I looked around, everybody was minding their own business, I felt lost

- Ah, give me a break

I murmured and stopped the random stranger goblin, asking him about where newcomers would sleep

- Sleep? Newcomers don't have house, you can either sleep outside or ask someone to take you in party, this way he might show some sincerity and let you sleep

- Uh, right, when do I get my own hut?

- Once you level up to 2, now stop getting in my way, I am busy

I awkwardly stood aside, looking at my bare hands I realized I did not have weapons, probably newcomers would exchange mana stones for weapons at first, rather than consuming it, but oh well, I will do just fine without them

My shoulder wound was still there aching, it was not bone deep but it was pretty nasty, I decided to go out by my own and try my luck, if I die too early then that's how far my luck stretches

I asked passerbys to lead way to nearby forest and before I could leave their fences I saw a level 2 goblin approaching me

- Hi there, I was missing a single party member, care to join?

He said in coarse voice

- I'm fine, I am just going out for a fresh air

I said and continued walking

- Going alone? What a joke

He snorted and burst in laughter

- Got a problem with that?

He did not reply and I saw evil grin on his face, he's planning something does not he? Probably he thinks that I am some hot-headed newborn goblin wanting to throw my life away and then he will snatch my mana stone, dream on

I went in forest, the trees were neither short nor tall, there was pleasant breeze, not like one you breath in cities, it was clear and refreshing, there were some short bushes and ground was wet, seems there was rain, I realized I did not have shoes but my legs were rather adapt on moving barefoot, unless I step in some pointy rocks I should be fine

I heard small footstep sounds, they were rather bad at concealing their presence, I wonder why did they not attack already, do they want me to go further away so nobody knows how they kill me?

Battling level 2 goblin will be troublesome too but it's not like I am hopeless, if I hit his eyes for example even 50% damage reduction is not anything

I wanted to check my skills and tried climbing up a tree, with my rough feet and strong arms I managed to do it easily, compared to my human body this body was tad bit stronger, despite being a single meter tall I had quite some strength in muscles even at level 1, it must be monster nature, if I fought my human self in goblin state, it's hard to determine who would win, I can move much more skillfully with my human body, but now it's gone, I have to get used to this one

Once I was high up, I looked down from tall tree and appraised things, unexpectedly my eyes stumbled upon something rather good

Healing herb Putting this herb on wound will fasten healing speed and get rid of fatigue

Woah, that's something I needed, it's god-sent, though that freak said gods are dead, why would he kill them? Who cares

I climbed down carefully and plucked green leaves of healing herb, then applied them to wound, I felt my pain getting less noticeable and it was refreshing feeling

After that, I just remained in that position, never moving

Play smart, not hard, that's my motto from now on as for what does it have to do with anything, well, I noticed a group of 4 kobolds, one of them is level 2, others are level 1, they should have good smell so they will find me soon and then knowing my stalker goblin's hiding spot I'll use dog eat dog tactic, and then once both sides die out I will receive all the benefit

I was not disappointed, soon I heard rustling sounds, my heart was beating fast due to anticipation, I knew I was getting surrounded but I acted as if I did not notice anything and then... knowing they were about to make their move I ran with all my might to goblin's direction, they were soon exposed

Kobolds chased after me and after I passed through my fellow goblins they gave up on me and went for fat prey of 3 goblins

I heard level 2 goblin's angry roar towards me but I gave it a deaf ear

They started fighting, I was grinning evilly from the sides, watching them slash each other, this was the heavenly opportunity, I would be disgrace to humanity's mischief if I failed to do such simple thing and the result was as I wanted, their subordinates were dead while they were cut all over, fighting until death, level 2 goblin was bleeding from chest and kobold who held dagger had hard time walking on two legs, his left leg was wounded and his mobility dropped

Goblin screamed and his slash was avoided, kobold's slash almost chopped off goblin's right hand, goblin screamed in pain and kobold tried finishing him off by piercing his eyeball, with crunching sound goblin's eyeball burst and green matter oozed out

Time's not ripe yet

I wanted to grab some popcorn and watch them fight to death but my expression changed, reinforcements are coming, they will get here in about minute, I can't drag this any longer, I have to finish them off and run off with their mana stones, but... there's not enough time to dissect them, damn it, truly damn it! Ruining my plan like that, I will get you for that stupid kobolds

I dashed from my hiding spot and smashed my rock to kobold's direction, wounded goblin was delighted to see gap in enemy's defense and finished him off by slicing kobold's neck, then I had an evil idea

- Let's grab the loot and run

I yelled to him, despite helping him the hatred did not disappear from his eyes

- You...

- There's no time for that, I can't let tribe lose someone as capable as you

Kukuku, since when did I become so good at boot licking and deceiving? I did not wait for his reaction, my honey-sweet words were for him to not attack me while I was smashing dead goblins and kobold's heads and taking their mana stones, he hesitated but looking at his poor condition he started running

Kobolds were approaching but I had a little more time to spare

That was 5th, now last one

I crushed their skulls and took out mana stones as fast as possible, and then arrow landed at my foot, I felt shivers

Shit, I have to run

I still managed to grab the last 6th mana stone and ran off with all my might, kobolds were chasing but they would not catch up until I reached our place

I saw the surviving level 2 wounded goblin running with his all too, still I was catching up, his condition was rather bad, I praised him for being so persistent, what a pity, I do not have time to kill and dissect him on the way, surely he will come bother me for mana stones, shit, I should have killed him first, that's my mistake, fuck I screwed up, why did I shoot that damn kobold at that time?

I can not let him live

I ran with my all to his direction, seems he noticed my bad intent and yelled

- Bastard!

Then he coughed blood while running, he did not slow down though, he could not or he would be eaten either by me or kobolds

He knows my intention, I've got even more reason to kill him, I sprinted with all my might once again and was about to catch up when I saw familiar fences, shit not now! If he lives, things are going to get ugly for me, I did not hear kobold's footsteps anymore

- Help, he wants to kill me

That bastard yelled after he fell, goblins noticed him and were running to me

My face was sour, they're not going to believe me, are they?

Once I approached him I passed through him and yelled at level 2 guards with fake terrified expression

- The kobolds chased after us, only we survived, please take care of him, he's badly wounded

The guard goblins did not know how to respond and turned their faces to dying goblin, but... he was no longer moving, I grinned in my mind, that was very, very close, now I had to finish my acting

I ran to him and yelled in grief

- No, please don't die

I even started shedding fake tears when guards came to my direction and kicked me

- Why so dramatic, if he's dead he's dead

He said in displeasure, I was dumbfounded, so even level 2 goblins are not that respected? Their lives are just tad bit better than level 1 goblins? Damn...

I continued my acting despite knowing it was unnecessary, they might suspect something if I stop now

After taking his mana stone fence guardsman returned to their duties, I was left alone, with no crimes labeled, it sure feels good, if they were humans I know things would not end this peacefully, but it does not mean I have to underestimate them, it was fun playing around with their lives, deceiving them and thrill of being about to get caught and then getting away with it

Today was a lot of fun ♫