Chapter 47

The next morning Hiro woke the hobgoblins up early in the morning and took them out into the forest. He looked around and finally saw what he was looking for. It was a blood rose.

“Blackrock, I want you and the rest of your group to find as many of these as possible. I am going to use these flowers to make potions that we can sell at the general store to make the money to purchase your new home.”

“Alright guys spread out and find all of the flowers that look like this.”

The hobgoblins spread out and began searching for the flowers. After about 2 hours they had collected almost 500 of the flowers. They placed them in the bags that Hiro gave them and returned to the gate where Hiro was waiting.

“Hiro we did it!” said Ash

“Yeah we found a lot of them.”

“Great job guys! I’ll accompany you to the training center so that you can begin training. Then later I will come get you so that you can go and hunt some more.”

“I like it!” said Argus

And so the next week came and went with the hobgoblins training showing dividends. The hobgoblins began fighting evenly with the humans in the army. Each of them was gaining basic skill, strength, and speed through rigorous training. In addition, they improved their skill with their weapons. Finally, by sparring with the other soldiers and fighting the scorpions the group gained needed battle experience. On the 7th day when the group came back from hunting scorpions (they no longer needed Hiro to watch over them.) Hiro met them at the gate. Hiro had a sad look on his face.

“What is wrong Hiro?” asked Sheera

“I have some good news and some bad news”, said Hiro.

“Bad news first”, said Ash

“You can’t live with me anymore.” Said Hiro

“What?! Then where will we live?” asked Ash

“Well that is the good news. You can’t live with me because you house is ready!” said Hiro with excitement.

“SERIOUSLY!?!?!” said Blackrock.

“Yes, all of the loot I got from the scorpions you fought and the potions I was able to create from you gusy gathering the blood roses really helped me make a lot of money. With that money I was able to pay for your home to be built.”

“I… I don’t know what to say”, said Blackrock as he stared at the house.

“I do. Thank you leader!”, said Argus.

The hobgoblins ran towards the new home and went inside. It was great. The group talked amonst themselves as they walked through the entire house. It was spacious, warm, and large enough to house all of the goblins in their group.

“Thank you Hiro. There are no words.” Said Blackrock

“No need for thanks. You guys helped me come up with the money by hunting those scorpions and gathering the flowers for me. Now if you continue I will pay you guys for your services and I put a board in the town that residents can post jobs that they would like done. It would be good for you to check it out as now the residents have seen you enough that I don’t need to escort you around.”

“So we can move freely in the town?” asked Sheera

“Yes and as my final gift. Here are 5 gold pieces. This will be enough to feed your entire clan for about 5 months.”

“What?!” asked Blackrock

“Yes. I think this will be a good start but now you have to learn to make money so that you can buy whatever you need”, explained Hiro.

“Thank you but how will we make money?”, asked Blackrock

“Well there are several ways. You could learn a trade like blacksmith and sell your goods. I could teach you to make potions and you could sell them. You could hunt animals and sell their parts for materials. There are a lot of things. You could even take up jobs from the board to gain money from the citizens.”

“Thank you for everything you have done. There is no way we can repay your generosity”, said Sheera

The group ran up and hugged Hiro.

You have increased your relationship with the Blackrock Clan to its maximum The Blackrock is now loyal to you for your great acts of kindness. They will fight by your side to the bitter end!

That is great that means that now step one of my plans is complete. Now I need to begin trying to recruit more of the humanoid races.

“Hiro we would like to return and get the rest of our clan. Is that ok with you?”, asked Ash

“No problem. I was actually going to ask you to do that now that you have a place for them to live”, replied Hiro.

The group thanked Hiro again before they went inside of their home and closed the door. Hiro left and walked to his home. At the front door a familiar set of faces awaited him. It was Scarlet and Foria.

“Hey gorgeous, how have you been?” said Hiro

“Don’t hey gorgeous me! I was good until my brother told me how you treated him!” said Foria scornfully. "I didn't come right away because i was so pissed off! You have some explaining to do bullying my brother like that!"

