Chapter 13 – 14

Chapter 13 – Evolution!

"ARRGHHHH!!!"

I was digging even farther into the cave now that I had this pickaxe from the old man that we called Mappa.

The goblins and Cave Spiders also dug with Mappa's tools.

In fact, during these past few days, I had tamed many slimes.

88 in all.

And so there was no problem in terms of transportation.

Also, I had started filling in the area around the shore with sand and small rocks, in order to make it easier to land.

Everything was going smoothly…

Or so I thought. But then I noticed something while looking through my Inventory.

◇ Inventory

Rock x 23978

Iron Ore x 899

Copper Ore x 978

Gold Ore x 27

Silver Ore x 88

Coal x 2220

Limestone x 789

Marble x 1999

…

Ruby x 8

Sapphire x 6

Crystal x 1399

Turtle Stone x 189

Purification Stone x 3

Shining Stone x 389

Most of the materials had been increasing.

But there was one thing that bothered me.

The fact that I hadn't found another Dragon Sphere Stone…was not really a problem.

If anything, I would be scared if the place was overflowing with such things.

No, what bothered me was that Turtle Stones were becoming harder to find.

According to my calculations, we had already extended Rienna's life by ten years.

However, we were suddenly finding fewer of them.

I wanted to return to the areas where I had found them and dig deeper, but it seemed that there were dangers of cave-ins, and so 'Cave King' wouldn't show me any glowing spots to dig.

I decided to be honest and discuss the matter with Rienna…

But she just smiled and said that we had done enough.

But… It was because she looked so cheerful that I felt heartbroken.

I had to do something… Before I knew it, it was stuck in the corner of my brain while I was digging.

…Then it happened.

I suddenly hit a small cavern with white walls.

According to Cave King, it was 3 meters high and 6 square meters.

And so I hesitantly stepped into the stone room.

The floor and walls were all white marble.

And in the center, were scattered rocks and small stones that glowed blue.

Farther in the back, there was something like an altar. And a golden rock lay on top of it.

It might have been a tombstone. But there were no statues or coffins in sight.

Maybe it was a shrine?

First, I let my Inventory gather all of the fallen rocks.

Most of them were just ordinary rocks… However, when I gathered the blue stones, an unfamiliar name popped up.

"…Heart Stone?"

<<Heart Stone… It can be used as a core for created creatures. …Since you have acquired the Heart Stone, Doll Creation is now possible through the Cave King support feature.>>

Huh? Doll?

<<With Cave King, you can use the Heart Stone to create a doll. Combine items in your inventory to create and alter a doll.>>

So, that meant I could increase the number of friends even more.

Judging by the rocks here, perhaps there had once been a rock doll that was here.

I went forward and then gathered the gold stone as well.

…Ascension Monster Stone? What does it do?

The broken doll was likely placed here to protect this.

So it must be important.

And then the Advisor explained it to me.

<<Ascension Monster Stone…Using it allows you to make monsters evolve.>>

Evolve? I wasn't sure what that meant…

<<Monsters are able to change into another type of monster. Their age and memories will be the same, but their bodies will be different.>>

Huh. Would that affect their lifespan too?

<<Their lifespan will also change.>>

Oh… Then we wouldn't have to worry about Rienna's lifespan anymore.

That being said, changing a person's body…I didn't like the idea of doing something so unheard of…

In any case, I decided to leave the room for now and return to the entrance.

It was quite late in the day now, and I wanted to tell the others about what I had found.

And so I returned to the entrance and Baris, Erevan, Rienna, and I all surrounded the pile of Shining Stones.

Shiel sat on my lap, and while no one had actually called Mappa, he sat down with us, with a grilled fish in one of his hands.

"Hmm. A doll… I am sorry, but I have never heard of such a thing."

"I see. Not even you, Baris."

Of course, Erevan and Rienna didn't know either.

As for Mappa, he was too busy eating his fish.

"Well, I guess I'll have to do some testing by myself. But more importantly…"

I took out the thing I had actually wanted to talk about. The Ascension Monster Stone.

And I told them that it allowed monsters to evolve.

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"And uh, apparently, it would change your lifespan… But I don't really know how evolution works…"

However, Baris seemed to know something about it.

"Evolve!? Are you saying that this stone allows you to evolve!?"

"Huh? You know about these?"

"Not only I, but the Princess and General know of it as well. After all, it is part of our goblin myths."

Rienna nodded at these words, but Erevan looked confused as he tilted his head.

"General… Have I not told you the story so many times…"

"S-sorry… I don't remember those…myths or anything like that."

