New Life, New Friends

AN: Hey guys, from this point on I'm going deviate a little bit more from the actual storyline from now on. More characters will appear and new powers will too.

-DAY 5

Today as well, I go hunting in order to survive. GobuSpyte and I were chasing down another "Horned Rabbit." After a minute of GobuSpyte chasing it down and cornering it in front of a tree, I surprised it and stabbed it with my broken off rabbit horn, impaling it immediately.

With a steel gaze to nowhere, I said to myself, "This is the most legendary horn." Realizing how stupid and awkward it was, I just sat and started dissembling the rabbit. I tried to make the situation normal again by muttering, "Ah, uh…It's a nice day isn't it…Nothing, dammit." GobuSpyte just stared at me with confusion.

Leaving my embarrassing thoughts aside, I got a new and bigger horn yesterday too, thanks to GobuSpyte's fast reflexes, alongside with that strange message in my head.
*GobuHiccup has obtained "Medium Animal Horn"!

Compared to last time, we got a big score. So sharing with GobuSpyte wasn't a problem.

Another message popped up, while I was eating my "Horned Rabbit"
*You learned the ability "Escape"

So it's real. At that moment, GobuSpyte was worried and said, "What's wrong GobuHiccup?" I just blankly replied, "Hm? Nothin'"

Anyways, before I was reincarnated, I was an Esper. It seems I kept "absorption" after reincarnating as a goblin, luckily. In my previous world, people had a one out of ten thousand probability of being an Esper. Even with those odds, the "Consumption Absorption Ability" was incredibly rare.

In laymen's terms, whatever I put in my mouth, no matter how hard, no matter how potently toxic, anything inside my body becomes harmless. Then I absorb the special powers of anything I eat. I don't really understand it myself, but there isn't anything in the world I can't eat.

For living things, "freshness" is important. The limit to absorb whatever ability is at most 12 hours. If I keep eating the same thing, absorbing its powers becomes easier. Parts like the brain and the heart where power is concentrated increases that probability. After absorbing the ability, I can even power it up. Essentially, the "Consumption Absorption Ability" is by itself not very strong, but after eating and eating, it becomes unstoppable.

And like that, before being reborn, I devoured creatures of mass destruction and evil doing Espers. I had a countless number of useful superpowers, but… it's a damn shame that right now, all of my abilities have been reset. I even had things like "Precognition" too, man… But, I believe the "Consumption Absorption Ability" is plenty enough to make up for it. This ability;s effect lets me eat repulsive, mysterious insects without hesitation. I can just get back my other abilities.

Anyways, I told GobuSpyte, "Alright, let's keep at it," and just went on searching for more "Horned Rabbits." Recently, I got "Escape."

"When fleeing or running away, the probability of escaping and adapting to the environment increases." I wonder why the rabbit didn't try to escape when we confronted it today… Oh well. After that, two more horned rabbits were successfully captured and eaten. Going to sleep with a full belly was a pleasant feeling. It seems that the amount that GobuSpyte is relying on me is rapidly increasing. It's probably because the law of the jungle rules this world that contributed to him recognizing me as the superior being.

-
DAY 6

Today, I started out helping GobuSpyte on his speech skills. It was only a matter of time until he got it down. Then, I noticed two girl goblins coming to approach us. They came up to us with expressions of awe. The two of them, surprisingly, looked almost exactly like the Astrid and Heather that I knew back in my old world. However, they still had the green goblin skin and their hair was shorter since they looked like my age right now. Still it was nice to see more familiar faces.

With smiling faces, they came up to us and greeted us. The one that looked like Astrid started with "Wow, you guys are eating 'Horned Rabbit' already? You guys are that strong? That's amazing. Hi, my name is GobuAstrid and this is my best friend GobuHeather." GobuHeather then greeted us too with a big smile. Apparently, newborn Goblins are weak enough to be easily defeated by horned rabbits, and because of this, nuts were the staple food which most of them ate in order to survive, or so I'm told by GobuAstrid. I then eagerly replied "Hi my name is GobuHiccup and this is GobuSpyte" In turn, GobuSpyte greeted them as well.

