I watched them from a distance, or rather... sensed them.

The party of seven, no... how can I be so indifferent about them when referring to them... they're my classmates...!!!

That's right, people I know...!

I laid still silently, as I felt the group approaching the narrow passageway I was hiding in.

I was hiding this body inside a crack on the walls, and it was almost certain that they would spot me in with this peculiar look.

...The corpse... of a goblin.

People. Actual... humans. Have they... come to save me...?

From this wretched place...? From loneliness?

Friends...?

I was exhilarated as the thought of new company filled my mind entirely, so much so that I forgot an important fact.

As I urged them to come closer, I began to lean my body even further out in order to catch their attention.

I couldn't leave this crack after all... there was a physical limitation to this body...

When they had reached the entrance of the narrow tunnel, they stopped for a moment.

"!" "!" "!" "!" "!" "!" "!"

Our eyes... seem to have met~? Excellent, I've gotten their attention! Now... they'll definitely come and save me!!!

"Y̷͖̏͑o̷̲̮͊͝u̵̳͐̕'̵͚̄́ř̷̝ḛ̶͒ ̵̻̔t̵̩̞̂̚h̵͖͎̊e̴͇͗̏ ̷͈̞̍h̸̰̩̍e̴̛̟͠r̶̥͎̄͒ȍ̵̪̕ ̷̬̗͂͒r̴̥̀̑ͅi̷͈̩̾͗g̵̛͖̃h̷̡̞̓t̷̪͐̎?̴͓̳̊͝ ̸̥͖͂T̴̘̮̿h̵̢̩̃͌è̶̡ǹ̶̓͜ ̸̩͂k̷̙̑̄i̵̯̓ĺ̸̗̣̋l̵͖͐ ̵̲̇ȉ̵͉̋ͅt̷̗̍!̴̬̈́"

[You're the hero right? Then kill it!]

"Í̸̦̘t̴̲̤̎̅'̷̜̆s̷͕̠͊̆ ̸̹͈̏͒n̵̲̝͝o̴̮͆ẗ̶̹̬͘ ̶̦̌à̴͓̕s̴̩̾͝ ̶̤̪͒̍s̶̮͠ḯ̸̭̖̅m̶̱͇͆͝p̸̘̖͛ļ̴̈́̕e̵̬̺͑̎ ̴͕̺͒a̴̜͑s̵̠̄ ̷̺̂̅ị̶̐̉t̷͚͍̋ ̸̦̱̉s̷̘̹͆o̷̖͂̈́ȕ̷̡͇̆n̵̈́ͅḏ̸̅͝ͅs̶̺͗,̴̣̇ ̴͙͝Ĩ̸͔c̶̲̹̔ḧ̵̞̫́͝i̸͓̖̒̄ỳ̴̥͝o̷̬̕.̷͖̯͑ ̵̧̣͐Ẅ̷̱̫́e̴̤̕͝'̴͓̍̒l̸̫̆̒l̶͉̆ ̸̹̲̆͆b̷̺̖͋̓ë̵̘́ ̴͇̦̋ȩ̸̖͗n̸͔͇̅̓ḏ̵̌́ͅa̵̙͝͝ṇ̶͒̽ḡ̸̜̳e̸̘̲̔ř̵̲ȉ̵̲̦n̸̜̒͆g̷̞̿̌ͅ ̸̰̰̄e̶̱̋v̸̼̼͋͂e̶͓͌̕r̶̟̟͠ȳ̵̫̩͐ö̵̬́ǹ̷̰̟e̴͉͋ ̶͉̋̊ȋ̷͙n̴̼͍̿͝ ̶̖͈̓ṱ̶̌͊͜h̶̹̔ȧ̴̗͚̕t̶̟͕̊ ̴̲̔c̵̯̀a̸̗̍ş̴̛́e̸̼̻̓͒.̵̹̙͆ ̵̫̟͒Í̵̘̪͌ ̷͚́͝t̴̬̋̂ḧ̸̪́i̴̾́͜n̸̫͘͠k̴̜͖̏̕ ̴̟͔̆̚ẁ̸̭̳̽e̵̛̝͋ ̸̛̞͋s̸̘͋̚ͅh̷̹̓̀ö̵͙̍u̵̝̦̿̓l̷̰̇͆d̶̨͇̎̋ ̷̡̎̇ͅa̶̪͋̾v̴͓͋̌͜o̶̻̮̒i̷̲͚͗̕ḓ̷̮̆ ̶̜̯̉̂i̶̗͆t̵͇͑.̷̜̇"

[It's not as simple as it sounds, Ichiyo. We'll be endangering everyone in that case. I think we should avoid it.]

"I̶̟͓̚-̷͓̮͆Î̸̺̪̒ ̸̺͒̈ǎ̸̮̣g̶̪͖̋̈ṙ̷̻̑ḛ̵̦̄̽ė̶͎̪̀.̷̮̓̈.̷̺͚͗.̸͔̜̾̆ ̵͕̆Ȉ̵̥̗̀ ̶̜̊ţ̶̼͋h̸͓̽̓i̴͖͐ͅn̶̡͌k̴̠̼̅̂,̸̬̎̊ ̶̧̘̎̈́w̶̪̼̎ẽ̶͈ ̵̘̌͂s̷͔̮͛h̷̼̖͋͘-̶̣̑̚"

[I agree. I think we sh-]

