1-8 Gerantnusf

"Here it comes."

Elliott suddenly stood up ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and drew his sword. I followed suit, scanning our surroundings.

"Over there."

Elliott jerked his chin toward the right rear. He focused, gripping his sword tightly before unleashing a blade of light from it.

The Flower Warrior's skills always glow like crazy. Real eye-catchers in a dark forest like this.

A Night Goblin weaving through the trees was sliced clean through and collapsed to the ground.

"I'll hold this spot! The one in the back's all yours."

Elliott was apparently guarding the tent where the women were resting.

I couldn't pinpoint exactly where "the back" was, but I got that there was another one lurking away from the tent.

I dashed vaguely toward where the first one had fallen, then spotted a shadow shifting ahead. That must be it.

Elliott's flashy skill lit up the area in intermittent bursts.

My goblin seemed to be wielding a sword.

It held it in a high guard with both hands, giving off a vibe ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like an actual human swordsman.

I solidly blocked its downward swing with my shield, then swept my sword from right to left.

The goblin pulled back, gauging the distance.

Way smoother moves than a regular goblin from daylight hunts.

So this is a Night Goblin, huh.

It was giving me the first move, so I jabbed to keep it at bay, closed in, and slammed a shield bash.

It flinched for a split second but didn't lose its footing. Up to something?

I followed with a sneaky kick, but it just yelped in pain without toppling.

Solid core strength or something?

Anyway, keep seizing the initiative.

I pressed with my shield, swung my sword, and kicked whenever an opening appeared.

After repeating that a few times, the goblin started swinging back.

I blocked a couple with my shield, then when it threw a sloppy mid-level slash, I met it blade-to-blade in a grind.

One-handed versus two, but my raw strength had the edge.

I pushed gradually; as it poured in more force, I relaxed my sword and shoved my shield forward.

The counter landed perfectly, throwing off its balance. I finished with a overhead strike.

"Looks like you're done there."

Elliott called out. I was too winded to reply.

This is a Night Goblin? Brutal...

"That's a Night Goblin Leader. An upper-tier variant."

"Su...perior... type? This guy's... the... one...?"

Catching my breath, I looked down at the Night Goblin Leader's corpse.

Upper-tiers could move almost human-like, huh...

Solo expeditions are gonna be rough.

"Two regular Night Goblins, that Leader, and a Night Goblin Scout for recon. Four in total... stragglers, probably."

"Whew... We're near the Goblin Forest, right? Doesn't that mean more pals could be lurking?"

"Night Goblins don't group up much—mostly stray parties. No calls for backup, so yeah, likely just wanderers hitting this area."

"Got it..."

I slit the Goblin Leader's chest and extracted the magic stone.

Marie had drilled dissection into me just yesterday afternoon, but I still sucked if I messed up.

Slide along the muscle fibers, scrape the stone out like hooking it—that's supposed to be quick and easy, but individuals vary, so it's tricky.

The Leader had thicker pecs and tougher meat than usual.

Higher difficulty, for sure.

By the time I finished the Leader, Elliott had already processed the other four.

"Still got a ways to go on monster butchering."

"...I'll keep at it."

No need for Elliott to fetch her—Marie stirred and took over watch.

Leaving just the women felt uneasy, almost guilty, but skimping on rest would bite us tomorrow.

I crawled into my one-man tent and surrendered to sleep the instant my head hit the ground.

Faint light seeped through the tent edge.

Right... we camped out.

"...Morning."

I lifted the flap to peek. Marie and Patch were working by the fire, glancing my way.

"Morning."

"Good morning."

"Need a hand?"

"Eh, wash your face first. Then peel some potatoes."

They were prepping breakfast.

Learned something—later shifts handle this stuff.

I splashed at the nearby water, geared up, and pitched in.

Breakfast: potato and dried meat soup, plus some portable dumpling-like rations.

Trishiera had foraged a wild greens salad too.

Can you even eat this? Safe, right?

"Night Goblins last night, huh? Nothing on our watch."

"Yeah? Glad you all made it."

Marie swapped intel with Elliott.

"Elliott didn't budge from the tent. You're loved."

"...Idiot."

Trishiera flushed and looked down.

"Hah hah hah, of course!"

Elliott brushed it off.

"Hey, you could've woken us if they hit. Five's enough to wake everyone."

Marie sighed.

Oh, so waking them was fine. Elliott seemed set against it, so I figured that was protocol.

"I can handle that level!"

"Still, shit happens. Safety over sleep."

"I'm your safety!"

They weren't syncing. Note to self: wake for night raids.

"So, how much for last night's Night Goblins?"

I steered away from their skit.

"Lemme see... Four Night Goblins for 60+ coppers, Leader alone 40-50?"

"Whoa. Leader's pricey."

"Goblins scale with size and stone quality—betters for superiors. Yesterday's Leader hits that."

Good info. Split five ways, under 10 coppers each... feels low.

"Goblin stones are trending up—could fetch more. Congrats, Yoyo."

Marie noted.

"Congrats? I can take it?"

"You soloed it. Yours by rights."

