Day 21-30/Day 27

The next day, we were training in a vacant lot outside the cave as usual, when an unfamiliar group of Goblins came.

Although they looked unkempt, I saw three-fourths of them carrying a number of chipped short swords and battle axes that looked well-used hanging at their waists. They were also wearing blood-stained leather armor on top of dirty chainmail shirts, there were even three Hobgoblins with them.

Will a survival war break out for a second day in a row? We were a little excited but it seems to be the return of our parents’ group who were away with work.

Goblin Elder who was watching us practice stopped my attack stance for now, and separated us.

Oh I see, so they weren’t enemies. I realized that I must go greet them properly.

“I better go greet them then”.

Although hidden in the shadows of the Goblins who, obviously being underlings, were carrying large backpacks—in all likelihood the fruits of the raid this time—were the figures of five young women who had their hands and feet bound and their mouths gagged to prevent them from becoming violent, being carried by several similar underling-looking Goblins.

Judging from their clothes four were ordinary people, and the last one who was wearing leather armor was probably something like an adventurer.

Only the girl who looked like an adventurer had slight visible traces of having been hit on the face, and their clothes didn’t seem to be in disorder so they had probably not yet been raped. Though this is only a question of time. We could no longer see the shapes of the Goblin Elder, who was covering his nether regions which were revoltingly swelling with a worn-out loin cloth, and the Hobgoblin who was talking to the Goblin elder.

Anybody could predict what they were talking about, even if they didn’t want to.

I don’t have the slightest hesitations about killing and eating others, however forcing others is not a thing that I like. Of course I understand the instinct of living creatures to leave offspring, but to decide if its a good time or a bad time, such things are a whole different matter.

I’ve also, when going to dangerous places for work, had sex with female co-workers to relieve the stress, but in those situations we had mutual consent.

Being forced like this makes me sick. The cute ones should be loved… right?

For weak Goblins who are in opposition to humans- numbers are necessary, and once in a while after a strenuous military campaign, the numbers have been reduced considerably and the ranks need to be filled.

Still, like I care about that! As if I who just reincarnated, in this short amount of time am going to change the way I think.

With things this way, I decided to help them.

Is that hypocrisy? Yes, but it is no problem because it is even more hypocritical to do nothing.

The closest Hobgoblin leader was talking to the Goblin elder, when I asked him to release the women.

I don’t know why but when I said it, Goblin elder looked at me with a weird face but I ignored it.

The Hobgoblin Leader made a face as if saying “what are you talking about!?”, but nevertheless I still repeated the request.

It is important to discuss everything first. No matter how much you dislike the opposition, you should start by discussing your problems. Any hostility should be put aside for the moment. I tried to persuade him patiently but the Hobgoblin Leader wasn’t willing to listen. That wasn’t all, he started to become irritated at me who kept obstinately asking.

I continued to attempt to persuade the leader, but soon realized that it was a waste and stopped before the other Goblin group began to feel irritated.

The Hobgoblin Leader pulled out his short sword and waved it at my throat in ridicule. As I’m about to pull out my sword, behind me Gobukichi-kun does the same as me, holding his weapon at the same level and waits.

I’m me, and because of that, persuasion is troublesome. Then, should I kill him? I parried the Hobgoblin Leader’s short sword and at the same time pull out the estoc at my waist.

At that moment, the atmosphere clearly changed.

The Goblins of both sides took poses where they fully displayed their weapons, and if either I or the Hobgoblin Leader made the slightest move, this status quo would be disrupted. Of course, with everyone trying to kill the enemies in front of them. The reason no-one moved was because we held the executive decision making power, but also for no other reason than that instinct told us that if a fight started here, both sides would take huge damage regardless of who won.

They numbered 28 while we numbered 39. In pure numbers we had the advantage, however in real fighting experience and experience of fighting together they were far above us.

Honestly I had no idea of which side would win if fighting broke out, and to start the fight under such conditions would inevitably turn into huge damage for both sides, which is why I didn’t move.

Incidentally, a group of older Goblins were watching us, however they didn’t do anything and seemed to prefer watching what would happen as neutral observers.

For a short while we glared at each other, but since I thought such actions were more trouble than they are worth, I prepared myself to trigger the fight by adapting a forward-bent pose.

With my estoc holding hand filled with power, I pointed the tip of the sword straight towards the Hobgoblin Leaders heart.

My leg was bending in order to prepare myself for the dash where I pierced the Goblin when—

—just at that moment, a voice suddenly reverberated. Everyone instinctively stopped moving, and turned towards the source of the voice.

The owner of the voice was a Hobgoblin with 3 Goblins at it’s side.