“Hey wait a minute. Your brother stormed into the training grounds and yelled at me like a child. Then he even went so far as to start letting his mana come out like he was going to attack me.” Replied Hiro

“He did what?!” said Foria

“Yes. I guess he didn’t tell you that part.” Said Hiro as he put he folded his arms across his chest.

“No, he didn’t tell me that. I am sorry for not listenting to your side before I made a judgment”, said Foria

“It’s ok. He is you brother, so it would be foolish to think that you wouldn’t accept his word a face value”, said Hiro as he walked and embraced her in his massive arms. “Just remember I would not willingly do anything to hurt you and hurting your brother would be like hurting you so I would not do it unless he left me no choice. Even then I would try my best not to hurt him.”

Hiro looked over and saw scarlet whose face was almost completely red.

“What is is Scarlet?” asked Hiro

“Well… It is kind of private do you mind if we talk alone, Hiro?” replied Scarlet.

“It is ok. I need to go deal with my brother.” Said Foria

Hiro and Scarlet walked inside of the house and began to talk.

“Hiro in my all of my years I have never seen a human male as exquisite as you”, she said with a lusty expression on her face.

Backing away across the room Hiro said, “umm… Thanks, I guess.”

“Don’t get me wrong Hiro, I like you but you are more of a brother. I wish to have a man who is physically strong and a bit more unrefined than you.”

“What are you saying?” asked Hiro

“Well I am a bit more interested in the hobgoblins you brought to town, specifically the one that is their leader Blackrock. I sense that he will rank up soon and become a much more powerful ally and I would like to have him as my mate.”

Hiro tried all he could to hold back his laughter and said, “I think that is up to him. I am not his master. He is free to make his own choices. He is a very straight forward guy so I think you should talk to him.”

“Where are they now? I believe he is asleep in their home outside of town and they will be leaving tomorrow to go and retrieve the rest of his clan.”

“I think I will go and make that trip with him and see where things go.”

“That sound like a good idea. I wish the best of luck.”

“If it doesn’t work out then I will return and share you with Foria.”

“WHAAATTT?!!?!?!”

“Hiro. No man can resist my charm. If I wanted you I could have you,” said Scarlet with a wink, “but Foria is like a sister to me and I don’t know if she would be good with that as humans do not tend to want to share their mates. If Blackrock does not wish to be my mate, I will have to tell Foria that I wish to share you.”

“Ummm… I don’t know what to say. I guess thank you for the compliment”, said Hiro as he breathed a deep sigh of relief.

“Hiro you are a funny human. You are completely focused and in control at all times on the battlefield but in matters of the heart you are completely weak. I can see why my disciple loves you so much”, she said with a smile.

Scarlet waved goodbye and left swaying her hips seductively. Hiro could not keep himself from looking as she headed out towards Foria’s home.

She looked back and said seductively, "I noticed you staring at my body as I began walking away. Did you like what you saw?

Hiro completely flabbergasted said, "I...well... ummmm.. I no... well yeah... Ugh... I don't know"

"I knew you were interested", she said with a light laugh and then sauntered away showing her womanly assests.

Hiro let out another deep sigh knowing full well that this woman could become a wildcard later on. He smacked himself on the cheeks to compose himself before heading out to the training grounds. Once Hiro entered the training grounds he quickly walked over towards Caesar for a quick chat.

“Hey Hiro, where is Blackrock and the rest of his squad?”

“Oh they are resting today as they are returning to their clan tomorrow. They wish to bring them here and have them study under you as their commanding officer.”

“Really!? I am kind of surprised. I was really hard on them”

“I think that is why. They appreciate you treating them just like all of the other soldiers.They want to grow stronger and they feel that under your training and my harsh guidance they have become stronger than all of the others in their clan could have ever hoped.”

“Oh I see.”

“They wanted strength for the same reason I do to protect the ones that they care about and they will endure any hardship in order to get it.”

“So what did you come to see me about?”

“I wish to go and enter the tournament in Atraps. Can you tell me how to get there?”

“You are?! I wish I could see that. I would like you come with me. Is there anyone you could leave in charge of the training of the army?”

“Yes Kaura, she has become an excellent leader. She is my right hand.”

