Ghost 5: The Stepped-On
※ Contains graphic depictions and disturbing content. Those sensitive are advised to return.
Proceed only if you are certain.
Even after equipping the goblins with weapons for their hunt, I did not cease weapon forging.
Weapons produced through forging degrade to durability 0, then shatter and vanish.
Durability decreases incrementally with each use.
The goblins, having had no prior experience with proper weapons, fight with brute force—resulting in rapid durability loss.
Thus, when durability diminishes, replacement is required.
While I could restore durability, forging new weapons proved more efficient.
Next came farming tools and everyday items.
During repeated experimentation, it became possible to transmute items that seemed questionable as weapons.
A sickle, at least, has a blade—there are even weapons known as chain sickles—so transmuting one was understandable.
But what of the shovel?
There are accounts of shovels killing more people on battlefields than firearms, so calling it a weapon isn’t entirely inaccurate.
The crowbar, however, was clearly a joke.
As transmutation continued, skill level rose.
Higher skill level enabled the creation of superior items, replacing older ones.
With each new item forged, skill level increased again.
A positive feedback loop emerged.
Goblin hunters’ survival rate improved significantly.
Their operational range expanded, and the amount of food they returned with increased.
As a result, the number of deaths from starvation decreased.
Thanks to the farming tools, the size of the fields expanded.
Internal administration cheating is not such a grand matter, but the village is gradually improving.
Contributing to it.
Happy.
He continued refining without intent.
Unaware that the end would come without warning.
On that day, too, I continued alchemy in my private hut.
A cabin, deliberately constructed to allow me to focus on my work.
Alchemical refinement demands considerable concentration.
During alchemical refinement, awareness of the surrounding environment completely dissipates.
I completed one sword through alchemy.
A blade requiring precise cutting technique is ill-suited for a goblin fighting through sheer force.
Yet, precisely because it can be made, one desires to create a Japanese sword.
The timing was also such that there was no urgent need to forge weapons or farming tools, so I made the blade.
I had just lifted the blade to examine its quality when I noticed.
The outside was unusually noisy.
A bad feeling settled in.
Still holding the sword, I stepped out of the hut.
There was hell.
Humans.
Humans were attacking.
Numerous goblins lay at their feet.
Goblin warriors still fought desperately, but the humans were stronger—pushing them back.
No. That was not all.
Several monsters were among the humans.
Possibly tamed. Possibly serving them.
"Lazlaz! Get inside the hut!"
Lazlaz came with his younger sister and shoved me back into the shelter.
The two of us trembled inside.
Fearful.
I’d fought before in my past life—many times—but I had never killed anyone.
I had prepared myself for the possibility of dying during a hunt someday—but that was still a distant prospect.
It was impossible to prepare for something like this, so suddenly.
My sister trembled.
She still could not speak properly.
Even if she matured quickly, her inner development did not keep pace.
Humanly speaking, she was still an infant.
Pull yourself together!
If anything happens, I must protect my sister!
I raised my blade, glaring at the shelter’s door.
How long I stood like that, the door slowly creaked open.
A human emerged.
I swung the blade without hesitation.
The blade struck the man’s sword and was deflected effortlessly.
My weak arms could not resist.
The man muttered something.
But it was not the language of goblins. I could not comprehend it.
A chill ran through my entire body.
The man narrowed his eyes.
I don’t know what he’s doing, but this is my chance.
I tried to swing the blade again, but before I could, the man’s kick sent me flying.
The blade slipped from my hand.
Pain threatened to tear my consciousness apart.
The man pressed down on my head, pinning me flat on my back.
In that instant, something flowed into me.
“Hn!? Gii!?!”
A scream tore from my mouth involuntarily.
What is this!?
An unbearable sensation, as if impurities were being forced into my body.
A strange feeling, as though my consciousness itself was being stained.
I gritted my teeth and endured.
My mind held firm, but my body gradually stopped responding.
I struggled to push his hand away—yet my strength vanished. I became passive, helpless.
At the edge of my vision, I saw my younger sister frozen in place, unable to move.
I wanted to say run, but my mouth would not obey.
The man released his grip.
Yet my body refused to respond.
I could not stand, could not move a single finger.
My limbs felt alien.
The man spoke.
I could not comprehend the meaning.
But I understood—despite my inability—I was being told to stand.
My body rose, as if obeying.
The same body that had defied every command moments ago now obeyed this man.
In the fog of my mind, a fragment of past-life knowledge surfaced.
The ability to tame monsters.
Just now, a human had been with a monster attacking a goblin.
Could this man possess the power to command monsters?
If so, then I am being controlled by him.
男は僕を見て満足そうに頷く。
そして、妹を見た。
そして、口を開く。
「殺せ」
やめてくれ！
待ってくれ！
そんなことできない！
なのに、僕の体は意思に反して落とした刀を拾う。
怯え切った妹の前にゆっくりと近づく。
やめてくれ！
止まれ！
止まれよ体！
振り下ろされる刀が、妹の体を赤く染めた。
あ、あああああぁぁぁあっぁぁぁあああああぁぁっぁあっぁあ！！！！！！？！！
《条件を満たしました。称号『味方殺し』を獲得しました》
《称号『味方殺し』の効果により、スキル『外道攻撃ＬＶ１』『禁忌ＬＶ１』を獲得しました》
なんてことを！
なんてことを！
僕が、僕の作った、武器で！
「食え」
は？
待てよ？
何、言ってるんだよ？
おい？
冗談だよな？
嘘だろ？
やめろ！
やめさせてくれよ！？
Condition met. Acquired title 'Bloodline Devourer'.
Due to the effect of title 'Bloodline Devourer', acquired skills 'Taboo LV1' and 'Heretic Magic LV1'.
'Taboo LV1' has been integrated into 'Taboo LV1'.
Mastery level reached. Skill 'Taboo LV1' upgraded to 'Taboo LV2'.
The inside of the mouth turns crimson.
Simultaneously, the mind turns crimson as well.
殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！《熟練度が一定に達しました。スキル『怒ＬＶ１』を獲得しました》殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！《熟練度が一定に達しました。スキル『怒ＬＶ１』が『怒ＬＶ２』になりました》殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！殺してやる！
A murderous intent, on the verge of madness.
Yet my body continued to obey the man’s command without deviation.