After reading the map correctly, we headed down the unpaved road. Passing strange travelers and people I believed to be merchants or something of the like, we neared a forest.
("We're really going in there...?") [Solace]
The road branched off into the shrubbery, making me a bit nervous. I glanced at Fina to see if she was anxious as well, but her eyes were glued to the map.
"I think this is the right way?" [Fina]
("...We're going to get lost aren't we?") [Solace]
Without a shred of hesitation, Fina entered the forest. At first, there wasn't much to take note of. Bushes and trees filled my field of view, and oddly colored mushrooms grew by the roots. It wasn't until I heard strange voices that Fina crouched and began to move at a slower pace.
"Gingya! Ooda!" [???]
The voices became louder as we inched closer. The more I listened the more strange it sounded.
("Is it not |Mystic Tongue|?") [Solace]
We hid behind a bush, peeking over it ever so slightly.
("What... are those...?") [Solace]
There stood three figures around a campfire in the middle of the day. Squinting my eyes, I couldn't help but notice their short stature and green skin. Not only that, they had oddly long noses, and wore only loincloths. It really made me wonder if they weren't human.
"Response: Goblins." [Spirit Guide]
Replying in a blunt manner, the Spirit Guide answered me.
("Goblins? Like... in the games?") [Solace]
"Response: Answer not found." [Spirit Guide]
Strangely enough, I found the Spirit Guide to be speaking in a strange manner.
("Then can I get any information about Goblins?") [Solace]
"Response: A creature classified as a humanoid monster. It is known for its small stature and green skin. The goblin does not possess much strength and can be defeated by an adult human without much effort." [Spirit Guide]
As I listened to the Spirit Guide's answer, Fina began to move.
"Birthed by cinders, |Ashen Arrow|!" [Fina]
She stood up with her arms outstretched, firing a black arrow at one of the goblins.
"Gyeh!!" [Goblin]
"You have gained experience." [Spirit Guide]
The arrow struck true. Piercing the skull of the goblin, one of them went down.
"Alert: Hostility has been detected." [Spirit Guide]
("Yeah, no shit!") [Solace]
The moment one of the goblins went down, the others took notice of Fina. Each one grabbing a wooden stick from the ground, they charged at us.
("|Appraisal|") [Solace]
Seeing as how it didn't really matter if I made our enemies uncomfortable, I used |Appraisal| on the closest goblin.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Name: N/A
Race: Goblin
Gender: Male
Age: Two Weeks
Level: 6
Health: 30/30
Mana: 1/1
Strength: 5
Agility: 5
Intelligence: 3
Willpower: 2
Status: Agitated
Skills: |Stone Throw| |Repugnant Feeder|
Unique Skill: N/A
Titles: N/A
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
("Level 6?! It's four levels higher than me!") [Solace]
Fina reacted quickly. Pulling out a dagger from who knows where, she prepared another spell.
"Heed my call from the seas! |Liquid Bullet|!" [Fina]
She fired a spell I recognized. A droplet of water appeared in the air and flung itself towards one of the goblins, striking its chest.
"Gyii?!" [Goblin]
A hole opened where the droplet had struck. Blood spilled out of its chest, causing it to collapse.
"You have gained experience." [Spirit Guide]
"Gyaa!" [Goblin]
The remaining goblin screeched at us, swinging its wooden stick wildly. Fina stepped back to evade the attacks, making sure to stay at an arm's length.
"|Physical Boost|!" [Fina]
As she spoke, a dim glow emanated from her. Within the blink of an eye, Fina closed the distance between her and the goblin.
"Gyeh?!" [Goblin]
Without wasting a second, Fina grabbed the goblin's head and shoved the dagger into the goblin's throat.
"Grgag...!" [Goblin]
Fina pressed the blade deeper, causing blood to gushl out at a rapid rate. The goblin made gurgling noises as it struggled, but inevitably went limp.
"Phew..." [Fina]
Sighing from relief, Fina released her grip on the body.
("...Yikes. Fina isn't someone you want to mess with.") [Solace]
Wiping her forehead with a bloody hand, I watched her get to work.
("I... don't think I can watch...") [Solace]
Fina crouched down and began cutting off the right ear of the goblin. Though it was my first time seeing a corpse in person, I strangely didn't feel too bad about it. If they looked a bit more human I might have cared more, but the way they acted earlier and my knowledge from games prevented me from doing so.
"Alert: Hostility has been detected." [Spirit Guide]
("Huh?") [Solace]
I scanned the area with caution. I saw shadows move within the woods. Since the Spirit Guide had told me they were hostile, I decided to use |Appraisal|.
"Let's see who you are! |Appraisal|!" [Solace]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Name: N/A
Race: Goblin
Gender: Male
Age: One Week
Level: 4
Health: 20/20
Mana: 1/1
Strength: 5
Agility: 3
Intelligence: 2
Willpower: 3
Status: Stable
Skills: |Repugnant Feeder|
Unique Skill: N/A
Titles: N/A
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
("More goblins?") [Solace]
The information I've seen was put together in my mind. It would definitely make sense if more goblins came if they heard the shrieking from earlier, but that wasn't what I was really worried about.
("Spirit Guide! How many are there?!") [Solace]
"Response: Two hostiles have been detected within 15 meters." [Spirit Guide]
("15 meters?") [Solace]
The detailed reply came to me as vague. 15 meters meant two were close, but that made me wonder if the range of detection was limited to 15 meters.
("There might be more out of the Spirit Guide's detection range...") [Solace]
I glanced at Fina and turned my attention back to the woods. As much as I wanted to notify Fina of their presence, there was something I wanted to try.
("I hope it works.") [Solace]