"Sweet."

Four goblins sounds tougher, but lucking into a 1v1 Leader was golden.

"If I'd woken everyone, it'd split. Thank me!"

"Kinda hard to... uh, thanks, action-hero pretty boy."

"Ac—? What's that?"

"Oops. Er, means cool guy. Fits you perfect."

"Does it? Spot on for me!"

"Haa... morons..."

Poor Marie.

"Plans for today?"

We'd scout Goblin Forest edges, then decide: skirt outer rim, enter shallow, or push deeper.

"Wanna linger... but prime earning window. Dip into the shallows?"

"Safe?"

"Should be. Bump into other parties is the downside."

"Backup if shit hits."

"True, but you might need to back them up."

Marie added.

"Hate that?"

"Trouble magnet... Learn the ropes, including that."

Not opposed, then.

Patch listened quietly; Trishiera ate disinterestedly, no input.

Trishiera whispers with Elliott sometimes, but Patch barely talks even ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in-group unless needed.

I forget she's there sometimes. That okay?

"...What?"

Busted staring—Patch met my eyes with a deadpan glare.

"N-no. Just, any thoughts from you guys?"

"None. Marie covers it."

"R-right."

She's fine. Look away.

"Hah hah, Patch is sharp. Speaks up when it counts—don't worry."

"...Uh-huh."

Trishiera emptied her bowl, muttering to Marie, who stirred the pot. Seconds?

Secret talk feels like shit-talking when you're antisocial.

We probed the forest entrance, entering midday.

Visibility tanked—blind encounters possible. Stay sharp.

"Hold up."

Marie nimbly climbed a tree for a look.

Spry.

"Felt a vibe—northeast a bit, something's there. Goblins maybe."

"Ambush?"

"...Yeah. Coming our way—fight in this clearing."

"I'll set traps."

Patch does traps. Study time—trail her.

"...Hands free? Help."

"Sure. What?"

"String that branch to... no, higher thick one... there. Tie it."

"How?"

"Whatever."

No second string for proper knot. Wrapped tight as best I could. Clumsy hands.

Patch eyed the knot, froze, sighed—no comment.

"...Watch surroundings."

"Got it."

Ditched me.

"Closing in! Patch, back!"

Marie yelled from above. Patch finished quick and retreated.

Mostly tripwires in goblin path. One bear trap too.

"Incoming!"

Frontline: Elliott, me. Marie drops from tree. Patch lobs something—boom. Grenade magitech?

"Just a signal flare. Draws attention."

Elliott explained calmly.

Prep to funnel them into traps, got it.

Screeches echoed, trees shook.

Lead goblin tripped spectacularly on string.

Flanker clutched its leg, howling. Bear trap.

"Light... slash... blade!"

Elliott's sword flared brighter, huge light blade raking them.

Front clear with Elliott and rears. I cover flanks.

Predictably, some bypassed traps, looping around.

"More than I thought! Pals nearby—sorry."

"No prob!"

Marie apologized, tossing daggers to harass.

Forest entry, and Elliott's crew goes serious.

"Right flankers are mine!"

Obvious spot, but call it out.

Right: one dagger goblin, at least two more behind.

No archers visible—handle one-by-one.

Half-turned, left shield forward.

Dagger goblin feinted, circled. Expected—sword check, drag into shield bash.

Kick to halt, overhead. Clean.

Two more: club and sword. Solo, mag gun time, but...

Backpedal to avoid surround, counter for damage, stall.

Holding fine, but more incoming rear.

Bad—three's a crowd.

Arrow nails a goblin's foot from behind—gap.

Commit: hammer sword goblin. Club loops for side smash—ignore.

Spiked club? Hurts more. Tears up.

Twist waist to check clubber, slash sword again.

Acts like feint—sword goblin's guard slips, blood sprays.

Clubber fixated; rear arrow headshots it. Nice.

Then my right hand burned hot.

What? Slashed!?

No—burning!

Last goblin points stick my way.

Stick? Staff?

"Goblin Mage! Evade!"

Someone yelled.

Shield out, zigzag approach.

Best evade I pictured.

Goblin Mage loosed two fireballs—grazed past luckily.

Momentum shield-smash.

Right throbbed bad, but stab sword in.

It recoiled; I shield-bashed relentlessly.

Sluggish—severed neck. More crushed than decapitated, but dead.

Glanced left: Elliott swinging, but Trishiera and Patch watched me. Their side wrapping up.

Didn't check allies mid-fight. Get hyped, tunnel vision. Note to self.

Marie scanned for stragglers.

"We're clear. Status?"

"Fine. Elliott's Leader is last."

Trishiera cool as ice.

"No backup?"

"He won't lose to that. Bows no help in clinch."

"Marie's watching."

Patch steady too.

"Gotcha. Couldn't cover you guys. Sorry."

"Narrow field. But solid work."

Trishiera praising me? Weird.

"...Huh?"

"Nothing. Oh, Elliott's done."

Peeked worried—final flash, goblin down screeching.

Another Flower Warrior skill? Always so flashy.

"Hurt?"

