After we had distanced ourselves enough, I searched for a flat spot and took out the block house from my inventory, immediately locking ourselves inside. After laying the unconscious Rin on the bed of rabbit fur stuffed with leaves, I examined Kurama and Usagi.
Luckily, both of them only had a few minor injuries, which were easily healed after they drank some healing potion.
As for myself, after examining myself, I found that besides the slight pain I felt when I was hit, I didn't have a single scratch. I wasn't sure why that happened, but since One-Cut Sword was incredibly sharp beyond comprehension, the leather armor must have been incredibly good as well. The strange thing was that I was struck on my arms, and the armor only covers my chest area.
After the tension subsided, I felt exhaustion weighing on my body as my eyelids grew heavy. But before falling asleep, I intended to take some food from the inventory, but when I realized it, Usagi and Kurama had already fallen asleep by my side.
Looking at their peaceful faces, I began to reconsider my actions. Even though I had said I would be careful, it seemed that I had become careless again. If it weren't for Rin's explosive power, I probably would have lost them along with my own life.
Unable to resist the fatigue any longer, I let my body fall beside Rin and fell asleep while holding her in my arms.
***
After almost half a day of sleeping, Kurama, Usagi, and I woke up. However, Rin was still sleeping even as we were having dinner. The burden on her was probably greater than I had expected, so I let her continue sleeping.
Early the next day, Rin finally woke up. Since there were no enemies nearby, we had breakfast outside the shelter. Although she usually seems like a bottomless pit, today she had outdone herself. Considering her effort from the previous day, I thought of letting her eat until she was completely satisfied.
Or at least that was my intention, but I ended up having to reconsider that. While Kurama and Usagi usually eat just enough to be satisfied, Rin didn't seem to care about that. Even with her bulging belly completely hard from being too full, she wanted to keep eating.
As it seemed like she would have a stomach problem if she continued, I made her stop, which earned me a sad look from her.
"It's okay," I said, "you can always eat more later."
Sitting on the log next to me, she continued to look at me with pleading eyes. To comfort her, I stroked her head.
"Thank you for saving my life again," I said.
Although she seemed not to understand why I was thanking her, she was happy and hugged me. When I returned her hug, she started rubbing her face against me. Until that point, everything was fine, but then she started trying to take off my shirt while clearly conveying her intentions.
"Stop it!" I pushed her face away with my hands.
Despite my complaint, Rin continued with vigor, reaching her hands towards my pants and attempting to unbuckle the belt.
"Stop now, you perverted goblin! If you keep going, you'll be without food for the rest of the day!" I threatened.
She paused momentarily and stared at me, weighing which was more worthwhile. Having made her choice, she stopped trying to undress me but continued hugging me.
Although my intention was to make her stop her advances, it's a bit frustrating to see her choose food over me...
After that, I also thanked Kurama and Usagi.
"After yesterday's ordeal, today we're going to take the day off," I said.
With Rin still clinging to me, it reminded me that she had gained three skills during the battle.
The first one she gained was Cry of Provocation, an active skill that draws enemies' attention to her. It was this skill that made the goblins stop paying attention to me, Kurama, and Usagi and focus their attacks solely on her.
Although useful, if used carelessly, it can be quite dangerous for her.
The second one she gained was Wild Fury, an active skill that makes her stronger as her savagery and irrationality increase.
It's like the ability of a berserker, but despite being good, the increase in irrationality and savagery is quite dangerous.
The third and last one she gained was Burning Heart. It is a passive skill that is activated when the user has the desire to protect a loved one and allows them to surpass their own limits.
...
… …
The explanations of the skills were simple and straightforward, but the last one caught me off guard. Even though I believed that Rin was attached to me, I didn't think it would go to the extent of her gaining an skill because of it.
A warmth suddenly welled up in my heart. Probably sensing the fluctuations in my emotions, Rin tightened her arms around me even more.
"Hey," I called out to her.
She immediately looked up with her big amber eyes. Being stared at, I involuntarily swallowed my own saliva. Although it might be in my head, somehow, I feel like she looks even more beautiful.
Is this because of the damsel in distress effect?
Normally, as the damsel in distress is saved by the hero, she always ends up falling in love with him. But in our case, our roles are reversed.
