The journey to the city of Moire was short. There weren’t many monsters out. I didn’t see any goblins. Instead, there was a diverse biome that I hadn’t seen before. They must be flourishing because there are fewer monsters here. The large animals were really a sight for sore eyes.

“I don’t see many monsters…” I asked.

“They are constantly hunted, so it’s no surprise,” Jorry said. “But they breed fast. So we’ll see some sooner or later.”

“What about the undead?” Undead were always on my mind along with goblins. I couldn’t forget about either.

“They don’t come this far.”

He was right. But it was still kind of a surprise. “I see.” If there were undead roaming about in the dead of night, I’d have felt at least something last night, which I hadn’t.

The cart moved along the winds. It was rather windy today as well. A storm maybe?

It was in the middle of summer and sticky hot. So the breeze was refreshing. The curtains fluttered and I felt at ease.

“Looks like we have another mess on our hands.” The middle aged man poked his head in. “You might want to stay inside. It’s pretty gruesome.” He looked straight into my eyes.

I didn’t know what he meant, so I couldn’t really say anything. I still doubted myself. Meanwhile Jori and Slouder peeked outside.

“Yes, it would be better if you stayed inside. We’ll take care of it,” Jori said. For once he wasn’t joking: he was dead serious.

“What happened?” I’d already made up my mind long ago. I couldn’t just step away from these things anymore. If it’s trouble with monsters, I’ll help. I was injured but that didn’t matter. My will mattered more.

“There’s a reason not many women become adventurers. Tell me, what is the worst that can happen to guys?” Jori asked.

“They die?” It was obvious, but I asked.

“Yes but something even worse happens to women.” He glared at me. “Lianne told me that you are a novice. But you need to learn this.” He exhaled, gathered his thoughts and glared. “They get raped and are forced to give birth to goblins.”

“What!?” I was shaken. My whole body shivered, almost as if I’d got hypothermia. I couldn’t stop my mind. It was uncomfortable beyond reason. I had little sisters back at home. The mere thought of someone I knew getting raped, staggered me. But what if it happened to me? I wasn’t a girl, but what if I was one? I couldn’t even imagine what girls would go through. It was brutal beyond reason.

“That’s why we’re asking you to stay inside.” Slouder went out.

“Stay inside.” Jori went out and so did Bojang.

“Alright,” I mumbled. I still couldn’t face reality. This world was cruel, and I had to accept it. And yet… I couldn’t.

All three of them got out. There were shouts and screams outside. One by one the groans of goblins stopped but one scream didn’t. The scream of a girl. She screamed on top of her lungs until finally it stopped. The only thing I heard before it stopped was, “Please kill me!”

I couldn’t stop my tears. My stomach was about to erupt and everything wanted to come out. Was I always this weak? I almost bit my tongue trying to control my feelings.

The three of them came back some time later.

I couldn’t look at them. “What about the girl?” My head hanged down. I couldn’t breathe. It was as though someone was squeezing my heart with all their might.

Slouder sighed. “Her party was already dead long ago. She herself was beyond saving.”

“So you killed her?” I already knew the answer. I could guess at least that much.

“If I hadn’t….” He paused. He didn’t finish.

I looked at Jori. He gave a wry smile and explained. “If he hadn’t, she would have died an even more horrible death. She would gradually turn into a tool for goblin reproduction. Humans could give birth more frequently than goblins and in large numbers. Just think about what she’d have to go through. And after all that when her vitality leaves her they’d eat her alive.”

I couldn’t imagine. And I couldn’t say anything either. I really was wrong about this world. And my naivety was to blame.

“Don’t worry. We gave them a proper burial.” Bojang put a hand on my shoulder.

“Won’t they turn into the undead?” If a priest didn’t purify bodies after death then people of this world usually turned undead. But that didn’t necessarily mean that everyone would turn undead everywhere.

“The forest is a little far from here. So they shouldn’t.” Jori didn’t sugarcoat anything.

I couldn’t argue with them. They were already doing me a favor and yet, and yet I wanted to punch them. I wanted to blame them. But I knew that was wrong. I knew that was cruel. This world…. Damn it! I whacked my hand on the wooden seat. I ground my teeth till they crackled.

“It’s okay, lad. This the way of the world. We can only grit our teeth and persevere.” Bojang patted me on the shoulder.

I couldn’t really think straight anymore. I just stayed quiet and so did they. I tried not to think too much about that.. I have to grit my teeth and persevere? It was laughable but I took Bojang’s advice to heart.