Extra's Descent

Chapter 174: This is what winter feels like [3]

Standing in front of the goblins, Brandon clenched his fist.

"Kuuuu!"

"Kukaka!"

"Kukukou…?"

What the hell.

Seems like they had some sort of intelligence as they seemed to speak to each other.

Then,

….Would it be possible to communicate with them?

With such thoughts, Brandon stepped forward.

Step—

"Kuhum…"

Brandon cleared his throat.

"Ku?"

"Ku?"

One of the goblin's eyes lit up and leaned his head close.

Brandon continued.

"Kuak?"

"Kukuku?"

"Kukukurooor?"

"Kuah?"

"...."

Amelia seemed speechless as her brows furrowed in astonishment.

"Kht."

Brandon held his laugh back as he turned towards her.

"What are you doing?"

Amelia tilted her head.

"Communicating."

"...."

Brandon just shrugged as Amelia remained speechless.

Stepping forward, Brandon got closer to the goblins. But they seemed to be on guard as they took a step back and gripped their weapons tightly.

Brandon waved his hand down, gesturing for them to be at ease.

"Kukuuu."

"Kuuu?"

The goblin's eyes lit up.

They continued to converse. Amelia stood motionless, watching the entire scene unfold.

It was as if Brandon was communicating with toddlers and he was the leader.

Before Brandon realized it, their conversation was starting to make sense.

"Kukuku."

"Kuakaka."

"What are your names?"

—I'm Kukoro. This is Kuah.

The goblin who seemed to be the leader of the pack, pointed at one of the goblins behind him.

—Here's little Kuoh.

Kukoro pointed towards a goblin of even smaller stature than them.

—This is Kukukuo, and this is Kakuku.

"Nice to meet you, I'm Goburin Slayer."

—...Guoberin?

"Something like that."

It had to be noted that Brandon was speaking in their language. He was only interpreting as to what he thought they said.

"Why are you guys blocking our paths?"

—Because that's our way of life. Just like the typical goblins from the novels you've read, we're programmed to act that way.

"Really? You've read about goblins too?"

—Of course. Why wouldn't we read about our own race?

That made sense.

At this point, Amelia returned to the wagon with a blank expression on her face.

The driver however, was watching the entire scene with genuine curiosity.

"Sir!"

He called out to Cid.

The goblins flinched hearing his voice and stood on guard again.

"What?"

Brandon turned his head, but felt a bit irritated as it seemed like his progress in befriending the goblins regressed.

The driver continued.

"Maybe you can get them to accompany the wagon?"

"Oh."

It was a good proposal.

If he were successful, then the goblins could become unpaid guards of some sort.

With such thoughts, Brandon flicked his head back to the goblins.

"Kuhum…"

And cleared his throat.

"Kuu..."

Operation befriending the goblins started once again.

"Do you see that wagon over there?"

Brandon pointed at the wagon.

The goblin leaned his head to the side and took a peek at the wagon.

Seemed to be working.

"If you guys are willing to accompany us, then I'll spare your lives."

Brandon flashed them a cold smile.

—Spare our lives? But aren't we friends…. Why the threat?

"You're right. I'm sorry, I misspoke."

Now that he thought about it, unpaid labor for the goblins seemed too much.

Even goblins deserved love.

"If you accompany us, I'll reward you guys."

—Really? What reward?

—Don't listen to him, Boss. He might kill us off once we're done.

One of the goblins chimed in.

Brandon looked at him and raised his hand, gesturing for the goblin to compose himself.

"Calm down little Kuoh. I'm not that kind of person."

—Don't worry little Kuoh, I trust him.

Kukoro set little Kuoh at ease.

—This reward you speak of.

Kukoro raised his head and asked.

—How much are we talking?

"How does three copper coins sound?"

—Hmm…

Kukoro seemed to ponder at Brandon's offer.

Or was he?

Brandon thought so anyway.

—Okay, deal.

At least prices weren't inflated amongst the goblin community.

Humanity needed to learn from them.

"Looks like we've got ourselves a deal."

Brandon extended his hand, motioning for a handshake.

—....?

Kukoro and the other goblins stepped back, wary of what Brandon was about to do.

"It's a handshake. A gesture for us to seal the deal."

—I see. Fascinating….

Kukoro leaned close and tilted his head. He poked Brandon's palms.

"Take the handshake."

But it seemed like there were some translation errors as Kukoro never did that.

It was then when Brandon grabbed Kukoro's hand and shook it up and down.

—....!

Kukoro seemed startled at first. But since Brandon didn't do anything, he let the entire gesture happen.

In fact, Kukoro seemed perplexed about the entire handshake as he shook Brandon's hand continuously.

At that, the negotiations finished.

Brandon returned to Amelia, and the goblins surrounded the entire wagon.

He now had a small goblin army under his disposal.

For how that even worked, Brandon couldn't even begin to ponder.

Amelia flicked her head, noticing his arrival and asked.

"Oh, you're done?"

"Yep."

Brandon confirmed.

He hopped on the wagon and sat beside her.

"I don't know how you've even managed to communicate with them. All I could understand was, 'Kukukuku'. Whatever that meant."

"Guess I've got a knack for this."

He shrugged.

His gaze then lingered on the sleeping Carl.

For some reason, Carl was the type of person to sleep a lot.

Once again, Brandon and Amelia exchanged worried glances.

But decided to leave it at that.

Gazing ahead, the snow seemed to be getting stronger. By the end of this, they would have to walk to their destination.

The driver specifically stated that there was a certain point that wagons never crossed.

The reason for this was because of the danger that lurked, the further they venture outside the human domain.

Despite being with rankers to protect them, rankers could only do so much.

For that reason, the wagon drivers community implemented such a policy.

That being said, the journey continued.

The goblins continued accompanying them. The snow seemed to be getting stronger, possibly a blizzard incoming.

But thankfully, Brandon had already prepared for such a predicament.

He was confident they could survive the oncoming blizzard.

The trip lasted for a total of twelve hours. The group was dropped off and the driver gave his farewells.

Carl seemed startled by the goblins at first. But Brandon eased him, telling him that they were friendly.

The goblins seemed confused at the departing wagon, but probably left it at that.

Brandon gazed ahead and a forest came into view.

It was obscured by what seemed to be dense fog. But according to Carl, they needed to trudge and cross the forest, since it was the route he took when he headed for Vale City.

And the journey continued from there.

Carl called upon his little sister, and the two held his hands as they stood between Brandon and Amelia.

"Let's go, Emi."