Chapter 3
I spent the rest of the day dealing with the bureaucratic headache of clearing my past week’s work with the JNHA database. Apparently, every single monster domain I had wiped out needed to be registered properly—location, estimated threat level, proof of extermination, and a post-clearance report.
It was tedious, to say the least. One by one, I logged the twenty domains I had taken care of, submitting the necessary documentation through the system. Thankfully, Yamamoto-san guided me through the process, handling the more intricate details while I provided the raw data.
By the time we finished, the sky had darkened, and I exhaled, rolling my shoulders to shake off the stiffness of sitting too long.
Yamamoto-san tapped her screen one last time before turning to me. “That’s all. Are you sure, Sir Meir?”
Before I could answer, the scent of warm food drifted through the room, pulling my attention away from the glowing screen. A soft clatter of dishes echoed from the dining area, followed by a gentle voice.
"Sir Meir, you''ve been at it all day. Come have something to eat."
I glanced up to see Yamamoto Aoi, Yamamoto-san’s mother, setting down a steaming bowl of rice, karaage, vegetable salad and miso soup on the dining table. Her younger daughter, Yamamoto Chie, busily arranged side dishes beside her, the two having taken charge of preparing dinner while we worked.
I let out a small chuckle as I leaned back in my seat, finally allowing myself to relax. “I was wondering what smelled so good earlier,” I admitted, eyeing the spread before me. “Turns out, it was a feast enough to make me realize just how hungry I am.”
Yamamoto Yuriko, still seating beside me, exhaled quietly, rolling her shoulders before rubbing her temples. Even after all these hours, she maintained the same composed expression, though the exhaustion in her posture was clear. She had spent the entire evening guiding me through the bureaucratic mess, patiently explaining every requirement and double-checking my submissions.
As I took my seat at the table, my eyes flickered to Aoi-san, who was carefully packing extra portions of food into plastic containers. Her hands moved with practiced ease, sealing each meal neatly before setting them aside. It was a quiet, methodical act—one that hinted at experience in taking care of others.
Before I could ask, the front door slid open. Yamamoto Daisuke, Yuriko’s father, stepped inside, followed closely by Tanaka-san and his team. They looked tired but satisfied, the weight of the day’s work evident in their movements.
“We’ll wrap up here for today,” Tanaka-san said with a respectful nod. “We’ll be back early tomorrow, and I’ll arrange for extra manpower. We’re aiming for a 24-hour rotation to keep things moving.”
As they made their way toward the door, Aoi-san lifted the neatly packed food containers and held them out. “Take these with you.”
Tanaka-san blinked, hesitating. “Ah, no, we couldn’t possibly—DP should be saved for domain development, especially for a new one. We’ll manage—”
“Nonsense.” Aoi-san gave him a warm but firm smile. “Everything we’ve cooked today was already accounted for. My daughter handled the calculations, and I trust her numbers. There’s no issue with making portions for everyone.”
Daisuke let out a hearty chuckle as he stepped forward, clapping Tanaka-san on the shoulder before pressing one of the packed food containers into his hands. “Come on now, Tanaka. A hard day’s work deserves a good meal. Besides, if you collapse from hunger, who’s going to lead the extra manpower shift tomorrow?” He grinned, making it clear there was no room for argument.
Tanaka-san scratched the back of his head, clearly still reluctant, but after a glance at his hungry-looking team, he finally relented. “In that case... thank you. We’ll gratefully accept.”
Tanaka-san let out a sigh of defeat, but a small smile tugged at his lips as he and his team took the neatly packed food containers from Aoi-san. One by one, the workers received their meals, exchanging murmurs of gratitude before stepping aside to eat. The warm aroma of freshly cooked rice and simmered vegetables filled the room, momentarily easing the exhaustion from their faces. Even the most reluctant among them, hesitant to accept what felt like charity, couldn’t resist the home-cooked comfort after a long day of labor.
As I took a bite of my own meal, my mind briefly wandered to the economics of it all. If I had bought this same meal pre-cooked from the DP Shop, it would’ve easily cost around 200 DP per serving. But by purchasing raw ingredients and preparing everything in bulk, the overall cost per portion dropped significantly—nearly halving to 100 DP per serving. The savings became even more noticeable when feeding a large workforce. Efficient DP management like this would make a massive difference in the long run.
But even with all the cost-cutting measures in place, our biggest challenge remained unchanged—we still needed to earn DP. And with a 25 million DP debt that has just arrived, saving 100 DP or 200 DP is very much appreciated.
As the workers left, I turned to Yamamoto-san... err... they are all Yamamoto''s now, right? I mean the vice-guildmaster: Yamamoto Yuriko-san. Yosh, I''ll just call her Yuriko-san,
Yuriko-san had been quietly observing the distribution until I spoke. “Tomorrow, I’ll be clearing the remaining monster domains north of our domain territory,” I said, keeping my voice low but firm. “Hahaha, we need to earn DP.”
Yuriko let out a small sigh, rubbing her temple. “That means I’ll have to work overtime tonight to register the raids in advance.” Her voice was calm, but there was a hint of exasperation—just a flicker of her true self slipping through.
I winced. “Ah… sorry about that.”
She shook her head, adjusting her glasses before giving me a tired but patient look. “It’s fine, Sir Meir. More important than my sleep is making sure we follow the proper legal procedures. We don’t want any unnecessary trouble with the JNHA.”
I could only nod, feeling a little guilty. Bureaucracy in this era was a headache, but she was right—it wasn’t something we could afford to ignore.
The next morning, I set out early, determined to make the most of the day. Last night, I offered the Yamamoto family the use of the lone standing house in the domain until their own residence was completed. It wasn’t much, but it was better than staying in makeshift shelters, and they accepted with grateful nods.
By mid-morning, I had already cleared the first two monster domains on my list. A cave full of hounds pack, and a goblin monster domain. The first netted me 5,000 DP, and the second brought in 6,500 DP—small steps toward repaying our debt.
More importantly, I hit level 5, feeling a slight but noticeable improvement in my body’s physique and mana capacity. So I checked my attributes only to see that they level up by 2 or 3 points.
