Chapter 20
Chapter 20
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: They Never Listen
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They wouldn't listen, would they?
In the world of the NTR Tsukuru game, the forest was no different from a lawless zone teeming with all sorts of dangers. The fields were crawling with monsters that loved getting frisky.
The proud noble title bestowed by the kingdom, the packs of thug-like knights—they couldn't protect every hole of a kidnapped young lady.
Once the monsters got you, it was over.
'For men, getting eaten alive is the end of it, so at least that's a mercy.'
And what about females with wombs? They wouldn't get to die peacefully. They'd be forced to keep living in the worst possible way.
'Breeding sow. The first scene that shows up in the NTR Tsukuru game.'
Monsters capable of crossbreeding had no females of their own kind. They used kidnapped women as hosts.
Goblins for goblins, orcs for orcs, those quadrupedal beast monsters. They didn't care about the female's race.
'Once she's served her purpose as a host—once her womb is completely ruined and worthless. That's when they kill her.'
A gruesome fate.
That's how dangerous the forest was. Everyone was taught to stay away unless they had to go near it.
"But there's always those kids who won't listen to the grown-ups."
Boys and girls in their impressionable youth were especially prone to getting caught up in accidents. Was it because they'd never left their remote rural village?
They lost their heads over the adventure tales from occasional travelers or merchants. Swept up in romance and dreams, they ended up causing trouble.
"Never thinking about how it burns their parents up inside."
I'd shaken off the village chief's son and his wife when they tried to tag along. Solo was way faster and easier.
Dragging around people who couldn't help was just a hassle.
"Why don't they listen? What about Jenny?"
"Probably wanted to pop out some goblin brats or something."
"Olivia, that's too harsh. She's the same age as Lisa—talking about her like some breeding sow..."
"Then she should've listened. They told her not to go into the forest, but she went anyway. Ugh."
Ever since the heroines betrayed me and I was forced into solo play, I hadn't rescued any companions. I'd gotten too strong to need saving anyone.
But suddenly, I had party members. Not sure if you could even call them that.
Unit 1 through 3 were trailing behind me.
"My father always said protecting the weak is the duty of the strong—that great power comes with great responsibility. As a knight, I want to do my part."
"...You were a knight?"
"Yes. Before my regression, I was knighted and even granted a territory. I had a castle and a village as a baron."
I nodded vaguely at Charlotte, who stated it so proudly.
"Impressive."
"I'll find Jenny. And I'll cut down every goblin who kidnapped her."
"...Before that."
Slash-. Swish-!
She was hacking at the underbrush with a kitchen knife that looked like it belonged in a pantry. A bug on the leaves fluttered away in fright from her swing.
"Clear the brush up front. The goblins went this way."
"...Yes."
I'd spotted goblin tracks. Dumbasses, as expected.
I left the annoying work to Charlotte. She took the lead, chopping through the foliage.
We just trailed behind her like ducklings.
"Watch out for ticks. They're all over in grass like this, up to your knees."
"...I know."
Aside from the monsters, it was pretty much a normal forest. The kind of nature you saw even near cities.
Hard to believe monsters lived here.
Keruk, keruk-!
Goblin noises came from ahead. Checking the group, there were quite a few.
Greenskin monsters had top-tier breeding rates, after all.
"Fleas and flies."
Miss one or two, and they multiply into dozens. Had to uproot them the moment you spotted them.
Keruk?
The goblins we found were scouts. Lightly armed reconnaissance, mostly.
Their main force was probably holed up in a hideout.
'They'll use the scouts' intel to raid the area and snatch females.'
Jenny had probably been nabbed the same way.
'Should I leave one alive for now?'
Sparing one on purpose to use as a guide. Inspired by how wasps hunt hornets.
"That's nature's wisdom right there—"
"Fireball."
While I was admiring my own idea, someone cast a spell.
Whoosh!
A fireball bigger than a grown man engulfed the goblins. The one hit screamed in agony.
Kiyaaaaaaaah!
"Eek."
How much pain does it take to scream like that? Singer-level talent.
It was higher-pitched than when I belted out "Money Cry" drunk at karaoke. The goblin's vocals gave me chills.
Go for a perfect score—
I shook my head. Enough dumb jokes. Time to find Jenny.
"Leave one alive."
"Fireball."
This time it wasn't just one. A barrage of fireballs rained down.
Flame rain. Red streaks like the marks on my college entrance exam paper.
Keruk!
The goblins, who lost it at the sight of females, spotted us. They leered at Units 1 through 3 behind me.
Their yellow eyes gleamed with lust.
Just three seconds from cast to impact. The goblins bared their desires.
"Disgusting vermin."
But that lust didn't last. It fizzled out quick.
Kiyaaaaaaaah!
Olivia's fireball barrage wiped the goblin scouts clean—no traces left. Just ashes.
All they left behind was that overwhelming vocal prowess. And even that didn't preserve their vocal cords, so it was basically gone.
I shot Olivia a glare. Why'd she kill them all so rashly?
"...I said leave one."
"Why spare a goblin? After they eyed me like that? Hmph."
Olivia had no intention of listening. She'd torched them just because they creeped her out.
