Kaito walked steadily through a pile of goblin corpses, a rare smile tugging at his lips. The weight on his shoulders wasn't just the heavy bag — it was hard-won satisfaction.
Each step landed with a dull thud. The stench of blood clung to him, drawing the attention of hungry wolves lurking nearby. Their eyes glinted with greed, jaws hanging open in anticipation.
But to Kaito, they were nothing more than a brief nuisance. He didn't bother to draw his blade. The wolves seemed to sense this and kept their distance.
Soon, Kaito reached the entrance of the goblin nest. A group of short, vicious goblins stood guard. Some clutched spears, others brandished crude axes. Their eyes gleamed with malice and cunning.
Near the entrance, goblins lined up before their chiefs, the so-called "Goblin Leaders." These leaders stood straighter than their lowly kin and possessed a sharper mind—enough to manage simple tasks like patrol reports, inventory, and distributing rewards. The scene had an unsettling order, almost resembling a bustling market.
The goblins returning from raids wore smug, satisfied expressions. Some dragged trembling women behind them. Their faces held varying emotions—despair, silent grief, or faint sobs that echoed hauntingly through the trees.
Among the chaotic crowd, Kaito stood out. He was alone, burdened with a heavy bag that dragged on his back. Goblins eyed him with suspicion and disdain.
"What's with that guy?"
"Why's he the only one coming back?"
"Maybe the rest of his squad ditched him."
"Oh, I know him! That's the one who killed all those younglings!"
"What?!"
"Yeah, heard he got bullied into carrying that load."
"Hah! Serves him right."
Sneering faces turned his way. One goblin shoved a black-haired woman toward him. Her tattered clothes barely covered her pale skin, and her delicate features stood out, lovely yet hollow with pain. She stumbled toward Kaito, seemingly on purpose.
He sidestepped her with ease, never loosening his grip on the bag.
"Ha! Afraid of women now?" sneered the lead goblin, grinning cruelly. He seemed to believe Kaito had been flustered by her presence.
The woman glanced back as she was dragged into the cave, her eyes flickering with something sharp and calculating.
"Thinking about her, huh?" one of the goblins taunted.
"He can forget it! His 'elf mother' is still in the nest!"
Laughter erupted. Kaito ignored them and continued forward.
"Hey, you!"
An old goblin barked at him. Kaito kept walking until a guard blocked his path.
"The chief's calling you."
Kaito turned, scowling.
The old goblin hobbled over, flanked by a cluster of sneering onlookers.
"I was calling you," the chief snapped. "Why didn't you stop?"
"I didn't hear anyone say my name," Kaito replied coolly.
"You...!"
The old goblin's face darkened as he reached for his staff. In an instant, Kaito's killing intent surged like a blade against his throat. The chief froze, feeling death linger a heartbeat away.
"You... want to kill me?" the old goblin stammered, lowering his staff and forcing a calm expression.
Kaito said nothing, his cold gaze locked on the goblin's face. The chief dared not provoke him further.
"Come on, Chief!" a goblin jeered from the crowd. "Don't back down! Show him who's boss!"
"Yeah! Knock some sense into him!"
The chief clenched his teeth, silently cursing those lowly goblins for their reckless taunts. He knew one wrong move would leave his head rolling in the dirt.