The deep sound of the horn slowly faded into silence.
The seven goblins immediately abandoned what they were doing.
The larger goblin barked several sharp orders in their rough language.
“Grah!
Grah!
Gurk!”
The others quickly picked up their weapons.
Not one of them questioned the command.
Aiden remained perfectly still behind the thick oak tree.
His breathing became almost silent.
Months spent surviving in the Forbidden Forest had taught him a simple truth.
**The first one to move wasn’t always the one who survived.**
He narrowed his eyes.
“They’re organized…”
That alone was unusual.
Everything he had heard in Westhaven described goblins as stupid monsters that attacked recklessly.
These…
Were different.
They obeyed orders.
They maintained a camp.
They even had guards watching the surrounding area.
Something was wrong.
Aiden slowly activated Analysis.
His eyes focused on the largest goblin.
**〈Analysis〉**
**Race:** Forest Goblin
**Threat Rank:** F
**Condition:** Healthy
**Status:** Leader of Small Hunting Party
“So that’s their leader…”
He shifted his gaze toward another goblin carrying a crude wooden bow.
**〈Analysis〉**
**Race:** Forest Goblin
**Threat Rank:** F
**Condition:** Slightly Injured
The information confirmed what the Guild had told him.
They were all F-Rank monsters.
Strong enough to kill ordinary villagers…
But manageable for a prepared adventurer.
Even so…
Aiden didn’t draw his sword.
Instead, he continued observing.
The goblins finished preparing within minutes.
Then, to his surprise…
Four of them left the camp and disappeared deeper into the forest.
Only three remained behind.
Including the leader.
“They split up…”
Aiden quietly considered his options.
If he attacked now…
He could probably eliminate the three remaining goblins before reinforcements arrived.
But if the others returned unexpectedly…
He might become surrounded.
He remembered Gareth’s words.
*”A reckless victory often becomes tomorrow’s funeral.”*
Patience.
He decided to wait.
Several minutes passed.
The forest became strangely quiet.
A cool breeze rustled through the trees.
Then…
Aiden noticed something beside one of the tents.
A wooden cage.
Inside…
Two frightened children huddled together.
Their clothes were dirty.
Their faces were stained with tears.
Neither looked older than ten.
Aiden’s expression changed.
“…Children?”
One little girl held her younger brother tightly.
Both trembled every time a goblin walked past.
His grip around his sword tightened.
“So that’s why they stole supplies…”
They hadn’t simply attacked travelers.
They had kidnapped villagers.
Aiden took a slow breath.
His mission had changed.
This was no longer about earning twelve silver coins.
He couldn’t leave those children behind.
Carefully, he looked around the camp once more.
Three goblins.
One leader.
No signs that the other four were returning yet.
“This is my chance.”
Without making a sound…
Aiden slowly drew his sword.
The polished blade reflected a thin ray of sunlight before disappearing back into the shadows beneath the trees.
His heartbeat remained steady.
Every movement was calm.
Controlled.
Unlike when he first entered the Forbidden Forest months ago…
There was no fear in his eyes.
Only focus.
The leader suddenly sniffed the air.
Its ugly face twisted into a frown.
“Grah…?”
It looked toward the forest.
Straight toward Aiden’s hiding place.
For one brief moment…
Neither side moved. The source of this chapter is g.com.
The goblin narrowed its yellow eyes.
Aiden slowly shifted his footing.
The distance between them…
Roughly twenty meters.
One clean strike.
That was all he needed.
The goblin suddenly opened its mouth.
“GRAAAAH!”
Its warning cry echoed throughout the forest.
Too late.
Aiden had already moved.
He exploded forward like an arrow released from its bow.
The fallen leaves beneath his feet scattered into the air.
The first battle of his life as an adventurer…
Had begun.
The goblin’s warning cry echoed across the Southern Woods.
“GRAAAAH!”
Birds burst into the sky.
The two remaining goblins immediately grabbed their crude weapons.
But Aiden was already moving.
Months of surviving inside the Forbidden Forest had transformed every step into instinct.
He closed the twenty-meter distance in an instant.
The goblin leader swung its rusty axe.
Aiden didn’t block.
He sidestepped.
The axe struck empty air.
Before the goblin could recover—
**Slash!**
His sword flashed.
A clean line of blood appeared across the goblin’s chest.
The leader stumbled backward, roaring in pain.
The other two goblins rushed toward him from opposite sides.
One raised a wooden club.
The other thrust a crude spear.
Aiden calmly lowered his center of gravity.
His eyes tracked both attacks simultaneously.
“…Too slow.”
He stepped forward instead of retreating.
The club missed his shoulder by only a few centimeters.
At the same time, he caught the spear shaft with his left hand.
