3 Worse than thought

"So little one, in around 10 minutes we are out of Shan Forrest. Maybe someone from Naoke knows you, or at least your origins."

"Maybe... ."

' I really wonder if someone from there recognize the previous owner of this body. What if? Do I have to play the son of a family total foreign to me?'

While thinking about these matters, Henry grabbed him and Sam from behind, startling both.

But after seeing his silent, serious look, Sam quickly took Leo's wrist and positioned him behind his back.

At the same time he called out:

"Okay guys, battle formation! Henry, what did you detect?"

In but a moment notice Henry got in front of Sam, while Leah stood behind him.

"Not really sure. I didn't use detection magic, but one thing is sure: there is a group of monsters in front. In my ears, they made a lot of noise and the footsteps are small and numerous.

I bet my left shoe that that is a small group of Goblins."

"Nice work. 'Cause of that you are our trusty scout. That and your fast feet."

Leah complimented and joked at the same time. Still, she readied a wooden stick with a small gem imbued at the top.

'Wow, the tension is real. Aren't Goblins just small, timid and weak creatures? Go ahead and eliminate them.'

"Get ready, they will be here shortly."

Henry took out a small shortsword and took a more stabile posture by bending his knees and lean towards a bit.

Sam did not take out a weapon, but instead put on a pair of gloves. These were thicker around the knuckles and reached up to the elbow. He took a stand close to Leo, and on high alert.

Sam, now whispering in Henrys direction:

"Have they already noticed us? If so a preemptive strike would be better than waiting for them."

"No their footsteps remain the same, and I hear no sound of unsheathing weapons. But I can't make out their exact numbers or equipment."

"Alright, then let's wait. At least we are ready, and at any sign of an disadvantage we can escape.

Are you okay with that? Leah, Henry?"

""Yes"" came the unified answer from the two.

"I will protect our little buddy here, so don't concern yourself with him and focus."

Not being able to hide his curiosity any longer, Leo tugged lightly on Sam's shirt. Sam asked in a quiet voice:

"What is, we are about to enter a fight."

"I'm sorry, but I could not help but wonder: I thought Goblins are H rank creatures and weak. Is there a need to be so cautious?"

Sighting, Sam began explaining:

"Sure, individually they are weak, and can with some luck or skill even be killed by a child.

But if we are unlucky, a group of Goblins can be equipped with arms and armor, or even be lead by a superior species like a Hobgoblin. Additionally they are in a group, which can easily reach up to triple digits. So to be safe, we-"

In that moment, a bunch of small, greenish monsters emerged from the overgrown vegetation.

At first, they didn't noticed the group at all, and they screeched and snickered at each other.

They looked like starved children, with thin arms and legs, a wider head, sparse hair and big, lightly pointed ears. Their mouth was wide and filled with yellow teeth and a blocky nose.

A particular ugly Goblin turned his head in Leo's direction, and before he was about to alarm his group, Leah chanted a spell.

"Air, get channeled through me and gather by my wand! Wind Arrows!"

'Wow, they really chant. Am not really keen if I have to do this to, it's a little to cringy.'

Pointing the staff forwards, two arrows were produced and shot towards the Goblin.

One hit him in the stomach and the other in the head.

He swayed a little and collapsed, with blood oozing out the hit areas.

The Goblin group twitched in unison, turned around and saw the group. One after another, they screamed at them, took out some rocks from simple bags on their side and readied up to throw them.

Sam called out:

"It's only a small group, and a Hobgoblin would have led them at the front. We can take them. Henry, be careful."

"Sure thing!"

Henry shouted, already sprinting towards the small group. The Goblins, still in a motion to throw the rocks, were overwhelmed, and lowered their arms.

Meanwhile, Henry arrived at the first one, and slashed with his sword from the top left to the bottom right, nearly splitting the creature.

In the same motion he changed the angle and killed another one in a similar way.

Sam was already relaxing, and began talking to Leo.

"You know, not only is Henry our scout, but is also very fast when it comes to swordplay. Our flower over there on the other hand is not so good with arms, and more suited for magic. Even if attack magic is only something for more educated people, we have the luck to get a former mercenary to teach her. Together we make a pretty harmonious party."

Impressed, Leo responded:

"That is so cool, but is it okay for you to talk so leisurely with me? I thought we have to be on alert?"

"That's right, but nothing to worry. We are nearly home, and the Goblins here are small, obviously malnourished and poorly equipped. Other monsters in this area will flee when they feel the magic coming from Leah.

So watch for now and, well, enjoy?"

'Enjoying he says. Honestly, I could puke right now. The blood is flowing out from the bodies and they are unfazed by it.'

Meanwhile, Leah finished another chant, but instead of two arrows, there were four.

These shot randomly into the group, two of them missing and hitting trees, scratching of the bark.

