"What-, who are you?"

Hum?

The one who spoke was not, in fact, the mini-wizard I was sitting on, but instead the warrior guy, who seems to be the leader. He seems wary of me, and I feel the same about him. Our eyes meet, and I notice his eyes are this strange yellow-orange colour. Amber, right. If I remember correctly, that was also my own eye colour.

What an interesting coincidence.

...But, sadly, I cannot speak. Not without an, uh, a host...

I glance at the mini-wizard. He seems unnerved by my gaze, more so than the warrior. That's probably since this elf guy seems quite a bit younger, while everybody else seems to be at least 25 years old.

Hmm. If I could just borrow this guy real quick... Man, I hope these other guys won't go nuts if I hijack him. I don't have much of a choice if I want to explain things to them, but I'm sure it'll look at least a little bit odd.

Right. Step one, raise my arms in a surrender-y way to show I am not here to mess things up or be a meanie or whatever.

The mini-wizard furrows his brows at me.

Slowly, oh so slowly, I creep towards his neck. One step at a time.

"Sir Gautier, it is moving-,"

So the mini-wizard says, his voice young and trembling. Shushhh, it'll be fine, it'll be fine...

Whoever Gautier is, he doesn't answer mini-wizard. Apparently, everyone is staring at us. The warrior, the healer, the archer, the rogue...

After a few seconds, I reach his neck. Every inch of his inhumanly pale skin is covered with tiny goosebumps, and the hairs on his neck are all standing up. Is he that scared?... Hey, I don't bite! Cool it, buster!

Without awaiting any sort of hint that I shouldn't do what I'm doing, I shove my admittedly small ball of mana into his neck, activating Hijack.

...Man, this guy has a lot of mana! For a moment, I doubt if I can even Hijack such a vast amount of mana, but...

Skill (Hijack) has been used, you have temporarily gained the following skills

Human Language, Basic Water Magic, Basic Shadow Magic, Enhances Senses, Automatic Mana Recovery

I can barely see how the mini-wizard's body slumps over, causing everyone nearby to grab their weapons. But they have no time to attack, as I possess his body, jerking it back to life. I glance at my hands, flexing them and feeling the soft, silky skin push back against my press.

You have learned the following spells

Ward, Whip, Halo

Oooh? How nice! No idea what any of these do, but checking now wouldn't be very good, since these people look just about ready to stab me.

"...My name is Johnny."

For a moment there, I can't tell if they're raising their weapons even more or lowering them slightly. Overall, they just seem... confused. Gosh-, I have not prepared myself to hold any speech like this, I am going to royally fuck this up and I'll be lucky if I get out of here unscathed-,,

"Currently, I am borrowing this body to speak, using a skill called Hijack. Please, put down your weapons. I mean no harm. I-, I swear," I say as flatly as humanly possible.

I've always wondered why I can never talk to humans like I do to animals. With the pigs, I can say whatever I'm thinking or feeling, not stilted or awkward or anything. Damn. Maybe I can get a skill like that someday??

"...Everyone, put down your weapons. Johnny, was it? Odd name," the warrior said, putting his sword down to sit back down. I can feel there's a tension in his legs though.

"Where'd you get it from, insect boy?" the archer asks, hopefully out of curiosity and not some reason I can't pick up. He hasn't put his bow down just yet, but... I'll choose to just not take it personally.

"I received it from my parents at a very young age. I cannot remember it."

I think the archer and healer might have stifled a laugh, but I just can't tell.

"Settle down, Grenouille. Now, Johnny, if I may ask, exactly what are you?" the warrior continued. I nod, wondering where to even begin.

"I am currently, as you may have noticed, an insect. If I remember correctly, a Will 'o Wisp. Whisperer. ExcusemeI'msosorry."

"Forgive me, what was that last part?"

"Oh, nothing. As I was saying, I am not a human. However, I believe I once was. Hence, to cut the chase short, I wish to join you. You lot. In your little village," I say, my back as straight as a ramrod and my face pale and stoic.

I-, I hope I'm not coming across weirdly. I just want to come into their village and,, I dunno, exist? Make friends? Be useful? I don't know, I really don't.

I... I miss my old life. The friends I had. Buddy, Chuck... I should have played that stupid game with you. I get it now, Monopoly isn't the best game in the world. There is more to life than pigs and wheat.

The hunters all exchange glances, some confused, some suspicious.

I hope they can't tell how nervous I am. If they saw my real body, the little one on this mini-wizard's neck, they would notice it shaking like a leaf.

"...Johnny, I'm not sure what to say. You seem like a... swell guy, to be sure, but... I'm not sure we can accept a monster of your calibre into the village. This... ability of yours, Hijack, as you called it, can clearly cause damage. More than damage, if used in an inappropriate manner, I believe you could topple a country," the warrior said, leaning forwards, eyes piercing into mine.

"Hey, yeah, I agree with Gautier. Look, we've been doing this dungeon-delving thing for a while now, and I've never seen anything like we just experienced. That chick and the big spider aside, you're easily strong enough to set the whole village on fire," the archer said. I tried to put the name "Gautier" in my mind, hoping I could remember it, but I could feel it slipping even after just a few seconds of hearing it.

"I must ask, insect-man, how did you know of the village? It is hard to find, not easily located. Took me long while to find. I got lost, even, before coming. Did you guess about the village, or have you seen it? If we bring you to village, how can we know you will not burn it to crisp, like you did spiders? No, I do not trust you," the healer said in a strong accent which I simply could not place. Maybe German?

But... what he said was true. Sadly enough.

I turn to the rogue, the only one who hasn't said anything yet.

"-What? You-, oh, uh. Yeah, I agree with everyone else. Completely," he said, nodding fiercely with his arms crossed. Somehow, I doubt he listened at all.

The warrior stares holes in the rogue before turning back to me.

"Johnny, will you allow us some time alone to discuss this?"

I nod, and move to stand up.

"Oh, uh, if it's alright, will you leave Mal with us?" the warrior continues, and I glance down at my body.

It's young, younger than I was before all this, but... I kind of liked being somewhat human again. More human than the goblin I was.

I undock myself, and fly a fair bit away to peer out at them from behind a tree.

...It was only briefly, but I enjoyed talking to people. I doubt they'll accept me into the village, I mean, what they said there was fully correct, so...

I'll just be happy if they let me fly away. Maybe I'll find someplace that'll accept me.

Maybe...