Chapter 1
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: The Gullible Goblin Does It Again
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A wolf strode toward the girl slumped on the ground.
Rustle, rustle. The sound of footsteps crunching leaves echoed through the forest path.
"---!"
The girl chanted some spell while swinging her staff.
A blue orb formed at the tip of her staff... only to fizzle out and vanish.
"Just one left, and it had to be this one!"
The girl furrowed her brow and gripped her staff tightly.
She must have run out of mana.
A quick glance around showed over thirty wolf corpses scattered visibly nearby.
Did she take them all down by herself?
If a lone mage handled that many, no wonder her mana was depleted.
-Grrrr...
The wolf glared at the girl with murderous eyes, as if eager for revenge.
It didn't look like it planned to just walk away.
The girl didn't budge from her spot on the ground, even with the wolf right in front of her. Why wasn't she running?
Squinting closer, I spotted vines wrapped around her ankle.
-Grrrr...!
The wolf bared its sharp fangs and growled from deep in its throat.
Drool dripped from its jaws, like it was ready to pounce and snap the girl's neck at any second.
I fiddled with the knife at my waist. Could I win if I fought it?
Maybe if I got lucky, but one slip and I'd be dead.
"Come at me!"
The girl gripped her staff with both hands and stared down the wolf.
Impressive guts in a situation that would terrify anyone.
But that didn't guarantee a happy ending.
I could vividly picture the wolf tearing into human flesh.
Ugh... Just thinking about it made my skin crawl.
-Grrrrr...
The distance between the wolf and the girl shrank even further.
Honestly, this had nothing to do with me, but walking past felt like it would leave a bad taste.
Anyone who'd sat through elementary school morals class couldn't just ignore a girl in danger.
First, I needed to draw its attention.
Taking a deep breath—
"Kieeeek---!!"
I let out the loudest goblin screech I could muster.
My throat-rasping, signature goblin wail exploded into the air.
The wolf and the girl both whipped their heads toward me.
The wolf started drooling twice as much at the sight of me, while the girl gritted her teeth.
The wolf took it in stride, but her reaction stung a bit. I was here to help, after all.
Shing—I drew my crude knife from my waist.
Locking eyes with the wolf, I approached it slowly.
-Grrrrr...
It just growled, not advancing on me.
Its gaze was fixed on the blade in my hand.
If a puny goblin like me had charged barehanded, it would've laughed and lunged.
Thanks to its fear of the weapon, I closed the gap safely.
If it'd rushed from afar, its momentum would've sent me tumbling. Lucky break.
As the gap narrowed to about three steps, the wolf finally leaped at me.
Arf! It flew at me with jaws wide open.
I thrust my left arm forward, shoving it straight into its gaping maw.
Crunch! Its teeth sank into my arm muscle, tearing right through.
Blood spurted from the wound in all directions. The metallic stench filled my nostrils.
"Keruk...!"
I clenched my teeth and endured the pain.
With it clamped down like it would never let go, this was my chance.
I stabbed at the wolf's scruff.
Squelch! The knife plunged deep into its neck.
It hit true. The sensation of blade slicing flesh traveled up my arm.
The wolf's eyes bulged wide.
It loosened its jaws. My left arm slipped free.
As the wolf recoiled, the knife pulled out on its own.
Sprurt! Blood gushed from the hole in its neck. It twisted in agony, whimpering.
Now to finish it off while the momentum was on my side.
I charged and stabbed at its eye. This time aiming for the socket.
Stab! The knife sank in.
Pulled it out and slammed down again.
Stab! Pierced under its jaw. Out, and again.
Stab! I thrust wildly. Just stab, pull, stab, pull—over and over.
The feel of puncturing hide, wolf blood splashing my face, the coppery reek flooding my senses.
I finally stopped after the frenzy.
The wolf went limp, bleeding out from holes all over its body.
"Kuuk..."
I let out a long breath.
My heart pounded like mad, and my whole body throbbed.
My left arm hurt the worst, marked with clear bite imprints.
This thing hurts like hell. As the battle high faded, pain crashed in.
I hastily wrapped a rag from my upper body around the wound.
...Wait, what was I doing again?
Oh, right. The girl.
I suddenly remembered the girl I'd forgotten about.
Had she run off?
Looking back at where she'd been, the girl was still there.
"Come at me...!"
Our eyes met, and she glared even fiercer, unflinching.
