Three days have passed since then. Right now, I’m living inside a cave.
The air is damp, carrying the scent of moss and earth. Shadows stretch along the rough stone walls, flickering as the wind whistles through the entrance. Water drips somewhere in the distance, steady and unchanging. My bed is just a pile of dry leaves and torn fabric—uncomfortable, but better than nothing.
For the past three days, I've been eating goblin meat.
Every afternoon, just before the sun dips below the horizon, a goblin appears near the edge of the cave. And every time, I kill it.
I don’t know where they come from or why they keep showing up, but I’ve stopped questioning it.
"Status"
The same old UI that I'm used too appears Infront of me
----[Main Screen UI]----
Name: Kelvin
Level: 3
EP: 144/195
Class: Former Sergeant (Aerospace Engineer)
Health: 100/100
Mana: 0
Stamina: 18
Strength: 14
Intelligence: 7
Agility: 12
Inventory:
C13314 (Toothpick)Basic Clothes (Work Uniform)
Skills:
Engineering Knowledge (Lv. 1)Basic Combat (Lv. 2)
[Button: System Settings]
[Button: Quest Log]
[Button: Inventory]
[Button: Skills]
---------------------
I look at the UI, my level higher than before.
It seems that knight gave me a lot of levels. If I include the goblins I’ve killed over the past three days, it’s not that bad.
All my stats went up... Well, except for mana. I still don’t know how to utilize it. But I can feel it.
Since I have nothing to do, I might as well check out this UI.
I lift up my hand and push my finger into the system settings. The UI changes, but it also feels... off. It’s not something physical—my finger just goes right through it.
----[System Settings]----
Auto Translate: [ON / OFF]
- Translation Accuracy: [High / Medium / Low]
- Translate All Languages (Includes Monster Dialect): [ON / OFF]
Companion Mode: [ON / OFF]
- Tone: [Friendly / Neutral / Informative]
- Frequency of Interaction: [Constant / Occasional / Rare]
- Voice Type: [Male / Female / Genderless]
- Personality: [Optimistic / Calm / Stern / Custom]
------[End Settings]------
I look at UI Infront of me. So many options.. Auto translate is on, is that how I understood those knights?
Let’s see... I lift my finger and push down on the options.
----[System Settings]----
Auto Translate: [ON / OFF]
- Translation Accuracy: [High / Medium / Low]
- Translate All Languages (Includes Monster Dialect): [ON / OFF]
Companion Mode: [ON / OFF]
- Tone: [Friendly / Neutral / Informative]
- Frequency of Interaction: [Constant / Occasional / Rare]
- Voice Type: [Male / Female / Genderless]
- Personality: [Optimistic / Calm / Stern / Custom]
------[End Settings]------
"That should do it... Now, how will I know if these worked?"
I steady my voice and say, "Hello," hoping for someone to respond.
"Hello," a voice replies.
"You're the UI, right?"
The words come out more uncertain than I intended, my mind racing to understand what’s happening. My pulse quickens, waiting for an answer. I try to keep my voice steady, but the tension in the air is almost too much to bear.
"Yes, I am the UI," the voice replies, calm and clear.
"If I can ask, can you please give me a name?" the UI asks.
The question hangs in the air, and I’m taken aback. I didn’t expect the system to ask something like that. It feels almost... human, in a way. I hesitate, unsure of how to respond. What do I even name a system?
I scratch my head, trying to think.
Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
The idea of naming the UI feels strange, almost like I’m deciding something important, though I can’t figure out why it feels that way. After a moment, I let out a quiet sigh. What kind of name would fit? I glance at the glowing screen, unsure where to begin.
A light bulb shows up. I got it!
The idea clicks into place, and I can’t help but smile. "Daoz," I say out loud, feeling satisfied with the choice. It feels right—soft and familiar, like it belongs. Something shifts in the air, as if the name has made this all just a bit more real.
I remember a random story from my past life, before all this. Daoz was the name of a character in a book I used to read. He wasn’t a hero or anything special—just a regular guy who loved photography, traveling the world with nothing but a camera and a notebook. He’d capture moments people would forget, those small, quiet things that seemed insignificant but were actually important. The name stuck with me for some reason, maybe because it reminded me of how small things, like the sound of a shutter click, could mean so much.
I look at the UI, hoping for something. But nothing seems to be happening.
