Chương 30: Chapter 27

Sobelle had delayed her training for the day. Or rather, the goblins had forced her to do it; she fought greenskins first thing in the morning and that consumed a lot of her time. Thus, she finished her routine around noon. She didn't really mind this, as she'd already gotten her stats. Her arms felt weird now that they were exposed to cold air again. The bandages and long sleeves had really made her feel like constant warmth around her limbs was a necessity rather than an option.

She'd miss the protection the bandages and fabric provided however, she felt safe when those covered her skin. Thetras ran to her while catching her breath. She snorted when she saw such a large man running very weirdly.

"The chief called for you." Thetras was out of breath when he reached her. Something that surprised Sobelle as she expected him to be so much better than her in terms of physical fitness.

"I... Can we just walk on the way there?"

"We can jog, your running form is a bit lacking so I think it's better if we just run." Sobelle wore an amused grin as she explained Thetras' flaws. She laughed when he frowned at her, "it's true, you know? How you ran up to me was like seeing a babe walk for the first time."

"I copied how you run though." Thetras muttered. He straightened his back and took a deep breath. He shot Sobelle an anxious look, "it wasn't that bad right? I'm not that bad at running right?"

"Kind of." Sobelle started a jog back to the village. Seconds later, she heard Thetras do the same to catch up to her. She gave him an approving nod though didn't talk since it'd ruin her rhythm and make it harder for her to catch her breath. The chief commented at the sight of the two of them once they made their way back.

"So we've got two soldiers now?" The old man chuckled at Thetras.

"That is not how you jog, boy."

"I'm just copying Sobelle." Thetras looked down at himself.

"Is it really that bad?"

"Sobelle is smaller, more agile, she weighs less. How she runs will be completely different compared to yours, you are bulky and heavy, you'd only break your knees if you run the same way as her." A thoughtful hum escaped Sobelle's lips as she paused and gave the chief's words some consideration. Weight did factor into runs didn't it? She put some more thought into the idea and remembered the Pudge, that one had short, stocky legs and bent knees. It would definitely collapse under its own weight if it chose to run.

It could jog, definitely, but that was impossible and still damaged the goblin, a full on sprint would just make it fall.

'So I can choose my opponents depending on their size?' She could beat Thetras due to her faster speed, and he would not be able to do anything if she crippled him and gave him a thousand cuts. Smaller goblins could do the same to her... If she also wasn't fast. But didn't knights wear armor? At the same time, people claimed that knights were fast despite wearing heavy metal plating across their entire body.

'But plates don't exactly break from running now do they? Legs do. So if the legs can carry a plate then it's fine?' [+1 Wisdom!] The Gods answered her question with a yes. Sobelle internally beamed at their acknowledgement. Now she only needed one more point in her [Wisdom] stat and she'd get another skill. Would the Gods make her choose just like when she got a skill for [Intelligence] or was that a one time test?

"I get it." Despite his words, Thetras looked like he understood nothing of the chief's words.

"Don't run like Sobelle since she's faster than me. Got it."

"Yes, that." The chief looked at her now.

"And as for you, little girl, I have an important task I will assign to you. But before that, come here." Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Thetras went off and searched for Chael while Sobelle tailed the chief. She was led to the kilns the village made during the crisis where the old man explained to her what she would be doing starting from now.

"You will hunt the remaining Goblins. We cannot risk a Nogg running around the forest and breeding a bunch of females all by himself, those greenskins would grow to be healthy and strong due to being born from a goblin mother. Not to mention, he'd have an army of Dumps in a short period of time."

"Hunt them? Do you know where I can find them?" Sobelle had nothing when it came to Goblin settlements. She knew nothing of their preferences, environment, or building methods.

"Goblins are hardy creatures so they can live just about anywhere." So there goes the preference part. Goblins didn't care where they lived, just that they had a home.

"Or so I'd claim, but we are dealing with a Nogg who survived a raid, and that little greenskin would be smarter compared to the average Goblin of the same caste."

"So they are now planning where to live?" That felt like it'd make things easier for Sobelle in the long run.

"Do you know where that is?"

"Don't be so eager yet girl." The chief clicked his tongue and shook his head. He dismissed her excitement so easily, why? Goblins were easy to kill.

"You will die the moment you underestimate the greenskins, that is how they get you. They are not weak. Make no mistake."

"Got it." Well if the chief said so then he might be right.

"Right now, that Nogg will be searching for areas he can easily reinforce. He's seen the effectiveness of a well defended area and will be copying that, he will build walls and palisades, and assuming that he figures out how to make traps then he'd make those too."

"Traps?" Sobelle gulped. Horrified. She'd show those things how to make traps. Or gave them an example of it. Did it matter?

"Yes, they are cunning little things and would learn from the mistakes of both themselves and others. They are voracious copycats that love to do what they see, so the spear throw that you showed it? That Nogg now knows of it. And he will continue to learn how to use it now that he's survived a raid. Goblins grow faster when stressed, see."

"Right." She thought that she'd just fight another tribe of unarmed goblins but no, apparently they had spears now. So she'd have to be better than them, then? Wait...

"You said they copied anything they see us do?"

"If you're worried about being copied by a goblin, then don't. The greenskins will never copy the way you fight, you are a woman and to them, women are weak and not worth copying." That sounded reassuring? She still felt offended though. The chief continued explaining.

"Which brings me to my next point: that Nogg is now obsessed with you. It will see its loss as a mistake on its end rather than a victory brought on by your own competency."

"So I have a goblin hunting me down?"

"Yes, but don't think that this is bad." Why not?! The thing hunting her was smart and could force an army of children sized humanoids ridden with diseases to fight for it! What could possibly not be bad about that?! She'd rather get hunted down and roasted by Scaleage than this!

"Okay? I'm listening." And Sobelle hoped this man had something good to say.

"It will not leave this area because it will target you—" that's not a good thing. That's a grudge.

"—and it will attack you over everybody else."

"It will attack me over everyone else." Sobelle repeated slowly. So she was the primary target of a tribe of goblins.

"Will it send an army after me just to kill me?"

"Possibly, yes." The chief confirmed and Sobelle laughed hysterically. He looked at her in concern.

"Are you okay? Why did you suddenly start laughing?"

"No, it's just. I find it funny. Don't worry, I'm okay." Sobelle played the fool to get the chief to stop worrying about her. She really didn't think it was a good thing to be targeted by greenskins but fair enough.

"You are the only one who can do this, Sobelle. No one else is as good as you when it comes to fighting Goblins." The chief was really good at making death missions sound like a grand purpose huh?

"I know that." But Sobelle believed that he was not wrong either, she was the only one competent enough to fight goblins without dying. If someone else did it, they'd die from either the goblins themselves or the diseases they carried. Then someone else would be sent and this would repeat until all the men in the village are dead.

"Good. Now, here's what you will be getting in exchange for your efforts." The chief picked up a spear leaning against a nearby table and handed it to Sobelle.

"The handle has been waxed and layered with charcoal before being burnt. The wood we made it out of was freshly cut, and the head is bronze."

"... Bronze?" Sobelle eyed the spear in shock.

"Yes, it's a bit expensive." Expensive didn't cut it. Bronze tools were the kind of things nobles used. Not even her father had the luxury of using something like this.

"We also turned that boar hide you got into a chest piece, something to wear on top of your chainmail. You also have a helmet now."

"Metal?" Sobelle got excited.

"No, leather."

"Oh." So they cheapened out at the last second? Not that Sobelle would dare complain, at least she had something that actively protected her head now.