Spirit-Possessed Woes

Goblin and kobold extermination. Come to think of it, my coworker said he'd been hunting goblins too.

He did it in auto-mode, apparently.

Now that I think about it, the only monsters I'd encountered so far were turtles and slimes that got kicked to death in passing. This would be my first bipedal enemy… Excluding the Great Turtle when it stood on its hind legs against the rocks.

Well, this should be fun. Let's see how well Tria's martial arts work…

And with that, first goblin discovered in the grassland! It saw us and ran away!

… Huh?

It was a green-skinned goblin, but why? We hadn't even done anything yet.

We don't have ranged attacks, so I guess we chase it. Switching to dash movement, we caught up in no time. Actually passed it. When I turned around, the goblin's face was twisted in fear.

"… What the hell, it makes us look like the bad guys!? Well, I mean, we're raiding goblins who were living peacefully, so yeah, we're the bad ones technically!?"

The goblin cowered in terror, legs giving out. It had a cloth wrapped around its waist, but underneath was smooth as can be. Glad it didn't need a mosaic — no demand for that.

I did wonder how they reproduced without genitals… but well, it's a game. That's just how it is. Or maybe the display is just omitting it. It's a game.

Anyway, I felt a little sorry for it, but Tria's kick! Pow. The goblin was obliterated! Rest in peace.

After kicking the goblin away, only blood was splattered across the ground.

… One hit, huh. Well, this is Lv 21 Tria, who can one-shot Baby Turtles. After dumping all my SP into legs, this kind of attack power is only natural. Actually, checking now, her strength was at 352. Three digits. Over 30 times the starting value. Her martial arts skill had grown to 7.

Of course it'd turn out like this! Obviously! Goblins are the quintessential early-game monster. Those Baby Turtles really were bonus enemies after all. I was lucky.

Also, no item drops? Well, even if goblin meat existed, I wouldn't want to eat it…

It seems kills are counted without needing to collect subjugation parts. The goblin count on my Adventurers' Guild card went up by +1. This guild card's pretty handy.

So, kobolds apparently appear in this grassland too. Let's hunt those as well.

Kobolds can be cute dogs in some games, but… there, found one. It's furry, so it's not a goblin. Definitely a kobold… It looks like a filthy stray dog walking on two legs!! Alright, kick it away!!

I dashed close and sent the startled kobold flying with a kick.

Like a drive-by, the kobold burst apart as expected. Oh, the lower half remained because I hit a good spot… yep, the cross-section is mosaicked. Not sure if it's usable, but I'll store it for now. Might be worth money…

Ah. Speaking of which, I still have no money. Can't even get a room at an inn.

Gotta earn at least lodging costs from this subjugation request!! Let's do this — hype!

 

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The elf receptionist had processed Spirit-Possessed registrations that day.

Spirit-possessed required careful handling, which was why veterans usually dealt with them.

She hadn't expected two Spirit-Possessed to show up together though…

And they'd each taken different requests…

Then, in the evening, the one who took the subjugation request returned.

Splattered with blood and unwashed, she had a bad feeling about this.

"So yeah, I hunted exactly 100 of each!"

"… Oh my, good work. Um, let me check your guild card?"

"Sure."

She was handed a guild card pulled from thin air. Spirit-possessed guild cards were special — subjugation records for active requests were listed on the back. She didn't know how it worked, but that's how it was. This meant no need to submit proof of subjugation.

And she'd never been so grateful for that lack of requirement.

Because she really had hunted 100 of each — 200 total. That many kobold tails and goblin noses would cost money to incinerate and would bury the counter.

"… Yes, I've confirmed 40 request completions. You're promoted to E-rank."

"Oh, yay!"

When she placed the reward of 5 silver coins on the counter, the money vanished with a chime-like sound of metal being struck.

… Spirit-possessed apparently stored money in an unseen place. Same with guild cards.

"Oh, also, a few lower halves were intact so I brought them. Can you buy these?"

"I'm sorry, we don't purchase kobold or goblin parts."

"Too bad. So these are just trash then."

"! If you're throwing them away, please do it in the grassland! Don't dump them here!"

"… Okaaay!"

Long ago, at a different location, there'd been an incident where someone dumped "non-purchasable corpses" all over the guild the moment they were told that. The incinerator couldn't burn them all, and the rotting smell from abandoned corpses caused pandemonium.

Spirit-possessed were truly an insufferable lot.

"By the way, you should wash your body."

"Ah. So this isn't just an effect — I'm actually dirty… Got it. Um, where can I wash?"

"There's a well nearby, and I can recommend a good inn."

"Yay, thank you!"

Did the smell not bother her? Well, once you got used to it, maybe it didn't.

"I'm back!"

The other Spirit-Possessed had returned too.

This one wasn't splattered with blood at least.

Though her hands were stained green from plant juice.

"Oh, Tria, you just finished too!"

"Penpen, good work. How'd it go?"

"I collected exactly enough for the requests. Ah, Ms. Receptionist, here you go."

Saying that, the Spirit-Possessed placed 5 bundles of herbs on the counter.

Maybe this one was normal? Thinking that, she processed 5 request completions and handed over the reward. The coins clinked and vanished.

"Ooh. Pretty good income! Hit my payment goal for this week!"

"Nice one, Penpen. Anyway, I've still got time tonight so I'm thinking of taking another request. What about you?"

"Then I'll take another request too? Ms. Receptionist, I'd like your help! Gathering type!"

"Ah, subjugation type for me."

"Huh? Now?"

It was already evening, and the sun was setting.

Apparently, night wasn't rest time for Spirit-Possessed.

"Oh, so you can't take requests at night…"

"Hmm. Then I'll set up a Home somewhere and work on leveling skills I guess."

"Oh right Penpen, want the goblin and kobold lower halves? They're trash I can't sell so I was going to dump them. If you can use them, I'll give them to you."

"Oh! I can use them to spam random creations with production skills and fail a bunch, so I'll take them!"

"… What's the point of that? Skill leveling?"

"The 'organic waste' from failures is a fertilizer ingredient! It helps with farm work!"

… Please do the handoff outside? The elf receptionist could only watch the two Spirit-Possessed with concern.