The horn’s haunting echo slowly faded into the distance.
Aiden didn’t look back.
His instincts told him one thing.
**Leave.
Now.**
The frightened children hurried beside him, struggling to match his pace through the uneven forest.
The older sister tightly held her younger brother’s hand.
Every few steps, they glanced nervously over their shoulders.
“…Mister…”
Aiden looked at the little girl.
“What is it?”
“Are…
are the goblins following us?”
Aiden listened carefully.
The forest remained quiet.
Only the rustling of leaves accompanied the wind.
“…Not yet.”
“But we won’t stop until we’re safely outside the forest.”
The little girl nodded.
She didn’t ask another question.
Almost an hour passed.
The dense trees gradually became thinner.
Sunlight shone more brightly through the branches.
The familiar dirt road leading toward Westhaven finally came into view.
The two children visibly relaxed.
“We’re out…”
The younger boy whispered before tears welled up in his eyes.
His sister gently hugged him.
“We’re safe.”
Aiden finally allowed himself to relax slightly.
Even so…
His hand never left the hilt of his sword.
The strange horn.
The organized goblins.
The mysterious map.
None of it felt normal.
“This wasn’t an ordinary goblin quest…”
By midday…
The three of them reached Westhaven’s eastern gate.
Two city guards immediately noticed the exhausted children.
“Those kids…”
“They’re from Oakridge Village!”
The guards quickly ran over.
“What happened?”
The little girl burst into tears.
“G-Goblins…”
“They attacked…”
“They took us…”
One of the guards immediately knelt beside the children while the other looked toward Aiden.
“You’re the adventurer who rescued them?”
Aiden nodded.
“I found them inside a goblin camp in the Southern Woods.”
The guard’s expression became serious.
“A camp?”
“Not just wandering goblins?”
“No.”
“They were organized.”
“They had stolen supplies…
and prisoners.”
The two guards exchanged uneasy glances.
One immediately turned toward his companion.
“Report this to the Guild.”
“And inform Captain Roland.”
“Immediately.”
“Right!”
The second guard sprinted into the city.
Aiden noticed their reaction.
“…Is something wrong?”
The older guard hesitated.
“Goblins normally don’t build permanent camps this close to Westhaven.”
“And kidnapping villagers…”
“…that’s becoming more frequent.”
His expression darkened.
“We were hoping they were isolated incidents.”
After making sure the children were safely escorted back to their families, Aiden headed toward the Adventurer Guild.
As soon as he entered…
The receptionist looked up.
“You’ve returned already?”
Then she noticed the blood on his clothes.
“And…
you completed the quest?”
Aiden placed seven goblin cores on the counter.
One by one.
The surrounding adventurers fell silent.
“…Seven.”
“He actually did it.”
“For someone who just registered yesterday…”
“He’s pretty good.”
The receptionist smiled.
“Please wait while the Guild appraises the materials.”
Aiden nodded before placing another large bundle on the counter.
Goblin ears.
Claws.
The leader’s axe.
The receptionist blinked several times.
“…You collected everything?”
“I was told monster materials are valuable.”
At that exact moment…
Alfred emerged from the appraisal room.
The elderly appraiser adjusted his glasses before examining the pile.
A slow smile appeared on his face.
“Excellent…”
“Looks like you listened.”
He carefully inspected each item.
“The fangs are undamaged.”
“The hides are in good condition.”
“And…”
He lifted the crude iron axe.
“…This belonged to the goblin leader.”
Several nearby adventurers looked surprised.
“A leader?”
“There was a leader?”
Alfred slowly nodded.
“Judging by its size…”
“It was probably commanding the group.”
He looked toward Aiden.
“Tell me everything.”
Without hiding anything important…
Aiden explained the battle.
The goblin camp.
The kidnapped children.
The organized behavior.
However…
He kept one detail to himself.
**The map marked ‘Master.’**
For some reason…
He felt it was better to study it first before revealing it.
When he finished speaking…
The Guild Hall had become completely silent.
Even the receptionist’s smile had disappeared.
Alfred slowly exhaled.
“This…”
“…is far more serious than an ordinary goblin extermination.
The Guild Hall remained silent.
No one laughed.
No one spoke.
Every adventurer stared at Aiden.
Alfred slowly placed the goblin leader’s axe back onto the counter.
He looked at Aiden with a serious expression.
“You said they built a permanent camp?”
“Yes.”
“And they held two kidnapped children alive?”
