What You Must Do for the One You Love
Assuming what I'd heard was true, one thing was crystal clear. At least right now, the kidnapped women wouldn't be subjected to any sexual violence. But that didn't make it any less low—they'd still snatched innocent girls off the streets, and no matter the method, their goal boiled down to breeding their horde. I couldn't just let that slide.
Especially not when I hadn't even heard Kaya's answer to my confession yet. The thought of her fooling around with some other male made my blood boil—I didn't even want to imagine it.
"Um, just one question first. These goblins—are they stronger than a C-rank adventurer?"
"Of course they're weaker than C-rank. There are even stories of C-rank parties wiping out goblin villages and making good money off it."
"And you're asking because... you don't mean to say you're planning to fight them yourself, do you? Absolutely not! C-rank and E-rank are worlds apart. You'd just end up dead going alone!"
"Who knows? Guess we'll find out when I try."
If a C-rank party could raid a goblin village, then someone like me—who'd effortlessly flattened a named C-rank and fucked her all day—ought to have a shot. With that in mind, I yanked the axe wedged into a nearby tree stump, slung it over my shoulder, and faced them squarely.
"I'll scout ahead as your representative, so tell me where these goblins are."
Hold on, Kaya. I'll rescue you before those goblins get a chance to pure-love train you.
*****
Despite the villagers' protests, I headed west of Luden Village to the mountainous region. The dense woods looked like the perfect hideout for bandit packs preying on travelers, and sure enough, there were plenty of small footprints scattered around.
The prints were tiny, confirming each goblin was about kid-sized, just like the rumors said. But I wasn't about to get complacent. Numbers were unbeatable, and the stamina of hyperactive little shits was damn near infinite.
"Kirruk!"
Then I heard it—a strange cry echoing through the trees. I tensed up and fixed my gaze ahead. Small figures emerged from the bushes: green-skinned, pointy noses and ears, child-height but grotesquely inhuman.
Yeah, straight out of every fantasy story—the classic goblin look.
"Keeek, human male..."
The goblins spotted me, their faces twisting into snarls of rage.
"Male! Males can't breed!"
"Human male, useless! Kill and eat!"
"Keeek! Kill him, offer to the lady! Present!"
They raised their weapons: heavy clubs studded with iron, blades honed sharp. These weren't primitive tools—they screamed "not your average goblins."
"'The lady'—you mean your boss?"
That confirmed it. Someone was pulling the strings, sending these goblins to this backwater.
"Keeek, that's right! Our master gives us breeding slaves. Lots of them!"
"Breed, make babies! Then those babies breed!"
"Our horde grows strong. Thanks to master!"
"...Hoo, is that so?"
Idiots spilling their whole plan. Some evildoer had tamed the goblins, kidnapped women to breed more, and build an army. Dangerous as hell to let them multiply—now was the time to strike while their numbers were low.
The question was whether I could handle it solo...
"Keeek! Get out of our turf, male! Or die!"
As doubt crept in, a goblin charged, weapon raised, murder in its eyes. If I stood still, that blade would shred me.
Of course, only if it connected.
-Crack!!!
My bare hand smashed the blade clean in two. It clattered to the ground, and the goblin's eyes bulged in shock.
"Ki, kee?"
It couldn't process me snapping a sword barehanded. Ignoring it, I leveled my axe and swung.
BOOM! The goblin exploded into chunks.
"Ki, kee?"
"D-disappeared... My friend vanished?"
The others gawked from behind. Even I was impressed—not just bisected, but burst apart under the pressure. My power was way beyond what I'd imagined.
"Keeeaak! M-monster! Monster!! Tell the lady!!"
Perfect terror fuel. I chased the fleeing goblins, hacking them down, then hurled my axe at the last one, severing its arm.
"Keeeaak! M-my aarm!"
"You guys seem to like females, so I gave you an arm cut. Problem?"
"Kieeeak! Demon!"
Rich coming from kidnappers turning women into breeding slaves. I grabbed its head, hoisted it to eye level, and growled.
"No bullshit. Tell me everything about your boss."
"Ki, kieeak! I-I'll talk! Spare me!"
Terrified from losing an arm, it spilled everything.
"Sh-she appeared one day! Made light, and suddenly we all followed her!"
"...Exposed to the light, and you obeyed?"
"D-don't know why, but had to. Wasn't bad! She ordered us to kidnap other-race women, shone light on them—they fell in love with us! Horde grew fast!"
Light makes them obey, and women love goblins enough to breed? Fuck, hypnosis powers?
"T-told you everything! Forgive—"
-Squelch!
