Day 11-20

Day 14
When I woke up, my body had changed so much that it couldn’t compare to how it was before I went to sleep.

The changes to my body shocked me, I thought hard about what I heard yesterday before I went to bed. I see, so this is a Rank Up, huh. The mysteries of this world make me shudder.

No, no, from my own experience I can understand however, the natural laws of this world are so amazing that it’s beyond scary.

After killing and eating the Orc yesterday, in one night I went from the physical body of a 7-9 year old, to the size of a medium-sized human. My physical strength, eyesight, and hearing had increased dramatically, even the abilities I had gained before yesterday had also become more powerful, you see?

This is scary. Even though my body had grown a ridiculous amount, I didn’t feel any sense of discomfort at all from my new form. Even though such a huge change should’ve made me go insane, that didn’t happen in the least.

Even though my body had grown so much, I didn’t feel any muscle pains from it at all, instead, I felt overflowing power that was incomparable to before, like a temporary feeling of omnipotence. Freaky, right? Seriously.

Now, if I was an ordinary guy I would’ve probably be so happy that I would do stupid things until the feeling passed, however, the reality is that I wasn’t even close to being as powerful as I felt, and therein lies a trap.

That’s why the rules of this world are scary. Now, that aside.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">It was interesting to watch Gobukichi, who had grown bigger as well, just stand there with a confused look.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">It seems that he also passed over level 100 after the battle with the Orc yesterday, causing him to undergo a Rank Up. However unlike mine, his skin didn’t turn black. In fact, I couldn’t see any difference in his skin colour at all, he was still the same old green.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Well, let’s put that aside as well.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">What interested me the most was his face.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">He no longer looked like an ugly Goblin like he had used to be. His naive look, in some aspects held some attractiveness. His ears were still pointed, and his nose looked somewhat hooked. Nevertheless he looked a lot like a human. Having green skin might not be very human-like, nonetheless his looks were approaching to that of a one.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Then, what about me? Wondering this, I checked the obsidian knife for my reflection.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">What I saw was, with black skin, my face from when I was young before I reincarnated. …Yeah, as one would expect I was completely stunned until it settled in. For now, I went to the wall close by our sleeping place, grabbed a caterpillar-like mystery bug, and started munching on it from the head.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">After I had calmed down, I grabbed Gobukichi and went to look for the Goblin Elder.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">That’s because if I didn’t make use of the Goblin Elder at times like this, his existence wouldn’t have any point at all.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Just in case, because it felt risky, I wouldn’t mention the [End and Origin]-ruling [Divine protection of the Great God] that I also received. What I learnt was:

