Chương 24: Goblin PUNCH!

I met with Pip in the morning. He had said that he was staying at the Hearth and Hen, yet when I asked the innkeeper, she said she had no idea who I was talking about. Searching around back, I found him set up under a tree with a small tent befitting someone of his size. The morning was cool, with dew still clinging to the grass around the inn's yard. The Hearth and Hen was already waking up behind me, the smell of baking bread and white-colored wood smoke drifting from the kitchen chimney.

"So it was not so much that you stayed at the inn, it's that you stayed near the inn," I said, approaching. Darwin snapped his tongue out, catching the bark of the tree, swinging and flipping to land on Pip's shoulder. Surprisingly, the man didn't budge.

"I wasn't aware you two had become such fast friends."

"He's an interesting little guy, is all. The trapper and huntsman in me are intrigued by him. As for my living arrangements, whether in the inn or outside, it makes no difference to me. This way saves coin and lets me enjoy the stars."

"And it lets you get torn apart by bugs, but to each their own."

"Have you settled up?" Pip asked. I nodded.

"Your part." I handed him a brown linen bag, which clinked as I did.

"You can count it if you want. In total, it was sixty-six copper per person, with two to spare. I've given Vaelith the odd coin, and you as well for a total of sixty-seven." Pip looked into the bag as if he would count, but instead, he pulled out a single coin and flipped it toward me. I caught it awkwardly.

"You hauled the beast and procured the sale, the extra coin is yours by right. Sixty-six, plus my stingtail bounty, is a fine enough haul for me." I sat beneath the tree. It was a beautiful day, with the wind churning through the open fields nearby, bringing with it a fresh scent of adventure just beyond a distant horizon. The leaves above us whispered softly, and sunlight broke through in shifting patches across the grass.

"You're a deep thinker, aren't ya?" Pip asked. I smiled.

"Can't help it. I've always been a bit of a dreamer, as it were." He nodded.

"Aye, that's the way. Too many people fail to dream these days. Too focused on their class and leveling to sit back and smell the blossoms. Don't lose that part of you. Especially since you are a special grade."

"Why not come with us?" I asked.

"Vaelith and I, I mean."

"And where do you intend to go?" I shrugged.

"Unsure at the moment. I'm thinking it's time for a change of scenery. Two years I've been in Bramblewick… I think I want to see more of what's out there."

"And where were you before?"

"That's the question then, ain't it?" Pip grinned.

"Fine, keep your secrets. And as for your proposition… no."

"But—" Pip raised a hand.

"I've promises to keep, and I'd rather not have a party who relies on me be disappointed when I choose prior obligations over them. It has nothing to do with you or the demon woman… you're both good people."

"And me?" Darwin asked.

"You're the best of 'em." Darwin positively beamed at the praise.

"So you won't join us," I said.

"So then, where will you go?"

"Wherever the road takes me until it eventually calls me home." He frowned.

"That is the day I dread most of all." Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. Not wishing to dredge up something so personal, I simply said, "Then I hope we meet again on the road someday."

"Aye," Pip replied.

"And if we do… be sure to cook me a meal."

Pip and I talked for a bit longer before the man packed up his things and headed out of town to the west. He never did say where he was heading next. Somehow, I had a feeling I'd meet him again. With nothing left to do, I went back to Lina's. I had asked her to prepare a travel pack for longer distances. I intended to move on to the next town, and I didn't plan on coming back for a while… if I ever returned at all. Thinking about that, it made me sad that I'd likely never see Madam Moolisa again…

but it was for the best. A milk cow wasn't a beast of burden on the best of days, and Madam Moolisa's best days were behind her. From how skittish she seemed now, it appeared as if she'd had enough adventuring for a lifetime. Inside Lina's shop, I was surprised to see three individuals shopping. One was draped in cloth, holding a scepter. Another wore leathers and held a bow. The final one had mail armor and had a two-handed sword strapped to his back. A party of adventurers.

