210. Commune
Im Mngrph, the [Shaman] of this little village youve stumbled upon. And one of the few Goblins stupid enough to evolve into a [Gremlin] rather than a [Hobgoblin]. How may I help you today?
I stared at Mngrph. He drew back, still smiling. I blinked.
Wait, but how are you?
I glanced between the Gremlin and the Orc woman. She breathed out, almost grunting. I pointed an accusing finger at her.
Can you talk too?
She said nothing. Mngrph laughed.
Unfortunately, Crkrs isnt capable of speech. At least, not in the sa way I am. Orcs dont get that evolution choice, not that it really matters. They can communicate without words just fine.
But cant Goblins communicate without words too?
I cocked my head. Every other Goblin Id seen interacted with each other without even uttering a single word, and they did so quite effectively. Why was Mngrph any different?
It is simply a difference between Species. It is the sa with Demons, yes? To choose a new Subspecies at each evolution. So, at Level 100, I beca a [Gremlin] and gained the [Racial Skill: Advanced Language Comprehension].
Huh. I didnt know other Species had a Skill like that too.
Its nothing as complex and intricate as your very own [Universal Language Comprehension]. But thats enough about . Tell about you: who are you and why are you here in our humble commune?
Mngrph smiled, and it wasnt really a kind smile. He looked just like any other Goblin. Short, gray skin, and beady eyes. But for whatever reason, his face was more Human than not. And I ant that he really looked kind of like a Human not like a Kobold or an Elf of a Cyclops. The way his lips curled up while his brows remained the sa, that was really Human-like.
It was quite obviously a threat and not a threat at the sa ti. I didnt want to fight him. I found this commune of monsters quite interesting. So, I just said what I ca here for.
Im Salvos, and I need your help. Im searching for a [Lux Golmi] a specific type of Golem. Or any Golems, really.
His eyes flickered. There was a subtle flash. Not anything physical, but magical. Did he cast a spell? I frowned, and he nodded.
I see. I have to say that what youre looking for is not sothing too elusive. I know of a Dungeon or two that may hold what you need. However, why should I help you?
Because, um actually, thats a good question. Why should you help ?
I tapped my finger on my chin. Mngrph started past , grabbing a bowl of violet liquid.
Well, if you have no reason to give for to help you, then I shall be on my way.
I watched him go. Even Crkrs seed confused. She blinked, and I turned to her.
Um, what? But didnt you show to him to get him to help ?
The Orc woman made a whimpering sound. She clearly wasnt aware why the Gremlin turned down either. I ran past her, heading out of the room. Mngrph stood over a pair of Goblin children, applying the violet liquid on their heads as they quivered and shook under a large leaf.
Hey, I really need your help. This is for sothing important!
Whats important to you may not be whats important to . For , whats important is making sure these kids recover soon.
Whats wrong with them?
I narrowed my eyes, and the violet liquid almost seed to seep into their skin. It was an odd concoction it didnt look like anything that would be made from alchemy. It was far too crude to be proper alchemy.
Its nothing too bad. They simply strayed too close to a Cursed Thicket. The effects should wear off with ti for the higher-leveled, but for those at such low levels, additional care is needed to keep them from dying.
The Goblin children tensed and their gray skin grew discolored. They grunted, turning beneath their large leaves in discomfort. I snapped my fingers.
I know! I can help you gather what you need to help them recover! If I do that, will you help in return?
Mngrph drew away from the Goblin children, facing with a grin.
That would be a fair trade if I needed your assistance. As it is right now, I have all the ingredients necessary to continue making this tincture for the next decade.
Huh.
My shoulders sagged as he left the Goblin children alone, even as they made garbled noises. That didnt work. That always worked when Humans were involved. For whatever reason, they were always in need of help, so theyd offer to help if I helped them. But things worked differently here in the Rainforest of Monsters.
Mngrph walked off, and I scowled. He really wanted to convince him sohow to help . I tapped a finger on my chin, trying to co up with any reason. Then I rembered sothing I was told before.
I know Ill be your friend if you help !
I ran up beside the Gremlin, waving my hands. He gave a flat stare.
No.
What? Aw.
Shaking his head, he lowered the bowl of violet liquid onto a makeshift table. He snapped his fingers and the flas in his boiling cauldron went out. The suddenness of it startled Crkrs who was standing in the corner of the room.
First of all friends? How very Human of you. I didnt expect a Demon such as yourself to be interested in making friends.
