Chapter 16

Leaving the capital, if you walk north for about half an hour, you will reach the so-called "Beast Forest."

Here, while there is a risk of encountering several types of monsters, various materials such as plants and nuts that have value in the market can be collected. Many novice adventurers visit this forest to complete quests.

The "danger level" as judged by the Adventurer's Guild is quite low, yet it is called the "Beast Forest," which sounds ominous. This is partly to warn people from mistakenly entering dangerous areas.

If you wander in without knowing the name, it would be the same.

"This is the 'Beast Forest,' huh? The density of trees is high... The types of trees are different from the southern forest I usually go to, and they are bigger."

"Yes, the ecosystem is a bit different."

This forest is also famous for being home to goblins near the capital.

Goblins are said not to be particularly dangerous if properly dealt with, but one cannot be careless.

This is because they sometimes attack and eat people.

When they encounter humans, they see them as food and attack aggressively.

They are ferocious.

It is also common to hear stories of novice adventurers going missing in the "Beast Forest" and being found as just bones.

Goblins, if left alone, will increase in number.

They usually prey on small animals in the forest, but when their numbers grow too much, they cannot be satisfied with the food in the forest and overflow into human settlements.

Therefore, it is necessary to reduce their numbers regularly, and the country encourages their extermination.

A reward is given by the state according to the number of goblins killed.

However, in the capital, which is called the "Holy Land of Adventurers" and is filled with strong adventurers, goblins are not much of a threat. If they were to seriously tackle the extermination, they would hunt them to extinction.

This would be bad.

Even though goblins are a type of monster, they seem to play a role in the forest, and the richness of the ecosystem is said to be quite different between forests with and without goblins. The ecosystem includes valuable and practical herbs, among other things.

Therefore, the country is taking a policy to protect the environment as much as possible while reducing the number of goblins and not reducing them too much.

Thanks to this, a complex ecosystem, including monsters, is maintained, and it is said that more rare plants and animals can be found in the "Beast Forest" than in other forests.

In this way, the "Beast Forest" provides an excellent environment for novice adventurers to train and earn income.

This is the story that Leen told me as we walked to the "Beast Forest."

She not only has various skills but also a broad range of knowledge.

It's really impressive for someone her age.

Moreover, her adventurer rank is silver.

She is sure to become a distinguished person in the future.

"Indeed, as the Guild Master said, I don't see any goblins. It seems that their numbers are really low."

Leen is looking around, searching for the presence of monsters.

She is probably using a skill called "Presence Detection" to confirm the existence of living things around her.

"Oh, one... There is a reaction that seems to be from a monster. It's a bit far, but it shouldn't take much time, so shall we go?"

She says this and points the way for me.

...She is really very helpful.

I follow her deeper and deeper into the forest without doing anything.

"– It's getting darker and darker."

"Yes, I've heard that there are many old trees in this area, making it difficult for sunlight to penetrate. Goblins are said to prefer such places."

Although it is still early in the day, it is quite dark here.

Goblins are nocturnal and do not like bright places. They often live in dark forests and spend the day sleeping in dark caves.

The most efficient way to exterminate goblins is to find their sleeping caves and launch a surprise attack, but it is difficult to find caves without experience.

Therefore, it is usually the case that hungry goblins that wander around during the day looking for prey are exterminated.

They are ferocious.

Goblins have low intelligence and are said to rarely form groups like humans, but they gather in areas with abundant nuts and other food. If one encounters such a situation, the danger level is said to increase dramatically.

I hope we don't encounter such a situation.

I know that with Leen, it is unlikely to happen.

But we are gradually getting closer to the presence of monsters.

...I am a bit tense.

"Huh?"

Leen stops and tilts her head.

"What's wrong, Leen?"

"N-no, I definitely sensed a monster's presence around here..."

"Did?"

"...It's gone."

"Gone?"

"Yes. It could be that it was accidentally killed by someone, but... there was nothing around... why...?"

Leen tilts her head in confusion again.

"Even monsters, being living things, can die from old age or disease, right?"