"Don't mind me," I said, stepping by and heading into the back. Lina was showing them something when something odd caught my eye. The man in the mail armor, tall, human, and with light hair, seemed particularly close to Lina. From her body language, she seemed uncomfortable. I stuck around and, sure enough, the man reached down and grabbed Lina's bottom. She yelped and spun… but she did not scream or berate the man as I had expected. The others in his party laughed, and she… she seemed to be shaking.

She was terrified. The man went to do it again when I stepped forward and caught his hand.

"Her ass isn't for sale, if that wasn't already clear enough for you."

"It's alright," Lina said.

"Just go wait in the back."

"Now—now," the man replied.

"No need to get nervous. I was just showing my appreciation to the lady, that's all. If she wanted me to stop—" He reached down and tried again. I twisted his wrist.

"She only needs to ask me to stop." The man, with his other hand, reached sideways and slugged me across the face. I could feel the weight of it, and it felt as if he had dislocated my jaw. The man was strong. Stronger than me, for sure. I fell back, staring up at my attacker.

"Master!" Darwin cried, crawling up onto my chest. Without warning, Darwin shot his tongue out and launched himself at the man. His face was pure shock as Darwin landed on him and stung him in the neck with his small stinger.

"Fuck!" the man screamed. He grabbed Darwin and threw him. Darwin hit the opposing wall… hard.

"Little monster poisoned me," he continued. The person with the scepter cast some sort of spell, which let out a small glow as it healed him. I didn't wait. I launched myself at the man, hitting him in the stomach and shoving him against the wall. A shelf rattled beside us, and several jars clinked together dangerously.

"That's enough," Lina shouted.

"So you want to fight?" the man asked.

"Fine! A duel then. A proper duel." He shoved me back.

"Fine," I agreed.

"There a problem here?" Vaelith asked. The man shoved by her.

"No problem," I said, stepping by her as well. Outside, a crowd was already starting to gather. The man waved his arms around to draw more attention.

"Hello, good people of Bramblewick," he said.

"I have been accosted by a wayward patron of your town, and so I must duel on behalf of my honor. I apologize for any inconvenience, and to make this as painless as possible, we will duel with no weapons. Is that agreeable terms, my dear opponent?"

"Fine with me," I growled.

"Good." The man set his sword aside, taking a brawler's stance.

"Then let us begin." Quick… he was quick. His first punch hit me square in the stomach. The wind was knocked out of me, and I was thrown back into Vaelith, who caught me.

"Oh, a duel!" she said excitedly.

"How fun. Me next, me next." I eyed her curiously as she shoved me back in. A tiny circular ring of onlookers had formed. The village road had turned quiet except for the murmur of voices and the scrape of boots in the dirt. The man threw punch after punch, and I did my best to dodge. I was losing, that much was certain… but I had one secret weapon. Just as the man threw a wild haymaker, I activated my skill— Goblin Punch! I felt energy surge in me, and as I threw the punch, I tripped and fell forward.

My momentum carried me until my fist struck something. Looking, I'd punched the man directly in the balls. System… Critical Hit! The man's arms dropped as he blocked his testicles from further attack. He fell to his knees, and the onlookers let out a collective gasp of shock. With that, the people began to disperse. The duel was clearly over, but none seemed too happy about the result. However, my rage was building. He had assaulted Lina. He'd hurt Darwin. I stood over him and clenched my fist.

I activated my skill again. System… Critical Failure! I slammed my fist down at an awkward angle. It collided with the man's armor, and I felt my wrist snap against it. I did my best to scream.

"Truce?" the man asked, his voice two octaves higher. I nodded… it was the best I could do to stop myself from crying. Lina, who had been watching and holding Darwin, stepped forward. Darwin seemed to have recovered well, and he hopped onto her shoulder.

"Come on, hero," she said.

"Let's get that wrist looked at."