Chapter 58 (1/2)

Volume 1

Atelier Tanaka Chapter 26 Part 2

Conflict 4

As we continued down the road, we encountered several more bugs that the Dark Elf took care of easily.

Then, suddenly, she stopped walking.

It seems she’s found something.

“Umm, what is.”

“Be quiet.”

“okay.”

I followed the Dark Elf’s actions and tried to stay hidden amongst the bushes. She positioned herself against a tree and appeared to be looking at something off in the distance.

Then, I could hear the sound of leaves crunching beneath something’s feet.

The moment I heard this, something leapt out towards us from the opposite side of the bushes.

“Damn! A goblin?”

Just as she said, a goblin appeared near us. The goblin must have already noticed us as it was holding a sword out and shaking it violently at us.

At the same time, the Dark Elf grabbed her sword and rushed out from behind the tree. She danced away from the goblin’s first strike before bringing her sword back in front of her to block the goblin’s follow up attack.

As the two blades met, the sharp sound of metal on metal resonated in the woods.

“Guthat attack was quite strong for a goblin.”

When I saw her on the previous battlefield, this same Dark Elf cut her way through nearly a thousand enemy soldiers. If she’s struggling against it, that attack must have been powerful.

From what I know, based on the information I was able to gather at the Adventurer’s Guild, a goblin is a weak enough opponent that a rank F adventurer would usually be tasked with killing them.

If this is true, the goblin before us must be something else.

I thought about it for a little while, before I finally realized something.

“ah, could you be?”

“YooI know yoo.”

This guy, is he the goblin that gave me those medicinal herbs? It’s impossible for me to tell two goblins apart, but I can recognize the sword he’s holding.

And it appears that he also recognizes me.

After taking a good look around the area, I was also able to spot another smaller goblin hiding in the bushes. That must be his sister.

So she’s also safe.

Neither of them appeared to be injured. I’m happy to hear that.

Wa-Wait a minute! Stop! Elf-san, stop!”

“Hah!? Why!?”

The Dark Elf quickly took a few steps closer to the goblin and prepared to attack.

I grabbed onto her from behind and tried to stop her.

“That goblin, I know him. Don’t hurt him!”

“what?”

She just barely stopped her attack before turning to look at me clearly confused about what I just said.

“Please, just leave this to me.”

“I’ve never heard of humans and goblins knowing each other.”

“Theres a first time for everything.”

“f-fine. Just get off of me, its disgusting!”

My sexual harassment attack seems to be surprisingly effective on the Dark Elf.

With just one attempt, I was able to completely stop her from killing the goblin. She lowered her sword and backed away. Its also possible that because the opponent here is a goblin she may have felt that it was beneath her to fight him.

As she lowered her sword the goblin quickly followed suit.

Still, he hasnt completely relaxed yet. Although, probably because he recognized me, he was noticeably less tense compared to before. He turned away from the Dark Elf to face me.

“Hoomaniz ben long tyme.”

“It has. Its nice seeing you again. I think its only been a month since we last met, but it sure feels like a lot longer than that.”

“I did juz lik yoo said. I tuk mi sizter und ran.”

“Oh, I see.”

I guess he took my advice and left the area outside the capital.

“So this is where youre living now.”

“It iz.”

“I-I see.”

Then, Ill have to be the one to break the bad news to them.

This area is near the border between the two warring nations. I dont know where or when these two countries will do battle, but I know this area will be difficult for goblins to live in peacefully.

“This area is also a dangerous place to live.”

“iz that zo?”

“Two of the human nations are at war and this will become their battlefield.”

“I zeewut zhood we do?”

“I hate having to say this, especially knowing that you must have just arrived here, but it would probably be best for you and your sister if you left this place. There have already been many soldiers spotted in the surrounding woods.”

“ef yoo ar the wun zaying et, I know I can truzd et.”

“Thank you, Im glad to hear that.”

“mi sizter nd I wil ezcape.”

“Good. Its nice seeing a brother and sister so close.”

“ar hoomans zhazame wey?”

“Id say most siblings get along well enough.”

“I zeeno matir how diffrint we ar on ouside, we ar zame on enside.”

“Yeah, I agree.”

I really feel like this goblin is just a kind older brother.

I’d also like a sister.

When I’m finally able to regain my youth I’ll start my own family and adopt a cute girl.

“I get etwee leave forist.”

“I’m sorry that humans are forcing you to leave your home once again.”

“Dunt worie.”

Seriously?

He’s being forced to flee from his home for the second time and he doesn’t even seem upset.

He really is a good guy.

Ah, I should really thank him for those herbs.

“We zhood git going.”

“Oh, wait a minute.”

The goblin stopped after taking a step.

The medicinal herb goblin turned back to face me.

“wut?”

“You should take this with you.”

I took a single gold piece from my wallet and tossed it to him.

With his free hand, the goblin skillfully grabbed the coin out of the air and looked at it.

“Wut iz thiz?”

“It’s something incredibly valuable to humans. If you ever meet another human you feel you can trust, give that to them and they will surely help you.”

“Gib thiz to hooman?”

“O-Oi!? You’re giving this thing a gold coin!?”

The Dark Elf began to yell, but I just ignored her.

“Yes, give it to another human, but make sure it’s one you know you can trust. If the person you offer it to can’t be trusted they may try to take advantage of you.”

“I onderztand.”

The goblin nodded back to me.

Are coins unknown to him? He kept glancing down at the coin in his head, flipping it over again and again.

After a few seconds, he seemed to notice something.

“I dunt hav anyzhing to giv yoo.”