Noon. Forest.
The cicadas were in full chorus. A gentle breeze stirred the trees, rustling the leaves with a soft whisper.
"Looks like they're all napping in the cave."
"Watch out for goblin scouts," Gauss added.
It had been a while since they'd last encountered goblins, but he hadn't forgotten his very first mission—when their position was exposed because of one lone goblin lingering outside.
His gaze swept across the area, eventually locking onto a not-so-tall cave in the distance.
After so many quests, Gauss had developed a basic understanding of low-tier monsters and their ecosystems. He was no longer the clueless newcomer he once was.
Generally, goblins only lived in taller caves if they were natural formations. The ones they dug themselves were typically small—because the height of their dens depended on the average height of the group.
Why dig a tall cave that makes it easier for humans to invade?
Exactly.
Most goblin dens barely reached 1.0–1.6 meters in height—unless the group had a special leader or a mutated individual, which warranted more space.
So you could often estimate the overall strength of a goblin tribe by the size and layout of their lair.
Not always accurate, of course. Some powerful goblins didn't look any different from the average ones.
The cave ahead looked pretty standard. Nothing exceptional.
Out of caution, the group didn't get close. Instead, they waited patiently at a distance while Meva scouted ahead to check for sentries.
In the clearing outside the den, a small cooking pot sat over a stone ring.
Many smaller goblin tribes preferred to cook outdoors. At the moment, the area was completely deserted—not a single goblin in sight.
Smack!
Gauss slapped a mosquito crawling on his neck, already irritated.
Even after dozens of field missions, he still couldn't get used to the relentless bugs. Despite applying repellent, the effect was marginal at best.
He sighed inwardly. Either he'd bought low-quality repellent, or the pests in this world were just sturdier than the ones back home.
Mosquitos were one thing—poisonous snakes or venomous bugs were a much bigger concern.
Not long after, Meva returned quietly and shook her head, signaling no ambush or hidden goblins nearby.
That pretty much confirmed that this tribe was nothing special.
While goblins weren't very bright, they were incredibly lazy. If they weren't being ordered around by a stronger leader, they'd choose to sleep through the heat of the day and only venture out when the sun was lower.
"They're definitely inside. I could hear them."
"How do we get them out?"
"Same trick as always—smoke them out."
"Meva, did you find any ventilation holes in the den?"
"Found two."
"Then here's the plan…"
Gauss didn't interrupt as the others began planning their operation step by step. While confident in his own power, he wasn't keen on diving into a cramped goblin den.
First off, tight quarters made it hard to use Magic Missile effectively. A misfire could cause a cave-in and bury them alive.
Second, his agility and movement advantages wouldn't mean much in such a confined space.
Third, goblins had the home-field advantage—they knew their terrain, which could multiply their fighting capability.
The team pulled out their prep supplies: firewood, sulfur powder, and pungent toxic herbs.
These were standard items for situations like this—perfect for flushing monsters out of their dens.
Of course, smoke tactics weren't always effective. For example, they hadn't used it during the kobold mission—their warren had been far too complex and deep to make it worthwhile. It would've just tipped them off and let them prepare for battle.
After some discussion, everyone got to work: checking weapons, setting up traps, prepping the fire.
Wet wood was selected—it burned poorly but produced lots of smoke. Once it got going, they added sulfur powder, poison herbs, and even concoctions made from monster guts that Meva had prepared.
Then, they began fanning the smoke into the cave, all of them wearing layered masks.
Dark plumes of smoke billowed into the depths of the goblin den. Apart from some shuffling noises at the beginning, no goblin came out.
Different goblin tribes had different traits—some were more aggressive, others more cowardly. This bunch seemed especially cautious. Instead of charging out, they were banking on defending from within.
Too bad for them, the stronger side dictates the battlefield.
Gauss stood off to the side, quietly observing.
As the team's strongest, he didn't need to handle chores. It was both a privilege and a responsibility.
His job was to stay alert—staff in hand—ready to unleash spells if goblins came pouring out.
Watching the toxic smoke stream into the den, he couldn't help but think of smoke-clearing rats from the fields back in his old life.
Only this time, the cave was bigger—and the "rats" inside much more dangerous.
After ten or fifteen minutes of smoke, there was finally movement.
He heard faint coughing from inside.
"These little green freaks sure can hold out," Doyle muttered, arms sore from fanning.
"My turn," said Leavin, tapping his shoulder and taking over.
Goblins were tough and stubborn, but even they had limits.
Eventually, they broke.
The first one to stumble out was a disoriented green-skinned runt holding a club. It looked half-delirious from the fumes.
Driven more by the need for fresh air than any fighting instinct, it staggered out of the cave mouth.
"Pshk!"
What greeted it wasn't sunlight or fresh air, but the flash of steel.
Gauss, waiting by the side, struck with his rapier.
A cold gleam, and the blade pierced through the goblin's throat.
"Grrk…"
Gauss withdrew his sword.
The goblin clutched its neck, made a choking rasp, stumbled two steps, and collapsed at the entrance.
[Goblin Slain ×1]
[Total Monsters Kills: 60]
Another one down.
But unlike his earlier goblin kills, Gauss now felt a faint warmth flood into his body.
He sensed that his Racial Trait: Quick Digestion had strengthened—if only slightly.
The boost was subtle, but clearly noticeable. It was a small gain—but small gains add up.
Feeling the incremental power-up, Gauss turned back to the den with renewed focus.
Goblins were no longer just filthy green pests.
Now, in his eyes, they were walking EXP points.
What kind of boost would he get if Quick Digestion ranked up?
Right now, it let him quickly break down food to regain stamina and mana.
If upgraded… maybe he'd gain even more from the same meals? Or be able to digest a wider range of materials?
Even if it was just the beginning, he couldn't help but be excited about the possibilities.