"Jill picks the f-floh-"

"Flowers." Scratch corrected Biter.

They were reading from a children's book in the foyer. It was illustrated and had short sentences on every page, to teach kids how to read.

"Jack rakes the leaves and Jill picks the flowers." Biter read the entire sentence from the beginning.

"That's right, you're getting it."

Scratch had been looking to leave his brother alone with the literature to keep him busy, but teaching someone how to read turned out to be a lot more involving.

Biter flipped the large page, changing the scenery of the story from a garden to a building's interior. The two main characters were being praised by an adult caretaker.

"'Well done', sais-"

"says"

"says the guild master, 'you are very good adven- adventurers."

Biter paused at the word. The main characters of the book weren't goblins, they were humans, and part of a human society.

"Go on." Scratch insisted. "Thank you..."

"'Thank you, we do our best.' Says Jill. 'I want to fight monsters.' says Jack."

When they flipped the page again they were greeted by an illustration of the brightest red. 'Jack and Jill kill goblins in the forest.' It said. A vivid depiction of the helpful children cutting up goblins for their guild master.

Biter squeaked in shock and Scratch quickly closed the book for him. "I think that's enough of that. This book is too childish for you, we'll pick out something more mature." He then walked out of the room with the picture book in hand. What do they teach the children in this world?

"Scratch." Second approached him in the tunnel, wiping his hand clean with a piece of cloth. "The woman is begging to go outside."

Scratch sighed and ran his finger over the back of the children's book. His resolve had wavered and he had left the impregnation to the others, leaving her to a much more brutal unsupervised goblin pile. He hadn't felt comfortable facing her after that. That was his own weakness, no matter how resolutely he could condemn others to suffering, he did not have the heart to observe it.

"Yeah, sure, take her for a walk." He waved his hand dismissively and escaped to the other room, where the books were piled up.

The outline of the books was perfectly visible to goblin eyes, even without detectable sources of light, but the squiggly lines that made up the writing on their cover were harder to make out. The foyer was dark too, but not as completely black as the underground. To a human, the place had to be extraordinarily claustrophobic.

Not able to make out the titles of the books Scratch decided to simply grab three of differing thicknesses and bring them back.

Before he left the room he took a moment to contemplate his situation and plans for the future.

I still have my four curses, hated by society, weak, deprived, and ignorant. I am experiencing some setbacks on the first two, since, as it turns out, the god of trickery has been lying to me. However, I think with the tribe doing my bidding the latter two are seeing some progress. We're successfully building a community here, now that the frost has receded I think we can try growing out own crops. We've got monetary means and have even succesfully traded with it. And we have managed to glean a lot from our bandit contacts, perhaps these books too could be of some use. What we need to do now, is only survive.

With renewed resolve he opened the crooked door and entered the tunnel again, though he had to wait to pass until after the highly pregnant captive was led through.

【Are we there yet? Huh? Are we there yet?】Xandra eagerly jumps up and down to look over the stage coach driver's shoulders.

【Quit askin'.】He angrily responds.

I stare off in the distance out the back.【When we get there, we'll get there. So calm down.】

She playfully nudges me with her foot me.【Come on, Rudy, aren't you excited? Eston, the big city!】

Since I am reincarnated from modern day Tokyo, I have probably seen more people in one place than probably exist in the world of this story. But I wasn't about to tell her that.

【Heheh. I can tell you're both looking forward to it.】Uncle remarks.【But I promised your parents I'd keep you out of trouble. So you better be on your best behavior when we get there.】

Xandra nods enthusiastically.【Uh-huh! We're going to be heroes!】

【Adventurers.】I say. Most adventurers never earn the title of hero, only exceptional people get that recognition. A mob character like myself would probably die if I were to get mixed up in any heroic world-saving adventures. It probably wouldn't be a big event that drives the heroes to defeat the villain either, not a 'we will avenge you!' situation, but more of a 'oh yeah, this guy died' thing.

I sigh. I guess coming to the city to get an adventurer's license and kill some goblins isn't too big of a deal.

