Day 6:

I had thought what Goburou was able to do was natural but over hearing a conversation that was going on this morning I guess he’s really incredible.

I mean I had heard that some goblins had died when hunting horned rabbits but it wasn’t until an apparently female goblin called Gobumi was telling him about it that I realised just how high above normal goblins he was.

Seems many of them had lost their lives in frontal confrontations with these devious beast.

“Eh? Seriously?”

When he suddenly shouted that I had to agree.

However lately, or rather after Gobukichi kept showing his strength, a few of those born at the same time as us have been carrying around sticks of all sizes and thicknesses. All the way from twig to branch.

When he asked Gobumi to tag along I could only cringe at how easily he had said those lines but with their new member in tow the strongest hunters set out again. Seems some of the naturally gifted already left the cave.

I took a look around the cave; judging from the stories I’ve heard it seems only the wise and lucky survive while the weak and stupid die quickly. I wonder which one am I.

Pondering this I headed out for another day of fruit and nuts, I’m kind of starting to want to taste some meat though. As if answering my prayers or cursing my fate, from a bush near where I was collecting nuts, a small brown bunny hopped out. It was a little bit smaller than a Japanese rabbit that one of my neighbours kept but from the spiral horn on its head I knew this was a Horned Rabbit.

I was still watching it without any real intent when I noticed its tiny jet black eyes.

There was nothing in them but pure evil and hatred.

As I recoiled in surprise it gave a small charge and lunged forward using its powerful hind legs. It thrust its small horn towards me, my own small frame meant it would pierce my abdomen. Impaling me.

Somehow I was able to dodge but it clipped my shoulder and sent me rolling. By the time I was back up it had come around, readying for another charge. Unlike the others I hadn’t taken up carrying a stick or even a rock.

All I could do was punch and kick and hope it died before I did.

At that moment I answered my earlier question. Up until now I had just been very lucky.

I did the only thing I could do in such a situation. I ran. I dived through the nearest bush and took off like a shot through the foliage unfortunately I heard it hot on my heels.

After a few minutes I crossed a dry river bed ahead of it and managed to shimmy my way up a tree.

The beast, having lost my trail, slowed its pace slightly.

Suddenly a single stone hit the ground near its flank catching it by surprise, another hit it dead on and as it reared in agony two goblins rushed from the nearest cover.

One placed a heavy blow on the poor critters back while the other speared it with a sharp weapon that resembled the rabbits own deadly piercer. Goburou withdrew his rabbit horn as Gobumi appeared next to them.

Gobukichi was vigilantly watching the perimeter.

Goburou began to dismantle the fresh kill before passing it out to his companions. From my perch in the tree all I could do was watch and think ‘Strong’.

Exhausted I limped back to the cave.

Not bothering to hear today’s tales. It had been too much of a reality check for me to take.

Day 7:

Not sure if the erratic striking of stone on stone woke me or if it was the vibration of rhythmic drumming I could feel through the earth.

Either way hunting was off as the rain was coming down hard and I was to awake to go back to sleep. I made my way stiffly back to the main cave. My body was still aching from yesterday’s figh…beating.

Somehow I managed to scrounge a couple of those grubs but it hurts just trying to chew them. Guess I took more of a hit then I realised. While letting my saliva soften it up, using my tongue to roll it around, I leaned against the wall for support as I watched Goburou.

He has a bunch of materials around him.

Several looted horns taken from Horned Rabbits, a couple of thick and sturdy looking sticks and a length of rope.

Currently he’s chapping away at a lustrous black stone using another smaller rock.

I’m not the only one interested, many of the kids from our generation are drawn in by the noise while most of the adults that pass by just shake their heads and carry on. Some nod approvingly and some shake their heads as though they don’t know what to do with him.

I swallow a little of the juicy bug just as he finishes knapping the black blade.

Affixing a simple cloth grip handle to the narrowest part and …Done! He had finished his crude knife. It was fascinating to watch but I quickly lost interest after he made another two or three stone knives from other flat rocks.

His two accomplices however didn’t seem to grow bored.

After that they started what I can only call a small strategy meeting, Gobukichi was just nodding along, but I was busy watching the other goblins moving around the cave in small groups of two.

Lately the buddy system seems to have been adopted and unlike me they’re all carrying simple stick weapons.

