After trying my best to make sure that I wasn’t being followed by that fox, even though I’m sure it can follow me without me knowing a thing, I began making my way to the west side of the lake changing my direction from the east to try and throw off the fox just in case it was following me.

The west side was filled with monsters that were stronger than the ones on the east side for some reason.

I walked relatively close to the border of the lake because I didn’t want to get into a fight anywhere near the territory of that fox. And since that fox is dominating the northern area I vowed not to go back until I was at a level where I could fight him, even though he said to come for a visit, it's hard to relax while being in front of something that can kill you before you even realize.

Looking at the sun, I think it’s around noon, so I’ll spend the rest of the day hunting, and hopefully begin my trek home as previously planned.

Velora, can you bring up my status, please.

[Understood.]

{Name - Rick}

{Age - 20}

{Race - Royal Goblin}

{Tier 2}

{Essence - 8}

{Evo Points - 83/180}

{Skills}

{Velora}

After hunting a whole bunch of tier 0 and tier 1 monsters, I now have 83 evo points, with 8 essence points for me to still absorb. Absorbing all of those points definitely wasn’t the easiest thing to do though...In fact it hurt like hell! My body still hurts even now!

But nevertheless the grind continues! Maybe If I wasn't suffering all the pain from all that absorbing, I wouldn’t have needed to run away when I ran into Tier 2 monsters.

[I told you to only absorb in smaller batches, if you listened, maybe you wouldn’t have been in that situation.]

It was only a batch of 15, I thought it was fine! Speaking of Velora...her discern skill has been relatively useful when it comes to seeing the tier of the monster and even the name...which she says comes from an internal database or something. It can pretty much identify anything except when it comes to things extremely stronger than me like that fox apparently. Forget that stupid fox though, I’ll surpass him soon enough on the way to Goblin supremacy.

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

Now seeing as though she didn’t sense that fox, or whatever ghastly creature is apparently taking beauty naps in the lake, I can’t solely depend on it. Maybe there are even little sneaky critters that practice stealth and are on a lower tier than me and can still bypass Velora’s senses..

Anyway I made it to the west side, let's hurry and hunt the first thing I can get my green hands on!

It was after carefully advancing for around five minutes that Velora finally picked up on something.

[Stop, there's something close by, and it doesn’t seem to be moving, advance carefully.]

Okay, that essence ain't gonna hunt itself so let's go. So after slowly walking forward for about ten feet I finally spotted the monster Velora mentioned. A little Hog huh.

[It is not little.]

It’s a figure of speech! Anyways please use discern.

{Name - ??}

{Age - ??}

{Race - Bull Hog}

{Tier 1}

[It is not a level that should be threatening to you, but please be wary of the charge as most of the varying types of hogs in the area choose to do.]

Appreciate the input...now how to kill it...Ah this spear is on its last legs anyway so why not one last hoorah for it eh?

So I slowly lifted my spear and aimed it carefully at the not so little hog, and before the Bull Hog could even realize it was being attacked, a spear was suddenly lodged in the right side of its head, instantly claiming its life.

Hehe.

I walked up to the hog to see the that spear didn't really survive the throw and another spear bites the dust...Wonder why I can’t make them as good as Jaba.

[I don’t believe it's a problem with your spear making ability, but you are just too strong at your current size for the materials you are using to make your spear. Tying sharpened bones or fangs to sturdy pieces of wood will no longer suit you. If my assumption is correct Jaba should also be experiencing deficiencies with his spear.]

You know what Velora...that...makes a whole lot of sense...I guess this would be the point in the story where I suddenly develop an interest in forging my own weapons and go on to become a master forger!!…Except for the fact I know next to nothing about forging anything. I mean I suppose I know a little about melting ore and pouring the ore into some type of mold and then letting it cool? Wait don’t I have to beat the cooling metal with a hammer or something too...Ahh!

This is a little annoying, we don’t even have a furnace!

[You should simply just make one.]

Simply? where would I even get the tools to do that!

[You can make the tools as well.]

And the actual ore that I would need to even make tools let alone weapons?!’

[Same as before, simply find it and smelt it. Nothing has changed.]

None of what you're saying is easy to do Velora! I don’t even know how to do any of these things! There was no handy dandy Goblin smithy handbook there when I was reborn! Plus what if I fail? What then!

[Nor did you know how to fight, yet you got better. Make an attempt and learn from your failures. If your goal is truly to take…gang...green...as you call it to the next level, it will most likely require significant effort and a whole host of failures to go with that.]

sigh...I suppose you're right and that makes sense...sigh...wait why did you pause when saying gang green, you should say it with pride because you're a part of it too!.’

[I suppose.]

Alright...anyway building some sort of smithy will be one of the next things I have to do when I return to the cave I guess, hopefully Jaba and the rest of the group will agree to help. Thanks Velora.

[It is my job to help you on your journey. Now I do recommend you quickly return with the Bull Hog, or it will soon attract other monsters.]

Ah your right!

So Rick lifted up the Bull Hog which was comparable to a large wild boar and made the trek back to his little campsite on the south side of the lake, though it was no longer right next to lake as the monster slumbering within definitely made his green body shiver.

Even though he didn’t necessarily believe everything the fox told him, no need to take chances right? At least that's what he believed.