As Velt moved in his goblin form, Cero’s voice echoed in his mind.

  —Lord Velt, if I may ask… why do you want to save someone you just met?

  Velt thought for a few seconds, then replied with a smile:

  —I don’t know. I like her, I guess… but I’d be lying. I just can’t help it.

  —Understood —Cero responded neutrally.

  Velt advanced carefully in his goblin form, approaching the elf without being noticed by the other goblins. He looked the part… but how convincing would he be?

  —I’ll try to avoid unnecessary fights —he thought, positioning himself behind the elf.

  Up close, he noticed she was gagged. It triggered a painful memory from his past life.

  —Damn… who is she? —he muttered, bringing a hand to his head as an image flashed in his mind: another girl, tied and gagged, in another time, another place.

  —Better grab the arrows quickly —he said, shaking off the memory. He crouched and began collecting them, which made the elf alert.

  —Just stay silent while I take the arrows —he tried to say, but to her, it was only goblin-like babbling.

  —Warning: attempting communication in a poorly developed monster form will result in higher species hearing only gibberish —Cero intervened.

  —Yeah… I should have expected that —Velt growled in frustration.

  Once he had the arrows and was about to retreat, his eyes involuntarily landed on the elf’s underwear. He noticed she wasn’t wearing her female loincloth.

  —Is that made of hide…? —he thought, unable to look away.

  The elf, noticing the goblin staring, started kicking and making noise to push him away.

  —No, wait, stay still! —Velt tried to say, but it came out as guttural goblin noises.

  The other goblins, alerted by the commotion, turned toward the elf and saw Velt.

  —That’s not one of ours. What’s he doing here? —one said.

  —He wants to steal our prey! —another shouted.

  —Why can I understand them? —Velt asked, stepping back.

  —Due to your current form. As a goblin, you can understand the goblin language —Cero explained.

  The goblins quickly readied their weapons.

  —Damn… why don’t you learn to shut up? —Velt muttered at the elf, who just stared silently.

  —Of course, she doesn’t understand me —he added.

  —Cero, can I win? —he asked.

  —Analyzing… Six goblins detected. Probability of victory: 47% in goblin form, 100% in human form —Cero responded.

  —And how did they defeat the elf? —Velt demanded.

  —… —Cero didn’t answer.

  —Never mind. Transform me into… —he started, but remembered not to reveal his ability in front of her—. I must not transform here. Fine, I know what to do —he said, picking up a stone and throwing it at one of the goblins, hitting him on the head, then taking off running.

  —Lord Velt, what do you plan to do? —Cero asked.

  —I don’t want to transform in front of the elf. We’ll move away, then you’ll turn me into a human to fight better —Velt explained—. Are they following us?

  —Yes. Six goblins are behind you, quite angry —Cero informed.

  —Hahaha, that’s awesome! —Velt said with a grin.

  After a while of running, they reached a clearing where Velt stopped.

  —Now, Cero, transform me into human —he ordered.

  —Understood —Cero replied.

  His body quickly reverted to human form, but Velt noticed something.

  —Damn, I don’t have the dagger…

  The goblins had arrived.

  —A human! Where’s the other goblin? —one shouted.

  —Cero, why can I still understand them? —Velt asked.

  —The goblin DNA has already been registered in your system. Each form is you; they are not separate entities, but one —Cero explained.

  —I think I understand —Velt murmured—. And now what do I do?

  He observed the six goblins until one spoke:

  —It’s a male, useless! Kill him! —he ordered, and the others raised their weapons.

  —That… —Velt said, noticing one of their weapons.

  Without thinking, he quickly advanced on a goblin.

  —I’ll take this —he said, snatching the weapon with one hand and hitting him in the face with the other, sending him flying backward.

  —Wow… didn’t expect to have this much strength. Wish I’d known earlier… —he commented, taking the weapon—. By the way, why do goblins have swords?

  —Adventurers —Cero replied.

  —What? —Velt asked.

  —They probably come from careless adventurers, like the one from whom you obtained DNA —Cero explained.

  —Makes sense —Velt nodded.

  Suddenly, another goblin shouted:

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  —The human is strong! Attack all!

  And so, the six goblins charged at Velt.

  Without hesitation, Velt crouched, kicked one in the stomach, and with a swift spin, decapitated him. He took the weapon and immediately stepped back.

  —That was harder than I imagined… —he said, panting slightly.

  The goblins froze for a moment, surprised.

  —Skilled human —one of them said.

  Without losing pace, Velt threw the spear taken from the decapitated goblin. The weapon pierced another enemy’s chest, killing him almost instantly.

  —Two down. Four to go —he remarked, eyeing the remaining enemies.

  —Fear not! We will win! And then we will mate with that female to celebrate! —one shouted, trying to motivate the others.

