Who made him a paladin?

Chapter 7 Harvest Windmill

The Elk Forest is located southwest of West City, and it takes half a day to walk there.

Because the fir trees here are so dense that sunlight can hardly penetrate the canopy, the forest is dark and damp all year round, which ironically makes it a favorite habitat for monsters.

According to Xia Nan, the goblins in this world inherit the despicable, greedy, and cowardly characteristics found in any "fantasy" novel.

However, there is one difference: due to the suppression by intelligent species, they seem to have evolved the characteristics of the ant tribe, with a dedicated female to bear the next generation.

However, this does not prevent males from abducting intelligent females of other races and forcibly mating with them to reproduce.

Because the offspring of female goblins are of a secondary breed, that is, ordinary goblins.

Only by reproducing with humans can they produce intelligent super-genes, thereby guiding the development of their species.

Therefore, the Church and Adventurers' Guild in Wes City have a cyclical bounty: Gil can exchange 5 copper coins for cutting down goblins.

As for this part, it is usually made into potions by alchemists and supplied to nobles who are willing but unable to use it.

Strangely enough, the bounty has recently been suspended, causing many new adventurers to complain.

At this moment, Xia Nan, who was hiding behind the low bushes, pulled herself out of her thoughts.

His gaze pierced through the gaps in the branches and leaves, focusing on the open ground about 20 paces ahead.

Seven goblins were gathered around the campfire; some were sleeping, while others were sharpening their stone spears with stones.

This was the first time Xia Nan had ever seen a live goblin.

Their skin is a dirty, dark green, like moss growing on rotten wood, covered with scars and raised bumps.

The shortest one was barely up to Xia Nan's waist, and the tallest one was only up to his chest. Their heads were too big for their thin, emaciated bodies, as if they might break their slender necks at any moment.

"Brother," Xia Nan said, holding his breath, turning to Bruce who was also crouching beside him, "Have you dealt with these things before?"

"Deal with them? My good brother, are you dreaming?" Bruce stuck out his tongue in disgust. "They taste like... rats that have lived in the sewers for years."

“Speaking of which…” Bruce’s black nose twitched slightly, “I can smell at least two more goblins hiding nearby.”

Xia Nan's eyes narrowed slightly. There were 7 on the open ground, plus those lurking in the shadows, making a total of probably 9.

A single goblin isn't much of a threat, but it's hard to say what will happen if they swarm around you.

Thinking of this, Xia Nan shifted his gaze from the goblin and finally stopped on the boulder beside him.

The stone was about half a person's height, round and thick in shape, and weighed at least 300 kilograms.

Xia Nan's lips curled up slightly.

"Bruce, go around to the left and herd all the hidden ones to the open space."

"Kick them out?" Bruce's dog face was full of confusion. "You're planning to strike first?"

"That's right, otherwise I'd betray my teammates if I attacked later."

Bruce felt that Xia Nan seemed to be joking, but not quite. However, given that it was his good friend's and his superior's order, Bruce nodded.

"...Alright, but if I die, please bury me in a forest where she-wolves roam."

"No problem, I'll even have the elves dance on your grave."

Bruce chuckled with satisfaction, bent down, and then crawled into the bushes on the left like a dog.

Xia Nan approached the boulder, touched its rough surface with his right hand, and activated [Sloth].

He then bent down, grabbed the bottom of the rock with both hands, lifted it up easily, and strode out of the bushes.

The goblins were the first to discover Xia Nan.

Its cloudy, scarlet eyes widened, and a sharp alarm sound, "ga-ga-ga-ga," came from deep within its throat.

The remaining goblins became alert, grabbing their weapons and leaping to their feet.

But when he saw Xia Nan appear carrying the giant rock, he tilted his head to the side.

They were probably dealing with the question, "How could this skinny guy lift such a heavy stone?"

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from the bushes.

Two goblins darted out of the bushes and squeezed into their kin, chattering incessantly.

Behind them, Bruce bared his teeth and leaped out of the grass on all fours, somewhat like a sheepdog herding sheep.

His gaze then passed over the green-skinned dwarf and landed on Xia Nan, or more precisely, on the boulder he had raised.

Bruce stuck out his tongue, and his tail wagged.

A strong sense of security.

If this rock were to fall, the green-skinned dwarf would surely turn into a pile of mud.

However, the next second, Xia Nan put the boulder down.

"Thump—"

A dull tremor traveled through the ground to the soles of my feet.

Bruce doesn't laugh.

Is my brother really not up to it?

The group of goblins opposite them were also stunned for a moment, and a tentative "Gah?" (Goblin language: That's it?) came out of their throats.

Several even gripped their stone spears tightly, re-assuming a threatening posture, ready to pounce at any moment.

until……

Xia Nan spread his ten fingers, and then, as if poking tofu, gently poked his fingers into the surface of the boulder.

"Snap!!"

Xia Nan tore the 300-pound boulder in half from the very center.

The grayish-white rock textures were exposed to the air, and fine stone dust rose up in a thin mist.

The open space was so quiet that only the crackling of the campfire could be heard.

