The number of nocturnal beasts seemed unusually high during this period.
However, as long as they didn't provoke him, Sakeer couldn't be bothered to care. He was in a good mood today — he'd gained a decent amount of experience points, and the presence of what seemed to be a goblin community nearby promised more opportunities tomorrow.
Yet... something gnawed at the back of his mind.
Sakeer couldn't shake the feeling that he'd overlooked something — a faint sense of unease lingering in his chest.
He tried to recall what might be bothering him, but nothing stood out. The closest thing he could think of was the ogre ambush from some time ago. But since escaping that ordeal, there hadn't been any similar encounters.
The cool night breeze rustled through the jungle canopy, causing the lush green leaves to sway gently.
Sakeer's nose twitched.
A faint yet familiar stench drifted by on the wind — one he'd grown far too accustomed to.
At first, he dismissed it. He was about to relax and continue sleeping when his eyes snapped open.
That smell...
Goblins!
That unmistakable stench — like a pair of rotting socks abandoned for decades — was seared into his memory.
Sakeer's previously drowsy expression sharpened into alertness.
Suddenly, the nagging feeling he'd been ignoring clicked into place.
This smell... It's been here before.
Over the past few nights, he'd noticed faint traces of this foul odor in the air. He'd chalked it up to remnants from past encounters — a lingering scent clinging to his surroundings. But now he realized the truth.
It's been following me this whole time...
His face darkened.
What he'd assumed were beasts passing beneath his tree night after night weren't beasts at all — they were goblins.
Though goblins had decent night vision, they were like humans in that they preferred to operate during the day. Unless absolutely necessary, even goblins avoided hunting in dense jungle environments at night.
Which means...
I've been targeted!?
Sakeer's stomach churned with frustration. He clenched his fists tightly beneath his cloak.
Damn it!
The vague uneasiness he'd been feeling over the past few days suddenly made perfect sense.
Ever since mastering the "Sword Master" skill, Sakeer had been able to dispatch most threats in the outer forest with ease. Even ogres, unless encountered in large numbers, no longer posed a significant danger.
His recent victories had dulled his instincts — he'd grown too complacent. The goblins had been watching him the entire time, and he'd failed to notice.
But something's off...
Sakeer's eyes flickered coldly beneath his black cloak.
Ordinary goblins weren't capable of such precise, calculated tracking.
"I wouldn't be this unlucky... did I really stumble upon some kind of goblin mutant?"
The thought lingered in his mind, and he couldn't help but lick the corner of his mouth.
Even with his recent carelessness, there was no way an ordinary goblin could have shadowed him so successfully.
Guerrilla? Forest Priest? Druid? Thief? Stalker?
Such professions excelled at tracking — especially in complex environments like forests. Without detection magic, even a seasoned warrior could struggle to spot them.
Sakeer forced himself to stay calm.
The goblin tracking him wasn't ordinary — it was likely skilled in stealth or scouting.
But why?
That was the bigger question.
If this goblin was merely curious, it wouldn't have continued following him every night.
No... there was purpose behind this.
Sakeer's frown deepened.
The reason Sakeer suspected the figure shadowing him was a mutated goblin — rather than an ogre — was simple: an ogre's massive size would make stealth impossible. The noise caused by their movements alone would have given them away.
"Could it be a trap?"
Sakeer reflected on the events of the past few days, piecing things together.
The number of goblins he'd encountered recently had been oddly low — barely worth mentioning — until yesterday when their numbers suddenly spiked.
At first, he'd assumed it was just bad luck. But now that he'd noticed signs of a hidden goblin, possibly a mutated one, the picture became clearer. This wasn't random — it was deliberate!
So that's what's been going on...
Sakeer masked his realization, continuing to feign ignorance. As usual, he leaned back against the tree, pretending to sleep.
Now that I know you're watching...
A cold glint flashes in his eyes.
The roles of hunter and prey are about to change.
The moon faded, and the stars dimmed.
The crisp morning air carried the sounds of birdsong through the jungle canopy, accompanied by soft beams of sunlight filtering through the leaves.
Sakeer stretched lazily as he climbed down from his tree, looking surprisingly refreshed.
Oddly enough, he'd slept better than usual — no tossing, no restless thoughts. Knowing that his stalker hadn't made a move yet confirmed something important:
Whoever's tracking me isn't strong enough to attack directly.
If they were confident in their power, they wouldn't have wasted days lurking in the shadows.
Sakeer followed his usual routine — pulling out some rye bread and pairing it with cooked pork. He ate heartily as he continued walking, keeping his iron sword close at hand.
All the while, he kept his senses sharp, quietly observing his surroundings from the corner of his eye.
As expected... nothing.
They're keeping their distance, Sakeer thought.
That realization ruled out the possibility of a close-range ambush. If his stalker had one of those elusive professions like Stalker, Forest Priest, or Druid, it made sense — tracking him in a dense jungle without being spotted was no easy feat.
Fine... Sakeer smirked inwardly.
If you've gone through the trouble of setting a trap for me, let's see how well you handle being baited instead.
Roughly ten minutes after Sakeer departed, a shadow emerged from the foliage.
It was humanoid, with pointed green ears resembling a goblin's — but this creature was nearly twice the size of an ordinary goblin.
Yet its size wasn't the most unnerving feature — it was its eyes.
Unlike a goblin's sharp, narrow gaze, this creature's eyes were wide, filling its sockets like a human's. The sclera dominated most of the space, leaving only a small black pupil at the center — cold, calculating, and alert.
The figure's green, slightly sunken nose wrinkled as it sniffed the air. Its gaze fixed on the disturbed branches and scattered twigs — clear traces left by Sakeer.
After a brief pause, the figure resumed its pursuit.
What was truly unsettling was the way it moved.
Wherever it passed, the grass, shrubs, and tangled branches seemed to part on their own, silently creating a clear path. Not a single leaf crunched, nor a twig snapped.
Its movements were like a whisper — soundless and seamless.
By noon, Sakeer paused to rest. He uncorked his waterskin and took a few refreshing gulps. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the leaves, forming bright columns that danced on the forest floor.
He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
Water wasn't a concern — he'd prepared well. In addition to his current hydration bag, he carried over 60 extra hoses, each holding about five kilograms of water — enough to last him a full month with careful rationing.
(End of chapter)