“Yes.”
Alfred frowned.
“…That’s unusual.”
A veteran adventurer standing nearby folded his arms.
“Goblins usually raid farms, steal food, then disappear.”
“They rarely keep prisoners.”
Another adventurer nodded.
“And they certainly don’t stay in one place for long.”
Murmurs spread throughout the Guild.
Everyone understood the same thing.
Something was changing.
The receptionist quickly finished counting the rewards.
She looked up at Aiden.
“For completing the Goblin Extermination Quest…”
“Twelve Silver Coins.”
She placed twelve silver coins onto the counter.
“Seven Goblin Cores…”
“Fourteen Silver Coins.”
She continued counting.
“Goblin Fangs.”
“Goblin Ears.”
“Goblin Claws.”
“Goblin Hides.”
“And the Goblin Leader’s Axe.”
After several moments of calculation, she smiled.
“The total reward comes to…”
**Thirty-four Silver Coins.**
Aiden was slightly surprised.
“So much?”
The receptionist nodded.
“Monster materials are valuable.”
“Especially when they’re collected without being damaged.”
Alfred chuckled.
“I told you yesterday.”
“Nothing from a monster should be wasted.”
Aiden carefully stored the coins inside his leather pouch.
This was the largest amount of money he had ever owned.
It wasn’t enough to make him wealthy…
But it was a beginning.
His own beginning.
Not because he was a summoned hero.
Not because someone had given him power.
He had earned every coin with his own hands.
The large entrance doors opened.
A man wearing polished silver armor entered the Guild.
A long blue cloak hung behind him.
The conversations immediately stopped.
Several adventurers stood respectfully.
“Captain Roland…”
“So the City Guard really came.”
Captain Roland walked directly toward Alfred.
“I received the report.”
“The rescued children have safely returned to their families.”
He then turned toward Aiden.
“So…”
“You’re the adventurer who found the goblin camp.”
Aiden nodded.
“Yes.”
Captain Roland studied him for several seconds.
He had expected an experienced veteran.
Instead…
The young man before him looked barely twenty years old.
“You fought them alone?”
“Yes.”
“And rescued the children?”
“Yes.”
The captain remained silent for a moment before speaking again.
“Thank you.”
“If you hadn’t found that camp…”
“…those children might never have returned.”
Aiden simply replied,
“I only did what any adventurer should do.”
Several adventurers nearby exchanged surprised looks.
Most people would have proudly boasted about saving two children.
This young man…
Didn’t seem interested in praise.
Captain Roland gave a faint smile.
“I hope more adventurers think like you.”
He turned toward Alfred.
“I’ll send soldiers to investigate the camp immediately.”
Alfred slowly shook his head.
“No.”
The captain frowned.
“No?”
“If the goblins truly were organized…”
“…sending a small patrol could be dangerous.”
“We need more information first.”
Captain Roland remained thoughtful.
Finally, he nodded.
“…Agreed.”
He looked toward the Guild Master’s office on the second floor.
“I’ll report this personally.”
With that, he left the hall.
The atmosphere remained unusually heavy.
Aiden quietly picked up his backpack.
As he prepared to leave, Alfred called him once more.
“Young man.”
Aiden stopped.
“You’ve done well today.”
“But don’t become overconfident.”
“The Southern Woods may be hiding something far more dangerous than goblins.”
“I understand.”
Alfred smiled gently.
“Good.”
“Now…”
“Go get some rest.”
“You’ve earned it.”
Aiden thanked him before leaving the Guild.
Outside…
The afternoon sun bathed Westhaven in warm golden light.
The streets were as lively as ever.
Merchants shouted their prices.
Children laughed as they played.
To everyone else…
It was another peaceful day.
Only a handful of people knew…
That something strange was happening in the Southern Woods.
Aiden slowly walked back toward the Silver Oak Inn.
As he walked, his hand slipped into his pouch.
His fingers touched the old map he had secretly taken from the goblin camp.
He hadn’t shown it to anyone.
Not Alfred.
Not Captain Roland.
Not the Guild.
Stopping in a quiet alley, he carefully unfolded the worn parchment.
His eyes fell upon the large black circle deep within the Southern Woods.
Beneath it…
One word remained written in faded black ink.
**Master.**
Aiden stared at it silently.
“…Just what are you?”
The evening wind gently rustled the parchment.
Somewhere far beyond the forest…
Hidden in darkness…
Someone smiled.