Published: August 15, 2025
Today, four chapters are updated simultaneously.
This is the second chapter.
The next morning.
Before it was even fully light, some of the weed slimes sounded the alarm, so I rushed to the fields where they were. There, I discovered four goblins who had come to raid the crops just a day after yesterday, and I captured them.
“Gigi!”
“Gyaa!!”
“Goga!!”
“Gaaah!!”
Their legs were immobilized by the sticky slime’s adhesive and hardening fluids, and when they fell, their arms were also solidified. Now on all fours, unable to move, they desperately turned their only movable part—their heads—toward me, trying to intimidate.
If possible, I’d prefer to contract with them rather than exterminate... Maybe if I offer some food, they’ll calm down a bit?
Reaching into my Item Box, I grabbed a handful of dried mad salamander meat, a farewell gift from the village of Shikum, and brought it close to one goblin baring its teeth.
“Gaa! Go, huh? ...!! Gik!”
“Gigi!?”
“Gik! Gigi!!”
“Guaah!”
The goblin in front of the dried meat initially threatened me but sniffed it and realized it was food. It immediately bit the meat and skillfully put it into its mouth. Seeing that, the other goblins seemed to sulk a little, as if saying, “That’s unfair!” So I offered the dried meat to their mouths as well, and all four ate similarly.
After repeating this three times and judging they had calmed down a bit, I used the contract magic on the fourth time. I think it succeeded, but the goblins were too busy chewing the remaining meat in their mouths to notice.
“Can you hear me? Can we communicate?”
“Gigi!?”
It seemed the contract had properly taken.
I sensed their confusion as my intentions were suddenly conveyed.
To test how well we could communicate, I asked why they had come here.
(Food, want)
(Looking for)
(Here, many)
(Take, everyone, eat)
Though their words were broken, communication seemed possible... Then they seemed to remember they were restrained.
They started clamoring to be freed, so I lightly threatened them, and they immediately trembled and tried to escape, then suddenly panicked as they realized they were caught—a rather foolish reaction.
As expected, they don’t pose a threat.
So, I began the planned recruitment.
I explained that I owned this field and had been entrusted by the lord of the territory to manage the land, but...
“???????????????”
...They didn’t seem to understand much.
“Um, in other words, this is my territory, got it?”
When I asked, they seemed to understand.
“This is my food. Got it?”
They seemed to grasp this as well.
“You entered my territory and stole food. I will kill you. Understand?”
The feeling I got from the goblins was hopelessness, but maybe thinking it would be bad not to respond, all four shook their heads vigorously.
“But you haven’t stolen anything yet. If you work here, I won’t kill you.
You work, and I’ll give you food, clothes, and a place to sleep. For you. Understand?”
When I told them this, the four looked at me, sending a message like, “Really? Is that okay?”
“Really. Which do you prefer: to die or to work?”
(((Work!)))
Thus, the negotiations were concluded.
Apparently, goblins don’t understand complicated things well.
When talking to them, it’s best to summarize the points simply and convey each word carefully.
Afterwards, I asked if the four had any companions, and they said there were four more goblins. I had them lead me there, captured them, and contracted them similarly. In total, eight goblins became my companions.
By then, the sky had brightened, so for now, I provided them with food and one of the tunnels in the abandoned mine, and had them help prepare for the morning.
I plan to improve their habitat to be more comfortable in the future, but goblins had once massively infested this abandoned mine shaft. For now, this place should be fine as their home.
With preparations complete, I headed to work.
The first task today was to demolish a child’s house and quickly build a building for the security company using sand magic. I got the room assignments from Mr. Fuse and the seven others who had joined, and began construction accordingly, but...