"S̸̀̔͜h̶̰͝ǔ̴̞̭̈ţ̷̿̕ ̶̡̹̑͘t̷͓̓h̶͍̓́e̷̖͌́͜ ̴̮̖̇f̷͙̋̃u̸̼̜͋c̶͔̾͝k̸̢̓ ̴̭͉̀̍u̵͈͒p̸͑͘ͅ!̶̘́̒ ̵͈̇͜H̸͚̓̍ō̵̡͍̒w̸̝̲̉͝ ̶̜͙̈̑l̴̬̩̃̎o̸̠͉͗̓ņ̵̮͊ģ̸͆͒ ̴͎̆d̵͔̿ô̷̪͕ ̶̠͊y̷̰̜͛̚o̴̺͚̾ǘ̸̬̜ ̴̟̽̌t̴̹͆̑h̷͉̗͗i̵̙̭̒ń̸̨̼̕k̸̨͉̋ ̴̤̈́̽w̵̫̩͒͝ě̴͈'̸͈̯̆v̴̘͒̿ë̶̙́ ̴̟̭̀͠b̷̢̨̌e̵͙̹͐ẻ̵̤n̶̻͔̉̔ ̶̻̗́w̵̼̤̌a̸͈̤̕ḷ̶̢̚͠k̶̑ͅĭ̴̯̯̌n̶̖̐g̷̡̈?̵͎̈́!̶̨̌̉ ̷̨̱̾L̷̼̿ò̸̢ọ̷̒ǩ̸̬̒,̵̒̈́͜ ̸̢̛̱̍t̵̹̽h̷̢͖͊͠è̶͓ ̵̨̗͑t̶̪͇̅o̸̗̲̎̌ŕ̷̨̚c̷̨̋h̵̜̎ ̸̙͌̏ĭ̸͕s̸̟̊ ̸͎̜̈́̓g̶̨̻̋̚o̸͓͐͒i̴̠͆̈́n̸͔͓͘g̷̱̪̀ ̵̧̪͌t̷͔̀͠ő̶͖̃ ̴̺̬̚r̴̠̍ǔ̴͖ͅn̶̥͊̎ ̷̤̚ö̸̠̘̃u̶͈̍t̴͈̯̏͝!̸̫͎̆ ̷̟̃͗W̶͎̍e̵̜̟͒̉'̴̭͙̑͠r̸̠͉̈́̇ȅ̴̢̜ ̴̥̼͊ḣ̵͎̣͝u̸͖͋ǹ̴̥̦̑g̴̟͗r̵̡̥̓̍y̸̹̏̅ ̵̡͒a̷̭͖͐n̴̦̗͒d̷͙̔ ̷̛̘͍̄t̸̛͕́ỉ̵̧̈́r̴̰̞̊e̵͍͙͊͘d̶̹̑̽!̶̭͗!̵̪̱̇!̷̼̄̓ ̷̜̣͂I̴̥͓̊f̸̗̮͋̋ ̵̛̲̄ŵ̵͔̹e̵̝̗̒'̷̪̦̍͝r̵̨͠ḛ̷̌ͅ ̴͎̈́͋ń̴̻̏o̸̬̭̔t̵̤̼̽ ̴̥͍͋̓g̶̫͉̈́ȯ̵̗́i̴͉͝n̷̢̳͌̐g̸̹͙͊́ ̵̯̌́t̶̳̪̚o̴̮̥̿̉ ̸̢͓̍͝k̶̤̹͝i̷̦͇̊l̴̥̽̚l̶͎͘ ̶̭̰̔̿ạ̸̃͂n̷̰̾o̵̫̭̒͂ẗ̶̟̪́͗h̶̝̼͋̆e̶̜̻͐̕r̵͉̃ ̵͙͘͝g̶̟̈̒o̵̱̍̽b̸̢̈̀ļ̴̈́͝i̴̡͛n̵̈́͜ ̶̨̌ĭ̴̢̃n̸̳̈̈́ ̵͓͛ã̸̪̈́n̵͕̠̓ ̸̰̻̓ȩ̸͖͌̄f̷̩̼̋f̵͓̗͒̿o̸̼̽̉r̸͔͙͗̓t̷̤̭̐ ̵̡͈͂t̴͠ͅo̸͎͗̒ ̵̠̉̈́ḃ̴̬e̵̛̗̊ ̵̟̘͑'̵̥̲̐̀ṡ̵̠̚t̶̘͇́̃ě̶̢̟ä̶̤l̶͇͚͐̚ṭ̸̱̎h̷̯̠̾y̴̼̠͌'̶͔̦͆,̵̯̰̔ ̴̻̜̿̀t̵̝̤̀h̴̖̝̀è̴̺n̷͙̍́ ̶̛̹̹ẉ̶̌h̸̰̊͝a̶̡̓͊t̵̰̔ ̶͎̹͘d̸̗̲̀o̸̥͆͜ ̴͔̈́I̴̟̽ ̸̰̟̅ẽ̵̢a̸̖͝t̸͓̉̏͜?̷̙͑̀!̶̹̀ ̴̠͚̆H̸͓̾ǜ̵̧̘m̵̼̂á̶̼͜n̸͓̊͐ŝ̷͔͐?̶̭̾!̵̳͉͗͑"

[-Shut the fuck up! How long do you think we've been walking?! Look, the torch is going to run out! We're starving and on the brink of total exhaustion!!! If we're not going to kill another goblin in an effort to be 'stealthy to avoid unnecessary trouble', then what do we eat?! What do I eat?! Humans?! Give me a fucking break, you're so pretentious it's actually disgusting! Looks like you don't even care at all heh!]