Tomorrow I will definitely get myself a weapon.

Maybe even a partner.

I only stopped day dreaming when I heard Gobujii’s voice. He’s the oldest, wrinklest elder here and it’s also his face I have as my first memory here.

I was even more surprised to learn that the venerable elder was only a ripe old age of 20 years.

Guess we have a short life span as a species then. It’s a little depressing but I guess I’d be happy if I could live that long. I listened intently as he imparted his words of wisdom to the trio, even if one of them looked like he had no idea what the elder was talking about. Yes drooling Gobukichi I’m talking about you.

Goburou listened intently as he was told about this worlds [Rank Up] system and even more so when he found out that the generation before us, guess that would be our parent’s generation, were out beyond the forest earning a living; raiding and pillaging.

I wanted to hear more but Goburou stopped asking questions suddenly and then the elder got up awkwardly and left in the direction of the treasure room.

Seemingly satisfied with what he’d heard he set about crafting a few other items.

I however was a little worried by what I’d heard.

There are things way stronger than horned rabbits beyond the forest and [Rank Up] could only occur once a monster has reached level 100. Its not as cool as it sounds as a lvl. 100 goblin is still just small fry by this world standards.

I shivered as I thought that.

When I thought what level I was the number [Lvl. 1] floated to the forefront of my mind. If this was a game then its true that I haven’t really done anything to gain EXP.

Day 8:

This morning I saw the trio leave the main cave dressed and carrying the results of yesterdays craft project.

Goburou is now wearing armour made by tying his collection of looted horns together around him, its really rustic chain mail. He’s also carrying two of the largest horns from his spoils. So he’s now dual wielding.

Gobukich’s torso is protected by a curais of solid wood.

It took them ages to hollow out the stump they found and fit it to him but he seems comfortable wearing it and it certainly would offer great protection against those Horned Rabbit lunges. In his hands is a heavy club. Its about as thick as he is.

One ends been carved to allow a better grip but he’s seriously going to use it with one hand?

No. looks like its does require two hands to wield properly.

Gobumi, unlike the two boys, is still dressed in the light rag dress like some of the other females but what she’s carrying is a stick with a scraps of fur and plant vines but I heard her enthuesastically thank Goburou for her new sling staff, so who am I to judge.

Instead with the rain off it’s time I got myself out hunting.

The grounds a little wet and muddy in places but I don’t think that will hinder me.

The first problem is breakfast. The nuts and berries I usually eat to start my day are covered in mud. Eating the ones that are on the ground seemed safer because I reasoned they were ripe enough to fall from the plant.

I pick up a few of the better looking ones and head off. The dry river bed had a small stream trickling through it, just enough to wash my nuts in.

After a light meal it’s onto the more pressing concern of arming myself.

Luckily at this stage a couple of other goblins pass me carrying sticks.

They disappear into another bush only for one of them to come running out. Followed by the other one a second later.

The second goblin gets a few steps out of the undergrowth and then collapse.

The first doesn’t even look back.

After a few minutes of staring apprehensively at the bush, ready to run for my own life, I creep slowly towards the downed goblin. As I draw closer I can see that he’s not breathing. Taking his stick weapon, which had fallen from his grasp when he collapsed, I gave him a couple of pokes.

He was well and truly dead.

A little blood dribbled from two small holes in his calf as I said a quick prayer and backed out slowly, still holding his weapon.

I tried hunting horned rabbits but every time I leapt at them they bounded away in fright. None seem as blood thirsty as that first one I met.

Defeated and a little deflated I returned to the cave to rustle up some grubs for tea.

The familiar scene of Gobukichi regaling a group of goblins with his tales of the hunt greeted me. Seems I came in just as he was finishing.

“… Even though we caught 3 Night Vipers, 1 Seven Coloured Bat and 2 Armoured Tanuki. I went and hunted a Horned Rabbit by myself.”

He puffed out his chest with pride.

“Yeah, well we also caught a horned rabbit.” “Us to.” “They’re seriously delicious.”

The circle erupted with statements like that, I slipped past and curled up in my blanket. Goburou was sitting squeezing what looked like a snake head over his horn dagger. The acrid smell of the venom drifted my way.

I guess that’s what killed that goblin.