[ Hunter Profile Window
Name: Nashchor Meir
Age: 25
Alignment: Neutral Good
Job: Domain Lord-Tinkerer
Level: 5 (↑+1)
Stat Rating: 113 SR
HP: 270/270
MP: 210/210
Attributes
Life: 27 (↑+4)
Strength: 15 (↑+2)
Endurance: 15 (↑+2)
Intelligence: 21 (↑+3)
Aura: 15 (↑+2)
Agility: 20 (↑+3) ]
The numbers weren’t anything groundbreaking, but they were consistent. A steady, predictable growth pattern—nothing like the power spikes I’d read about in myths or seen in some of the more monstrous Domain Lords.
Still, every bit counted. Life saw the highest increase, which I was thankful because it gives me more health points. While Intelligence and Agility weren’t far behind. Strength and Endurance lagged slightly, but that was expected. I wasn’t some brute-force fighter; my fighting skills leaned toward mid-range combat and spell casting.
More interestingly, Aura, which is the amount of mana enveloping my body, had grown alongside my physical stats. I hadn’t consciously trained it, but maybe it naturally thickened as my mana pool expanded. If that was the case, then in time, I might develop a passive magical resistance strong enough to shrug off mid-tier spells. Not that I planned to rely on that alone.
Well, in the end, what matter most is that I finally hit level five. As planned for today, I can now solo dive on level three monster domains safely. Time to head at that place.
I leaped from branch to branch, my steps light as I moved through the treetops. The forest canopy swayed slightly under my weight, leaves rustling in my wake. I wasn’t just passing through—I was searching, my senses stretched for any sign of the monster domain.
Then, I felt it. A faint, pulsing sensation at the edge of my perception. Like a ripple in the air, a disturbance in the natural flow of mana. I came to a halt on a thick branch, crouching low as I called Yuriko-san via my phone.
"Yuriko-san," I called. "I think I found it. Can you please confirm near my location?"
Her response came after a brief pause. "Checking the mana satellite feed… Yes, Sir Meir. It should be roughly 300 meters north of your coordinates."
North, huh? I adjusted my stance, focusing my vision in that direction. I closed my eyes for a brief moment, drawing in a slow breath before activating a skill.
"<Mana Sense>..."
The world around me dimmed, its colors dulling as I attuned myself to the flow of mana. And then, I saw it. A deep red glow, faint but unmistakable, bleeding through the trees ahead. The aura of a monster domain, spilling out from a cave entrance nestled between jagged rock formations.
Two figures stood at its mouth, their twisted, hunched forms outlined in crimson. Kobolds. Their eyes flicked back and forth, scanning their surroundings with restless vigilance. Clawed fingers gripped crude spears, their tattered leather armor barely covering their wiry bodies.
I exhaled, tightening my grip on my weapon. Time to earn more money to pay back my debt.
I steadied my breath, keeping my posture low on the branch as I adjusted my grip on the mana gun. The weapon’s frame was sleek but lightweight, resembling a hybrid between a soft air rifle and a high-pressure water gun. Instead of conventional ammunition, a translucent container near the stock held shimmering mana essence, swirling like liquid sky blue light.
The two kobold guards stood rigid at the cave entrance, their jagged spears gripped tightly. Their heads twitched every few seconds, scanning the surroundings with sharp, animalistic awareness. A direct shot from here would give away my position—so I''ll refrain from that direct shot.
Instead, I''ll just make a suprise long distance shortcut shot. I exhaled slowly and raised my rifle.
"< Gate >." I chanted and casted a skill.
As I activated the skill, the air in front of my mana gun twisted and folded, forming a diamond-shaped rift that shimmered with faint, rippling light.
Space Manipulation Basic Skill: Gate Portals. One of my favorite and most used spells.
Space itself bent unnaturally, connecting two places instantly. Through the rift’s surface, I could see the other side as if I were standing right there—the rough stone of the cave entrance, the flickering shadows, and the backs of the unsuspecting kobolds.
It was seamless. No distortion, no lag. The distance between me and the kobolds was now irrelevant.
With my mana gun still aimed through the rift, it felt almost unfair—I wasn’t firing from meters away; I was right behind them, aiming at them at their blindspot .
There was no chance of missing. The instant I pulled the trigger, the mana shot would emerge from the rift’s exit point as if my rifle had been placed directly at the target’s back.
A perfect angle. A guaranteed hit. But before I took the shot, I checked first their stats. Its never bad to check out what monster domain I''ll be diving in. With that plan, I casted a skill to check them, "< Inspect Monster >."
[ Monster Profile Window
Monster: Kobold Gate Guards
Name: N/A
Level: 3
Stat Rating: 48 SR
HP: 150/150
MP: 40/40
Attributes
Life: 15
Strength: 8
Endurance: 7
Intelligence: 4
Aura: 7
Agility: 7 ]
Yosh, I have three times intelligence stat compared to its aura stat. I can pierce through its magic resistance easily with my basic attacks from my mana gun.
I steadied my aim, lining up the shot. I didn’t hesitate. I pulled the trigger. Then, I fired. Kssshhh...
A magic circle materialized at the tip of the barrel of the mana gun and burst of condensed mana shot through the gate and shot like a beam instantly towards the kobold. The first kobold barely had time to flinch and glance back before the bolt struck through its aura armor and continued to its eye, a sharp shriek tearing from its throat as it reeled back.
Before the second could react, I adjusted my aim and fired again. Another crack of energy and a mana beam flew and split the air. The second kobold howled, clawing at its bleeding eye socket.
They are now blinded. Disoriented.
Now that they have no vision, its easy to finish them off. Ksshh.. Kssshhh... I finished them off with few more shots from my mana rifle.
The two kobolds slumped to the ground, their bodies twitching slightly before going still. I kept my rifle raised for a few extra seconds, ensuring they wouldn’t get back up. Once I was certain they were dead, I closed the rift with a flick of my wrist—the diamond-shaped tear in space shimmering before vanishing without a trace.
That took care of the gate guards. Now, it was time to move in.
I took a deep breath and raised my hand. "< Gate >."
The air crackled with energy as a second rift formed before me, this one far larger than the first. The diamond-shaped portal widened, its edges humming with an ethereal glow. Through it, I could see the dark cavern beyond the entrance, the damp stone walls, and faintly glowing moss clinging to the rocky surfaces. The scent of wet earth and the distant, guttural sounds of kobolds chattering reached me.
