7 Goblin
A gentle breeze blew through my long, dark hair. Making it rise and fall from time to time. Somehow the air quality in the other world was more pleasant and easier to breathe in. Even though the sun was way up in the light-colored blue sky, it doesn't make walking under the heat an inconvenience.
On the contrary, compared to the climate in Japan, this was much more preferable. The sun was beaming down on you, but it didn't feel like you're being cooked in a boiler. If I had to liken it to something, I would say that this felt like you were in a kotatsu during the winter season. Except, I was walking instead of sitting down.
What I meant to say was that the heat coming from above, was comfortable, and I had no complaints about it at this time. It might be because there was not that much pollution here, maybe. Thereby preventing climate change that was really abundant back on Earth. It was a shame that I couldn't even play games on such a fine day.
I had been walking for at least four hours already, and the sun was already at its zenith. Though my body was only slightly tired, this really takes a toll on my mental state. Being a person who was an outsider in this world, I couldn't help but think that there were too many unknown variables right now.
Maybe I couldn't find a town in time, a village would be fine too. Those friendly npc's would be pretty useful if they were here in this game-like world too. Though I don't get my hopes up, I want to at least have a bed to sleep in tonight.
If I somehow make it to a city, I would try going into an inn for the first time. One of the many things that I wanted to do, but was impossible in the past due to the barrier between games and reality, was to sleep in an inn.
Then I would start registering in the adventurer's guild, following that, I would somehow kill a dragon. Finally ending in me getting hailed as the hero who saved the kingdom.
But if I couldn't achieve something as great as being called a hero, I would be fine with just living a peaceful life, eating different dishes, gathering information, and maybe someday getting a beautiful girlfriend.
Although, I don't think that will happen anytime soon, it was good to keep my mind occupied like this.
For now, I have decided to account for everything in my possession, and assess my current strength when it becomes night time once more. I will do that once I have established a temporary base of operations, meaning, a place to stay in. In order to do that, I must find out where I was, and to where was I going.
As I was thinking of this, I finally noticed that I could use 'Automatic Map View' to see my current location. I forgot that I even had this skill since I was still taking in the view of the other world's plains. Which looked like the countryside back in Japan, but devoid of people. In other words, I could be the only one here, since I didn't meet anyone for the whole time I was walking.
I contemplated stopping for a few minutes under the shade of a tree, and to start reading the mysterious piece of paper again, but I decided to refrain from doing things I could do later. At the very least, I should know that I was completely safe and undisturbed before concentrating.
Since I knew I was a weak person. My status even confirmed it. No matter how high a level might look like, I might think that my level was normal in this world, so I decided to not get conceited. Though most of the blame would be because of that strange skill, I couldn't rely on it all the time, since I didn't even know what it does right now.
It was good to think things through this early before anything else happens. Just last night, I almost died due to carelessness. I was slightly skeptical why those two large beasts ended up there, but it was partly my fault maybe, since I kept a fire burning. They might have been attracted to the smoke, I've read books about animals that might do that.
Still, while the strange thing was going on, I was still watching them fight like I was just a spectator. Leading to my inevitable danger. I didn't realize back then that I was also in this world, and just like how I could interact with them, they could interact with me. It was bad to watch absentmindedly. From now on, if there was time, I would think first, and then act.
Well, now that that's established, let's look at the map. Hmm, it says here that I was in someplace called, 'Hidden Grasslands'. It sounded scary but I learned to not mind the names anymore of this chunnibyou-stricken world. After hearing names like Erebus, Gral, or if you would hear the chants for spells in this world, you'd learn to get use to it.
Now that I think about it, I might be pretty used to these kinds of things. Since I didn't panic for some reason soon after I woke up. Sure, I might have gotten scared close to death seeing the horned-devil guards, especially that self-proclaimed god of darkness, I didn't overreact and kept thinking as usual. Was this normal, or was I just weird?