"Haahh… Well, nevermind."

Baris said with exasperation. Then he asked me a question.

"Lord Heal, do you know of any monsters that are similar to us?"

"…Similar? Do you mean like Hobgoblins or Leaf Goblins?"

"Yes, as you say. For instance, these Hobgoblins that are closer to orcs in physique, they used to be normal goblins like us. However, goblins who fought against humans wanted the strength to win against them. And so they acquired these stones…"

"So, larger goblins are the ones who evolved then. Is it the same with Leaf Goblins?"

"Yes. In order to survive in the deep forests, they wanted bodies that were covered in leaf-like hair. That is what a Leaf Goblin is."

"I see."

So it was used to become stronger or to adapt to harsh environments.

"However, we always thought that it was just a myth… I never thought the day would come that I would actually see one."

Baris said with much emotion.

"Does uh…anyone want to try it out?"

I asked out of curiosity.

However, Baris shook his head.

"While I am interested, it is too great an honor for someone like me. Besides, I am rather fond of this old body."

Erevan nodded as well.

"I have no complaints about my current form. If anything, I am so amazing right now, that I would be a fool to give it up."

Erevan said as he proudly showed us his biceps.

Erevan had already had a body that was too large for a goblin. He was intimidating to humans like me.

However, it wasn't as if Baris and Erevan were completely uninterested.

They were only saying this because they wanted Rienna to be the one to use this stone.

After all, it would change her lifespan.

And Rienna herself seemed interested in evolution.

"I-I… I would so much like to be of better use to you, Lord Heal… If I could use magic…I…"

Goblins couldn't use magic.

Their bodies did not store any magical energy.

Perhaps she felt that she could change that if she evolved.

"B-but…I wouldn't dare use something that is so valuable!"

Rienna quickly shook her head.

"Hmm. But if you could use magic, you would be able to do so much more. That's worth a lot more than this. If you're interested, why not use it?"

"B-but…"

"Besides, there is your lifespan to consider… I want you to live as long as possible."

I said. And Baris and Erevan nodded deeply.

"Lord Heal…and you two…"

Rienna thought about it for a moment.

Then she took in a deep breath and said,

"I…I want to evolve."

"I see. Then it's settled…yes."

I handed Rienna the Ascension Monster Stone.

"Thank you… I will change so that I can be of better use to you, Lord Heal."

Rienna said. And then she grasped the stone tightly.

And then, Rienna's body was enveloped in light.

The light grew and then exploded in a blinding flash.

Once it faded away, what we saw there was…

"A h-human?"

Erevan said in surprise.

It was no wonder.

In the spot that Rienna had been standing, was a beautiful woman with clear pale skin and long black hair that reached her waist.

She had long legs and arms and a shapely figure.

It was hard to believe that this was the same Rienna… After all, the person standing there could have only been a human.

And so Baris, Erevan and I were very surprised.

As for Mappa, he had fainted with a bloody nose.

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Chapter 14 – I fainted!

I shook Mappa's body.

"Ma-mappaaaaa!!!"

And so I had to cast healing magic on the fallen, bleeding Mappa.

Erevan said to me,

"…Chief. He is only unconscious. He did the same thing earlier when seeing one of the goblin women."

"What are you talking about, Erevan! Don't you know how dangerous blood loss can be for humans?"

"Y-yes, of course… It's just that…he is a human?"

What could he be if not human?

But it was true. Mappa was a little short and stout for a human.

He had a beard like an old man, but his skin was very soft and smooth.

In fact, there wasn't a single wrinkle on his face…and his bottom wasn't sagging.

Well, in any case, he really wasn't in all that much danger.

Perhaps I had exaggerated my reaction because…

I wanted to avert my eyes from a naked woman…

As I shouted loudly, 'Hey, Mappa!" Erevan and Baris were sweating.

"…Princess? Is that really you?"

Baris asked. Rienna answered with a 'Huh?'

Erevan continued.

"But Princess…you look just like a human…"

"Me? A human?"

Rienna looked down at her hands and touched her long legs and body."

As she did this, Shiel stretched itself out in front of her.

It was so she could see her own reflection. Very perceptive.

Rienna looked at her new body in the mirror.

"This…is me?"

Rienna touched her slightly flushed cheeks.

It was as if she could not believe that she looked like that.

Baris also seemed like he didn't understand what was happening, and he asked me,

"Is it truly possible for a goblin to evolve into a human?"

"I-I don't know either…"

I wasn't the right person to ask.

