With the fright of seeing creatures that only appeared in fiction in front of me, my legs stiffened up and I didn't move a muscle. Luckily, they hadn't noticed me yet.
Making the "Shhh" gesture with my finger to Kurama, I moved slowly behind a tree, trying not to attract attention.
Dragging himself along the ground, Kurama came up behind me and remained lying down.
Acting carefully, I tilted my head to the side and peered at the creatures that were a little further ahead. There were two different groups, nine gray wolves, and facing them were four skinny creatures of small stature.
They had a round head with pointed ears and teeth and a greenish green skin like moss. Although it seems strange that wild creatures wear clothes, they wore a tattered leather loincloth around their waist just like Tarzan.
I think they must be goblins, but if it weren't for the skin color, they would be almost identical to Gollum from Lord of the Rings, only with a slightly larger head and even uglier.
I feel like they could shout 'My precious!' at any moment.
The groups were facing each other and stared at each other fiercely as if they were going to fight at any moment. While the wolves growled, the goblins made intimidating gestures and pounded the ground with the stout pieces of sticks they carried.
I'm not too sure, but as I watched, I saw that the place where I buried the innards I took from the rabbits was dug up. It seems that this was the reason the dispute started.
My intention was to bury anything that might attract a lot of predators so as not to attract attention, but it seems to have backfired.
Shit, I should have left it in inventory.
As I was preparing to flee, the wolves began to surround the goblins.
I don't know who has the advantage, but this might be a good opportunity if both sides are weakened.
Well, I guess it's okay to watch some more.
Even if I am weak, a single blow from my sword is deadly.
Making my decision, I tried to see the power of my future enemies, but due to the level difference, all I could see with Status was their level. The green creatures were really goblins, three were level 5 and one level 6 while the wolves had two level 5 and the rest was level 4. Contrary to my expectations, the wolves were not monsters, they were classified as common animals.
Despite their lower level, the wolves were outnumbered, 2 to 1. It is a good opportunity to see the difference in strength between ordinary animals and monsters.
While the wolves were patiently waiting for an opportunity, the goblins didn't seem to care anymore.
While I was watching them, a goblin stepped forward in an attempt to hit the head of an approaching wolf with a wooden club. But as if it had expected this, the wolf jumped back nimbly.
Because it had missed the blow, the weight of the wooden club made the goblin lose its balance and without letting the opportunity pass, another wolf advanced, trying to grab the goblin's neck.
Despite its lack of balance, the goblin nimbly moved its hand to grab the wolf's throat and struck the club into its ribs, causing it to grunt painfully.
Although it was a successful defense, the goblin barely had time to recover its stance when another wolf jumped on it.
With no room to do a counter-attack, all the goblin could do was use its club to stop the sharp jaw. As a consequence, due to the wolf's weight, the goblin ended up falling backwards on the ground.
Falling on the back of its head on a rock, the goblin seemed to have lost the strength in its arms as it lay unresponsive at the mercy of the wolf.
Just when I thought that was the end of that goblin, another goblin hit the wolf right on the head with its club.
It may have been my imagination, but I think I heard the sound of bones cracking. Judging by the way the wolf remained motionless on the ground, it is almost certain that it died.
For a moment when I averted my eyes to look at the condition of the motionless wolf, the frantic fighting continued. The goblin that had hit the wolf on the head was trying to free itself from the wolves that had grabbed its arm and leg.
The situation was not very good for the other two goblins either. No matter how I looked at it, the advantage was clearly with the wolves.
As I watched the frantic and violent struggle, I received a notification from the system.
---
Magic energy collected.
Where do you want to invest?
---
As I watched and waited anxiously for the wolves and goblins to kill each other, the same system message appeared every time one of them died.
It seems that as long as I am close, I don't have to be the one to kill the monster to reap the XP.
It is quite convenient.
While I rejoiced in my luck, I continued to watch the fight until the end.
***
Even at a numerical disadvantage, the goblins held out steadily for a while, but in the end, the accumulated wounds were too much for them to bear. Although they won, it's not as if the wolves fared much better; seven of them died.
The remaining two were in a terrible condition, one with a broken front leg and the other seemed to have difficulty standing due to his hind legs.
Even if the goblins lost, it seems that the monsters are innately superior to the animals. While the wolves needed several bites, the goblins almost always took down the wolves with a single blow.
Well, enough of wasting time, I'd better act before more creatures arrive. Gripping the hilt of my sword tightly, I prepared to attack.
After choosing the wolf that seemed to have trouble standing as my first target, I moved toward it.
I don't know if it was because it was too surprised or too hurt, the wolf didn't react in time.
By the time it tried to dodge, it was too late, my sword cut easily through its torso.
As for the wolf with the broken leg, instead of running away, it tried to sink its sharp fangs into me, but I easily cut him off.
Although it cut through the bones of both of them, I didn't feel the slightest resistance coming from the sword. I guess I should say, 'as expected from a sword granted by the gods'?
"So, what should I do now?"
I looked at the first goblin to fall during the fight. Since it was breathing, it was probably still alive and was only unconscious from the fall.
Honestly, I am really looking forward to getting it as a mascot, but I wasn't sure if it is possible considering our level difference.
Since Monster tamer didn't specify, I think it should be possible, after all, I was able to tame Kurama who is higher level than me. Hmm, speaking of him, I still can't have more than one tamed monster.
After briefly pondering, I have chosen what seems to be the best option at the moment.
It's a shame to have to let Kurama go, but since the goblin is stronger, I'll try to tame it.
When I tried to undo the bond connecting us, it was unexpectedly easy.
As I was doing this, just in case I was suddenly attacked when our connection was broken, I held the sword, prepared for the worst.
I don't know if it was just my imagination, but at that moment I felt a sad look forming on Kurama's face.
Was it because I held the sword or because I broke our bond?
Since Kurama still remains docile while rubbing his head against my legs, I ignore him for now and put my hand on the goblin's head in an attempt to tame it. Since the skill says that the monster has to be weakened or willingly accept, I think I will succeed since it is unconscious due to the fight from before.
As expected, a few seconds later, a notification appeared.
---
Goblin level 5 successfully tamed!
---
When I checked, the Kurama name that was on the Tamed Monsters tab no longer existed. In its place was another name, Goblin.
Thanks to the goblin becoming my tamed monster, I can clearly see its status despite the level difference. Interestingly, I discovered that it is not him, but her. I arbitrarily assumed that there were no female goblins, but it seems I was wrong.
I had already observed with Kurama, but judging that she is almost reaching level 6, it seems that even without the system it is possible to strengthen properly. Since this is the case, it seems I don't need to worry about sharing the essence with my monsters.
I also found out why goblins can hit so hard despite their scrawny arms. I don't know if they all have the same skill, but this particular goblin has one called Heavy Blow.
Since I wanted to test the effectiveness of the Monster Tamer skill, its time to wake this goblin up.