With great power comes great responsibility.

  With greater intelligence comes great misery.

  As far as I know, for as long as I am aware, there is suffering. And because I am aware, I am subjected to that same suffering.

  To know is to suffer. However, the ability to know brings the potential to change one's situation—something the ignorant cannot do, or would not want to do, or were never aware they could do.

  Sometimes, dread overtakes my mind and questions my worth. Sometimes, I ask myself, why me? However, slow realization led me down the road to salvation—there is no right answer to a wrong question. The true question is: how? How can I improve my life? My cn's life? The lives that will come after mine?

  The weight of power, the ability to change my society and my life, rests on my mind like a heavy boulder, carrying all the possibilities of the future. But I must move forward, even if every step threatens to break my legs, my body, and my soul. Not because I see it as my responsibility for having been given great power, but because I am smart enough to know better.

  Or perhaps it is because I am in love with my world? Or because my world loves me? I can't pinpoint the right word. All I know is that I must do it, driven by the burning feeling in my chest—the call to take the first step out of my comfort zone, to commit to the passion of serving my cn.

  And so...

  Hardening my resolve, I left my comfort zone. I departed from the vilge where I had grown up, carrying the book left behind by that human child on that fateful day. I carried no weapons, believing this to be only a reconnaissance task and wishing to avoid suspicion from the goblin elders, who insisted that the young remain hidden.

  I moved swiftly, determined yet silent.

  Suddenly, someone grabbed my hand.

  "Ah!" I accidentally let out a small gasp. It was Fina, a young female goblin I had grown up with. She grumbled, but no words formed—goblins do not have a nguage of their own. However, I could smell the intensity of her gaze, her worry.

  Because goblins cannot communicate verbally—or perhaps do not know how—we rely on scent. Our sensitive noses can detect even the slightest change in body odor, revealing emotions and intent.

  I have encountered many goblins and learned to interpret their scents, yet for some reason, Fina's was different. It was intoxicating and caring. Perhaps because we were like family, growing up together like siblings. I couldn't help but adore her as well.

  I patted her head, reassuring her that everything was okay.

  There was a moment of hesitation before I looked away. But I had to move forward, even if I was scared. I needed to know. I needed to investigate. I needed answers—answers that could only be found beyond the boundaries of our vilge.

  Toward the forest cursed by the gods.

  This forest was teeming with monsters—monsters that preyed upon other monsters. Fortunately, I had the book left by that human child. It was not just a fairy tale picture book but one seemingly based on reality.

  One page contained a map. In the southeast corner was the Egregory Forest, shaded in a dark purple hue. Strangely, this section was darker than the rest and covered in red ink. At the heart of the dark forest was Thremarian Lake, also marked in red.

  Oddly enough, the forest I was in also had a ke at its center—a pce strictly forbidden and considered taboo. I began to wonder... Could this map depict real locations and not just fictional ones? Could the red markings indicate dangerous areas where apex predators lurk?

  If that were true, then avoiding the red markings would be my safest strategy. However... I looked around and realized that in every direction, I saw only the same moonlit trees. The forest appeared identical no matter where I turned.

  Had I gotten lost?

  I gnced back, considering returning home, but even that seemed impossible now. Still, I refused to give up—not when I had already embarked on this journey. I had to think. I had to make my brain work. How could I—

  "Halt!" a voice echoed through the forest, followed by the thunderous sound of horses.

  I immediately hid, peering through the foliage. Three armored humans on horseback were chasing a rge man in priestly robes, his face obscured by an iron mask. The priest ran barefoot, drenched in sweat and panic. But with a single ssh to his back, he colpsed, his legs failing him.

  "Father Antonette Ars Oresia," one of the armored men read from an old scroll. "You stand convicted of betraying the faith by engaging in scivious acts against a young girl named Rena."

  "I didn't do anything! I am innocent! Please, let me speak to Rena! She can expin! Please, I beg you! This is unjust!"

  "Dead men don’t speak, Father."

  "What do you mean?" Horror seeped into his voice.

  "Your penalty is immediate execution."

  "Wha—"

  Before he could utter another word, his head was severed with a single ssh. It rolled toward me... and his lifeless eyes met mine.

  Terror gripped me, but not because of the blood pooling on the ground or his wide, dying stare. It was the scent—not just the iron tang of blood, but the innocence and gentleness in his odor. He had tried to speak, but no words had come out.

  "We're done here. No need to bury him. Let the beasts feast on his corpse," the lead armored man decred.

  Another soldier hesitated, his gaze downcast.

  "What’s wrong?" the lead armored man asked.

  "No... it’s nothing. I just feel a little guilty."

  "I see. But you must change. Guilt will only hinder our work. Besides, we didn’t kill a man—we killed a monster. At least, that’s what everyone believes."

  "What do you mean by that?!" The hesitant man’s voice trembled.

  The leader looked at him with a cold, weary gaze. "It doesn’t matter whether he was guilty or not. We are not the ones who decide. Once the people point their fingers, all we can do is enact their rage. That is our job."

  The soldier's voice wavered. "But what if he truly was innocent? What if the truth comes out? Can you sleep at night knowing you killed an innocent man? Because I can’t. I became a soldier to be a hand of justice... but this is not what I signed up for."

  "Nothing in this world will ever align perfectly with your ideals, kid. Especially not in this cursed forest, where the truth is always buried. The church will make sure of that."

  As the group rode away, I cast one st gnce at the fallen priest. I hesitated and gulped.

  I don't know why I did it, but I took his mask and robe. Perhaps I wanted to preserve the memory of this moment. Or perhaps...

  I didn't know.

  But I took them and followed the men.

  For only then might I find my path forward.