Laurus is my name. It has been my name for the fifteen years that I have lived in this world. Before that is was Hayato Ito, I was a college dropout in a place called Japan, until I was hit by a truck and given a second chance by a strange dark god.

【Laurus. Laurus! Fiora hath returned.】

I am polishing my sword in my childhood home when Sylphie comes rushing up the tree house to tell me the good news.

Sylphie is a beautiful elf girl and my childhood friend, she is wearing a leaf skirt and top like most girls of the Hidden Village. Because she is an elf she ages slower and she is a lot smaller than me. Despite that we are actually the same age. (If you only count how long I have lived in this new world.)

【Fiora? You mean same Fiora that went missing almost a year ago? Did she come back from some adventure?】

【An adventure? Please. Laurus, thou'st still such a child.】

【What's that? Who's a kid? Miss Flatty!】

I know exactly what buttons to push, Sylphie's face goes completely red.

【Thou- Thou idiot! I'm merely here to tell thou we're all downstairs celebrating her return. But you know. We'd be happier if thou stay'st up here. So there!】

She storms off.

I should probably apologize to her. But she's so much cuter when she's angry.

I leave my tree hut to see what the commotion is about.

It doesn't look like a welcoming party at all. Fiora is on her knees on the forest floor, crying. Some older elves are beside her to comfort her, the rest of the village is giving her space.

【What happened?】 I ask the elf man that happens to be standing next to me. His name is Nilfin.

【Forsooth, for the past lustrum Fiora had been held captive by the heinous creatures known as goblins. Her very recollection of the past years has been too grave for her to uphold her decorum.】

Goblins. I remember when I used to slay goblins when I had just started out as an adventurer. They are very weak, but it's not impossible for them to capture normal people when ganging up on them in large groups. Apparently they rape women to make more goblins.

【That had to be traumatizing.】 I let go.

【Laurus!】 Nilfin says. 【Thou art an adventurer. Art thou not? Surely, the righteous eradication of these pests would hardly be a trial for one such as thee!】

I scratch my chin. Killing goblins wasn't very rewarding work, the bounties were low and it wasn't considered very impressive. 【There aren't many goblins around anymore. And I wouldn't want to take away the opportunity for rookies to prove themselves during the culling next year.】

It always went like this. Whenever anybody heard about some monster or infestation I would be the first person they thought about. Because the hidden village was so isolated, as the only human I was the one allowed to mingle with human society and join the adventurers' guild. It can't be helped.

【How did you escape?】 I ask Fiora.

【By the luck of the ancients.】 She says. 【The goblins doth be a species of brutes and in the hurly-burly of their infighting, myself, and my fellow captives, were able to flee into the woods.】

【How didst thou survive the dangers of the forest?】 Sylphie asks.

【Our party was saved from certain death by the appearance of a beautiful adventuress. A paladin on a winged horse protected us from the wolves and escorted my human friends safely back to their city. I too was saved by her as she gave me her rations and understood my need for secrecy regarding my ancestral home.】

A paladin adventurer? On a winged horse? That sounds like...

【Margaret!】 I clasp my forehead.

【Doth verily. That was her name.】

I had completely forgotten about the woman who had wanted to form a party with me. She should still be waiting for me in Eston.

Scratch threw snow in his face to wake himself up.

It was still night, but the unclouded sky let through enough starlight for a goblin to see clearly.

"What did they say they were going to do?" He asked Second.

There where Four of them standing outside.

Scratch, Second, Kicker and Biter.

The reason they had woken up so early was because of the sudden disappearance of First, Yeller, Scratch of the cave goblins and a few outsiders.

Quiet and the rest of the younger generation remained inside to keep an eye on the house guests.

"I don't know. Something about getting food."

"In the middle of the night, huh? And secretively too. Something's fishy here."

"You think they're going to fish?"

"No, that's exactly the problem."

"They took the spears with them." Kicker said.

"The big axe too." Biter added.

"Second. Stop biting your nails. It's going to be alright." Scratch admonished him. "There should be a track left in the snow. Go follow it."

Kicker and Biter gave obedient salutes and started their tracking. They were in their element. It must have been nostalgic for them from the time they served as Drool's personal attack dogs.

"Are we close? Tell us how we'd know we're there." First demanded.

"Go... further." Small gestured with his hands to make up for his limited vocabulary.