I tightened my grip on my mana gun. A direct entry. A silent approach.
Without hesitation, I stepped forward, passing through the gate portal in a single stride. The air around me shifted as I crossed the threshold, the cool darkness of the cave replacing the forest breeze. The portal sealed behind me, leaving no trace of my entry.
The scent of blood lingered in the air, mixing with the damp, earthy musk of the cave. I turned back to the kobold corpses sprawled at the entrance, their lifeless forms still fresh.
Before moving deeper, I crouched beside them, inspecting their bodies for anything of value. Their crude weapons—stone mace with barely sharpened edges—weren’t worth salvaging. Their fur was rough, their claws dull, and their fangs, while somewhat useful, weren’t rare materials.
Still, waste not, want not. Anything that came from monsters can be converted to DP.
Raising my hand over the corpses, I activated my Spatial Manipulation Advance Skill. "< Dimensional Storage >."
A faint pulse of energy rippled through the body, and then—a rift appeared beneath them. Unlike my Gate skill, this portal didn’t connect to another physical location. Instead, a void of absolute blackness stretched beyond its shimmering edges, an empty abyss that devoured all light. The moment the kobold corpses touched the surface, they sank inwards as if pulled by unseen hands, their forms slowly submerging into the endless dark.
Not a single sound. No resistance. No weight. Just… gone.
The rift sealed itself shut, vanishing without a trace.
I straightened, dusting off my hands. That was two less bodies to leave behind. With my storage space, I wouldn’t have to worry about carrying excess weight or leaving evidence of my kills. Efficient and clean.
Now, time to head deeper. As I stepped in towards the entrance of the cave, a notification from the system ping before me.
[ You have entered a monster domain: < Kobold Cave Den [ Lvl. 5 ] > ]
The system notification flickered before my eyes, but I barely paid it any mind. My focus was on the cave ahead.
With a deep breath, I activated Mana Sense, pouring more energy into it to enhance my vision. The darkness of the cave should have been suffocating, but through my skill, the world took on a different form. A dull blue haze spread across my vision, outlining the rocky interior in faint luminescence. Every surface shimmered with ambient mana, like heat rising from the earth.
No movement. No signs of life.
I took a cautious step forward, my boots pressing against the uneven stone floor. The cave walls stretched high above me, their jagged surfaces dripping with moisture. Small clusters of bioluminescent moss clung to the rocks, casting eerie green patches of light.
Strange. One path. No branching tunnels, no side passages. Just a single route leading further inside. That was unusual for a monster domain.
I pressed on, my steps silent against the damp ground. The deeper I went, the cooler the air became, carrying the scent of damp stone and something… musky. Faint, but distinct—the unmistakable stench of monsters.
The kobolds were here. Somewhere ahead.
I tightened my grip on my mana rifle and moved forward, my senses sharp. This was no ordinary cave. And something about the air, about the design of this domain, unsettled me.
Each step I took was measured, my senses stretched thin to detect any disturbance in the mana around me. Yet, despite my caution, the moment my boot pressed down on a loose section of the ground—click.
A strange, muted shift beneath my foot.
Something was wrong.
My body tensed, instincts screaming at me to move, but before I could react—
Shhhhffff!
The earth responded.
A section of the cave floor sank like a brick being pressed into place, and in an instant, thick slabs of clay erupted from below, rising at breakneck speed. The walls shot up, curving at the top, sealing me in before I could even blink.
A prison.
A cube-shaped cell of hardened clay now surrounded me, the walls so tightly packed there wasn’t even a gap to slip a finger through. I reached out and pressed against the inner surface—it was solid. No loose mana flow, no cracks. The trap had formed seamlessly.
And I hadn''t sensed it at all.
Mana Sense had given me nothing. No trigger point, no disturbance in the flow of energy. How?
Then, from somewhere in the darkness beyond my new prison, a high-pitched snicker echoed through the cave.
A kobold laugh.
A realization struck me like a jolt of cold water—Kobolds were masters of traps.
I had let my guard down, assuming my mana sense could detect everything. But kobold traps weren’t normal. They weren’t imbued with mana beforehand like magic formations or enchanted devices. They were physical. Concealed. Only activating once triggered, giving no warning until it was too late.
I clenched my jaw.
I had just walked straight into a beginner’s mistake.
<div>
Well, its not like my job is suited for detecting traps. Maybe an advanced Assassin-type skill could have picked up the trap—something specialized in detecting physical inconsistencies, hidden mechanisms, or the subtle shifts in terrain that signaled danger.
But Mana Sense was only a basic skill. It was great for tracking magical disturbances, sensing life forces, and mapping mana flow, but it had clear limitations. It couldn’t detect purely mechanical or alchemic traps unless they had an active mana signature. And this one didn’t. It was a purely shrewed, complicated hidden mana trap mechanism, likely built into the cave’s structure itself—a primitive but effective countermeasure against intruders like me.
Trapped inside the cube-shaped prison, I ran my hand across the clay walls. The structure was solid, reinforced with magic, yet it had formed in an instant. A skill, no doubt.
I let out a small chuckle. Kobolds, huh? Masters of traps indeed.
Rather than panic, I leaned in, pressing my palm flat against the wall. “< Deconstruct >.”
A pulse of light flickered beneath my touch, tracing intricate, glowing patterns across the surface. Technological sigils—data woven into magic—crawled along the clay, forming circuits of knowledge. The skill itself was revealing its mechanics to me, unraveling piece by piece.
Fascinating. A low-tier trap, but executed with surprising precision.
I smiled, already picturing its potential applications. Raising my free hand, I whispered, “< Archive >.”
With a shimmer, my grimoire materialized midair, falling neatly into my grasp. It flipped open to a blank page, and like an eager scribe, it began transcribing. Lines of script etched themselves onto the parchment, recording the composition of the spell, its activation method, and its limitations.
[ You have successfully learned the skill < Trap Creation >. ]
I smirked. Not bad. Now, let’s see how I can turn this against them.
I closed my grimoire revealing its title: "List of Interesting Skills". What a fun hobby. In the future, I can''t collect enough data to study skills. Now, I can do work and have fun with my hobby at the same time.