Meanwhile, I thought "Hey, this is my chance to rekindle my relationship with Astrid like in the previous world. She and I most of the time got along. So let's start up that relationship again." So of course, I then complimented on her cute looks, saying, "GobuAstrid, I just wanted to let you know that you look amazing for a goblin. GobuHeather you don't look half as bad as well." GobuAstrid's face blushed to color of a scarlet red along with her covering her face with her hands that was hiding her smile. GobuHeather only slightly blushed.

GobuAstrid proceeded to flirt back, "Oh, stop it you. You're quite the catch yourself" with a little giggle and saying to me "You're string and smart. That's really cool!" GobuHeather, on the other hand, decided to compliment GobuSpyte saying how he's cute in a slender yet muscular kind of way and looked very strong too. GobuSpyte, blushed as well with a bit of shyness. He also complimented her on how beautiful she looked too. According to the girls, the other goblins couldn't compare to me and GobuSpyte. To what degree is a Goblin even considered handsome anyway? I stared into the distance for a my head, I laughed, thinking it was a flirt fest.

Going back to the story, Goblins are fundamentally weak by nature. Therefore individuals with wisdom and luck seem to survive. Only a selected few with that degree of capability can be considered a true companion in order to survive. Tough indeed.

Well, I asked GobuAstrid precisely how many Goblins. She said many have fallen prey from the horn of the horned rabbit.

After hearing those words, I thought, "Eh? Seriously?" though the words flowed out of my mouth. After all, average sized horned rabbits are only a bit bigger than the rabbits back in my old world. Moreover, apart from its length, the horned rabbit makes efficient use of its two legs to execute an overhead attack to kill Goblins…. Oh, I suppose that it's possible.

After all, these primitive creatures aren't that smart. To strike and kick as an attack was typical. Fighting bare-handed will certainly get you killed.

The horn of the horned rabbit is a weapon. Only idiots will fight it upfront while being unarmed. Having a small body may also be a reason. The horn will pierce from below and towards the abdomen.

But…It's just recently that I've noticed that other have been mimicking me and GobuSpyte and have started carrying around sticks. Well, I guess it's a good thing.

Suddenly, I noticed something weird with GobuSpyte.

"Hm? What's up GobuSpyte?" I worried.

"…I'm kinda hungry," he confessed with a little chuckle.

"It is around that time. Then let's go hunting today," I claimed. "GobuAstrid, GobuHeather, would you girls like to come to?" I asked. The girls were silent for a few seconds and stuttered "eh?".

I started, "You two have taught me and GobuSpyte many things. It's thanks to you two. You guys probably can't around swinging on tree branches, right? Well, I won't ask you girls to do anything impossible." At that moment, I turned around and asked GobuSpyte, "Isn't that right, GobuSpyte?"

He chuckled, "Well, yeah. It's better than just being stuck doing one boring thing over and over."

The girls went silent again. I thought to myself, "Did GobuSpyte and I say something bad?"

All of a sudden, the girls and springed up and launched themselves at us, with GobuAstrid jumping on me and GobuHeather on GobuSpyte. GobuSpyte and I were caught by surprise.

The girls enthusiastically responded, "R-R-Really? C-C-Can we really? We're so happy! Thanks you guys! You two really are cool!"

GobuSpyte just got a huge grin and said, "We'd be happy to take you two with us."

I got a bigger grin and chuckled," GobuSpyte, you just took the words out of my mouth."

I then thought to myself, "If this were normal human children, then this is where likes and loves would be blooming…But, we're goblins…But like and loves could be sprouting considering our previous little flirt fest.

And like that, we four goblins went on hunting. Horned Rabbits are seriously delish.

-DAY 7

It was raining today, so we were relaxing and working in the cave.

Clonk-clonk sounds reverberated while I was striking and grinding a mysterious obsidian-like rock I found yesterday by the riverside. I'm trying to turn it into something knife-like.

Now, I wished to have fur clothes soon. I wanted to move on from the worn out cloth, but the horn I had was not suitable for cutting.

