DanMachi: Cheat? What's a Cheat?

Chapter 37 – Little Dragon

Gob stood in front of me in his battle stance. His small eyes stared at me with that super familiar look.

That look that screamed "get ready to get beat up again."

He made a gesture with his hand that meant "start," like a referee giving the signal for a boxing match.

I gripped the spear in my right hand and the short sword in my left.

For the first time, I felt a little confident.

I think this spear's strong enough to pierce through a goblin in one thrust.

"This time I'm gonna hurt you," I muttered while adjusting my position.

This spear's long, it's got good reach. Theoretically, I could attack from a safe distance without having to get into range of Gob's brutal punches.

Theoretically.

Without waiting long, I decided to attack first.

With a movement that... I thought looked cool, I thrust the spear at Gob while letting out a small shout, putting all my right arm's strength into that first thrust.

"Raaah!"

Gob just tilted his head slightly to the right.

My spear sailed past his ear with a very safe margin.

"Huh?"

That easy to dodge?

Before I could pull the spear back, Gob was already moving.

Turns out, when you attack with a spear and miss, there's a delay before you can pull your weapon back to ready position.

The skill I had started activating, giving me that cold sensation every time Gob was about to attack.

Long enough for a goblin to run close and—

A spear user's weakest range.

Wham!

The first punch landed right in my stomach.

"Ugh!" I doubled over, but still tried to swing the short sword in my left hand.

Gob backed up a little, then made a gesture that clearly meant "long weapons need room to move, idiot."

"I... I know that," I said while holding back the pain.

Bullshit.

I didn't know that.

Second attempt. This time I tried to be more careful.

I backed up a few steps, made sure I had enough distance, then thrust again.

This time my aim was better. Gob had to dodge by jumping to the side.

"Ha! Got you—"

Before I finished talking, something inside me screamed danger.

Danger from the left!

My instincts shouted a super clear warning, but for some reason my body reacted like I was swimming in water.

I don't mean like being in a dream where you're chased by a ghost.

I knew Gob was gonna attack from the left, I knew he was gonna hit my left ribs, I even knew the perfect timing to dodge.

But my body moved in slow motion.

"Argh!"

Hard punch to the left ribs. I staggered right while grimacing.

"Shit!" I growled in frustration.

"My instincts already warned me, but my body's too slow!"

The skill that was supposed to be my trump card was useless, looks like this goblin got stronger again.

No wait, not stronger, faster?

So fast I couldn't even react before getting hit by his attacks.

I saw that goblin wave his hand in the air like he'd just swatted a bug.

Made my mouth twitch, looks like the goblin really did get stronger.

Well, he's a dungeon monster, so he can fight non-stop, makes sense his power would develop rapidly.

Gob stood with his hands on his hips, making a gesture that clearly meant "is this really all you got? "

"Okay, okay, I get it!" I said while wiping blood from the corner of my mouth.

I realized this goblin wanted to finish the fight quickly.

I knew his attacks were using all his strength.

It's just that my body was tough enough that I didn't go down with just one punch.

Seeing the blood on my hand, my expression became serious.

I was gonna be serious now.

Ahem, I was already serious before, now I'm more serious.

If before was 100% then now it's 101%

I got up and took a fighting stance with both weapons like before.

But more stable.

Gob made a gesture that meant "oh, interesting."

This time, when he approached, I didn't just rely on the spear.

I thrust with the spear, he dodged, but I immediately followed up with a sword slash.

Clang!

For the first time, Gob had to draw his sword to parry.

"Ha!" I felt successful.

But the excitement didn't last long.

Gob pushed my sword hard, making me lose balance, then—

Ting!

Survival instinct skill activated again.

Danger from the front!

This time it worked. I managed to parry his punch with my spear.

"Huh? It worked?" I was surprised myself.

Gob made a gesture that meant "luck."

He started moving more seriously.

No more playing around.

Looks like I'm more suited to using a spear.

Before, using a double-edged sword made it hard to make Gob serious.

Now using a spear for the first time I could make Gob serious.

What happened next was a fight that was... somewhat more balanced.

I used the spear to keep distance and control the area.

Every time Gob tried to get in, I'd thrust.

Every time he managed to get in, I'd use the sword to defend.

Coordinating both weapons felt weird, but there was deadly potential here.

Gob was even pushed back a few times.