I exhaled slowly, rolling my shoulders as I placed my palm against the hardened clay. Alright, let’s make this quick.
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"< Gate >."
A soft hum vibrated beneath my fingertips as space twisted before me. A diamond-shaped rift shimmered into existence, linking the cramped prison to the ceiling above. Through the portal’s surface, I could see the rough stone overhead, perfectly positioned for a clean escape.
With a quiet breath, I bent my knees and jumped. My body slipped through the rift effortlessly, gravity shifting in an instant. A heartbeat later, I landed lightly atop the hardened clay prison, barely making a sound.
From below, confused chittering echoed through the cave. The kobolds hadn’t expected their trap to fail so easily.
I smirked, dusting off my coat as I peered down at the dim-lit cavern. My eyes with activated Mana Sense skill already saw the group of four kobolds-two with spear and another two with bow and quiver. All are level 3 kobolds.
"Sorry," I called out, my voice laced with amusement. "But I think I’m a bad matchup for your traps."
A chorus of startled yips rang out, followed by an angry, guttural snarl.
I chuckled. Well, now that I’ve made an entrance, let’s see what else these kobolds have in store for me.
The two spear-wielding kobolds wasted no time. With shrill battle cries, they charged forward, their clawed feet scraping against the stone floor as they lunged toward me with reckless aggression.
I watched them closely, my mind already working. Let’s see if this skill is as useful as I think it is.
I flicked my wrist and pressed a palm to the ground, the sensation of structured mana flowing through my fingertips. "< Trap Creation >."
A faint glow pulsed beneath my hand, sinking into the stone. I stepped back just in time as the kobolds unknowingly triggered the newly formed trap.
The ground beneath them shifted. A dull, heavy thunk echoed through the chamber as a cube of hardened clay surged upward from the floor, engulfing the two charging kobolds before they could even react.
Their snarls turned to panicked yelps as the walls of the prison solidified around them, leaving only their heads exposed above the surface. They thrashed, squirming, trying to claw at the earthen prison, but it was no use—the clay had hardened almost instantly, trapping them in place.
I grinned. Perfect. The prison was even tighter than the one I had been caught in. I guess I made some improvements.
The two kobolds with bows hesitated, their beady eyes darting between me and their immobilized comrades. One of them hissed something in its guttural language, gripping its bow tighter. It shot an arrow towards me. Swoooosh.
I barely moved. Instead, I raised a hand, my fingers already forming the invocation. "< Gate >."
Space warped. A rift snapped open just before the arrow could reach me, swallowing it whole. At the same time, another rift—its exit—materialized behind the unsuspecting kobolds.
With a soft whoosh, the arrow reemerged, now flying straight into the back of one of the archers. The kobold barely had time to register what happened before the projectile buried itself into its skull with a sickening thunk. It let out a choked gurgle before collapsing, twitching, its bow slipping from its claws.
The last kobold yelped, its yellow eyes widening in horror. It scrambled to nock another arrow, but I was already moving.
Ksshhh—
A streak of condensed mana beam burst from my mana gun with a sharp hum. The kobold barely lifted its bow when the shot hit dead center between its eyes. The force snapped its head back, its body going limp before it crumpled into a heap next to its fallen comrade.
I exhaled, lowering my mana gun. "That worked better than expected."
With all threats neutralized, I surveyed the scene. Two kobolds encased in my improved trap, two lifeless archers. Not bad for a first run.
I turned my attention to the two remaining kobolds, still trapped up to their necks in hardened clay. Their beady eyes darted wildly, their guttural snarls shifting into panicked whimpers as they thrashed in vain.
I sighed. “Can’t have you calling for reinforcements.”
Ksshh— Ksshh—
Two quick shots, one for each. The mana beams struck true, piercing their foreheads cleanly. Their heads lolled forward, eyes dimming as their bodies went slack within the trap.
Silence settled over the cave once more.
Holstering my mana gun, I stretched a little, rolling my shoulders. “Alright, time for cleanup.”
I walked up to the corpses and activated my skill, " < Dimensional Storage >".
With a flick of my wrist, a rift-like void opened before me. One by one, it dragged the lifeless kobolds toward the dark space. As soon as they touched its surface, they sank into the void as if being swallowed by an endless abyss. No resistance. No weight. Just complete oblivion.
With the loot secured and no immediate threats left, I turned my gaze toward the depths of the cave. The air grew heavier, damp with an earthy musk, and the darkness beyond felt deeper—thicker.
Cracking my neck, I took a step forward.
“Let’s see what’s waiting for me deeper in.”
The next stretch of the cave was more of the same. Two more ambushes, two more sets of kobolds thinking they had the upper hand—only to fall for their own tricks.
Each time, I refined my Trap Creation, adjusting the timing and structure until the clay prison snapped shut even faster. The kobolds never stood a chance.
Their loot and corpses went straight into my Dimensional Storage, and with every encounter, my understanding of their tactics deepened. Kobolds weren’t strong, but they were persistent, using numbers and terrain to overwhelm their prey. Unfortunately for them, I was neither outnumbered nor outmaneuvered.
After clearing the last group, I finally reached a massive chamber deeper in the cave. A heavy, oppressive aura seeped from the entrance, a telltale sign of something—or someone—stronger waiting inside.
I smirked.
“Looks like I’ve found the boss room.”
I raised my hand on the wall and quietly murmured a skill, "< Gate >."
A small rift shimmered into existence before me, no larger than a book, its edges glowing faintly as it connected my position to the inside of the chamber. Through it, I peered inside.
Five figures stood within the cavernous space. Two kobolds clad in ragged armor, spears gripped tight. Two more perched at a higher ledge, bows ready. But my gaze locked onto the last one—the largest.
It stood a head taller than the others, its frame bulkier, its snout more pronounced. In its grip was a massive, jagged-edged butcher blade, the kind meant for cleaving through flesh and bone with a single swing. Its deep red eyes flickered in the dim glow of the cave, exuding an unmistakable air of authority.
I narrowed my eyes and invoked my analysis skill, "< Inspect Monster >."
A familiar translucent screen materialized before me, listing out their stats in crisp, glowing letters.I exhaled through my nose.