"T̵̬̹̾h̸̤̲͠ǎ̶̩̌t̶̹̟̂͠ ̴̯͗ḯ̴͙̻̅s̷̪̘͠ ̷͖͗̕n̴̲͌͝o̸̻̲̿ť̵͙ ̵͚̈a̵̜͐ ̷̬͓̇̈g̴̮͝ô̶̥̩̂ō̶̥̍d̴̯͇͒ ̴͚̌̾j̴̨͓̕͝ơ̸̲͠k̸̩̽ḛ̸́,̸̠͚̉͊ ̷͚̔I̶̪̦͌̀c̸̳̹̑͛h̵̫̀i̶̧͒̀y̶̦̹͑̕o̸͈̠̒͌.̸̭̫̆̓"

[To resort to being a... cannibal... that is not a good joke, Ichiyo. In the event that it actually happens-]

.̵̣͓͂.̴̰̻̒.̸̝̫̾N̵̓͜o̸̮̱͝,̵̞͉̓͝ ̵̖̹̀͋i̶̖̟͆t̵̂͜'̶̟̘̀̏s̴̱͓͠ ̷̘͇͑à̵͍͌ĺ̶͇ͅr̵̳͐i̷̡̥̾̒ǵ̸̟h̸̗̬̊t̴̮̾.̶̖̤̍̏ ̶̫͙͘H̵̥̊͑e̵̢̘͑ ̸̰͚͐́h̴̟͕̿͘ą̴͔̈́́s̷̪̱͑͠ ̵̡͒͠ä̴̙͉́ ̵̤̻͋̈p̴̺̙̐́o̵̱̍̎ḭ̶̲́͗ņ̶̖̀t̷͇̰͝,̷̯̿ ̶̦̆w̷͈͛e̵̪͘ ̸̪̘̂̏ḧ̶̥a̵͚̋v̴̗̂ḛ̸̏́ ̴̗̿̾t̵͓͗õ̸̘̝ ̵̯͌͐e̵̢͛̎a̷̱͝t̶̻̓ ̷͎̽a̶̛̲t̷̨̲͆ ̸͖̿͗s̷͈̔ṍ̶̱̲m̷͔̣͊ē̶̞ ̴̦̅p̶̓̕͜ô̴̫̒i̶̺̰̾n̸͚͓̐t̴̥̣͋.̷̹̲̒͆ ̶̖̫̓͠T̷̰͌h̸͕͕͒e̴̜̒ ̵̪̈́t̸̝̅͌ͅû̶̗̃ͅn̶͖̝̄n̴͂͜e̵̡̙̎̇l̸̝̾̚͜ ̵̖͠s̷̘͈̄̉e̵͓̖̿ẽ̷̡͎̎m̷̒̅͜͜ṣ̷̣͠ ̴̱͚͌̕r̷̨̞̍è̵̘̖̑ḽ̷̢̇͠a̷̻͔̚t̶͎̟͗͌ĩ̴̻v̸͈̌͐e̷̯̼͒ļ̷̻͋ý̷̡́ ̴̦̎͜ŝ̵͙̩̓a̴̜̱̐f̶̖̞͛́e̶̞̻̅͆,̶̡̿ ̷̗̆͠a̴̧̛͕ṅ̸͖̒ď̸͍͍ ̵̩͚́t̴̡̪̂h̴͙̐è̶̼ ̶̪̈́g̸͔͇̃͠ọ̷̧͐b̶̖̎l̶̨̪͗̈́i̶͈̜͗̇ņ̴́ ̵̙̈́͠ș̵̛e̴̜͝ͅë̶͇͎́̈m̸̫̿͘s̵̨͊͗ ̸͇͊t̴̘͑õ̶̢̠͑ ̶̗̙̆̕b̶̹̬̏ȩ̷͇͌ ̷͂̀ͅs̶̠̙̔̀t̷̗͘ȕ̷̝̻c̵̗͔̈́̋k̶̰͎͋͂ ̶̞̚͜͠o̶͚͋̄n̸̤͊͜ ̸͛̏͜t̴̏͛ͅẖ̶͋͠e̵͚̋̕ ̶̖̻̓́w̴̧͊͛á̸̦̥l̴̙͠l̸̟̀͝.̵̖͂ ̷͚̮̑I̶͕̊́ ̸̪̱͋t̷͉̊h̷̛̥̒ị̵̄̕n̴̢̆k̵̤̦̒ ̴̨̮̅̄w̴̧̾͌e̷̮̔͛ ̴̬̘̓s̴̭̣͛h̶̺̐o̸͉͊̈ṳ̷͓́l̶̖̀d̸̙̲͑̑ ̴͕̔k̸̼̋i̵̡̖̅l̸̥͊l̵̩̈́͝ ̸̗̦̇i̵͍̹̚t̶͎̳̀ ̵̪̪͋w̷̫̃͑h̸͍̮͝i̴̠̅l̵̺̊͋ͅē̴̲̎͜ ̶̗̀i̶̧͝t̶̲̓'̵̲͋ṡ̴͈ ̸̱̐͘d̶̲̗́e̴̠̍f̶̫̂e̷͉̖͐̍n̴͊͜͝s̴̛̤̹ę̵̌̑l̸̹͆ͅè̵̳̗͂s̶̨̮̊̈s̶̱̅.̶͇͛̈́ ̸̡̮̀I̸̟̽f̵͚̅̕ ̶̼̅̏ṯ̵̀h̴̙̊͑â̵̟̔t̸̨̠́ ̵̜̗̏c̷̞̈́r̶̝̦͒a̴̳͂̍ͅc̵̭̚k̴̮̞͋̎ ̴͕͂͝ľ̷͔ȇ̷̊ͅa̴̘̎d̸͈̽͌ŝ̷̥͂ ̷̯̆̽t̶͇͑ö̷̗̖̈ ̵̯͘̕a̷̠͠n̵̪͔͐̕ơ̴̢̾t̵̪̮̑ḧ̷̞͚́̋e̵̮̍r̴̯̞͑̓ ̴̨̯͊̈́p̴͈̻͝l̸̡̦̀͘a̷̠̔̋c̵̝̻̄͠ḙ̵͔̚͘,̴̼̺̍͑ ̵͓̞̓ị̵̒͘ṱ̴̏ ̴͕̑̕ẁ̸͔̩̋o̷̜͕͛͂u̴̬̩͆l̸͖̺̆̑d̴̤͚̂ ̶̪̎̚b̷͎̞̍̊e̶̢̘͂̌ ̷̞͙͛g̵͍̳͌o̶̭͗̂͜ȯ̶̧̘͛d̸͇̀ ̷̧͚̾t̵̻̐͗o̵͍͝ ̴̞̜̂i̸̱̔̍n̶͓̽v̴͉̥͗e̴͇̮̎͘s̵̫̐ṱ̵̨̎i̸̼͙͝g̸̡̛͓̈́ả̷̛̳t̶̟͐̍è̴͔͑ ̴͈͗̿i̸̳̊ṭ̸̗̿̓ ̴̫̱͆t̴̨̀̒ͅŏ̸ͅơ̸͕͓,̴̡̞͛̎ ̶̛͖ŗ̸̀ë̸̗͓ḡ̷̣̋a̶͙̪̿̍r̴͇͙͑̏d̶̡͜͝l̷̡̹̀̄è̵͔͌s̴̢̠̈́s̷̲̃̌ ̶̘̽ǫ̸̾f̴͈̽̂ ̵̡̿ẖ̶͌͝ȏ̶͇̺w̶͗̈́͜ ̷̧̧̏͌s̸̙͝m̷̝͒a̴̖͘l̷̛̮̂l̸̝̠̈́ ̴̲̮̈͝t̶͍̆h̸̝͎̓ȇ̸͎ ̷͕̣͂͗c̵̙̭̀̋h̶͚͝â̸̧͎͑n̴̩̖͋̈c̶̢͑ͅĕ̶̩ ̶̭̔̑i̸̢͐͂s̷̠̄́.̴͉̞̈́͑

