No matter how much I wanted to rush out and help Olivia, that would be too reckless.
If you know the enemy and you know yourself, you need not fear the outcome of a hundred battles ... A wise person said that once.
Anyway, if I don't know what this goblin can do, I'd just be asking to be killed.
With those things in mind, I opened my status window.
≪??? (Usagi)≫
Race: Monster (Spirit)
Species: Elite Goblin (Wandering Soul)
Gender: Male (None)
Age: 5 (0)
Level: 73 (10)
≪Equipment≫
Rusted Iron Shortsword (Common), Worn Leather Helmet (Common), Rusted Iron Breastplate (Common), Worn Leather Spaulders (Common), Worn Leather Greaves (Common), Worn Leather Boots (Common)
≪Inherent skills≫
Strong Libido Lv. 1 (Passive), Fast Growth Lv. 3 (Passive), Darkvision Lv. 5 (Passive), Goblin's Dexterity Lv. 3 (Passive)
[Possession Lv. 3 (Active), Soul Eater Lv. 2 (Active), Soul Guard Lv. 2 (Passive), Assimilation Lv. 1 (Active)]
≪Active skills≫
Ambush Lv. 2
[Appraisal Lv. 2, Charge Lv. 2]
≪Passive skills≫
Goblin Language Lv. 5, Shortsword Mastery Lv. 4, Club Mastery Lv. 2, Leadership Lv. 1, Climbing Lv. 3, Evade Lv. 4, Danger Sense Lv. 3, Stealth Lv. 3
[Lunaria Kingdom Language Lv. 3, Quick Thinking Lv. 1, Etiquette Lv. 1, Evade Lv. 3, Escape Lv. 3, Increased Piercing Power Lv. 1]
I was amazed when I saw his abilities. Also, I finally got some equipment!
Mary's dresses didn't count, so normal clothing and things like kitchen utensils don't seem to show up there. Even so ...
'Shit! Isn't he too op?'
How did he get so strong? Aside from some memories of him struggling to live in a forest alongside other goblins from his tribe and some massacres he participated in, I can't see much.
This goblin probably had talent since he was born.
≪??? (Usagi)≫
Why doesn't he have a name? A certain memory crossed my mind. It was blurry. He was kneeling on the ground with bruises on his back.
A man spoke. His words were cold and made me shiver. He was "my" master.
"Name? Trash like you don't need it! Forget a name. From now on, you are just one of my many servants. If you truly want a name, get stronger first!" (Master)
No matter where I looked, I couldn't find the name this goblin had in the past before this "master" of his appeared.
Did that guy use some kind of magic to erase this goblin's memories? Who is that guy really?
'He can't be a simple Monster Tamer ... ' (Usagi)
This goblin's armor and sword probably came from that guy.
I wanted to look through the memories of this goblin some more, but that would take too long.
Before leaving, I looked once more towards the safest room in the house. Unexpectedly, I saw two pairs of eyes.
One was filled with fear to the brim and was shaking slowly. The other was full of curiosity.
I knew why Ellen was afraid, but couldn't understand Mary's intentions. Why is she not afraid of me?
'If she knew what I did with her body, would she be angry at me? Would she forgive me? ... ' (Usagi)
I wanted to ask her those questions, but my feet weren't moving.
I don't want Ellen to do anything stupid with that state of mind of hers nor do I want Mary to hate me.
So I turned around and left without saying anything.
So, will I slowly get his abilities this way until I finish eating his soul completely? Good to know.
After reaching the unpaved street of the village in front of Mary's house, I saw a person who was still fighting goblins. It was Olivia.
She was covered in blood from head to toe and was breathing heavily.
'She is alive! I wasn't too late! But she is definitely not well ... ' (Usagi)
From what I could see, most of the goblins had already died along with many villagers. The corpses were scattered on the ground. Also, I recognized some of them.
They were the ones who smiled at me when I walked the streets as Mary.
I lowered my head and silently prayed that they would find happiness in their next lives.
'I will avenge you all ... I promise.' (Usagi)
After raising my head, I saw that there were still many people alive, many friends of Mary included, along with several guards who were too injured or scared to continue fighting.
'At least not all of the guards were part of that person's plot ... ' (Usagi)
That guy planned the Fire Lizard incident and also caused the current situation. He must have had people disguised as guards or bribed them in some way.
'He is very thorough ... ' (Usagi)
All the survivors looked at me and I at them. While some were scared, others were confused by my actions. They probably haven't seen a Goblin "praying" before.
I made a relieved smile (with my currently ugly and creepy face), but they didn't take it so kindly.
The weak-hearted people fainted and the strong-willed ones raised their weapons, but that didn't matter to me.
'Luckily they are alive ... Mary would be sad and cry a lot if any of those children died ... ' (Usagi)
Also, I was able to count five goblins that are still fit to fight. Three were fighting against Olivia, one was raping a woman from this village and the other, who was an elite goblin, was watching from a distance with a malicious smile on his face.
