I Saw Goblins Charging Toward Us
With a pack strapped to his back, Juhwan tucked a small knife and an axe into his waist. If he encountered goblins on the mountain path, even the time it took to take off the pack would be too much. He would have to cut the shoulder straps immediately and fight. The small knife was for that purpose.
On normal days, the sound of birds in the mountains would feel comforting, but today it only sounded ominous. Lizzy pressed close to him anxiously. Holding Dorothy in one arm, Juhwan took Lizzy’s hand with the other. In the cold air, their body heat felt especially warm.
Crunch, crunch—the sound of footsteps spread in all directions. Even Dorothy, who was usually noisy, remained quiet now.
Only now, after the battle had ended and some time had passed, did the full terror of what happened today begin to sink in.
After walking for quite a while, they finally saw the outer wall of the village in the distance, and only then did Juhwan feel a bit relieved.
The back gate connected to the mountain was open. The sun hadn’t fully set yet, but it would soon dip behind the mountains. Night would come quickly. He had heard that the gate should be closed at this time—so why was it open?
Suppressing his unease, Juhwan shut the gate behind them. It had been an exhausting day. At some point, Dorothy had begun nodding off.
Tucking the child inside his clothes and holding her close, Juhwan entered the village with Lizzy. The village walls were crumbling in many places, but stepping inside still brought him a sense of relief.
There were never many people to begin with, but today the outskirts felt especially empty. Only after walking further in did they finally spot some villagers.
When the villagers saw Juhwan and Lizzy, they looked startled. They didn’t approach—just stared from a distance, whispering among themselves.
“…”
Something was off. It didn’t feel like they were simply wary of outsiders. Their expressions carried something more suspicious.
Already on edge from the goblins, Juhwan’s nerves sharpened. He slightly shifted his clothes so he could draw his axe at any moment.
Lizzy quickly reached out. Juhwan handed Dorothy over, and the half-asleep child stretched her arms toward Lizzy.
Though she ate and slept well, Dorothy was still small and thin. She fit easily into Lizzy’s arms.
Holding Dorothy close, Lizzy stayed right beside Juhwan. From Dorothy’s front pocket, the rabbit’s ears twitched between them.
As they moved toward the center of the village, more people appeared. Not as crowded as during trading days, but still quite a few. Their reactions were the same—surprised, awkward, uneasy.
Juhwan’s gaze shifted to the village square.
In the distance, the village chief and several villagers were arguing with a group of unfamiliar men.
Even to Juhwan, who didn’t know much about this world, the men looked different from ordinary villagers. They carried weapons like bows and swords, wore expensive-looking boots, and had a rough air about them—like a lighter version of gangsters from Earth.
On the ground beside them were several thick leather and cloth backpacks, with items like iron pots hanging from them. They didn’t look like they had just arrived—more like they were about to leave.
Was this why the village felt so strange?
Juhwan scanned the villagers again. No other outsiders seemed present.
Five of them.
Not hunters. Hunters would dress lighter and carry different weapons. One of them even had a mace.
Adventurers, maybe.
If goblins existed in this world, then adventurers probably did too.
From what he could overhear, they were arguing about food. The adventurers demanded better treatment, while the villagers seemed troubled.
As Juhwan approached, the argument abruptly stopped.
The adventurers looked him up and down.
The village chief cleared his throat and asked,
“What brings you here… with such a large load?”
Before coming here, Juhwan had learned the word for goblins from Lizzy.
Watching the adventurers, he spoke.
“Goblins appeared. Fifty of them.”
“What?!”
The chief, the villagers, and even the adventurers were all shocked.
“W-What nonsense! Fifty?!”
“…”
Juhwan slowly scanned their faces.
They were shocked—but not by the existence of goblins.
Whispers spread through the crowd.
Instead of “goblins,” he kept hearing numbers.
Ten.
Ten.
One of the adventurers, face flushed with anger, shouted,
“You lied to us! You said there were ten!”