Hey! Im not just a Demon. Im Salvos, I told you!
That is true. And you lack a summoning collar too. How peculiar.
He nodded, hefting his cauldron over away from the fireplace.
Yep, and thats because wait.
I paused. My eyes narrowed.
How do you know so much about Demons? Didnt you grow up here in the Rainforest of Monsters or sothing?
First of all, rude.
Mngrph feigned being upset. I rolled my eyes, and he continued.
Second of all, not all of us here grew up and lived in this sa commune all our lives. Most of us here, like Crkrs there, grew up in different communes. We simply moved into this commune at so point after losing our previous hos. As for , I grew up in the so-called Human lands.
You did?
I cocked my head. He nodded.
Yes. I was a slave.
A slave?
Or rather, not even a slave to them. I was a dog in their dog fights. Pitted against other supposed monsters far larger and stronger than in underground gambling matches at Odra. Fighting for the entertainnt of Humans.
The Gremlin placed his cauldron down at the corner of the room, stirring it, casting a spell to let the heat simr down. I peered over his shoulder, and he waved a spoon in the air. I saw a marking on his forearm a symbol of a sword in a desert dune. A slaves mark.
I managed to break free and kill all my captors before coming here. Thats how I beca a [Gremlin]. They thought just because I was a tiny Goblin, I was harmless. That I survived on luck, not wit. When they woke up with their necks being slit, they learned otherwise.
He scoffed as I stared at him.
Woah. Good job. Im glad you escaped though!
Thank you.
He dipped the spoon in the bubbling liquid and paused. He faced with a wry smile.
Im still not going to help you.
Aw, co on!
He drank from his cauldron. Was it soup? It slled like so foul food that Id hate, and I wasnt particularly interested in consuming it. But to my surprise, he didnt begin divvying it out and giving it to the children Goblins gathered outside. He started eating it all on his own.
Um, what are you doing?
Im eating.
Arent you going to share it with anyone? Your, um, village?
Nope.
He slurped up a spoonful of soup, taking a deep breath after.
This is all for . I made it myself, after all. Im the only [Shaman] here. Im the only one who can cook. Everyone else will have to make do with their grubs. Why should I give them what I made for myself?
The Gremlin spat and snorted. I opened my mouth, but cut myself off. I took a mont to massage my temples, trying to understand his logic.
Wait, so why are you even helping those children?
Because they need my help.
He spoke simply. I blinked.
But you said that you wont
I wont share my food with them because they dont need it. They have their scraps to live off of. But if I left those children afflicted with their curses alone, theyd die.
Huh.
I stared at him, my confusion was evident on my face. I raised a clawed hand.
So you should help ! I need your help!
No you dont. You can find your [Lux Golmi] yourself. You dont need my help. My help will only be of so help to you.
But
Nope.
He spun away from , greedily scarfing down his soup.
Now if youll excuse , Im a little busy eating. If you can give a good reason to help you, co again later.
Mngrph spoke with finality in his voice, and I scowled. I drew away from him, huffing.
Fine!
I stomped out of the room, pausing right by Crkrs. I glared accusingly at the Orc woman.
Didnt you bring here because he could help ?
She just backed up, looking at the ground. I groaned.
Ugh, I cant even be mad at you.
Crkrs seed nice. But Mngrph on the other hand? He was a jerk!
--
I left the hut and hopped down from the tree, landing right on top of so spindly roots protruding from the muddied group. I grumbled to myself as I marched on, arms crossed. The monster commune wasnt exactly crowded there were a few dozen Orcs and Goblins out and about, working on their crops, and the Trolls were wading through the mud-lake as the rain above died down. And so, my presence drew a lot of eyes.
A few of the Orcs growled as I passed by them, although when I looked their way, they imdiately quietened. A few of the Goblins, on the other hand, just charged at . They scread incoherent sounds, only to be ushered pulled back by so of the other Goblins or Orcs. One of them, a young Goblin, slipped away and nearly reached . I narrowed my eyes, but a large gray armor swooped out of the air.
A Troll grabbed the Goblin before she could attack , holding her up by the arm as she frantically thrashed in the air. I looked up at the Troll, arms crossed, as he settled the Goblin down and pushed her away.
What do you want?
[Mountain Troll - Lvl. 95]
He didnt speak. He didnt have any words, just like most of the Goblins and the Orcs. But unlike them, he didnt even have a tongue to make a sound. The Trolls all of the ones in this commune lacked a mouth.
