“The Goblin’s Tale: Village Secrets” [CHAPTER 08]

As the sun began to dip beneath the horizon, casting a golden hue over the landscape, I turned my attention to the goblin in front of me. "Tell me about your village and its leader," I prompted, my curiosity piqued.

With a slight bow, the goblin responded, "Master, our village is a humble goblin settlement where goblin women, children, and all the men reside. Our ruler is King Goblin, a powerful figure in our community. He is flanked by two commanders, who serve as his guardians, ensuring the safety of our king's abode. In truth, our king is the very heart of our village. All the men here are considered his children. We are a tight-knit group of around fifty, comprising twenty women and thirty men. Of the men, twenty-nine are youthful, while one elder goblin watches over us with wisdom and experience. Our king's dwelling lies near the center of the village, surrounded by the watchful gaze of his commanders."

"What would happen if I were to visit your village?" 

"Master, you would first be challenged by our ruler. If you were able to defeat him, then you would ascend to the position of goblin leader. All the women, property, and the goblins themselves would come under your command. In our culture, the strong are revered, and we live to serve those who exhibit strength and dominance. It is a simple principle that guides our lives—a dynamic not unlike that of humans, only with some additional nuances."

"Do you believe I am capable of defeating your leader?"

I asked, raising an eyebrow, assessing the little creature before me.

The goblin's expression shifted; he scrutinized my face, searching for some sign of weakness. Suddenly, a notification echoed in the recesses of my mind:

**NOTICE: THE SERVANT IS ATTEMPTING TO ASSESS YOUR LEVEL AND STATUS. ONE EYE WILL REVEAL YOUR TRUE POWER.**

"How intriguing,"

I mused silently, appreciating the cleverness of the goblin's skill.

**NOTICE: ONE EYE HAS BEEN LEARNED FROM THE GOBLIN SERVANT.** 

"You may not use your skill on me, Gobchop, but I am curious to see your level," I declared, crossing my arms.

**GOBLIN** 

**STATUS:** UNDEAD GOBLIN, SLAVE 

**LEVEL:** 4 

**SKILL:** NIL 

**ADDITIONAL SKILL:** ONE EYE [LEVEL 01], BRAWL [LEVEL 04] 

"What a joke," I remarked with a chuckle. 

"What were you hoping to discover with your skill?"

"Our king is level fifteen," he explained, a hint of pride in his voice. "I was merely evaluating your strength to provide you with an accurate answer."

Fifteen? I reflected on the information, noting that I stood at level ten. The gap wasn't insurmountable; with a few good strategies, I could endure a decent amount of damage in a confrontation.

"My intent isn't to battle your leader," I clarified. "I have no desire to rule your goblin village. I simply wish to observe how the monsters of my kingdom live."

"Tell me, Goblin, do you have a family?" 

"Ah, master, all I know is that the one I call father existed before me. I hatched from an egg, and from that moment until now, I have never encountered anyone who claimed kinship with me. I have never even laid eyes upon my mother. Perhaps she perished during my hatching or in the throes of life itself."

"Quite a lonely life you have lived," I mused, sensing a profound sorrow beneath his words. "I could free you from this suffering if you wish. My tasks here may soon be complete."

The goblin looked up at me, his loyalty shining through his expression. "Master, I am your devoted servant. Whatever path you choose, I will follow it."

"Hmm, that's compelling, considering you have never had someone to converse with in all these years. Perhaps I can grant you the experience of companionship," 

"As you wish, master,"

"Let us first focus on leveling up before making our way to the town," 

"Yes, master,"

From that day onward, I committed myself to intensive training alongside Gobby and Gloom. We found a suitable cave nestled within the heart of the forest, a sanctuary where we could hone our skills in peace. For sustenance, we forged our own path, hunting for wild game and gathering fruits from the plentiful trees. My primary goal was to level up as swiftly as possible to mitigate any potential threats down the line. During our efforts, I discovered that both Gobby and Gloom were also capable of increasing their levels, an ability I sensed was influenced by the skills I possessed.

Weeks drifted by in a blur of intense training. I focused on strength exercises while leveling up against the various wild creatures that roamed the forest. The dungeon did not prove particularly helpful for leveling.

"SLUDGE BOMB!" 

"NICE going, Gobby and Gloom! We've successfully taken down this baison," I cheered, adrenaline coursing through my veins.

"All thanks to your incredible strength, master. You extracted this baison's horn with nothing but your bare hands! It's astounding," 

"Go goom!" Gloom chimed in.

"Did you hear that?" I asked, suddenly more alert. "There's a powerful presence approaching us—stronger than this baison."

A deep rumble echoed from the distance, followed by the sound of heavy footsteps. I braced myself, ready to face whatever challenge was to come.

As we steeled ourselves for the impending confrontation, the moment we had both dreaded and anticipated finally arrived. Emerging from the underbrush, the creature that came into view was no ordinary baison; rather, it was the fabled Baison Leader. A monstrous sight, it was unmistakably the apex of its kind—a harbinger of fear and dominance. Just days prior, I had beheld this formidable beast in the company of its ilk, an image that lingered in my mind, haunting and dreadful.

Massive and powerful, the Baison Leader exuded an aura of raw strength and ferocity that was as palpable as it was intimidating. Its muscular form towered above the others, each sinewy limb suggesting swift and merciless movement. But it was not solely its size that struck fear into the hearts of those who beheld it; it was the fierce determination reflected in its eyes, a gaze that radiated both aggression and a hint of cunning intelligence.

"Let me assess its capabilities," I muttered gravely, summoning my focus. "One Eye Skill."

As the information materialized before me, the reality of my foe's prowess became all too apparent.

**BAISON LEADER** 

**LEVEL:** 18 

**SKILL:** -- 

**ADDITIONAL SKILL:** HIDDEN

A shiver ran down my spine as the implications of its hidden abilities sank in. This creature was a force to be reckoned with, far beyond the average monster we had faced thus far. I turned my head slightly, casting a wary glance at my companions, Gobby and Gloom, who appeared equally taken aback.

"Hmm,"

I spoke in a measured tone as I recognized the urgency of the moment. "Gobby, Gloom—stay back. This is my fight. After this, we will be heading into town, so we must secure a means of transportation. This beast will serve as our vehicle."