[ Monster Profile Window
Monster: Kobold Guard
Name: N/A
Level: 3
Stat Rating: 48 SR
HP: 150/150
MP: 40/40
Attributes
Life: 15
Strength: 8
Endurance: 7
Intelligence: 4
Aura: 7
Agility: 7 ]
[ Monster Profile Window
Monster: Kobold Archer
Name: N/A
Level: 3
Stat Rating: 44 SR
HP: 120/120
MP: 50/50
Attributes
Life: 12
Strength: 6
Endurance: 5
Intelligence: 5
Aura: 6
Agility: 10 ]
[ Monster Profile Window
Monster: Monster Domain Lord - Greater Kobold
Name: Gorak the Ironfang
Level: 5
Stat Rating: 87 SR
HP: 240/240
MP: 90/90
Attributes
Life: 24
Strength: 14
Endurance: 15
Intelligence: 9
Aura: 12
Agility: 13 ]
“That one’s a problem.”
The guards and archers? Standard. I’d dealt with their kind earlier. But the Greater Kobold had double their health, and the strength, and enough endurance to soak up several of physical attacks. If I didn’t kill it quickly, it might actually become an issue.
I smirked.
“Luckily, I still have a higher intelligence stat compared to its magic resistance aura stat. I can still deal damage with it with my mana beams, though it will take a longer time because of its high life stat.”
Even so... a named monster, huh. Named monsters were different.
Unlike their lesser kin, they weren’t just mindless beasts acting on instinct. A named monster tended to have greater awareness, sentience, enough to learn from experience. They adapted to battles, recognized patterns, and, worst of all, improved over time. That was why they often served as the boss monsters of monster domains like this.
If a normal monster can be prepared and countered becaues of their usual and predicatable behavior, the same thing cannot be applied to a name and evolved monster.
The Greater Kobold before me—Gorak the Ironfang—was a perfect example. Normal kobolds were barely more than cunning pests, relying on sheer numbers and rudimentary traps. But the moment one of them evolved, everything changed.
A Greater Kobold was the second evolution in a kobold’s growth line—stronger, smarter, and far more dangerous. Just looking at the weapon it is holding, it may probably be heading and working to evolve towards a Kobold Warrior.
Which meant Gorak was no simple opponent.
His Stat Rating of 87 SR wasn’t overwhelmingly high, but combined with its fighting experience, strength and endurance, he’d be a pain to take down with brute force alone. Even my mana beams, while effective, would take time to whittle him down thanks to his high Life stat.
I exhaled slowly, already forming a plan.
"Alright, Gorak. Let’s see if you have any interesting skills to show me."
Before making my move, I decided to set up the battlefield in my favor.
I raised my hand toward the small Gate I had left open, the portal shimmering faintly in the air. Channeling mana through it, I whispered the incantation:
"<Trap Creation>"
Immediately, the spell took hold. One by one, traps materialized within the room, seamlessly merging with the cavern floor. Ten… fifteen… twenty… I kept going, each trap draining a chunk of my mana reserves. Thirty in total.
By the time I was done, I felt a wave of exhaustion hit me. Half my mana reserves was gone. That was more than I had expected, but it was worth it.
Pulling out mana potions from my Dimensional Storage, I uncorked it and took a deep swig. The moment the cool liquid ran down my throat, I felt the refreshing pulse of mana recovery spread through my body.
Then—
"GRAAHK!"
A sharp cry rang out from inside the chamber.
I quickly leaned forward, peeking through the Gate once more. My lips curled into a grin at the sight before me.
The two kobold guards had stepped right into my traps. Their entire bodies were encased in cubic clay prisons, leaving only their heads exposed. Their yellow eyes darted around in panic, snarling and growling as they thrashed, but it was pointless. The material was as sturdy as hardened stone.
I smirked, rolling my shoulders.
"Two down. Three to go."
I leaned in closer, peering through the shimmering portal.
The kobold archers were already on high alert, their bows raised, eyes darting toward the trapped guards and scanning the room for the unseen attacker. They knew something was wrong. That was a problem. Maybe if come stepped through the entrance, they’d have their arrows trained on me.
Getting in headfirst would be a hassle. But then again, I had other ways to enter a battlefield.
I smirked and raised my hand.
"<Gate>."
A second portal shimmered into existence—this time, forming silently behind one of the archers. It was perfectly positioned in their blind spot, just a few feet away from the back of its head.
I drew my mana gun in one swift motion, lining up my shot.
Pew!
A condensed beam of mana shot through the Gate, piercing the first archer’s skull cleanly. It collapsed without a sound, its bow slipping from its lifeless fingers. Damn... this archers really have a low aura... Getting a clean headshot like this is lucky
The remaining archer let out a startled yelp, its beady eyes snapping toward its fallen comrade.
Bad move.
I was already opening another Gate behind it.
Pew!
The second archer barely had time to react before my next shot blasted through its head. It crumpled to the ground just like the first.
I exhaled, flicking the side of my gun before returning it to my holster.
"Archers down. That just leaves..."
I turned my attention toward the last remaining monster in the room.
Gorak the Ironfang.
The Greater Kobold stood in the center of the chamber, his red eyes locked onto the corpses of his fallen kin. He hadn’t moved an inch.
A slow, deep growl rumbled from his throat.
I felt a faint shiver in the air—an almost tangible aura of rage.
Interesting. I smirked and rolled my shoulders. "Alright, big guy. Your turn."
"<Gate.>"
A portal shimmered to life beneath me, and in an instant, I stepped through, emerging inside the boss room.
The moment my boots hit the stone floor, Gorak’s gaze snapped toward me. His bloodshot eyes burned with fury, his grip tightening on the massive butcher-like machete he wielded.
I raised a hand in mock apology, smirking.
"Excuse me for intruding," I said, my voice casual. "And for killing your kin. I''m in dire need of DP. But don''t worry, I''ll take care of their bodies." I chuckled, "As nutrients for my domain growth, that is."
The Greater Kobold let out a guttural snarl, his sharp fangs bared. He stomped forward, brandishing his weapon, rage fueling every movement.
Good. He took the bait.
Before he could charge, I raised my mana gun and pulled the trigger.
Ksshhh!
A sharp mana beam erupted from the barrel, streaking through the air toward Gorak’s chest.
But the bastard was fast.
