Slime Leveling [Litrpg, Timeloop]-Chapter 174—Catch the goblins

Giliberu patted his leaf skirt, removing dust.

He glanced down at the leaf garment covering his lower body. His lips twitched as he looked at his naked chest.

'I'm basically naked… hmm, it should be fine.' He thought as he walked to the thin man's body, pulled out the light armor, and took out the clothing the man wore beneath.

The adventurer's tunic jacket was big for him, so, "Like this… and this," he muttered, ripping the sleeves and corners.

'Nice,' he thought as he was clad in an orange tunic jacket.

He pulled out the trousers and dropped a few leaves to cover the adventurer's lower body, which had only inner wear.

He tore the white trousers' edges, and with the help of the strap at his waist, he wore them.

He took out the thin man's boots as well and tried them.

"Useless," he muttered, as they were twice his foot size.

He threw the boots away and didn't care about armor. Not even boots were fitting, so how would armor fit?

The Goblin Lord had picked all the necessary things from the adventurers' bodies.

They left the adventurers' armor and clothing behind.

"I don't know why they don't take the dress," Giliberu mused. "Despite getting adventurers' clothing, they still are clad in leaf skirts."

He wondered, 'Do they like being half naked?'

"Though I can understand the armor," he muttered, checking his flexibility in clothing by waving his limbs.

"Goblins cannot sell the armor, and everyone doesn't wear magical armor that shape-shifts to match their body." He said as he tried the gauntlet of the bulky man. It didn't change.

And the woman's, the thin man's armour was the same.

"Let's go, son," the Goblin Lord called again. Giliberu quickly joined the goblins.

"Young Lord, are you shy?" the young goblin asked, blinking innocently.

"Your arm was healed just now," Giliberu said plainly. "Do you want to get it broken again?"

The young goblin trembled and backed away, and the others didn't dare question anymore after receiving Giliberu's cold stare.

"I really want to dress like that as well," a goblin said, grinning.

Hearing the fawning words, Giliberu shook his head.

'It might be because of comfort,' he thought. 'After all, they're big and not suitable for combat.'

"Silence. Watch your steps," the Goblin Lord hissed, noticing the carefree goblins.

Time ticked by as they hunted rabbits, wolves, and a few other animals. They even picked edible fruits from some trees—

"Here, take it back to the village," the Goblin Lord ordered, handing a storage pouch to the old goblin.

"Yes, my lord," the old goblin nodded, carefully placing the pouch on the strap band of his leaf skirt.

"It's time for spying, son," the Goblin Lord said, waving the goblins to leave for the village.

"Yes." Giliberu nodded. He thought, 'I need detection spells.'

"Follow me," the Goblin Lord said, walking forward.

They traveled a few kilometers deeper.

Goblin Lord and Giliberu stood atop a large tree. Their eyes were covered with the crimson aura.

"Here is a safe spot for adventurers," the Goblin Lord said, pointing towards a hidden cave on the raised ground, covered by large trees, and a small lion emblem crest covered by leaves at the corner.

"Is it outright open?" Giliberu asked, frowning. "Wouldn't other races gang up on adventurers?"

"It's a temporary safe spot," the Goblin Lord replied. "Only when they eat, drink, or heal do they use this spot. And it's quite hidden."

He patted Giliberu's shoulder. "Do you think you could have found this without my information?"

Giliberu glanced at the cave once again.

The cave was fully covered with trees; the Goblin Lord had pointed it out from a gap in the trees.

'It's a plain cave,' he thought. 'And in the forest there are many caves.'

He glanced again at the lower right corner of the cave, just a few inches above the ground where the crest was carved, and it was covered by leaves as well.

Only when the wind blew stronger would it become visible. Even then, it was tough, as no one would glance down, searching for secret codes.

'And who would care to check the caves for emblems or codes?' he mused, nodding. "Yes, indeed, a safe spot."

"It's a few hundred meters away from us," the Goblin Lord commanded, pointing to the cave. "All you need to do is go in and check how many adventurers are present… or are there any?"

"Do the adventurers know that you have found this spot?" Giliberu asked, glancing at the cave.

"No," the Goblin Lord shook his head. "When I captured a beautiful toy, she confessed it for her release." He had a wide grin at the end.

'Yeah… you didn't release her,' Giliberu mused, frowning.

"Follow the mechanics of the skill I instruct and spy on them with it," Goblin Lord ordered, explaining the details. "Cover yourself with aura and…"

Giliberu nodded. "Understood."

"Once you cover yourself with this method, you will acquire the skill: Hide Presence. It should be enough for them," the Goblin Lord said, holding his chin.

Giliberu leaped down.

Thud!

After landing, he closed his eyes and released his aura, following the Goblin Lord's method.

His body was covered by a layer of crimson aura. The aura didn't erupt—not raging like when he used boost skills like Iron Body or Reinforced Body.

"Good. It's calm and silent," he muttered, clenching his fist.

He glanced at the layer of crimson energy on his palms and slowly walked forward, controlling his flow of aura.

Just when he reached the cave—

[ Ding! You have acquired the skill 'Hide Presence' Lv.1! ]

Giliberu nodded with a light smile. "Good."

He dismissed the shimmering panel from his vision.

Once he reached the cave, he glanced at the trees and the vines over the cave.

'Sound will echo if I remove them,' he thought, scanning the area, hoping to find another way.

At this, a delicate female voice echoed, "Goblins… I spotted goblins." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"What goblins?" a raspy middle-aged man's voice echoed.

"Let's catch," the middle-aged woman's happy voice sounded.

'Catch?… I thought goblins were meant to be killed,' Giliberu frowned. 'Even those three adventurers didn't try to kill us… why?'