Goblin den

As Malenia stepped out of her hiding spot, some of the goblins in the surrounding area noticed her presence, turning their heads in her direction, curious and cautious about the unknown visitor.

Malenia smiled hesitantly at them, observing their expressions to determine whether or not they were hostile toward her.

As she continued marching forward to the cave entrance, more and more goblins began noticing her, wondering about her origin.

The goblins identified her as a human and instinctively thought about killing her, fueled by their resentment toward humans.

At first, the goblins had no hatred for humans. They lived peacefully in their own territory, minding their own business.

However, everything changed several decades ago when humans, along with other races, invaded the continent. They came in search of new lands to conquer, driven by an insatiable hunger for territory and resources.

With their arrival, the peaceful lives of the goblins and all the other monsters were shattered.

The humans and other races began hunting the native monsters for sport, materials, and control over their land. They didn't consider the monsters to be on the same level of existence as them, due to the monsters' lower intellect.

This stirred a deep resentment in the goblins and most other monster races toward humans and other invaders.

But this human was different—they were unable to feel the usual hatred toward her.

Instead, they felt a strange sense of connection, as if she were a part of them. This unfamiliar feeling held them back, preventing them from attacking the woman who was boldly approaching their territory.

They simply watched her as she approached the entrance, gathering around her.

Reaching the entrance, Malenia found herself surrounded by a massive number of goblins.

She could hear their murmurs, and thanks to her skill, she understood fragments of what they were saying:

"Human, why here?"

"Who that human?"

"Weird human?"

These goblins were noticeably different from her daughter, who spoke perfectly. Perhaps it was Malenia's unique class that caused her daughter's genetics to evolve slightly beyond that of regular goblins—though still not on par with hobgoblins, as her father had only been an ordinary goblin.

"Hello, me friend, not enemy. I want you to take me to your leader," Malenia said, gesturing with her hands as she spoke, hoping to make it easier for them to understand.

The goblins paused, their murmurs growing louder as they exchanged confused glances. Some tilted their heads, trying to process her words. Others eyed her warily, still unsure whether to trust this strange human.

One goblin, slightly taller and bulkier than the rest, stepped forward. His skin was a darker shade of green, and he carried a crude spear that looked like it had been forged in a hurry. He seemed to be a leader among the smaller group of goblins.

"You... friend? Why human want leader?" he asked in broken speech, his tone filled with suspicion. Even if he felt no hatred for her, it didn't mean he would blindly do as she said.

The larger goblin squinted, clearly unconvinced but interested in her. The other goblins around him whispered to one another, their eyes shifting between Malenia and the bulkier goblin.

After a few moments of silence, the taller goblin grunted. "Fine. You come. But no tricks, or we kill." He motioned for two goblins to move by her side, ensuring she wouldn't try anything unexpected.

With only 50% favorability, the relationship between her and the goblins was like that of new friends. But that didn't mean they wouldn't hurt Malenia if she did anything foolish.

Malenia nodded, keeping her movements slow and non-threatening. "Yes, I'm a friend. I have something important to discuss with your leader. I mean no harm."

Malenia smiled, hiding her nervousness. "Thank you." she said, following their lead as they guided her deeper into the cave.

The atmosphere inside the cave was oppressive, the air heavy. The walls were lined with basic torches.

The goblins chattered amongst themselves, their language a chaotic blend of growls and clicks that Malenia could only partially understand through her skill.

As they walked, she couldn't help but notice the organization within the den. The goblins were working together, far more coordinated than the wild, chaotic creatures she had heard about. They carried supplies, crafted tools, and even seemed to have a crude system of guards and patrols.

'This is far from normal goblin behavior.' Malenia thought, her unease growing. Whatever was influencing them, it was powerful—and dangerous.

Finally, they reached a large, open chamber deep within the cave. At its center sat a hulking figure on a throne made of bones and wood. He was fully naked, receiving oral pleasure from several female goblins who were kneeling before him and worshiping his cock in front of all the beings present.

Malenia was seeing female goblins for the first time. It wasn't that she hadn't heard about them—goblins could only breed with each other like humans—but the gender ratio was vast. Across the continent, 80% of goblins were male, and only 20% were female. That's why she was surprised to see several of them with just one goblin.

The goblin leader was unlike any Malenia had ever seen—his frame massive, his eyes sharp and calculating. This wasn't just a goblin; this was most likely a hobgoblin, as far as Malenia could tell. And judging by his commanding presence, he was a particularly powerful one.

'Strength truly rules this world, huh? His power is probably above Rank 6 or 5. What is he doing here with these weak goblins?'

The goblins escorting her stopped a few steps away from the throne, motioning for her to step forward.

The hobgoblin's piercing gaze locked onto her, his expression unreadable.

"You human," he rumbled, his voice deep and masculine. "Why you come here? Speak fast."

Malenia took a deep breath, calming herself—she wasn't sure if her high favorability applied to hobgoblins as well.

"I have come to bargain." She began.