The screen remains unchanged, the same as before. I wait a moment longer, but the silence feels heavy now, like I'm waiting for a response that isn't coming. Maybe I expected too much—does naming it even do anything?
Suddenly, a flash of bright light.
It’s blinding, and I instinctively raise my hand to shield my eyes. The light pulses for a moment, overwhelming everything around me, before fading just as quickly.
As my sight comes back I notice a figure Infront of me.
A person...?
"Thank you for naming me, master," the figure says, their voice soft but clear.
"Sorry?" I replied
"It's me, master, the UI—or Daoz."
I finally see the figure. It’s a guy? No... A girl? Well, whatever they are, they’re well-dressed.
They wear a simple yet elegant tunic, with a leather belt and sturdy boots. A dark cloak drapes over their shoulders, hinting at something both practical and refined. Her long hair flows down in waves, a rich chestnut brown that catches the light, framing her soft features. Her eyes are a deep, warm brown, gazing at me with a calm yet knowing look. There’s no doubt now—she looks unmistakably like a girl, with a presence that’s both gentle and confident.
"Can I ask something... Are you a guy or a girl?"
I can't help but ask, curiosity taking over.
"I'm neither, master," It replies, It voice calm and matter-of-fact.
"Neither? That can’t be..."
I take a moment to think, looking back and forth, trying to process her answer.
"Ok ok for now, your a girl. Understand?"
I say it more to myself than to her, trying to make sense of this new situation.
She nods slightly, her expression calm as always. "Understood, master."
"Also, stop calling me master. Just call me Kelvin."
I feel a bit awkward saying it out loud, but I don’t want to be treated like I’m in charge of anything. It feels too weird, too much like I’m in a position I didn’t ask for.
She tilts her head slightly, as if considering the request, before giving a small nod. "Understood, Kelvin."
"Let me ask one more thing. How are you here, but I still see the UI?"
I ask, trying to make sense of the situation.
"Well," Daoz replies, her voice calm, "I’ve only transfigured into a human because of the setting you turned on, to be more specific... Companion mode."
"Whether or not my figure is human, the UI will still function the same. I’m just here to, well, accompany you," Daoz explains with a gentle smile.
Her words make sense in a way, but the fact that she's standing here, so real and tangible, still throws me off. It’s like I’m getting the best of both worlds—a guide, a companion, and the system all rolled into one.
"Got it," I say, taking a deep breath. At least now I understand a bit more of what's going on, even if it's still a lot to wrap my head around.
I look out of the cave. It’s time for the goblin to appear. I head toward the destination, but before I step out, I glance back at Daoz.
"Stay close."
She nods without hesitation, her presence as calm and steady as ever.
I turn back toward the path, moving forward, my focus sharp. The goblin won’t wait forever
Finally, I see it—right in front of me, the goblin.
Its small, green figure stands just ahead, eyes gleaming with hostility as it grips a crude weapon. The low growl it lets out makes it clear it’s ready for a fight.
I show myself to the goblin, making sure it sees me. Without hesitation, it charges toward me, its grotesque face twisted in a snarl as it swings its crude club.
I dodge the club with ease, my movements fluid and confident.
"For three days... I’ve been fighting you guys. Now I’ve mastered it—your movements, and the most important one—your attack pattern."
I can see it in the goblin’s eyes—it’s not used to an opponent who knows what’s coming. As it stumbles from its missed attack, I step forward, my body moving almost instinctively, ready to strike.
The goblin’s reaction time is slow compared to mine now. It’s like we’ve been dancing this same dance for days, and I’ve finally learned every step.
With a wide swing, I use my fist, the motion sharp and calculated. It connects with the goblin’s temple with a sickening thud, making it stumble backward, its legs shaking as it tries to regain its balance.
"Fuck, that hurts," I mutter under my breath, feeling a brief sting from the impact.
I pull out my toothpick, twirling it between my fingers. "Well, I guess it was fun while it lasted."
I thrust the toothpick forward, shouting, "Piercing Strike!"
The tip of the toothpick connects with the goblin’s arm. It tries to sidestep, but it’s too late—its arm takes the brunt of the attack, the sharp tip piercing deep into its flesh. The goblin stumbles back, clutching the wound as it howls in pain.
It’s hurt, and I can see the fear in its eyes as it realizes it’s losing this fight.
