The rain started to fall. At first, the drops were light and fleeting, but soon intensified and flooded the small streams flowing down the mountains, as well as rapidly filling up all the basins here.
Looks like it'll last a while, I muttered to myself. I finally let out a sigh after staring at the rain for a long moment. I was worried. What could I say to the resting woman behind me? What excuses would sound plausible enough to prevent her from murdering me? For a highly ranked Knight like her, aiming for the Highest Tier, it'd only take a single punch to erase any hint of the existence of a single Low Tier Goblin.
"…moan…"
I froze for a moment, but couldn't dwell on it any longer. Even though it hadn't been an hour since the treatment, Claire Reynolds let out soft moans, as if she'd regain consciousness any second now.
My Goblin form nearly jumped out of my skin from the sudden noise, and I hurried to her side.
"Are you al…."
The thought that popped into my head stopped me mid-sentence.
A Goblin isn't supposed to speak human language, I realized.
Thinking it through, it made sense. A regular Goblin wouldn't save a human. Usually starving, they wouldn't care about anything but filling their bellies.
"…..Hmm…?"
Tossing and turning, fighting against the aches and pains, Claire finally opened her eyes. She blinked against the dim light, gazing at the rough stone ceiling above. After a short moment of silently observing the unfamiliar ceiling, she suddenly shot up like a lightning bolt.
"…Euk!!"
Her sudden movement caused her still-healing body to scream in pain. Her face twisted as she clutched her abdomen, torn just over thirty minutes ago.
Yet, it felt strange. The claws of a Sabretooth Tiger had clearly gouged her, the residual pain was real, but her abdomen now felt fine to her touch, as if nothing had happened.
"How are you feeling?"
The voice startled her, and she breathed out a sigh of relief, turning toward me.
In that critical moment, she had used an extra teleport scroll, packed just in case, but it sent her somewhere wrong, and she had thought she was going to die. Fortunately, a passerby, me, a Goblin had intervened.
"Ah, I'm…."
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she realized a Goblin was standing in front of her, and it spoke a human language. In English, no less.
She tried to rise and bow, wanting to show gratitude, but her mind went blank. The Goblin kept speaking, but she couldn't hear it. No, her brain actively refused.
"….What… what the hell?"
Assuming it was trauma, she closed and reopened her eyes, but nothing changed. She rubbed her eyes again, staring hard.
"Uh….."
The situation remained the same.
"What the hell? Am I going crazy?"
Unable to hold it, she muttered aloud.
"Nope, you're real," I said, somewhat frustrated. Goblins normally couldn't form proper sentences, but apparently, my abilities were beyond that.
"Wah, it really spoke. Maybe I'm dead already?"
Claire covered her face and flopped back onto the stone bed. It took some time before she could accept reality.
I did my best to convince her while keeping an eye on her disbelief. One mistake, and I'd be dead in seconds. My story was simple but plausible: I was cleverer than other Goblins since birth, disillusioned with their deceitful ways, ran away, met a Hunter, and learned human language and manners. Of course, the Hunter died in an unfortunate incident later.
It wasn't airtight, but Claire didn't question it too much. Partly because I saved her, and partly because she didn't know much about Monsters' daily lives. Surely, a Monster capable of human shape could speak human language.
"…So that's what happened…. Regardless, thanks for saving me."
She gently rubbed my head while smiling weakly.
Even that small gesture made my body tense, though she giggled lightly at my reaction.
"Haha… you're a strange fellow… Euk."
Her injuries still prevented her from laughing freely. She clutched her abdomen in pain, and I quickly administered another batch of the pre-made potion to suppress it.
"Should I drink this?"
I nodded, and she took a big gulp.
"…Wah?"
Almost instantly, the pain vanished. Her gasp was filled with astonishment, as if a miracle had occurred.
"You got some sick skills, don't you?"
She smiled brightly, rubbing my head again. She seemed charmed by this Goblin with intelligence, far removed from the usual memory of useless, ugly Monsters.
"…Ah?"
Her bracelet vibrated suddenly. The Order was trying to contact her after her delayed return.
"That's right, my assignment…"
She muttered, realizing she had failed her mission, nearly meeting a gruesome death. Fortunately, my intervention gave her a second chance.
I could see her mind racing, tracing the responsible parties behind the tampered teleport scrolls and malfunctioning gear. Her enemies' identities were clear, and her path to becoming the next Silverhawk Knights Order Master loomed over her.
She clenched her teeth in silent anger, thinking of those who abandoned her to die before the cave of a forty-year-old Sabretooth Tiger.
"Thanks. Because of you, looks like now I can pull out all the weeds in one go."
She smiled softly at me and spoke into her bracelet.
"Upper Tier Knight, Claire Reynolds, will return…."
Then she glanced at me, offering another soft smile, and added, "No, I shall return in about three hours. It's raining too hard, and a landslide blocked the cave exit."
We spent the next three hours talking.
Though it was a conversation, I mostly listened while she talked.
"Haaaah, how could it be possible I never got to enjoy a romantic relationship in all twenty-seven years of my life…. Ah, but it's not unique to me, nope."
She was so lively and talkative, nothing like her cold, calculating TV persona.
"Honestly, I really adore gifts like plain and cute dolls, you know? But the boys only see the Knight side of me and give knives, swords, and magic armaments. How can I go on a date with knuckleheads like them? And when I kick them to the curb for mistakes, they spread rumors of me having high standards and try to make me look weird…"
I listened intently, secretly observing her. Her beauty was breathtaking, even after three hours, and her personality was far more approachable than I expected.
Finally, the rain stopped and sunlight brightened the sky as the promised three hours ended.
"When I have the time, I'll visit again. It may be a little late…. but I promise to repay you properly."
She hesitated, casting several glances at me, clearly wishing she could show more gratitude.
I didn't feel that way. I was overwhelmed with joy.
Claire gave me a fang from the Sabretooth Tiger as compensation. A Knight of her caliber had successfully broken one of the creature's fangs during the fight. Normally, it would be just an expensive trinket, but now, with my Goblin knowledge, it was a Mana Stone and an ingredient for potions. I could make ten bottles or more with various effects.
A hurried recollection revealed I could make potions to boost my constitution for hunting, or replicate what I gave Claire and sell it to the public. The possibilities were endless.
And I wouldn't have to worry about attention, as privately-brewed potions could be sold once side effects were cleared.
In other words, I could make a minimum profit of $440,000. Emergency medicines normally sold for $175 per bottle, and Goblin-made potions had proven superior.
And I happen to be a Goblin, a great Goblin, no less.
With that, I could earn enough to buy equipment and a nice house in Gangwon Province.
"Thank you!! Take care of yourself!!"
I waved goodbye with a pair of very happy eyes. Sunlight streamed between us, perfect weather for farewells.
"…Ri, right!! You take care of yourself as well!! Don't go to dangerous areas!!"
Her voice trembled slightly, heavy with emotion. She felt a twinge of sadness leaving me behind after three hours of closeness.
She hardened her face and turned, commanding her heavy feet to move.
"Yeah!! You too!!"
Hearing her ordinary voice, I was certain our short time together would remain etched in memory forever.