Eternal Spire (9)

"You came all the way in here without fear?"

The woman lowered her head and answered.

"I... needed money. I heard the goblins deeper in here drop more valuable items..."

Regret was evident in her voice.

The forest grew denser as we ventured deeper, and the atmosphere around us grew ominous. We'd long since passed the area where ordinary goblins appeared.

"How much farther do we have to go?"

"We're almost there…"

Just as the woman had said, the stench of blood began to fill the air.

Before long, we found a corpse. Its torso was so badly mangled that it was unrecognizable, and its limbs were twisted as it lay sprawled on the ground.

"Your boyfriend?"...