Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Goblin
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I hurriedly looked around. The woman who would survive until the end and be called the 'Spell Thief' was already impaled through the forehead with a dagger, becoming a meal for the goblins. The man who would be called the 'Flame Archer' and die five years after the tutorial ended was still fighting off the approaching goblins.
But it was only a moment before they were surrounded and overwhelmed.
"Uwaaaack!!!"
The scream rang in my ears.
"Kriruk! Kriruk! Kriruk!!"
The goblins' jeering laughter drowned out the cries of the man who would become the Flame Archer.
It was clear. Even after decades, I couldn't forget the faces of these people I had shared joys and sorrows with during the tutorial.
'I've returned to the past.'
I didn't know who sent me back, but I had definitely returned to the past. As I looked around at the surroundings, hazy memories slowly began to surface. This place. In our first battle together with them, we had fought off the goblins attacking us and succeeded in driving them away.
There were certainly people who fled, but I remembered forming a crude formation, huddling together as best we could to fight back. Of course, I had been cowering as much as possible, but I was definitely here.
Thinking about the daggers I threw and how they might have altered the future they were meant to follow, I could only nod.
It wasn't certain yet. There were many more things to confirm. But if I really had returned to the past... if I had, then I could definitely meet her again.
'Choi Seul-gi.'
A sly smile crept onto my face. She had said she entered here a year before me, so she must have already finished the tutorial and entered the continent. And Ha Yu-ri... she would be on the continent too. My teeth clenched involuntarily.
It was then, as a burning rage surged to the top of my head.
[Quest completed.]
[Quest - First Battle: You've been suddenly dragged to an unfamiliar place for reasons unknown. It might be confusing, but survival comes first. Eliminate the summoned humans. (10/10)]
[You have obtained a new quest.]
[Quest - Heading Out to Hunt!: There are still many humans surviving in the tutorial forest. Continue hunting humans. (0/30)]
[Excellent. You have successfully completed the first quest. As a quest reward, you will rank up. Please select an individual to evolve into.]
[1. Goblin Warrior]
[2. Goblin Shaman]
[3. Goblin Archer]
Just as I expected, completely identical. A hollow laugh escaped me in disbelief. Who would have thought that not only humans but goblins were also going through the tutorial here?
I stared at the three options, but I didn't hesitate. In my previous life, I had chosen warrior. I didn't know if it was the same as the humans' 'tech tree,' but if it was similar, picking warrior was the easiest path to quick growth. I had heard plenty that I lacked talent. Choosing another path would only be poison.
As I thought of number 1 in my mind, my muscles suddenly twitched.
"Aaack!!!"
A voice rang in my ears, and my bones creaked in various places.
"Uwaaaack!"
It seemed I wasn't the only one evolving, as screams began echoing from here and there.
"Kriruk... kriruk!!"
"Aaack!!!!!"
It felt like I was drenched in sweat. Still lacking, but the power flowing through my body clearly surpassed what it was moments ago. My body felt a bit larger. No, looking at the muscles on my forearms, I could definitely feel they were different from before. Still crude, but it now took the form of a sword rather than a dagger.
Looking down at the sword, I subtly glanced around. The old goblin I had seen earlier and the other goblins were staring blankly at us who had evolved into Goblin Warriors or Goblin Shamans.
***
I realized that humans and monsters basically had similar behavioral patterns shortly after setting up camp at the site of the battle. As dinner time approached, they began gathering one by one in groups.
When stronger individuals appeared among the ordinary goblins, the existing group centered around the old goblin dispersed. They hadn't been the same clan to begin with.
Instinctively, they gathered once more under those stronger than themselves. Just like in the past. Back then too, everyone had tried to move with the first 'strong one' to complete their initial job change. New groups formed around the strong, but the herds still moved together—that was the difference from humans.
And luckily, several goblins began approaching me, the first to complete the job change.
I stared blankly at the goblins standing before me.
"We wish to join under you. Kriruk."
"I wish to join under you as well. Kriruk!"
Even the female goblin who had propositioned me for mating earlier was standing there, face flushed and hands behind her back.
"I want to fight together too. Kriruk. You'll take me, right?"
"Why come to me? There are several other evolved goblins besides me."
"We saw you fight. You... aren't brave, but you're cunning and smart. Kriruk."
"We watched you throwing daggers from hiding. Not a single wound on your body. The epitome of goblin cunning... We want to learn that spirit. Kriruk."
"........."
I wondered if I should be pleased or not. Having a force was good, at minimum. They wouldn't throw their lives away in my place, of course, but they didn't betray easily by nature. Even with knowledge of the past, forming groups was essential to survive here, whether human or goblin.
Quickly organizing my thoughts, I extended my hand and opened my mouth. Like a goblin.
"Pleased to be with you. Kriruk."
And so, I gained tribe members—not huge, but not small either. Among the roughly 120 initially summoned goblins, I could now command the second-largest number. It was more like they were with me rather than commanded, but they followed me regardless.
About 30 in number, with four evolved ones, and assuming each had formed their own groups, it wasn't a small force. The largest Goblin Warrior had 40 goblins under him. I remembered his name was Gopf.
In the previous tutorial, I didn't recall seeing a warrior of that size, so he probably charged bravely in that battle in the past, got badly wounded, or died somewhere out of sight.
Anyway, second among four groups—my method must have been respectable from their perspective. Gopf didn't seem to like me much, but they didn't interfere with each other's groups, so he didn't say anything.
Turning my head slightly, I saw goblins diligently hauling the corpses of goblins killed in battle.
"Our chief is special. Kriruk!"
"Our chief doesn't eat humans. He eats goblins instead. Kriruk!"
I had ordered them to bring something other than humans for dinner, and seeing them drag dead goblins from the fight, I was momentarily speechless, but good was good.
I already knew, but they had no aversion to eating kin. In fact, the rumor that I ate goblins instead of humans spread, and a few other goblins even asked to join us.
The reason I avoided eating humans was simple. Though much had changed since becoming a goblin, I still retained my human awareness. It wasn't that I'd never eat them, but constantly doing so might erode my humanity. I was in a subtly dangerous state now. It was a minimal compromise, rationalized.
"Gulp..."
I tore into the goblin arm they brought as a meal and shoved it into my mouth. Worse than human, but decently edible. Like chewing squid, with a satisfying chewiness that lingered.
It had been so long since I last ate—it wasn't prepared at all, but it was enough to please me.
Just the sensation of chewing something lifted my mood.
If I smoked the tougher parts, it'd be even better. But with night falling, starting a fire wasn't an option, so I settled for this.
Everyone except me was eating humans. The female goblin who gave me water sat right beside me, as if she were my wife. Chewing on a plump-looking human arm, it looked tasty on one hand, grotesque on the other.
I considered shooing her away since it was annoying, but left her be, and she clung even harder. Sighing, I spoke to my 30 tribe members before me.
"We head out to hunt tonight. Kriruk."
"Hunt! Hunt! Kriruk kriruk!!"
"Night is dark, good. But tiring. Kriruk..."
Some grumbled a bit, but once in the tribe, they followed orders. If results came, they'd be even more fanatic toward me.
It was common knowledge that monsters had better night vision than humans. Finding hidden humans was hard for goblins with poor sense of smell, but with me, it was different.
I could roughly guess which group was hiding where. Ambushing clueless humans wasn't pleasant, but not unpleasant either. Stay still and get culled; culled humans grow strong and kill you.
Even surviving to the continent meant eventual death.
A goblin body, but a chance from the gods nonetheless. Moving fast when able was most rational. Maximize gains in the tutorial for an easier continent later.
"When do we leave, Chief?"
"We depart when it gets darker."
Darker nights meant some groups would stop. Pursuing those was our task.
Before leaving, I slowly stood and quietly addressed the loosely gathered goblins.
"We are the Blood Dagger Clan. After heading out to hunt, we capture all escaped humans and bring them here. Follow me, and you won't starve."
If forming a group, instill pride first. I roughly adapted a monster clan name from some game, and the effect was better than expected. Not highly intelligent, but simple. They'd leave if displeased, but while bound by the clan name, loyalty held.
"We are the Blood Dagger Clan! Kriruk!"
"Blood Dagger Clan!! Kriruk kriruk!!"
"Our chief is cunning."
"Cunning!!! Kriruk!!"
"We are the Blood Dagger Clan, synonymous with cunning!"
"No one can stop us!!!"
I hadn't aimed for that much, but it was fine. Judging the timing right, I led the goblins into the forest. Other goblin tribes watched us blankly, wondering where we were going in the dead of night.
Having evolved, I was slightly larger than other goblins, so naturally faster. The noise of goblins beside me running was grating, but unevolved humans far off wouldn't hear and flee.
Now wasn't for stealth, but speed. After walking a good while, they began slowing from fatigue.
I raised a hand briefly, then slowly spoke.
"We rest here a bit."
"Kriruk... kriruk."
"Kriruk..."
If my memory was right, a cave was nearby. The cave humans who survived the earlier battle fled to and reached. In the past, I met other survivors there.
Many in number, but cave-hiders were mostly battle-fleeing losers. 30 goblins were plenty to catch them.
After resting, we moved silently and quietly. Sure enough, faint signs of life emanated from the cave. Not fools—they hadn't lit a fire—but chatter was unavoidable.
"Damn it..."
"What the hell is this? Damn... suddenly tutorial... and those monsters..."
I raised a hand slightly at the voices from the cave, and the following goblins halted their breathing in unison. All concealing presence, their conversation carried clearer on the wind.
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