The [Mountain Troll] looked at inquisitively, and I sighed.
Im leaving, Im leaving, alright? That stupid Mngrph wont help not unless I could give him sothing. What kind of logic is that?
I walked away from the [Mountain Troll], still glowering. Then I stopped when I heard the splash. He pulled himself out of the water, his body covered in brown liquid, and looming over at over five tis my height. But he wasnt being intimidating. He just stood right behind .
What?
He cocked his head. I rolled my eyes.
Mngrphs logic doesnt make sense. Hes like
I paused as I thought about it. It was just weird! And yet, it wasnt exactly illogical either. It wasnt like I didnt quite get what he was saying, it was just very different. Different compared to the logic of Humans or Kobolds.
I glanced around the commune, seeing Orcs sit atop tree branches, cleaning the backs of one another, mostly in small groups. anwhile, Goblins ford large clumps together. They were also very aggressive, even to each other. And yet, they werent doing much. They were just idly living their days.
Despite their high levels.
I frowned, then I looked over at the [Mountain Troll]. He kneeled over, still silent, still not speaking.
Look, I know you all have to look out for each other or youll die. Thats why youre all high-leveled, right? In a place as dangerous as this, you cant afford to be low-leveled. But he could just give a little bit of help. Why did he have to be so stingy? When people ask for my help, I
The longer I thought about it, I realized what Mngrph said was honestly not that bad. It did make sense. It almost reminded of myself.
I turned to the [Mountain Troll] with a glare.
Hes nothing like , ok? Hes an and selfish! At least I have friends and companions! No, youre not his companion. Youre just his colleague? Fellow students? Sothing like that! He doesnt like you guys!
The [Mountain Troll] took a step back, suddenly wary. The other Trolls behind him, still in the water, paused. They dropped everything they had gathered onto their arms back into the water, facing with apprehension. I shrunk back apologetically.
Im sorry. I didnt actually an to get mad at you. Youre just curious about , right? Of course you are. Everything in this rainforest is so aggressive! Theyre always attacking wherever I fly! And ? Im nice. Unlike that dumb Gremlin.
He pointed at my back, and I blinked.
Do you want to see my wings?
He imdiately grew nervous. I wrinkled my brows.
Oh, so you dont want to use my wings? But why? Is it because its dangerous?
The [Mountain Troll] grew tense for a mont. I nodded, still slightly perplexed.
Huh. I wonder why that is? Although, I did find myself getting into a lot more fights when flying than I was walking.
I placed a hand on my chin, in thought. Then I looked up as the [Mountain Troll] straightened, moving almost without a sound, which was quite odd for a giant such as him. He stopped, facing again.
Its because I attract too much attention from flying?
His gaze simply bore into . I found myself sighing.
Well, thatd be even more difficult for to find so Golems then!
The [Mountain Troll]s gaze turned up. He was looking at a hut the one I had just exited.
Mngrph? You want to turn to him for help? I just tried! Hes an! He wont help !
I grumbled, and the [Mountain Troll] stared down at . I blinked, pointing at myself. He just continued looking at . I pursed my lips.
I should still try to convince him, shouldnt I? After all, searching the Rainforest of Monsters for a single type of monster is its going to be nearly impossible, isnt it?
The [Mountain Troll] didnt break away.
I knew that even before I ca here! Thats why I kept asking around! But Humans are an too!
He looked back towards the sa hut as before.
Mngrph isnt an? He seems kind of an to . But
I drew my lips into a thin line.
Maybe so people think Im an too. And Mngrph is nice to you guys. So, I just have to give him a proper reason. Offer him so kind of a trade. That sounds troubleso.
A garbled cry drew my attention. A Goblin charged at , but the [Mountain Troll] moved to stop it. He looked slightly annoyed at the Goblin, and yet he acted. When he returned, he t my gaze.
Y-yes its necessary! Its going to be annoying. But
He stared at , and I closed my eyes.
Its necessary. Ill do it, alright? Now stop giving that look!
I pointed accusingly at the [Mountain Troll]. He finally looked away. Then I smiled.
Thank you, though. For your help.
The [Mountain Troll] straightened once more, looking slightly pleased with himself. I called out to him before he could returned to the mud-lake.
Whats your na, by the way? Im Salvos!
He stared at again. I paused.
Oh, right.
That was a joke.
He didnt believe .
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