[-No, it's alright. He has a point, we have to eat at some point. It seems that we're going to reach our limits soon if we don't take in energy from eating properly. ...The tunnel seems relatively safe as compared to the other places we've passed through to get here. The goblin seems to be stuck on the wall as well. I think, if we are to kill it with the intention of eating it, we should do it while it's defenseless. If that crack leads to another place, it would be good to investigate it too, regardless of how small the chances are.]

".̸̧́.̶̡͔̒.̶̝͙̃M̵̰̄a̶̩̎͐k̸̻̍e̴͚͆͠s̴̢̎͒͜ ̶̩̌̔s̷͍͉͑͂e̶̲͐̕n̴̪͓̐̆s̷̠͉̑̃e̶̺̲̓͋.̴̢̧̈́͑ ̴̯͠T̷̿͜h̷͔̔͋e̷̡̧͌n̴̘̏ ̶̻̿̆w̷̺̝͗͝h̸͚͂͠a̵̯̮̒̈́t̵͖̥̾ ̵̌͜d̶̼̓o̷͇͗ ̸͈̞̃w̷͉͆͝e̶͖̋͛ ̷͕̾̏d̶̬͙̍ȏ̴̡̫ ̴̈ͅn̴͙̏o̵͈͎͋ẅ̵̩̝́͛?̴͚͋͗ ̴̞̊̓D̶̳͉̒̚o̶͙͆͋͜ ̴̛̬ẉ̸̲̓ě̶̝͈ ̷̠̺̿̓g̷̲͂̋ö̵̹̣́̄ ̶͕̣̈́ţ̶̭̓̈́o̸͍͂̾g̸͕̮͝è̸̝t̵̳̲́h̶̳͌é̵͖ṙ̷̢?̴̑̐ͅ"

[Mn, makes a lot of sense to me. Then, what do we do now? Do we go together...? Leader?]

"H̷͉̻̿ṵ̴̟͗̕h̴͈̑h̶͒ͅh̷̰̲͝?̶̯̂!̶͕̘͂͒ ̵̳̌͑Y̴̧̛̺̾ỏ̵̢u̵̧͔̿́ ̴̲̞̅c̶̱̺̑r̶̢̰̍å̴͓̽ź̴̦͕̀y̵̟͠?̸̛̻̏!̷̺̿ ̶͓̈́I̶͓̩͐'̷̭̓͊l̴̙̓̾ļ̶͎̂͐ ̸͙͖̆̑s̴̮̉ĩ̵͕͠ͅţ̵̀̂ ̴̱͊͑ͅt̵̬̙͗ẖ̸̇̕i̸͓̺̐̍s̸͎̆ ̵̟͂̇o̶̤͚͊n̸̰͉̕e̶͇̟͛̏ ̵̮̄͗o̶͍͗ͅù̴̬͍t̶̜́!̶̮͌"

[Huhhh...?! You crazy bitch, what are you nodding your head for?! Haven't our group leader been actively volunteering to protect us...?! Now is the time to do that, right?! I don't agree with this at all!!! I'll sit this one out no matter what!]

