Chapter 64：Unique Skill: Goblins Bond (2/2)

The goblins were more at ease now, but Arthur felt his mana bottom out. He had to use the core he obtained earlier to replenish some of his mana.

The rest of the goblins submitted a lot easier, and their bond was established at a minimum amount of mana. When the break of dawn arrived, Arthur had the whole village submitted to him.

***

His body felt like it weighed a ton, but he needed to go back to Kira. He was worried that something might befall the young wolf, but he was relieved when he found it sleeping in the pit he had dug on the sloped hill.

Together, the two walked toward the goblins' village. It would be his new residing place in this mountain range as he explores it since there would be no safer place.

He also had plans of strengthening the goblins since Arthur now saw them as his group. With primitive cores being so easily obtained, he could make permanent runes to strengthen them. He could even give them skills, like Heal, Detection, Protection, Restore, Vegetation, and Compress.

As he headed to the village, he was already making plans on how he would make use of his runes. Giving specific skills to goblins created something like a class system, where he could strengthen the fighters and give them healers and scouts. Vegetation and Compress were both for helping them grow plants and make better weapons, creating a sufficient supply for the village.

Entering the village, the goblins all looked at him with fear and submission. He had yet to gain their loyalty, but the bond prevented them from taking any actions against him without repercussion. It worked like a contract that would bind two creatures with a gap in the middle, and it solely worked on goblins.

That meant he can't make a bond with Kira, but he didn't feel like he needed to. Furthermore, there was no doubt there would be a rune of that kind somewhere, no matter how rare it was.

Arthur walked under the wary gaze of the goblins, who had different statures and faces. They were far from being cute, but Arthur wanted to take care of them and make them love him. Even if it was the act of a skill, there was still a bond between them. He wanted to turn that fear into loyalty, as no leadership lasted long through intimidation.

First, he needed to rest. He entered the chief's hut where the corpse still lied there. He didn't know if he could sell its body, but he was not willing to go back. He looked at Kira and pointed at the corpse. It was the last meal Kira had before it evolved.

***

After resting for several hours, Arthur went outside. He called the goblins to assemble in front of him, and they made several rows like a military squad. He started pacing back and forward in front of them thinking of what to say.

”This,” He pointed at one of the irregular swords one of the goblins held. The goblin trembled and gave Arthur its sword before it knelt on the ground. Arthur took the sword and raised it for everyone to see. ”Who made this?”

Words were no suitable method of communication with these creatures, but Arthur felt like their 'bond' would convey his meaning. Sure enough, the goblins scattered to leave out three goblins standing there. The three of them were short muscled males, with faces even uglier than the rest.

The three of them were scared. They were trembling visibly at being singled out and looked at Arthur like he was a grim reaper.

Arthur felt a headache as he felt his impression of himself would change into something worse if this intimidation persisted. However, he knew this was only temporary as long as he made them loyal.

”Come here,”

The three goblins walked over like a turtle, huddling together. Arthur pointed again at the sword and ordered.

”Show me.”

The three goblins looked at his golden eyes, bobbing their head vigorously like chickens.

”Ka, Kaaka ka.” They spoke incomprehensible words before the youngest started running toward one of the huts. He brought out several metallic ores that Arthur had no idea where from and placed them on the ground in front of Arthur.

Looking at one of the goblins who walked forward, Arthur wondered what they were up to. It was then that he witnessed an amazing feat of magic.

The goblin picked up the ore and treated it like clay, reshaping it as its hands glistered with mana. He picked another ore and fused the two and reshaped them into what looked like a pole.

However, it seemed the goblin's mana was at its limits as he handed the pole to the other goblin. The next one resumed the work and made something like a handle, slowly reshaping it into a sword. When the last one was given the incomplete weapon, it started reshaping it with his hands to make slightly sharp edges of the sword.

Arthur was dumbstruck at such a fascinating process. It was still primitive and faulty, for sure, since it didn't refine the ore nor did they make a good weapon. Heck, it was barely sharp. Even still, Arthur's eyes held money signs within.