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.85pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Oh-. Is that so-?
 * 1) <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Upon turning into a Hobgoblin, my body and appearance became closer to a human. The reason for this is unknown. It’s one of the mysteries of the world. Apparently because of the hobgoblin’s human-like appearance, they could even live in human towns. However, there is a long past of Goblin slavery, and most of those coexisting with humans are still slaves. Those with good looks have become sex slaves for human perverts.
 * 2) <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">The difference between Gobukichi’s and my skin color is because I am of a subspecies. Subspecies are generally stronger and have special abilities when compared to the standard one. Unless special conditions are cleared you can’t become a subspecies, which is why they’re rarely seen, so apparently I’m kind of unusual.
 * 3) <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Furthermore, my skin color is black. Black is the symbolic color of the oldest god of the world, the one who controls the beginning and the end of something-something. Even among the subspecies mine is the absolute rarest while being the strongest, and with studying, they’re capable of learning the strongest magic possible.
 * 4) <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Also, to the believers of this god, I’m somewhat like a living idol, an object of worship. If that’s not the case, then parts of my body are thought to be materials used in rituals to communicate with the god, so I have to be careful when it’s late in towns and stuff. Religion is scary no matter what world you’re in.
 * 5) <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">How should I put it, becoming a Hobgoblin when not even a month had passed is supposedly very strange in the first place. The old man who’s still a Goblin said so, so it’s probably true. By the way, of the Goblins who left to work away from home, (apparently exactly 40 Goblins), only 3 had turned into Hobgoblins.
 * 6) <span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Also, because Gobukichi and I had become Hobgoblins before we left the cave, we were allowed to freely use the human women in the cave as we’d like. We also received the right to take things from the warehouse, and use them however we want.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.85pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">…Yes, because he was kind of long-winded, I ignored most of what he said by repeating those those words and pretending to listen. Particularly around point 3, and the reason for that is obvious. Like I said before, no matter what world one is in, religion is scary. Even more so now that I’ve obtained the [End and Origin](-ruling), and [Divine protection of the Great God] characteristics with my Rank Up. It makes me think that it’ll probably turn into more trouble than it’s worth. I thought that this was something I should hide it as long as possible.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.85pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">As expected, we didn’t even consider going hunting today. I practiced martial arts together with Gobukichi in order for us to accustom ourselves to our new bodies, the sparring was especially intense. Gobukichi’s power was too much for him to know how to utilize it, making him quite warlike.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.85pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Though I, who has had an interest in many different forms of martial arts never lost, I could conclude that Gobukichi’s power was at least somewhat stronger than how he was before. As expected, it seems like his abilities are specialized in being the vanguard.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.85pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">He wasn’t very intelligent or quick, but his offensive and defensive power had increased tremendously, making him a powerful tank and damage dealer, a hybrid character. Once we concluded our martial arts practice, the afternoon was dedicated to replacing our now too small old armor.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.85pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Since I’ve grown, the horn and obsidian knife I’ve been using have become too small for me to handle effectively. However I’ll just have to bear with it today, my venom by itself is an adequate weapon, so I can overcome this handicap for now.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.85pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">That’s why today the plan is to use the stockpiled materials from the Armored Tanukis, Night Vipers and various other monsters to create new armor.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.85pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">We used the armored shell from the Armored Tanukis, and the snakeskin from the Night Vipers, to create new equipment. I was satisfied with the results, the armor we created was light, flexible, and quite robust.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.85pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">To put it simply, it was an armor based off of leather. We didn’t make cloaks, but since it looked like light brown leather clothes, with long sleeve arms and full-length pants it should be alright. The metal shells were placed in strategic locations, which further increased its defensive capabilities. We thought about our freedom of movement while creating it, so when we tried it out, it performed far better than expected. It barely obstructed us at all.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.85pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">We even finished crafting Gobumi-chan’s armor that we couldn’t complete earlier because of insufficient materials.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.85pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Since it’s mainly made out of 7-colored bats it looks a bit gaudy though. It somewhat gives the feeling of being a national costume from somewhere.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.85pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">By the way, the food tonight was prepared from horned rabbits caught by the other Goblins.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 16.85pt;"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">It wasn’t filling enough, it was still better than nothing. Since it tasted good I pardoned them.

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;text-align:center;line-height:16.85pt">

<p style="text-align: center;">* * *

Day 15
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Our first hunt since our Rank Up to Hobgoblins.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Since we were displaying the might of our new bodies for the first time, I’m a bit nervous.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Today, the first prey we encountered was a humanoid with the head of a dog and fur all over its body. I don’t know where it got them from but it was wearing rusted armor with a just as rusty longsword. I decided to name this monster, “Kobold”. From observation, it seems the Kobolds are a higher rank than Goblins and about the same rank as Orcs.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">If we include the equipment, then compared to the Orc we ate, it’s probably an even higher rank. In physical strength, the Orc would be more powerful, but the Kobold would be superior in terms of speed and agility.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">These two traits.are embodied in the Kobold.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">If it were the ‘us’ from before, we would’ve retreated immediately, or more likely, used my abilities to avoid the fight altogether. Using Gobumi-chan’s accurate, poison-covered stones as support, Gobukichi and I faced the Kobolds from the front.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Excluding myself, who has evolved into a subspecies, Gobukichi’s combat ability increased significantly thanks to his equipments. His cudgel was reinforced by wounding shells around it while his shield was made of shell. The Kobold only had its rusty armour while Goblin-kichi had various shell armours to help him. Gobukichi attacked the Kobold directly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Rank Up is scary isn’t it?