Partly because I was making a terrible noise and partly because they were interested in what I was doing, the goblins born in my generation me drew close. However, by ignoring them while continuing to work, they later scattered. Good riddance.

The older goblins for some reason were smiling while observing me. I don't know why.

Oh well, since I was able to make four pseudo-knives until slightly past noon, I'll consider this good. Since both my hands were starting to hurt slightly, I decided to end it at that. The pseudo knife manufacturing halted since it is just something to do in my spare time.

There were three people, GobuAstrid, GobuSpyte and GobuHeather, who were staring at my work without getting bored-no, next time I will count not by person[People] but by goblin. I then called for a strategy meeting concerning the formation of the next hunt.

Various opinions were noisily being voiced-although it is a field where I am mostly unchallenged, GobuAstrid, as she was slight above average in Goblin intelligence, did offer her opinion quite a bit. GobuHeather gave her opinion fewer times than GobuAstrid. GobuSpyte was constantly nodding or shaking his head as he was mixing up his words on what to say. During the meeting, a remarkably wrinkled goblin approached us.

This goblin is GobuJii. This [Goblin Community]'s oldest goblin, he possessed a social position close to an adviser, and above all, my name GobuHiccup was given to me by this grandfather goblin.

The strategy meeting was postponed for now, to listen to the various stories Gobujii told us. GobuJii has had a uselessly long life but he has very extensive knowledge, so I do not want to miss this opportunity.

Well, because it would only take about twenty years or so to be called an elderly goblin, this body will not be able to have a long life...Hahaha.

I pulled myself together.

GobuJii told us many things about this world such as the rules for levels and Rank Up, apparently such a thing exists, why in this cave except for us newly born goblins, there were only elderly goblins around, among other things.

Let's leave this world's levels, Rank Up and such for later. Let's first talk about the goblins who live in this cave.

Apparently the young goblins, maybe our goblin parents, are working away from home in the forest. Working away from home, in short, pillaging right? I understand.

Eh, are goblins so weak that they easily die from horned rabbits? That's what a newborn goblin is right? Goblins are certainly weak as a race. However, isn't this the reason for why the goblins born in this forest are able to move the day after, training to kill using a wooden stick and throwing stones in order to learn how to support themselves while literally learning cunning tactics and the skills needed to survive by risking their lives.

The weak die while the strong survive. I understand this very simple yet severe law.

Really, so merciless I want to cry.

Well, lately there are many individual who imitated us by pairing up when hunting horned rabbits. Because of that the surviving individuals numbered more than ever.

While I was nodding and saying "I see!", I saw that somehow GobuJii's loincloth began to change shape. (AN: Hehe. He popped a boner and was horny for human women.) Apparently his long life hadn't dulled his desire to spawn progeny, or perhaps he sensed that his death was close.

Ugh, after almost puking, I wanted to stop our talk as soon as possible and averted my gaze.

As if I can gaze long at that thing.

Since our talk had ended, his face showing how pleased he was with himself, GobuJii got a look of lust and went to the inner parts of the cave.

A short while later, feeble feminine shrieks were heard.

I put my hands together and prayed twice for the sake of the captured women.

Doing anything more than this is at the moment impossible for me. Someday I'd like to give those women peace.

Still, even living under those conditions is for sure unfair, I think. Even I felt that much sympathy.

-DAY 8
We four (consisting of myself, GobuSpyte, GobuAstrid, and GobuHeather) went out hunting today. At any rate, for the past few days we have managed to become quite fully equipped, although the equipment is so crude that I don't know if it should count.

From several horns, I chose two comparatively large ones which I dual wielded. In case I was ever hit, I created a simple body armor full of gaps by binding the remaining horns together with ivy which I fastened around my body. The horns are surprisingly hard; but against thrusting attacks, the armor has little effect. However, against blunt damage, it's quite effective. This should be plenty enough protection to ensure I don't get any serious injuries.

GobuSpyte had been equipped with wooden chest armor along with a club. The club is so thick that he has to use both hands to hold it, and the handle had been shaved by using horns to make it thinner. Well, since he's both the physically strongest out of us, hitting stuff with his full strength is the style that he can use the best to his advantage.