".̴͍͝.̵͙́.̸̹̑̊I̵̜̓̂ ̸̭̇̓ą̶͒̍g̵̰͚͑͂r̶͉͎͂̈ě̷͍̙̈́e̷͚̚.̷̳̼̽"

[...I agree.]

"Á̶͖̺̈́ĺ̷͔͔r̵͈̪͗i̵̢̛͇̽ḡ̴͓͐h̵̻̗̿̒t̷̳̾̿,̶̦̰̀ ̸̺̀t̶̗̏͠h̷̙̕͘ē̷̢ṅ̵̠̼̋ ̷̟̫̋ý̴̬ȯ̸͖̬u̸̦͐͐ ̸̧̪̕t̷̻̔̈́w̵͖̥͑͝ǫ̷̎̽ ̵̭̀͝s̷̯̒̾t̵͙̅â̸̭̝̍y̶̰͝ ̵̯̭̾h̸͚͛e̶͙̐́r̸̞̗̒e̷͒ͅ.̷̰̅ ̶̖̠͒̑I̵͖͝'̴̤̥̓ḽ̷͔͒̿l̶͎̫̍͊ ̸̫͗̔ͅg̵͎̃͘o̴͎̾͗-̸͉͠"

[...Alright, then you two stay here. Pass me the torch.]

"I̶͕̹͑̚t̸̜̩̾'̶̱̏s̸͎̍͗ ̴̨͐̐n̸̬̒̉o̶̩͛ͅt̴͚̐̅ ̵̥̣̊͗f̴̜̂́ȧ̶͔̲͌į̶̙͗̆r̷̮̄ ̸͇͖͆̈ȋ̵͇̪ṡ̶̡͠n̶̡̲̂'̴̡̱͊t̴̼͐͠ ̴̘͍͂̎ị̸́t̴̝̓?̷͙̈!̷̖̪̎̋ ̵̧̔W̶̩͈̏͘ḫ̴̭̋ý̶̮͙͗ ̸͇͐i̴̹͋s̵̳̉ ̵̦̬͛̔Ḱ̷̝͂ͅa̷̳͂̿ï̶͔̪͑ņ̵͚̈s̵̜̽ ̵̰̏š̸̡͉h̸̞̫̍ơ̸̲̖̽u̶̙̔͋ḷ̶̝̀d̸̝̋̃e̸̹̲͋ŕ̷̬̜́i̵̬̙͋̇n̴̟̿g̶̪͙̔ ̴̪̅a̴̛̗͜͝ļ̵͈͑͝l̶͖̿ ̵͔̮͘t̸̢̳͑h̴̘͛e̶̘̐̎ ̵͙̀̋r̷̛͕͇̀e̸͕͙͐s̶͚͐p̵̨͉̌͝ṏ̷́ͅn̸̦̬͋s̴̮̍i̵̞̭͂͂b̶̳̟̎̏i̵̛̹̕͜l̷̤̣͠i̶̖̽͐t̷͉̊͝y̸̤̚ ̴͖̆f̵̡̘̔o̸̳̿r̴̼̹͛ ̶̬̈́t̴̛̼͇̒ḧ̶̭̫́͠i̸̖̻͐s̴̮͂?̵̟͚̿!̷̦̹̾"

[Wait, Shun. Let me speak first. ...You two... isn't this a little unfair?! Why is Kains shouldering all the burden for this, while you two sleazebags sit back and reap the rewards?!]

"Ṛ̸̈́͑ḙ̴͍͘̚ĺ̵͈͇́a̵͇̟͊x̵̪͍̎,̸̺̈́̍ ̵̼̾͆S̷͚̃͊ḧ̴̗́͘u̵̫͋̽n̸̛̰̮̅.̵̺͔̋ ̵̲̇̕Ō̵̝n̸̡̯͛l̵̝̫̅ÿ̸̤̜́͠ ̷̫̎͝t̵̛͉̘ḫ̷͂̚o̵̪̾̉s̸͉̼̀͊e̵͖͎̒ ̶̞̭͆͝w̴̰̃ḥ̷͑o̶̥͊̈ ̶̡̍̍p̸͘͜a̷̡̙̋ȓ̸̮t̵̡͗i̷̩͂͑c̴̤̱̏͋i̶͖͑p̵̢̯͌a̷͌͐͜ț̵̖̊e̸͈͍͒s̵͎̩͛ ̵̨̾̊c̸̨̬͌á̶̤͍͆n̸̮͆͛ ̴͓͛͘p̷̧̘̓ã̴͜r̸͍̓t̷̺̮̒̀a̷̱͂k̸͎̈́̕e̵̲͖͋ ̴͇̊̒i̶̳͆n̵̝̐ ̸͚͕͌̚t̵̛̖h̵̲̾͌é̸̡̙͌ ̸̡͖̑f̴̳̉̑o̶̻̚o̶͌ͅd̸͙̊ ̸̳̭͊̏l̸̯̚a̸͓͊ţ̵̯̽e̵͙̅r̴̰̝̊.̵͙̠̐"

[Ah, that... relax, Shun. I should also make it clear that only those who participates can partake in the food later.]

