“Ugh…”
I wake up and stretch.
Looking around, I could see the state of the plaza through the gaps in the branches.
This is on top of that Trent’s body.
Even though the Trent died, the large tree remained as it was.
The trunk is thick and doesn’t break even when I’m on it, so I’m borrowing it as a bed.
“But, I guess I can’t stay here for long.”
I think as I look at the leaves that are starting to wither.
The number of fruits has also decreased significantly, but that’s just because I ate them, so it has nothing to do with withering.
…No, I can’t say that for sure.
Maybe if the Trent were alive, the fruits would be replenished immediately. With my 〖Self-Regeneration〗-like 〖Skill〗.
While thinking about such useless things with my sleepy head, I climb down the tree.
I also ate a nearby fruit.
Thanks to the 〖Antibody〗 I got yesterday, it only stings a little.
“Alright, shall I look for enemies again today… Oh?”
As I started to walk towards the forest, unexpected guests arrived.
At the foot of a gentle hill, on the outer edge of the plaza, a group of about six Goblins appeared.
“Gegyogegen gya (Surround and kill)”
““Gugyaa! (Roger!)””
I use 〖Understanding〗 to read the meaning of their cries.
Following the instructions of a Goblin clad in iron armor, they spread out and approached me.
“These guys have better equipment than I’ve ever seen.”
I think about such things nonchalantly.
They all have iron weapons, and it was obvious at a glance that their condition and quality were good.
Also, they are well-built. They must be 〖Greater Beasts〗, as all the Goblins are about the height of a high school student.
An armed group of 〖Greater Beast〗 Goblins—let’s call them Hobgoblins for now—would normally be a formidable opponent even for a 〖Dire Beast〗.
“Gegyagya!”
“(Well, it doesn’t matter to me. 〖Slash〗)”
Clang!
My Whip Sword and the Goblin’s iron sword collided, and a deafening high-pitched sound rang out.
I was the one who won the clash.
The Hobgoblin, who took a 〖Dire Beast〗’s blow head-on, was blown away and rolled down the slope.
“(〖Slash〗, 〖Slash〗)”
“Gegyaa!?”
I grow a second Whip Sword and unleash a dual-wielding slash.
The Goblins are trying to surround me, but Slimes don’t really have a concept of front and back.
The vision in the direction I’m not focusing on is blurry, but even if I take an attack, I don’t take any damage.
Every time the Whip Sword dances, the Hobgoblins’ screams echo, and eventually, having learned that they can’t win, they just observe from outside my range.
“(If you’re not coming, I’ll go to you!)”
“Gegyaa! (Run away!)”
The Hobgoblins flee all at once.
The first one I targeted was the one with the troublesome armor.
I jump forward with 〖Leap〗, and then use 〖Air Jump〗 to land on top of him.
Combined with the effect of 〖Crush Attack〗, that individual died instantly.
I focus my attention on the other Hobgoblins who are scattering and fleeing into the forest.
“(〖Leap〗, 〖Thrust〗)”
The next one I targeted was the one who had injured his leg in the previous battle.
I close the distance in one leap, and thrust my body like a spear. Passing under the axe he raised in defense, the spear pierced his abdomen.
“(〖Throwing〗)”
As soon as that was over, I throw the sword that the armored Hobgoblin was carrying.
I was able to successfully shoot down the individual who was running in a sparsely wooded area, feeling safe outside my range.
“(〖Weapon Storage〗, 〖Leap〗)”
I store the second axe and head towards the third one I just killed.
This was the first time I used 〖Weapon Storage〗, but once I covered the weapon with my body, I could take it in with almost no lag.
This seems quite useful.
“(I’ll take this one too)”
While storing the sword that was stuck in the third one and the spear that had fallen at my feet, I use 〖Leap〗 again.
I’ve already lost sight of two of the remaining three, but I can still track one.
“(But, what’s the point of hunting just one now?)”
My 〖Level〗 hasn’t increased even by one in this battle.
There’s little benefit in killing weak 〖Greater Beasts〗 now.
“(Besides, there’s something that bothers me a little)”
I recall the weapons that the Hobgoblins had this time.
They were clearly different from those of the Goblins I had fought before.
They even surpassed human weapons in some cases. That’s how good the Hobgoblins’ weapons were.
After all, they were able to clash with my 〖Slash〗.
Even though I just 〖Evolved〗, it’s strange that there’s no noticeable damage even after taking a 〖Dire Beast〗’s blow. It’s too good to be an adventurer’s hand-me-down.
“(Did they just happen to pick them up, or… is there a species with such a 〖Skill〗 in the group?)”
There are two reasons why I think this.
One is the existence of the giant Demon Beast, the Red Oni, that I fought against the Forest Turtle.
That monster melted the ground, rapidly cooled it, and created a glass rod.
It wouldn’t be strange if there were other 〖Skills〗 like that.
The second is the abnormality of the Hobgoblins’ weapons.
At first, I recognized that they all had iron weapons, but the expression ‘iron weapons’ was insufficient.
Those guys’ weapons are made of 100% iron from the blade to the bottom of the handle.
No ordinary human would make such a strange thing.
So, for the time being, I decided to let the Hobgoblins run and have them guide me to their group.
The Hobgoblins are running desperately, but as a 〖Dire Beast〗, I can keep up with their speed without any 〖Skill〗 buffs.
I also activate 〖Stealth〗 just in case, so I’m fully prepared.
The tailing begins!