After two days of exploring and hunting goblins steadily, we managed to get a few dozen. Although I hadn't leveled up yet, my experience bar was constantly rising.

To keep the hunt safe, we didn't get too close to the goblins’ lair. We kept a certain distance as we hunted the surrounding area.

During those two days, Rin was gaining experience naturally without me having to share my XP. I believe in another two or three days she can reach level 7. Well, even if I say naturally, that probably wasn't the case, because if it was, Kurama should have already passed level 3.

I'm pretty sure that the reason she's leveling up like this is because she's my tamed monster. I think because of our connection, she can still get stronger quickly even without getting any essence from dead monsters.

Currently, since it was around two in the afternoon, we were taking a break to rest near the river. During our exploration, we discovered that it's not far from the goblins’ lair, but it wasn't too close either. With that said, this was a good place to rest.

While I drank only a little water and ate some fruit, Rin and Kurama were energetically devouring the boiled rabbit meat that I had prepared beforehand. Since the first time I prepared it, it had become their favorite food.

Due to Rin being the MVP in pretty much every fight, I was always giving her an extra serving. In fact, in the last few days, she's been eating wildly to the point where she's gained some body mass.

Well, even though she's gained a little more meat, since she hasn't been with me long yet, she still looks skinny.

As a matter of curiosity, I discovered something interesting, the thinness of goblins is not a characteristic of them. Probably because their numbers are so high, the competition for food is great, so they are always in a state of hunger.

Snapping me out of my thoughts, I felt rough skin rubbing against my arm. When I looked, it was Rin rubbing her bald head against me. After learning from Kurama, whenever she wants something, she approaches me and starts doing it.

"Let's take it easy," I stroked her head. "If you eat too much, it might get in the way of the fight, so let's save it for later."

Even begrudgingly, she accepted my words.

***

Following Kurama's scent, we found another group with three goblins who were eating a deer.

Recently, since we've gained more fighting experience, I'm no longer using tricks and traps when the number of enemies is small. We just move forward and attack head on, but with this group, I wanted to test something different.

"Wait!"

Hearing my voice, Rin who was ready to move forward, stopped.

"Let's approach them slowly and without hostility," I said and moved forward slowly after putting my sword away in inventory.

Since Kurama was following me even without being my tamed monster, I believe the Calm Down sub-skill should be having some effect. If that was indeed the case, I think I might have a few more working for me. After seeing how useful Rin is, goblins are the perfect workers given the current situation.

Reacting to our presence, the goblins looked at us.

Trying not to sound like a threat to them, I tried to speak as softly as possible, "Take it easy, I don't want to hurt you."

However, judging by the menacing looks they were sending me, my approach seemed to have had no positive effect.

With a loud shout, they began to approach us slowly while holding their clubs.

When they were about two meters away from us, they stopped and began to act menacingly, slamming their clubs into the ground.

Somehow it reminds me of the first time I saw the goblins, they were acting the same way with the wolves.

Seeing the half-eaten deer carcass on the ground, I thought they wanted to intimidate us so we would run away and they could eat in peace. The group that Rin was with when they faced the wolves probably wanted to scare the wolves away too, so they could eat the guts.

Well, good for me, the longer, the better it is for the skill to kick in.

Although I was full of anticipation and hope, it all quickly fell apart in a few seconds.

With a deafening scream, the goblins didn't wait another second and advanced towards us.

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Ready for combat, my sword immediately appeared in my hands. This was something I had practiced for a long time until I got it.

With a diagonal slash, I easily cut the first goblin in two.

Meanwhile, the second goblin tried to fend off Rin's blow and fell on his butt on the ground.

As for the third one, even while dealing with the other one, Rin used her free hand and grabbed his arm that was holding the club and threw him on the ground at my feet.

Not missing the opportunity, I chopped his head off.

Before I could move forward to take out the one that fell sitting down, Rin took him out with a blow to the head.

"Even though it was 2 vs 3, it was an easy fight," I said. "We didn't even break a sweat."

Since the goblins are very strong, Kurama can do almost no damage to them. For the moment, his major role is just to find the groups wandering around.

Looking at the fallen goblins, I felt a little disappointed. Unfortunately, my plan to get more free labor didn't work out.