He had to retreat when I successfully cornered him with combinations of spear thrusts and sword slashes.

"This... this could work," I muttered while wiping sweat.

However, a smile slowly spread across my face.

But of course, Gob wasn't gonna let me feel like I was winning.

He suddenly moved at full speed.

Like green lightning, he slipped under my spear thrust, slid between my legs, then—

Shit, this guy dared to attack my little dragon.

I reflexively used my weapons to protect my little dragon.

Suddenly...

A punch that felt like a rock slammed into my jaw.

He delivered an uppercut with his right hand right to my chin.

Crack!

I saw stars for a moment.

The world spun, and the next thing I knew, I was lying on the ground with Gob standing over me, his chest rising and falling.

I lost.

Of course.

But when I looked at him, I saw something new in his eyes.

Not mockery anymore.

But something that resembled... a nod of approval.

He extended his hand.

Not to punch, but to help me up.

I accepted his help, smiling wryly. I lost because I panicked a little.

Who wouldn't panic if their third leg was about to be broken.

"Alright, alright... good warm-up."

Gob snorted.

After resting for a moment (and drinking a healing potion I always carried), we got ready for some real hunting.

We went down to the 6th floor.

A deeper floor, with more varied and dangerous monsters.

"Be careful, Gob," I said while holding my spear in ready position.

"This floor has Frog Shooters and War Shadows."

Gob nodded and made a gesture meaning "I know."

The 6th floor was full of Frog Shooters and War Shadows, monsters more dangerous than the previous floors.

Three War Shadows emerged from behind the wall, moving with surprising speed.

"Okay," I whispered to Gob.

"I'll hold them off from long range. You attack from the side."

Gob made an OK gesture, then disappeared behind the wall.

I took a deep breath and moved forward with my spear raised.

I was gonna use the spear to create a control zone.

This weapon's length allowed me to hold off all three monsters at once, thrusting and keeping them from getting close.

Meanwhile, Gob, small and agile, moved like a shadow. He snuck between the monsters focused on me and started attacking from their blind spots.

"Thrust!" I directed my spear at the War Shadow in the middle, forcing it to retreat.

At the same time, Gob jumped from the wall and stabbed the neck of the War Shadow on the left. The monster crumbled to ash before it could react.

The remaining War Shadows tried to attack from two different directions.

As usual, my skill activated. I could sense attacks from right and left simultaneously.

This time, with the spear's reach, I had more options.

I spun, using the spear in a circular motion to ward off both attacks at once.

Clash! Clash!

Both War Shadows were knocked back.

Gob didn't waste the opportunity. He rolled under the deflected attacks and stabbed the second War Shadow in the stomach.

Only one left.

"Finish it!" I shouted.

I thrust straight forward while Gob attacked from the side. Perfect synchronized movement.

The last War Shadow crumbled to ash.

"We're a deadly team," I said with a satisfied smile.

We weren't just sparring partners or friends who chat with gestures, but combat partners who could complement each other.

Gob made a gesture showing "finally you're useful."

"Finally?" I felt offended, looks like only I thought we were a team.

"I've been useful all along!"

He made a gesture showing "if you were useful, why'd you always get beaten up?"

"That's because you're too strong!"

Gob laughed (or at least it looked like it) and tapped his chest with a proud expression.

I don't know why this goblin's getting more and more arrogant.

After hunting for a few hours, we sat in the corner of the room to rest and divide the loot.

Without words, I divided the pile of magic stones into two equal parts. Gob took his share and put it in a small pouch he carried.

I don't know where he got it, maybe he robbed an adventurer?

I wanted to ask but decided not to.

"Thanks for today," I said while extending my hand.

Gob stared at my extended hand in confusion.

"Uh... handshake?" I said while moving my hand.

Gob tilted his head, then slowly extended his hand.

First handshake with a monster.

"See you tomorrow," I said while standing up.

Gob made a gesture meaning "be careful on the way."

"You too."

As I walked toward the stairs, Gob suddenly called me with a small voice.

"Gob gob gob!"

I turned around.

This was the first time I'd heard him speak.

He made a gesture meaning "don't be late again."

"Yeah, yeah, I'll come earlier tomorrow," I said while laughing.

Gob nodded satisfied, then waved with a weird gesture.

Like imitating how humans wave, but the goblin version.

"Cute," I muttered while waving back.

"What was I even thinking?" I muttered, shaking my head.