barely made eye contact and I’m this scared.

 

Is this what it means to be on a different level?

 

Calm down.

 

I can’t beat that guy.

 

No matter how hard I struggle, it’s impossible.

 

With the strength I have now, I won’t be able to inflict even a single wound on the Minotaur.

 

If this were a game, it would be different… but this is reality.

 

This isn’t a game where you control it with a mouse and keyboard.

 

I quickly catch my breath and get my bearings.

 

Even if I can’t win, I guess I can hold out, right?

 

I was just taking a while to kill some time while fighting the goblins.

 

There probably won’t be much time left until the time limit for the Guardian’s Trial is cleared.

 

So, if I just hold out a little longer against that monster, I can pass the trial.

 

Yeah.

 

Let’s try a little longer.

 

Since I’m here, I can’t run away.

 

Grandpa, do you want to laugh while watching me fail here?

 

I can’t do that.

 

Never.

 

I’d rather die than see that guy laugh.

 

The Minotaur doesn’t look at me.

 

That guy’s red eyes are focused only on the statue of the goddess.

 

And then I’ll be next.

 

I don’t act like a Mesugaki, but I have to change that right now.

 

If I stray even a little, that monster will teach me a lesson in pain, but I shouldn’t imagine that kind of future.

 

Isn’t that what a Mesugaki is all about?

 

A damn brat who acts without thinking about their actions.

 

If I’m going to be a Mesugaki, I have to act like one.

 

Even if it sucks, you have to do it now.

 

“Hey!”

 

When I shouted, the Minotaur turned his gaze toward me.

 

The moment I met his red eyes, my body felt stiff and hard, but it soon became fine again.

 

Overcoming Fear was working well.

 

“It stinks It’s gross, you disgusting little beast”

 

I felt strength building up in my body.

 

The taunt had worked properly.

 

Since there was only one target, the buff amount might not seem that great, but let’s focus on the fact that I taunted.

 

The Minotaur turned and moved towards me.

 

Alright.

 

Now it’s time to deal with my retribution.

 

I raised my shield.

 

I’m tired of blocking and enduring things.

 

I spent about half the day doing something similar with Possell.

 

I’m just going to repeat the same thing.

 

If I leave him alone, he’ll crush the statue.

 

Haha.

 

Damn it.

 

I just decided.

 

I can do it.

 

Look ahead.

 

Don’t be nervous.

 

Tensing yourself will only slow you down.

 

That guy is a mob anyway.

 

He doesn’t think.

 

It’s obvious that he’ll just swing his fists.

 

Then wouldn’t it be easier than dealing with Possell?

 

So, it’s okay.

 

I don’t have to worry about anything.

 

While I was telling myself this, the Minotaur had already reached me.

 

Isn’t he too fast for his size?

 

Let’s take it slow, buddy.

 

The Minotaur swung its fist.

 

I couldn’t dodge it.

 

It wasn’t at a speed I could dodge.

 

The Iron Wall was saying the same thing.

 

That’s why I hurriedly raised my shield and blocked the Minotaur’s fist.

 

Kuung.

 

The moment the Minotaur’s fist touched my shield, I realized something was wrong.

 

Huh?

 

My hand holding the shield was pushed away and my body folded in half.

 

My feet, which should have been on the ground, rose into the air, and a shock that should never have come resonated through my arms and sides, resonating throughout my body.

 

There was no time to scream.

 

The moment I felt my body flying, all I could think about was one thing.

 

I was screwed.

 

…

 

I came to my senses and raised my head.

 

The pain didn’t feel as intense as I thought.

 

No, it was.

 

My entire body was just going crazy.

 

Whoa.

 

Damn.

 

My ears were ringing.

 

Continuously.

 

Like crazy.

 

Like I’d been hit by a flash grenade.

 

Then, when the ringing subsided a little, I slowly began to feel the pain.

 

There was no place that didn’t hurt.

 

My stomach was rumbling.

 

It was hard to breathe, as if my internal organs were damaged.

 

I kept holding back the fact that something was trying to rise from my throat and raised my head.

 

Through my blurry vision, I saw a huge brown object walking toward me.

 

This is fucking crazy.

 

You want me to hold out against that thing?

 

You fucking old man.

 

If you’re going to challenge me, make it easier.

 

I staggered to get up, but my legs gave out and I collapsed.

 

For some reason, the omnipotence of my Mesugaki skill disappeared.

 

Why?

 

That Minotaur was clearly in rage right now, and it was targeting me.

 

The moment I tried to get up again, something touched my side.

 

At that moment, my vision went black.

 

Ugh.

 

Ugh.

 

Huh.

 

It hurts.

 

F**k.

 

F**k F**k.

 

It hurts.

 

It’s hard to even raise my head.

 

My legs are numb, so it’s hard to imagine moving.

 

My hands, which should be holding my mace and shield, feel empty.

 

Even in that midst, the sound of footsteps approaching me from far away is clear.

 

Am I going to die?

 

The word death came to my mind, but it didn’t really register.

 

Maybe it’s because I didn’t know it would come so suddenly.

 

However, when I thought about it, something inside my heart felt like it was crumbling down.

 

I’m going to die.

 

How?

 

Crushed by the Minotaur’s feet.

 

Torn apart by that damned cow’s huge hands.

 

Chewed by its vicious teeth.

 

And…

 

And…

 

And…

 

There were countless ways I could die.

 

Death was before me.

 

My head felt cold.

 

Overcoming Fear tried to block the premonition of death crawling up my spine, but it was impossible.

 

Fear rose faster than Overcoming Fear could stop it.

 

What could a frog in the well do if the dam broke?

 

The footsteps stopped.

 

I forced my eyes, which were not opening properly, open.

 

I saw the Minotaur with its fist raised.

 

I looked at him and closed my eyes again.

 

ROOOOOAR

 

I am going to die like this.

 

Kwaang!

 

At that moment of resignation, I heard the sound of the Minotaur’s fist being blocked by something.