"I̷̜̅ ̸̜̪̃s̸̟͂e̴̛͔͒͜e̷̫̫͊!̴̮̍ ̶͍̾̈́T̷͉̽͜h̶̦͌͆a̷̳̫͑̽t̷̟̑̚'̸͎̿s̷̖̲̐ ̶̝̼̆̾f̸̛̹̻a̸̜͔͌i̸̥͠ȑ̷̻̌ ̸̝̘́e̸̫̗͒̕n̶̺͓̂̌ȏ̷͔́u̴͚̍ͅģ̶̞̑͆h̸͍͝,̵̞̌ ̶̮̋̚a̵̯͈̋s̴̖͖̍ ̵̩̀e̷͈̎x̶̪̓̽p̵̟͘ê̶͉͈c̶̻̽ṫ̷̫̊e̴̙̋͝d̴̲͗̎ ̴̧͓̈̑o̶͔̊̔f̴͖̼̍ ̸́ͅK̸̹͗̊a̶͕͕̾͒ȋ̵͖̐ǹ̴͕s̵̛͎̩!̶̭͍̂"

[I see! That's fair enough... As expected of Big Bro' Kains!]

"U̶͇̓͑ñ̷͕̘,̸̘̟̆̕ ̶̰̿͘t̸̙̀h̷͖̬̔̍é̶͖̊n̴̢̰͌ ̷̰̝̎̐I̷̼͉̎͝'̶̫̣͂̆l̵͓̟͝ḻ̴̄ ̸͔̃t̷͙̦͘ȧ̴̖g̴̖̀͂ ̶̭̜͒b̴̡̘̒̀e̷̞̎h̶̗̟̿í̴̳͂n̴̡̹̄d̴̺̑ ̷͇͎̂a̵̪̝̔s̶̓̀ͅ ̴͎̥͘s̷̤̕ȕ̶̻̠̈p̶̢̨̃p̸̧̣͒̋ō̶͔̠̕r̴̙̫̅t̷̨̼̕ ̷̹̕i̵̡̱̍n̵̫̮̆ ̴̣̟̈́̏c̴͚͘a̶̫͕̚s̴̰̑e̸̕ͅ ̸̱͋̍y̵͑ͅó̴͖̓ṷ̴̽̚ ̶̨̊̈ṋ̴̜̐ȅ̸̹ͅê̴̟̈d̶͈͝ ̶̬̮̊̆h̴̢̞̔̊e̷̢͘a̴̘͛̕l̸̝͉͂i̸͈̻̽n̶̠̍g̶̡͔͂̓.̵̖̇̎ͅ.̶̨́.̶͔͙͘"

[Un, then I'll tag behind as support in case you need healing...]

"Ȋ̸͚ͅ'̸̤̳̽̈́ĺ̴̳̝̄l̸̫̺̓͘ ̷̥̰̀͘a̶̦̍ͅl̶͇͑s̵̠͜͝ȍ̸̩͔̌ ̴͗̉͜c̶̦̯͛̾o̵̹̐m̷̥͋è̸̦͔̚ ̶͙̥́̄ẃ̷͖͝ḯ̶̬̀ť̴͎h̶̘̯͊͝ ̵̹̣͘ŷ̶͍͌o̴̗͠ṵ̵͒.̸͉̏͜"

[I'll also come with you.]

M̷̞̿̈-̷̟̃̄ṁ̸̱̓͜ȩ̶͑.̷͉͈͌́.̷̦͛̚.̸̰̆̍ ̶̗́m̴̢̎́e̸̢̓̊ ̷̥̠͘ṭ̸͍̀͑o̵̡̙̅ȏ̸̜́.̶̟̓͠.̵̰͆.̸̙̪̒̔ ̸͈͐ŵ̵̛̝į̶̹̑t̷͍̋̂h̶̺͓̿͆ ̴͍̺̇͝K̴̗͗̚-̶̻͚̈́̂Ǩ̸̹̭͑-̶̣̘̚Ķ̴̊-̸̳̤͑̾K̶͔̇̿â̶͚̣i̸͎͐ṉ̴̓s̸͈̒.̸̝̠̌͋.̶̻̆́.̶̨̠̓

[M-me... me too... with K-K-K-Kains...]

".̷̝̿́.̴͕͈̔.̴͎̒A̷͔͕̔l̴͈̓͝r̶̬͘ǐ̵͙͙͘g̷̤͗͠ẖ̷̅͝ṱ̷̘̓͊,̵̖͚͐ ̵͔͘͜t̸̯̆̚ĥ̸̢̈e̴̩͛n̷̼̦͊̿ ̵̹̕I̶͎̥̍ ̷̱̇s̴̞͜͠ů̴̺p̶̝̅͗p̸̢͍̓ơ̷̲͙̇s̵̼̋̏e̴̯̺͊͝ ̵̢͂͌y̷̞̥͌ò̸̞u̸͚̒̔ ̵̱̉̑t̶̖̉w̸̭͙̿̌o̶̢̢͆͝ ̸̬̀ȁ̴͈͙͒r̷͍̉e̸̻̥̍ṇ̴̒͌'̷̧̳̒t̴̯͗͝ ̸͕̕ç̴̯͂o̷̬͑̀m̷͖̀̏i̷͙͇͑n̴̲͉̎̾g̶̳̩̐͝ ̷̝͓̿̑w̷͖̑̓i̷̧̙̓̎t̸̝̂h̷̻̀ ̵̞͆̆u̷͇̥̽͝s̶͙̆̂.̴͚̐͂.̷̱̫̎͘.̸̗͙̈?̷̳̆"

[Alright, I have the torch now. ...I suppose you two really aren't coming with us...?]