I would probably need a lot more time before the sub-skill could have any effect on goblins. Hopefully that will change when the skill has a higher level, otherwise it won't be useful in combat.

"Hey, don't go there!"

I shouted to Rin who was heading towards the carcass the goblins were tearing apart.

Suddenly, I felt Kurama biting and tugging on my pant leg. From the way he's acting, more goblins must be approaching. Even though I have confidence in my abilities, since I don't know their numbers, it's better not to risk it.

"Let's get out of here."

At the same moment I spoke those words, I saw a group of two goblins emerge from among the trees.

"Oh!" Joyfully surprised, I shouted, "Let's go get them!"

Just as I was about to move forward, I saw another group of four goblins emerge.

"Shit! Let's run!"

With me grabbing Kurama and taking the initiative to run into the bushes, Rin immediately started to follow me.

While I thought the goblins were going to stay behind to eat the deer carcass, they ignored it and headed in our direction at full speed. It's just a guess, but I believe that the dead goblins on the ground must be the cause of this.

“““Guiiii!”””

Hearing the goblins' scream of fury, I mentally transmitted orders to Rin, who was coming a few inches behind me. Doing as she was told, she moved away from my rear and followed me along the side while putting a little distance between us.

Despite running, I wasn't foolish enough to believe that I could outrun them like that. Even after reaching level 9, since I had invested all my essence in strength and magic, I could at most keep my speed on par with Rin for a few seconds.

However, I had already mentally prepared myself in case such a situation happened.

"Kurama, pay attention."

With Kurama's attention, I pointed away with my index finger and made circular movements with it. After repeating the same gesture again just to make sure, I threw Kurama. Obviously, I didn't throw him anyway, he landed beautifully on his feet and started running alongside the goblins.

This was a plan I had devised earlier in case something like this happened. All that was left was for Kurama to attract as much attention as possible to give us time to eliminate the rest.

With the plan bearing fruit, two goblins began chasing after Kurama, who immediately changed the direction he was going. With that done, now all I had to do was deal with the remaining four.

It was time for phase two.

Looking for the nearest thick-trunked tree, I spotted one that looked to be at least a couple of feet wide and started heading in its direction.

As I ran through the trees, I didn't dare look back lest I risk tripping over a random root. Despite this, I knew that the goblins were constantly closing the distance between us.

It's not like I had any sensory skills or anything, that was thanks to my connection with Rin. In general, she doesn't get attacked by her compatriots if she doesn't initiate combat.

Thanks to that, I can make her run a little away from me to send me information.

I must say, this is quite helpful, as the more time I spend with Rin, the better I can understand her intentions and thoughts.

To make sure my pursuers were close, the closer I got to my goal, the more I reduced my speed.

After a few more seconds of running, the time came.

Just as I was passing by the tree, I made a sharp turn to the left and then turned the way I came.

Wielding my sword, I prepared myself for a downward slash.

Matching the right timing with the information I was getting from Rin, the first goblin appeared and without delay, I slashed him diagonally.

Just behind the first, the second also appeared, but before he could do anything, my hands followed up with a crescent cut and made a clean cut from his ribs to his neck.

At the same time, Rin had also sprung into action, she hit the head of the one further back with her club and the third one that appeared in front of me had his neck grabbed by her free hand.

Giving him no chance to react, she used Heavy Blow and smashed his head against the sturdy tree trunk.

Even though I am grateful to her, a smashed head wasn’t pleasant to look at all.

Strangely enough, even though Rin is clumsy and acts stupid at times, when it comes to battle, she is quite reliable. Since we're always fighting against larger numbers, she's constantly improving herself.

While I was examining to see if the goblins had magic stones, Kurama approached with the two goblins he had lured in and we killed them without losing a drop of sweat.

***

"Fuu~~"

With a sigh of relief, I poured inventory water into a wooden cup I made and began to drink.

This was quite problematic, if there were more goblins around, we could have ended up getting injured. Although this will decrease the efficiency of the hunt, to ensure our safety, I think it's best to move our area of action a little further away.

Since it was getting late, I decided to call it a day in today's hunt and we started our way back to camp.