Become A Profiteer In Isekai

Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Combat Skills

In his previous life, goblins were the lowest of the low in any D&D-inspired novel, anime, or film.

They had abysmal combat strength and intelligence, possessed nearly every contemptible trait imaginable, and were, frankly, the perfect starter monster.

Perhaps only Slimes could compare.

Unfortunately, Slimes proved to be quite malleable, and in recent years their on-screen image had gradually shifted from ”disgusting ooze” to ”cute jelly.”

As a result, the goblin’s status became even more entrenched, solidifying its position as the ”weak villain you feel no guilt for killing.”

Even if some anime occasionally tried to beautify them, or even create some passable female goblin characters, it was just a drop in the ocean and never became mainstream.

As for those bizarre works where ”ugly greenskins knock up noble ladies”... Lu Wei could now say with certainty that such plotlines had absolutely no basis in reality.

At least in the world he was in now, the status of a goblin was basically equivalent to that of a rat—

they had an extremely high reproductive rate, very low combat strength, and you could never kill them all.

Hmm... though, a large enough number of them did have a certain destructive capability.

But they could only manage to ambush lone merchants and Adventurers. Actively attacking human settlements was extremely rare.

And even if they did manage to capture a human, they would only kill them cruelly and take their Weapon and money. They wouldn’t attempt any acts that crossed the species barrier.

So, the whole ”knocking up a Great Noble’s daughter” scenario could only exist in a goblin’s dying fantasy, and nowhere else.

’They really are evil.’

’They look just like trash mobs.’

’But they’re a bit greener than I imagined...’

Peeking through his binoculars at the Little Greenskin in the distance, Lu Wei clicked his tongue in wonder.

The two were about three hundred meters apart, separated by bushes and trees. If he didn’t have binoculars, it would have been impossible for him to spot this goblin.

The goblin, for its part, clearly hadn’t noticed him and was still furtively gathering Sunberries.

They were a masterless gift from nature, yet it acted as if it were stealing. This kind of skulking was probably engraved in its genes.

After watching for a little while longer, Lu Wei lowered his binoculars, gradually losing interest.

He had no intention of killing the Little Greenskin.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t bring himself to do it; he just didn’t see the point.

Although the Adventurer Association had an indefinite bounty on goblins, the reward for each one was only five Copper Coins, which was just too little.

To put it in perspective, when Heitai Town had a rat infestation last year, the Town Hall issued a rat extermination quest, and each rat tail was worth one Copper Coin.

’I’ll spare your life.’

Lowering his binoculars, Lu Wei decided that as long as the goblin didn’t bother him, he would pretend he hadn’t seen it.

After a moment’s thought, however, he found a long Wooden Stick, tied his Dagger to one end, and fashioned a simple Long Spear.

”Fighting goblins with long-range weapons can prevent your clothes from getting dirty.” This was the advice given in the Adventurer’s handbook.

’Now I’m prepared for anything.’

He tested the strength of the binding, nodded in satisfaction, and then took out a few sheets of papyrus covered in text from his backpack.

They were pages torn from a thick tome called *Kingdom Geography, Customs, and Wonders*.

Although he didn’t know why the previous owner of his body had such a ”professional book,” it had certainly helped Lu Wei learn a lot about this world.

[Adventure Land Chapter — Section Two — Swamps]

[Swamps are characterized by soft mud, low visibility, pervasive poisonous gases, and are difficult to traverse. A total of 13 have been discovered within the Kingdom’s borders. Common threats include Undead Creatures, Lizardmen, Mud Monsters, etc....]

Familiarizing himself with the new world as quickly as possible was a basic requirement for a transmigrator, so Lu Wei quickly entered a state of study, planning to pick the Sunberries after the goblin had left.

However, he had read less than half a page when he suddenly heard a distant and familiar ”Aha!”

It came from the direction of the Sunberry patch.

’What’s going on?’

Stunned for a moment, Lu Wei immediately raised his binoculars and looked over.

His expression quickly turned to one of surprise.

Because he was shocked to see Furen, Longsword in hand!

His golden hair was dazzling, his body was slightly crouched, and both hands gripped the hilt of his Sword. He looked quite excited.

Opposite him, the goblin was brandishing a Nail Stick, hopping and flailing about while baring its teeth. Many Sunberries were scattered at its feet.

Judging from a broken branch nearby, Furen must have initiated the attack, but unfortunately, he had missed his target.

’As expected of someone with no Experience. He even missed a sneak attack.’

Lu Wei muttered, glancing down at the Long Spear by his feet, but didn’t move for the time being.

After all, it was just one goblin. Furen should be able to handle it.

’If he really can’t win, I’ll step in... Wait!’

Suddenly, Lu Wei’s eyes widened, his gaze instantly filled with shock.

The Longsword raised high overhead, the swift and exaggerated leap, and the silver light covering the blade...

’It’s a Combat Skill!’

...

...

Now, Lu Wei finally understood what Furen had been preparing for these past five years.

That move just now was definitely not a random attack. It had to be a [Universal Skill] that could only be learned from a Skill Book or taught by a Professional.

And since it was a combat-type Skill, people generally called them [Combat Skills].

Judging by the motion, it was probably called something like ”Jumping Slash” or ”Jump Slash.”

’Such incredible Power.’

Looking at the corpses of the ”two and a half goblins” before him, Lu Wei was somewhat amazed.

At the same time, he felt a little nauseous.

The sticky blood and fragments of internal organs splattered across the ground were a scene he had never witnessed in his previous twenty years of life.

It also made him feel, for the first time, the reality of this world.

And the more real it felt, the more he knew he had to adapt to it all as quickly as possible.

After all, he couldn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t be fighting goblins or other monsters himself one day. It wouldn’t be a good thing to suddenly start throwing up in the middle of a fight.

*Hooo...*

Taking a deep breath, Lu Wei suppressed the urge to vomit, forcing himself not to look away until the nausea subsided. Only then did he go to the nearby stream to wash his face.

The cool stream water splashing on his face completely calmed his mood.

He stood up and looked in the direction Furen had gone. Recalling the scene he had just witnessed through his binoculars—of Furen leaning on his Sword and dry-heaving—his impression of the ”wealthy young master” suddenly changed a little.

And it sparked a few other ideas.

’Being able to master a Combat Skill means he has a way to buy Skill Books, or he knows a Professional.’

’If I want to learn Professional Skills in the future, maybe I can ask him for help.’

’I hope he makes it out of this forest alive.’

Muttering to himself, Lu Wei silently returned to the goblin corpses. This time, he was able to do so without batting an eye.

Stepping over the sticky patches of blood, he took out a cloth bag, preparing to collect the remaining berries.

But at that very moment, a peculiar sensation suddenly bloomed in his mind.

Stunned, he quickly opened his profession panel.

[Power: 7]

[Agility: 9]

[Physique: 8]

[Intelligence: 11]

[Perception: 16 (+1)]

[...]

’Huh?’

’My Perception went up by one?’

’If I remember correctly, Perception is related to intuition, observation, and mental fortitude.’

’So is it because I just forced myself to face the goblin corpses?’

’I overcame my Fear, so my mental fortitude increased?’

...

He turned his head again to look at the mangled flesh and broken bones behind him. After a moment’s hesitation, Lu Wei went back and dragged the goblin corpse that was Divided in Two deep into the forest, far away from the stream.