Chapter 41: The First Name
Three days had passed since Tanaka declared his intention to leave the forest.
The village prepared itself for his departure. They knew. It would be any day now. And so they continued their activities, but with a quiet urgency underneath it all.
The goblins continued to forge weapons and repair the buildings. Sparks flew late into the night. Although not all of them could craft successfully, the experienced ones taught the less experienced. Hammers that missed became lessons. Burns became stories.
A whole portion of goblins had turned themselves into blacksmiths. Their arms were scarred, their backs bent, but their eyes were bright.
The rabbits grew their herb gardens to stockpile food before the winter. Row after row of green, neat and careful. One would be surprised killer rabbits were capable of farming or tending herbs. But shockingly they were good at it. Gentle hands that could tear out throats in a second now coaxed sprouts from the soil.
The wolves patrolled the borders. Raizen drove them hard, making sure no one slacked off. His voice was sharp, but when the younger wolves whined he’d bump them with his shoulder and run with them anyway.
They had even patrolled Tanaka’s future routes to prevent accidents. Checking bridges, marking safe paths, chasing away wild beasts.
No one tried to convince Tanaka to stay.
They knew he had to go.
All worked tirelessly to ensure their safety while he was gone.
But one issue raised an unsolved question.
Who would lead the town in his absence?
Tanaka stood at the edge of the Crystal Tree while the leaders of the town waited for him to give orders.
The Alpha Wolf.
The Rabbit Leader.
The Goblin Elder.
Representatives of all races were present, communicating telepathically. The air under the tree was still.
"While I am away, someone must command the town if anything happens," Tanaka began, his eyes moving across the gathered audience. His voice didn’t shake. "Not me. Someone here."
"You are right Great One. Only someone experienced can carry on." The Alpha Wolf replied. His ears were forward. Serious.
Tanaka glanced at the old Goblin.
He had been working in the workshops, training young goblins, taking care of all the goblins that had arrived as immigrants, and resolving various issues in the town before reporting to Tanaka. Arguments over tools. Disputes over food rations. Broken forges.
Of course Tanaka could have chosen anybody else, but this goblin elder had taken responsibilities that no one asked. Without realizing it, the village had already made a candidate.
"Elder," said Tanaka.
The old Goblin blinked, surprised he was called. His hands, covered in soot and scars, clutched his walking stick tighter.
"I would like you to take charge of the town in my absence."
The old goblin’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull.
"Me? Great One?"
"That’s right."
The Alpha will command the defense forces.
The Rabbit Leader will be in charge of food and medicine.
But someone needs to bring everyone together," continued Tanaka. "Settle disputes. Make decisions. Speak for us."
"You have already been doing that."
He stepped closer. "So I entrust the town to your care."
For a moment the old Goblin just stared. Then he bowed his head deeply, so low his forehead almost touched the dirt.
"I will not disappoint you, Great One."
His voice cracked. Not from fear. From pride.
That night Tanaka could not sleep.
He lay under the Crystal Tree and stared at the blue light above him. His mind raced away, thinking about a particular topic.
Names.
I said I wouldn’t do it until I was stronger. Names cost too much.
But if I die out there... what happens to them?
They’ll still be "the Goblin Elder." "The Alpha." Titles. Not people.
If something comes, they’ll need more than that. They’ll need identity. Something to rally around.
He sat up.
He had to try.
Tanaka headed to the Dungeon Core.
It glowed blue as usual, and its crystal pulsed at his hand, warm like a heartbeat.
"I want to try."
The Core did not answer.
Tanaka smiled, tired and nervous.
"I suppose that means consent."
The following morning, all the monsters gathered under the Crystal Tree.
It was unclear what the matter was, but they obeyed Tanaka’s call nonetheless. Wolves sat. Rabbits stood on hind legs. Goblins fidgeted. Slimes bounced nervously.
The air was thick with questions.
Tanaka stood in front of the Goblin Elder, who was sweating profusely despite the cool morning.
"Great One ...?" The old goblin’s voice was barely a whisper.
Tanaka took a deep breath. His chest hurt already.
"It may not work."
He looked at all of them.
"If it does," he continued, "it will change us forever."
The whole village fell silent.
Even the little slime had stopped bouncing up and down. It sat still, watching.
Tanaka placed his hand on the old Goblin’s shoulder. Skin to skin.