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Someone who was weak only just yesterday turned into a great warrior in one day.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Goblin Kichi got some minor wounds and had Gobumi-chan treat them using some of our medicinal herbs. The Goblin Elder taught us about medicinal herbs earlier.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">While they did that, I took the opportunity to strip the Kobold of its possessions. On his waist hung three stones. Using my [Appraisal] ability, I discovered that they were “Fire Spirit Stones”. Apparently non-sentient low-level fire spirits dwell within the stones. I pocketed them and then started stripping off him of his armor. I hung the slightly rusty longsword together with two books I had on my waist.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">From the corpse, I took the brain, the heart and the right arm. Gobu Kichi and Gobumi-chan decided to split the rest evenly.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">They left an impression as they had a strange texture. Although the taste is subtle, they were still delicious. <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">As I thought, Kobolds are stronger than the average Hobgoblin. The reason Gobu Kichi could win was because of the huge difference in gear quality. On the other hand, I could win due to my numerous abilities and combat experience.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Also, after eating the three Fire Spirit Stones, <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">I gained the ability to produce fire. In the natural world, it’s hard to overcome this difference. With this I can finally make yakiniku, I thought…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">And this was the outcome of the battle.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">After that, we hunted some horned rabbits, then returned.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Today, the tribute my Goblin subordinates gave me was horned rabbits mixed with Armored Tanukis, which surprised me. “These guys, they’re finally growing up…” I lamented to myself. I think I’ll give shell shields to the Goblins who are sent to fetch Armored Tanukis in the future. For the evening meal, I grilled the meat the others brought, and we had a yakiniku party.

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;text-align:center;line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">* * *

Day 16
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Today, the other Goblins of our generation begged to me something like :”Please teach us the art of killing” while prostrating themselves. The Goblins inside the cave were in a row alongside each other prostrating themselves. It was quite the surreal scene to watch.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">You see, the Goblins that brought me food had managed to survive by killing horned rabbits, as expected.. However, they also had Night Vipers to fight as opponents Since we’ve been able to kill them, the Goblins want us, or I should say I, to teach them how to survive against the Night Vipers.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">“What do we gain from this?” We asked, and when we told them that they said that they’d give us tribute for it.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Well, it’s no great loss for us, so before the sun had reached it’s zenith, most of the surviving Goblins, together with Gobukchi and Gobumi-chan, had a combined practice session.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">It’s a dog eat world, so, from the start, I’m thoroughly going to drill into their bodies that I’m superior to them. No matter if the trainee is male or female. Also, since dealing with insurrections is troublesome, I’m going to make obeying me an instinct, by endless repetition if I have to.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">I aim to stop training at the last moment to ensure they don’t have any spare energy, while preventing their bodies and minds from breaking.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">The result was that everyone, including Gobumi-chan and Gobukichi, didn’t had the strength left to move.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">For the Goblins who trained and worked to the point of collapsing, I planned on using the tribute they’ve gathered to make something for them.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">I had the motivation to do something, but its probably better if I didn’t do anything absurd. It’s the end once you die.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">…Gobumi-chan lays exhausted and trembling among the other females, with extreme pride showcasing her armor and necklace, but let’s pretend I didn’t see that. In the afternoon, I went hunting alone for the first time since my reincarnation.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">I don’t know how it was in the beginning, but now I can move around this forest like it’s my home turf, and when I somehow managed to procure enough for the ones who couldn’t move, I concluded that days hunting.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">That evening, I went into the inner parts of the cave, where the human women were held captive. Since I turned into a Hobgoblin, I’ve become closer in appearance to a human, so I thought having a conversation might be possible.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Well, the outcome was – I couldn’t have a conversation with them. They were completely broken. Their eyes were utterly dead, and they were drooling uncontrollably. There was a faint smell of corpses around them.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">[My version (Josh): Compared to how they were the last time I saw them, they were a lot worse this time. Also, since i last saw her, the youngest of the girls had gotten pregnant. It was an inevitable event, but still, I felt a lot of pity for her. I couldn't help but think that a girl this cute would have married into a nice family, and yet, she ended up, only to be repeatedly violated.]