"Olivia or Jenny."
Both ignored adults the same way.
Olivia flipped out. Mentioning Jenny made it worse.
She was spitting mad, frothing at the mouth.
"What? What's with that look? Treating me and Jenny the same? That talentless nobody?!"
"......"
"Don't ignore me! Answer me! Dyke, answer!"
I ignored Olivia's squealing tantrum.
"That way."
I backtracked the goblin scouts' trail. Their base wasn't far.
— Sitting around a campfire in a new place with new people, sharing stories that'll be forgotten by morning. That's adventure. This conversation we're having right now? It's adventure too.
— Adventure? What adventure for a brat like you? Just stay in the village. It's dangerous.
When Jenny brought up becoming an adventurer, they had two reactions.
Those who spun her romantic tales, and those who dismissed her dreams.
'Hilarious. They really think I can't do it?'
Kids her age changed their dreams daily. But this time was different.
Jenny's dream had lasted a while.
— Puhahaha! Adventure? For a little girl? Don't your folks tell you how scary it is outside the village?
— Kiddo, just dream. Unless you don't wanna marry an ugly goblin hubby!
— Khehkhehkheh!
Mocked by rough-talking mercenaries, Jenny got defiant.
'Marry? Mom too—why's everyone always on about marriage?'
Jenny hated her little hometown where she'd grown up. The repetitive days bored her.
She envied free-spirited adventurers.
She had no idea how much hardship came with that fleeting romance...
She ignored all the bad stories anyway. Only heard what she wanted.
Jenny's head was full of adventurer romance.
"Easy!"
She slipped out through a gap in the log fence surrounding the village. The main gate had too many adults, so she crawled through the hole.
'This is adventure!'
No adult could stop Jenny's adventure. No one even knew.
Until the fence inspector found her ribbon by the foxhole during a routine check.
"Hm, a ravine."
She'd come out here with adults sometimes. Back then, no big deal.
Now it felt weirdly exciting.
"So romantic!"
Coming out with a crowd versus sneaking out alone. Totally different.
Jenny headed straight down to the ravine. She splashed her feet in the cold water, playing around.
Maybe a mystical redfish would appear. She peered into the stream, hoping.
"Aww."
No miracle. Bored, Jenny climbed out and put her shoes back on.
Keruk!
Then she ran into goblins. Ones expanding their territory near the village.
"G-goblins!"
Seeing their yellow eyes froze her body. Her legs locked up stiff.
A sensation she'd never felt before.
'Scary...!'
Jenny burst into tears. She'd just turned ten—goblins were impossible for her.
Too threatening.
Kelkelkelkel!
"Eek...! N-no...!"
The goblins roared with laughter at spotting her. They pointed crude stone spears at her neck.
Obviously female at a glance—no need to hesitate. Kidnapped.
Keruk!
"Kyaaak...! Ack! I-I'll go! I'll go, please...!"
Jenny stood rooted like she'd grown into the ground. A goblin shoved her roughly, forcing her to move.
Young female. They'd avoid injuring her to use her longer.
Kelkelkel!
Jackpot. Like finding a honey tree for the goblins—they couldn't help but rejoice.
"Ugh..."
Dancing goblins. Watching them, Jenny shrank in fear.
'Mom... Dad...'
As the goblin lair neared, Jenny's body started trembling. Instinct told her.
She might end up living worse than death.
Human ribs long picked clean, severed limbs dripping blood...
Horrific stuff everywhere.
Hic.
Even women with faces shoved into small plates, slurping up thick white glop greedily.
Jenny hugged herself without thinking. Her best defense posture.
"Kyaaak!"
The goblins threw her into a cave cell. Other kids her age were locked in there too.
All in the same boat.
Once they hit puberty and could get pregnant, they'd be goblin breeding stock. Some already had vacant stares, like broken wills.
Kidnapped long ago.
Kelgelgelgel!
Keruk! Kek!
The goblins grinned with yellow teeth at scared Jenny. Thrusting hips from outside the bars, taunting her.
Jenny finally broke and sobbed.
"Sob, hic... P-please spare me... Mom... Dad...!"
No one would hear. They'd walked far from the village. Even screaming wouldn't reach.
— Augh, haugh! Hak! Augh!
— Stop...! No! Stop it!
— Don't cum insideeeee!
Screams. Mostly women.
Something awful happening right next door. She didn't want to imagine.
Jenny plugged her ears desperately. Curled up, head buried between knees.
Not like covering her eyes would make goblins vanish.
'Please spare me. Help me. Goddess, I won't say adventure again. I'll listen to Mom and Dad, ignore grown-ups no more. So...'
She prayed. Maybe the goddess would hear and save her. Vain hope, but she kept crying out.
— Jenny.
Did her prayer work? A woman's voice echoed in her head.
"Goddess?!"
Jenny jerked her head up and yelled.
Goblins watching or not, joy brought tears.
— Don't call me that bitch.
The woman spat a thick curse, denying goddesshood. Far from holy.
— Even if you hear voices, stay inside. Hunker down in the cave.
"...Yes...!"
With those words, explosions boomed from outside the cave.