"W̵̬͖̌h̴̭̙͛ǒ̸̜̠'̴̛̼ḓ̷̛̝̍ ̷̡̋ẻ̸̞͌a̶̟͗t̴̟̔ ̸̻̇̋G̶̖̬̈́̈o̸̦̻̕b̶͇̠͂l̵̝̀ị̴̽ǹ̷̟́ ̵̹̎M̷̪̟̆̿e̵͔͛̄ͅą̸̺̐t̴̼̲̿?̸̱͍̓̑!̶̜̒ ̶̣͔͋D̶̰͔̕i̸͈̱͂̔s̸̱̗͋g̸̻̣̅̆ȕ̵͎̻̑s̵̙͂t̸̩͙͗̏i̸̠̍̒n̶̞͎̋̓g̵̝̫̊͒!̶̫͎̈́̓ ̷̛͕̆Į̴̫̍͆'̴͇̜̓d̷̫͊̏͜ ̸̝̰̽̔r̶̽ͅa̵͖͉͂t̶̠̎h̴̢̹̽ḛ̴̕r̶̢͚̈́͐ ̴̠̦̀d̸̖̬̕i̴͍̩͆̉e̷̝̔̅͜!̴̧͛͜"

[Who'd eat goblin meat?! Uwahhh... disgusting... I'd rather die than eat that!]

".̶̟͛̾.̶͙̒͊.̷͈̌͗͜"

[...]

"H̷̪̅̚u̷̬͔͆̽h̴̯͚̋,̶̗͐̿ ̷̫̣̅̚Ĩ̴̘͝ċ̷͔h̸̗̻̿̉i̸̳̼͘y̴̲̋͝ȍ̸̧̈́.̷͕͈̒ ̶̞̟̈́W̸̫̋à̸̭ś̵̑͜ṅ̶̢'̷̫͊̑t̸̐͜ ̴̻̈́͊y̵̹̬̓ő̴͋͜u̸͓̦̿͝ ̸̲̟̇ṫ̶̝h̴̢͇͠e̴̦͐ ̵̳̾f̶̩̳̐͗i̴͈̽̾r̴̮̈́ṡ̵̺t̵̠̑ ̴͇̻͌̊ȍ̴̙̯̆n̵̡̤͠è̴̖̠̚ ̵̨̈́t̷̯̹̅͒o̵̤͝ ̸͈̀s̵̜̭̓͝ů̸̡g̴̨̛g̶͉̦͗e̷̙͐s̸̻͋͆ṫ̷͙͋ ̷̬̎̈́ḙ̵̱͌a̵̛̲̬̽t̵̄͜i̴̞͕͊n̶̨̒ͅĝ̸̣̈́ ̴̄͜t̴̖̎͑h̵͕̯͗é̵͖̥ ̶͔͆g̵͉͛o̶̲̫̽b̶̺͗͝l̴̞̓̔ì̴͎̇n̸̞͑͝?̵̻͗́ ̷̢̮͐̕W̵̨̝̅̓h̸̪̕ą̴̐t̵̢̙͝ ̶͈̄̊g̵̤͕̾ḯ̶̖̚ͅv̸̭̎ĕ̸̘͌s̸͉̪̈,̶̠̓̿ ̷̡̪͐y̵̟̘̐o̵͕͆̂u̸̥͊̎ ̶̞͕̄d̶̯̥͑̑a̷̡̖̅͗m̴̥̣͒n̶͉͗ ̵͔̆n̵͕͔͐̕é̴̢̗r̸̼͕͘d̸̛̰̦͑?̸͇̞̍!̶̠̰̆"

[Huh, Ichiyo. Wasn't you the first one to suggest eating the goblin? What gives, you damn nerd?!]

.̸̦̃.̷̣͐.̶̘̽͗I̶̺̳͑̀ ̵̡͠͝c̵͍̉h̷̯̉͝a̵̩̒n̴͍͒̋g̵̝͈̾e̶̘̅̓d̴̪̓ ̵͕̍̍m̴̭̝̈́̓y̵͖͋ ̴̣͌m̶̜̅̽i̸̺͙͛n̸̩͛d̴̛͔͚.̷̩̯̉

[...I changed my mind.]

"W̴̹̓͝e̷̗̦̅ḷ̸͉̓̑l̸̻̹̏͊ ̵̧̳́ẃ̷̜̔ĥ̸̦̒ă̷͈̺̚t̸͖͚̍e̴͕̝͛̕v̶̲̐̓ë̷͙r̶͈̈́̉,̷͎̖̚ ̷̧̳͌n̵͉͐͌ō̸̳t̷͖́̓ ̵̣̔ĺ̶̦i̴̛̞̦͑k̶̮̍͐ẹ̶̗̈́ ̵͖́ͅI̷͍̺̋̃ ̴̣͗c̵̲̋͑a̴̺̤̕r̸̠̍̋e̷̖̮͝.̷͍́̒ ̶̨͍̃"

[Tch, sickening coward... Well whatever, not like I care anyway.]

...? What's the matter...? Hurry over! I can't move my body out here... guys, I need your help...!

I began to become a little impatient of waiting.

I couldn't hear the dialogue between them because I didn't have an auditory organ to pick up the actual sound acutely. But it seemed that the 7 of them, which I had not identified yet, were arguing about something.

I sensed a variety of emotions during that moment; Faint traces of anxiety, exhilaration, anticipation, fear, indifference... Each one of them wielded an emotional dynamic that came from their unique personalities, reminding me that they were indeed sentient and intelligent creatures...

