And So, Our Family Grows

'..Huh?'

I was taken aback. The guy who'd been so stiff and unyielding just moments ago was now bowing lower than ever.

I had no idea what had happened in the meantime, but...

'This works out perfectly.'

Right now, it felt like negotiation was possible.

I summoned the spirits.

'Tell them the conditions from before are still on the table.'

The spirits blinked in surprise, their eyes widening round at my words.

They exchanged glances, puffing out their cheeks.

I responded warmly to the spirits' reactions.

'It's fine. Please do it.'

A brief silence fell, then the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spirits nodded and fluttered over to the Goblin King.

Standing tall with shoulders back, they declared haughtily,

'...Hey.'

When did I say any of that?'

The Goblin King's eyes widened as he heard the spirits' words, his face showing genuine shock.

"We... can come live here?"

For someone who'd been full of pride, to have us extend a hand first...

His eyes trembled faintly.

I rustled my branches gently, relaying my message through the spirits.

'Yeah, it's fine. And if you're going to protect us anyway, wouldn't it be better to live here? You'd get food supplies easily too.'

That way, it would be a true win-win. The Totori provide food, and they'd ensure safety.

'Of course, I should check with the Totori too.'

As I thought that, the spirits who'd overheard shouted,

Oh. Lucky break.

Now it was just up to the Goblin King's decision.

He stood with his gaze lowered for a moment, then slowly bowed his head.

"We accept your conditions."

His voice was low and weighty.

"We'll protect the Totori and this village to the best of our ability."

Perfect. Deal sealed!

I slowly extended a branch toward him.

'Looking forward to working with you!'

The Goblin King eyed the branch, then carefully grasped it with his thick, rough hand.

Firm and calloused.

A short, single squeeze—like a handshake—then released.

"We're the ones who should say that."

And just like that, our family grew.

The goblins' move-in happened swiftly. Maybe because they didn't have much baggage.

They crossed over in no time.

But as the goblins entered the Sanctuary, they all froze in place.

"Kieeee!"

"Kieet!"

Their eyes bulged in shock. Warmth spread through their bodies, vitality surging. Their gaunt frames and festering wounds began to heal bit by bit.

The Sanctuary's effects at work.

Overwhelmed, the goblins turned toward me in unison.

"Kiee..."

"Kieeee..."

They bowed their heads in gratitude.

'Is it that impressive..?'

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I awkwardly rustled my branches.

'Anyway...'

I examined the goblins. Skinny and emaciated, ribs protruding. Clear signs of prolonged starvation.

The young ones could ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠barely walk from hunger.

'This is serious...'

I wasn't the only one thinking that. The Totori's expressions turned subtle upon seeing them.

Well, realizing even their former enemies had it rough would stir mixed feelings.

'But we can't let this awkward vibe linger...'

How to smooth things over? As I pondered,

"Kku-wung!"

Tori suddenly sprang into action, tomato in hand, waddling toward a nearby goblin.

'Wait... he's not going to throw that, is he?'

That could make things awkward...

As I watched anxiously, Tori stopped right in front of the goblin.

"Kku-wung!"

He held out the tomato, as if saying eat it.

"Kiee...?"

The goblin's face said, for me?

Tori beamed and nodded vigorously.

"Kkung!"

Overcome, the goblin's eyes welled up as he slowly took the tomato. One bite...

"Kiee!"

He devoured it eagerly, savoring the fresh taste.

The Totori watched in silence, then hesitantly began to move.

Tomatoes, corn, carrots—various crops handed over one by one.

The goblins ate voraciously, faces smeared, lost in the long-forgotten freshness.

Of course, they didn't hold back on expressing thanks. Some goblins grabbed Totori hands in apology, others hugged them in gratitude.

Amid it all, only the Goblin King refrained from eating, watching his kin.

His eyes spoke volumes—how deeply he loved his tribe. That gaze alone explained why he'd knelt.

'Good.'

I sighed inwardly in relief. The mood between goblins and Totori had warmed considerably.

'Gotta thank Tori later.'

Taking the first step is always the hardest.

I rustled my branches, surveying the area. Totori. Spirits. Goblins.

'Quite the crowd now.'

Safety should improve, right?

With that thought, I glanced at the village window.

Satisfaction dropped from 'Very Good' to 'Good'. Probably the Totori tensing up with the goblins arriving.

Eh, it'll bounce back soon.

'Anyway...'

Safety at Level 4! Jackpot! Jumped two whole levels?

The goblins must really boost village security.

'No idea the max level, but...'

Clearly, they're a big help to safety here.

'Oh, right...'

One thing to clarify.

'How strong are the goblin elites?'

For a proper win-win, better gauge their combat power.

'Yeah, please.'

The spirits fluttered to the Goblin King.

He stroked his chin upon hearing them.

"How strong are the goblin elite soldiers?"

He pondered briefly before continuing.

"Hmm... The elites can take down average mid-tier mana beasts with ease."

Oh? Stronger than expected?

'Or not?'

Honestly, I had no feel for what a 'mid-tier mana beast' meant.

I followed up.

'What about you?'

A smirk tugged at his lips as he heard.

"Me?"

His red eyes gleamed.

"Probably no one in Pirel Forest could beat me in combat."

'...Huh?'

I froze at his words. Even as Goblin King, he's still a goblin, right?

I rustled my branches, thinking to myself.

'Kinda full of hot air, huh.'

Kreeeeeng—!

A horned fox's scream echoed.

The charred black corpse thudded to the ground.

"Haa. Haa."

Ashelia exhaled raggedly, raising her sword.

"Rest here a bit."

As the knights settled,

"Your Highness!"

One rushed over, offering a water pouch respectfully.

"You've worked hard."

Ashelia took it and drank. The knight glanced at the fox corpse and continued.

"As expected... Pirel Forest."

His voice held a sigh.

"Never thought even a low-tier mana beast would be this tough."

Ashelia said nothing. It was fact.

Normally, two or three knights could handle a horned ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fox easily—bottom of low-tier mana beasts.

But in Pirel Forest, it took the whole squad, with casualties.

'We need to find the Oracle's Protagonist fast.'

Only then could they escape this damned forest.

She approached Lillia, who was healing knights' wounds.

"Is the Oracle's Protagonist nearby?"

Lillia closed her eyes briefly, then opened them, expression darkening slightly.

"I'm sorry, but..."

Her sky-blue eyes turned deeper into the forest.

"Not yet."

Ashelia sighed shortly.

"Ha..."

She ran a hand through her hair.

"No choice."

Wiping blood from her cheek with her gauntlet, she said,

"We press on."

She scanned the knights. Exhausted, all of them. Yet no complaints.

"Move out."

The curt order set them in motion.

Ashelia gazed deeper into the forest again.

The Oracle's Protagonist. Crouched in the depths, soon to bloom gloriously.

'I'll find you, no matter what.'

Her ruby eyes narrowed toward the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠forest's heart.