Chapter 19: Moryu Grass②

In a dim forest.

I hunt down a three-eyed deer with a horn that emits Relic [Fire].

It’s a high-ranking copper-grade monster called a Fire Kelus.

The Fire Kelus fights by charging with its horns wrapped in flames.

As long as you’re careful of the horns, dealing with it isn’t too difficult.

The real trouble is the lower silver-grade Freyar, which shoots fireballs.

Fire is immensely powerful. At worst, it can kill you in one blow.

This rule applies in this world, too.

The [Element] of a Relic is overwhelmingly destructive.

If you’re hit by fire, you burn.

If enveloped by water, you drown.

If blown by wind, you’re sliced apart.

If buried by earth, you’re crushed.

If entangled by green, you’re restrained.

If struck by lightning, you’re electrocuted.

If illuminated by light, you’re purified and erased.

If engulfed by darkness, you’re cursed and tainted.

There are other [Elements], but even these examples are terrifying.

Relics held by monsters are mostly highly lethal.

By the way, Relic [Magic] likely doesn’t exist.

Fire and lightning, for instance, are categorized as [Elements]. So mages are elemental users.

However, I can’t say with certainty that Relic [Magic] doesn’t exist.

Relics remain largely mysterious.

“Hm…”

I look at the horn of the Fire Kelus and give up harvesting it.

The horn is charred and completely carbonized.

This makes it useless.

I failed when finishing it off.

“Horns can be used for medicine…”

In other words, they fetch a high price.

I planned to sell it to the witch when I get back, but now it’s ruined.

Sometimes, depending on how a monster is dealt with, its parts or harvestable materials become unusable.

I’ve heard of this before.

“I’ve still got a lot to learn.”

I smile wryly and continue forward. Along the way, I consult my map.

The witch gave me a hand-drawn map.

It’s likely the witch’s handwriting.

It’s far from precise, but it has a handmade charm.

Even so, it’s very easy to understand.

The witch is the ruler of this forest and knows it inside out.

The map highlights roads and landmarks clearly.

This makes it easy to follow.

“…Is this Moryu Grass?”

The witch doesn’t seem to have much artistic talent.

Perhaps because of this, she accentuates distinct features in her drawings.

Pointy things are extra pointy, and round things are very round.

Her drawings are crude but clear.

Because of this, it’s immediately clear what Moryu Grass is.

It’s clear, but… is this really it?

“I’ll need to confirm by seeing the real thing, but… this looks a lot like…”

It resembles a flower I recall from my past life.

I’ve never seen it in this world, so I thought it didn’t exist here.

I’m almost at the goblin nest.

I sense gazes and presences around me.

I know exactly what they belong to.

Goblins.

Copper-grade monsters or lower—non-ranked monsters.

I slowly turn around.

I activate Relic [Threat Detection].

Multiple red points appear. I can see their murderous intent.

Their killing intent prickles my skin. The moving red points are enemies.

I draw my knife and manifest Relic [Vanish].

The bushes rustle, and goblins appear.

Small, green bodies.

About the size of children, with slightly bloated bellies.

They’re either a bit smaller than me or about my size.

Skinny arms and legs. Depraved faces. Purple eyes.

A mouth full of black fangs. Covered in ragged cloth.

They wield rusty swords and spears.

Hideous little monsters. Their stench is strong, too.

“…I feel like I’ve seen this somewhere before.”

Not in my past life.

Creatures like this didn’t exist there.

But they remind me of something I’ve seen before.

Where was it?

I’ve fought goblins twice so far.

The first and second times were both in this forest.

And now, this is the third time, also in this forest.

Each time, I’ve felt a sense of déjà vu about goblins.

The goblins make low, chattering sounds and quickly close in—about four of them.

I use Vanish on the nearest ones, one by one.

Watching their companions’ bodies disappear halfway before their eyes would normally terrify them into fleeing.

But goblins are different.

They charge as though nothing happened.

There’s no guarantee they won’t suffer the same fate.

Do they lack fear entirely?

I Vanish the abdomen of the first goblin.

I stab the second in the face with my knife and Vanish the third’s arm before slashing its neck.

Just like that, I kill three goblins.

“…They’re running purely on instinct.”

As I use Vanish to clean up the corpses, I reflect.

The goblins’ behavior is simple.

If it’s a man, they attack, kill, and eat him.

If it’s a woman, they attack, violate, and force her to bear their offspring.

That’s it.

Because of this, goblins multiply into massive numbers among monsters.

Even a small goblin nest can hold dozens of them.

For larger ones, the number easily surpasses hundreds, and in certain dungeons, thousands of them swarm.

“They’re like rats. Or cockroaches. Or hungry ghosts.”

Ah, that’s it. That’s what it reminds me of.

From my memories of my previous life—was it the Hell Hall?

A place where one journeys through hell and returns to the living world after passing through the realms of the afterlife.

There was such a pilgrimage hall in a temple.

In one of the hells depicted in the artwork there, hungry ghosts were illustrated.

Demons residing in the realm of Hungry Ghosts or the Hungry Ghost Path.

They looked just like these goblins.

Still, I doubt there’s any actual connection.

I could speculate all I want, but it would just be conjecture and guesswork.

So, I’ll stop thinking about it here.

Hungry ghosts.

Finally remembering what they resembled clears my mind.

“Well, time to head to the cave.”

I’m getting closer to the nest.

More goblins will surely attack as I proceed.

I ready my knife and cautiously keep [Threat Detection] active as I move forward.

I won’t underestimate them just because they’re “only goblins.”

They’re oversized rats and cockroaches.

They’re more like pests than monsters.

I’ll remain as cautious as if I were a coward and kill them mercilessly.

When the witch asked me to do this, I had already made up my mind.

And she likely requested this of me for that very purpose.

To annihilate the goblins. To destroy the nest. To leave not a single one alive.

It’s not impossible. I have the power to do it.

But… I have conflicting thoughts. This is just my personal belief:

Relying too much on Relics isn’t good.

But using them as a tool to gain battle experience is a valid approach.

The cave that serves as their nest will soon come into view.

Surely, goblins will be swarming around the entrance and nearby areas.

“…Huh?”

But what I see before me is something completely unexpected.

A mountain of goblin corpses, numbering in the dozens.

And the one who had created it—was a beautiful girl with peach-white, glowing hair.

Liv.

Why is she here?

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter