I sit down, or, as much as I can sit down with this body. I just... I need to collect my senses.

That was-, more than I expected of this small trip. I ought to head back to the village soon, Hijack is clearly strong enough to let me take over the mind of a goblin without too much fuss, and then I'll just escape into the night.

But, first, I would like to know exactly how my status changed after all this. Not doing so would be criminal!

Johnny Fowl(Lv. 48/50) Species Will 'o Whisperer (D) Title(s) Monster, David Health 17/144 Mana 98/98 Status Strength 50 Magic 89 Speed 77 Defence 36(+12) Skills(...)

Well, that's neat at least-? Man, the magic stat is almost up in the triple digits, and right there is that weird new title. I don't think it does anything, since Monster doesn't do much of anything, but it does look pretty neat. The amount of Health I have is dangerously low, I mean, a fart could kill me right now, but...

I'll take just a short break here. These guys aren't going anywhere, and if Mr King was the king of this lake, I doubt anything else will want a piece of me.

If nothing else, this is a pretty damn good argument for just straight-up getting stronger. Being super-dangerous is bad, I know that, after all, nobody would want to befriend a cageless tiger, but even so, I don't exactly want to die to an oversized frog before knowing the touch of a woman.

...Don't mind that last part.

I know I said a certain balance was good, but, maybe, just maybe, I'm weak? I never thought I was strong or anything, but... What does "basic fire magic" really mean? The skill said it was for everyday-use, but I could easily kill a-, err, the spells could easily be used to kill, especially at higher levels.

Plus, I'm an insect. There is no doubt that a lightworm, lacking the basic fire magic I had, could easily be smushed into non-existence. With how weak I was, it's a damn miracle I survived to evolve at all.

But, the fact is that I'm still an insect. If I met my current state in my old body, I've got a feeling one good squeeze could pop me. My current form, that is. Splat me with a flyswatter.

An insect is rank D, a big frog is rank C, so, if I want to not die instantly when swatted, I should probably get to at leat rank B. Sure, the description of Mr King did say he was a challenge for knights, but I don't trust that. From here on out, whatever the blue boxes tell me, I just won't trust.

Hmmm-, I'm starting to feel a fair bit better, Health-wise, so I think it's time for me to head back to kidnap a gobli-,

"...Grirf?..."

A noise alerts me of a presence and I turn to the entrance.

-Indeed, I was no longer alone. Two jewel-like blue eyes stared at me, wide and distressed, lit up only by a torch and my blue mana. The person themselves were a light shade of green, their chest and forearms covered in loose, oversized armour.

Skill (System Recon Interference) has been used, information will now be shown

Green Forest Goblin "Chivick" Lv.34 (Race)

A proud member of the Cave Maw tribe, Warrior Chivick spends his days training, battling dangerous monsters and exploring the surrounding area. Despite being far from young, Chivick still has a penchant for exploring, his curiosity often putting him in rather sticky situations. Even so, he is a respected warrior, his greatest achievement being the discovery of a nearby bandit hideout, which was promptly raided and destroyed.

Skill (System Recon Interference) has gained a Level

At the sight of me and the charred body I sat on, their left hand moved slowly to grab the sword hanging by their waist. However, something stopped him in his tracks. One glance at me, one quick (very quick) glance behind them, and they made a split-second decision to run.

Ohnoyoudon't-,

As it turns out, a speed of 77 combined with advanced flight is quick enough to catch up with pretty much any goblin, and I was upon him in mere moments.

...This might just be a good thing.

The goblin doesn't even have time to give a noise before I land on his neck and use Hjack.

Skill (Hijack) has been used, you have temporarily gained the following skills:

Goblin Language, Swordsmanship, Sneak, Camouflage(Forest)

I clench and unclench my new hands. I feel short, small, much like a child, but being in a vaguely humanoid body is still very much preferrable to my insect body, as much as I've grown to know it.

It would be faster to fly back to the village, but this will be a good time to learn my new, albeit temporary body.

I walk back into the winding tunnels of the cave, and my eye is quickly drawn to the luminous orbs of light.

-Oh. Right, okay, uh, I should probably have expected someone to come wandering in after me. Kind of weird this guy came after me alone, though...

Anyhoo! Into the village!!