He sent mana into his body.
Instead of a steady stream, it poured violently and unexpectedly. Like a dam breaking.
The Magic Core inside Tanaka shook. Pain lanced through his arms, his chest, his head.
This was more painful than any battle he had ever fought.
Streams of mana flooded the Goblin’s body. The old goblin gasped and arched, but didn’t cry out.
The Crystal Tree above them pulsed brighter. The Dungeon Core thrummed in answer.
The world narrowed to that single point of contact.
Finally, Tanaka uttered a single word. His voice was raw.
"Eldrin."
Suddenly, the world went silent.
A brilliant light surrounded Eldrin, white and gold. His body trembled uncontrollably. Veins of light ran under his skin.
His wrinkles smoothed. Not all, but enough that he looked ten years younger.
His posture straightened. His back, bent from years of work, stood tall.
His muscles became more defined.
And his ears... his ears grew longer. Sharper.
The mana swirled around him like a storm before rushing back into his body with a soft sound, like a breath.
When the light dissipated, Tanaka staggered back, his eyes unfocused. The world tilted.
The Alpha caught his arm before he collapsed on the spot. Strong, steady.
"Great One ..." The Alpha’s voice was worried.
Tanaka laughed weakly, leaning on him.
"So it worked ..."
He lifted his head and saw it. A bright glow hovering over Eldrin’s eyes for a moment, then sinking in.
For the first time in his life, the old Goblin’s Soul Record had changed.
[ Soul Record
Name: Eldrin
Race: Hobgoblin
Rank: D
Magic Core: D
Skills:
• Weapon Crafting
• Weapon Enhancement
• Iron Command
• Thought Communication
Title:
• Goblin Elder
• First Named ]
Happy tears streamed down the old Goblin’s face. Eldrin.
He knelt in front of Tanaka, but Tanaka grabbed his shoulders before his knees hit the ground.
"No knee-bending," said Tanaka, smiling despite how much it hurt. "We are family."
The words rippled out.
The whole town resonated with feelings of family and joy through the telepathic link.
Rabbits cried.
Wolves whined happily.
Goblins cheered.
Even the slimes pulsed brighter.
It was incredible. One of them had obtained a real name. Not a title. A name.
Eldrin touched his own face like he didn’t recognize it. "Eldrin..." he tested the word. Then looked at Tanaka with wet eyes. "Thank you ... Great One ..."
Tanaka just shook his head. "No. Thank you, Eldrin."
Tanaka spent the next two days recovering from the ordeal, albeit with a dull pain in his body that felt like he’d been hit by a mountain.
He ate. He slept. He let the rabbits fuss over him.
This experience had taught him that names required a great expenditure of mana and a powerful spirit. It wasn’t something he could hand out like candy.
He could not waste his mana on frivolous things. Not yet.
When Tanaka was well enough, the whole town turned to see him off at the forest edge.
Eldrin was the first to step forward. He looked different now. Taller. His new clothes fit better. There was steel in his eyes that wasn’t there before.
"I will protect our home until you return, Great One."
The Alpha nodded, tail high. "No enemy shall cross our border. I swear it."
The Rabbit Leader only smiled, soft and knowing. "Have a safe trip. And eat properly."
The little slime jumped desperately up and down in front of Tanaka, trying to get his attention. Boing boing boing.
Tanaka picked him up and gently patted his head. The slime was warm and a little sticky. But the little guy was disappointed, his bounce smaller.
"Not this time," said Tanaka quietly, just for him. "I need someone I can entrust the care of everyone to. You’re the best at that."
The little slime puffed up proudly, chest swelling, despite being upset. He boinged once, very seriously.
Tanaka looked at the crowd gathered before him one last time. Hundreds of eyes. Wolves, rabbits, goblins, slimes, turtles. His people.
His throat tightened.
"I made a promise. When I return ..." said Tanaka, and he meant it with everything he had. "I will be strong enough to give all of you the names you deserve."
Excitement rippled through the telepathic network. Not because of the power that names brought. Not because of the rank up.
But because Great One had said so. Because he remembered them.
Tanaka looked one last time at the town and the path he had chosen. The trees. The smoke. The Crystal Tree glowing in the distance.
He fastened the cloak around his shoulders. Took one breath.
Then he turned and headed into the forest.
Leaving the place he had called home after two years.