He twisted, leaping sideways, dodging the shot just in time. His movements were sharp, practiced—far more refined than any kobold I’d faced before. He knew how to fight.
I smirked.
"Oh no you don’t."
I snapped my fingers.
"<Gate>!"
A small portal materialized right in front of the mana beam, absorbing it mid-flight.
Another Gate formed behind Gorak—right in his blind spot.
Before he could react—
Zzt!
The mana beam blasted through his left ear, searing flesh and cartilage.
"GUYAAAHH?!" Gorak roared in pain and surprise, clutching the side of his head as blood dripped down his fur.
I leveled my gun at him again.
"Lesson one: Don’t look away," I chuckled.
Thud.
Gorak lunged.
His massive frame propelled forward like a cannonball, his machete raised high, aiming to cleave me in two.
Then—snap!
The moment his foot slammed down, the ground beneath him rippled like liquid clay.
<Trap Creation>—activated.
A cubic prison erupted from the stone floor, swallowing Gorak’s entire body—leaving only his snarling head exposed.
"Ohh," I mused, tilting my head. "This skill is really useful."
Gorak thrashed, his neck veins bulging, his feral eyes burning with pure hatred. His clawed hands were trapped inside the hardened clay, leaving him unable to swing his weapon.
Perfect.
I lifted my mana gun, aiming directly between his eyes.
"Time to end this."
Ksshhh!
A bright mana beam streaked forward, cutting through the dimly lit chamber, heading straight for Gorak’s skull—
"Grurghk! Va’ash’nek dur’roh!"
The monster snapped its jaws open, growling something guttural and ancient.
The moment those unintelligible words left his lips—
Fwooom!
A barrier of pure energy exploded outward, forming a transparent dome-shaped shield around Gorak''s trapped form.
The mana beam slammed into it—only to be absorbed entirely.
I frowned.
"Ah. A defensive spell."
Gorak grinned, his bloody fangs glinting.
So… the bastard had magic. Well, I should have expected it. Kobolds evolves to Greater Kobolds. And Greater Kobolds evolves to either Kobold Warrior or Kobold Shaman.
Crack!
The clay prison shuddered.
Then—
Boom!
With a sheer display of brute strength, Gorak burst free from his confinement, shards of hardened clay exploding outward.
I clicked my tongue. "Tch. I should''ve put more mana into it."
Not that it mattered now.
Though my original plan was solid, I hadn''t expected him to use magic. That defensive barrier had completely absorbed my attack, throwing off my rhythm.
I took a deep breath.
"Don''t think of just one plan always," my professor’s words echoed in my mind. "Monsters and fate are unpredictable. Always have a backup plan."
Right.
I exhaled slowly, steadying my aim.
Gorak’s muscles tensed. The moment his feet found solid ground, he launched himself toward me once more—
"<Gate>."
A portal flickered in front me, connecting to a blindspot again. Meanwhile, I aimed my mana gun and I fired straight through Gorak''s blindspot—
Ksshhh!
The mana beam shot out from in a straight angle, striking Gorak’s barrier at full force. I put all of my int stat to that attack, not withholding the mana cost it will take.
Krack!
Krackkrack—
SHATTER!
The shimmering dome fractured like glass, breaking apart as my attack overwhelmed it. I saw it before
Gorak staggered.
I narrowed my eyes. "Interesting. So it’s not a spell… but rather, like a shield."
It could block attacks, but not indefinitely.
And now—
He was wide open.
Gorak''s calves and hamstring muscles coiled like a spring.
Then—
BOOM!
He pounced. What a speed. His machete is ready to swing also at me.
I casted quickly and had taken a step back, anticipating his move.
"<Gate>."
A portal flared to life behind me, and I stepped back through it, instantly relocating to the opposite side of the chamber. Gorak''s machete blew an air pressure in front of me as it nearly misses my face on a hand''s width. Unfortunately, his machete beheaded one of his subordinates head trapped in the clay prison. Well, I don''t know if he still cares for them or not.
I immediately closed the portal before Gorak can cross it also. Gorak skidded across the ground, snarling, his body hitting the clay prison.
I didn’t waste time.
I raised my mana gun and fired again. I need to assess how quickly he can cast again his barrier. He has low int stat but decent agi stat, which means he has somewhat a decent casting speed also.
Ksshhh!
The first mana beam shot straight at him.
Gorak’s sharp eyes caught the attack, and he leaped sideways, narrowly dodging it. As he dodge, he immediately casted also his defensive spell mid-air.
As he landed, a dome barrier was protecting him again.
My smirk widened. About 2 seconds chant, huh.
Sorry, but I can cast faster than you, and my mana gun has a fire rate of up to 3 shots per second. Too bad he can''t dodge midair.
I fired again, this time utilizing the maximum fire rate my mana gun can do. One trigger, three magic circles formed near the tip of the barrel. Three mana beams flew, streaking the dim lit cave with its ethereal blue streak if mana.
"<Gate>."
Two portals snapped open—one above him, one behind. Two mana beams entered the two gates I invoked. One mana beam flew straightly at Gorak who was straightly charging at me also.
From each portal, a mana beam streaked toward him, converging like a crossfire.
Gorak snarled—and leaped through me with all of his might.
A dome-shaped barrier still protecting its body.
First shot, the mana beam flying straightly towards him—absorbed.
Second shot, shot from a blind spot—BOOM!
The barrier fractured and shattered under the force of my attack, just like before.
I chuckled. "As I thought, huh?"
The third shot hit his back and Gorak skidded through the dirt.
Gorak roared, his guttural voice vibrating through the chamber as he charged again, his massive butcher-like weapon swinging for my head.
But I was already moving.
"< Gate >."
A portal snapped open beneath my feet, and I stepped through it, just in time to avoid the deadly arc of steel.
WHOOSH! The weapon cleaved through empty space where I had stood a moment before.
I reappeared several meters away, raising my mana gun in a steady grip.
He can’t keep up with teleportation. And now, he’s running low on options. Now, what will you do, Greater Kobold Gorak?
Ksshhh!
First shot.
Gorak snarled and immediately invoked his barrier.
"Krath''zul Vorath!"
A translucent dome shimmered into existence, absorbing the hit.