Moreover, she saved me twice, so is the effect multiplied?
After discovering that the armor goes far beyond a simple leather cuirass, it's likely that I wouldn't have been injured during the wolf attack. Well, that still doesn't diminish her merit for sacrificing her body to save me.
After staring at her for a while, I ended up being carried away by the atmosphere. Bringing my face closer to hers, I gently kissed her lips, which tasted like roasted meat.
Although confused, Rin instinctively wanted more as she grabbed my cheeks and tried to kiss me back. Since it was a harmless kiss, I didn't stop her.
Ah, shit, it seems like I've really fallen in love with a goblin. But maybe this isn't such a bad thing...
While I was lost in thought, I was forced back to my senses when simply touching our lips was no longer enough for Rin.
Putting her hands on my chest, she pushed me back, causing me to fall on my back. With skillful movements, she removed her top and thong, becoming completely naked, and jumped on top of me.
"Wait!" I shouted.
"Let's take it slow! I've just given my first kiss, and although my lower part is no longer a virgin, my heart is still as pure as a maiden's!" I cried out, trying to calm Rin's excitement.
***
"It's time to distribute the essence we gained," I said.
Although it took a little while, I finally managed to calm Rin down from her excitement, and we decided to enter the shelter to ensure our safety. After all, the last time Rin and Usagi evolved, they became immobile, wrapped in cocoons of light.
After collecting all the XP we gained from eliminating so many goblins, along with what I had already accumulated, we finally had enough to surpass the level 19 bottleneck and reach level 20.
"Rin!" I called her. "Since you were the MVP, you go first."
Upon hearing my words, Rin received the essence, and instantly, a system notification sounded, and she was enveloped in an almost white, blue cocoon of light.
---
The tamed monster, Rin, has reached level 20!
Due to the interference of the unique skill, Self-Evolution, your tamed monster Rin is undergoing physical changes, and its overall structure is being enhanced.
---
As it seemed like it would take some time for her to emerge from the cocoon, I shifted my attention to Kurama and Usagi and leveled them up to 20 as well. Like Rin, both of them were enveloped in a blue cocoon.
*Ding*
---
The tamed monster, Kurama, has reached level 20!
The tamed monster, Usagi, has reached level 20!
Due to the interference of the unique skill, Self-Evolution, the race of your tamed monsters, Kurama and Usagi, has changed to Flame Fox and Snow Rabbit, respectively.
---
Strange...
Unlike Rin, who only evolved once and is now just undergoing changes, Usagi is evolving again. Moreover, Usagi and Kurama are evolving into specific races that seem impressive just by looking at their names.
Not to mention, these are completely unexpected evolutions. If there was going to be an evolution, I thought Usagi would have an evolution related to speed. As for Kurama, I thought it would be something related to one of his characteristics.
"Well, that doesn't really matter," I murmured. "Now let's see what awaits me at level 20."
When I inserted the necessary essence to level up, this time, I was also enveloped in a cocoon of light. Then my vision briefly darkened before returning. It was as if I had blinked my eyes slowly.
Soon after, several notifications appeared.
---
You have reached level 20!
Your racial characteristics have been enhanced!
The unique skill, Monster Tamer, has reached level 7!
The sub-skill of the unique skill Monster Tamer, Status Enhancement, has been unlocked when the unique skill reached level 5.
Due to the interference of the unique skill, Self-Evolution, your physique has been enhanced.
You have acquired the active skill, Body reinforcement: Speed.
You have acquired the active skill, Night Vision.
You have acquired the passive skill, Magic Manipulation.
You have acquired the passive skill, Reinforced Memory.
You have acquired the passive skill, Toxin Resistance.
You have acquired the passive skill, Combatant.
The passive skill, Sword Mastery, along with all the accumulated experience in it, has been incorporated into the passive skill, Combatant.
By mastering the active skill, Body reinforcement: Physical Strength, it has evolved into the active skill, Super Strength.
---
The notification filled with new skills was extremely gratifying.
Unlike the others who were still in their cocoons, the light that enveloped me didn't seem to last long.
Taking a deep breath, I stretched my limbs as I felt the energy flowing through my body.
Although it was only a one-level difference, I felt like I had taken a huge leap in my strength. Just how strong have I become?