Chirp—
Chirp, chirp—
Above the dense jungle canopy, a few birds flew past, and the faint sounds of insects echoed intermittently from all directions.
Hidden behind the thick trunks and underbrush, Minori watched the small goblin tribe before him with a calm, detached gaze.
It was not surprising that there were no "elderly" goblins among them.Goblins were omnivorous, brutal creatures.When food grew scarce, they would not hesitate to cannibalize their injured or aged kin.
However—what Minori found strange was the absence of young goblins.
Though Minori did not claim to be an expert on goblin ecology, he had gathered considerable information from the Rock Team during his time in Ye Lantier.
June and July were the seasons when goblins bred most actively.During this period, goblins not only preyed on monsters and beasts within the Tob Forest—they even raided nearby villages for humans.
Given that, the complete absence of younglings was... unusual.
Within the small goblin settlement—
As a group of goblins returned, dragging five human corpses behind them, the goblins who had remained behind let out shrill cries of excitement.
The goblins carrying the corpses—panting heavily from exertion—did not set them down immediately.Instead, they continued dragging them to a low thatched hut at the center of the camp.
The corpses were deposited unceremoniously before the hut's entrance.Then, as if fearful, the goblins quickly withdrew, keeping their distance as they stared at the hut with a mixture of anticipation and dread.
Seeing this, Minori narrowed his eyes slightly.
—
Boom—!
The hut shuddered as a muffled impact sounded from within.A deep, bestial growl followed.
The next instant—
A towering figure, over two meters tall, lurched unsteadily out of the hut.
Its massive, bloated body was covered in dark yellow skin.Its hairless head was swollen and grotesque, lumps of flesh protruding unevenly.
An ogre.
Recognition flickered through Minori's mind.It was impossible for him to forget the creature that had nearly annihilated the Rock Team.
"Hungry... Hungry..."
The ogre muttered in a guttural voice, using two thick arms to push itself upright.
As it lifted its malformed head—
Minori noted, with grim detachment, that a small goblin hung limply from the ogre's mouth.
The goblin was already dead, its body swaying with each movement.
The ogre's tongue—a bloated, pale organ—flicked out, shoving the goblin carcass into its maw.
Crunch, crunch.
Sickening chewing noises followed, and green blood dribbled from the ogre's lips.
The surrounding goblins froze.Not one dared to move, their trembling bodies betraying their terror.
Even Minori found his stomach turning at the sight.
Now he understood the lack of young goblins.
The ogre, injured and weakened, had fed on its own.
Although he maintained his distance, Minori's sharp eyes could make out the gaping wound on the ogre's chest—larger than a human washbasin, festering with flies.
No wonder the creature had been slow to emerge.
For monsters like ogres, there was only one path to recovery: devour vast quantities of flesh.
"Food—!"
The ogre bellowed, its small eyes glinting with feral excitement.It lumbered forward, seized one of the human corpses, and began to feast.
Bones—so hard for humans to break—shattered like brittle twigs between its jaws.
Watching coldly, Minori exhaled slowly.
"This feeling...The sense of shock at encountering a truly alien world—It is a rare and terrible gift."
He murmured under his breath, his voice barely above a whisper.
But when he opened his eyes again, they were filled with a chilling light.
In his previous world, humanity had been the undisputed master of nature.All other living things were either food—or irrelevant.
But here—In this New World—Humans had fallen from the pinnacle, becoming prey once again.
The realization stirred something deep within Minori's soul.
Now—
Alongside the nausea, he felt another emotion awakening:Rage.
It was not rage at the ogre's consumption of human corpses.Rather, it was an ancient anger—the instinctive wrath of a species that had clawed its way to dominance through blood and struggle.
Schiiing—
Minori unsheathed his iron sword, holding it across his chest.
He gazed coolly at the ogre, who, compared to the one that had attacked the Rock Team, appeared even larger and more formidable.
Aside from the ogre, the goblins posed no serious threat.
The ogre, however—was wounded.
This was the perfect opportunity.
But Minori did not act recklessly.He remained hidden, patiently awaiting the best moment.
When living creatures finished feeding, their reaction speeds dulled, and their movements grew sluggish.
Even in this world, caution was essential.
He had no detection magic—no concrete way to gauge the ogre's level.
Thus, he relied on survival knowledge passed down by the adventurers:Assume that monstrous subhumans like ogres were at least two or three levels stronger than their human counterparts.
Minori silently reviewed what he knew about ogres:
They often allied with goblins, forming symbiotic relationships.
Goblins provided food and supplies.
Ogres provided muscle and protection.
Given the small size of this goblin camp, encountering a single ogre was within expectations.Larger goblin settlements likely harbored multiple ogres—or worse.
Hmph.
Minori's expression hardened as he noticed the ogre pausing after devouring three human corpses.
Its bloated belly sagged heavily, and its previous ferocity dulled into sluggish satisfaction.
Now.
Minori tightened his grip on the sword and began moving.
His approach was slow, careful, and silent.
At the same time—
The goblins, emboldened by the ogre's satiation, began to noisily devour the scraps:
Rotten fruits,
Decaying beasts,
Even half-rotted leaves.
Minori's figure melted into the undergrowth like a shadow.
His eyes locked onto the ogre.