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">(Original): Compared to how they were last time I saw them, they were a lot worse this time, also in this short time the youngest of the girls had gotten pregnant. Though it was inevitable, I felt a lot of pity for her. I couldn’t help but think that a girl this cute could’ve married into a family, yet she ended up here only to be continuously violated.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">I didn’t want this to continue, and so I asked,

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">“Do you want to die?”

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">If it was the me from before, I’d end up pressing my hands together to offer a prayer, but now that I’ve ranked up into a Hobgoblin, I asked. The way I am now, I’d be able to kill or help these girls if they asked me to. Since even if I was found out, my safety was guaranteed.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">However, my question was left unanswered. There was some movement; her small, weak lips moved slightly, and as if she just remembered how to, a tear fell from her eye. Having understood the women’s intentions, I took from my pouch a small, liquid filled bottle that I had obtained from hunting the Kobolds, which I left behind. After I handed it to them, I walked back to the cave bedroom. I didn’t look back.

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;text-align:center;line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">* * *

Day 17
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">I woke up early, and went to the interior of the cave. The captured women were all dead. They all laid still, as if they were asleep. From the look of things, the girls had drank poison and died in their sleep. Where they got that poison is, however, a mystery. Truly, a mystery.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">After taking the small empty bottle that was laid close to them and storing it inside the bag hanging from my waist, being the one who discovered them, I went to report to the Goblin elder.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">The Goblin elder hurriedly rushed over, and in front of the limp pseudo-Goblin that had spilled from the beautiful girls’ womb, he cried bitterly whilst grieving however, I couldn’t care less.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">For the girl’s corpses, I took responsibility for their disposal, and because it was a pity to just let wild animals feed on them, I decided to cremate them. As payment for my labour, I took a heart, a stomach, a breast and a uterus.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Since the [Pyrokinesis] ability I got the other day wasn’t enough, I thought about what I usually do, so I collected a bunch of [Oily Grass] to make it burn well and a bunch of twigs were used to ensure the heat was enough.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">After using my [Pyrokinesis] to ignite the fire, I prayed for the girls happiness in the next world whilst looking at the pillar of blazing flame.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Namu Amida Butsu. (Buddhist prayer)

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Among the girls, there seemed to be those with adventurer skills. Quite a lot of them of actually.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">This group of migrant workers, they were perhaps unexpectedly strong. They might only have looked weak because they were captured. <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">It’s unusual for me, but I didn’t feel the slightest inclination to learn about my new abilities. After morning practice, I sent out Gobu Kichi and Gobumi-chan to go hunting since I wasn’t in the mood, I tried making shell-based shield, armour and sword from the materials accumulated to this day.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Lately, crafting has become somewhat of a hobby of mine…

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Ah, it seems my new skill [job craftsman] became immediately.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">The goods I crafted came out a lot better than before. The ability, like its name implied, corrected the mistakes.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Speaking of which, the shield and armour came out successfully, the shell-based sword ended up in failure.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">As for my meal, Gobu Kichi and Gobumi-chan shared a part of what they hunted, together with the tribute that had increased since yesterday.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Ah, this might be a bit late, but Gobumi-chan had also turned into a Hobgoblin today.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">She’d became quite cute, it was intimidating.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">The difference from when she was a Goblin is remarkable.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Because her old equipment is now too small for her, I lent her my spares.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">She made a subtle expression, happy while unsatisfied, so I decided to make her brand new equipment at a later date.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Truth is, I would have happily made it today, but there was just not enough time.

