As the rest of the camp stirred, some grabbing whatever makeshift weapons they could find, Elys was the first to climb onto the platform where Leon stood.
She looked out at the trembling figures beyond the barricades, her eyes widening in shock.
"Leon... ?" she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
One of the intruders, taller than the others, seemed to gather some courage and stepped forward, its hands still raised. Under the glow of the campfires, its features became clearer—green, leathery skin stretched over a gaunt frame, sharp, angular features, and sunken eyes.
"They're... goblins," a voice came from below. One of the older members of the camp, Greg, stood at the base of the platform, his tone filled with disgust.
Leon glanced down. "Goblins?"
Greg nodded grimly. "Yea. very dengerous"
Leon frowned. The captives seemed far from the deadly predators Greg described. Most of them looked terrified, shaking uncontrollably, and stealing desperate glances at one another.
Elys nudged Leon lightly. "What are we going to do with them?"
Leon lowered his rifle slightly, thinking. His instincts screamed to eliminate the threat completely, but something about the way the goblins had surrendered gave him pause.
"Get some rope," Leon finally said, his voice firm. "We'll bind them for now."
Greg protested, "You can't be serious, Leon. They'll escape the second you turn your back!"
"Maybe," Leon replied.
Reluctantly, the rest of the group set about tying up the remaining goblins. As they worked, Leon's eyes remained locked on the prisoners, watching for the slightest hint of resistance. None came.
Once the goblins were securely bound, Leon addressed the taller one, who seemed to be their leader. "Why did you attack us?"
The goblin hesitated, then spoke in broken Common, its words thick and guttural. "Not attack... looking for food. Humans kill us... no choice but to fight."
Leon narrowed his eyes, scanning the goblin's expression for any hint of deceit. Its fear seemed genuine, but he couldn't be sure.
"How many more of you are there?"
The goblin hesitated again before replying, "Many... but scared. Not come here... only us."
Leon leaned back slightly, processing the information. A part of him was tempted to rid the camp of the goblin threat entirely, but...
He exhaled sharply and looked at Elys and the others. "We're keeping them alive for now. Lock them up, but keep a close eye on them."
Though there was a murmur of discontent, no one openly opposed Leon's decision.
As the goblins were securely imprisoned in a makeshift pen near the camp, Leon stepped away from the group. His frustration simmered just beneath the surface. Once he found a quiet spot, he opened his system screen with an irritated flick of his wrist.
"System," Leon muttered under his breath, "what the hell is going on? You said medieval world—not fantasy medieval world! Why are there goblins? What's next, elves? Though... I wouldn't complain about that."
The glowing system interface materialized in front of him, its text glowing faintly in the dim light.
[This world was categorized as 'High Fantasy Medieval.' It was the Host's oversight for failing to review the parameters carefully.]
Leon gritted his teeth, already irritated at the system's smug tone.
[Non-human entities in this environment may present both dangers and opportunities. Interactions with such creatures can influence the Host's progression and reputation among local factions.]
"So you're telling me these goblins could either be a pain in my ass or somehow useful?" he asked, crossing his arms.
[Correct. Goblin tribes may possess unique knowledge, resources, or skills valuable to the Host. Conversely, hostilities may escalate if mishandled.]
Leon rolled his eyes, his frustration only growing. "Great. So it's babysit them or risk a war. Just my kind of luck."
He dismissed the interface with an annoyed wave, the screen vanishing with a soft shimmer. Turning back toward the camp, he spotted Elys standing near the makeshift goblin pen, her arms crossed and a sharp, watchful gaze fixed on their new captives.
With a groan, Leon muttered under his breath, "Guess I'd better figure out if they're worth keeping alive."
He approached the crude wooden enclosure, kneeling just outside the roughly assembled bars. The goblin leader, hunched low and trembling slightly, watched him approach with wide, fearful eyes.
"You," Leon said, his voice firm but calm, "what do you eat?"
The goblin hesitated, its words halting and uncertain. "Berries... meat... anything..."
Leon scrutinized the creature for a moment, assessing its frail frame and the desperation in its eyes. Finally, he nodded slowly.
"You want to survive? Then you'll work for us. Food for labor. That's the deal. Nothing else. Understand?"
The goblin's eyes widened, darting nervously to the others huddled behind it. "Work? What kind work?"
"Anything I decide," Leon replied coldly. "And here's the rule: no tricks, no lies. Break that, and I'll finish what I started earlier. Got it?"
The goblin stared at him, then turned to glance back at its companions. After a long pause, it gave a trembling nod. "We work... no tricks."
Leon stood, brushing the dirt off his knees, and turned to find Elys standing nearby with a raised eyebrow.