【Rudy! Why are you always like this?】Xandra pouts.

【Cheer up, boy.】Uncle laughs.【You look like you've got the weight of the world on your shoulders, you're only ten, life could be a lot worse.】

I give a faint smile. He is right of course, they're both right.

Barbara sat on a stump in front of an unlit fire pit.

She spread her legs to accommodate for her swollen stomach. The situation was familiar and alien at the same time. She had been used as a broodmare by goblins before, but they hadn't been able to talk about it with her while doing so.

She looked down at her clothing. A reminder of her time back in Eston, where she had been able to get a change of clothes, something different from the same tattered rags she had made do with all her time in the derelict village. It was stunning how intense the sun had gotten, after days under the ground.

Next to her a one-eyed goblin sat down, he was filling a pipe.

"Are you really goblins?" She surprised herself with how soft and demure her voice was.

"You will speak when spoken to." He mumbled.

They went a long time without speaking. Barbara soaked in the sun, who knows when would be the next time she got to see it.

The goblin boss used a stick to fish out a smoldering ember from the fire pit, and used it to light his pipe. He puffed on it a few times, then he spoke to her.

"What's your name?"

"Barbara." She remembered how she had spit in the face of goblins that had tried to talk to her before, no matter how bad they would beat her afterwards. Now she was happy to be acknowledged.

"Barbara, we're trusting you not to run off while you're carrying the next generation."

He said it in a generous voice, making it seem like he had granted a high estimation of her character. But there was a double meaning to the statement. In her current state running was hard, although goblin pregnancies only lasted one day, during that time they burdened the mother just as much as any real pregnancy.

"Why were you a prisoner of the bandits, Barbara?"

"I wasn't really. They had to get rid of me by the thieves' guild. They'd betrayed me and had send me off to die." She was happy to be able to tell her story, even if it was to this creature. "Everybody I trusted betrayed me."

"Are you sad to leave them behind?" The goblin's tone had something condescending in it.

"...Yes."

The goblin boss, whose name was Scratch, gently discussed her life with her.

He held a strict authority over when she got to speak and when she had to be silent, but over all, his company was a relief after the continued isolation before.

She talked about the thieves' guild, her sister, her brother-in-law and their children, about her time in the derelict village and her youth as a street urchin. He showed more interest in her life and feelings than anybody had in a while. Despite his insistence on setting the rules for their discussion, he made her feel like a person again. Until his pipe ran out.

"I think it's time for you to go inside." He said. "And get ready for the delivery."

She knew better than to ask to stay, when he hadn't asked for her opinion.

Have you calmed down? Cyclophan relayed, as Scratch lit up his pipe.

As I remember it, the one throwing a tantrum was you.

Nonsense, I politely reminded you of your position. You threw down the pipe and gave me the silent treatment.

I need your help interrogating this prisoner.

I see. So when you need me you come crawling back with your tail between your legs.

Just tell me when she's telling a lie.

Fine.

Scratch spend more than an hour talking to the woman. Most topics were of no consequence, but it helped him cultivate some rapport with her.

That's a lie. Cyclophan would sometimes add. She was the one who betrayed them, not the other way around.

But Scratch didn't call out her lies when she told them. He simply let her tell her story.

What do you want?

I just want some context about their society.

I could have told you all of this.

Well you didn't.

When the blue grass was used up the conversation was over.

"I think it's time for you to go inside and get ready for the delivery." Scratch remarked.

He could see the sadness on her face. It was a familiar face, one of resignation. A good face for a prisoner to have.

Quiet and Second were feeding the birds.

The new additions had grown extra heads and were more aggressive and twice as loud as before.

Both geese now had an additional long neck and head sprouting from their rotund bodies, which they were all too eager to use for biting.

In order not to have their hands bit, the two had conspired a way to feed the creatures by pushing the breadcrumbs and grass in a bucket into the pen. The birds were fighting over it, their many necks intertwining and making it hard to tell which head belonged to whom.

