I watched with tension. But what approached was...
"Gora, gora!"
It was a water deer. But do water deer normally make that sound?
"Kkuaaaak, kyaak!"
Right, now it's crying properly. A water deer should cry like that.
It looked around and then immediately went somewhere else.
A sigh escaped me naturally.
'Damn it, it was just a water deer. A fucking water deer.'
Still, I had some leeway to think about the situation.
'Anyway, if goblins appeared in tribal units, something must be going on. Goblins rarely go on expeditions if they can help it. They usually try to endure by building dens or settlements where they originally were.'
Of course, I know how to hunt goblins well.
'Goblins are ultimately creatures that think, so even if you only kill their leaders, they will naturally scatter.'
'First... do you know how hunters hunt?'
As I cautiously asked, Isis replied calmly. But hearing her like this, the goddess's voice is incredibly beautiful.
It sounds like a sensuous and profound female speaking, doesn't it?
'Exactly! Goblins, unless they are chieftains or engineers, are stupid and weak. I'll exploit this point.'
First, I looked around. Among the things wandering nearby, I saw dog-sized squirrels and chipmunks.
Those aren't animals. They're monsters. Though they are the weakest among F-rank.
'Carnivorous squirrels and carnivorous chipmunks, I need those first. So...?'
I started digging a suitable spot nearby with both hands. I dug a pit deep enough to submerge my lower body, then got out.
Then I drew water from a nearby river into my canteen and tried to fill the pit about a third of the way.
'What are you doing?'
Isis asked, as if curious about what I was doing.
'Goblins aren't the only stupid ones. Just watch for a bit!'
Something interesting was about to unfold. After filling the water, I hid in a suitable spot and watched.
Soon, carnivorous squirrels and chipmunks began to gather one by one.
It was starting now.
The carnivorous squirrels and carnivorous chipmunks began to jump in one by one.
After a little while, welcome notifications appeared one after another.
[You have defeated an enemy!]
[You have acquired 3000 Collector Points (CP)!]
[You have defeated an enemy!]
[You have acquired 3000 Collector Points (CP)!]
[You have defeated an enemy!]
[You have acquired 3000 Collector Points (CP)!]
...
Those guys were monsters after all. Though small, points steadily accumulated.
Kyah, this will be great for raising my Stats.
I explained, in case Isis was curious.
'Carnivorous squirrels and chipmunks are stupid. They have the same mechanisms as ordinary squirrels and chipmunks.'
'You got it right away. That's what I was aiming for. And their corpses will make good bait!'
I was so happy that things were progressing exactly as I thought.
My lips were trembling so much it was hard to hold back.
I slowly got up. When I went to check, there were over ten corpses of the creatures floating, having drowned.
'This is why they're F-rank monsters, and the weakest among them. They're a bit tricky if you meet them in the field, but with this kind of countermeasure, they're fucking pushovers.'
This is reassuring.
Haa, what a relief.
I pulled out the corpses one by one and arranged them as naturally as possible.
Then I placed the armor and tools of those guys whose faces were crushed and died near me, and set up two or three corpses around them.
As much as possible, spread out in various places, a little at a time. Within my sight, but at a distance where goblins couldn't interfere with each other.
After doing that, I waited.
'From here on, it's a battle of patience!'
I drew my sword and took a breath. My first battle against monsters.
I had fought a Necro Slime before, but that was practically like fighting a human.
Perhaps this was the real game. I waited until I felt bored, and then—
Goblins patrolling in pairs appeared. They stopped, having spotted the squirrel.
"Ooh, food! Food!"
"But why here? Suspicious!"
The goblin looked around.
'They're quite clever, aren't they?'
The goblin carefully scanned its surroundings. There was no bait anywhere else. As if it realized this, its cheekbones soon twitched.
"Hehe, those guys must have left it! Good guys, those guys!"
"Those guys are stupid, weak! Let's eat!"
Of course you would say that. You idiots.
Watching the goblins distracted by the bait, I slowly stood up.
I approached, minimizing my footsteps as much as possible.
"Nom nom, delicious!"
"Hehehe, uhuhuhuhuhuhu!"
I heard the sound of them stripping flesh and chewing meat, as well as gnawing on bones like hyenas.
Goblins couldn't chew human bones, but they easily chewed the bones of creatures like carnivorous squirrels.
Anyway, since they were monsters. After closing the distance to arm's length—
I swung my sword in one swift motion. The first one.
"Kyaak!"
"What?!"
Immediately after, I swung my sword at the chest of the other one. The satisfying sensation of a clean cut was transmitted.
[You have defeated an enemy!]
[You have acquired 3000 Collector Points (CP)!]
[You have defeated an enemy!]
[You have acquired 3000 Collector Points (CP)!]
It was only this easy because it was a surprise attack; if it had been a head-on fight, I would have struggled. My Stats were low, after all.
The goblins I killed turned into light and disappeared. It was the moment the continuous effect of the Dawn Guardian activated.
Wow, the corpses turning into light and disappearing. That's so cool!
'It saves me the trouble of cleaning up corpses, that's good.'
'This is just the beginning. I want to grow quickly.'
I was curious what other abilities there might be. Would there be an ability to shoot beams, perhaps? Hehe.
I waited again. While waiting, I allocated my Stats.
'What I need now is Strength. First, one point into Strength.'
I currently had 70,000 points. This was the result of saving them without spending.
