The Goblin That Gives Generously
Although we couldn't make it to the temple, the Hero took her first step as an adventurer instead. This could be considered a classic path in its own right. And the monumental first request for our newly minted adventurer Hero was...
[Goblin extermination!]
[Whoa, why'd you yell like that all of a sudden?]
We were strolling leisurely down a mountain path after leaving the city. Horses? Carriages? No need for that crap. The Hero could outrun and outlast most warhorses, and since we were swords, we just got carried along for the ride anyway.
[Still, come on—your first opponent's just goblins?]
The holy sword grumbled immaturely, but I was in a great mood, so I decided to let it slide generously.
[What can you do? That's the guild's rules. Handing a total newbie with zero track record a group quest like this is already them bending over backwards for us.]
Even trash mobs like goblins become a real threat when they swarm by the dozens. Normally, they'd pull at least five veterans of the same rank for a job like this. The adventurer guild lives off brokering requests. An adventurer's failure is the guild's failure too. So entrusting a group quest to a solo newbie was their way of showing major trust.
[...How do you know all this so well?]
['Cause I used to be an adventurer too.]
[What?!]
Damn, why do you have to make me feel awkward like that? You're acting all shocked.
[I figured you had to be some routed previous Demon King or a sorcerer who botched lichification!]
[What the hell do you take me for?]
Believe it or not, before getting isekai'd here, I was a upstanding modern guy who couldn't even wring a chicken's neck. It took a lot to face death so calmly, but whatever—story for another time.
"Hold up."
The Hero, who'd been walking silently until now, suddenly stopped.
[What's up?]
"Presence, ahead."
She murmured softly and placed her hand on the sword hilt. The next instant, as she kicked off the ground, the world flipped upside down.
It was like leaping through space itself—the distance of dozens of meters shrank to a single point. At the end of that charge stood four goblins, eyes wide in shock.
With fluid motion that seemed planned from the start, the Hero drew her blade mid-sprint. The sword tip, carrying that overwhelming speed, traced a long arc.
"Goruk?"
[Wait! Don't kill 'em!]
The slash cut through three goblins like they were air, no resistance at all—then twisted at the last moment. The lone survivor flopped down on its ass.
"Why?"
She'd followed my order, but tilted her head in confusion. I clicked my tongue at her naivety.
[How huge is this forest? You gonna comb every inch?]
[Scout rumors, track signs... So, got a better way?]
[Just ask the guy who knows where they are.]
With that, I nodded toward the goblin—oh wait, I'm a sword now, can't see me. After decades abandoned, I keep forgetting.
[You speak goblin too? You were an adventurer... were you reincarnated or...?]
[Cut the annoying assumptions. Goblin's basic adventurer literacy, duh?]
Goblins are scary only for noobs. Once you get some skill, they turn into giving trees—generous as hell. Materials, weapons, food, intel... Crude compared to human stuff, sure, but locally sourced and free. Huge perks.
[Anyway, wanna wake this guy up?]
By the way, our generous goblin here had passed out face-first in a pool of blood after witnessing its friends' deaths. Poor thing. But goblin sob stories ain't my problem.
The Hero obediently raised her fist toward it, just like I said.
[Wait! At your strength, that'll kill it!]
"I, control, strength, good."
Looked like she planned to poke it awake, but I wanted a live goblin to chat with, not goblin paste. Plan vetoed. She pouted lightly, shook her hand, and started chanting a spell.
A low hum spread through the forest, and I could feel the spirits stirring. Magic's a power bound by nature's laws. Can't conjure fire or ice from thin air like faith powers. Everything stays within realistic bounds. So a mage's skill is measured by how elegantly they bend reality to their will.
In that sense, the Hero was a pretty refined mage.
"Yup."
With a lame kiai, she finished chanting. A water droplet 'coincidentally' perched on a leaf 'happened' to slip right into the goblin's nostril. And 'by chance,' the perfect jolt woke it up.
"Go... ruk?"
[Nice. Leave the rest to me.]
The goblin blinked slowly at first, confused. Then it looked around, face draining of color. Lucky it didn't faint again. Unlucky for it, though.
It staggered to its feet, glaring at us—but no real hostility in the posture.
[Goruk. Gok. Gotrokutuk.]
[Pfft.]
Damn it. Yeah, I know goblin sounds like snoring. I glared daggers at the holy sword and continued.
"Goruk, goro? Gogoro?"
[Gokkaruk! Togogoruk. Gokak.]
"Roktara... ugor."
As our back-and-forth dragged on, the holy sword piped up, bored.
[What's the convo about?]
[Eh... Convinced it nicely. We'll find your village soon anyway, tribe's doomed either way—but cooperate, and your buddies go painless? That gist.]
[Whoa... You're total trash.]
Don't wanna hear that from a sword preaching to conquer the underworld. While we chatted, the goblin wobbled up, rummaged its dead friends' bodies, and pulled something from the one with a feather in its hair. Primitive leaf-wrapped cig.
[Hey, I'm plenty merciful. Giving it time to process, at least?]
Yeah, most goblins are hardcore addicts—even puffing at death's door. One reason everyone hates 'em.
"Kofuh... ."
The goblin struggled to light its bloody cig. Hero snapped her fingers lightly—spark flew from the tip. Thick, moldy blue smoke poured from its mouth and nose like exhaust. It sucked it in like a drowning man gasping for air.
Fun time's over.
[Had enough time? Now spill where your friends are.]
It nodded slowly, still high, and mumbled something.
[Okay, got it.]
My signal dropped, and the Hero swung the holy sword. The goblin's head tumbled into the blood pool, belching uninhaled blue smoke.
[Sweet. Location secured. Now just head there and mop up...]
[Why the ominous pause?]
[Got a condition if you're telling, Hero. Use me this time.]
Humans are fickle. I wasn't showing it, but I was pent-up as hell. Blood flying everywhere from humans and monsters alike, and I hadn't harvested a drop! Fresh off decades of celibacy, I couldn't hold back anymore.
If she'd been as high-handed as at first, I wouldn't dare, but now she was weirdly obedient. Felt more like a tool than me.
[Just don't let me get hurt, obviously. No faith powers—handle me delicate, like a glass blade.]
Ridiculous demand, but with her martial skill, doable. The holy sword blew up.
[This jerk—keep pushing 'cause the Hero's being nice?! Ridiculous demands like—]
"Got it."
The Hero nodded crisply in agreement. For the first time since leaving the vault, she drew me instead of the holy sword.
Just that light touch of hilt to hand sent sharp pain shooting through. Our powers repel. But soul-bound as master and weapon? Way more bearable than before. Partly 'cause she was suppressing her faith on purpose.
With a cursed sword equipped, her abilities dropped below half. Faith's that overpowered. I couldn't fully unleash my cursed powers either—stimulate her suppressed faith, and boom, clash. She'd be fine; I'd shatter.
A mismatched pair if there ever was one—mutual counters as master and slave. But what can ya do? She's my owner now, life on the line or not.
[Let's go!]
Five hundred steps toward the rising sun. Three hundred toward the winter wind. Following the goblin's words, I guided her to the village.
Lame opponents, sure, but first blood in decades. My whole being heated up in anticipation, an unstoppable grin splitting my face. No body, but still.
She moved like a gale, perfect pace—keeping me on edge just right. And finally, we reached what had to be the goblin village.
"Krraaarrgh-!"