Last didn't say anything.

Last and Small had been loaned some footwear from currently sleeping goblins and they were wearing small blankets as their own makeshift cloaks.

It was clear to Yeller and Teeth that First was less patient than normal. He had a glimmer in his eye. A thirst for conquest.

Last and Small had agreed to lead them to another goblin tribe. Dissidents that had split off from Horn's group when food had become scarce.

Apparently they had taken a large stockpile of edible plants with them.

Food was a high priority to them right now, but Yeller and Teeth knew that wasn't what was itching First. Ever since the regular forest game had gone into their hibernation and the hunting had to be scaled back in favor of digging for roots and fishing in the river First had lost one of the major exit valves for his energy. It was true that at the cave Scratch was the leader, but in the forest, during the hunt, First got to be the alpha male. Fighting or trapping animals and then killing them was what made him feel big and strong. Gathering plants did not.

First was eager to relive the excitement of battling other goblins like in their war with the main group. Gathering food was just an excuse.

Yeller laid his hand on Last's shoulder, who was looking glum and distant.

"Don't worry. We've got weapons. Don't we?"

Last turned his eyes away from his gaze.

"No shoes." Biter said. Pointing to the track beneath him.

Scratch came over to look at the naked footprint. "That's strange. Can you count how many people there are in total?"

"No. Too many." Kicker answered for him.

"We know they took two pairs of shoes." Second said. "But maybe they're not used to them and kicked them off."

"I don't like this at all." Scratch continued, after he had gestured that they should just keep walking while talking. "First and the others keeping secrets from me. There's something weird going on with that Small guy too."

"Small was asking about Drool's woman." Second mentioned.

"Our mother. Yeah?"

"I talked to Scr- the other Scratch. Drool took her away when he, Small, was just born."

"So?"

"So... I don't know. It was just that he had talked about her before."

"hhhm." Scratch sighed and arched his back. "I just want to get my stupid brothers back before they do something stupid."

"I was always prepared for you to betray me."

"How curious, that when you're the one betraying me."

What a time to remember his past on Earth. This hadn't been long before his sudden immolation and death. A friend and co-conspirator was holding him at gunpoint over at the roof of a rundown office building. She had been quite agitated at the time.

"Don't fuck with me."

"Tut-tut. Language."

"You knew it was a trap and you send me right in."

She was referring to a failed arms deal. Ever since the previous big names in the syndicate had been busted they had been working overtime winning back the lost territory, with themselves at the head. He had been distracted, things he could only describe as supernatural had been occuring around him, and he had let her walk into a sting operation. Unfortunately, it didn't seem like she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

He cluthed his stomach. He still had chronic pains from the time he got disciplined all those years ago. "So what are you going to do? Are you going to shoot me?"

She turned the gun sideways. "I will."

"I didn't betray you." He said, his voice much calmer than the flinching expression on his face. "What would I have to gain from that, huh? You're my man in the field. What's the use of me setting things up if I have nobody to execute them?"

She walked towards him and he instincitvely walked backwards. "I knew sooner or later you'd try to get me back for ten years ago. But I came prepared motherfucker, I came prepared."

When his feet reached the ledge she grabbed him by the collar and held him over the edge. She continued. "Let's make it look like an accident shall we? It'll hurt less for you too."

She had a coverup going. This was a planned double-cross. A plan to fake a death like that within two hours? She had to have had help.

"I assume you've got an alibi then?" He said calmly, not looking down.

"Butch and I are currently drinking our cares away at the old bar."

Butch again. Well, he never liked me.

"Anybody else?"

"It's no concern of yours."

With those words she let go of him, but he had no intention of falling down. With a judo move he grabbed her dominant arm with both hands and pulled himself up and her above the edge in a turning motion. He twisted her wrist and shoulder to make her drop her gun and restrict her movement.

The tables were now completely turned, he would simply need to let go of her to kill her.

"I have told you so many times that I don't believe in repricocity. I don't punish and reward, I only organize."

She was too stunned to speak, her eyes were darting in all directions as the grip held her in place.

"When we clashed ten years ago I was perfectly willing to... let it go, as they say. I'd do the same here. But I understand now that you'd take it as a reason to trust me even less."

"Wait. No."

He didn't let her speak. "I have no use for those who don't trust me." And he let her go.

She fell five stories and left a mess on the alleyway.

