“What will we do with a drunken sailor? What will we do with a drunken sailor? Early in the morning!”


    “Screech!”


    “Ah, fuck off! I’m trying to remember it!”


    I kicked the humanoid shape trying to sneak attack me, sending it flying into the air. Seriously, who the fuck would screech while sneak-attacking someone!?


    “This is the fifth time! You guys should have learned it doesn’t work already!”


    As tall as a kid with green skin and long ears. Their green skin made them hard to see in the middle of the forest. They wore only loincloths around their groin, which I should be thankful for since I didn’t want to see goblin junk. They were smart enough to use weapons, even though those said weapons were just sharpened sticks and rocks. They couldn’t talk and communicate with screeches and growls. Even when I tried to not attack them and showed non-aggressive body language, they kept attacking me.


    “Fucking goblins.”


    I decided to call them that.


    They didn’t pose much of a threat to me—except when I was sleeping. My armor barely stopped metal weapons, but their wooden spears and rocks couldn’t damage me. Since I parted ways with Morrigan ten days ago, I’d killed about five of them each day.


    “They’re like cockroaches.”


    Their numbers and persistence reminded me of the Horde, and I shook my head violently to distract myself. Goblins weren’t my only potential danger; I had also faced cat-sized bats, two-tailed wolves, and horned rabbits.


    “But why, though?”


    Back on Earth, most creatures resorted to violence only when hunting or protecting their territory. But these beasts seemed aggressive for no reason.


    “Perhaps they have a reason I don’t know.”


    This world had rules—laws that didn’t exist back home.


    “For example...”


    I knocked on my gauntlet, producing a ringing metallic sound. I could activate or deactivate it at will. When I deactivated it, I felt weaker; it was a 10 percent decrease in my “stats.” The gauntlet covered my body in smoke and shadows before fully materializing. It was quick, but not instant. I noted that. When I deactivated it, it returned to smoke and shadows before fading away. Wearing it didn’t cost me stamina and it didn’t have a time limit on it. The only time I got tired was when I constantly activated and deactivated it.


    Perhaps it was like flying. Staying on air didn’t cost much stamina but getting off the ground took a lot of energy.


    “They’re comfy, so I really don’t need to take them off.”


    Even the most master-crafted power armor I was accustomed to wearing felt stuffy after a while but I felt no such thing with this. Another thing I noticed was that the gauntlet repaired itself. I could speed up the process by focusing, but that made me dizzy.


    “Could it be Mana?”


    Mana was the mysterious force that allowed people to perform supernatural feats in fantasy settings.


    “Guess I’m in a fantasy world right now. Yay! I think?”


    Not like I am enjoying my stay. Where are my beautiful maidens so I can save them and make them fall in love with me?


    “Guess Morrigan could be one. Though I doubt she needs my saving.”


    If she had wanted me dead when we first met, I would’ve been long gone. While we snuck into that cave, she was faster and more efficient in taking out the cultists. I’d never seen her fight, but her speed and ruthlessness suggested she could handle herself.


    “I hope she’s okay.”


    Funny how quickly I got attached to her. That was normal, I guess since she was my first meaningful interaction in a long time, but…


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    “Help me! Someone!”


    A child’s voice reached my ears, and my protective instincts kicked in. My body sprang into action before my mind could catch up, and I found my sword and shield in hand, though I didn’t remember drawing them. I barreled through branches and thorns that cut into my skin as I raced toward the voice.


    “Get your shitty hands off her!”


    Three goblins surrounded a little girl. I slammed into the middle one, sending it flying. These goblins were different—taller and more muscular, armed with thick clubs and primitive armor.


    “Stand behind me!”


    I positioned myself between them and the girl, raising my shield high. Were these guys some kind of elite goblins? Or maybe an evolution? Hobgoblins, perhaps? The left one swung its club at me. I blocked it, but my sword got stuck in its armor.


    “Fuck!”


    I kicked it back, dodging the other goblin’s swing. I remembered this tactic: using armor or a shield that was just durable enough to snag a weapon, making it get stuck. I sighed silently, realizing I’d have to get hit again. The one I had slammed was almost back on its feet. I rushed the left goblin, slamming it with my shield. We wrestled while I tried to stab its neck, and the right goblin swung its club at my head. I raised my shoulder—a boxing tactic—to absorb the hit instead of my head. My shoulder throbbed, but I managed to stab the left goblin in the throat. I turned back to the other one and back-fisted it, then kicked its knee to make it collapse. I followed up with a punch that broke its nose, sending it crashing to the ground.


    “Rarh!”


    The last goblin rushed at me, screaming and swinging its club. I dodged and pulled my sword free from the corpse. I had a clear shot at its neck and severed its head. The one I had broken the nose of was still on the ground, crawling away. I stepped on it and finished it off, then pulled my dagger from the first goblin’s throat.


    “Huhu. Huh.”


    I breathed heavily, my stamina still lacking. I looked up at the girl, who was covering her face with her hands.


    “Hmm.”


    Two large goat-like horns were the first things I noticed. They had a scaly appearance, a dark bluish-green reminiscent of the sea. Her hair was light blue, some braided into a single braid while the rest flowed freely. She was small, maybe 8 to 10 years old, and wore a bright blue dress with overly long sleeves. Her white thigh-high stockings and blue shoes resembled ballet shoes—they were cute.


    “Hey, you’re safe now. Are you hu—”


    “Argh!”


    As I crouched to check on her, she jumped into my arms, hugging me tightly. I was surprised and hurt as her horns slammed into my face. Despite that, I stayed calm and hugged her back. The poor girl had already been scared enough.


    “It’s okay. You’re safe now. Do you want some water?”


    I patted her back. Giving water to crying kids was effective—they couldn’t cry while drinking, which gave them a chance to calm down. She nodded, and I managed to look at her face while she drank. I was blown away by her eyes. They were like the sky as if countless little stars resided within them—blue… I think?


    “My name is Poyraz. Can I learn your name?”


    “Larve.”


    Her shy voice made me feel serene. This girl had something special. I picked her up, not wanting her to be near the corpses more than necessary.


    “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Larve. Are you hurt?”


    She shook her head.


    “Where are your parents?”


    “What is a parent?”


    She sounded genuinely confused as if she had never heard the word before.


    “Your caretakers—the ones who look after you?”


    She gazed into my eyes, confusion written all over her face. I had to look away, overwhelmed by the beauty of her eyes.


    “Ummm… Do you have a home?”


    “What is a home?”


    Oh boy. This is going to be a long day.