On my 12 birthday, my father said I was strong enough to handle low-level danger. He left me alone in the woods and tasked me to gather 50 goblins’ ears before allowing me to leave the forest.

He didn’t give me anything apart from a single dagger. I had to survive in this forest until I could hunt 50 goblins. The first month was hell. I couldn’t do anything but trying to find food and shelter to live. I tried chasing after my target and thought goblins would be an easy fight. How wrong I was. I was chased for two days before they finally gave up on me.

After the first months, I kinda figure out the forest’s topography. When and how to hunt for food, when to avoid wolves and how to move efficiently inside the forest. With my confidence’s rising, I tried to kill one goblin first. I observed their movement before using their limited intelligence against them. I first split up a goblin from its group by letting it smelled a delicious meat roast. I wasn’t sure it would work, but when I see a curious, lone goblin appears at the scene, I knew my trap works.

Then, I launched a surprise attack at the goblin from a tree above, killing it instantly. I cut off its ear and put it in my pouch before burning its body. I rinsed and repeat, eventually getting my 10th ear before the goblins started to get suspicious. I tried a different tactic; by using some smoke, I managed to lure a group of goblins to my locations before a classic trap, a spiked log, hit the goblins, killing them.

There’s one who managed to escape the trap, but it wouldn’t escape me. This is a perfect opportunity for me to test how I fare against a single goblin. I managed to kill it, but after, it took so much from me. Guess I still had much to learn.

Five months passed by, I finally finished the task my father gave me. I’ll give him a piece of my mind when I return. I sweep the area clean of goblin before preparing to leave this darned forest. While I crouch down to pick up my dagger, I detected a faint scent of bloodlust. Five months in the forest teaches you many things, like the ability to sense danger.

A sword grazed past my cheek, causing it to bleed. Backflipping twice to create space, I observed the enemy in front of me. Another goblin, but different. It’s taller and seemed stronger than regular goblins. ‘A hobgoblin,’ I thought, prepping my dagger.

The hobgoblin gripped his sword with his two hands before letting out a battle cry. He swung his sword towards my head. Seeing how fast it is, I barely dodge it to the side. Thankfully, due to his powerful swing, his sword is stuck on the ground.

An opening

I lunged my dagger to his stomach. The hobgoblin let go of his sword and kicked me. I managed to block it in time, but my arms are numb. What strength, as expected from a D rank monster. It’s not like the hobgoblin comes out unscathed. When I blocked the kick, I managed to slash the sole of his feet.

The hobgoblin expression does not look good. He growled in anger and picked up his sword. I looked at my surrounding, thinking what I can do against this guy. I move back little by little, trying my best to reach a nearby tree. He rushed me headlong, but I moved behind the tree. The hobgoblin slashed at the tree, but due to its thickness, the tree does not gets cut completely.

Using this, I propel myself forward, thrusting my dagger towards the hobgoblin’s neck. It barely grazes him as the hobgoblin fast reflexes save him from certain doom. Using the momentum, I carry on running, trying to find a more favourable terrain.

I didn’t get far, however, as the hobgoblin’s speed exceeds mine by several-fold. He grabs the collar of my shirt and throws me towards a nearby tree. I cough blood while my consciousness is going. ‘Is this how I die?’ I began lamenting my weakness before grabbing a nearby grass. ‘NO, NOT LIKE THIS,’ I get up, glaring hatefully at my enemy.

I let out a battle cry and charged at the hobgoblin using the last shred of my strength. With the last of my strength, I’m able to cut the neck of the hobgoblin. Alas, the cut is not deep enough, and I got flung again. I blacked out shortly after, resigning to my fate.

===

Moments later, I woke up. I did not find the hobgoblin; instead, I can see my dad looking at me with pride. “Well done. You are now a 1st Grade Aura Master.”

“The hobgoblin?” still disoriented, I tried hard to recall what just happen, but my head is still hurting.

“Hobgoblin?” My dad ponders for a moment. “Oh, the one from 3 years ago? Didn’t you cut his head clean?”

“I did? Maybe… Dad, I’m going to kick your ass one day” I smiled before passing out again.

===

Rudy looked at his son before smiling wide to himself. He remembered, three years ago, he gave his son a task to collect 50 goblin ears. Asking a 12-year-old to collect 50 goblin ears was the same as asking him to commit suicide. But Rudy had a plan. He intimidates the hobgoblin, the leader of a goblin pack at that time.

First, he sends a group of goblins to intimidate his son. Then, he observed how his son would survive in the forest; of course, he teaches his son how to survive before sending him into the forest.

As time passed by, his trials became even more brutal. He sent goblins when his son was asleep. He sent goblin when his son was eating; he even sends goblin when his son was bathing.

When his son finished killing his 50th goblin, Rudy sent the hobgoblin against his son. He observed their battle, and he nods in approval. After his son lands his final blow, he stopped the hobgoblin, ruthlessly killing him before picking his son up and taking him home.

Rudi’s expression back then was the same expression he had now. He closes his eye. ‘Is this what you felt back then, dad?’ he thinks about his father before shaking his head.