This month, Kaito has been growing up.
The growth rate of goblins far surpasses that of ordinary humans. This is one of the reasons why goblins, despite being despised by nearly every other race, manage to survive like cockroaches. Their high reproduction rate, rapid growth, and short life cycle allow them to spread across every corner of the continent.
However, something has been bothering Kaito. He's noticed that as time passes, his mother has become increasingly fearful. He doesn't understand why.
For example:
"Hey, come out!"
Several goblins stopped at the door, shouting at the woman who lived across from Kaito.
"I... I don't want to," the woman stammered, curling up in the corner, trembling. Her eyes were hollow as she repeated the words, as if she knew exactly what being taken by these goblins meant.
"Hey, this isn't up to you," one of the goblins sneered.
*Click!*
The door was forced open, and several adult goblins marched in. The leader grabbed the woman's arm.
"Ahhhh!" she screamed, either out of fear or the memory of something horrific, thrashing wildly. "No, don't! I don't want to go back to that hell!"
In a sudden burst of desperation, the woman pulled out a stone she had hidden behind her back and slammed it into the goblin's face.
"Ah!" the goblin cried out, clutching his now-bleeding hand. "You damn wretch!"
*Snap!*
He slapped her across the face, leaving her cheek swollen and red. The woman cried out in pain but continued to struggle, her resistance only growing fiercer.
"Just enjoy it," the goblin spat, his voice dripping with malice. "Every goblin here will make you feel like you're in heaven."
With that, he began to undress, revealing his grotesque form. The woman begged and pleaded, but her cries fell on deaf ears.
"No, don't! Please!" she screamed, but her pleas were ignored.
At that moment, Kaito's vision was blocked, and his ears were covered by a pair of gentle hands. His mother shielded him from the scene, but he could feel her trembling. He couldn't see or hear what was happening to the woman, but he could sense the fear radiating from his mother.
For Kaito, the other goblins and the captive women meant nothing. Even if they all died in front of him, he wouldn't feel a thing. As long as his mother was by his side, he was content.
But why was she shaking? Why were tears streaming down her face?
"Mom, what's wrong?" Kaito asked, peeking out from her embrace. He tilted his head, confused.
This was the tenth time this month. The woman who had just been taken was the second-to-last one in their area. Kaito didn't understand what it all meant. He only knew that his mother was afraid. But what was fear? Why was she afraid?
His mother had taught him that you could judge someone's state by their face and behavior. It was the foundation of assassination—understanding emotions to maximize the chances of success. For example, a person with a ferocious expression was likely angry, and in that state, their judgment was often impaired. Lowering your expectations of their combat ability would help predict their actions.
But no one had taught him about this feeling—this ache in his chest whenever his mother cried. Kaito didn't understand it.
"Hahaha, what's wrong?" one of the goblins, Zheng, laughed mockingly. "Of course she's scared. She'll be our toy soon enough."
The other goblins joined in, their lewd laughter filling the air. Their eyes roamed over the elf's delicate form, their intentions clear.
"I'm really looking forward to it!" one of them sneered.
The elf, Kaito's mother, let go of him, her eyes empty, as if all hope had been drained from her. She hugged her knees, tears streaming down her face.
"No, no," she whispered, her voice breaking. She didn't want to go back to that hell. She didn't want to be their plaything again. And yet, here she was, playing the role of a goblin's mother. How absurd.
She buried her face in her knees, her sobs muffled. The harsh, grating voices of the goblins echoed in her ears, but for some reason, they brought her a twisted sense of comfort. Was she losing her mind? Had she been abandoned? Why hadn't anyone come to save her?
She already knew the answer. She had been abandoned long ago. There was no one left for her.
"Mom, you're crying," Kaito said softly, his small green hand reaching out to touch her head. His touch brought her a moment of calm, pulling her back from the edge of despair.
She wasn't alone, after all.
"Mom, don't cry," Kaito urged, pushing her gently. "Can you stop crying?"
He didn't understand why she was crying, but seeing her in pain made his chest ache. He didn't want her to cry.
Meanwhile, the goblins outside the iron gate were reveling in the elf's suffering. "Just enjoy it!" one of them jeered. "In a few days, your mother will belong to all of us!"
The leader's words were met with cheers from the others. Every goblin there longed to taste the elf's beauty, but the general's authority kept them in check. Otherwise, any woman they captured would be subjected to unspeakable horrors.
Finally, the goblins left, dragging the woman with them. Her body was soaked in some strange liquid, and she offered no resistance.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Kaito called out, but his mother didn't respond. "Is it their fault?"
If they hadn't come, his mother wouldn't be ignoring him. Kaito glared at the departing goblins, his expression dark. He made a mental note of the leader's face.
"Mom cried because of him. If I kill him, will she stop crying?"
The thought solidified in his mind. It was their fault. All of it.
One of the goblins noticed Kaito's glare and sneered, "Kid, you've only got a few days left to enjoy her."
Hearing this, the elf's shoulders trembled, and the light in her eyes dimmed further.
Kaito didn't respond. He simply tightened his grip on his mother's hand, his resolve hardening.