  —How can you think about that when two are already down? —Velt said, noticing that instead of being intimidated, the goblins seemed even more motivated.

  Velt ran toward the impaled goblin to retrieve the spear, but another blocked his path.

  —Alright… if you want to die, I’ll gladly help —he said coldly.

  He leapt, and mid-air threw the sword at the goblin. The goblin blocked, but Velt had already landed and, without wasting time, struck him hard in the chest. The crunch of breaking bones was audible. The goblin fell, and Velt drove the sword into his head.

  —Three down.

  The remaining three goblins assumed combat stances. Velt, without hesitation, took the weapon from the last fallen enemy.

  —Alright… who’s next? —he asked with a challenging smile.

  The goblins began to tremble.

  —Retreat! The human is strong! Retreat! —ordered the one leading the group.

  The three fled, but Velt didn’t give them a chance. He threw the sword straight at the apparent leader.

  —Never turn your back on the enemy! —he shouted as the weapon pierced the goblin, who fell instantly. The other two didn’t dare look back and continued fleeing.

  —That was intense for my first time… How did I do? —Velt asked, smiling.

  —I give you a score of 8 —Cero replied.

  —Just an 8? Come on… —Velt complained, collapsing, exhausted—. Well, an 8 for my first fight is acceptable —he added, exhaling.

  He looked at the goblin bodies.

  —Four goblins… and I killed them all alone —he said, feeling a surge of excitement—. That was awesome —he added with a smile.

  —We should go for the elf —Cero suggested.

  —Let me rest a bit… —Velt responded, lying down.

  After a while, he stood, took a sword, and headed to where the elf was.

  Before returning to the elf, Velt went to retrieve her bow, dagger, and the female loincloth he had left in the tree.

  Upon arrival, he saw the elf still trying unsuccessfully to free herself until she noticed him.

  —Hello —he greeted with a slight smile—. Need help? —he asked politely.

  The elf, visibly annoyed, started kicking to get free. Without hesitation, Velt drew his dagger, cut the rope binding her to the tree, and then removed the gag. Once freed, she spoke immediately:

  —Damn goblins! I’ll kill them… —she said furiously.

  Velt observed her for a moment and noticed she was still in her underwear. He looked away discreetly and offered the loincloth and bow.

  —I think this is yours —he said without looking at her.

  The elf grabbed the items roughly and put on the loincloth while Velt kept his gaze elsewhere.

  —Hey —she said suddenly.

  —Yes? —he responded.

  —…Thanks —she said softly.

  —You’re welcome. Just got lucky… I noticed you hadn’t returned, so I came to find you —he replied casually.

  —You’re strange —the elf commented.

  —Strange? Why strange? —Velt asked, slightly hurt in his pride.

  But then the elf turned, and for the first time, he saw a smile on her face.

  —You’re strange, but I like you —she said sweetly.

  Velt was left speechless, captivated by the sight.

  —By the way, my name is Rurhy —she introduced herself—. And you?

  —Velt, nice to meet you —he replied with a slight bow.

  While Rurhy picked up the arrows from the ground, Velt noticed the treasure the goblins had accumulated.

  —Let’s see what’s here —he said, approaching. But there were only some weapons and a few gold coins.

  —Why would goblins want gold? —he asked, intrigued.

  —They don’t need it —Rurhy replied—. They are attracted to shiny things, but they don’t give them real value.

  —I see… —Velt said, putting the gold in his bag.

  —Ha, for an adventurer, you don’t know much —Rurhy teased with a smile.

  —I’m new —he replied.

  —New? Then what were you doing in this forest if you didn’t know it was dangerous?

  —I had no idea… —Velt answered honestly.

  After checking the weapons’ condition, he chose a better sword.

  —Perfect, now I have a sword and dagger. I think I’m better prepared —he commented, storing the new weapon.

  Rurhy was ready. Velt stood up.

  —Alright, let’s head back to the cave. I’m hungry —he said, starting to walk.

  —Wait —she stopped him.

  Velt turned.

  —What’s up?

  Rurhy leaned slightly.

  —I want to thank you for saving me from the goblins… Though I don’t understand why they didn’t come back. Maybe they ran into a predator or something —she said with a smile—. I want to take you to my village to thank you properly.

  —…I’m not sure if that’s a good idea —Velt replied cautiously.

  —We won’t harm you, you’ll be a guest —Rurhy insisted.

  —It’s just that a few hours ago, you were pointing your bow at me —he reminded her.

  —Sorry… I was just being cautious. I was distrustful —she said, lowering her head slightly, embarrassed.

  Velt was about to refuse when Cero intervened:

  —No hostile intentions detected in the subject. His level of distrust and aggression has decreased —he reported.

  That reassured Velt.

  —Alright, I accept your offer. But first, let’s stop by the cave. I want those squirrels —he said, turning around.

  —Thank you —Rurhy said with a smile, following him.