The End of a Long Hunt Draws Near
He held his breath and watched quietly. Something was strange. The state of their camp was different from usual.
Goblins were violent and crude creatures. They were always fighting among themselves. It was common for one or two to die while fighting over a woman.
But today, they looked even more excited than usual. From the cave where the women were kept, the sound of many goblins fighting could be heard. Outside too, a few were being beaten by dozens.
A group of dozens of goblins stood apart, like an island isolated in the sea. But they didn’t look intimidated. Instead, they looked excited—breathing heavily, as if ready to attack at any moment.
Even the goblins from far away came closer, curious about what was happening. More and more gathered in front of the cave.
“Maybe…”
What he had feared was happening. Gus wiped the sweat from his hands onto his pants.
Goblins had no females. Long ago, there were said to be female goblins, but now no one had ever seen one. Maybe they were too few to notice, or maybe they had completely died out. No one really knew.
Because of that, goblins desired human women—women who could reproduce. Their competition for women was fiercer than that of any beast. More than hunger, they prioritized lust.
Judging by the situation, something had changed after they attacked humans recently. Maybe a rebellion had occurred. When their hunger and lust grew too strong to control, such things sometimes happened.
If a rebellion happened, those goblins were driven out of the group. And once they were cast out, there was only one place they would go.
A village with women.
“It’s too early.”
The adventurers had not arrived yet. They would probably come by evening. If the goblins moved before that, everything would fall apart.
Gus’s face hardened.
There was something he had been carrying for a long time, ever since he thought this might happen. Today, he might have to use it.
He remembered the daughter of the previous mountain keeper.
A small girl who rarely smiled. She would hide when people came, and when he saw her face, she always looked blank.
He didn’t feel anything special toward her. There were many pitiful children in the world—some in even worse situations than her.
But recently, she had started smiling.
That made his heart hurt a little.
“And besides… that child is not my target for revenge.”
She wasn’t from the village. She wasn’t his prey.
But—
Gus loosened his grip.
He had known this would happen.
“Juhwan’s wife and daughter were meant to be sacrificed anyway.”
It was too late to feel guilty now.
He suddenly remembered his father’s last words.
“I raised you as a hunter too early. You don’t know how to live as a human.
Your nature is perfect for a hunter—but lacking as a human.
My son… your life is too unfortunate. Not even knowing that is unfortunate.”
Maybe that was true.
From his twenties until now, as he stood close to death, he had lived only for one thing—
To complete his final hunt.
The virtue of a hunter was persistence. Slowly following the traces of prey for a long time. Not too fast, not too slow. Waiting for the moment when the prey weakened.
That was hunting.
His father had taught him that.
Once, his father had praised him, saying he was born to be a hunter.
Now, it felt irresponsible to say it was wrong.
“Father… you said my life is unfortunate. But that’s not true.”
What was happiness?
If there was something you wanted to achieve even at the cost of your life—
And you felt joy while achieving it—
Wasn’t that happiness?
Gus looked at his trembling hands.
The moment he had waited for was near.
“This is happiness, isn’t it, Father? You were wrong.”
And he had a disciple.
Even if he hadn’t taught him everything, he had laid the foundation.
That man—Juhwan—might hate him forever.
But still, he had inherited his skills.
Juhwan still had much to learn. He was still an inexperienced hunter.
But one day—
Everything he had seen would return to him.
“My life is complete.”
No one could deny it.
His life had been completed when Juhwan came here.
Gus looked back at the goblin camp.
A goblin that looked like the leader came out of the cave. It was about a head taller than the others and held a wooden club.
It slowly walked toward the fallen goblins and struck one of them.
A scream echoed in the air.
The rebellious group didn’t fight back. Some shook in excitement, as if they might attack—but none dared challenge the leader.
The leader kept beating one goblin until its face was completely crushed.
Then it threw away the club and picked up a sword—likely taken from a human.
It growled at the rebels.
About fifty goblins flinched and stepped back.
The other goblins moved closer, pushing the rebels out of the camp.
Eventually, they were driven away.
Gus began following them.
Not too close.
Keeping distance, checking their tracks, he quietly trailed them.
Goblins were primitive—but they had language and strategy.
And they knew where the village was.
“As expected… this path.”
Juhwan’s cabin was along the way—but there was another path to the village.
The goblins were taking that path.
Gus took out a small pouch.
Inside was a wax-sealed box containing powder from a musk deer.
Long ago, a lord had brought these deer from a distant land.
Their scent attracted females—and later, nobles used the powder.
Though most had died out, Gus had once found one.
Goblins had chased it madly.
That’s how he learned—
The scent attracted goblins.
After years, he finally got a small amount.
Just a tiny amount.
But enough.
He opened the box.
He gently shook a small cloth pouch in the wind.
One goblin far away reacted—sniffing the air.
Gus smiled.
“It works.”
Soon, the whole group reacted.
He rubbed the scent onto trees, then ran toward the cabin.
Not too fast.
Leaving just enough scent so they wouldn’t rush too quickly.
The goblins followed—
Straight toward the cabin.
Juhwan sighed.
The fire from his fingertips was still small—like a lighter.
He couldn’t create a large fire.
He could burn something small quickly—but not bigger things.
And living creatures were hard to kill with it.
He had tested it once on a rabbit.
It didn’t die easily.
In the end—
“I had to finish it with a knife…”
He felt guilty—but told himself it was necessary.
The hesitation he once had was fading.
“...I’ve changed.”
It felt like his heart had been covered in asphalt.
The feeling hadn’t disappeared—but it had become dull.
He walked again, checking traps.
Everything seemed safe.
But—
This was a mountain with magical beasts.
He had to stay alert.
“Maybe I should take a different path today.”
He picked up a stick and tried something new—
Not burning it, but keeping fire inside it.
It failed.
Again and again, it burned completely.
“Nothing is easy…”
Still, he was improving.
Slowly.
He tried again.
And failed again.
“Maybe I should try this while hungry…”
Then—
Something suddenly jumped out of the bushes.
“!”
A deer.
It was slightly bigger than ones he knew.
It ran away quickly.
“Ah…”
He reacted too late.
He could have caught it.
He clicked his tongue.
“Next time, I won’t miss it.”
And then—
He saw it.
“A strange footprint.”