"I see the woman is out of the cave." Second cautiously brought up.

Quiet just nodded.

"You think she'll see our gift?" Second whispered.

Quiet didn't respond.

"Before it's finished, I mean."

"She's with Scratch." Quiet said.

"Okay."

They were silent for a bit, until Quiet started the conversation up again.

"Did you like it?" He was talking about something different now.

"A bit. It wasn't very clean though."

Quiet shook his head in agreement.

Second shuffled his feet nervously. "Do you think... do you think she liked it?"

Quiet looked at him like was an idiot. "No."

"W-well. Let's go upstairs. If we have free time we can finish it and give it to her."

【Aaah! Finally!】 Xandra stretches her legs in front of the city gate.

I have a look around. The wall isn't very tall, not enough to keep out a siege, probably just for monsters. The sides of shops and and other multi-storied buildings can be seen over the top. Everything is constructed out of the brightly colored red bauxite that is mined in the area.

Behind us is the long cobblestone road, a sharp divide between two farm fields. The closer we got to Eston, the more land was cultivated and used, it doesn't compare at all to the small backwater we're from, where we are surrounded by unkempt wilderness and monsters.

【You lot coming?】Uncle waves at us.【We're going inside.】

【Yes!】Xandra excitedly runs towards him. I follow.

Eston is bigger than I expected. Most buildings have two or more floors, and the main road is a hustle and bustle of activity.

【Wooow! So many people!】Xandra is impressed.

【Yeah-hehe. The place is busy now because of the culling, it attracts adventurers from all over.】Uncle explains.

【The culling, huh?】I mutter. There was a yearly goblin slaying event here, naturally, you needed to be part of the adventurers' guild to participate.

【Looks like we've got a lot of competition.】Xandra says, looking at a few adults carrying weapons.

【I'm sure there's enough goblins for everyone.】Uncle laughs.

We approach a beautiful tower-like building with a sign above the door. The sign shows a sword and a staff, the logo of the adventurers' guild.

【Here we are.】Uncle proclaims.【The adventurers' guild. You kids have fun getting your membership, I've got some errands to run.】

【H-hey! Wait!" Xandra is distraught seeing our adult supervisor walk out on them in a strange city.

I guess I'll have to be the adult, I put my hand on her shoulder.【Let's go inside. He'll come get us later.】

We step inside the building, making a little bell ring.

It's a cozy interior, kind of like a medieval tavern. There are tables to the sides, on which adventurers, seated on chairs and corner benches, lay out their maps and contracts.

Directly in front of us is the receptionists' counter, flanked by two curved stairs leading upwards towards a balustrade. From down here I can see some doors leading to offices and training rooms on the second floor and a big signboard for adventurer requests, it is mostly empty. Directly above us hangs a beautiful chandelier made from the jaws of some sort of dragon.

Amazing, it's just like in the game! But much more detailed.

As I spin around taking in my surroundings Xandra walks up to the receptionist and slams the counter.【We're here to become adventurers.】

The girl at the reception puts on her professional charm.【That's great! Let me ge-】

【You two!?】One of the adventurers interrupts.【Don't make me laugh! You know adventuring is a serious profession, right? It's not for little kids. Go back to your parents already.】

I shrug.【Okay. I guess that's it.】And turn around to leave.

Xandra comes running all the way back to stop me.【Come on, Rudy, don't let a guy like that stop you! He doesn't know what he's talking about.】

【We don't have any age restrictions on becoming an adventurer.】The receptionist mentions.【So you c-】

【Let them apply!】A voice is heard from the balustrade everybody else becomes silent.

I recognize the person speaking. It's Beatrice Dichtershire, a main character in the 'Four Realms' series, "the rose hero". She's the genki happy-go-lucky type and combines sword fighting with magic casting, she has a fencing sword that was forged by a legendary dwarven blacksmith. Many fans wanted her to be a romance option for the player character, but she never was. A fan favorite. Needless to says, she's a really high-spec character. Mobs like us just don't compare.

