Book 1: Chapter 7: Small Tracks and Surrounded

Book 1: Chapter 7: Small Tracks and Surrounded

It had been so many centuries since Sophie had even felt any hunger, let alone enjoyed the sensation of food.

We really need to get to working on that boar when we can, the strange yet kind man called Lone said to himself. This is unbelievably bland. Just how much sugar is added back home for it to taste nothing like this?This chapter was first shared on the Ñøv€lß1n platform.

I think its yummy, Sophie thought.

She kept her difference of opinion to herself. The last thing she wanted was to upset the man. He seemed nice but even if she wasnt the one who dealt with her harsher past, she still knew not to be too trusting of others.

If she had her way, hed be dead already, Sophie sighed internally. Keeping her suppressed for so long is getting tough

After finishing up her coconut, Sophie skilfully crafted a simple torch out of the campfire for Lone to hold before she got behind him.

She then firmly grasped as many of his tails as her small arms could contain. They helped clear her mind and gather her focus. He also didnt seem to be bothered by it which was helpful.

Lone suddenly winced with a defeated smile on his face. Level six in Physical Pain Resistance Youve got an iron grip, haha.

S-Sorry. She tried to lessen the strength of her hold on his tails a bit in response.

She didnt want to hurt him but she was genuinely terrified. The beings lingering in the bushes were scary, sure, but the prospect of going back to that dark place he called The Summoning Room gave her more than just the heebie-jeebies.

Its fine, I get it, Lone whispered as he seemed to gather his full attention on the treeline in front of them.

Stopping just before the beginning of the forest, Lone softly asked her, "How many of them are there exactly?"

"There's four... Theyre holding weapons. They kind of look like strange children... They're wearing nothing but rags," Sophie answered in a very unsure tone.

Her mana sensing allowed her to see the world despite being entirely blind. On Earth, this crippled her since magic was long dead on that planet.

Here, however? Here on Altros, everything had at least some inkling of magic in it, each with its own brilliant colour and aura.

It was crippling in its own way. She likened it to having no tongue for decades upon decades only to one day taste every single thing in existence at once.

Overwhelming and overpowering but amazing and awe-inspiring. Already she had no desire to return to her plundering dimension if it meant she could experience the world so vividly despite her blindness.

"Natives maybe?" Lone mumbled. He lightly slapped himself a couple of times, confusing Sophie.

You got, this, Lone. Confidence is key, he said to himself before shouting, "We know you're there! Come out already! We don't want to hurt you!"

' Its that easy? M-Maybe I should hit myself too when I feel I lack courage' Sophie wondered.

"Ukih!"

"Kikik!"

"Ukiki Kihik!"

"Kakukiki!"

Sophie jumped slightly at the screeches that filled the air. It was only seconds later that both she and Lone could hear the sound of running. "They... They fled?"

"Looks like it..." Lone uttered in response. He seemed just as perplexed as she was. "Let's look around a bit. Maybe we can learn something about these... things?"

Sophie loosened her grasp on his tail and asked, "Things?"

"Well," Lone readied his reply as he squatted down around the trees at the entrance to the forest before he continued, "They certainly didn't sound like humans. I could be wrong, but I have a feeling that there's more to this world than first meets the eye... figuratively speaking."

It was at this moment in Lone's verbal ponderings that a quiet noise came from Sophie's teepee, and she crawled out of it before slowly walking towards Lone.

"Something wrong?" he asked her in a quiet and relaxed voice.

Sophie nodded her head and sat down next to him. "I couldn't sleep... Do... Do you mind if I cuddle one of your tails? I think itll help..." she claimed in a bashful tone.

Without replying, Lone swished one of his nine golden tails and gently placed it on Sophie's lap. She immediately grabbed it and hugged it closely. A smile crept onto her face as she rubbed the fur against her cheek.

Lone grinned through the pain. She still couldnt control herself. "Do you really like my tails that much?"

Sophie's face flushed, but she didn't stop. "Yeah... They're so fluffy and soft... Its like like a furry animal, yknow?" she tried her best to explain.

"You're a strange child," Lone noted with a light laugh.

Sophie pouted. "I'm not a child."

"That's what you have an issue with?" Lone found Sophie's response to be fairly humorous.

"W-Well... I am strange, aren't I? Its because I was different that God guy kept hunting me for so long..." Sophie squeezed Lone's tail a bit harder.

Congratulations! The host's passive skill [Physical Pain Resistance] has levelled up! It is now Beginner Level 7.

Lone grimaced slightly when he read this system notification. Before he had noticed it, Sophie had placed her head on his lap and she'd closed her eyes. Lone sighed and carefully put a hand on her head.

"It's amazing to see how much you've warmed up to me since yesterday morning. Just how long was it since the last time you interacted with anyone? Outside of zealous peasants and lesser lords trying to appease the church by hunting you down You poor girl..." he whispered to her.

She didnt respond since she was busy snoring lightly while she slept peacefully on his legs.

Lone opened his eyes when he heard a lot of rustling and loud movements. 'Shit! Did I doze off in the middle of the night? Great job Lone, really fucking reliable!'

He looked around in a bit of a flurry only to see six small figures with green skin surrounding both him and the still sleeping Sophie.

They had pointed ears, pitch-black eyes, were wearing nothing but rags and each one of them was holding a rusted or partially broken weapon of some sort.

Looking around carefully, Lone could see a slightly larger one of these things standing by the teepees as it closely inspected them.

Lone did two things immediately. First, he unsummoned the still unconscious Sophie, and second, he grabbed the spear that was lying next to him before he sprung to his feet.

The green-skinned creatures were startled and began screaming at him.

"Fucking goblins... Shit... Does that mean this island is littered with them? There's no way there are only seven of these things..." Lone mumbled as sweat began to form on his palms. The similarities to Earth are too great

He was going to have to kill these monsters. If Lone knew anything about goblins, it was that they were cowards who were easily intimidated, but in a group, they were almost fearless and would stop at nothing to kill their prey.

He couldn't be sure that they followed the same habits of the mythical creatures back on Earth, but he wasn't going to stop and ask them.

Well, maybe one question couldnt hurt. You guys dont happen to be here to ask for a light or something, right? Cause Im not really a smoker so Ill have to disappoint you.

Ukkkkiihh!

Gikgikgik!

Uksukik kik!

Lone smiled wryly. Was worth a try.