He breathed in slowly and out slowly. Then he made a phone call for somebody to clean up the mess.

Right now was not the time to deal with disloyal members. Right now the bodysnatchers had first priority.

"There." Small said.

There didn't seem to be anything remarkable about the snowy hilltop he was pointing to.

"What?" First asked.

"We're there." He said.

The warrior trio went forth to inspect the area while Small held Last back.

From the hilltop a line of sight could be made with a collection of tents. There were humans about them.

They were dressed warmly in winter clothing and they breathed white vapor in the cold weather. It was clear that this was the night's watch and they were holding what could only be forged weapons.

Teeth and Yeller wanted to duck down to escape a leaning guard's sight, but First grabbed them by the hair to stop them from jumping into the snow.

"Shush." He whispered, a word Scratch would use as a command to make them stop talking. Right now being silent was the most important thing, the darkness would protect them.

Right then a stone packed with snow flew over their heads and impacted against the tree next to the guard.

"Ah!" First yelled out, breaking his own silence. He turned around to see Small and Last running away.

"Wait." Second said. "He's there." Pointing to a figure hunched against a tree to their side.

"That's Growler." Kicker commented.

"The bad one from the outsiders." Biter added.

"Hey you!" They both shouted.

The four brothers strayed from the track to approach the stranger. He had gone out in nothing but his loincloth, his feet had gotten frostbitten again and his whole body was hypothermic.

"Stay away." He growled, waving his arms threatingly without even having the energy to lift them properly or look at his enemies.

"At ease, soldier. We are not your enemies." Scratch proclaimed. "Tell us what this is all about."

Second rushed towards him to put a cloak over him, but he threw it off.

"No human... no... human."

"Can any of you make sense of what he's saying?" Scratch asked.

"No human?" Kicker offered helpfully.

"Maybe it's: No. Human!" Biter said. "Or even: no, human. Like he's addressing a human, if you get what I mean."

"I get what you mean, but I don't think that's it." Kicker responded.

"You two shush." Scratch said a little angrily. Then he adressed Growler again. "Where are your friends and our brothers?"

Growler chuckled joylessly. "You take them. You trade them. I know. I see."

"If only we had Yeller to translate." Scratch sighed. "This kind of thing is why I taught you guys to speak properly."

"You did that?" Biter said, sceptically.

"Growler. Did you flee from us because you thought we did something?" Second inquired.

Growler tried to pull himself away by the bark of the tree, but he didn't have the strength for it. "First take Last, take Small, to humans. I see. I know."

"To humans, eh? Let's waste no more time and catch up to them." Scratch said.

"Scratch. We need to do something." Second pleaded. "He'll die."

"First Yeller and now you." Scratch shook his head. "I don't know where you picked up that sentimentality. Anyway, he's not going to cooperate. You can leave your cloak here if you want. But then you'll have to go without."

"Are these the humans that took your eye?" Biter asked Scratch when they were back to following the track a few moments later. With a slight jog this time as the situation had become more severe and a very light snow downfall was slowly erasing the tracks.

"No, this is in the opposite direction. Much closer too. I didn't think we'd find civilization this deep in the woods."

"So maybe they're nice humans."

"Maybe, Growler didn't seem fond of them though."

"You like humans, don't you Scratch?" Kicker interjected.

How could I not. I still think of myself as a human. He thought.

"I won't make them mistake of trusting them anymore." He said.

A single human had effortlessly fended off the three goblins with his short sharpened blade.

It hadn't occured to First and his friends to flee when the guard had stepped forward and they had charged immediately, swinging the weapons that had brought victory against Horns and the other big goblins. However, this creature combined the physical prowess of someone like Horns with armor and weaponry superior to even their own clan.

He had simply kicked Yeller aside and blocked and parried First's weapon with his own, leaving a nasty gash on the eldest goblin's hand. He had enough time to dodge Teeth's wild rush too, tripping him.

The other two would have fought to the death if Yeller hadn't pulled them back.

"Argh! What are you-" First said, angry at being pulled away from the fight.

"You'll lose. You'll lose!" Yeller screamed, continueing to pull them both away from the enemy.

"No. I-" First stopped talking. Somehow the possibility of losing and suffering the same fate as the things he had killed had never entered his mind.

"There's goblins here!" The human shouted towards his compatriots.

