Volume 2 - CH 9

We ate dinner in a circle around a pot in the centre of the village. The pot was filled with things I’d made myself.

Some goblins were in charge of the cooking itself. Apparently they’d killed a few giant crabs while they were out collecting lumber, so that was the base of the hot pot. The crab soup was super tasty.

“How is it?” Asked the goblin queen next to me as she tilted her head. Her cute gesture surprised me a bit, but she was still a monster.

I shut away any feelings and gave her a smile. “It’s really good.”

The goblin queen let out a small sigh of relief when I said this. “I’m glad it suits your pallet. I’m glad goblins and humans have the same sense of taste.”

Yeah, seriously. I figured that there would be more of a difference since some goblins eat human. All the goblins here are unique monsters.

Perhaps ‘evolution’ was something like the process of becoming more human-like. …Except with a distinctly higher strength than a human.

“By the way, were the fire and water all prepared by the goblins?”

“Yes. That’s because there are also goblins here with magic type skills.”

“…Oh I see.” None of the goblins I’d been fighting up till now had intelligence, nor the ability to use magic. I guess they might have different ways of fighting depending on the situation. I should watch out for that.

Once dinner was over, the goblins got up one after the other. Seems like it was now bath time. The ones with magic type skills were also in charge of preparing the bath. It seems they basically just filled a bucket with water and washed their bodies down with it.

Using the prepared hot water, they all started washing their bodies. I made my own portion of hot water with water and fire magic.

…The goblins didn’t really seem to mind having the males and females together. There wasn’t really much difference between their men and women. Everyone freely washed themselves together.

However the goblin queen seemed to care, so she seemed to go to a place out of sight to wash.

“Hey, you can even use water magic Crest!?” Someone called out when they saw me preparing my own portion.

“Pretty much.”

“Wah, I’m jealous that you can do so many things Crest!” Well I did go through a lot to be able to do so much. After giving them a strained smile, I finished washing up. I guess It’s bedtime next. I started back to my house while stretching my back out a little.

Then Darkle noticed me. “Are you heading to bed Crest?”

“Yeah, I think I’ll call it for tonight.”

“Alright. Don’t worry about the night. We’ll have some goblins on watch.”

“Okay.” I gave Darkle a nod and went to my house.

〇

There were two spaces in my house. First there was the main area which was my room. It was right after going in the door. Next to it was Goblia’s room. Rufina had her doghouse by the entrance. I would be totally fine with Rufina just sleeping inside, but she seemed to have grown attached to having a doghouse.

Rufina seemed to be happily curled up in her doghouse on the cushion I’d made for her.

I jumped onto my bed and stared up at the ceiling. The goblin tribe huh. I guess there’s a werewolf tribe out there too.

There was so much I didn’t know about the lower world compared to what I’d been taught about the upper world. I’ll need to get along with the monsters down here in order to live here.

While I was thinking about this, my front door opened slowly. …Guess I forgot to make a bolt for it.

I wonder who would be coming over? Rufina would have reacted if they were an enemy. I guess they’re one of the goblins then?

I got up from my bed. Under the moonlight, I could make out the swaying dark hair of the goblin queen.

“Ah, s, sorry… Did I wake you?”

“…No, I haven’t gone to sleep yet. What’s up?”

“W, well… I haven’t been able to give you anything as thanks, so I figured… I’d do something, to thank you.” …While so lightly dressed? She was wearing thin garments similar to underwear. …No matter how I look at it she’s trying to thank me ‘that way.’

“Didn’t I say I don’t need any thanks? I’m good with just being able to live here.”

“But, well…” The goblin queen came closer to me and grabbed my hand. With her face red in embarrassment, she brought my hand into her chest. My mouth involuntarily slackened at the soft feeling. Although it was modest, it was certainly soft like a humans.

“…A thin body like mine, although it’s a monster’s body, I don’t think it’s that different from a humans.”

“We, we aren’t talking about that… alright?”

I pulled my hand back from the goblin queen’s. Her eyes wavered anxiously. The goblin queen is the queen of this village. As the queen she wants to protect everyone. She’s probably hoping to entice me, since I have the power to do that.

I think that’s pretty amazing. “I plan to live here in the lower world. I also don’t dislike the goblins. You don’t have to try using your body to keep me.”

“I, I’m not trying to keep you here.”

“…Aren’t you shivering?” The goblin queen’s shoulders jumped in surprise when I pointed it out. …Seriously. I gave her a light pat on the shoulder before lying down on my bed. “I won’t become a king… but I do intend on protecting you.”

“…Crest.”

“Look, you’ll catch a cold dressed like that. Put this on and go back to your room.” I used tailoring technique and passed her some clothes.

“…Thank you very much Crest. I’ll make sure to repay you for this some day.” The goblin queen gave me a smile before leaving my room.