Being Summoned Isn't Easy At All

"Halt! What do you think you are doing with tha-" The two familiar guards stopped me again and eyed my huge burlap sack with suspicion evident in their eyes.

And as always. I'll cut anyone off to be able to walk on without any more time wasted.

"I'm carrying a bag of squirming goblins. Want to take a look?" The burlap sack fell to the ground and I slowly edged towards it. Mimicking the expression and the actions of someone who genuinely wants to show the contents to others.

A nasty smell came out of the sack and the two guards scrunched up their noses. They backed off and allowed me to walk away without any more trouble.

Man... Bathing the three idiots with vinegar and forcing them to drink hard alcohol til dead drunk so they would vomit actually paid off huh?

As for how I got the alcohol and vinegar? With my newfound attributes mainly thanks to agility, dexterity, and strength, secretly robbing anyone was easy. If they struggle? Slap them unconscious.

By now the two had already known who I was. Though they do not know my name they know what type of person I am. Get it?

I do wonder why I always run into them. Are they the only guards of the southern gate or what?

I left the town and warily made my way to the forest of shadows. I'll loiter around the outer circle first before carefully and sneakily moving into the middle circle.

Mnmnhp! Mbhmnpo! The burlap sack let out m.o.a.ns of panic and pain. I put it gently on the ground before sighing.

"Silence..." My frosty tone coupled with a few painful kicks quietened the struggling fools inside.

Am I being too ruthless?

No way. This actually is still nothing compared to at my worst.

I remembered all the people I had killed in the other world. Their numbers alone could already fill up a small lake.

I wasn't some killing machine or maniac who indulged in the act of slaughter. There were simply just a lot of people after my head, money or just plainly crossed my way wrong to a certain extent.

I had since then grown numb to killing. Now it was like sipping a cup of freshly brewed tea every now and then. A matter not worth any further thought nor worry.

With a silenced burlap sack, the forest of shadows soon stood before me again. Nothing much changed from the outside look. Tall trees and the thick leafy canopy that cast a dark shadow onto the forest floor. And at night the surroundings would truly become pitch black. Only the faintest of moonlight pervading some spots.

I need to traverse the place carefully. The dragon is mad at me or maybe even fearful but I just don't want to deal with that creature right now.

My strength was low and I can't kill it. And then I remembered something that I should've asked for before even leaving and running off on my own.

Magic. I forgot to ask Stella to teach me magic due to that stupid question.

No use thinking about that now.

Thud! I threw the sack to a nearby tree and took out dozens of quest papers from it.

"UGH!" The bag issued out a pained grunt.

"Quiet..." I kicked it again and observed it. By the way, the sack is faintly trembling, those three should be awake. Good thing I sealed and gagged their mouths shut.

Skimming through the papers, most of them were about hunting weak things, looking for herbs and some hard to catch animals. While the others wanted me to cleanse the goblin population and bring back their ears as proof of actually being able to fulfill the requirement.

People seem to really hate monsters guessing from a dozen of papers that wished for me to go on a goblin massacre. Racist much? I guess goblins are worse than I took them for.

I snorted. Goblins weren't much of a threat but when they do pile up is when things take a turn for worse. These papers would probably make a certain person who loved killing goblins ascend to heaven.

I have to kill a hundred of them in total to complete everything.

Aside from killing goblins, I have to look for five different herbs. Complete Athal's personal request and this thing...

-----

Black Corruption

- Retrieve a sample of black corrosive goo.

- No need for descriptions, once you find the black goo, it would fill you with a sense of dread. That's how you would be able to identify it.

- Come to Burge's house of potions, go to the back and knock three times lowly then punch the back door to alert me of your arrival.

Rewards:

13 gold, a free potion of your choosing.

-----

An interesting request. Black goo that would fill you with a sense of dread? Interesting. I stored away the papers and picked up the bag of idiots once more. Walking deeper into the forest and once I think I had been far enough from the outside, I hollered.

"Dean, Deck, Dandy! Come out!" Those three goblins would be here soon. After bestowing them names and classes, they should be able to grow stronger this time. I want to evolve those three as soon as possible.

If we are going to face goblins then I would reduce the numbers if there is too many or just observe the goblins fight my gobs from afar. If it is a shadow panther, O won't intervene but anything stronger than that and I'll weaken it first before letting my minions finish them off.

Khuk KHuk khuk! Gleeful cries came and three goblins jumped up from the bushes. The three excited green-skinned fellows ran up to me and began hugging my legs.

"There there now let tell me what has happened when I was gone." They nodded like little woodpeckers before starting a game of charades. Dean deck and Dandy can perfectly understand me but that doesn't mean I could too for them.

Goblins can't speak any other language as their vocal cords are not that developed yet. Even if they managed to, it would sound hoarse and creepy.

The three made a circle before discussing things and I let down the bag I was lifting to the side. I sat cross-legged with my palms resting on my knees. It was strange that Dean had switched his sword for a small axe. Probably due to his preference after becoming a barbarian.

Dandy, the one with the shield and looks to be a bit bigger than others started by pointing at him then at Deck and Dean. He started walking in place before the other two goblins popped up in front of him.

Kwharrr!!! Deck and Dean imitated horns on their heads using fingers and snarled at Dandy who in turn, raised his shield and began beating the shit out of Deck and Dean who did their best to block using their weapons.

This is... Amusing...

I frowned while observing them. These goblins should really be young for them to act like this. The cogs in my mind turned and I nodded.

It's good that these goblins are still young. The more I treat them well and the more attention I give to them, the more loyal they would grow towards me.

KHUAHHAHA~

Dandy smiled and began laughing uproariously, making me sweat due to how strange he was acting. He started walking again and the other two lunged at him once more, he slapped them off and showed me five fingers.

They've fought five different battles against other monsters and even some of their kin huh. No wonder some of them grew taller compared to the last time I met them.

Khup! Dandy stopped. Dean and Deck stood by him and the three pointed up at the sky. Deck clasped two palms together, stuck it to his left chin and tilted his head. Making snoring sounds.

They then fell to the ground snoring before waking up abruptly. Picking up their weapons and fighting one another.

They trained as well huh... These gobs are really hardworking. Nodding in approval, I dragged the bag and hung it on my shoulder while gesturing for them to follow me.

I'll stay for three days before heading back. I sniffed the air and something smelled foul. It smelled of death and blood.

My senses flared up and my gut was uncomfortable. They were telling me to be extremely careful. Give me a damn break...

It'll be fine. I won't be stupid and lower my guard like last time. And this time, the gobs have classes and I am stronger. And the more I kill the higher my attributes would climb. The same applies for the gobs and they will receive exp to level up.

I observed the forest and found it to be eerily quiet. Too quiet to be good. I beckoned the gobs and hastened my pace. Calming myself even further before everything seemingly disappeared.

In this blank world consisting of only me and the gobs, I could sense things better due to heightened focus.

And lying southeast of us was something that filled even me with a feeling of dread. I turned to look at its general direction, there was some strong living thing on that spot and no. It wasn't a damned dragon. Don't tell me that I have to go there to complete one of the quests.

A gazed intently in that direction. And then I regretted doing so.

I could feel it. Despite us being separated by a huge distance of a few hundred meters, I felt it look back at me. We stared at one another's general direction despite not really seeing eye to eye before the thing looked away and disappeared without a trace.

It was gone all of a sudden like a bubble disappearing into the wind.

"Let's go!" I urged the gobs to follow me and they hurried to me in a panic. They were afraid as well.

Looks like the dragon isn't the only thing I have to be wary of in this dark forest.