"Don't wake us up over goblins. Just drive them away." Someone said.

The three all ran into different directions.

But the human had longer legs, he caught up to Yeller, weapon in hand, and with a single oveerhead strike chopped off his arm, straight through his shoulder.

Yeller dove into the snow. He was alive, his cloak and shirt had been slashed open and he was bleeding heavily, but he hadn't felt pain yet due to the adrenaline.

He tried to supress his breathing and play dead for the human standing over him.

The human sheathed his weapon and looked around a bit before simply sauntering off.

Not very far off stood Teeth. Frozen still.

The human had let his gaze glide over him and had then just left. As if he didn't see him at all.

After a few moments Teeth dared to go over where Yeller was lying.

"Yeller. Come on, Yeller, talk to me. Say something stupid." He pleaded.

"What are you talking about, I never say anything stupid." Yeller moaned softly.

"Let's go back." Teeth said. "We can clean the wound, like Scratch's eye. Can't we Yeller? Even without your arm- I mean you won't fight anymore, but-"

"Cut it out, okay?" Yeller interrupted, as he tried and failed to turn himself on his back with his remaining arm. "You've seen animals bleed out."

Teeth started to cry.

When trying to escape the guard First had ran deeper into the human encampement.

The guards were keeping watch over the perimeter but inside everybody seemed to be asleep.

He hid behind what seemed like a wooden container for rainwater and clutched his head in his hands.

What happened? What had he done?

In the first place they had thought they were raiding a goblin clan, but Small and Last had led them right towards what had to be a powerful human empire.

First had heard about humans from Scratch, but he hadn't really thought about them. They had been a mythical far-off creature that had cost their leader his eye. But the real most powerful creature in all of the world they knew, that was they themselves, the cave goblins.

So First had set out on this mission with no hesitation, no fear or precaution. And he had led them straight into the jaws of death.

"Hey. Do goblins wear clothes?"

"What are yer talking about? Have ya been burning hemp?"

It had been twelve years since Dee and Huckabee had been resigned to bandit life and he still managed to stupify her with his questions from time to time.

"I just wacked a goblin and it was wearing clothes."

"No yer haven't. Don't talk shite."

"Yes I have. A cloak and pants and a shirt. Come and look if yer dunnot believe me."

"I can't. I'm keeping watch. You should too, go back to yer post before Miss Harkness finds out."

"Alright. Alright."

Huckabee stumbled back to where he came from. It was so incredibly dark during this hour of the night, he couldn't see a thing.

A goblin could probably sneak effortlessly past him, if it had the desire and tactical inclination to do so. But it wasn't goblins he was keeping an eye out for.

"Teeth! Where are the others? Where's... the rest of Yeller?"

It had been an insensitive comment by Scratch, but one that alerted Teeth to his presence. He had been carrying Yeller back, leaving a trail of the boy's blood behind him and drenching his own clothes in the liquid completely by doing so.

He came running up to him, Yeller in his arms, his eyes red from the tears. "Scraaatch, fix'm. Do somm thiii." He was incomprehensible through his crying.

Yeller moaned weakly at the shaking. He was pale, in the last stages of bleeding out.

"Easy there. Put him down. Okay?"

Kicker and Biter helped put down Yeller gently on a snowbank.

Scratch tried to put pressure on the wound to stop it bleeding, but an entire limb had been chopped off. And in any case, he had already lost too much blood.

"Hey there Yeller. How're you feeling?"

Scratch's eyes blinked very slowly. "Cold..."

He grabbed Teeth's cloak, which had already gone red, and tugged it tightly around his dying brother.

"I'm here. Teeth is here. So are Second and Kicker and Biter. We're all glad we got to see you one last time."

"No..." Teeth said, realizing there wasn't going to be any saving.

"I'm scared." Yeller said, trying to find a hand to grasp and finding Second's. "First-"

He wasn't able to finish his sentence.

A freshly made corpse will immediately expel various waste products and emit a powerful smell.

The kids turned away from the dead goblin, retching.

No dignity, even in death, huh? Scratch thought to himself. Typical.

Teeth had his face turned away from the rest of the group. Even though they had seen him cry unreservedly already.

Kicker and Biter were standing around awkwardly, not knowing what to do.

Second was pulling away Teeth's cloak from the body, his movements were brusque and snappish. He seemed angry.