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;text-align:center;line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">* * *

Day 18
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">After finishing morning practice the three of us gobs came upon some Kobolds while out hunting.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">This time there were three of them, two of which were equipped like the earlier ones with armor and long swords, however the last one had a short bow and a quiver.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">While thinking “Is this the second day in a row to strengthen Gobumi?”, I checked the surroundings for additional enemies, in order to make a decision.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">With it being all clear, I chose to commence the assault.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">With the Kobold that could attack from range with the bow and arrows being a higher threat level compared to the others, a sneak attack with a poisoned stone from Gobumi’s staff sling was the decisive action.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">With the poisoned stone hitting the Kobold right in the eye, we stole away the bow wielding Kobolds usual composure and vision.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Without letting the time while the other Kobolds got in a panic get wasted, Gobukichi and I went to utterly defeat the two Kobolds who possessed long swords that looked slightly better than the ones we got earlier.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">My longsword might be worn-out, but for my current body it’s just the right size, and I’ve gotten used to my body now, so separating the Kobolds head from his body was easy.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Right now, the horn I used earlier is more like a knife now, which might have made me feel the difference all the more.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Gobukichi broke all his opponents bones violently, which was kinda gross to look at.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Gobumi-chan, with the (pseudo-)knife I gave her earlier made of obsidian(-look alike), slit the bow wielding Kobolds throat and then gave it a finishing blow.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Apparently, Gobumi-chan’s evolution direction lay in brains and speed.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">To use weapons cleverly, intelligence was needed after all.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">After that, we worked hard at disassembling the body. We collected the armor, Gobumi-chan got the short bow and quiver, and I took the slightly better looking longsword for myself.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Because there was no suitable loot for Gobukichi he will have to wait for the next time.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">While these Kobolds sadly didn’t have any fire spirit stones, my collection of small bags increased by three.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">One I kept for my own use, and the other two I gave to the other Goblins for putting medicinal plants in. Now, if something were to happen, I’m sure they will be of great use. And so, each Goblin got one body to eat.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">I didn’t get any new abilities, and while I felt that with just a bit more I’d gain something more, the ability I already got, [Predict], got slightly stronger. [Predict] lets me see my opponents attack trajectories as red threads, so in battle it can be incredibly convenient.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">After that we hunted whatever we came across, after which we returned to the cave in order to sleep.

<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;text-align:center;line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman"; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">* * *

Day 19
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">After completing morning practice, I didn’t go hunting, instead I went to look at the warehouse in the inner parts of the cave. Since some of the captured girls had adventurer-like abilities, it occurred to me that items relating to those abilities might have been captured together with the girls.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">From just looking at the stuff, even a genius like me couldn’t decide what’s trash and what’s worth keeping, however thanks to the ability I got from the Orc, [Detect Analysis], I could see the items details.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">In addition, since analysing stuff gave the ability experience, even analysing duds wasn’t a waste of time.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">With such a carefree mood, it seems I found a treasure trove. And a fairly large one at that. <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">When going over it, I found treasure after treasure.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">At first glance it seems to be composed entirely of unusable scrap, however below the uppermost layer, lots of useful stuff laid sleeping. Yeah, it seems this place truly is a treasure trove. While there’s no great difference between the estocs I found and the long sword I’m carrying currently, however since they were in a better condition, I decided to swap.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Comparing the obsidian knife I’d been using till now with the bowie knives, their blades were longer and their edges sharper.The blade is single edged, and only at the tip is it double-edged, I suspect it’s meant to be used as a hunting knife, so I took the knives as well. Four knives might be a lot, but since the production of pocket knives already has begun, there’s really no problem.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">I looked forward to when at a later time I’d disassemble the knives to learn how they were made.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">After that, except for the estoc I picked and the longsword I swapped for it, I ate the rest of the swords. <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">I learned [Improved Slashing Power] from eating the longsword, and [Improved Piercing Power] from eating the estocs.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">In order for the reader to understand this, I’ll tell you about my [Consumption absorption ability].