I narrowed my eyes. "But still, this is the first time I''ve witnessed a barrier spell casted by a monster." Interesting, I want to study this one also and how much can I utilize it.
My hand flashed with blue light as I activated a spell, "< Deconstruct >!". A stream of arcane symbols unraveled in my vision, peeling away the layers of Gorak’s spell like an intricate blueprint.
So, it functions by creating a barrier with the durability as tough as one''s endurance and aura? So it functions both as a physical barrier as well as a magical barrier. But a skill with this properties... it will sure drain mana fast. I wonder if I can do something about that property.
As the second shot left my gun, I studied how the mana inside the dome shifted and dispersed.
Ksshhh!
Second shot.
A fine crack spread across the dome. His spell was strong, but not invincible.
BOOM! The barrier shattered into glowing fragments.
"Got it."
I raised my hand.
" < Archieve >!"
A faint golden light shimmered around my hand as my grimoire, List of Interesting Skills, materialized in front of me. The pages flipped open, and a blank page etched itself with new text.
[ You have successfully learned the skill < Construct Barrier >. ]
I smirked. "This might come in handy later."
With that done—
KSSHHH!
Third shot.
The last shot tore through the air, now unimpeded by any defense.
The battle had just turned in my favor. The last shot would rip through his flesh.
But Gorak wasn’t just standing still. The moment his shield collapsed, he lunged again, moving in unpredictable zig-zags, trying to close the distance. His bloodshot eyes burned with fury.
I smirked.
"You''re fast… but not fast enough."
"<Gate>."
I vanished before he could reach me. I have higher int and agi stat. I can cast spells faster than he can move.
Gorak slid to a stop, whipping his head around, searching for me.
I had already repositioned at another angle.
Ksshhh!
Another mana beam shot toward him.
With no barrier left, the attack seared into his shoulder, burning away fur and flesh.
He let out a strangled growl, but he wasn’t done. His eyes flashed with understanding.
"Oh?" Did he perhaps understood now that there was no point casting the barrier? Or casting the barrier is working against him?
He was learning mid-fight. A desperate opponent, backed into a corner, could sometimes become the most dangerous. He raised his free hand, muttering in his guttural tongue— "Krath''zul Vorath!"
I was expecting a dome-shaped barrier to materialize, but nothing happened. "Oh, did you perhaps... drained all your mana?" I chuckled.
His mana had run out. Well, that is to be expected of a low level monster with low int stat. His snout wrinkled in frustration.
I chuckled darkly. "Out of tricks already?"
Gorak let out a furious bellow and charged one final time. No magic. No barriers. Just brute force.
I didn’t move. Well, I didn’t need to. I aimed my mana gun at him with three magic circles materializing immediately at the tip of the barrel.
KSSHHH!
One shot—right in the gut.
Gorak staggered.
KSSHHH!
Second shot—right in the chest.
The Greater Kobold coughed up blackened blood, his movements slowing.
His legs buckled.
For the first time, his eyes flickered with something other than rage.
Fear.
I exhaled. "You fought well, Gorak."
And then—
KSSHHH!
Final shot.
Right between the eyes.
Gorak collapsed in a heap, lifeless.
The chamber fell silent. Left with a silent squeak from the last kobold guard alive. I smirked at it as I finished him off.
I let out a slow breath, rolling my shoulders.
"That took more effort than expected." I said while messages of the system appeared before me.
[ You have defeated the Monster Domain Lord - Greater Kobold < Gorak the Ironfang >! ]
[ You have received 1500 DP as rewards. ]
[ You have cleared the monster domain: < Kobold Cave Den [ Lvl. 5 ] >! ]
[ You have received 7710 DP as reward. ]
Ohh, sweet. I earned around 9000+ DP in this domain. That is still not including the DP I will earn from scavenging the monster corpses I''ve gathered.
I walked toward the Greater Kobold’s body, pressing a hand against it.
"< Dimensional Storage >." My skill flared to life, swallowing the corpse into my inventory. I also collected the other four monster corpses in the boss room. I wonder how much I will earn from this monster. Though 25 million DP seems still so far.
I gave my mana gun a quick check—its essence vessel still had a bit of charge left. Good. I’d recharge it later.
I let out a slow breath, rolling my shoulders.
"That took more effort than expected."
I was just about to relax when—
…An aura approached.
No—three auras.
And they weren’t weak.
I instinctively cast beneath my feet and let myself fall through it, repositioning to the far back of the room. As I landed, I crouched low, pressing my back against the jagged rock formations.
I stayed still.
The auras weren’t just strong—they far exceeded my current stats.
Something was off.
I narrowed my eyes and peered from behind a cluster of stalactites, carefully observing the figures that entered the boss chamber.
First, I saw two monsters.
A Troll Shaman—a hulking figure wrapped in crude ceremonial robes, carrying a gnarled staff etched with glowing runes.
A Green Hobgoblin—a more evolved form, equipped with refined armor and a jagged blade, much smarter than its lower-tier cousins.
But what caught my attention was the third figure.
A woman.
She walked between the two monsters, dressed in a black robe that bore the insignia of some kind of research division. Her long pink hair cascaded down her back, but what stood out the most were her sharp, pointed ears and the black, twisted horns curling from her head.
…An Oni?
No, something was off. Oni were usually more muscular, more imposing.
A Dark Elf?
Again, not quite. Dark elves had pointed ears, but not horns.
What the hell is she? Maybe a named, evolved monster?
More importantly—why is she walking alongside evolved monsters?
I remained hidden, watching. I wasn’t in the best state for another fight, specially that my mana gun is on low mana left, and against these three, a direct confrontation was suicide.
I gripped my mana gun tightly, muscles tensed.
I needed to gather information—fast. I narrowed my eyes and invoked my analysis skill with a murmured voice, "< Inspect Monster >."
A familiar translucent screen materialized before me, listing out the monsters details immediately.