“No, that’s true! It’s not a lie! Gus said there were ten—!”
Whether it was the chief or another villager speaking, it didn’t matter.
Everything clicked in Juhwan’s mind.
These bastards… they knew.
The reactions, the whispers—it all came together.
The villagers had known about the goblins in the mountains.
Not vaguely—they even knew the number.
Everyone knew.
Except Juhwan and Lizzy.
They knew the mountain was dangerous—and yet no one had warned them.
[Gus said there were ten.]
That phrase echoed in his head like a warning alarm.
Even Gus had known.
And he had lied.
If Gus knew enough to estimate numbers, he must have known there were more than ten.
Juhwan’s thoughts raced.
Gus’s behavior flashed through his mind.
The way he examined tracks… like he was searching for something more.
The way he meticulously erased traces after hunts—even far from the house.
He said it was because of predators…
But what if it was because of goblins?
Then Juhwan remembered the goblins that attacked him.
They had been… strange.
Not natural.
Now he was certain.
Gus did something.
“…”
They had to leave. Now.
This felt like a trap—like the snares Gus had taught him.
Slowly guiding prey without letting it notice.
The moment he realized it, Juhwan turned to Lizzy.
“Where’s the wagon?”
Lizzy answered immediately.
“There! Over there!”
She had sensed it too.
Juhwan moved quickly in that direction.
His heart pounded with unease.
The village chief and several men stepped in front of him.
Juhwan immediately drew his axe.
At the same time, he kicked the chief square in the chest.
Crack.
Even through his thick shoe, he felt bones break.
The chief screamed and collapsed.
Nearby wooden chairs—Juhwan smashed two with his axe.
Then he glared at the villagers.
“Don’t block me. I’ll kill you.”
At the sight of the sharp axe, the villagers recoiled in fear.
They slowly backed away.
Like the Red Sea parting, a path opened before him.
The adventurers cursed behind him, but Juhwan ignored them.
No time.
They had to leave. Now.
The wagon was behind the chief’s house.
It was larger than expected—plain but sturdy, made of thick wood.
It had a curved roof, small shuttered windows, and a solid rear door.
It could withstand goblins.
Strangely, the harness for the horses was already laid out neatly.
Juhwan threw their belongings into the wagon.
There were already items inside—but no time to check.
While Lizzy helped Dorothy into the wagon, Juhwan ran to a nearby building.
A stable.
Two horses stood inside.
Carefully, so as not to startle them, Juhwan led them out.
He struggled to attach the harness—Lizzy stepped in to help.
Soon, they were nearly ready—
When the chief’s wife came running, dragging a man—likely her son.
She screamed through tears.
“That’s ours! Our wagon! Our food—our things—!”
Juhwan didn’t hit women.
Never had.
But—
The chief’s wife lunged at Lizzy, trying to grab her hair.
Juhwan stepped in front and struck her across the face with the back of his hand.
She fell to the ground.
Her son, terrified, pulled her away.
She screamed curses at Lizzy, sobbing.
No time.
Juhwan lifted Lizzy into the wagon and shut the door.
He climbed onto the driver’s seat and snapped the reins.
The horses moved unevenly—but the wagon began to roll.
People shouted and followed, but none dared approach.
The chief still lay on the ground.
As they passed the adventurers—
Juhwan saw Gus in the distance.
Near the entrance.
Their eyes met.
Juhwan’s heart sank.
Gus extended his arm and shook a small pouch.
Powder scattered.
Then Gus turned away.
A scream rang out.
Juhwan turned—
Smoke rose from the village walls.
Fire.
Someone had set it.
“…”
No time.
They had to escape.
But—
As Juhwan raised the reins—
He saw them.
Goblins.
Running in from the village entrance.
A woman’s scream echoed from afar.
From the direction of the back gate.
Juhwan’s heart dropped.
We’ve been caught in a trap.
Like prey—
Caught in Gus’s snare.