Her voice spurred me on. "Come on, you little shits!" I roared, gesturing at the remaining goblins. "Who's next?"
The goblins looked at each other, then back at me, then at their fallen comrades. They turned tail and ran, disappearing into the forest from which they'd emerged. I watched them go, feeling a strange mix of relief and disappointment. Where was the epic battle royale I'd been promised?
But hey, I'd killed two monsters with a stick and a rock, and now a sword that seemed to be leveling up with every kill. Maybe this whole reincarnation gig wasn't so bad after all. The villagers slowly approached, their eyes wide with awe and fear. One of them, an old man with a white beard that made me think of my system-troller, cautiously offered me a cup of something that smelled suspiciously like hot mud.
"Thanks," I said, taking a cautious sip. It was surprisingly good, and I downed it in one gulp. The warmth spread through me, and my wounds from the wolf and the slimes started to feel a little less painful. "What is this stuff?"
The old man chuckled. "Just a bit of our local brew, son. Nothing too fancy."
"It's fantastic," I said, handing the cup back. "I guess I'm the hero now?"
The villagers nodded, their expressions a mix of gratitude and wariness. I couldn't blame them. I was the guy who'd just killed two monsters with the grace of a newborn fawn. But hey, if the universe was going to keep throwing me curveballs, I might as well swing for the fences.
As the adrenaline began to wear off, I realized that I was actually starting to enjoy this whole mess. Sure, the system was a troll and I was probably going to die in some ridiculously mundane way, but for now, I had a village to save and a harem of elf girls to... well, save. Or maybe just to get to know better.
As the villagers gathered around me, an older woman stepped forward, carrying a bundle wrapped in cloth. "You saved our village, traveler. Please, accept this humble gift."
I unwrapped it and found a leather vest, a belt with a few pouches, and what looked like a basic iron dagger. Finally, some gear that wasn't just dirt-stained rags.
[ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION: Congratulations! You have obtained the "Village Hero Starter Kit." ]
Basic Leather Vest (DEF +2)
Iron Dagger (ATK +5, Durability: Meh)
Small Pouch of Copper Coins (10c - Not enough to impress anyone)
"Oh hell yeah, I'm finally moving up in the world!" I said, slipping on the vest. "Now, about those goblins. Do they come back often?"
The old man nodded grimly. "Aye, they raid us every few weeks, but never this many at once. Something's riling them up."
"Sounds like foreshadowing," I muttered. Great.
Before I could ask more, a new voice interrupted. "You fight well, outsider."
I turned and nearly choked. Standing before me was a tall, silver-haired elf woman in form-fitting leather armor, a spear slung across her back. Her piercing violet eyes studied me with an unreadable expression.
[ NEW CHARACTER UNLOCKED: Lyria, the Battle-Hardened Elf ]
Class: Elite Hunter
Affiliation: Crimson Moon Mercenaries
First Impression of You: Mildly Impressed, but Also Skeptical
"Uh… thanks?" I managed, suddenly aware of how disheveled I looked. Time to turn on the Jaden Pierce charm. "And you are?"
"Lyria," she said coolly. "I saw your fight. Crude, reckless… but effective. You may be useful."
[ SYSTEM TIP: Bro, she kinda likes you. Don't mess this up. ]
I coughed. "Well, uh, you know, it's all about improvisation. So, uh… you single or—?"
She raised an eyebrow. I immediately regretted my life choices.
The old man coughed loudly, rescuing me from further embarrassment. "Lyria and her group have been helping us fend off the goblins. If you truly wish to aid us, perhaps you should speak with her."
Lyria nodded. "If you want to prove yourself, outsider, meet me at dawn. We'll see if you're as lucky as you are loud."
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving me staring after her.
[ NEW QUEST: Earn Lyria's Respect (And Try Not to Die) ]
I grinned. Now this was getting interesting.
"So, system," I began, trying to sound nonchalant. "How do I get some of that sweet, sweet charisma?"
[ Charisma can be increased through social interactions and successful quests. Also, try not to be a dick. ]
I rolled my eyes. "Easy for you to say," I muttered under my breath.
But, hey, I had a quest. And if that meant not being a complete dickhead to the villagers, I could manage that.
For the rest of the evening, I helped put out the fires and patch up what was left of the village. The villagers were surprisingly grateful, and some even offered me food and a place to stay. I accepted, hoping that maybe some positive social interactions would boost my stats.
The night was filled with tales of heroes and battles, and I listened intently, hoping to glean some useful information. The villagers talked about the Crimson Moon Mercenaries, a group of skilled warriors who had been fighting against the goblin uprising.
As dawn approached, I lay in the provided straw bed, staring at the thatched ceiling. My heart was racing. It wasn't from fear of the goblins or the looming battle, but from the anticipation of seeing Lyria again.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. "Alright, system," I whispered. "Let's see if I can charm this elf girl."
[ Good luck. You're going to need it. ]
The next morning, I met Lyria at the edge of the village, the dew still fresh on the grass. She looked at me with a critical eye, and I did my best not to squirm under her gaze.
"Ready to prove yourself?" she asked, her voice as sharp as the spear at her side.
"Born ready," I replied, trying to sound cool.