Goblin 4: Naming

Thanks to weapon forging, the goblin village had developed slightly.

Almost anything with a blade could be forged, resulting in an abundance of everyday tools such as knives and scissors.

Additionally, goblins going on hunts saw a slight increase in survival rates. Previously, they had used crude weapons—hand-me-downs from dead adventurers or weapons crafted from monster bones. Now, proper weapons were supplied.

Half a year since I became aware of my forging skill.

Every day, I continued forging weapons.

As a result, my MP, which had once been exhausted after crafting only a basic knife, had increased significantly. Now, I could forge weapons of considerable quality.

I examine the completed sword.

『Forged Sword: Attack 96, Durability 1099: Sword created through forging』

I have been lent a鉴定 stone from the village chief to verify the properties of the crafted weapon.

Using the stone, I perform an assessment. The sword demonstrates notable performance.

Attack power is a direct additive to the base stat.

Durability indicates the weapon's structural integrity. A lower value means greater susceptibility to breaking.

It functions similarly to defensive capacity. I suspect that if struck by an attack exceeding this numerical value, the weapon would shatter in a single hit.

Thus, as long as the attacking force remains below 1099, the sword will not break from a single strike.

This qualifies as exceptionally durable.

Attack power also increases by 96.

My current attack stat is 81. Equipping this sword alone doubles my attack power.

Should I lament my own low attack stat, or rejoice in the creation of a high-performance weapon?

A nuanced distinction.

The past half-year has been spent solely on weapon forging—attack power didn’t improve much. Perhaps it was unavoidable.

The past half-year has been eventful.

A familiar goblin of similar age froze to death. Another was eaten by vegetables from a field harvested at the wrong season.

The elder brother's goblin, sent on a hunt, sometimes failed to return.

Just as one might expect, the true elder brother had also splendidly evolved into a hobgoblin.

My family consists of four elder brothers, six elder sisters, two parents, one younger brother, one younger sister, and myself—fifteen in total.

A large family among humans, but not particularly so among goblins.

The gestation period is short, and fertility is high, allowing offspring to be produced at frequent intervals.

However, the mortality rate is also higher as a result.

Based on what I’ve heard, there were four other brothers above me, and one younger brother was lost to miscarriage.

That was painful.

Was supposed to be the first brother.

But it failed.

The entire family wept.

Appetite diminished for a time.

It was my eldest brother, Reston, who comforted me.

Whether one could truly console that... is a matter of doubt.

What happened was, he was struck.

Don’t keep making that sour face forever. Eat and live with energy. That is the duty of those who are alive.

Saying that, she forced it into my mouth by force.

Her mouth was forced open with undue force, and food was jammed inside.

After that, whenever I appeared downcast during meals, I was forced to eat without exception.

Thought I might die, but gradually, the sinking feeling diminished.

Sophia’s words held truth. Above all, her mother had been carrying a new life at that time.

Goblin Life is strong.

And so, the younger sister was born.

At that moment, I vowed to protect this child.

Reston, the elder brother, is one of the finest warriors in the village.

A high goblin, evolved from a hobgoblin, with stats vastly superior to those of an ordinary goblin.

My elder brother, a source of pride.

All the boy's brothers aim to emulate Elder Brother Lazalaza.

Yet I’ve come to occupy a somewhat unique position due to weapon forging.

Despite being too young to go hunting, she is becoming an indispensable presence in the village.

Hunting is dangerous.

But without going on hunts, levels cannot be increased. Without leveling up, evolution is impossible. Lifespan ends too soon.

I cannot afford to lose him, but he must still go on the hunt.

There is reportedly a dispute over what to do, positioned slightly higher up.

The hunt can wait for now. By then, the general course of action should be clear.

I suppose I’ll be given a select warrior from the village as guard.

But I’d like to request Lazalaza-san as my guard at that time.

If possible, of course.

I give a name to the completed alchemical sword.

"Naming: Fractured Claw."

The named alchemical sword flashes for an instant.

I perform another鉴定.

『Fractured Claw: Attack 116, Durability 1199: Sword born of alchemy, named』

Attack increased by 20. Durability increased by 100.

This is the effect of the skill "Naming."

I’ve always named my weapons upon completion, and that’s when I acquired this skill.

Effect: stat increase for the named object.

Currently at skill level 2.

Through this skill, weapons I name gain additional effectiveness.

In fact, this skill is not limited to weapons.

Naming any living creature also increases its stats.

Even existing names can be overwritten to activate the effect.

Yet, in this goblin village, no goblin wishes to receive a name from me.

To goblins, names hold sacred meaning.

No goblin has ever changed a name once bestowed, even when aware of the stat increase.

Respect for that pride.

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"Captain! Got one goblin!"

"Is that so. Good work. Any casualties here?"

"None. Well, kinda close, though. Those goblins’ve been packing some unusually good gear lately."

"Are there blacksmith goblins around now?"

"Impossible. Goblins, right? But if there were goblins like that, the captain's skill could turn them into subordinates. Then our gear, stuck in this backwater, might improve a bit."

"True. But we can't ignore goblins expanding their range. Immediate countermeasures must be devised."

"Yessir."