In any D&D-themed novels, anime, or films from my past life, goblins were always at the very bottom of the social hierarchy.
With extremely low combat power and intelligence, coupled with almost every despicable trait, they were practically the perfect monster for beginners.
is probably only comparable to slimes.
Unfortunately, in recent years, due to the latter's greater malleability, their on-screen image has gradually changed from "disgusting slime" to "cute jelly."
As a result, the goblin's position has become even more secure, firmly establishing it as a "weak villain that you can kill without any guilt."
Even though some anime occasionally attempt to beautify them, even creating some reasonably acceptable female goblin characters, it's ultimately just a drop in the ocean and can never become mainstream.
As for those grotesque stories about "ugly green goblins getting noble ladies pregnant"... Lu Wei can now say with certainty that such plots have absolutely no basis in reality.
At least in his world, goblins are basically equivalent to rats—
extremely prolific, weak in combat, and impossible to eradicate.
Well... if there are a lot of them, they do have some destructive power.
However, they can only ambush lone merchants and adventurers; actively attacking human settlements is extremely rare.
And even if they do capture a human, they will only cruelly kill them, taking their weapons and money, and will not attempt any actions that violate racial segregation.
Therefore, the idea of "getting a noble lady pregnant" can only exist in the fantasies of a goblin before its death.
"It's really evil."
"It looks like a small fry."
"But it's greener than I imagined..."
Lu Wei clicked his tongue in amazement as he secretly observed the green-skinned goblin in the distance through his binoculars.
At this moment, the two were about three hundred meters apart, separated by bushes and trees. If he didn't have binoculars, he would never have been able to spot this goblin.
The latter clearly hadn't noticed him and was still furtively collecting sunberries.
It was a gift from nature, unclaimed, yet it acted like it was stealing—that was probably a trait ingrained in its genes.
After watching for a while, Lu Wei put down his binoculars, gradually losing interest.
He didn't intend to kill the little green goblin.
Not because he couldn't bring himself to do it, but because he felt it was unnecessary.
Although the Adventurers' Guild offered indefinite goblin bounties, the reward was only five copper coins per goblin, far too little.
Last year, when Blackmos Town suffered a rat infestation, the town hall issued a rat extermination mission, and each rat tail was worth a copper coin.
"I'll spare your life."
Putting down his binoculars, Lu Wei decided that as long as the goblin didn't bother him, he would pretend he didn't see it.
However, after thinking for a moment, he found a long stick, tied a dagger to one end, and made a makeshift spear.
[Using long weapons to fight goblins can avoid getting your clothes dirty]—this was the advice given in the Adventurers' Handbook.
"Now we're prepared."
After testing the binding strength, Lu Wei nodded in satisfaction and took out several sheets of papyrus covered in writing from his backpack.
They were pages torn from a large book called "Kingdom Geography, Customs and Wonders."
Although he didn't know why his predecessor had such a "professional book," it had indeed helped Lu Wei learn a lot about this world.
[Adventure Area - Section Two - Swamp]
[The swamp is characterized by its soft, muddy surface, low visibility, pervasive poisonous gas, and difficulty in passage. Thirteen swamps have been discovered within the kingdom. Common threats include undead creatures, lizardmen, mud monsters, etc...]
Getting familiar with the new world as quickly as possible was a basic requirement after transmigrating, so Lu Wei quickly entered study mode, preparing to pick sunberries after the goblin left.
However, after reading less than half a page, he suddenly heard a distant and familiar "Aha!"
coming from the direction of the sunberry patch.
What's going on?
Startled, Lu Wei immediately picked up his binoculars and looked in that direction.
His expression immediately turned to surprise.
Because he saw Furen holding a longsword!
His blond hair shone brightly, his body slightly hunched, his hands gripping the sword hilt tightly, looking quite excited.
Opposite him, the goblin held a spiked club high, leaping and bounding about, its claws outstretched, scattered sunberries at its feet.
Judging from the broken branches nearby, it seemed Furen had launched the first attack, but unfortunately, he missed.
"As expected, inexperienced; even a sneak attack misses,"
Lu Wei muttered, glancing down at the spear at his feet, remaining still for the moment.
After all, it was just one goblin; Furen should be able to handle it.
If he really couldn't, he'd go... wait!
Suddenly, Lu Wei's eyes widened slightly, his gaze instantly filled with shock.
The longsword raised high above his head, the rapid and exaggerated leap, and the silver light covering the blade...
it was a combat technique!
...
...
Now, Lu Wei finally understood what Furen had been preparing for the past five years.
That move was definitely not a random attack; it must be a [General Skill] that required a skill book or instruction from a professional to master.
Because it's a combat-related skill, it's generally called a "combat technique."
Judging from the movements, it's probably something like a "jumping slash" or "jumping strike."
"Such powerful strength."
Looking at the corpses of the "two and a half goblins" in front of him, Lu Wei was somewhat amazed.
At the same time, he felt a little nauseous.
The sticky blood and fragments of internal organs were splattered all over the ground, a scene he had never seen in the previous twenty years.
It also made him truly feel the reality of this world for the first time.
And the more this was the case, the more he needed to adapt to it as quickly as possible.
After all, he might have to fight goblins or other monsters someday, and suddenly vomiting in the middle of a fight wouldn't be a good thing.
"Hoo..."
Taking a deep breath, Lu Wei suppressed the urge to vomit, forcing himself not to look away, until he felt less nauseous before washing his face by the stream.
The cool stream water splashed on his face, completely calming his mood.
He got up and looked in the direction where Furen had left, recalling the scene of the latter dry heaving with his sword in his binoculars. His impression of this "rich young master" suddenly changed a little.
And some other thoughts arose.
"Being able to master combat skills means he has access to skill books, or perhaps knows someone skilled in the trade."
"If I want to learn a skill in the future, maybe I can ask him for help."
"I hope he can get out of the forest alive."
Muttering this, Lu Wei silently returned to the goblin's corpse, this time without flinching.
Stepping through the sticky blood, he took out his bag, just about to collect the remaining fruit.
However, at that moment, a strange feeling suddenly appeared in his mind.
Startled, he quickly opened his job panel.
[Strength: 7]
[Agility: 9]
[Constitution: 8]
[Intelligence: 11]
[Perception: 16 (+1)]
[...]
Hmm?
Perception increased by a point?
If he remembered correctly, perception was related to intuition, observation, and mental resilience.
So, was it because he dared to face the goblin's corpse?
Overcoming fear, thus increasing mental resilience?
"..."
Lu Wei turned his head to look at the bro
ken flesh and bones behind him, hesitated for a moment, then went back and dragged the goblin's body, which had been cut in two, into the depths of the forest far from the stream.