[ Monster Profile Window
Monster: Monster Domain Lord - Troll Shaman
Name: Groznak the Bonecaster of the Valthorne Grand Order
Level: 7
Stat Rating: 111 SR
HP: 310/310
MP: 170/170
Attributes
Life: 31
Strength: 16
Endurance: 21
Intelligence: 17
Aura: 17
Agility: 9 ]
[ Monster Profile Window
Monster: Monster Domain Lord - Hobgoblin Warrior
Name: Thragul the Bloodfury of the Valthorne Grand Order
Level: 15
Stat Rating: 178 SR
HP: 500/500
MP: 180/180
Attributes
Life: 50
Strength: 39
Endurance: 27
Intelligence: 18
Aura: 24
Agility: 20 ]
[ Monster Profile Window
Monster: Monster Domain Lord - Abyssal Dark Elf
Name: Vaerilith Valthorne of the ??? Grand Council
Level: 22
Stat Rating: 317 SR
HP: 660/660
MP: 730/730
Attributes
Life: 66
Strength: 34
Endurance: 38
Intelligence: 73
Aura: 62
Agility: 44 ]
I froze. 317 SR. Hey, hey, that was nearly three times my stat rating.
My fingers tightened around the grip of my mana gun. My thoughts were racing, but I forced myself to stay calm. I’d sensed they were stronger than me—but this?
My gaze flickered between the two monsters. They weren’t just random evolved types—they belonged to a Grand Order.
The Valthorne Grand Order, huh? Never heard of them. But a grand order is an organized faction of monster domain lords, or human hunter domain lords operating under a singular banner. The fact that both the troll and hobgoblin that are both monster domain lords carried that name meant this wasn’t just some loose alliance—this was a structured organization.
And then there was her.
Vaerilith Valthorne.
And a Grand Council.
Not a Grand Order—but a Grand Council. A closed alliance of leaders of grand orders.
This wasn’t just some random encounter in a dungeon.
I had just stepped into a battlefield I didn’t even know existed.
One wrong move here, and I wouldn’t just be fighting three strong enemies—I’d be marking myself as an enemy of an unknown organization of monsters.
A war I wasn’t ready for. Heck, I''m just starting building my domain!
I forced my breath to slow. Think, Meir. What do they want? Why are they here?
I had cleared this dungeon—it was supposed to be cleared now.
But these three… had entered as if they owned the place.
Was I just unlucky? Or was there something else at play here?
I swallowed hard, carefully shifting deeper into the shadows. This wasn’t a fight I could win.
I remained completely still, pressing myself against the damp stone wall, barely daring to breathe. From my hiding spot behind the stalactites, I had a clear view of the three figures standing in the boss room. Their presence alone was suffocating—a weight pressing down on my instincts, warning me to stay put.
The Troll Shaman was the first to speak. His voice was deep and guttural, laced with a thick accent. He planted his staff into the ground, the skull ornaments tied to it rattling softly.
"This domain... it is empty." His glowing eyes swept over the chamber, taking in the aftermath of my fight. "No bodies. No corpses. Just blood and signs of battle."
His thick fingers traced a claw along the ground, scooping up dirt mixed with dried kobold blood. "All the monsters that once dwelled here have disappeared as well. Even the domain core."
I watched as he tapped his staff against one of the shattered stone pillars, examining the battle damage.
"The traps are all triggered as well," he continued. "But none of them were reset. This was no gradual purge—someone came in, wiped this place clean, and left no trace behind."
The Hobgoblin, Thragul, snorted and crossed his arms. He had a deep scar running down his left cheek, and the sharp, jagged teeth exposed in his smirk made him look perpetually aggressive.
"That stupid kobold," he spat. "He got himself killed for sure."
His nose twitched as he sniffed the air, his expression darkening.
"Probably by human hunters. Maybe a strong one, judging by how clean this place is." He turned his gaze to the troll, then the woman. "I can''t even trace the scent of human blood. That means whoever did this wasn’t just trying to raid,—"
His golden eyes gleamed.
"—they dominated against the kobolds nside this monster domain.."
His gaze swept over the remains of the shattered stone and the mana-burnt walls.
"But Gorak was an evolved type, right? That dumb lizard had a defensive skill too… how the hell did he go down this easily?"
The woman had been silent the entire time, standing at the center of the room with her arms crossed. Now, she stepped forward, her black robes swaying with the movement. The pink of her long hair was eerily vibrant against the darkness of the cave, and the sharp, curved horns that protruded from her head only added to her intimidating presence.
She was stronger than both of them.
And she knew it.
Her crimson eyes flickered toward the bloodstains, taking in the evidence of battle. For a brief moment, I swore she narrowed her gaze toward my exact hiding spot, but she made no move to investigate.
Then, she simply turned away.
"Let''s go," she said, voice smooth but firm. "There''s no value in this domain anymore."
Her cloak billowed slightly as she strode toward the exit. "We’ll just waste time if we dawdle any longer."
The troll grunted in agreement, and the hobgoblin gave the chamber one last glance before clicking his tongue and following.
I stayed perfectly still.
Only when their footsteps faded did I let out a slow, controlled breath.
That was too close. I need to get out of this place immediately.
I exhaled slowly, forcing my heart rate to steady as I lowered my mana gun. My body remained tense, every instinct screaming at me to stay hidden for a little longer. Even after the three figures left the chamber, the residual pressure of their presence lingered like a shadow over my senses.
That was too close. Far too close.
If I had hesitated even a second longer in my retreat, if I had made the slightest mistake in hiding my aura, I would have been dead—or worse, marked as a target by an entire organization of monsters.
That’s not a fight I can take right now.
I had pushed my luck far enough. It was time to leave.
I reached out with one hand, summoning the familiar hum of system commands at my fingertips.
"Blessing Command! Activate Skill < Linked Gate Portals >. Accept Coordinates [35.792328,137.647541] to Coordinates: [35.224408,137.660919]..."
The moment I spoke, I felt the weight of the spell settle onto my shoulders—a manual casting, spatial construct so complex and vast that it threatened to burn through my mana veins. It wasn’t just like my usual <Gate> skill. It was long-distance displacement.
Mana surged violently through me as the spell''s core locked onto the coordinates.
"< Generate Gate >!"
The air in front of me fractured, as if the very fabric of reality was being forcibly peeled apart. A sharp, diamond-shaped rift tore into existence, crackling with condensed spatial energy. It expanded until it was large enough for me to step through comfortably.
I didn’t hesitate.
With one last glance at the now-empty boss room, I stepped forward—leaving the dangerous, unknown depths of the domain behind.
The moment I passed through, the rift collapsed, sealing off any trace of my escape.