But one thing was certain, Rienna was still tamed by me.

As an effect of the taming skill, I was able to tell who was and who wasn't tamed.

If she was tamed, that meant she was still a monster.

Tamed…

It had a strange ring to it now that she looked different.

It was no wonder, since she looked like an ordinary human now.

Baris folded his arms and then turned to Rienna.

"Perhaps this happened because it was the form that you desired. Did you want to become a human, Princess?"

"Huh…? N-no. I just… I just wanted to become more useful to Lord Heal!"

"That does not seem like enough reason to turn human… Ahh, you did say that you wanted to be able to use magic. And humans can use magic."

"Ye-yes. Perhaps that is it."

Rienna coughed lightly and looked at me as if embarrassed.

"Lord Heal… What…do you think?"

Uh, what was I supposed to say…

You look pretty…?

No, no. I had to treat her exactly as I did before…

"Yes… It would make things a lot easier for me if you can use magic now. You would be able to heal people like this."

I said as I shook Mappa.

Just then, Mappa's eyes opened and he sat right up.

However, as soon as he saw Rienna, he squirted blood all over my face and then fainted.

"L-lord Heal! Your face!"

Rienna picked up a nearby handkerchief and walked towards me.

Of course, this meant there was no avoiding getting an eyeful…

And so seeing a woman naked for the first time caused me to lose consciousness.

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"Hmm…"

When I woke up, the bearded old man's face was right in front of mine.

Yes, he really didn't have any wrinkles. I had a feeling he would look a lot younger without the beard.

Apparently, Mappa and I had been sleeping on top of Shiel like a bed.

And since Mappa snored loudly while trying to cling onto me, I quickly got out.

"Ahh…how long was I sleeping…? It's already dawn."

The sky was growing paler.

The early risers were already starting to cook some fish.

I saw that Rienna was gathering some water by the reservoir with a bucket.

She was no longer naked but was wearing cloth that was made from spider webs.

Then she seemed to notice me.

She put down the bucket and headed in my direction.

"Lord Heal!"

"Rienna. Morning. It's a bit early to be working."

"Oh, this is nothing! As I have evolved, I have to work harder than before."

She said with a lighthearted smile.

While she looked nothing like the old Rienna, she was just as courageous as before.

But then she looked at me worriedly.

"More importantly, Lord Heal. Are you alright? You suddenly fell asleep."

"Huh? Oh, I'm fine. I think I was just really tired."

I couldn't tell her that it was due to a state of heightened excitement.

That would put me in the same category as Mappa.

'That's good,' Rienna said with relief.

"Still, Rienna. Are you fine with changing like this? I didn't know that it would do this to you…"

"No, Lord Heal. I am rather fond of this form. Becoming human…it was not very expected. But I never much liked my old body… And so I think there was a part of me that wanted to be more beautiful."

"Huh…"

Indeed. Rienna had been much smaller than the other goblins.

She was rounder and the green of her skin was dull, and not vibrant like the others.

Perhaps she did not quite match the goblin ideal of beauty.

"I had many siblings. My older and younger sisters were all beautiful, unlike me. Not only that, but I was cursed from birth. And so, I was often bullied by the others…"

I couldn't help but be taken in by her story.

Perhaps it was because it reminded me about how I was raised.

I was also born with a useless crest and my father and brothers treated me like a failure who had weak magic.

And since we were both fifteen years old, I felt a strange bond.

"And yet it was I who ended up becoming the last survivor of the Berdan royal family… But I am now reborn."

Rienna put a hand to her chest and continued.

"…This body and this life are all thanks to you. And so…I will do everything I can to help you."

She reached out to touch my hand.

Rienna said she would do everything she could to help me.

Yes, it made me happy.

But what should I say in reply?

Words of encouragement? That I'm counting on her?

I wasn't used to saying things like that.

In the first place, I didn't see her or the other goblins as subordinates…

At most, I owned the land, and they were residents.

Everyone should do what they could, and life on this island could develop.

And so I held her hand and asked her this.

"I… I wouldn't want anything more if I could eat your delicious food. If you would continue to allow me to eat it?"

"Lord Heal…!"

Rienna's face turned a little red and her eyes filled with tears.

However, she quickly smiled again.

"…Of course! I will go and prepare it right away!"

"Ah, thank you."

"Yes! I will do my best!"

Rienna answered happily.

After that, I taught her to use magic, and Erevan taught her how to fight. And she became very active in learning new things.

However, Rienna hadn't simply changed into a human form and learned to use magic. But we did not know it at that time.