CHAPTER 73: CAPTIVES

"She’s in the storage room," Linda replied.

A moment later, Celia stepped out, her arms full of vegetables and carrots. Nolan’s gaze lingered for a moment—she too was wearing an apron.

"It looks good on you," Nolan said quietly.

Celia carried the vegetables over to the table, set them down, and picked up a knife. Without a word, she began chopping, the rhythmic sound filling the kitchen.

Linda, meanwhile, lifted a spoon from the pot, blew gently on it, and held it out. "Master, say ah," she said playfully.

Nolan instinctively stepped back. "What is happening here? It’s like... as if we’re married. She’s trying to feed me," he thought, almost flustered. Then, hesitantly, he leaned forward, closed his eyes, and let her place the spoon in his mouth.

"How is it, Master?" Linda asked with a hopeful smile.

"It’s... really great. Delicious," Nolan admitted.

"Eh? No fair!" Celia chimed in, setting down the knife. "Let me have some fun too." She grabbed her own spoon, scooped a taste, and blew on it before stepping closer. "Master, open up."

Nolan, caught in the moment, closed his eyes again and accepted her offering.

"Wow..." he thought as the taste lingered on his tongue. "How did this even happen? I ended up living with these beautiful, charming women. And now—they’re feeding me. Back at my world, this would have been nothing but a dream. But here... this is reality."

He smiled faintly, savoring the warmth of the moment, before turning and walking away.

The following morning, Nolan stretched lazily before pulling the bedsheet over his head again. That meal yesterday... it was delicious. He paused, blinking at the ceiling. Wait. I hope they didn’t sneak into my room again.

He lifted the blanket carefully, checking. Nothing. He sighed in relief. Good. At least they didn’t.

The thought of Linda and Celia’s cooking made him smile. The food was really something else. But today... today is different. I’m going to the goblins. The moment I arrive, they’ll try to attack. But I don’t want to kill them, not yet. They’ll be my minions. His eyes narrowed. When I reach the Goblin God, I’ll use my speed to get close... then stop time. That should be enough.

He rose from bed, bathed quickly, and dressed in his suit. As he opened his door, two familiar figures stood waiting.

"Good morning, Master," Celia and Linda said in unison, smiling brightly.

Nolan blinked at them. "Good morning... but why are you two waiting at my door?"

Celia tilted her head. "Nothing. We were just waiting for you."

"I just wanted to see your face," Linda added softly.

Before he could answer, both of them grabbed his arms and pulled him along.

"Come, Master!" they said together.

They dragged him to the dining hall, sat him down, and tied a napkin neatly around his neck.

"What are you two doing? Treating me like I’m some kid," Nolan muttered.

"Master, let me feed you!" Celia offered eagerly.

"No, me first!" Linda argued, spoon in hand.

Nolan waved them both off, his face heating. "No, no, no. I can feed myself. Don’t worry." He chuckled under his breath. My heart can’t take much more of this. He picked up his spoon and began eating on his own. "Ah... delicious."

He set his spoon down and glanced at them. "But listen. Don’t follow me today. I’m going to the goblins alone."

"But Master, if you want—" Celia began.

"No," Nolan cut her off gently. "I need to do this alone."

At that moment, Lyra wandered into the hall, rubbing her sleepy eyes. She glanced at Nolan, muttered, "Good morning, Master," and plopped into a chair to start eating.

"Hey, Lyra," Nolan called. "I’m heading out alone today to the goblins."

"Okay," she replied simply. "Be safe."

Nolan smiled, finishing his meal before heading outside. Celia and Lyra followed him to the gates, waving as he walked away. He turned back once, waving at them too.

What is going on here? It’s almost like we’re married or something... No, no. Not like that. We’re comrades, that’s all.

Leaving Sindra behind, Nolan crossed toward the forest. At the edge, he activated his search skill, extending his senses outward. Blips of presence lit up in his awareness, goblins scattered through the wild. But as he pushed further, searching deeper and deeper, he found something unusual.

At nearly one hundred ninety kilometers away lay a small village. Goblins clustered there, but among them stood one different from the rest, a goblin shaped almost like a human.

"That’s the one I’m looking for," Nolan muttered. But the Guild Master said they were hiding in the forest. So why...?

He weighed his options. Should I just walk in there? No... better to summon a wyvern.

Planting his hand on the ground, he channeled mana. A yellow circle appeared, and a wyvern emerged, spreading its wings with a roar. Nolan stepped forward as its back opened for him to mount.

"It’s time."Nolan said.

After a few minutes of riding, Nolan leaned forward on the wyvern’s back. "Move down," he ordered. The creature tilted its wings and descended slowly, beating the air until it landed with a heavy thud on the earth.

The moment Nolan stepped down, the village stirred. Goblins swarmed from every corner—at least a hundred of them. Some carried rusted knives, others had scavenged swords, and a few clutched mismatched armor and weapons looted from fallen adventurers. Their snarls rose as they rushed at him.

Nolan raised a hand. Time froze.

The world fell into silence. The goblins hung mid-sprint, their eyes wild but motionless, weapons suspended in the air. Nolan walked calmly among them, brushing past their frozen bodies, his steps echoing unnaturally in the stillness.

He moved deeper into the village, passing rows of crude huts until he reached the largest one. Its crude wooden door hung slightly ajar. Nolan pushed it open and stepped inside.

The air was damp and heavy. His gaze swept the room and narrowed. Humans—female captives—were chained to the walls, their faces pale, eyes wide with despair.