The Death of Kaina

[You parted ways with the girl and returned to the Monster Forest. The first thing you did was head toward the valley to see what it looked like now.]

[A day later, you arrived at the valley. Looking at the desolate valley and the purple soil, you fell into silence. From the moment you entered the valley, you hadn't encountered a single living creature. It was clear that your clan no longer existed.]

[You felt a slight sadness but quickly pulled yourself together and walked deeper into the valley. You guessed that the reason the valley had become like this was related to the monster that had been sleeping at the bottom of the lake years ago.]

[When you reached the place where the monster had once slept, you found that the lake water had turned completely black, murky and lifeless. The lake monster was no longer there. After searching the area and finding nothing, you left.]

[On the third day, you met up with Kaina as agreed. You asked her how settling down had gone, and she excitedly told you that everything was going smoothly. She had used the money she had earned to open an alchemist's shop, selling various items to adventurers.]

[Afterward, Kaina would occasionally give you alchemical potions as supplies, greatly enhancing your survival capabilities.]

[In the twenty-second year, Kaina crafted a suit of armor and a greatsword specifically for you. After obtaining these custom alchemical magic items, your combat power increased significantly.]

[In the same year, you gained some reputation in the Monster Forest. Many had heard of a red goblin in the forest who didn't harm humans and even helped adventurers.]

[In the twenty-third year, an incredibly powerful adventurer arrived in the town outside the Monster Forest. He was captivated by Kaina's beauty and tried to force himself on her. Kaina refused to submit, even stabbing herself in the heart to scare him off. After this incident, Kaina passed away a few days later, consumed by grief.]

[A few days later, when Kaina hadn't come to see you, you felt something was wrong. You sneaked into the town and went to Kaina's shop. However, all you found was Kaina's lifeless body and a letter pinned under a water jug on the table.]

[You held Kaina's body, overwhelmed with grief. You couldn't accept this reality. Tears streamed down your face as you opened the letter she had left for you.]

["Dear Goburo: 

I am Kaina. By the time you read this letter, I will likely already be dead. Please don't be sad, Brother Goburo, and don't seek revenge for me. We've known each other for so long, and there's something I've always wanted to tell you: I love you. You must find it strange, right? How could a human fall in love with a goblin? But I'm not entirely human. I'm the child of a human and an elf, so I'm actually a half-elf, half-human. I used to live in the forest, but I was captured by humans. They treated me like a commodity, beating me, starving me, and making me suffer. Later, I escaped when the guards were careless. Deep down, I've always hated humans, but to survive in this world, I had to adapt to human ways. I had planned to confess my feelings to you later, but it seems I won't get that chance now. All my belongings are in my spatial ring. You know where it is. This is the last thing I can leave for you. Finally, I love you."]

[After reading the letter, you fell into a long silence. You hadn't expected Kaina to harbor such feelings for you. At the same time, you hated yourself for not being by her side when she needed you the most. The overwhelming grief triggered a change in your body.]

[A week later, black patterns appeared on your originally red skin. You had mutated into a Rageflame Goblin Warrior, with a level cap 10 levels higher than ordinary goblins. Your strength had grown significantly. You cremated Kaina's body and carried her ashes with you, keeping her close at all times. You opened the spatial ring she had left for you and found it filled with healing potions, mana recovery potions, and a new set of armor and weapons she had crafted for you. Seeing these items made your heart ache even more. You swore to avenge Kaina, to make the one who caused her death suffer a thousand, no, ten thousand times more than she did.]

[It didn't take long for you to find Kaina's killer. In fact, you didn't even need to search for him. After leaving the Monster Forest, he went straight to Kaina's shop, his intentions obvious.]

[However, when he arrived at Kaina's shop and found the door closed, he forcefully broke it open. Instead of finding Kaina, he saw you sitting calmly inside. Enraged, he shouted, "Where's Kaina! Why is a monster like you in town!"]

[Seeing the man's panicked expression, you didn't respond. You knew this was the scum who had caused Kaina's death. You attacked immediately. The man seemed to have anticipated your assault, pulling out a shield to block your strike effortlessly. You realized his strength far surpassed yours; you were no match for him.]

[You thought of something and angrily said, "I can't believe Kaina died because of a nobody like you. You didn't deserve her. How dare you cause her death."]

[Hearing your words, the man seemed to recall something and said, "Did she kill herself after I left? What a foolish woman. Such a stupid woman isn't worthy of me, Lord Ike." As he spoke, a vile smile spread across his face.]

'So his name is Ike,' thought Goburo, watching the simulation. He silently memorized the name, vowing to deal with this man if he ever encountered him in the future and had the strength to do so.]

[Fifteen minutes later, the man looked at the scars on his face, his expression filled with rage, as if shocked that you had managed to injure him.]

[But by then, you had lost an arm and a leg, your body severely wounded and unable to rise. Seeing your condition, the man wore a disgusted expression and set the shop on fire.]