The other two hit two Goblins, one in the shoulder, the other one in the eye.

The last one died on the spot, the other, while holding his shoulder, screamed again, and collectively the remaining Goblins turned around and fled.

"Let them run," Sam yelled, "They run towards the inner part of the forest. They don't posses any threat."

Leah and Henry nodded, She put away her wand and took out a handkerchief. Henry walked over to her, took it and began cleaning his blade.

With slightly rugged breath, he handed Leo a sharp dagger.

He took it, and asked puzzled:

" What should I do with this?"

"Go over there and be useful. While weak, Goblins are still little nuisances. As a proof of subjugation, cut of their Right ear. I do this so you can earn a share of the money and familiarize yourself with this kind of scenes. At some point, you have to kill, either as an adventurer, a soldier or to protect something. So, begin learning now and profit a lifetime long.

Sam and Leah sat down and looked at Leo, expecting him to answer Henry. Leah took out some dried meat in the meantime and handed some to Sam and Henry.

Leo, seeing that, couldn't suppress a growling from his stomach. He looked over to the corpses, swallowed a clump in his throat and made his way towards them.

His heavy steps rang out on the moist ground, producing a cracking sound with each step. After arriving by the corpses, the cracking sound was replaced with a wet sound, like stepping in a puddle.

He looked down on the severed limbs and bloody bodies of the corpses. The ugly creatures dead on the ground almost invoking pity. Then, a nauseous smell assaulted his nose, and the stench of metallic blood and ejections of various kind filled the surrounding.

'Oh my..., that looks so much... worse. And... the smell..-'

Already feeling his belly turning, he turned towards the side, and emptied all stomach contents out, only stopping when nothing more was coming.

Leah saw what happened, stood up and walked over to Leo. He patted his back, whispering to him:

"That happened to all of us. When others talk about dead, looting or adventures, they spare us the details such as this. But the only way to overcome it is to practice and gather experience.

So, if you can do this now, " she handed him her water bottle from her belt, "you won't only have experience, but also our respect.

Not any kid can do this, and we are aware that this might be too early. But we have to assume the blood from before came from your relative, and it's possible you have no further family in the vicinity.

So being dependant on only you is no disadvantage."

With that said, she went back to Sam and Henry. There she asked:

"Is it ok to let him do this? He lost his memory, maybe family and is about to be thrown into a pile of strangers. Maybe that's too much."

Sam looked over to Leo, who was looking back to the Goblins, hesitating.

"No, we can at least give him the opportunity to do this. Not only can he earn some copper like that, but his confidence will rise, allowing him to deal better with the future.

Now it's safe, and no danger apart from the Goblins."

Not hearing what was said behind him, Leo observed the corpses. He gripped Leah's water bottle tighter, took big gulps and readied the dagger.

'Now I'm here. A scenario I always pictured is right before me, although more vivid than anticipated.

In the future it will be a lot worse... maybe.'

With that in mind, he walked over to the first Goblin. It was the one who was slashed first by Henry, and the big gaping wound showed itself to Leo. Trying to ignore it, he grabbed the right ear, positioned the blade at the base, and made a cutting motion.

The cheap iron blade, while slightly blocking, cut of the ear. He felt the uprising in his belly but forcefully repressed it.

He then continued to the next Goblin and cut of the remaining ears. But by the last one with a bloody mess in the eye socket, he had to puke again. The trio gave him pitying looks, but remained sitting.

After a minute, Leo rose up and cut of the ear without really looking. The cut was not as clean and the base was partly missing.

He walked back to the group, sat on the ground, handed Leah's water back to her, and said:

"Here, 5 ears. How much is it worth? And what do we do with the bodies?"

Sam took the ears, which were then put into a separate bag into his backpack.

"5 Goblins, as young as these will be worth around a total of 15 to 17 copper.

We will split according to contribution. So you will receive enough to buy yourself at least a meal.

The bodies may attract other monsters such as wolves, so we sprinkle them up with a smell covering powder. The rest will be done by Slimes."

"Slimes?" Came the question from Leo.

Henry answered him:

"Little wobbly things. They eat, or rather dissolve organic waste. So shit, leftovers and bodies.

Can be hold in a house in a pit or similar. Useful, but damn stupid."

'Wow, even slimes are a thing here. Can't wait to see a thing. Let's hope it doesn't have organs or blood. If I have to kill something like that, it will be awfully gross'

"Do you wanna eat something?" Came the question from Leah.

"Not really. Don't know if I could hold it in, sorry."

Leo said dejected.

"As I said, we were not much different. At the latest you have back your appetite when we arrive at Naoka. Good work."

""Good work""

When hearing this, Leo couldn't help but show a light smile.

The three stood up in unison. Sam helped Leo to stand, 'cause his legs felt unstable.

And together they proceeded towards Naoka.