My Parasite Skill System

Thus, I was disappointed and that was that.

Although, surprisingly, at some point, Leader spoke:

"Guys, let's come to a stop and talk it through," he began his speech.

Everyone came to a stop, including me, and we heard him out with attentive ears. They sure held their party leader in great esteem. Our whisperings came to a stop.

"I don't know about that super-cheat ability the little man is selling us … but he's right all the same. After around thirty minutes spent here, patrolling at our usual hunting spot, we haven't come across any goblin. Why is that? Maybe other skillful adventurers have started to target our spot (I mean, this isn't even 'our' spot, to begin with) or maybe that's something else … like, the goblins could simply have retreated deeper into their forest seeing they weren't a match for us (we often come here, so obviously, that can be a valid reason), or it could be also something entirely different, that is beyond us all … but anyway–why not go for it, guys?"

Why not go for it?

And the rest of the party reacted. Before the loud Bumped's voice was to be way too loud in expressing his complete and utter approval so excitingly, and that the others also let their voices, they all came to think silently.

Their voices were filled with insecurities and doubts, yet they were also filled with motivation and decisiveness.

Apparently, the idea already had flashed through everyone's mind for more than once already.

But they didn't speak of it up till now.

This could be a great day for one of the weakest groups of adventurers to shine a bit more brightly! (I frowned and suppressed the urge I had to laugh when they referred to themselves as 'one of the weakest' so proudly. What was wrong with them?)

"We'll even have the occasion to see whether that little man of ours can spot the monsters for real or not, hehe."

Oh, and that's right. If they listened since the beginning, they would've seen I'm such a big boss for real.

And that's at this point that Leader proposed that.

Clumsy trusted Leader. Sorceress was doubtful, but she trusted Leader, too.

Mindful was just about the same, though unwilling to fall behind, he even timidly threw a thumbs-up at Leader, silently expressing and groaning his approval to him.

As for Bumped … he didn't trust Leader.

He wouldn't do that.

'Cause Leader is way too weak and frail. That was how it was, he said, silently cackling by himself on his own for some reason, striking a very weird and stupid pose that was only cool in his head.

There was nothing to fear though–he would trust his own self! Mischievously laughing super loudly like some very foolish but funny human, he accepted and was one hundred percent on board.

Swinging his long, black sword around, he even illustrated how it would be when he'd deal with all of them by himself with no problems at all.

Well, well, well.

Clumsy Babe patted my head again (I told her I liked the sensation; maybe that's why she did it so much), playfully grimaced at me, "You win, little boy, you win. Are you not happy yet??"

"Heh," and I grimaced at her, too, "'course I am, 'course I am."

And we would go. That's right. Been so long since I've had fun.

Under Leader's lead, our ranks were tightened, our formation was unchanged, and before he told us, reassuring, we should neither get too tense nor get too relaxed.

As we would be treading upon new grounds we hardly ever trod upon in the past, let us be careful.

Everyone was cheered up. This team of adventurers was so low-ranked at the Guild that this occasion to go back home with more goblins (we would obviously be encountering more by going deeper in the forest) would do them good and give them credit.

Going out of their usual spot wasn't a long thing to do. We walked towards only one direction, still under the leader's lead, when Leader let us know which way we would go from then on, how, and why.

Ring!

❮ 'Learning the ropes!' Additional Quest – With the Party, inside the forest, kill 10 goblins and 3 angry wolves. ❯

❮ 'Learning the ropes!' – 10 goblins left / 3 angry wolves left ❯

Yes, sir, ma'am, guide!

Now, we really were on the lookout.

I mean, they were. I wasn't. I didn't need that. Using my skill and pausing for a good ten seconds or so, I could cover up all the bushes and trees fifty meters around us.

There was nothing.

Still nothing.

And still nothing … up till there was something.

Monsters had decided to show up. It was only a matter of time before they did. Now, the time had passed, so they simply did.

I told everyone (not that they were likely to believe me yet) around this and that corners, there were both two groups of two and two goblins hiding in the bushes and behind the trees.

Leader was firm. He breathed in and out, turned to his comrade, nodded his head–they all nodded back at him, and I did so too after them all–slightly crouched down and went on his own, with Bumped following behind him.

Clumsy talked in a very low voice: "If there so happens to be monsters right up ahead, my boy, they'll go fetch them to us–then we will fight. You will have to stay behind my back, okay?"

I nodded yet again.

And it started, finally.

I sharpened my senses and readied myself more than ever. I was hyped about what'd be coming soon.

Leader and Bumped proceeded just where I'd indicated. They tried to be silent even though, obviously, the goblins were staying hidden because they'd seen us with numbers.

And so they knew they were coming.

Ah, and they were so slow, I thought. What was it with these adventurers? I would've already slashed them all through the bushes and trees. But they're so slow … them being one of the weakest parties isn't for kidding, huh.

I endured that. There wasn't much to be enduring, anyway.

Leader's footsteps quickened at once. He went one way. The trees where goblins hid weren't so far from him.

In the meantime, Bumped did just the same. Running, he passed by the bushes, "Goblins!"

Of course, there were goblins.

The hideously hideous-looking little creatures that were about my height, jolted in place before they squeaked.

Leader turned to him in a hurry, his face harboring the harmony of edginess and great calm, he silently nodded … when the two and two goblins came out of both the trees and the bushes.

Their long, green, blemished noses showed themselves for real, now. They were in rags. They were angry. And they squeaked uglily more.

Little goblins.