Either way, I couldn't know if I was normal or completely out of standard until I find someone to compare myself with. Oh, it seems that a little more ways from here is a city called 'Edoria'. Yep, I'm not gonna comment on the strange name which may be the norm in this world, and just be happy about seeing a step towards my goal.
I quickly scanned over the shortest path I could take towards the city, and decided my route. After reaching a fork in the road, I go left, because according to the map, the right path leads to a place called 'Gazure Forest'. I didn't want to meet any strange beasts like last night, so I suppressed my curiosity, and turned away from evil.
Alright, let's get excited! Wait for me first town! I wish I had a camera with me right now. Though that will make me look like an ignorant tourist. Wait, that's not the problem..
Just as I was getting in high spirits, I was stopped in my tracks by a growling sound. A surprised voice came out involuntarily out of my mouth when I looked towards the source.
It looked short. Like a little kid that was on their way to middle school. Although there was no way a little kid could be all the way out here. It was carrying a knife? Or maybe it looked like a dagger to me. I couldn't make sure. I was an amateur after all. Game knowledge won't be reliable in the face of a real weapon.
Also if this was really a little boy, who was carrying a slightly larger weapon like that, that would be scary. I had to make sure I wasn't the main protagonist in a horror movie where all the characters die by a midget murderer. In that case, all the characters pertain to my lone self. Which was horrible to think about any further, so I stopped.
Oh, this little kid wasn't a kid after all. I was relieved when I saw the pale green skin illuminated by the sun's rays. In fact, when I take a closer look, the green-skinned little humanoid was only wearing a rag for clothes, only covering his lower half. I would've taken pity on this if it wasn't for the fact that when I was observing it, two red eyes suddenly narrowed and moved towards my position.
It was sprinting at such a speed that I couldn't react fast enough. Though, the reason for that was mostly to be blamed towards me letting my guard down. Even though I just decided I wouldn't do this, it was hard to break a habit.
The little green kid, who I just now remember was familiar to a mob enemy in games, a monster called 'Goblin', was brandishing it's weapon. I only just luckily fell back and dodged the stabbing motion aimed directly at where my head was a moment ago. Scary..
This was the third time in this world already that I felt my life in danger. Is there no police officers here? Were the thoughts running from reality I had while backing away from the dangerous monster.
If you think about it, this monster couldn't be compared to the lightning panther beast I met yesterday. Considering their overall size, this guy might run away in fear when faced with that monstrosity of nature. Still, hostile monsters are not that different. This guy really wants to kill me. Isn't this skipping the whole delinquent extortion part, and going straight towards murder?
But I guess it couldn't be helped. I backed away a certain distance until I was leaning onto the trunk of a tree. Of course I made preparations for this type of thing. You must always learn from experience. That's why I had a single attack that could defeat this enemy. Maybe. Anyway, I was glad that it was just one of them. If I had to fight a group instead, I would be fearing for my life and might have run away the moment their attention was elsewhere.
My, my, this 'Goblin' didn't know who it was dealing with. Doesn't it feel the difference in level? Well, I wouldn't know since I had no way of comparing. But really, he underestimated me! Even if I was weak in status, I could still use magic!
That's right, the name of this magic, the magic that will blow you away is..
"Spirits of water, heed my call and aid me, <<Water Ball>>"
I will mana into my palm and form a ball of liquid. I aimed it at the confused monster and fire!
*Splash*
"............."
"............."
Me and the goblin stared at each other for a long while, sometimes glancing at the small puddle on the grass, just some distance between us. Don't say it, please. Oh wait, goblins can't talk. I am going to take this with me to my grave.
"Gruah!"
"Ahh!"
Somehow, the goblin got irritated at my spell that turned out to be a joke. Even though I prepared for this, who knew it wouldn't even shoot that far? Well, it's to be expected from Level 1 Magic.
"Gruuuuu!"
"Ah, no, don't!"