My Strength, which was 14, became 15, consuming 100 points. At the same time, my level, which was 0, became 1.
'Strength one more time!'
This time, 200 points were consumed, and my level became 2.
The level-up system in Asgard was like this. I raised my level to 15 in this manner first.
〖Lucian Vane〗
Level: 15
Strength: 25(+0), Dexterity: 25(+0)
Stamina: 24(+0), Intelligence: 15(+0)
Trait: 10(+0), Luck: 0(+0)
§World Influence: ☆
I considered raising it further, but I left it as is because I had something to tell the Goddess later.
By the way, World Influence, what is this? A concept I don't even know has appeared.
Diring!
[Your level has exceeded 10!]
[Force Heart increased! 1 → 2]
Huh? What kind of windfall is this?
My Force Heart increased just because my level went up a bit? I became Runner Mid-stage?
'Wait, isn't this because of my bloodline?'
From his memories, his aunt's frequent words came to mind.
"Our son's Force Heart will become strong just by him trying! Because he is the child of my sister! Uhuhut♥"
A chuckle escaped me. Things are going to get damn interesting from now on.
I continued to take down goblins in the same way as before. I needed to reduce their numbers as a precaution.
After killing about 10 more, I intentionally left one alive.
The subdued goblin trembled and shed tears.
"Y-you human! Scary! Save me!"
"Don't act."
"Not acting, me weak!"
"And yet, if I let my guard down or turn my back, you'll hit me with a rock. Do I look like an idiot? You motherfucker?"
One of the most common reasons beginners die in Asgard is goblins.
Goblins act when they are on the verge of death. But many beginners believed this, turned their backs, and died from a backstab.
As I took a stance to swing my sword immediately, the goblin let out a dying sound.
"Please save me, hiik!"
The goblin looked up at me in surprise. Then I kicked the goblin's chest with all my might.
Ppaak!
Anyway, let's get to work.
I threw one of the intact baits to it.
"Eat up first. I actually want to be friends with you."
"Friends? Lie!"
"It's true. If I was going to kill you, I would have done it already. Wouldn't I?"
"Uh, uh-huh...?"
"I actually don't have any friends. I'm so lonely. That's why I'm doing this to get closer to you. See, I'm even giving you food?"
Utter nonsense. But the goblin trembled and then finally smiled.
It believes this? Truly a public execution of intelligence.
"You, human, good human!"
"Yeah, buddy. Eat as much as you want!"
"Thank you, ugeok-ugeok. Delicious!"
It's eating happily. Alright, then, shall I use my diplomat-level speaking skills?
Though I don't really need to. I patted the goblin's shoulder.
"Patrolling is tough, isn't it? And getting picked on? Are the females pretty?"
"Tch, me strong. But chieftain and his gang jealous of me, bully me!"
"Yeah, I was like that too. It was really hard and unfair."
"But how did you get strong, human?"
"You get strong by having sex with human women."
The goblin's eyes widened at the random bullshit I threw out. Its pupils shook as if its eyes were about to roll back.
"H-human women? Top-grade among females! Me like human women too!"
"Then we're friends. Can I ask you a favor?"
"Ooh, what is it?!"
"I'll punish your chieftain and shaman for you! Is there a way to meet just them secretly?"
I was asking for a detour. This was my grand strategy.
I wasn't some OP protagonist who could go in alone and wipe out all the goblins.
That would be impossible, no matter how high my Stats or level were.
But infiltrating and taking out only the leaders? That was entirely possible.
"Me know."
"Then tell me. I'll introduce you to a human woman too."
"Haaah! Really?!"
"We're friends, aren't we? Friends keep their promises! I'll introduce you to a woman and send you to a good place."
However it understood my words, the goblin was already getting a hard dick.
Ugh, disgusting. I want to cut it off.
"Okay. Me tell you! We friends!"
"Frieeends!"
The goblin immediately told me the location. As if that wasn't enough, it even drew a map.
Hah, excellent service.
"Thank you very much, my friend."
"Hehe, when's the woman introduction?"
"Isis?"
I called Isis. She briefly appeared. At her appearance, the goblin's dick twitched.
"Ooh, woman. Female, female smell!"
Shhhhh
[You have defeated an enemy!]
[You have acquired 3000 Collector Points (CP)!]
I immediately cut off its neck. Isis sighed and asked.
"Did you call me out to deceive the eyes of such a vulgar creature?"
"Of course not. I called you to show it the most beautiful woman in the world before it died. It's Lucian Funeral Services' promise!"
"You said you'd send it to a good place?"
"Didn't I send it?"
At my reply, Isis burst out laughing. She looked down at the disappearing goblin corpse and continued.
"Alright, let's go now. Goblins are easily disbanded if only their chieftain and shaman are killed. I'll aim for that point."
"Hoo, truly brilliant."
"Let's go put an end to this conflict."
"Huhu, that's my Hero!"
I didn't want to spend any more time on this. As I left, a new title appeared.
[Goblin's Strength (Normal)]
Type: Title
Effect: Strength/Dexterity +10. Easily gains Affection from goblins.
It'll be even easier to beat up goblins from now on. And a Stat bonus on top of that!
Following that, a quest appeared.
[Side Quest]
◆Goblin Slayer
-Objective: Defeat the Goblin Chieftain and Shaman.
-Reward: 5000 CP, Minor Potion x1
'Yeah, this is just the beginning!'
I laughed exaggeratedly and moved forward. Chieftain, Shaman. Just you wait!