I made my decision.
I grabbed Rehan's hand and pulled him forward.
"Come with me."
For a second, he didn't move.
Then I felt it—his hand stiffened like his brain had just blue-screened.
He slowly turned his head toward me, eyes wide, mouth slightly open.
"…I—"
He swallowed.
"I think… a goddess just held my hand."
He stared down at our joined hands like they were sacred relics.
"My hand," he whispered reverently, "has been purified."
Then, with absolute sincerity—
"I am so happy right now I could die."
I immediately let go.
"Stop talking nonsense," I said flatly. "Or I'll kill you myself."
Instead of backing off—
He grabbed my hand again.
Correction.
He held mine.
I didn't return the grip. He just… decided my hand belonged there.
"Oh." He smiled brightly.
"When you put it like that—getting killed by you doesn't sound so bad either."
I stopped walking.
"Rehan."
He straightened instantly.
"Okay, okay! Mouth sealed. Silent mode activated."
He made a zipping motion across his lips.
"…Mostly."
We moved into a narrow alley.
The noise of the city faded. No screams. No monsters.
No people.
Rehan glanced around uneasily.
"Uh… Ice Princess?"
He leaned closer.
"I don't think there'll be any Green Zone here. No humans, no monsters… it's creepy."
Of course it was empty.
Green Zones preferred low-density areas.
Crowded places turned them into battlefields. People fought each other more than the monsters ever did.
And monsters—
They were attracted to sound.
That was why this place was quiet.
But I couldn't tell him that.
So I simply said, "I'm guessing. Trust me."
Then, colder—
"If you don't want to follow, you can leave anytime."
He looked at me like I'd said something ridiculous.
"Leave?"
He scoffed.
"Please. I can follow you even if you walk straight into hell."
I didn't respond.
A faint green glow appeared ahead.
Rehan's eyes lit up.
"It's here!"
The alley floor shimmered as a green ring of light expanded outward.
We stepped inside.
A translucent message floated up.
[Green Zone]
Capacity: 2 / 5
The timer in the sky still showed more than 20 minutes remaining.
We were safe.
For now.
I chose this place for two reasons.
First—no monsters, no people.
Rehan would be safe.
Second—the place I needed to go next was nearby.
And dangerous.
If he followed me there, his life will be in dangerous and I can't risk his life.
And if I told him not to—he would follow anyway.
So I acted.
I stepped behind him and struck his neck.
His body went limp instantly.
I caught him before he hit the ground and gently laid him down inside the Green Zone.
"Sleep well," I whispered. "Just this once… trust me."
Then I stepped outside.
The dungeon gate was hidden inside an abandoned building.
A goblin wandered nearby,
Goblins had weak lower bodies.
I moved silently behind it and kicked its legs out.
The impact wasn't as clean as I wanted because my strength stat wasn't that high.
The goblin shrieked, flailing wildly, its elbow smashing into my ribs. Pain exploded through my side, sharp and breath-stealing.
I clenched my teeth.
Before it could scream again, I snatched the fallen knife and drove it into its throat.
Warm green blood spilled over my hands.
The goblin twitched… then went still.
[You killed a Goblin]
[Reward: 100 Coins]
I inhaled slowly.
My ribs throbbed.
Too sloppy.
I wiped the blade on the goblin's clothes and slipped inside the building.
The portal glowed faintly in the corner. I walked near the portal.
[You cannot enter this dungeon yet.]
[You are first to find a dungeon]
[Reward - 5000 coin]
I wasn't here to enter.
I covered the windows with clothes to prevent any light to come inside. darkness swallowed the room.
Goblins couldn't see well in the dark.
But neither could I.
I slowed my breathing, forcing my eyes to adjust.
One minute later—
Footsteps.
Rough voices.
They emerged from the portal.
A group of goblins… and one larger figure.
The Head Goblin.
Its presence was different. Heavier. Oppressive.
It sniffed the air.
It can command other normal goblins.
I tossed stones toward the far corridor which I picked beforehand for this reason.
The sound echoed.
The Head Goblin barked something guttural.
The others rushed toward the noise.
I moved.
As fast as I can.
My foot scraped against debris.
The Head Goblin turned.
Its club swung instinctively.
I barely twisted aside.
The blow grazed my shoulder instead of crushing my skull—but pain exploded down my arm, my fingers going numb.
I staggered back.
I forced myself forward anyway.
I slashed at its leg.
The blade didn't cut cleanly.
The Head Goblin roared and slammed its elbow into my stomach.
The air rushed out of me.
I tasted blood.
I dropped to one knee.
The Head Goblin raised its weapon.
I rolled.
The club shattered the ground where my head had been.
I lunged up, ignoring the scream in my muscles, and drove the knife into the back of its knee.
Bone cracked.
The Head Goblin collapsed with a furious howl.
I didn't hesitate.
I severed its arms.
Green blood sprayed across my face, stinging my eyes.
The pain in my shoulder screamed louder, but I forced my hand steady.
I slit its throat.
The body went limp.
[You are the first to kill a Head Goblin]
Reward: 1,000 Coins
[Agility increased by 1]
[Strength increased by 1]
I kicked it toward the returning goblins.
Chaos erupted.
They rushed blindly, screaming.
One goblin tackled me from the side.
We hit the ground hard.
Its teeth snapped inches from my face.
I headbutted it—pain flashed through my skull—but it stunned the creature long enough for me to shove the knife into its neck.
[You killed a goblin]
[Reward - 100 coin]
Another slashed my calf.
Fire ripped through my leg.
I stumbled but didn't fall.
I couldn't afford to.
I used the wall to steady myself, dragging the blade across another goblin's throat as it lunged.
[You killed a goblin]
[Reward - 100 coin]
Bodies fell.
Breathing turned ragged.
My hands trembled.
[You aquired pain resistance]
Now I was feeling less pain.
More goblins arrived.
Too many.
Blood dripped down my leg.
I repeated the same method—noise, separation, ambush—but slower now.
Sloppier.
Each kill took more effort.
One goblin nearly gutted me when my foot slipped in blood.
I barely twisted aside, the blade slicing my side instead.
One by one, they fell.
Silence returned.
I leaned against the wall, chest heaving.
My arms felt heavy.
My body screamed for rest.
Then—
[You are the first to clear a dungeon]
Reward: Golden Box
[You have acquired the title: Dungeon conqueror]
[You have acquired the title: Goblin Slayer]
[Open the Golden Box?]
"Yes."
[You have acquired the skill: Blink Step]
A movement skill.
Perfect.
If I had this earlier…
I pushed myself upright and limped out of the building.
The sky timer read. [5:34].
Just enough.
Fortunately, one cloth shop was on my way.
I went inside, wiped blood from my body, and changed clothes.I was wearing a normal white tee and jeans, so it wasn't hard to find the same clothes.
I just hope Rehan doesn't notice anything.
I returned to the alley and collapsed into the Green Zone.
Rehan was still unconscious.
I pressed the same point on his neck.
He jolted awake.
"Huh—what—why am I on the ground?"
I tilted my head.
"Who knows? Maybe you got tired after fighting a monster."
He frowned.
"…Maybe… but wait."
'Did he noticed something '
He squinted at the sky.
"How long was I asleep?"
"Twenty-five minutes."
His eyes widened.
"…So you sat here with me the whole time?"
He stared at me, then grinned.
"Wow."
"Don't tell me—you fell in love with me while staring at my handsome face."
He raised both hands dramatically.
"Don't worry. I approve. I AGREE."
"Stop it," I said calmly.
"You're still half-asleep. That's why you're dreaming"
"It was more peaceful when you were sleeping"
"So you agree I'm handsome."
"Peaceful doesn't mean handsome, you idiot."
He laughed.
And for a moment—
The world almost felt normal again.