The goblins froze, their crimson eyes widening to almost pop out of their sockets, and their claws, which had been gripping stone spears just moments before, began to tremble.

Bruce's chin nearly hit the ground.

Although he had seen Xia Nan lift the stone statue before.

But what's the meaning of this boulder being broken apart?

Is this a person?

In contrast, Xia Nan remained calm.

He weighed the two boulders in his hand; they were about the same weight as cookies.

To be honest, he did initially consider throwing the whole rock at it.

Although goblins are stupid, they are quite good at dodging. With their thin arms and legs, they can jump more nimbly than monkeys.

Throwing a large rock might hit one or two at most, but if the rest scatter and run away, it will only cause more trouble.

But what if you break the boulder in half...?

Then it's not "throwing" anymore, it's "slapping".

Xia Nan gripped half a boulder in each hand and strode towards the goblin horde.

The large goblin in the lead snapped out of its daze, shouted "Wabibabu," and then raised its stone spear to stab Xia Nan in the waist.

"Snapped!"

Xia Nan used his left hand to slam the half of the boulder down precisely onto the goblin's side.

There's no suspense.

The goblin's entire body caved in, its green skin burst open, and a pool of red, foul-smelling blood was visible at the edge of the boulder.

The remaining goblins scattered in terror.

At this moment, the essence of stone slapping is brought to its fullest expression.

"Bang!"

Xia Nan raised two stone paddles and kept chasing the goblin, completely ignoring Bruce, who was standing not far away with his ears and tail drooping and a blank expression.

Interestingly, one of the goblins tried to lie on the ground and pretend to be dead.

Unfortunately, Xia Nan completely ignored it.

As long as there's no bloodshed, you'll get slapped.

"Smack."

With a casual tap, feigning death turned into real death.

In just a dozen or so breaths, only pools of blood remained on the open ground, and the air was filled with a smell reminiscent of tangled intestines.

The battle came quickly and ended just as quickly.

Xia Nan dropped the stone in his hand, dusted off his palms, and looked around.

Besides the bloodstains, there were several white, green, and dazzling gold specks.

Is this the effect of "greed"?

It took defeating 9 goblins to get 3 loot items, which isn't a very high drop rate.

But something is better than nothing.

Xia Nan smiled and reached out to touch the points of light.

"My brother got stronger, but did he go crazy too?"

In Bruce's view, Xia Nan was squatting among the goblin corpses, grabbing and scooping at the air while making "hehe" laugh sounds.

He just couldn't understand why a normal person would laugh so happily at thin air.

"My...my good brother," Bruce's voice trembled slightly, "would you like to rest for a bit? I can tell you the story of the she-wolf!"

"It's nothing, I'm just picking something up."

Xia Nan stood up, in a good mood, and opened the panel to check his loot.

White loot: 1 silver coin.

Green Loot: [Goblin Skull]

Quality: Green (Common Materials)

Description: Goblin skulls, it is said that some apothecaries grind them into powder to make medicine.

Xia Nan carefully put the skull away and then focused his gaze on the golden light.

Golden Loot:

Skill: Blade Storm

Description: Can only be activated while wielding a sword. The caster spins rapidly around themselves, creating a blade storm with an 8-meter radius that lasts for 8 seconds, dealing damage to all enemies within the area. Cooldown: 24 hours. Upon skill completion, if the caster's Constitution is below 20, they will be severely stunned for 8 seconds.

Note: This combat skill is prohibited for female characters as it may easily trigger a group charm effect.

Xia Nan was so shocked she almost cried out.

Isn't this the same skill I loved to use to clear out mobs when I played Chenghai in my past life?

Although it inflicts an 8-second stun penalty, it can definitely turn the tide of battle when used in crucial moments.

"Hey bro, can you stop laughing? I'm scared..."

Bruce's trembling voice interrupted Xia Nan's thoughts.

"Can we think of where we're going next?" Xia Nan stood up, put his arm around Bruce's shoulder, and joked, "To clear out the goblin lair, of course!"

……

Led by Bruce's nose, the two walked along the forest path for the time it takes to eat a meal.

Soon, a foul stench, a mixture of damp soil and rotting matter, drifted into Xia Nan's nasal cavity.

Xia Nanmao, hidden in the grass, stared at the foot of the mountain wall ahead, where there was a cave entrance, exactly the same as the one seen on the map.

Outside the cave entrance, there were at least a dozen goblins wandering around, clearly patrolling.

Xia Nan suddenly remembered what Karl had said before.

These low-intelligence creatures understand the importance of division of labor and encirclement.

This may indicate that intelligent species emerged from their group.

It's not that we're afraid of enemies with brute force, it's that we're afraid of enemies with intelligence.

"Dude, should we just charge in?"

Bruce swallowed hard and whispered in Xia Nan's ear.

Xia Nan remained silent, only stroking her chin.

A direct assault is definitely not an option; the environment inside is unknown, as is the number of enemies.

In addition, the side effects of "Blade Storm" are too great. Once you fall into a coma and are surrounded by the remaining goblins, you can only wait to die.

Xia Nan glanced at the kobold beside him, a malicious smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Brother, the time has come for you."