“Hey, damn bastard! You are lazing around again!”

I suddenly woke up from my nap.

The first sight I saw was my Pops angrily glaring at me.

“Fuck it, dad! I had been swinging the goddamn sword for a fucking eon. What’s wrong with a little rest?”

“You are the son of the chief security of this village. Obviously, you should always swing the damn sword whenever you are free!” Pops retorted.

…Well, I couldn’t really say anything back to that no matter how torturous that sounded.

My Pops was a former adventurer who had long since retired. He came to this village, married my mom, and settled down here using his savings from when he was active.

The locals admired his skills with the greatsword he brought along, so they appointed him as the chief security of the village to repel the occasionally wandering monsters.

That was all fine and all, but my Pops had forced me to train my body since I was very young, and later learned the sword as his successor.

…Hell, it was not like I really hated it – at least it was better than plowing; that was damn boring. But, come on! I was still young! Couldn’t I slack off sometimes?!

“Ah, shit, I got it, I got it!”

Irritated, I slowly stood up from my blissful time of lying on the grasses with wind occasionally blowing against my body.

Of course, I did not forget to grab the greatsword lying beside me as I stood up.

“Only goblins around these parts anyway? Why the hurry?” I snorted.

The ugly bastards who occasionally came all fell to my blades.

“This idiotic son! Don’t underestimate those bastards! The large group of them could waste even me!”

My Pops’ fist hit the top of my head.

“Oi, it hurts, dad!” I protested as I rubbed my wound.

“That was because you were getting cocky just because you beat a few strayed goblins! You beat at most 3 of them at the same time, right?” My Pops scolded.

“That was because that all they came! And hell, it was goddamn easy,” I countered.

After all, I fell all three of them with one blow each. It didn’t even take one minute.

“You are probably right, Guts,” Pops rubbed his chin with a thoughtful look on his face, “But, still, don’t underestimate them!” He lamely concluded.

“I got it already, dad,” I nonchalantly ended the topic, hell if I actually cared, “How’s Rumi doing?”

“Same old, playing with Tat,” Pops shrugged, “Hell, I bet I already get a future son-in-law.”

Pops’ expression turned a bit ugly when talking about how my little sister may have already fallen into the boy’s hand.

“She is still 11, dad. Nothing is certain yet,” I denied.

But then when I thought of the boy…

“I’m fine with Tat though. That brat is a good lad.”

…Those words came out.

Honestly, it was really strange. I was supposed to be a loving brother who cherished her and didn’t want any random boys to take her away, and I really was. But when thinking of Rumi being together with that brat…

“I’m sure Rumi will have one hell of a happy time.”

…Only that was my sentiment.

Even though Tat was only one year older than Rumi, he was mature, kind, forgiving, etc.

Hell, I even once thought that almost all positive words in the world were created just to describe the boy.

My little sister was one lucky lass.

“I know, but I guess when the time comes, it will get a little bit lonely…” Pops sighed.

“Yes, no kidding…” I agreed.

Looking at the greatsword in my hand while deep in thought, I abruptly swung it again.

*Swing*

“Oh, Guts, finally motivated now, eh?” Pops changed his slightly sorrowful expression into a smile again once he saw what I was doing.”

*Swing* *Swing* *Swing*

“Hell, yes, I have to train my skills so that the two lovebirds can have a happy and peaceful future in this village after all,” I still continued swinging as I said so.

“Then dad will train with you!” My Pops was suddenly motivated, pulled his own greatsword out, and started attacking me.

“W-Wait a bit, dad! This is not what I meant!” I said in the middle of my best attempts to parry Pops’ blows.

“What are you saying, your idiot! Real combat experience is the best way to train!” Ignoring my words, Pops continued his attack.

“I SAID WAIT!”

“When real monsters attack, they wait for no one!”

…

…

…

Deep in the forest, a group of goblins was making a fuss while reporting their findings to their lord.

The lord nodded in acknowledgment.

He glanced at his two bodyguards at the sides and hundreds of his slaves in front.

Since he became a goblin lord, he had been quietly gathering his kins in order to attack those humans.

Their foods were abundant, and their females were of high quality - much better than those of his kin.

He had a chance to taste them a few times when he still wasn’t a lord, and that was one of the best memories of his life. The ones in that large settlement were especially good.

That was why when he became a lord, he temporarily suppressed his desires, quietly gathered his kins, ordered them to remain hidden until a sufficient number had gathered, to prepare to attack the humans’ settlements.

Rob their foods and enjoy the females.

The larger a settlement, the higher the quality of the females.

He licked his lips when his thought reached that far.

“Go! Now it is the time!’ He commanded.

He would start with the small settlement on the edge of their territory, and together with his army, go deeper and deeper to find better foods and females.

Of course, he wouldn’t mind enjoying a few low-quality products on the way.