It was the only Hobgoblin that could use magic, with the exception of me, judging from appearance it was a female and she was holding a staff. It was something like, “Don’t involve us in a personal war” “The strong is the leader that decides the policy of the group” is what I heard. Because the Mage seems to have higher intelligence than the other individuals, she seems to have a calm judgement even in this situation.

Aren’t you, who can use magic, stronger than this guy? Hearing this, the leader backed away unwillingly.

It was thus concluded that a fight to determine who reigns at the top of the “Goblin community” was to be held.

The rules were very simple: use of weapons were forbidden, and while killing was permitted, the fight ends when one party faints or gives up, it was that kind of barbaric rule.

Goblin Elder would be acting as referee for the fight. It was an appropriate position for the sagely Goblin Elder who held a neutral opinion.

Nevertheless, I was surprised to find that the Goblins on their side began to make bets in the middle of preparation. So they had a gambling mentality huh? Furthermore, I was informed that copper and silver coins were being exchanged.

Well, this kind of thing is certainly well-suited as entertainment.

Meanwhile, the Goblins on our side were sitting with impeccable manners. They were staying still to watch the fight that was about to take place. Yep, this is surreal.

At any rate, the five women who were being offered up as the prize were self-conscious that they did something wrong. It was because we were pointlessly scaring them. Well, this is all for their sakes. Just bear with it already.

Then after the preparation had finished, the fight to decide the leader begins.

On one side was a long-serving soldier full of scars who had drawn many companions to himself with his achievements.

On the other was me, who had thoroughly trained those of my generation, and had currently ranked up and became a Hobgoblin subspecies.

Apparently there were a lot of Goblins that placed their bets on their side, but because I had no intention of reading between the lines, I immediately went away.

Well, I’ll only say the result. Of course, I won.

I stopped his movement like a frog glared at by a snake with [Evil Eye]

The opponent cowered at my volume when I used [Threatening Roar]

I confused the enemy by immediately using my abilities at the same time and then wrapped his body up with my thread. While doing this I was simultaneously closing the distance, without missing a beat, and then when I got close enough I hung him from a tree like a sandbag.

Goblin Elder asked what the thread was, but this was definitely a part of my body. Going to extremes, it’s kind of like saliva. Since it’s spit, it can’t be treated as a weapon. Therefore I don’t have any problem. Since it isn’t a weapon, I didn’t violate the rules even if I use it. We’ll look to decide. Yeah, it’s safe.

After turning him into a makeshift sandbag with my web, it was time for violence. I tried going easy so as to not kill him for the time being, but this guy belongs to the Hobgoblin race, who were tougher than Goblins, but because he was impertinently shouting things like “I’m the leader! How dare you, you impostor! Do you have no shame!?” that shows no comprehension on his own situation, I got a bit serious.

Well, it can’t be helped. It was an act of God. That was what I decided to call it.

First of all, to prevent him from saying something boring like “I give up” I stuffed a gag made out of thread in his mouth.

After that, I beat him up silently for about three minutes, but he still had spirit, so I did that again for ten more minutes until he was just a bloody bag of soft moans. I didn’t kill him though. By the way, even though I beat and kicked him for ten minutes incessantly I still have plenty of body strength left.

This was the result of having a regular training. Then I stopped my hands because my enemy had fainted. Judging from touch it seemed his bones were just barely at the point of breaking, and his internal organs had not ruptured. If I left him like this he surely wouldn’t die.

Even then, I tried making, out of several grasses and herbs “Healing Grass” and several kinds of insects mixed in with fresh water, just in case. I forcibly gave it to him to drink and the home-made healing potion-ish thing had an effect, even if just a little. I then cut the thread and let him roll to sleep.

Not having any resilience whatsoever, for the time being I proved the feasibility of healing little cuts, and given that, his insides should be more or less better by tomorrow. Today I really don’t want to stay awake any longer.

Having finished the job, I became aware that the others had drawn away from me, who was basking in the feeling of having achieved something.

While the Goblins on our side seemed to take it better than the others, but there is still a hint of terror in their eyes. Afterwards, they would casually try to run away whenever I approached, It hurt my feelings a little…

Eh? What is it Gobumi-chan? They were completely unable to understand my thread, and that tragic scene that befell me before was because I was making a scary face? But isn’t this kind of face just normal?

Ah, so that only applies to me huh.

But it really isn’t that big a deal right Gobukichi-kun? Ah.. don’t be like that.

Even Gobue-chan…? Okay okay, if it’s like that then fine, I have no allies here.

After letting out a sigh, I asked if there were any more challengers. By making my position clear here I hoped to reduce the possibility of any trouble coming up later on.

In the end, because there were no more challengers, I had officially become the reigning top of this “Goblin community”.