Together with the scraps from the horned rabbit pelts and a sturdy piece of ivy, I constructed two simple staff slings to strengthen GobuAstrid's and GobuHeather's ranged capabilities. They used stones lying around as ammunition, and were our rearguard who could deal with birds and so forth while specializing in ranged combat. However, I also gave them makeshift axes out two more simple staffs with large, sharpened obsidian stones on their ends. They were currently not equipped with armor, but given the time I'd like to construct some for them. By the way, the worn-out loincloth is still standard equipment. I want new clothes. However yeah, with increased numbers, it gets easier as expected.

With GobuSpyte as the vanguard, myself as mid-range, and the girls covering the rear support, this formation was surprisingly effective, so the fruits of today's hunt included, in addition to the horned rabbits, new kinds of prey. The first was a poisonous snake with a length of sixty centimeters, a diameter of approximately six centimeters, and covered with black scales with a speckled pattern. I named the four we had caught "Night Vipers" (temporary name). Another looked like a bat, although I fear that it's probably something else, they couldn't help but stand out since their wings were shining in seven different colors. We found one of them and I named its kind as "Seven Colored Bats" (temporary name). The third looked like what you get if you combined an armadillo and a racoon dog together with the back covered with a hard shell. We found three of them and I named them "Armored Tanuki" (temporary name). Along with them, we also routinely caught four Horned Rabbits. Overall, this had been a pretty great haul.

However at any rate, the other three seemed to be strongly hinting at something by staring at me with round and cute eyes while uncontrollably drooling. Well, it's not like I don't understand them. While the other goblins would have eaten the captured spoils on the spot where they caught them, I wanted to appropriate the usable parts to make weapons of them which, when compared with eating them right away, took more time.

I also wanted to disassemble everything at the same time, so we didn't get to eat in the middle of the hunt. That's why I understood why they'd get hungry. But I ignored this while continuing the work. When they hung their heads in disappointment, I felt that was enough. Oh well, it can't be helped.

After removing the horn from the Horned Rabbit, I threw the bodies towards the three. Originally I wanted the pelt too, but their drooling appearances were too pitiful to look at. But they were, for some reason, staring blankly at me while slightly bending their heads to one side in puzzlement after receiving the meat.

Even though I told them not to eat, I handed them food. I think they were wondering what to do so I told them: "Because this is going to take a while, go ahead and eat that". After looking troubled for a while, they greedily munched on the simple food. By the time they finished their meal, the three goblins had bloodstains around their mouths.

After averting my eyes, I first decided to remove the shell of the Armored Tanukis. Since I couldn't break the shell with the Horned Rabbit horn, I had no objections to using it for the construction of armor. Here the pseudo-knife I made yesterday of the obsidian-like material became handy. Its cutting edge wasn't really stellar; however, compared to cutting with the horn, it was leagues better.

I already knew how to dismantle it. However, it seemed like the Armored Tanukis shell had stuck together to the skin, so it was easier to remove the skin with the shells attached. After a slightly close fight, I managed to tear off the entire skin together with the shells and a mysterious announcement was heard again.

[ Gobuhiccup has obtained Shell beasts skin furnished with shells!]

Like usual I thought, "What's this?" However, I soon concluded that I should leave it alone. I decided to also gain some nourishment before I continued, so I tore the Armored Tanukis heart, brain, and right leg to pieces and ate them. I gave the rest to GobuSpyte, Astrid, and Heather. There was still meat left after all. Nevertheless, the meat of the Armored Tanuki tasted good! The texture when chewing it was seriously awesome. When chewing, the flavors mixed together into a wonderful blend. Aah, I'll try to eat a bit of the shell to assess it.

Ability [Shell Defense] learned.

From just chewing it slightly, I learned the ability. It might have been because I ate the heart, brain, and right leg earlier. Incidentally, [Shell Defense] is the ability to, when using objects made from organic shells, increase defensive power, increase chance to block damage and reduce the chance of being hit with fatal attacks. Yes, it's a fairly good ability. It's profit, profit. Feeling good, I finished skinning the other Armored Tanuki quicker this time, since I now knew how to do it.

