### Chapter 23 – The Ongoing Bad Blood (3)
As Patrick mentioned, not all of the goblins referred to in the present era are mindless monsters that rampage and eat people.
Among the goblins, some possessed reason and intelligence no different from humans. They have consistently appeared throughout history and continue to be a legitimate part of this world.
“The point at which goblins are said to have first appeared in this world was about 9,000 years ago… as you know, it was a thousand years after the Tower’s collapse.”
“So they appeared suddenly after the Tower collapsed?”
“Yeah. I’m just a mere adventurer, so I don’t know the details, but people think the origin of the goblins is the ‘Curse of the Tower.’”
When I asked Patrick about the goblin race, he explained that the goblins were beings who had been cursed and corrupted, changing in appearance.
In reality, the curse of corruption that turns humans into monsters still remains to this day, so whether this is true or not is uncertain. One thing that is clear is that the people here are not very favorable toward goblins.
Despite having existed for thousands of years, there are still those who consider them the source of curses.
Even among humans, various reasons lead to divisions and sometimes hostility or cooperation.
In the era I lived in, diverse races originating from the Tower emerged, and even after 10,000 years, not much has changed.
“But the goblin you’re talking about doesn’t seem to be one of those people?”
“Of course. Some foolish individuals hate you just for being a goblin, but you are an outstanding and wise warrior.”
As I chuckled, Ian, who had no choice but to admit his true feelings, pouted. Goblin Kai—the reason these guys were making their way to the goblin-controlled forest and why they were eager to search at this time was precisely him.
“You’re our father’s comrade and our teacher. There’s no way that such a person could be the leader of the monsters that kidnapped the villagers.”
“He saved my life when I was young.”
Ian asserted Kai’s innocence, saying that he had saved his life from a monster’s attack when he was a child.
Just listening to him, it was clear that he was a special goblin. He lived hidden in a forest away from the village, yet he continually mingled with his comrades from his youth and provided recognition and proper guidance to their children and friends as a mentor.
“However, according to the information obtained by adventures that came to the village, the appearance of the one commanding the monster goblins matches the goblin named Kai that you testified about. I don’t know why, but it’s impossible for there to be no connection.”
A person cannot change entirely. This is true as long as the curse of corruption remains, a lingering disaster left by the cursed Tower.
And the emergence of that disaster in the world was ultimately due to the failure of the Tower climb.
I, a newcomer who had merely tasted the tutorial, couldn’t help but feel uneasy, wondering if the curses remaining were a burden that tormented descendants until this era.
“Th-That can’t be…”
“It seems that there’s nothing more you can do here. I understand your feelings, but it’s time to return home. The hunt team in the city will reveal whether the curse has corrupted him or if there’s another story.”
I pointed my hand toward the road leading back to the village. Ian and his friends seemed hesitant to return like this, but perhaps overwhelmed by the recent attack and the power I had shown, they couldn’t defy me.
“By the way, who are you?”
At that moment, one of them finally dared to ask this question. I couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at that innocent inquiry about my identity.
It was absurd that they would ask about my identity only after I had said everything I needed to say.
“I’m just an elf.”
Pointing to my characteristic ears, I waved my hand to send them on their way. It seemed that covering my face with a hood was effective, or perhaps due to the dramatic change in atmosphere, they were completely unaware that they had met me before.
*
“I’ve heard a hunting team is on the way. The troop size is about 200. Half of them will be hastily recruited adventurers, but if mythical weapons are mobilized, that should be more than enough.”
In the afternoon, after lunchtime, the news sent to the city finally arrived. As Patrick communicated the information, Market Wilren promptly decided to send a substantial hunting team based on our words.
“There’s no reason for the mayor to hesitate. His territory is under attack.”
“So what should we do now? Are we just going to join the hunting team naturally?”
As I leaned back in my chair and smiled, he asked about the next steps. Although I had taken a step back to create the best outcome, my purpose had not changed.
I had to unearth the root cause hidden by the goblins and free this land from its suffering.
“There are things we need to take care of while the hunting team is preoccupied with the goblins. So, we’ll move along with the hunting team.”
“I don’t mind, but Rina is the problem. Can you fight?”
When I nodded, Patrick looked back at Rina. Quietly listening to our conversation, she was pouring tea habitually and suddenly startled.
“I-I… I’m…”
Rina struggled to respond, her burden increasing as the situation escalated.
Initially a minor role in a sort of game, the adventurer’s play had grown too large for Rina to handle due to various significant events.
“I’m sorry. So please bear with it a little longer. It won’t take long, and we’ll stop this role-play soon enough.”
Feeling guilty, I mumbled while avoiding her gaze.
I could not keep forcing her into sacrifice. Whether I revealed my true identity or prepared another guise, the adventurer game centered around Rina had to come to an end soon.
“If it helps like this, I can do it.”
“If push comes to shove, Patrick will protect you.”
Rina tried to smile, but realizing that it was a forced courage made me bitterly smile back at Patrick. He opened his eyes wide, pointing at himself with a questioning expression, but I ignored him.
After all, it would be me fighting the enemy.
“Once the hunt begins, we’ll likely engage head-on. While others deal with the goblins, we’ll discreetly slip into the cave. There must be something inside.”
The incoming hunting team was merely a distraction. Having set a more thorough plan, we continued to wait in the village until they arrived.
“If that Kai has truly fallen to the curse, it’s really a pity. Not being able to recognize his own comrades or the children he cherished…”
As I heard Kai’s story, Rina muttered sadly.
“How unfortunate?”
“And frightening. The possibility that I could change at any moment, anywhere. Since the werewolf incident, I’ve recognized that. Though it’s rare, similar things happen to other beastmen as well.”
Rina waved her tail with a sorrowful expression. I flinched at her words. Just as she said, the curse does not discriminate.
The cause is unknown, and there is almost no healing method. That’s why it is continuously referred to as a disaster.
“Why did such a curse arise? Why does it divide the people of this land and make them kill each other?”
Her following words struck deep into my chest, causing me to flinch.
The reason for the curse’s existence. The reason such a disaster still lingers in this world is due to the aftermath of those who failed to climb the Tower—that is, us.
Of course, I felt somewhat wronged, but since I am not a psychopath, I could not completely flee from that responsibility.
“But I still have remaining strength.”
I looked down at my small hands. This power is different from the strength gained by becoming a High Elf, such as communicating with spirits.
This power feels like a reward for me, who did not even get a chance to challenge, something left for me because I had become distant from that time.
It was as if it was designed to say that if I wanted to bear the responsibilities of that era, as the last remaining climber, I had to clear away the sins passed down from the past one by one.
“…Me?”
However, I too was left questioning.
Contrary to what those around me misunderstanding might think, I am close to an ordinary person simply wearing the appearance of a High Elf girl.
Though I resolved to become a hero who would save the world even in this form once, that was merely a story from back then.
Now, dominated by emptiness and a sense of powerlessness, the idea of shouldering a new burden felt so far out of reach.
“If I do happen to change like that, would you help me, Iriliana?”
It was as if Rina could read my mind as she smiled and spoke up.
Her words were likely a joke to lighten the mood, but to me at that moment, it was a very heavy question.