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">I learn abilities from more than eating living beings. However, for items above a certain level, the power of the learned abilities depends on the the quality of the item, and for it to enter my mind I must have used the item a certain amount. If I haven’t, then eating the item would be pointless, and in that way I have to keep wondering, “I wonder if this will go well now”, I’ve had to practice that perception quite a bit. Even if I make a mistake I’ll recover, I told myself to give me the bravery to keep trying.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Reaching the top feels really good.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">While I was doing that by myself, Gobukichi and Gobumi-chan came by. Apparently they thought it odd that they couldn’t see me, so they went looking for me. They really came at a great time. I’d taken the potions and other stuff that you could hang on the belt and put in the field pack, I crammed as much of the rest as I could into the backpack. That which I couldn’t fit inside my bags, I asked Gobukichi and Gobumi-chan to carry for me.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">And then Gobukichi graduated from his shell-wrapped cudgel, to a rustic looking battle-axe and his wooden shield with pieces of carapace sewn on was switched for an iron round shield. Since there was a hole in the middle of the round shield, we didn’t really have a choice and made an impromptu fix by attaching a piece of carapace there.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Then I had him equip the breast plate instead of the shell reinforced leather armor I made for him two days ago. Together with the shell-helmet I made for him two days ago, Gobu Kichi’s defense was the highest by far out of us three.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">He totally looked like heavy infantry.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">He kept the cudgel he had used till today strapped over his back as a spare.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">To Gobumi-chan, I gave the two crossbows and 50 arrows. In addition, I gave her the obsidian knife I had been using till now in addition to one of the bowie knives to use as insurance, but any more than this was, when looking at the weight of the stuff she was carrying, the limit.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Nevertheless, out of us three, the one with the highest ranged offensive power was her and with her deft handling of the two knives, her offensive potential shouldn’t be made light of.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">For how she looked, the impression she gave was of either a hunter or an archer.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">And at the end, myself. Two long swords were replaced by an estoc, with a small shield reinforced by shells similar to the one Gobukichi has. This shield was made so it could be fixed to the right arm, and still allow me to move my wrist without problems.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">To protect my left hand, I equipped the gauntlet wrought from solid iron. The gauntlet had less defensive power than the round shield, however if the aim was just to deflect attacks then it should be enough.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">This way I had reasonable defence, whilst not hurting my ease of movement too much.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">With the effects of the ability [Job Light Swordsman] added, I feel like it’s risen by another level again.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">And also, since today the Goblins collected an earlier unthinkable amount of tribute for us, we returned to them. I couldn’t eat it all; it was far too much.

<span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">* * *

Day 20
<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">The morning was spent with practice. Compared to when we started, the expressions of the Goblins had changed. Yeah, because Goblins mature quickly, startling changes can be seen even in a short time, if training is done in earnest.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">This might be because, if they don’t quickly adapt to their surroundings, they’ll simply die.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">In the afternoon, we hunted. We caught 10 Night Vipers, 14 Armored Tanukis and 5 Kobolds. This is probably mostly because our equipment had rapidly become a lot better. Or perhaps I should say, the deadly combination of Gobumi-chan’s powerful and accurate shots with the crossbow together with the rapid firing of the short bow was brutal. Because Gobu Kichi and I acted as her shield, it became even more brutal. To bring the battle to an end, Gobu Kichi used his high defense and his battle axe to decapitate the remainders.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Together with my abundant abilities that I used to continuously vary my attack pattern and the direction of the battle, opponents like Kobolds didn’t pose the slightest threat for us. Perhaps with how things stood right now, even if the Kobolds turned up with twice our numbers we’d probably not have any problems.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Only, what I truly wanted to eat was Orcs. This was in order to strengthen the ability I got from the Orc earlier; after that one time, we hadn’t seen even one Orc.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">I quickly wanted to find more Orcs; however, today I went back ahead of time to the cave in order to read books.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Well, having the ability [Job Magician] is nice and all, and that my magic power was increased by my subspecies was also nice, but because I hadn’t the foggiest idea what magic was, I couldn’t actually use any magic. That’s why, in this way I was reading “Introduction to magic – basic sorcery” until morning came up the day after.

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">You might say I had surprising difficulty getting a grasp of it, which made it a rough trial. Or rather, I feel there’s a limit to how much I can understand just from reading books. And what’s more, I started from the second volume of three!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">If only, I could see someone use magic at least once!

<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:16.85pt"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"PalatinoLinotype","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"TimesNewRoman";mso-bidi-font-family:Arial">Time, without listening to my screams, steadily moved forward.