Coris: "Oh, there's a group of three Goblins over there." She pointed into the distance.
Tris could see three creatures with green skin and ugly faces.
They looked shorter than humans, only about 1.4 meters tall. Yet their limbs showed clear muscle, proving they were no weaker than grown men.
Their lower bodies were covered with leaves, showing they were intelligent enough to have social habits. And though not highly intelligent, they knew how to use weapons.
Each held a large wooden club in one hand and a stone tied with vines in the other as a throwing weapon.
Hearing Coris, Tris simply nodded and advanced.
He moved carefully, using the trees around him for cover.
Once within range, he raised his staff and waved toward the Goblins. In an instant, three "Stone Bullets" flew out, striking their heads and ending their lives.
Seeing it was over, Coris rushed forward.
Coris: "You dealt with them so quickly! Those shots were so precise. Many other Mages can't control their aim that well." She was genuinely astonished by the young rookie.
Tris: "I can only manage accuracy. I still have a lot to improve in other areas."
Coris: "Yes, the bullets seemed a bit weak, not piercing their heads outright. But that's probably because your spiritual energy is still low at your age. I'm sure in a few years you'll be much stronger—maybe even surpass the current Mages in our guild."
Encouraged, Tris smiled and asked, "Could you show me how to extract the magic crystal from Goblins without damaging it?"
Coris: "Of course, watch closely." She rolled up her sleeves and began.
'Good, at least that's one less I have to dissect myself.' Tris thought.
Having free labor beside him, he naturally wanted to take advantage.
Coris worked quickly and precisely, so Tris also learned more about material collection.
Coris: "See? Now you try with the other two."
Tris nodded, drew a knife from his belt, and began extracting the crystals.
Magic crystals of Magical Beasts were usually located in the chest, near the heart.
Because of the rib cage, collecting them quickly without damage required skill.
Tris knew the guild even offered classes for this.
And honestly, he hated this part of hunting most—it was smelly, dirty, and more time-consuming than fighting.
He sighed inwardly, wondering if there was a magic to help with this. If it existed, he would pay dearly to learn it.
After a few minutes, all three crystals were collected.
These small crystals would serve as proof of completing the quest. Of course, to finish the Goblin quest, Tris still needed two more.
But thanks to "Feathers'" investigation, he had already located another group.
...
Coris: "There are five of them. Can you handle it?"
Even low-ranked Goblins were considered top-tier among rank E Magical Beasts because they used tools. In larger groups, they could rival rank C. No wonder Coris was concerned.
For Tris, defeating them wasn't hard, but it risked drawing too much attention for his first mission.
Thinking carefully, he pulled a long metal wire from his backpack. (It was actually from his spatial ring, but the empty backpack was a good disguise.)
With the wire, he began crafting a small trap.
...
The Goblins wandered, searching for food. They were omnivores, targeting any edible creature they could catch.
Though cautious, they failed to notice the danger approaching.
Tris skillfully used blind spots and cover to get close. His steps were light, producing almost no sound thanks to his combat technique.
Of course, if Tris were to use Space magic, he could even walk through space itself and would make no sound at all.
Within range, he fired three "Stone Bullets" again.
They struck true, killing their targets.
The remaining two hurled stones at him, but he blocked them with his shield.
They charged, while Tris calmly stepped back. Another volley of bullets flew.
One Goblin was hit in the stomach and collapsed.
The other deflected a bullet with its wooden club, then lunged at Tris, snarling, ready to strike.
But it tripped over a wire hidden in the grass and fell face-first.
As it lifted its head, the last thing it saw was a shadow descending upon it.
Tris carefully washed his staff clean.
'In the end, they're just beasts with little intelligence, charging blindly at a Mage.' He reflected. He knew of Elite Goblins (rank D) and Goblin Mages (rank C) with intelligence rivaling humans, though he had never seen them.
He hoped his journey would let him witness more wonders. This desire had grown since he had seen the dream world, so full of marvels.
He wished reality were just as rich and exciting. Yet at times, he felt he only wanted to hide in a closed room.
'Humans are truly complex creatures, unlike these simple green ones.' He mused as he continued the tedious task of collecting crystals.
'If only I had a puppet to avoid the smell and mess. But for now, I must do it myself.'
Glancing at Coris, he thought: 'Maybe I should hire someone to do it.'
Coris: "Impressive! You even prepared traps. Is your family hunters or adventurers?"
Tris: "In my village, people are skilled at crafting tools, and many are hunters."
Coris: " I see. This simple kind of trap is quite useful. I should prepare something similar myself next time. Do you have any other types of traps?"
Tris: "Dig a small pit, then place three sharpened stakes angled downward near the rim. If prey steps in, the stakes pierce the flesh, making it hard to pull out. I've used it recently with good results."
Coris: "That's for wolves or boars?"
Tris: "It works on Goblins or other low-intelligence beasts too."
He avoided saying: 'Not just beasts—even against humans, it's quite effective.'