---
After putting up the statue, Robert decided to study the manual he had recently acquired. Since he was already close, he headed to the training grounds behind the barracks. As he approached, he could see about a dozen training dummies made out of wood and straw.
Taking the manual out of his inventory, he scanned through its contents. The book was filled with detailed images, along with notes on every stance. It was divided into two parts: one showing offensive stances and the other focusing on defense. The Cascadian training regimen seemed well-balanced.
Robert tried performing the first stance, a simple overhead strike. Gripping his longsword, he swung with all his might at the dummy. The strike rebounded into his arms, knocking the sword out of his hand.
He stared at the fallen weapon for a moment, confused. He had used a sword before—why did that strike feel so unnatural?
A voice spoke from behind him. "You have to use your whole body, not just your arms."
Robert turned his head to see Sabas standing there. "What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be setting up the patrols?" Robert asked.
Sabas smiled and picked up Robert's longsword. "I like to keep myself sharp. You never know when combat might come your way."
Robert smiled awkwardly, feeling a little embarrassed after failing the move. "Well, you could always ask Thornton to spar with you if you're looking for a challenge."
Sabas immediately backed up. "Yeah, I don't think that's a good idea, considering how aggressive he is."
Robert laughed. "You did say you like to keep yourself sharp."
Ignoring Robert's remark, Sabas glanced at the manual in his hand. "You know, jumping straight into a manual without knowing the basics will be fruitless. I can teach you the fundamentals, if you're interested."
Robert's eyes lit up at the offer. Ever since he was a child, he had loved playing with sticks, pretending they were swords. "Of course! When do we start?" he asked eagerly, sounding like a child meeting his idol.
Sabas eyed him up and down. "You're not too bad, but you're a little out of shape. First things first, we need to work on your physique. Meet me early tomorrow morning. That's when we start our training."
Robert groaned internally. He hated waking up early, but he knew that to grow stronger, sacrifices had to be made. "Sounds like a plan," he said. "Anyway, that's my cue. Have a good night."
Robert left the training grounds, feeling the weight of the day on his shoulders. As he walked back toward the village hall, he noticed the villagers gazing at the statue, their expressions peaceful, almost serene.
When he reached his room, the sky was darkening, and the lamps in his room emitted a calming blue hue. He collapsed onto his bed, but before resting, he checked his quest list again.
- [Goblin Extermination: Status Complete]
- [Village Upgrade: Status Complete]
- [Tribal Integration: Status Incomplete]
- [Quest refreshes in three weeks]
"Three weeks?" Robert muttered in frustration. That felt like such a long time. Although he didn't know how much time the jungle tribe conquest would take, the uncertainty made it worse. He could only wait for the scouts' reports, which would come in a few days.
James had suggested clearing trees and starting road construction. If Robert had learned anything from his history studies, it was that roads were crucial to any campaign. The Romans wouldn't have been able to conquer nearly as much of the known world without their superior road-building.
As he lay on his bed, his thoughts turned to logistics—the mess a jungle campaign would bring. Thankfully, that was Sabas' problem. Tomorrow's issues were for future Robert to handle.
He got up from his bed and sat in front of the totem, as if it were part of his nightly routine. Placing his hand on its surface, he felt a rush of energy drain from him. The totem glowed brightly, and Robert's consciousness faded as his vision went dark.
---
Robert awoke in a strange place—a cave lit by flickering torches. At the far end, a large throne loomed, and a mysterious figure sat upon it, staring directly at him.
"Do you know why I called you here, mortal?" the figure asked.
Robert, still groggy and confused, shook his head silently.
A gravitational force pulled him closer to the throne until he could see the figure clearly—a large goblin with glowing purple eyes and a menacing grin. "You dare to meddle with my kin and try to use our power?"
Robert swallowed hard. He understood the gravity of the situation now. "I didn't mean to offend you, great one. I just... stumbled upon it."
He didn't care if he had to grovel to survive this encounter. "Silence!" the goblin shouted, slamming his hand on the arm of the throne. "Do you think I'm a fool? I saw you murder my kin. Lie to me again, and you will regret it."
Robert's fear turned to anger. "What was I supposed to do? Let your goblins kill me and raid my village? It's survival of the fittest out there," he snapped.
The goblin chuckled darkly. "I like you, human. No one has ever spoken to me like that. You're lucky I'm feeling generous today, or I would've crushed your mind."
Robert's fear spiked again. "So, what now?" he asked, voice shaking.
The goblin god stood up, raising a hand. The cave trembled as he spoke. "I, Taglubiet, the almighty goblin god, offer you a quest. Are you brave enough?"
A red panel appeared in front of Robert:
- [Goblin God Quest: S-tier difficulty. Do you accept?]
Robert sighed to himself. It didn't even tell him what the quest entailed. "I don't have a choice, do I?" he muttered, accepting the quest.
Taglubiet smirked. "You're an interesting one. Don't die too soon—I'll be watching." The goblin god vanished, leaving Robert standing alone in the cave.
---
Robert woke with a start, sunlight piercing through his window. His throat felt dry, like a desert. Using his telekinesis, he tried to pick up his water flask but ended up dragging the entire nightstand over instead.
He was amazed at how much stronger his telekinetic power had become. Was this the result of the goblin god's interference? As he drank from the flask, he checked his status:
- [Goblin God Quest: Sacrifice six hundred beings, no matter the species.]
- [Reward: ???????]
Robert frowned, unable to decipher what counted as a "sacrifice." Was he supposed to pray to the goblin god before each kill?
His thoughts were interrupted by loud chanting outside. Looking out his window, he saw Sabas leading the soldiers on a jog around the village. Robert froze. He had forgotten all about his morning training!
Rushing out of the hall, he quietly slipped into formation, hoping to blend in. Sabas halted the group, causing everyone to stop jogging. "Looks like we've got an extra person here," Sabas called out. "You have two choices: tell me where he is, or sprint five extra laps."
The soldiers exchanged nervous glances, all eyes eventually landing on Robert.
Sabas approached him slowly, his steps deliberate. "Lord Robert, to what do we owe the pleasure? I could've sworn you were still sleeping."
Robert gulped. "No, I've been here the whole time... you must've missed me."
Sabas shook his head. "No need to lie. Step out of line, my lord. I've got a little gift for you."
Robert chuckled nervously. Sabas had never seemed so intimidating before. Usually, he was sweet and humble. Walking out of formation, Robert watched as Sabas directed the soldiers to continue their laps.
"Wait here for a minute," Sabas said with a devious grin. "When I come back, we'll talk about your training."
Robert sighed, knowing he was in for a tough day ahead. The villagers passing by gave him strange looks, wondering why their lord stood there, looking utterly lost.
---