I then declared that it is strictly forbidden to touch the women and that there would be a more detailed set of rules given in the future before dismissing everyone.

Afterwards, I removed the gags and untied the hemp ropes around the hands and feet of the five women and had them enter the deepest part of the cave where those pitiful women were kept, made to reproduce and died in despair, were thrown into once. This was done because it would be troublesome if they escaped.

Well, the women escaping is fine, but five unarmed women running around in this dangerous forest can only lead to them being killed or eaten. And since I have gone through great troubles to save them, I can’t allow this to happen.

I decided to bring them to the inner cave to have a chat because my ability [Human Language] fulfilled the minimum requirements to speak with them

It wasn’t long before we finished moving. I took the torch I made beforehand and lit it to provide a light-source.

Goblins have [Night Vision] but it would be difficult for humans to see well in the darkness.

After these preparations were finished, we began our conversation. I promised them that I will not take their lives and that I will ensure food and other necessities will be provided to them. I also told them that if they were assaulted, I would judge the individual and punish him/her and that it would take some time but I would return them to their home and such things.

I think probably 5 or 6 hours passed. Either because of my insistent persuasion, or some other reason that I don’t know, but the girls began to speak.

The first one who regained their composure was the adventurer girl, with short flaming red hair, who possessed a vigorous beauty, and a cuteness that reminded me of small animals.

From the conversation with the redhead girl, I concluded that the four women were hawkers in a Peddler group, the “Stargods Mansion”.

As for the redhead, she was a member of the adventurer association “The Sword of the Weak” and had been hired on as a guard for the “Stargods Mansion” for payment. The adventurer union “The sword of the weak” seemed to consist of young adventurers. As I thought, such an occupation existed. It is a type of guild whose main policy is to nurture the strength of their individuals by mutual support, a typical clan, and the redhead as a holder of the [Job - Warrior] as a greenhorn wanted to obtain power by serving as a member with them.

And why did such things happen? They explained it to me briefly. The party of girls went through the highway towards the defense city « Trent ». ? They were ambushed by a Goblin raid with poisoned arrows (so by our parent generation)

? The leader and his fellow members who had command were all killed by the first attack.

? There were a number of experienced escort adventurers, none were novice adventurers. But the Goblins (parent generation) were skilled at methodical group work (particularly the 3 Hobgoblins) so they couldn’t compete.

? There was also the dangerous presence of the Hobgoblin Mage whose attacks are difficult to defend against.

? When opposing magic-wielding mages, it is in doubt whether there are anyone who hold higher combat ability than those individuals who has the [Job - Magician]. Otherwise, though the number of times it can be used is limited, but magic items like scrolls or wands that enable even children to use magic were going to be needed. However, there was no way a wandering adventurer can buy such a high-class item.

? As a result, they were subjugated without resistance, their weapons and goods plundered, the men were killed, the girls who survived were carried off, and we arrived at the present situation.

I shouldn’t be the one to say it, but it was a difficult story. Not to mention everyone was annihilated besides these girls. Well, there’s no choice but to call it bad luck.

After telling me that much, they couldn’t bear it anymore and burst into tears.

As expected, they could not even put their feelings about living together with Goblins who killed their friends in order, so I thought that any more than this would only be painful, and told them where I left the torch that I prepared along with some blankets, then I went back. Now I should just do them a favor and let them cry their feelings out.

Well then, I suppose I should now start talking about [jobs]. For non-human beings like demi-humans, beastmen, and other monsters, there is a law in this world called [Rank up (evolution)]. As you could probably guess from my phrasing, the law of [Rank up (evolution)] does not apply to humans.

But in exchange for that, there are a large number of [jobs] they can take.

Humans are fundamentally less powerful than monsters.

So to strengthen themselves they carry many [blessings/improvements] in their bodies gained from the acquisition of a large number of [jobs]—each with their own requirements, and the requirements become more strict as the jobs become stronger—, becoming a powerful enemy in the process.

Moreover, anyone could easily raise their [Job] level by spending time, and if one has the prerequisites, it is possible to [Rank up (promotion)] to a higher position.

Also, as for those who are called [Great Men] and [Heroes], the improvements from their [Job] are great. And don’t laugh, because it looks like these people with [Job : Hero] really exist.

To put it in really simple terms, a monster’s [Rank up (evolution)] is influenced by its characteristics, and can dramatically increase its potential all at once, whereas a human’s [Rank up (promotion)] grows more slowly than monsters, but anyone is able to gain power if they spend some time.

It’s like: either rise several levels in one leap, or slowly but surely rise one level at a time. Either that or a difference in quality and quantity. By the way, this was confirmed by the Goblin Elder.