I should check on her. I approached the girl.
Up close, she was surprisingly pretty.
White bobbed hair, petite build.
Big, round eyes like marbles.
Even wrapped in her robe, her chest puffed out noticeably.
...Petite body, but her chest was developing exceptionally well.
"Come at me! A goblin like you is nothing but a punchbag!"
The girl bellowed furiously.
I needed to calm her down somehow.
I wiped the bloodied knife on some leaves and tucked it back at my waist.
How to reassure her? Any good ideas?
Glancing around, I spotted a basket on the ground.
Herbs and pretty flowers were scattered around it.
Must be hers. Was she a herb gatherer?
I picked up the basket first and gathered the spilled herbs and flowers, putting them back in.
Once everything was collected, I held the basket out to the seated girl.
"...?"
Her eyes widened as she stared at me, utterly baffled.
I shook the basket, urging her to take it.
"Is that... for me?"
She pointed at herself questioningly.
-Nod, nod.
I nodded twice.
"...You understood me?"
-Nod, nod.
I nodded twice again and shook the basket.
Hurry up and take it. My arm's tired.
"Uh... thanks."
She hesitated but took the basket.
Saying thanks to a goblin. Probably just a reflexive politeness.
Now closer, I looked down at her feet.
Vines coiled tightly around her ankle—too thick to snap by hand.
Untangling them manually would take ages.
Better cut them with the knife. As I reached for it—
"...!"
The girl tensed up. Guess she hadn't fully let her guard down.
I could just slice it quick, but if she flinched, she might hurt herself.
I placed my hand on the vines around her ankle and met her eyes calmly.
I wanted to convey I meant no harm.
"You're... gonna cut the vines?"
After a few seconds of eye contact, she asked tentatively.
-Nod, nod.
I nodded.
Just helping out, so stay still a sec.
Shing. I drew the knife.
She trembled slightly in tension but stayed put.
Slice, slice. I cut through the thick vines.
Snap, snap. I yanked off the remnants by hand.
The moment the vines were free, she sprang to her feet.
Standing, she was pretty tall. Around 150 to 160 cm?
Not that tall really, but compared to my height, she looked big.
I was about 120 cm. My head came right up to her chest level.
"...." "...."
We stared at each other in silence for a moment.
...Why are we just standing here? I'd done everything; time to head back.
"Wait!"
As I turned to leave, the girl called out.
I stopped and looked back.
She narrowed her eyes and glared at me.
"What are you? How do you understand me?"
"...."
Telling her about myself wouldn't help. She'd probably call hunters.
Better bail. I turned and started walking.
"Wait!"
Grab! She chased after and seized my wrist.
I tried shaking her off, but no dice.
How's she so strong? She wasn't budging at all.
Goblins have surprisingly strong grips—we could match an adult man in raw strength.
But she wasn't moving an inch? I thought she was just a normal girl; did she train or something?
"You understand human speech, right?"
She leaned in close.
My body froze stiff. The natural reaction to facing a beauty.
-Nod.
I nodded.
"How can a monster understand people?"
Her already big eyes widened further.
"...."
I gazed silently into her eyes.
"Oh, you can't talk back."
-Nod, nod.
I couldn't answer detailed questions.
All I had were nods and shakes—body language only.
I couldn't speak, but I could understand.
For some reason, everyone in this world spoke Korean.
"Hmm... You fought that wolf to help me, right?"
-Nod.
The instant I nodded, she released my wrist and reached for my head.
-Pat, pat.
She stroked my bald head gently.
Her palm was soft and warm.
The first human warmth I'd felt since reincarnating.
"Keruk?"
What was she doing? Why pet me out of nowhere?
"Thanks."
She pulled her hand away and said it.
...Petting me must've been her way of showing gratitude.
Getting stroked by a pretty girl felt oddly nice.
Made my face heat up for no reason. Now I could really leave, right?
"Wait!"
She stopped me again as I turned. What now?
"Could you show me the way home? I'm lost."
I'd just saved her life, and now she wanted more help.
"...Kehu."
A sigh escaped me.
I wanted to get back to my hut and treat my arm ASAP.
"Please! I'll definitely repay you."
She clasped her hands, pleading earnestly.
Begging a goblin like that. She must be really desperate.
What if I ran into hunters while escorting her?
It'd be a shame if the life I'd saved ended up dead in the road....