"Right hand scorched bad. Burns healable?"

"Yes. Hold on."

Patch prepped, eyed my hand.

"Surface only. Weak but wide—needs treatment. This ointment."

Viscous goo in a box; slathered with left.

Patch chanted over it, muttering. "Huh?" "Ah, yeah..." Doctor mumbles terrify—tune out.

Seriously, scary—shut up.

Marie and Elliott gathered corpses, extracted stones.

Them unscathed? Pros...

"Ooh, big one and scout. Nice haul."

"Just normals here... had a Leader."

Normals center decoy? Superiors left, mage right?

Goblins scheme.

Big Goblins: upsized regulars—raw power, sloppy tech, no Leader tightness.

Goblin Scouts: green, zippy. Scout role? Who knows.

My Goblin Mage: caster line, often green when grown—this one yellowish, immature.

Prepped via center docs, first sightings. Goblin paradise.

Elliott and Marie conferred grimly.

"...Yup, that."

"Seems so."

What?

"High superior ratio, coordinated. Final alert screech... Nest nearby."

"Nest..."

"That screech warns allies. Strays wouldn't—Leader no reason. More could lurk."

"Hmm."

"Near entrance. Nest here would've been cleared—confirmed absent recently."

"Blood Slime mess loosened watch—new nest formed?"

"...Probably."

"Wipe it?"

"Yeah... won't get chewed out."

"Huh? That phrasing—nests can piss people off?"

"...Study up. Solos don't tackle nests anyway."

What's that mean?

Question mark head; Marie called lunch break.

Ask details later.

Back at rest spot, soup from rations.

"Back to nests?"

"Hm? Oh, yeah."

"Goblin Forest north has known nests?"

"Skimmed center docs."

"Not can't—won't clear. Why?"

"Leave monster nests? ...No clue."

"North's plains—prime spawn point. Goblins pop from there into forest."

"Ah... got it. North side prime nest spot."

"Yup. Imagine you're spawn goblin."

Isekai as goblin. Bet there's a novel.

That spawn point's sus—white-haired kid's doing?

"Got it? You enter forest for nest/food. Perfect spot... but big nest blocks."

"Oh..."

Seeing it. Poison kills poison!

"Ding. Moderate north nests cull newbie spawns—fights whittle 'em."

"Ah."

"Can't babysit every goblin. Elites scheme."

"Two?"

"Flip side—no cull funds. Manage for Slagee sweet spot."

"Manage how?"

"Multiple nests. One mega-nest risks OP superiors, sprawl. Prune timely."

"Huh."

"Overexpand? Unmanageable surprises. Contain to forest."

"Still tough."

"Yeah. Not ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠all go forest—patrol others, cull. Lose spawn control, goblin plagues elsewhere? Lord's rep tanks."

This world's lords grind hard...

Monsters endless—permanent war footing, land starved. Impressive it holds.

"Tight management, but randos wiping nests throws calcs—anger."

"Mercs drilled on it; solos know. No big 'nest raid' postings, right?"

"True... Wish guilds listed it."

"That reg: 'Obey laws, posted requests/orders.' Probably some decree in docs."

"Makes sense. No solo nest-hunters; flag big recruits."

"Yup."

"Thanks anyway. Lots to learn."

"Good attitude. Some blow off brass."

"Ehh? No arrests?"

"Guild nips pre-trouble. Nest hard to punish legally. Ignore? Blacklisted from Slagee."

Ah, no fine but "guidance"...

Defy? Next permit "oops" denied. Smiley.

Earth vibes.

Relatable or lament human grime in fantasy?

"...Duly noted."

"Hah hah hah."

They flirted during chow break; I checked status.

Interferer and Swordsman leveled... Eh?

"Job Addition II" unlocked!

Level 10, huh. III possible too?

Picked slot 3 "None," pulled candidates.

Playboy and prior were pre-departure.

Today's fights nabbed Shield Bearer. Makes sense—shield-heavy.

Warrior: combat grind, basically all I've done.

Translator... Pondered local lingo vs. Earth often. That?

Terms like "Goblin Leader"—not literal. Ancient imperial tongue: "Gerantnusf" means chief/leader.

"Goblin Gerantnusf" here.

Regional lingua franca—dead empire, politics/religion, but common enough.

English? Nah, more Latin vibes.

Whatever—ignore. I mentally "Goblin Leader."

Earth-think (Japanese) causes this; mulling = translation XP?

Mystery: Playboy.

Not playing. Worked non-stop since isekai—creepy levels.

Ah—swapped jobs constantly. Normies stick lifelong; I flip for need/fun. No gold waste either.

Rich kid toy. Gods' plaything. Playboy. Fine, own it.

Now: combat power. Flashy skills nice.

Picks: versatile Warrior, shield-boost Shield Bearer.

Or high-level Survivor/Mag Gunner for stat bumps.

Stat mods fuzzy—basic here, awkward asking Elliott. Common sense rube already; overdo, suspicious.

Library next for deets.

"Alright."

Decided. Set Job 3 quick, final status check, then prepped to roll.