I kept dodging and running, but just barely. I was glad I didn't seem to get that tired physically after eating a meal, but still, the weapon may be crude, but it could still kill a person like me. Yes, yes, I know you're angry. I'm really sorry for that cruel joke. I'm sorry for being born. No, even if it didn't understand, I still felt I should apologize.
While continuing this dodging session for about a few minutes, it seemed the goblin finally got tired and stopped to catch its breath. Now's my chance!
No, I'm not gonna disarm it like a martial artist. Am I an action star!? No I'm not, I don't even know any techniques, except for my lame imitations of karate from movies. To which I doubt would be very useful in this situation where life and death is on the line. I had to rely on this strange skill once more!
Hey, it saved me once, couldn't it do it again? Were the naive thoughts I had while crossing my arms..
"Rejoice goblin, for you have forced me to bring out my secret weapon!"
To this, the goblin just tilted his head. As if saying, 'Is this guy for real?'. But no matter! Even if I look arrogant, I had the power to back it up! Maybe. Probably. I hope.
Well, that's enough of that! Let's begin!
"Say your prayers! For I shall make you suffer! Begone! <<Random>>!"
*
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Notification
'Random' has been invoked
Beginning to randomize skills
Current Number of Choices: 9,173,452,134 Skills
Wating for result..
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*
With a self-assured smug look on my face, I invoked the skill I could use only once per day. Not even thinking of what might happen if it would fail. Overconfidence got the better of me, even though I had just decided not to get conceited.
Can't I even stick to a decision I made myself? Were the complaints I had in my inner self, completely ignored, thus, inevitably leading to..
*
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Notification
'Random' skill has chosen!
Congratulations!
A [Common Skill] was chosen from over nine billion skills!
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Flower Garden
Common Skill
By borrowing the help of nature, the user creates a radius of beautiful flowers of different colors around the area
Activating Skill..
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*
*Poof*
*Bloom*
"Guu?"
"Eh?"
All of a sudden, flowers of different colors just sprouted from the ground all around me. It looked so beautiful, like a painting. But!
This wasn't what I wanted at all! I was at least hoping for a 'Wind Slice' or a 'Dark Flame' kind of feeling. Where is the justice in this!? Sure, this might be popular at parties but it's absolutely useless in this situation!
What am I supposed to do, court a goblin? Don't mess with me you damn skill! I curse at the skill, my luck, and whoever made this joke of a skill to make fun of me in my heart to the bottomless pits of the earth.
Ah, this is not good. It seems I only made the goblin madder than it was before. I could sense a huge amount of killing intent from it. I could even see a faint vein symbol on his forehead.
"No, this, I didn't mean what I said before, so let's be friends now, oka-"
"Guahh!"
This is the end. I'm really going to die. Even if I was a novice at fighting, I could tell that the goblin, in its rage, being looked down upon, and then got treated as a joke, doubled its speed. I had no way of dodging this considering my reflexes that were akin to a grade-schooler. Or maybe less..
I further admonish myself while shutting my eyelids, even when I was about to leave the living world, for the umpteenth time already.
Just when I thought that, a whooshing sound flew past my face..
"Gueee!"
When I opened my eyes to check, I saw a long, steel, clear blade, reflecting the sunlight. Slightly blinding my vision for but a moment. But honestly, I couldn't take my eyes off of the way the blade stabbed into the goblin's head so easily.
Like piercing a piece of meat with a skewer. It was effortlessly done. As I was curious as to who had executed the hostile enemy in the blink of an eye, I looked towards the wielder of the long rapier.
It was a girl, no, that would be rude. She looked like a young woman, a teenager maybe. She wore pure white, metal plated armor, adorned with various intricacies, marks and crests. A prominent white, slightly dominated by the color of regal gold.
Wearing a white-colored mini-skirt at the bottom, which was strange, though I wasn't complaining. The pale-skinned, red-lipped, beautiful blonde-haired young lady who looked like a knight from fairy tales walked towards me and offered a hand..
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
Ah, an angel has come..
