CHAPTER 129: BACK TO THE TOWN

Steve let out a low grunt as his eyes fluttered open, the dull ache in his muscles flaring to life the moment he shifted.

He stretched, slow and groggy, his limbs dragging across the cool earth beneath him. The grass—thin and sparse—pricked lightly at his back, just a few patches clinging to the forest floor like reminders that nature was still real, even after the night he’d just had.

A soft yawn slipped past his lips as he propped himself up on one elbow. The air was crisp.

Above him, the sun was only beginning to pierce through the canopy, casting golden beams that sliced across the trees in slanted lines. It wasn’t day yet—not fully.

He turned his head slowly—and there she was.

Tonya.

Lying beside him.

Naked.

She was still fast asleep, her breathing soft, almost melodic. Her bare skin glowed faintly under the dawn light, flushed and marked.

The makeshift lining she’d used as a blanket barely covered her, draped haphazardly across one thigh. One of her breasts lay free, rising and falling gently with each breath, her nipples still hardened from the cool air—or maybe from the memory of everything they’d done.

Her hips flared beautifully, her ass full and curved like a sculpture brought to life, and between her thighs, the faintest glimmer of moisture still clung where his cock had been buried inside her—again, and again, and again.

She looked... Peaceful.

And yet unspeakably sexy.

’Goddamn.’ he thought.

’...Nine times. I fucked her nine times last night.’

He hadn’t known he had it in him. Not like that.

But with her—her soft moans, the way she begged for more, her body melting beneath his every thrust—he hadn’t wanted to stop. Couldn’t.

Now, though... his body was utterly satisfied. Every muscle ached from exertion, and yet, as he looked at her, still naked, still irresistible, a part of him stirred again. A weak flicker of heat, buried under exhaustion.

But he let it pass.

For now.

He leaned back onto the ground with a heavy exhale, running a hand over his face.

He needed to focus. The haze of sex was lifting, and reality—harsh and uninviting—was seeping back in.

There were other priorities now. He needed to move, to plan, to survive. Because somewhere out there, past the trees and this brief, blissful moment of warmth... a goblin was waiting. A real one. A threat.

And so, his mission was simple—or so it seemed.

’I have to slay a goblin.’ Steve thought.

He rose from where he’d been sitting, his body still aching slightly from the night’s rest beneath the ancient tree.

Without delay, he stepped over to the clothes which laid nested on the forest floor. One by one, he slipped into them, fingers moving with practiced familiarity. Shirt. Trousers. Belt. His fingers lingered briefly on his daggers before fastening them securely at his sides.

Then, he looked at her.

Tonya still lay curled beneath the thick roots of the tree, fast asleep. The morning light filtered gently through the canopy above, casting soft shadows over her features.

Steve hesitated.

’ I should probably leave a note. Just so she doesn’t freak out when she wakes up and I’m not here.’

He looked around, then bent down to pick up a flat stone. Unsheathing one of his daggers, he scratched a quick message onto the surface—rough, crude letters, but legible enough to convey the essentials.

’Will be back soon. Don’t worry. Steve.’

He placed the stone beside her, careful not to wake her. One last glance—then he turned away, leaving her in the shelter of the roots where they had spent the night together.

His feet began to move, crunching softly over twigs and leaves.

***

Steve moved through the underbrush, his steps light, mind racing.

’If it’s just me and a goblin, I’m more than confident I can kill it. But it’s not just me fighting...’

From what he’d seen, goblins didn’t roam alone. They moved in Clans. Killing one meant being ready to face, at the very least, a dozen.

’So if I want to slay a goblin... I need to be ready to slay the entire clan.’

He grimaced.

’It’s already been a full day since I left Fiona and Sarah. So many sexy women, just waiting around for me. There’s no way I’m letting any of them slip away.’

The thought made him smirk bitterly.

’I have to complete this mission. Get the healing potion.’

He still didn’t quite understand how slaying a goblin boss was supposed to translate into receiving a healing potion, but the book had promised. It had granted his wish.

’So now all I need... is to find a way to lure one goblin away from the others. Fight it one-on-one.’

He mulled the thought over, trudging through the woods, gaze flickering between the trees.

He came to a stop.

’Alright... think. How do I separate a goblin from its clan?’

He stood still, arms folded as he considered the options. Then a sigh escaped him, half a grunt, half a groan.

’Damn it. I can’t even separate one of them unless I know where the damn clan is. That’s the whole point.’

So that left him with two choices.

Option one: Create a diversion that draws out most of the clan—leave one behind, isolate it, kill it quickly.

Option two: Track them. Observe them. Wait for one to break off from the group, maybe to hunt or scout. Then strike.

But option one was...

’ suicide.’

’Even if I create a diversion, even if I manage to kill one quickly... how the hell do I escape afterward? If I make a mistake—if I don’t notice another goblin in time—I’ll end up like that damn carriage. Obliterated.’

His brow furrowed as frustration built.

’No. That’s way too risky.’

But option two...

’If I track them...Learn their routes. Wait until one breaks formation and strike....’

It wasn’t perfect, but it was safer.

He slapped his forehead, exasperated.

"Ugh—damn it!" he muttered.

"Why does everything have to stress me out? This was supposed to be my break from the stress of this world!"

He stopped, letting the silence settle around him. His eyes narrowed, scanning the trees.

Then... something clicked.

Wait... wait a minute.

He stayed still, processing the memory like it was a blade being sharpened in his mind.

Back then... in the town of Mirrors.

They had entered the town expecting a fight. What they got was a slaughter. The town had already been destroyed—burned down to cinders. But in the middle of that chaos, they had encountered only one goblin at first.

Just one.

They’d fought it—and the moment it died, the rest of the clan had descended. Not before.

’After.’

Which means... it was alone.

Not on patrol. Not flanked. Not guarded.

Alone.

Even at the height of their chaos, they stayed centered around the ruins of the town.

His breath caught.

And that was when it hit him—this forest, the layout of the trees, the scent in the air—it all felt familiar.

’Wait... I’m not far from the towm, am I?’

He straightened, shoulders tensing with anticipation.

’If I go back there... could I find another one? Alone?’

His jaw tightened, heart thudding now, not from fear, but from the weight of decision.

’Or would I find the full clan waiting?’

His eyes narrowed. The forest around him was silent—too silent.

Still, he clenched his fists.

’Well. ...in truth....There’s only one way to find out.’

His gaze sharpened with focus, jaw set with grim resolve.