【I was about the same age when I first applied.】She walks down the stairs.

【Ahh, miss rose hero. I mean, you're different of course.】The man rebuking us becomes flustered.【I mean, a duke's daughter is special...】

【A hero can come from anywhere.】She states.【In the guild, titles and nobility no longer matter, only hard work sets us apart.】Then she gives a mocking smirk.【I guess that's why you're still tier E at your age.】

The man's face becomes beet red and he stomps out of the building, under the laughter of his fellow adventurers.

【Don't listen to him.】She says to the receptionist.【Let these two apply.】

【Uh, yeah. I was going to anyway.】

【Good.】

【Good.】

We are given application forms for the adventurers' guild.

【If you have any questions, just come to me.】The receptionist says nicely.

【Yes.】Xandra is immediately confused.【What is a class? Is that our tier?】

I had seen classes before in the character screens of the party members when I played this as a game, the class decided what kind of gear they could equip and what stats would increase at level up, but I had no idea how to determine what someone's class was beforehand either.

【Let me explain-】The receptionist started.

【There are nine classes.】Beatrice interrupts her.【Bard, Duelist, Healer, Mage, Martial Artist, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue and Vanguard. You can choose which class you want to apply as, and you can form parties with a good variety of specialties.】

【Thankssss.】The receptionist tells her, then she turns towards us.【What class you belong to also informs the guild on what kind of equipment you may need to buy, so we can have it in stock, and what missions should be send to you for special requests. If you don't know what to fill in, we have an aptitude test for you to take.】

【Oh, yes please!】Xandra is getting excited.

【Let me make the necessary preparations, if you could just wait here.】She gives us all a polite smile and leaves.

Beatrice invites us over to a table.

【You don't need to feel restricted by your class choice.】She says.【I'm a duelist, but I also cast magic attacks like a mage.】

As expected of a high spec main character, talking about doing something amazing as if it's a good tip.

【What tier of adventurer are you?】Xandra is starstruck.

【C! Just got promoted after retrieving the feybloom from the Witchwood.】

C, huh? That makes sense, I guess this is some time before the events of the game, I thought she looked a little young. Compared to her in-game appearance of course, not compared to us.

【Did you take the aptitude test too?】Xandra asks.

【Sure did! It's a series of challenges, you have to attack dummies, hit targets and defend against a barrage of projectiles. Do either of you know any spells?】

We shake our heads.

【No spells? How about special techniques, legendary equipment?】

【Uh, no.】

She looks a bit disappointed. Was she expecting to meet someone amazing? We're not main characters, we're mob characters, faces in the crowd in the background fo the real story.

【Well, I guess you can skip the test for Healer or Mage then, since they just want to see how well of a caster you are.】

Suddenly she gets up, she had been so eager to make conversation before but now she is bored of us.【Good luck with the aptitude test, I'm rooting for you.】She's already out of the door when she finished her sentence.

【Excuse me? Young adventurers?】The receptionist called out to us.【The tests are ready.】

The boys entered the cave after the evening exercise routine.

Biter was inside, reading from a thick book.

"Aren't you straining your eyes?" Scratch said. The sun had already gone under and the room was darker than it was during the day, when indirect light through the front entrance and slight gaps in the wall staved off some of the darkness.

"I suppose." Biter rubbed his eyes and put away the book.

"What is that?" Dumb wanted to know.

"It's a book." Said Fat. "If you can read, words can be drawn and read from the drawing." It was a description of his own making, not very elegant, but serviceable.

"What's the point of that? Just say the words."

"Think of it like this." Said Scratch, lying down. "A book needs to be written only once, and can be read many times, that way the words can survive long after the death of the author."

Now Fat was confused. "Author?"

"Writer."

"Can you teach me how to read?" Scream asked all of a sudden.

"Me too!" Dumb demanded.

"Me too." "And me."

The different goblins started talking over each other.

"Hey-HEY." Scratch tried to stop the commotion. "When we get time we're all going to- Do you hear that?"