The surprised goblin pulled desperately.
It didn’t move.
Aiden twisted the shaft.
**Crack!**
The wooden spear snapped in half.
Before the goblin could react—
**Slash!**
Its head rolled across the ground.
The body collapsed without another sound.
**〈Notice〉**
Forest Goblin defeated.
Experience acquired.
Authority Fragment absorbed.
Synchronization with the Authority of Nothingness has slightly increased.
Aiden ignored the notification.
The remaining goblins had no intention of waiting.
The club-wielding goblin screamed as it charged.
“GRAAAAH!”
Aiden took one step.
Then another.
At the last moment…
He leaned sideways.
The heavy club crashed into the ground.
The goblin’s body became completely exposed.
One precise thrust.
His sword pierced its heart.
The goblin’s scream ended instantly.
Its body dissolved into black particles as the Authority of Nothingness erased its existence.
Only its monster core and usable materials remained.
Aiden noticed something immediately.
“…The body disappeared.”
Unlike before…
The monster materials had not vanished.
The hide.
The ears.
The fangs.
The claws.
Everything Alfred had mentioned remained behind.
“So that’s how it works.”
When Aiden intentionally absorbed only the Authority…
The valuable materials were left intact.
A faint smile crossed his face.
“I won’t waste them anymore.”
The goblin leader roared furiously.
Its wound wasn’t fatal.
Instead of attacking recklessly…
It slowly circled Aiden.
Its yellow eyes searched for an opening.
“…You’re smarter than the others.”
For the first time…
Aiden realized goblins weren’t simply wild beasts.
Some possessed basic intelligence.
The leader suddenly whistled.
A sharp, shrill sound echoed through the forest.
Aiden’s expression changed.
“…Calling for reinforcements?”
He couldn’t allow that.
He rushed forward.
The goblin swung its axe downward with all its strength.
**Clang!**
Steel met iron.
Although the goblin was physically stronger…
Its technique was crude.
Aiden calmly redirected the axe to the side.
The opening lasted less than a heartbeat.
It was enough.
**Slash!**
The goblin leader froze.
A thin red line slowly appeared across its neck.
Its eyes widened.
The axe slipped from its fingers.
Moments later…
Its head fell to the ground.
The enormous body collapsed with a heavy thud.
**〈Notice〉**
Forest Goblin Leader defeated.
Experience acquired.
Authority Fragment absorbed.
Synchronization increased.
New combat data recorded.
Silence returned to the forest.
Aiden slowly lowered his sword.
He listened carefully.
No footsteps.
No movement.
The four goblins that had left earlier hadn’t returned yet.
He immediately ran toward the wooden cage.
The two children flinched.
Fear filled their eyes.
“P-Please…”
“Don’t hurt us…”
Aiden knelt before them.
His voice remained calm.
“It’s alright.”
“I’m an adventurer.”
“I’m here to help.”
The little girl hesitated.
“…Really?”
He nodded.
Without another word, he cut through the rope binding the cage door.
The children rushed out.
The younger boy immediately hid behind his sister.
The girl looked at Aiden with tears in her eyes.
“Thank you…”
“They took us from our village yesterday.”
“Our parents…”
Her voice trembled.
Aiden didn’t ask any more questions.
“We’ll return to Westhaven.”
“The Guild will help you.”
The girl nodded repeatedly.
While the children rested nearby…
Aiden remembered Alfred’s advice.
He carefully collected every usable monster material.
Goblin cores.
Fangs.
Ears.
Claws.
Even the leader’s axe.
Everything went neatly into his storage pouch.
“These should sell for a decent price.”
After finishing…
His eyes wandered toward the goblin camp.
Several old sacks lay scattered near the fire.
Curious, he opened one.
Inside were stolen supplies.
Food.
Medicine.
Blankets.
And several merchant seals.
“So they attacked caravans…”
Then…
His gaze stopped on something hidden beneath a torn cloth.
A map.
Old.
Hand-drawn.
Several locations were marked with crude symbols.
One mark, however…
Caught his attention.
Far deeper inside the Southern Woods…
A large black circle had been drawn.
Beside it…
Only one word was written.
**”Master.”**
Aiden frowned.
“…Master?”
Before he could examine it further—
A distant horn echoed through the forest once again.
This time…
It sounded much closer.
Aiden immediately folded the map.
His instincts screamed at him.
Whatever the goblins called “Master”…
It had noticed something was wrong.
He looked toward the frightened children.
“We’re leaving.”
Immediately.
Holding his sword tightly…
Aiden led the two children away from the goblin camp.
Completely unaware…
From the darkness far beyond the trees…
A pair of crimson eyes silently watched them disappear.
A low, chilling voice echoed through the forest.
“So…”
“The human has finally arrived.”