"Are you alright too, Second?" Scratch tried.

Second yelled at him. "Why are we always dieing, Scratch?! Every time. I mean... Slow-" He couldn't finish his sentence.

Scratch decided to leave him alone.

They loitered around, cleaning the scene, until they could get Teeth to recount the situation.

Scratch then used his authority as the leader to force everybody to go back. If First didn't return by himself, he said, they had to consider him dead, that was an order.

As it happened First didn't return the following morning. Nor did he throughout the day when the sun was rising.

A decision had to be made concerning the outsiders.

There were three of them left; Scream, outsider-Kicker and outsider-Scratch.

"We had planned on simply letting you walk away after this." cave-Scratch began, having gathered them in one place near the old bloomery.

Scream eyed the wet snow around them and in th forest. Would they even survive in the wild as it was now?

"However." cave-Scratch continued with a strict tone. "Your friends have hurt us greatly, and I can't be sure we can trust- Second stop bothering me."

Second had been pulling at his arm while he was speaking. "Don't kill them please." He pleaded.

"Let me kill them." Teeth growled menacingly, there was no happy eagerness in his voice, just angry bloodthirst.

The outsider goblins shifted awkwardly in their place. Outsider-Scratch seemed ready to start sprinting, while outsider-Kicker looked towards Scream for confirmation.

"Killing? What are you talking about? Will you just let me finish?" Scratch shook off Second angrily, then turned towards the visitors again. "We're going to keep you here for a while and keep an eye on you."

The three exhaled in relief.

"I'll be thinking up some tasks for you to earn your keep and win our trust."

Scream smiled and nodded approvingly.

"Oh, you think it'll be easy, huh? Well you can start by digging the rest of this well."

Scratch put them on something his own people had given up on a few days back. Digging through the frozen earth to reach ground water.

"By the way, in the meantime, you can think up new names for Kicker and Scratch, because right now it's confusing."

First didn't return, not because he was dead, but because he had been captured.

The bandits had a few handcrafted cages for animals, none were fitted for a goblin-sized creature. But they were merciful and gave him one that was too large, rather than too small.

"Lookit! He talks. Didn't I say they talked?" Huckabee the bandit underling proclaimed loudly.

"I didn't hear nuthin'." His comrade Dee responded, speaking with her mouth full.

"Ey. Say something." He prodded First with his finger.

First tried to bite him but he withdrew too quickly.

"Ah, pest!"

"Did you dress him up like that?" Dee asked, eyeing the crudely tailored fur that was covering the little goblin.

"No, I'm telling you. It's an intelligent type or something."

"I'm not explaining this to Harkness. You can go talk to her about it."

"Talk to me about what?"

Both bandits jumped up when the presence of their leader suddenly appeared between them.

"A miss Hark- I mean mistress, uh, you hono-"

"I'm not a knight anymore. So you can knock it off with the formalities, if there's one bright side to all this then it's that."

"Right. Boss."

"What do I need explaining about?"

Dee answered for him. "Huck caught a goblin."

"Ah- A special goblin." He quickly added.

The boss looked at First, who stared back just as intensely. "What's so special about him?"

"I- he talks."

"All goblins talk. They copy humans."

"Not as much as this one, m- uh, boss."

Again she looked at the caged goblin. He was just sitting on the floor of the cage with his arms folded. "Right. Stay focused Huckabee. There've been more orcs spotted tonight."

After that exchange she walked off. Dee started laughing uncontrollably.

"He's wearing clothes! He has like a little outfit!" Huckabee yelled at her what he didn't dare do against his boss.

Orcs

Family: beastmen

Threat Level: D

Reward: 1 silver piece

Orcs are the biggest force of evil. Although individually not the strongest they are numerous and intelligent, able to form large armies and march in service of a dark lord. They have a lifespan of more than fifty years, although it's rare for them to survive into old age. An adult orc has greater strength than the average human, however, they are less intelligent and do not have the ability to learn magic. They can be recognized by their pig-like appearance, as they posses the combined features of humans and pigs.

Orcs are an all-male race and reproduce by capturing women or by the magic of an alchemist, as there are dark rituals for birthing them from mud. They are not capable of agriculture or living in harmony with nature and must survive nomadically, raping and pillaging wherever they come.

Because of their migratory nature they can appear in territories officially ranked at danger levels lower than D.