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The Paper User: Exiled for a ‘Trash Skill,’ Awakens True Power and Rises with Two Unique Skills- Prologue

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 Prologue

A dimly lit cave glowed faintly, illuminated by green, bioluminescent moss.

I took a deep breath, gripping the short sword in my hand.

Calm down… Stay calm and assess the situation.

The chamber was round and spacious, with a high ceiling. Two holes loomed in the back… I think.

I brushed aside my purplish-black bangs with my right hand and pressed my thin lips into a firm line.

“Hey, Yakumo. You scared or what?”

Albel clapped a hand on my shoulder. He was an F-Rank adventurer like me, sixteen years old—same age. Wearing leather armor, he carried a longsword at his hip.

“You're way too tense. It’s just a goblin cave.”
“Still, this place is huge. If we get surrounded by a goblin pack, it could get ugly.”

I glanced around cautiously.

“I can handle a few goblins, but if ten or more show up…”
“We’ll be fine. There’s four of us, remember?”
“That’s true.”

Camilla, who was behind us, chimed in. She was seventeen, with wavy red hair down to her shoulders, and held a staff designed to boost magical power.

“We may be bottom-tier F-Rank adventurers, but we’re still members of the up-and-coming ‘Holy Sword Order.’”

“Heheh, damn right,” Dazzle laughed.

Dazzle was shorter than me, with a lanky build. He had black hair and wore dark gray clothing.

“Goblins are nothing more than target practice for my throwing knives.”

He held two crimson-bladed knives, one in each hand.

And then—

A faint sound echoed. Dozens of goblins began emerging from one of the holes in the back.

They stood about as tall as a ten-year-old human child. Their skin was green, eyes a murky yellow, and they wore beast pelts around their waists. In their hands were weapons—probably stolen from humans.

The goblins bared their yellowed teeth with a chattering gnash and charged at us.

“Here they come!”

Albel raised his longsword.

“Let’s end this quick!”

And so began the fight for our lives.

“Gyagyagya!”

The goblins shrieked as they rushed in, trying to surround us.

“Not happening!”

Albel dashed at the goblins attempting to flank us, swinging his sword down. A goblin’s arm flew off, red-black blood spurting into the air.

“I’m going too!”

Dazzle crossed his arms across his chest and flung his knives. All four blades embedded into a fat goblin. Camilla followed up with a fire spell, engulfing the creature in flames.

“Gya… gyagyagya!”

Goblins screamed as their cries echoed through the dungeon.

They were all amazing. Albel had the raw strength to take down goblins in one blow. Dazzle could fight both at range and in close combat. Camilla’s fire magic was fast and deadly.

But this wasn’t the time to admire them—I had to do what I could.

A goblin came leaping at me, a dagger in each hand.

I activated my Skill: 【Paper User】.

In my mind, I constructed a Magic Formula, a combination of runes and diagrams that served as the basis for spellcasting.

The completed formula glowed gold—and three 40-centimeter sheets of paper manifested right in front of the goblin’s face, blocking its view.

Blinded, the goblin lost track of me. I slipped to its side and thrust my dagger into its neck.

“Gugya…”

Clutching its throat, the goblin collapsed sideways.

That formula—only I could use it, thanks to my Skill 【Paper User】. Even if someone else visualized it in their mind, it’d just be meaningless symbols. The spell wouldn’t activate.

One down… Now for the next.

I scanned the battlefield. Two goblins were sneaking up on Albel.

Not good. He hadn’t noticed them yet.

I summoned six sheets of paper and formed a wall between Albel and the goblins.

One goblin slashed at the wall with its sword—just enough noise for Albel to notice them behind him.

“Don’t underestimate me, you damn trash mobs!”

He swung his longsword horizontally. Both goblins’ heads went flying.

I quickly surveyed the area again.

Camilla was holding her ground, maintaining distance and blasting goblins with fireballs. Dazzle was… oh no.

He was surrounded by three goblins.

I rushed toward him, constructing a new magic formula in my mind.

A paper sword manifested—razor-thin, with a pointed tip. It shot forward and pierced one of the goblin’s arms.

“Gugya…”

It screamed and dropped its dagger.

“Heh, nice,” Dazzle grinned and threw another knife. It landed squarely in the goblin’s chest.

“Gyuh… guh…”

The goblin staggered forward as it fell, grabbing Dazzle’s ankles with both hands.

“Tch! Should’ve died faster!”

Dazzle drove a dagger into its back.

Then, a hulking goblin came lumbering in, wielding a massive hammer. Around its neck hung a necklace of beast claws, and on its wrist, a black bracelet.

That one looks like the leader… And that hammer—it’s oddly shaped, with magical runes engraved on the handle. It might have some kind of effect…

I had to protect Dazzle!

I threw myself between him and the goblin.

“Gyagya!”

As it raised the hammer, I lunged and stabbed its shoulder. Blood burst out from the wound.

“Move, Yakumo!”

Dazzle shoved me aside and stepped forward.

“I’ll finish it off.”

He glanced back at me—

And in that moment, the goblin hurled its hammer at him.

“Look out!”

I shoved Dazzle hard, both hands on his shoulders. The hammer struck the side of my head.

The impact dropped me to one knee. My vision blurred and warped, and a shrill scream echoed inside my skull.

What the…? My head felt like it was being bashed over and over again. Is this… mental damage? That thing had a curse effect?

Dazzle ignored me and kept fighting the now unarmed goblin.

“Gyagya!”

Another goblin lunged at me with a dagger.

I rolled out of the way, dodging the follow-up attack.

Mana left… 360. Time to go all out!

Gritting through the pain, I manifested three more sheets of paper.

One goblin tore through the paper with its claws.

That’s fine. I just need to buy some time…

“Oraaaaah!”

Albel stabbed the goblin in the back with his longsword.

“Giiiiii!”

It shrieked and fell at my feet.

“Seriously, what the hell are you doing, getting beat up by goblins?”

Albel looked down at me, exasperated.

“Your head’s bleeding.”
“The hammer… hit me…”

I clutched my head and got to my feet.

“B-but I think I’m… okay.”
“Of course you are. No way we’re wasting a potion on a little scratch like that.”

With that, Albel rushed toward another goblin.

Yeah… he’s right. If I can’t fight through something like this, I’ll never be a real adventurer.

I clenched my dagger tight, pushing through the pain twisting my face.

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