I crushed its skull. Tracking footprints, I hurried on, anxiety gnawing at me.
Mind-controlling people into breeding slaves—this was worse than I thought.
"Kaya's in danger."
Yeah, she might forget me and fall for a goblin. Hacking trees in frustration, I reached a massive cliff with a cave mouth—guarded by dozens of goblins.
"Keeei! Human male!"
"One guy! Weakling!"
"Rip him apart and eat! Head for the lady!"
Heh, these goblin punks talk tough. This all-ages world banned sex but was lax on murder. Not all sunshine here—weak got crushed, violated, killed. That was the rule.
"Give us flesh, male! Tear you apart!"
Meaning I didn't need mercy either.
-BOOM!CRASH!!
My axe swept through nearly ten charging goblins, shredding them. Panic spread among the rest.
"Wh-what!? What is that human?"
"Strong! Super strong!"
"D-don't flinch! He's one! Swarm him—we win!"
Despite fear, they mobbed me. Numbers forced openings; their weapons grazed me. Skin tore, bruises formed—hurt like hell.
But superficial. Blades barely cut skin, clubs bounced off muscle without cracking bone—the weapons shattered instead.
"Eh, e? H-hard?"
Damn right. With my all-stats cheat boost for a smooth start, I tanked hits armorless. Confirmed my defense, I swung wilder.
-CRASH!BOOM!!
Ripping air, exploding flesh—devastating strikes. The ground slick with blood and gore, over half dead or fleeing in terror.
"Hiiik! Wh-what monster...!"
"We'll die! Dead!"
Yeah, specs too lopsided—numbers mean shit. Axe snapped from overuse; I tossed it and cracked my knuckles.
Crack, pop.
"Two choices: die here or fuck off."
"Kieeak! Don't wanna die!!"
They scattered. Only carnage remained at the cave mouth.
Was nervous coming in, but cheat specs saved the day. This power? The puppetmaster inside should be easy.
"Tch, connection cut—what happened?"
Someone emerged from the cave, surveying the mess with irritation.
"You butchered my minions, you damn intruder..."
Hood hid her face, but curves screamed woman.
"You're the one using goblins to kidnap village girls."
"Yeah, goblins are all males—no use for men. Kidnapped women to mass-produce more... Sigh, ruined my stock. Back to square one."
She gnashed teeth, glaring like I was the victim. Disgusted, I gestured at the bodies.
"See this? Your 'minions' got hacked or fled. Think you're different?"
"Goblins are just cannon fodder. Easy to replace—takes time, but no attachment."
Her tone sharpened, not fear—annoyance at a nuisance.
"Problem is restarting because of you."
...Brazen after this slaughter. Hidden ace?
No cold feet. I'm cheat-loaded. No fear of goblin-handlers.
"No more talk. Release the women."
"Can't. Found prime breeding slaves in this remote village—why quit?"
"Fine. No mercy then."
Plan: beatdown, rescue. Stepping forward, she pulled a book from her robes—dark, ominous glow.
"That hypnosis...!"
"Heh, too late!"
Flash! Light burst. My mind blanked briefly, but no change. I blinked at her.
"What? Hypnosis worked?"
No fog, no daze.
She smirked, explaining.
"Sadly, can't numb higher intellect like humans. Shame—could've built a real army without goblin trash."
"So hypnosis won't work on me?"
"Who knows~?"
She closed in, grinning. Heart raced—not fear, excitement.
Thump-thump.
"But emotions? Easy to tweak."
Realization hit—I ground my teeth.
Shit, got me.
"Pfft, how do I look now? Irresistibly lovable?"
Love—the strongest human emotion. Makes the target priceless; you'd dive into fire for them.
"Yep, you love me now. Can't hurt who you love, right?"
True—I felt protective love. No way I'd harm her.
Fish slipped the net. Confident, she drew a dagger, pointing at me.
"Now, my love~ My wish? You die for ruining my plan. You'll grant it, right?"
Sacrifice for love—my impulses agreed, overriding reason. Accept the stab...
"No."
"What!?"
My hand gripped the blade, halting it. She panicked, struggling.
"Wh-what!? You love me—why resist!?"
"Hypnosis worked, yeah. That's why I blocked."
"L-love makes you block? What—"
-Riiip!
Her clothes shredded by my hands.
"Eh? Wh-what... Kyaa!"
Naked, she hit the dirt. I loomed, erection raging from the hypnosis, and declared.
"Why block? Can't fuck you if you're dead."
"F-fuck? What's that? What are you gonna do!?"
"You'll learn soon. Open wide, bitch. Gonna pound you as hard as I love you."
Love means fuck. Common sense from my old world.