From deeper in the cave came the pained screams of Barbara, their captive.

"Kicker, Quiet, with me. The rest, stay here. I think the kids are about to be born."

"Push. Push!"

Barbara had experience with the process, she hardly needed instructions.

The sacks of membrane glided out of her body with a sickening *squelch*. One by one they left her body, leaving behind only blood and amneotic fluids to leak onto the straw.

They had brought her to their chicken coop, where there was enough straw and sawdust gathered to absorb the spilling liquids.

The air was fresher here, when it wasn't contaminated by this rancid process, but it was still completely dark.

Once she finally pushed out the sixth one she fell back. After so many times, it almost didn't disgust her anymore.

"Six healthy baby boys." Said Scratch's voice. "What do you want to name them?"

She didn't respond at first, thinking the words had to be aimed at somebody else.

"Barbara, what names should we call them by?"

She got annoyed. "It's not my concern is it? Call them Fyro, Mabel... Mac... George and... and Lydia." A small rebellion in a constricted life. A tiny insult to her enemies who would never even fiind out about it.

"That's five, but that's alright. You must be tired. Let's bring her back to her room. And take off these soiled clothes, we'll wash them for her."

It was hard to focus an anything else when the sounds of childbirth were echoing around inside the cave.

Dumb tried had taken Biter's book and flipped through the pages to find the odd picture. It was a sea-faring story and the etches often showed great ships and sea monsters.

Digger started to hum a tune, but was nudged by Laugh to stop.

There was a tension over the room, a sort of ecclesial taboo on sound and interrupting the screams of the mother.

Eventually she did stop, and the impromptu midwives came up, each carrying two babies.

"Everybody, meet our new members."

Everybody circled around the sextuplets, who were put on a heap of blankets as an elevated podium. They already showed some awareness of their surroundings, the firstborn stretching his arms out towards his uncles and grasping Second's finger.

"What will we call them by?" Asked Dumb. "Can I name one?"

"Their names have already been decided." Scratch declared. "Let's see if I can tell them apart. In order they're Fyro, Abel, Mac, George, Linus and Benjamin, the youngest."

"Those names are strange." Dumb complained.

"They're proper, biblical names. Most of them at least."

The others didn't like it, but Scratch was still the leader, so the biblical names stayed.

All babies were fed vegetable paste and laid to bed on the tunics that had been prepared for when they were fully grown.

In order to get them to fall asleep while they were being stared at, Scratch sang a lullaby, roffling some percusion with his hands on the wooden floor.

I've got my ticket for the long way 'round

Two bottle whiskey for the way

And I sure would like some sweet company

And I'm leaving tomorrow. What'd you say?

When I'm gone, when I'm gone~

You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

You're gonna miss me by my hair

You're gonna miss me everywhere, oh

You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

When he fell silent the newborn had fallen asleep, and some of the older goblins too.

Second tapped him on the shoulder.

"What is it?" He whispered.

"We made a gift for her."

"Who- oh. Why?"

"We just did. Can you give this to her?"

Their gift was a longer, broader tunic, a dress really, made out of two seperate hides.

"It's clothing." He explained. "Clean clothing."

Scratch put his hand on Second's cheek. "I think Barbara will love it, go take it to her yourself."

"Barbara..." He tasted the name. "I will."

Dark Goose

Family: Bird

Threat Level: F

Reward: three copper pieces

The dark goose is an easy to recognize monster, it resembles a normal goose but with an additional head and larger tomia (bird teeth) for chewing up large pieces of meat. The dark goose lives in swamps and wet caves of any danger level and will attack anything it sees, including its own kind. This is a solitary creature, unless tamed by a monster tamer or dungeon, it will never flock together with others of its own species. Because of this, the damage this monster can do to their ecosystem is minimal and there are rarely any urgent supression missions regarding it. Dark geese are considered occupational hazards of dark aligned environments, not mission objectives in and off themselves.

The feathers of dark geese can be used in certain alchemical recipes, but never as a vital ingredient that can't be substituted.