In my previous working place, I got used to dissecting creatures; as long as you have the know-how, it's easy to do. This time, I ate half the meat before throwing the remainder to GobuSpyte, Astrid, and Heather, after which I ate some more shells in order to slightly raise the level of [Shell Defense]. Ah, calling it levels is just an expression of mine. To make it easier to understand, I'm just calling it levels and there's no specific meaning behind it; understanding that the ability has gotten stronger is enough.

Next I started to disassemble the Seven Colored Bat. I removed the entire wing before pulling out the fangs which looked like they were for sucking blood. Then I split the meat and we all shared it. The flesh of the Seven Colored Bat was very tender compared to that of the Armored Tanuki, yes, a very good taste. Or how should I put it, ever since turning into a goblin, all food I've eaten has tasted good.

Is this perhaps because I've gotten the sense of taste of the race I was born as? Not that I really care anyway. I'm afraid that I didn't learn any ability from eating the bat. However, my physical ability seemed to have slightly increased and, after eating the meat, my body felt a sense of fulfillment.

My ESPer ability [Absorption] didn't only give me abilities like [Shell Defense], but also could increase my physical strength, defensive strength and vitality and such, thus strengthening my body which I was very thankful for. Even so, I wonder if my ESPer ability originated from my soul. I had the feeling I'd heard about how a famous scholar from somewhere had written a thesis named [Getting infected by a special virus causes ability to appear in compatible persons] or maybe I haven't.

While looking slightly puzzled, I realized that I had no means to ascertain the truth of this matter, and since the knowledge wouldn't be of any practical use anyway, I decided to drop this line of thought. Finally I started disassembling today's main dish, the three Night Vipers.

First I cut off the head of the snake with my obsidian knife; but since the snake skin was awfully hard, the edge of one of the knives got chipped. When I hung it up and tried to cut it again, it tore off. I thought I could make something of the snake skins so I tore it off. With their heads cut off and the snakeskin peeled off, each goblin received one snake each.

We ate. It was quite delicious. Yeah, if this was splashed with alcohol and burnt, it would be the same as eel dipped and boiled in sauce. That's how delicious I thought it was. Just from imagining it, I started salivating. The Horned Rabbit and the Armored Tanukis' crispy and slightly hard meat is delicious, and the super tender meat of the Seven Colored Bat is also delicious. However, the Night Viper slightly exceeded those in taste. This tastiness caused us to stop working, and all three goblins greedily wolfed down their share.

Ability learned: 【Thermography】

Ability learned: 【Venom】

Ability learned: 【Poison Resistance】

Ability learned: 【Sense Presence】

Ability learned: 【Evil Eye】

After eating it, I learned five abilities. Apparently the night viper was in a different league compared to the current me. When I eat something stronger than I am, the probability that I receive abilities from it significantly increases. This is one of the characteristics of my [Absorption] ability. But getting five abilities at once it truly a first. My guess is that this is because goblins are a weak species.

Well, I am truly satisfied with the results of this day's outcome. The remaining poisoned fang could probably be used as a tool. However, if any of the others were to even graze it, they would without doubt immediately be on the verge of death since they don't have [Poison Resistance]. Worst case scenario is that they'd die instantly.

That's why GobuAstrid spoke out for them, "You don't want us to eat its head? Why?"

I answered, "There actually poison in it. You can actually die from poison. So it too dangerous to eat." I received their looks of understanding.

Besides this time, I also received the ability [Venom] which I can use to apply poison to the tip of the horn that I'm currently using. Right now, I want to find an opponent to this against. If I'm not in direct contact, this ability doesn't activate; but compared to the poisoned fang, it's a lot safer to use. That's why, in case something were to happen, I ate the four heads of the snakes by myself. With this way, it would be a lot safer.

Yeah, poison (which is completely harmless to me because of the two abilities [Poison Resistance] and [Absorption] working in concert) only made the food taste bitter to me by giving the food a slight sting.

After eating and grabbing our stuff, we went back inside the cave to rest up. It was a busy day after all.