"Yes, that's true. I think that's a possibility. – Anyway, if we go to where the presence disappeared, there should be a corpse. If it just died, we can take the parts for extermination and exchange them for money."

"That's true. Since we've come this far, let's go check it out."

For some reason, it doesn't seem to be a good day for goblin extermination.

It's a bit disappointing, but it can't be helped.

Just seeing a real goblin would be good.

Actually, I have never seen a goblin.

But even just that would be enough for my first adventure.

It's not good to be too greedy.

"But it's really strange... The forest is too quiet today. There should be other animals around..."

Indeed, there is no sign of animals, not even the sound of birds.

I thought this was just the kind of forest, but it seems not.

Since it was said that the ecosystem is rich, there should be many more animals.

But we haven't encountered any today.

Is this just a fluke?

While thinking about this, we reached our destination.

"It should be around here –"

Leen is looking around, but there is nothing.

"– There's nothing, huh...?"

"Yeah, that's right – wait a minute."

Indeed, at first glance, there are no living things around here.

But I feel a strong sense of something wrong with my vision.

"– What is that...?"

Trying to find the source of the discomfort, I notice something in the air.

In what seems to be empty space, there are faint, green, small feet floating.

As I watch, the feet rise into the air as if lifted by something,

and at a height that makes you look up, they disappear as if swallowed by something.

Water-like droplets fly from there and sprinkle on Leen's and my face.

"–!! [Reveal Concealment]!"

Leen, realizing something, hurriedly activates her skill.

Then –

"– Huh...!?"

"– What is that...?"

A strange presence suddenly appears before us as if a transparent veil is being peeled away.

It is a giant with green skin standing on two legs.

At first glance, it looks somewhat like a human, but its thick arms are so long they touch the ground, and its legs are as thick as three large trees around it.

It is far from being called human.

A beautiful purple-red gem-like object is embedded in its head, and it looks at us with sharp, animal-like eyes.

It moves its mouth, which shows fangs, and blood drips from the corners of its large mouth.

What is this creature –?

Could this be –

"That... is... a goblin...!!"

Leen looks up at the giant and says this with a look of shock.

"– So, that's a goblin..."

...I was surprised.

It is much larger than I imagined.

There is a big difference between seeing and hearing, as they say.

I thought it would be a much smaller monster, given that it is called the weakest monster.

But it matches the description.

It has green skin, walks on two legs like a human, and has sharp, animal-like eyes.

And they use tools.

Right now, that goblin is pulling up a large tree with one hand.

It is probably going to use it as a club.

"Scary. A monster with intelligence –"

Goblins are said to have low intelligence.

But that is in comparison to humans.

They are not without wisdom.

In fact, I have heard that they can be more intelligent than other monsters.

A monster with such a large body and intelligence –

– It is hard to believe that this is considered a minor threat by the world's adventurers.

But this is reality.

No matter how much I struggle, I have to accept it.

I flinch.

It is much larger than the cows in the city that I had trouble with.

Leen's expression is also tense.

It's not surprising.

She has knowledge and talent, but she must have little practical experience.

"– Don't be afraid, it's just a... goblin."

I speak to Leen, trying to convince myself as well.

Ordinary adventurers hunt this to reach the threshold of becoming a full-fledged adventurer –

I have heard that it is a gateway for beginners.

But for me –

It looks like a towering, insurmountable wall.

The green-skinned cannibal, known as the weakest monster – the goblin.

Even as a weakest-level monster, it is a formidable opponent for someone like me, who is less than a novice.

But by defeating this, I will surely take the first step toward my dream of becoming an adventurer.

I can surely defeat it.

Especially with Leen by my side.

"– We will defeat it, Leen."

I immediately shake off the杂念 in my head and draw the 'Black Sword.'

Fear and hesitation –

– are only shortcuts to death.

"– Yes, sir."

And so, our intense battle with the weakest monster – the 'goblin' – began.

Thank you for reading.

It's about time for a break.

By the way, if you support the author by bookmarking or using the evaluation button below the latest chapter's advertisement, it will boost the author's motivation to update... (trembling voice)