The Goblins joined us for dinner tonight.

I told them right before it started to be daring and take what they wanted. If they hesitated, the Orcs would eat it all in front of them without caring.

About halfway through the meal, they started getting lively. The Orcs and Goblins have started mingling, which is a good change, and one necessary for this village.

Speaking of necessary changes, whenever we need materials, I ask the hunting group to pick them up between their regular duties. I really should have a separate group for scavenging. I wonder if there are any races that are particularly good scavengers?

I accidentally muttered my thoughts out loud, and the Goblin Giji offered some information.

“Well, Kobolds have good noses. Humans also come in a lot to take things.”

“I heard that Harpies like to collect shiny things, like weapons and armors,” Fiara added.

I fold my arms and groan. Kobolds are only as smart as a clever dog, and they can't talk. I feel like it would be a pain to train them. In the first place, I'm not all that good with dogs; the dog-like Kobolds put me slightly on edge. Harpies are all the way in the Northern forest. Humans are… currently not an option.

… Does it have to be Kobolds?

Hah… Well, I'm not going to train them. This village needs more manpower before we start a job like that. I'll make Orcs and Goblins my priority for now.

Awa! Dinner ended faster than expected. Must be because there’s more people here today. The fires are out now, and I missed my chance to test the effects of .

Well then, it gets boring around here after dark. Let's just see if there are any more skills I can unify.

I'm leaving the magic alone for now, because I used up most of my magic power earlier. Of my other skills, so far I've found one that can be unified. Apparently, and can be merged into for 5% of my magic power. Unfortunately, I don't have that much of my magic power leftover after everything else I did today, so it will have to wait for another time.

I guess there’s nothing to do but go to sleep and give my magic time to recharge.

***

Meanwhile, in the Goblin commonhouse, the pelt that had been left to cover the spell on the floor was shifted to let a small amount of the glow escape.

“Alright, commence the meeting,” said the Goblin who shifted the pelt.

Giji raised his voice first. “Then, let’s keep this simple. All in favor of remaining to work in the Orc’s village, raise your hand.”

Thirty some small green hands lifted into the air.

“All opposed?”

Not a single hand.

“Then it's decided. Does anyone have any thoughts they would like to share so far?”

A female Goblin raised her hand and started talking. “Is the chief really stronger than Durghan? Her magic is impressive, but she doesn't have any combat spells. Not to mention, Durghan said she was a better warrior than him, but to be stronger than Durghan who beat a War Monkey singlehandedly is hard to believe…”

A few other Goblins murmured their doubts, and Giji considered it.

“So in short, you suspect Durghan overpraised the chief’s strength so that we would show proper respect?”

“I think it's reasonable. He might have thought we would underestimate a woman chief if she wasn't unreasonably powerful. The Orc women don't put much effort into combat training, after all,” the same female Goblin elaborated on her thoughts clearly.

“Does anyone have a different opinion from Gosuzi?” Giji posed.

One of the oldest Goblins left in the group raised his hand.

“Girigo?”

“I believe what Durghan told us about the chief’s strength was the truth.”

“On what basis?” Gosuzi glared.

“Well…” Girigo took his time. Honestly, he wasn't one of the smarter members of the group, but he had a good sense for things relating to combat. If he hadn't been born with weak joints, he would have made a warrior of himself by now. “It's true the magic the chief showed us wasn't for combat, but she used a lot of it, yes?”

“That’s right,” Gosuzi agreed tentatively.

“Well, it's not normal to be born with a lot of magic power, right? Even with the Orc’s hunting ceremony, she still used way too much, right?”

Gosuzi was starting to make an ugly face, having been cornered logically. However, some of the other Goblins were still scratching their heads. To help them out, Giji finished the old man’s thought.

“So you're saying, she built up her magic power supply by slaying Magic Beasts, right? True, if that’s the case, there’s no way her combat power is weak. Gosuzi, do you have anything else to add?”

“I got it, I got it! I'm wrong, okay? The geezer is right… But I do have something to add.”

“Go ahead,” Giji nodded.

“I said the chief’s magic wasn't for combat earlier, but isn't she already a second level magic caster? The number of first level spells necessary to prepare these facilities is just ridiculous, so I suspect she’s already learned enough to unify them.”

“Oh, that could be,” Giji nodded. “To be a second level magic caster and a warrior stronger than Durghan, could it be she has around six skill slots?”

“An Orc with six skill slots… the Chief is amazing,” a young Goblin murmured.

“Well, we don't know it for sure. She could have juggled her spells, but that would make it even more impressive if she really reached second level magic caster that way.”

Giji thought if there was anything else important for them to talk about.

“Oh, right. The matter about the guys who stayed behind… Does anyone want to ask if we can retrieve them?”

The other Goblins gathered around the light source were awkwardly silent.

“Well… How to say this…” Gosuzi scratched the back of her bald head. The microscopic green scales made a nice sound against her sharp nails. “Having more come over would reduce our own benefits?”

The other Goblins had a tacit understanding that this was the correct response, thus, their starving tribe members were abandoned.

It was because of thinking like this, that the otherwise intelligent Goblins never managed to build a proper society and remained under the designation of “Monster”.