Goblin Soup for the Soul
"GRRROOOOAR—!"
[Heh. That goblin's got some lungs on him.]
[No matter how you slice it, that's no goblin!]
For a holy sword to say something so fitting. As frustrating as it was, even I had to agree with Aries this time. Instead of the sweet, sticky aroma rising from a goblin village, there was the piercing stench of a predator's musk and foul body odor. This was the mark of a far superior hunter, nothing a mere goblin could compare to. And if the smell was this thick, this had to be the beast's lair.
[Hah. Did I just get duped by a goblin?]
A danger zone where even approaching meant risking becoming a snack. No need to dwell on the psychology of the goblin leading us here right before death. Thinking back, begging for that potion at the end was probably to mask his lies—covering his physical tells with the drug's effects.
[Whining about being a has-been relic in the vault, but aren't you the real relic? You were an adventurer in a past life—where'd you sell that nose of yours?]
[Tch.]
She pounced on the opening, gleefully ribbing me. But I decided to let it slide this time too. Not because I had no comeback!
[It's still just a punch-up for the Hero, right? Come on, let's smash it.]
Truth be told, I was in a good mood. Not some lowly goblin, but a higher-grade monster to fill my belly with blood. Goblins weren't cutting it anyway—this thing might at least be an appetizer.
The source of the roar soon revealed itself. A massive body that shook the earth with every step. A form like the vilest caricature of the lowliest human. The nightmare icon from every child's fairy tale. The forest's king and calamity—ogre!
[Pfft, cannon fodder anyway.]
Individually mighty, but so dumb they get hunted by orc squads. And its opponent? None other than humanity's ultimate weapon, the Hero.
With a casual stroll, the Hero advanced on the ogre. She shook out her hand lightly, and chariing—a clear, chilling sword cry rang out.
"GRRROOOOAR!"
Shrinking back momentarily from her inexplicable aura, the ogre soon roared louder in rage and stomped forward. The Hero raised me high.
A massive fist plummeted toward the fragile-looking girl, but she leaped lightly, landing atop the giant's arm. Even on this unstable ground pulsing with heartbeat and twitching muscles, her strike downward was flawless, without a hint of wobble.
[Wheeee!]
Like riding a rollercoaster, sensations surged wildly as I plummeted straight toward the ogre. Time to rip into that flesh, guzzle the blood...
[GYAAAH!]
But instead of ecstasy, I screamed in shock. Rather than slicing the arm clean off, I only sank halfway in. The ogre's unssevered muscles writhed like living things, clamping down on me. It didn't even hurt that much, but ew, the feeling!
Worse, embedded in the wound, I was staunching the blood—only teasing drips trickled in.
And the Hero looked just as shocked.
"Too... dull."
Of course it was! People romanticize famous swords, but one neglected for decades gets dull. Only one sword in the world stays pristine forever. Sure, a Hero's skill could cleave steel with a twig, but pulling that off while suppressing all her power and blessings? Tough even for her.
But this wasn't the time for my excuses. In the heat of battle, she stared at me like a kid learning Santa's a myth.
[Look, it's like—]
"GRRROOOOARRGH!"
My desperate defense got drowned out before it started. Seizing her pause, the ogre swung its good arm in a fresh haymaker.
"...A little disappointed."
The Hero murmured lowly. She swung her free arm—the one not holding the cursed sword. As her delicate hand met the ogre's massive fist, light flashed briefly.
A chillingly precise control, limiting the blessing's manifestation to one arm.
Grants the optimal blessing for the current situation.
Superior strength to opponent. Next strike's impact increased by 300%.
A bomb-like explosion erupted as the ogre's fist shattered against the Hero. Not a predator's roar, but prey's scream shook the mountain. One arm dangled with me still stuck; the other was pulverized beyond the wrist. No monster, no matter how mighty, could fight back now.
The Hero yanked me from the ogre's hardened muscle. Plenty of blood soaked in, but I couldn't just bask in joy anymore.
Pok. Pok. Pok.
Like a seasoned butcher, she methodically honed the blade. Can't cleave in one go? Do it multiple times. Soon, the mangled corpse crashed down with a boom.
I drank my fill of blood as desired, but the Hero's sunken mood kept me and Aries silent.
Was she disappointed in my performance? What if she deems me useless now and tries to burn me? Dumping me without fuss would actually be a relief.
"Hmm..."
She eyed me thoughtfully, brow furrowed prettily. But staring at that face, I felt only dread.
Yet instead of unleashing holy power or hurling me away, she quietly sheathed me at her waist. Her mood had lightened a bit. Reading the room, Aries stayed mum too.
In silence, the Hero pushed through the woods. Soon, the brush parted to reveal a sight that made me gulp.
[Gasp?]
Incredibly, beyond the foliage lay the goblin village. Quite a distance from the ogre's nest. No way this was coincidence or luck.
How?
But the Hero offered no explanation. Soon, aching pain prickled from the hilt, and I was drawn back into the world.
"Handle like... glass sword..."
As if her earlier intimidation was a lie, she reverted to her usual dazed, vacant demeanor. Mumbling blankly, she swung me. Still restraining her power to avoid damaging me, but against goblins—not ogres—that was plenty.
"Grrrooook! Gagoook! Goruk!"
"Kagur! Each one!"
She neatly bisected a lovey-dovey goblin couple mid-melodrama, then dragged out and killed their hidden whelp under the straw-woven bed. Extermination complete. I drank my fill too.
Despite her odd display, I'd held my tongue till now—but no more.
[Yeah, that's more like it!]
[No sense of timing, huh?]
Aries timidly piped up softer than usual, but she couldn't stop me. First harvest in decades—no, I was too distracted by the ogre to savor that properly. But now, my blade senses were sharper than ever. I felt every droplet tracing my edge crystal clear.
[Ahahahahaha!]
[Hey, what are you—!]
Not trying to erode the Hero was the limit of my restraint. Long-awaited outing, long-awaited feast. Expecting moderation from a cursed sword? Absurd.
So I laughed merrily and bellowed.
[Come to papa, you tasty little things!]
My vision transcends the material world, briefly touching the spiritual realm.
Over the bloodied goblin corpses rose white, smoky wisps—like the herbs they often burned. They coalesced into their living forms, fully manifesting before getting sucked into me.
This is what a cursed sword does! I was never some legendary edge that cleaves anything. Just be cursed—that's enough, right?
[Keh.]
Not missing a drop of blood or soul, I sighed in satisfaction. Only then, with my hunger sated, did reason kick in.
Wait. This might be risky. I don't know why she picked me up, but Heroes are usually paragons of goody-two-shoes goodness. This one's so spacey it's hard to read, but maybe she's good-aligned too. Though drawing me suggests otherwise.
Or the hypocritical type who commits atrocities then preaches "You've crossed the line!" to others.
Either way, she might turn and smash me on a whim.
[Tampering with souls, you damned wretch!]
[Oops.]
One sure thing: Aries's alignment is extreme good—uncompromisingly so—outside of Hero matters. That's why she's so lax on the Hero but fanatically enforces her morals elsewhere.
[Unbelievable. Souls are an inviolable domain even gods don't touch. Even a goblin's has dignity!]
[What, 'cause they're noble souls? They leave 'em alone 'cause it's inefficient.]
Aries's outrage didn't matter. Only the Hero did. Sipping blood's one thing, but soul-sucking cursed swords creep people out. In a world with heaven and reincarnation, messing with souls is taboo—reserved for demon contractors or Dark Cult zealots, the epitome of evil.
Normally I'd hold back, but after so long without a kill, I lost control.
I ignored Aries's fury and focused on the Hero.
So, what'll you do?