Also in the midst of their conversation, as if deciding on something, four of them went forward instead of everyone. One of them handed a torch over to another person. It was definitely a torch, since all I felt about it was heat, but I sensed that it was going to run out soon.

I sensed surging levels of hostility, baring its fangs towards me. But it was probably... probably a skill malfunction...?

In the first place, it is extremely odd to even have the abnormal ability to sense people's emotions through the minute changes and subtlety of their facial muscles... I had definitely become hypersensitive to every single detail after evolving again. It was supposed to feel like a good thing, but I felt something in me disappear piece by piece everytime my Slime Sense levelled up, along with all of my other abilities.

... Let's not think about it now... I'm sure... they'll fix me, once we get out of this place... But... why aren't they coming over here immediately...? It's me... you know? Me... Shinkawa! ...That's right, we might not be friends, but we were once classmates living in the same Earth as everyone else. I'm sure they're just talking about something else.

It's only right to save each other right...? That is what someone with a human morale would do after all...! That's right, that's right... it's finally going to happen...

Aahhh, aahhh, I really can't wait...!

I began to feel even more excited about my own future prospects as I held in the excitement, anticipating the moment they noticed me. I poked my body out even more from the conspicuous crack on the wall, demanding attention.

"K̷͉͝ý̵̞a̵̠̞͛̕a̴͈̦͐a̶̢̗͗͊!̸̌̒ͅ!̷̻̙͐̀!̴̞͗͝ "

[K-Kyaaa!!!]

"?̶̮͚̔!̷̺͙̄ ̷̺͒͌W̷̦̊h̸̜̦͠ạ̵͉͒͝t̷̫̒ ̶̼͝͝ť̷̞h̸̫͐e̶̫̒̋ ̶̺̊͘f̷͖͐-̸̰͙̿"

[?! What the-?!]

"S̷͈͗͘ẗ̶͖̠̓a̴͖̾ẙ̷̛͕̣ ̷̖̉͗c̴̫̞͒̿â̷̪l̸͓̓͑m̸̦̀̇ ̷̫͎̔ë̸̮̳́͝v̴̗͑̈ë̴̢́ř̶̨̜͒ẏ̶͍o̶̭͂n̵͉̓͜ĕ̸͙̜!̶̭̦̑ ̷̹̣̒I̸̼̫̓t̵̥͝ ̵̹̑m̸̺̻̓͒ī̶͙̉g̴̖͔̈h̸͇͖̾͘t̴͍̹̓ ̸̹͐ö̴̲́͠r̶̛͙͆ ̴͖̑̉m̶̮͍̄i̷̫̝̍g̷̡͊h̵͚͂́t̶͈͗ ̵̟̽̕n̸̤͛͋ŏ̶̜t̸̤̫͆̓ ̴͉̊̚b̶͙̙̕e̵̐̒͜͜ ̸̣̲̍a̶̟̾ ̵͔̳̉͘t̴͕͌̀r̶̭͒͆a̷͐͜p̷̛̞̿,̵͕̐ ̵̥̄b̸̳̯̃ṵ̴̅̀͜t̸͇̥͐͠ ̸̪̉ẁ̵̺̾ë̶͔͎́ ̴͉͝n̸͚̑e̸̩͖͂e̴̙̜͛̀d̷̡̀͘ ̷̮̩͌̽t̶̮́̐o̴̥̫̐ ̴̼͈̄͠h̶̦̅a̴̢͈̎͗n̸̫͍̄͐d̴̻̺͗ḽ̴̟͆̚è̶̮̖ ̵͕͌͠t̷̮̮̒͐h̷̪̔ĩ̴͚̏ś̸͚̰͘ ̶̞͒̀c̷̯̆̆a̸̳͊ͅr̷̖̥͂̎ȇ̶̟̥f̷̖͉̈́̀ú̶̡̕l̷̛͔͊ͅl̴̠̙̓ÿ̷̳̕!̷͓̣̆"

[Stay calm everyone. It might or might not be a trap, but we need to handle this carefully regardless. Circle formation, as we've discussed earlier!]

A few people in the party jumped up all of a sudden, and the hostility became even stronger. They slowly encircled me.

... ...H-huh...? Odd... why are they reacting in this manner...?

And then, I felt the sudden appearance of weapons coming out from their waists like a pocket dimension. This startled me to a degree, as the waves of hostility sent back to my senses like a transceiver became even stronger than before.

To the point where it became the intention to kill.

...Hold on... what... are they planning to do...?

I finally bore a tinge of caution towards them, as I started to analyze them immediately.

Status Check.

... These abilities...

Status Check.

... Why are they... so powerful... unlike... me?

Status Check.

... Heroes... ...?

I could not see the status of the person leading the 4 here, who was seemingly the leader.

I had a feeling that I knew who that person was but I double-checked, as the obscured Status Window displayed nothing except the name.

...Kains... Amagiri.

A series of unpleasant memories rushed up into my head all of a sudden, as I clutched my skull forcefully.

The four took the opportunity and drew closer cautiously towards me steadily.

My instincts finally could not bear my inactivity and ignorance anymore and overrode the body. I backed the body away slowly into the crack, suddenly aware of impending danger.

Three of them were now a meter away from me, with their weapons pointed towards me in a semicircle along the narrow passageway.

...Ah... they're not here to be friends.

They're not here to keep me company.

Much less, here to save me...

As the realization of their true intentions dawned upon me, I felt the gap between my classmates widen; A large and unsettling hole of discrepancy with these people who looked at me like prey to quell their hunger.

They're here to eat me.