“Then it is settled. Please inform her and prepare to leave tomorrow.”

“I will. Take care until then.”

Hiro left the training grounds and went to visit the hobgoblins specifically Argus.

Hiro knocked on the door before the Argus opened the door.

“Welcome Hiro. What brings you here?” asked Argus

“I came to take you to gain a pet as you said you wanted to become a beastmaster.”

“Really?! Alright let’s go.”

“Wait a moment what kind of pet do you think you would want?”

“Something loyal yet vicious, agile yet tough.”

“Hmmm… Sounds like you want something similar to a wolf or maybe some other dog-like creature.

“Well I think agility will be better than anything else. I saw something outside that I would like to train”

“Oh ho! What was it? I think in your language you would call it a 2 tailed fox. Its fur is brownish red with black paws and white on the end of its tails and its entire chest is white as well. It seems to hunt some of the smaller animals in this area. I noticed it yesterday as we were collecting the blood roses”, said Argus.

“Hmm… sounds good. Let’s go see if we can find it”

The two of them left the hobgoblin residence and went around looking for the small animal. Hiro paused for a moment and then used his sense presence ability. He could feel numerous small enemies in the woods but one was moving particularly fast.

“Wait here I think I found it”, said Hiro.

“Ok” replied Argus

Hiro moved away in a flash. Argus was amazed at his speed. It was so fast that it was like Hiro had disappeared. Hiro rushed to where he felt the fast moving presence. As he got closer he engaged his warrior’s eye ability. This allowed him to see the fast movements much more clearly. Once the target was in his attack range he used dashing slash to close the distance between he and his prey. The fox was very small about 50 cm in size and it looked exactly as Argus described it. Hiro grabbed the prey by its neck. It growled menacingly at Hiro.

“Little one, I am sorry for grabbing you so roughly.”

“Human, you speak the tongue of the beasts? How is that possible?! As a matter of fact, I don't care where you learned it or why you can speak it. You will release me now!”

“Yes, I speak your tongue and I have a request.”

“Release me!”

It opened its mouth and let out a fireball which it Hiro in the chest. Because of his fire affinity and his strong body Hiro took virtually no damage at all.

“You are a fighter I see. You will be good for Argus.”

“Let go of me you worthless creature!”, said the fox as it wriggled to get free.

“Sorry. My friend would like to make you a part of his family so that you can grow strong. He will feed and care for you. You will no longer have to worry about predators hunting you. How does that sound?”

“What!? You mean I don’t have to hide from those wolves and panthers?”

“Yes, become his pet and you will be cared for, loved, trained, and protected.”

“I don’t know but I guess it is better than dying.”

Hiro dashed off and returned to Argus with the fox in hand. Once he appeared back in front of Argus, the hobgoblin flashed a bright smile.

“Is this the one?”, asked Hiro

“Yes, that is it.”

“Place your hand on his head.”

Argus placed his hand on the creature’s head and then Hiro used his beast tame ability.

Ding! Argus has a new pet!

“What will you name it?”

“Kitsune, or Kit for short”

“That is a good name. Please take care oh him and grow strong. I have to take a trip so I will see you guys when I get back. If you return before I do please lend your strength to keep my home safe.”

“We will protect this place with our lives. Thank you for everything Hiro.”

“Kitsune be good and listen to Argus.”

“I will as long as he keeps those wolves and panthers away.”

Hiro went back home where Foria and Amatersu were waiting for him with some food. He quickly opened the door and they sat down and ate dinner. They talked for a while before telling Amaterasu goodnight and going upstairs where they disrobed.

“It seems like you get even more beautiful everyday. How could have been so lucky?” asked Hiro

“I must have been slipping” she said with a grin.

He grabbed her and pinned her down on the bed.

“You were slipping huh. It doesn’t matter I’ve got you now and I’m never letting go.”

“You promise” she said as her face became a little red.

“I promise.”

The two made love until the wee hours of the morning and then as they laid in each others arms Hiro spoke with Foria about his plans to go towards Atraps and enter the tournament. She agreed and said that she would accompany him. The two lovers laid in bed and fell asleep in each other’s arms.