'They are scum. The only one who was brainwashed was this goblin.' (Usagi)
These fucking goblins are just doing whatever the hell they want.
Rage filled my head. I wanted to go and destroy the mastermind behind this, but I didn't know where to find him or even his name.
'So I'll release my hatred on these damn bastards!' (Usagi)
They looked at me once and went back to what they were doing.
I smiled crookedly at them and selected my first target.
First I went to the weakest goblin that was the one who was raping a woman and silently stabbed my sword through his heart from behind.
<'Elite Goblin' has leveled up! (Lv. 73 -> Lv. 79)>
The woman was unconscious and foaming a little at the mouth, but it appears that she was not injured.
Spit! 'One down ... ' (Usagi)
I spat on the dead goblin and turned to look for my next target.
The other goblins doubted their eyes for a moment, but they saw my face filled with killing intent and were angered by my actions.
'I don't care about your feelings, you fucking monsters!' (Usagi)
Olivia also looked at me for a moment with a hard-to-read expression on her face before resuming her fight.
The other elite goblin looked at me but didn't move from where he was.
I wanted to help Olivia before dealing with this guy, but leaving him alone would be dangerous.
So I ran straight for him. Compared to the time when I was a horned rabbit, I no longer considered myself heroic.
I just wanted to protect those who are important to me and ignore the lives of others. Yes, I am a hypocrite.
'Things never go my way, so I'll change them myself!' (Usagi)
I thought he wouldn't move until the end, but he managed to block my charge attack.
Even then, he was pushed against the wall of a nearby building. Instinctively I knew. This bastard wasn't as strong as I was, but he wasn't far from it.
He recovered quickly and slashed down at my head. Such an obvious attack can't hit me!
I easily dodged to his left and stabbed my sword into his side. Increased Piercing Power did its job and he suffered a fatal injury. His life would end any second now.
"Hehehe! You are too weak!"(Usagi)
I laughed like crazy at the complicated emotions running through my heart and tried to give him the final blow. A slash aimed at his neck.
"What happened to you?! Why did you betray us?! How did you escape from our master's power?!" (Shrewd Elite Goblin)
He realized that "I" was no longer the same. His sudden words made me hesitate for a moment and my attack missed its target.
My mistake gave him a chance, so he immediately went after me as fast as he could and stabbed me in the back.
I felt weak, but I was sure it was not a fatal wound. However, I started to bleed.
"No answer, huh? Then die!" (Shrewd Elite Goblin)
My weak body was not fast enough to turn around and change the flow of this battle ...
My death was imminent. I was too confident in my new power. I closed my eyes and prayed that the damage to my soul was not fatal.
. . .
But death didn't come ...
. . .
I heard the sound of a blade piercing flesh, but it wasn't mine. I was not dead yet.
<'Elite Goblin' has leveled up! (Lv. 79 -> Lv. 89)>
I hear the sound of the system windows appearing and slowly I opened my eyes. I immediately saw the dead elite goblin on the ground and Olivia with a fierce expression on her face.
She had one of her hands on her chest to control her breathing and another held a sword pointed at my neck. Her shield was nowhere to be found.
'Thank you ... ' (Usagi)
I wanted to thank her, but my words wouldn't come out and I knew why.
This goblin was the one who hurt her the most and made her unable to protect Ellen and Mary.
There's no way I can ask her to forgive me, even if "I" wasn't the one who did it. Also, she probably thinks they're both dead.
It wouldn't be strange if she killed me right now ...
Abruptly, she collapsed on the ground ... or so I thought, but she was still conscious. Her expression was fierce while her eyes were teary.
I could feel that she could no longer fight. She was scared and angry with me, but there was nothing she could do about it.
' ... ' (Usagi)
I looked around and saw that all the goblins were dead ... except "me". I knew I had to go.
This little village will not welcome me as long as I look like this. Also, I didn't have the guts and wasn't evil enough to steal a villager's life using Possession.
I turned around and started walking towards the entrance of the village. This village gave me both happy and sad memories. I will never forget about it.
. . .
Suddenly, I felt a mysterious presence and turned around again. It wasn't Teo. It was the light that came from Olivia's hand.
She was still lying on the ground with one hand on her chest. Is that ... Holy Magic? It is said to be able to heal wounds and purge the undead.
The eerie feeling I got from that light made me wonder. What is that?
'If I go towards that light, I might get sent to heaven ... ' (Usagi)
Is it because I'm a wandering soul? Do I count as undead? I do not know.
What I do know is that if I step into that light, I might have another chance to start a new life, but I could also end up abandoning this world.
'I don't want to leave yet ... ' (Usagi)
The feeling of fear at not knowing what awaits me in the afterlife made me step back.
'There are still things I want to do here ... ' (Usagi)
After a few moments in which I felt very complex emotions, I saw Teo and Mary's father, Richard, in the distance and knew that I could not delay my departure any longer.
I said goodbye to this nameless village in my heart and ran with all the strength I could muster towards the nearby forest.
The setting sun illuminated my lonely back.