17 A Dreadful Encounter (1/2)

”Ah, why are they not stopping?! They keep following us!”

Oh, players. Also, did they aggro a shitload of monsters or something?

Once Shesmu's thoughts reached that point, he immediately stopped in his tracks.

”Guys, stop, let's hide for a bit,” He ordered in a calm tone. Shesmu wanted to first check out the situation before deciding on how to help the distressed players.

Both Leo and Ryan understood the thought process of Shesmu and acted according to his instruction. The trio hid behind the shrubs, waiting for the players and whatever was chasing them to come.

They didn't have to wait for long, as the moment they hid was when the distressed players came. One girl, one boy, both holding their sword clumsily, ran into the clearing as if their lives depended on it.

Seconds after the clumsy duo came in, three small green humanoid creatures appeared. Goblins? And baby goblins at that? How in the world do these creatures beat you? Shesmu was surprised, to say the least about this situation.

”Do you know who I am? I am the hero foretold by the prophecy of old! The savior!” The guy then turned towards the girl before continuing, ”Don't worry, I will protect you from those evil creatures! Just watch my power!”

Looking at this scene, Shesmu, Leo and Ryan thought the same thing, It's a roleplayer…The trios' eyes squinted in disappointment that couldn't be described by words.

”Oh, Ryuuji, you're so cool!”

So even the girl is in the roleplay.

Once the trio saw this scene, they turned to look at each other. Reaching a silent mutual understanding, they nodded their head. They turned around, and silently made their way out.

”Don't worry, I will protect you from those vile creatures! Just watch my power!”

”You can do it. I believe in you, kyaa!!”

The trio kept walking as if they heard nothing. They were eager to get out of this place before the two roleplayers noticed them.

”Shit! I got hit! How dare you goblins?!” For a second, the guy dropped his role-playing voice. The pain was clear from his tone.

”Ryuuji, are you hurt?! We should run!”

When Shesmu heard the panic in the duo's voice. Something inside of him made him stop.

If I go, these guys are probably gonna die.

Dying in an MMO was normal, it was part of the experience. However, Shesmu still felt conflicted. It would take no effort from him to help these guys out. However, if he did turn around now, he might not hear the end of their roleplaying speech.

When Leo and Ryan saw Shesmu stopping, they looked at him incredulously.

”Shesmu, what's going on? Let's get out of here before those two nutjobs notice us,” Ryan stated.

Without waiting for their response, Shesmu ran back towards the two roleplayers. They were already disarmed and the goblins kept hitting them with their blunt knives. But the baby goblins could barely output any damage, only dealing five with each hit.

Really how can a person possibly lose to that? Even your punches deal more damage than them.

In less than five seconds, Shesmu arrived at the clearing. Without saying anything to the duo, he used his skill Dash to teleport towards the goblins.

”Kiri, kiri!”

The screeching of the goblins made Shesmu even more irritated than how he already was. He looked at one of the goblins, and before it could even react, he slashed open its neck using an Empowered Slash Cancel.

The damage was enough to kill the goblin who barely had 100 HP.

Without wasting any time, Shesmu grabbed the second goblin and pushed it to the ground on its head. Its skull caved in, and blood gushed out from its orifices. Seeing its ally being killed, the last baby goblin jumped towards Shesmu, trying to maim him.

That is fortunate. They cannot even make out the difference in our strength.

While the goblin was in midair, Shesmu muttered, ”Empowered thrust.” His sword glowed green and he plunged it deep into the goblin's neck. Blood gushed out and painted Shesmu's face red. He then took out his sword and with one final slash, he ended the goblin's life.

Once Shesmu finished his job, he turned around to look at the role-playing duo who were still shuddering in fear. His bloody face cracked into a big smile before he said.

”You guys are trash.”

Shesmu could no longer hold it in his heart anymore. Being a roleplayer was one thing, being so bad was another. At this point, he had mixed feelings of anger and pity towards the couple.

The girl became flustered when she heard Shesmu's insult, ”Hey! Yes, you saved us, but that doesn't give you the right to insult us!—”

However, before she could even finish her rant, Ryuuji stopped her.

”No, Sakura. He is right. At this point in time, I am simply too weak. No matter how much I want to protect you, with this power, I can't.”

As he said those words slowly and heavily, pain could be seen in Ryuuji's eyes. He clenched at his heart in regret before he forcefully looked at Shesmu in his eyes.

”Great master, please, with this power of mine I cannot defend anything or anyone. I beg you, teach me how to become a strong person!”

The light in Ryuuji's eyes showed the strong will in his heart. However, Shesmu didn't buy any of that. He squinted his eyes throughout the whole speech. He had a judgemental look on his face that condemned mankind for evolving to this state.

”Nope, sorry. Just learn by yourself, it's not that hard.” Saying these words, Shesmu immediately turned his back and took off. Want me to take care of you nutjobs? Yeah, right!

But if Shesmu had thought he would get away from this situation so easily, then he was in for a world of disappointment. Before he could even take two steps, Shesmu was stopped by a hand holding his leg. He turned around to look at what the idiot was doing again, only to be greeted by the most anime protagonist smile he has ever seen.

”I'm sorry, but I cannot continue down this road. So that I can protect everyone that I love, for our future, I must be strong.”