"Please... Spare me!" the goblin screams, its voice filled with desperation.
Huh? The goblin is talking? I blink, surprised. Is this the translating setting? I glance at Daoz, unsure whether I’m hearing things right.
"Why should I spare you?"
I ask, my voice steady, though part of me is still caught off guard by the goblin’s plea.
"Please..." The goblin drops to its knees, its hands trembling as it looks up at me. "I didn’t want to go here. But I was forced to! Because of how many of our kind went missing here."
Well... that was because of me, hehe. But I thought they were just spawns.
I pause, thinking about it. Did the UI start to make me think I’m in a game? I shake my head, trying to push the thought away. I should stop that mindset.
"Well, if I did spare you, what could you do for me?" I ask, my voice colder now. "You know I need to eat, right?"
The goblin looks at me, clearly panicked, but there’s a spark of something in its eyes, like it's thinking hard. It knows it’s in a tight spot, but it’s desperate enough to offer something.
"I... I can help you find food," it says quickly, almost pleading. "There’s more... more than just goblins around here. I can show you where the better places are."
"I would like that," I say, my voice calmer now, considering the offer.
The goblin looks up at me, a glimmer of relief crossing its face. It’s clear it wasn’t expecting to be spared, but it seems eager to prove its worth.
"But... what if I just made you my slave?!"
The words slip out before I can stop them, a part of me testing the waters, seeing how far I can push this. The goblin freezes, its wide eyes locking onto mine, a mix of fear and confusion in them.
"Slave?" it whispers, almost as if it can’t believe what it’s hearing.
I take a step closer, watching the goblin closely. This could be interesting.
"Yeah, you heard that right," I say with a smirk, my tone cold. "Ensure your loyalty towards me, and I’ll let you live."
The goblin hesitates, its mind racing as it processes my words. I can see it weighing the options—the fear of death versus the shame of servitude.
"Please... I’ll do whatever you want!" it stammers, dropping its head in submission. "I swear, I’ll be loyal to you!"
I look at the goblin’s left arm—it’s gone, still bleeding profusely.
On second thought... nah.
With a quick thrust of my toothpick, I end the goblin’s life, the words "Piercing Strike!" leaving my lips as the sharp tip connects with its chest. The goblin’s body jerks once, then slumps lifeless to the ground.
Ding
Goblin Defeated +50 xp
I waste no time, kneeling down beside the fallen creature. I quickly cut it up, focusing only on the good pieces—those that can be cooked and eaten. The rest, the parts I don’t need, are discarded without a second glance.
The task is mechanical now, something I’ve done before, and I get to work without hesitation.
I hurry up, gathering the good pieces of the goblin meat and preparing to cook. My hands move quickly, knowing I don’t want to waste any time. The fire I’ve been using for warmth is still going strong, so I add a few more sticks to keep it burning.
The meat sizzles as it hits the flames, and the smell fills the air, pungent but oddly familiar. It’s a routine by now—goblin meat has become a regular part of my diet, and while it’s not the best, it’s enough to survive on.
I watch it cook, the flames licking at the edges, turning the meat golden brown.
Ugh, it’s the same rough texture, not great, but it’s food.
I take a bite, the toughness of the meat making it harder to chew, but I don’t mind. At this point, it’s just fuel—something to keep me going. The taste isn’t much different from the last few meals, but it does the job.
I glance up at Daoz, noticing her watchful gaze. I pause for a moment, then, almost without thinking, offer, "Do you want one?"
I hold out a piece of the goblin meat toward her, a strange thought crossing my mind. She hasn't eaten, at least not in front of me, and I’m not even sure if she needs food.
"I'm fine, I don’t need to eat anything." Daoz responds, her voice calm and matter-of-fact. She sits down next to the fire, her posture relaxed, as if the whole idea of eating is irrelevant to her.
...
The fire still burns strong, casting flickering shadows across the walls of the cave. I lie back, my body feeling the weight of the day. Staring up at the ceiling, I let my thoughts wander as the warmth of the fire wraps around me.
I’m gonna kill the fucking knight.
The thought lingers in my mind, sharp and steady. The frustration, the anger, it’s all building inside me. I know what I have to do.
And I’ll do it. One way or another.
With that final thought, I close my eyes, letting the quiet of the cave settle in.