Survive in the parallel world, please!

192 Get back on your feet, please! part The way to the goblin village was long, heavy and sad.

“Stop crying now, warriors don’t cry!”

“How am I supposed to stop crying when my friends were killed so recently!?”

Said Ryu amidst sobs.

“Goblins live, goblins die, all the time the same, that’s goblin life, you need to deal with it”

“Goblins really suck at comforting people”

Anne, still on top of Famine, scoffed at Bardun, who didn’t know who this person with a silvery blond hair. He felt she was being offensive towards his whole race and made a note in his mind that he didn’t like that female human.

“I know, brother, but these were my family. How would you feel if one of your wives die?”

“I would fight for them, they won’t die before I do”

.....

“Well, I wasn’t there for my friends, and I could do nothing to help them”

“I see, now I understand, you can be sad then”

Bardun nodded with his eyes closed and letting air out of his nose, as if giving his permission to be sad actually changed anything.

The rest of the trip south was more or less uneventful, apart from a few stops for rest, bathroom, eating and fighting weak beasts, there was’t much to mention. Ryu was less than motivated to speak and Sera, who was really tired after chasing after taking Anne to safety and asking the goblins for help, could barely move her legs. She did go through a lot just to contact the goblins, she wasn’t sure if they would even remember her and feared they might attack her. What she didn’t know was that most humans looked the same to them, just how goblins looked the same through human eyes.

Despite her weak physical condition, Sera was greatly respected among goblins now. What earned her their respect had little to do with how she took care of her friend and did whatever she could to seek help for her beloved Ryu, what did the trick was the fact that she found even though they were hiding.

Not even Sera herself knew the reason why she was able to find the goblins so easily, but it wasn’t a new skill or an exceptional perception. It was Ryu’s ring, the one he bought at the black market.

What neither Sera nor Ryu knew at the time was how the identify skill provided useful information, but that information didn’t come from people’s mind, it actually came from the obelisk located at the core of the sacred empire.

Anything and everything ever documented, including properties, atributes, abilities and materials, was stored within its walls. But the thing about this ring was that its properties were completely unknown, Risa’s father sold it merely because he didn’t know its story or properties, it was almost worthless to him.

Had he known the actual worth of the only ring of ‘true reveal’, he wouldn’t have sold it at all.

Of course goblins didn’t know this either and, by the time they reached the goblin village, no one had any stamina to spare into useless talking.

Goblins tore appart a huge radious of trees around their village to be able to spot enemies as soon as they stepped out of the woods. It was a bit redundant because goblins were exceptional watchmen, but if they were to be attacked by a stealthy opponent, having clear view of them was a more than welcomed extra advantage.

A thin Mia with lean cheeks was on the village entrance already waiting for the incoming group after scouts announced their arrival.

Without so much as a ‘hi’ Mia threw herself into Ryu’s arms and kissed him deeply and, much to Anne’s and Sera’s surprise, Ryu didn’t even try to push her back.

“What are you doing you horny woman!?”

Sera let out a shriek more proper of a goblin than a beautiful princess looking beauty like her, but she got no response and they continued kissing. Mia’s trembling hands parted from Ryu’s face and she let out something in between an aroused moan and a stuffed sigh.

“Thanks for the meal master”

“I’m sorry for taking so long, but I thought you’d be making potions for yourself”

Ryu replied, a little weakened and pale after sharing so much of his own energy.

Anne was dumbfounded at the scene. Even though she lied to Ryu and told him she already had a boyfriend waiting for her back at the sacred empire, she thought he would still have feelings for Rina, or for Sera. She wasn’t expecting a newcomer being the one to win over Ryu’s heart.

Sera’s chain of thoughts was in between tearing Mia apart limb for limb and joining a threeway. Of course she would keep both options alive until the chance for either showed up.

“Just what is going on Ryu?”

“I don’t owe any explanation to you Anne, you have a boyfriend, so stop meddling in people’s lives”

Ryu’s words excited Sera, so much so she almost started clapping.

“Brother Ryu, this is were we say goodbye, I was in the middle of an exploration when I heard about your situation, but now I have to go for about a week. Will you still be here when I get back?”

“I guess that depends, I don’t know what to do right now, I don’t feel like I accomplished anything with this trip and I lost my friends so...”

“Take some time to rest and recover, warriors like war but they need peace”

“Those are big words coming from a beast”

Anne glared at Bardun, she really hated goblins. Their ugly appearance deeply offended her aesthetic sense, she knew they were able to speak because Sera warned her beforehand, but that didn’t mean she had to like being in the goblin village.

“Goblins are not beasts, it would be good for you to remember that while you are in our turf. We don’t take strangers badmouthing us kindly and the only reason you’re allowed in is because you’re one of my brother’s wives”

Quiet as a lake, Anne lowered her gaze. Bardun took it as a sign of understanding and respect, earning her a few points in his book, what he didn’t know was she was actually in a daze after being called one of Ryu’s wives.

Bardun didn’t enter the village since it would take him too much time, goblins celebrated big time whenever their leader came back after a mission, but he had no time to spare.

“Before I go, brother, I must tell you something in case I don’t come back”

Ryu remained silent and looked at his goblin brother in arms.

“There’s an unrest in the north side of the forest, we don’t know what it is, but beasts are behaving in weird ways. Please take care of Thoba and the others until I come back, don’t send for me or come looking for me, just take care of everything”

“Are you asking me to run the village?”

“Of course I am, are you not my brother? you’re supposed to take charge of things when I’m not around”

“That’s just asking too much Bardun, I’m truly grateful for what you’ve done for us, but I’m not even a goblin. Why do you think they’ll follow my commands?”

“There’s no point in arguing, just do your best. if you have to leave, you have to leave. But if you stay, please make goblins strong, I know only you can do it”