He considered asking about the whole "outsider" thing this goat seemed to know. But the yearling just snorted and turned away, ignoring him. Well, better than getting headbutted for asking.
He didn't push it. The yearling's glare made it clear: conversation over. Yuji moved on.
This time, he picked a group of goats. He had to, herds were scattering fast, and soon he might not find anyone left.
"Hey," he said, keeping his voice low. "Anyone seen Bojo?"
The goats stiffened. A wiry old billy with a torn ear shot him a suspicious look. "Why are you asking about that stupid boy?" he grunted.
Yuji tried to keep it light. "Just haven't seen him for weeks. Heard anything?"
A ripple of unease went through the group. One goat muttered, "That stupid's gone. Taken."
Yuji frowned. "Taken? By whom?"
An old nanny goat, her muzzle streaked with grey, glanced around before leaning closer. "The gods took him. Heard he's special," she whispered, eyes wide.
Yuji's stomach twisted. "Special how?"
She shrugged, looking away. "Doesn't matter. Chosen by the god means you're a chosen one."
Another goat, younger and jumpier, piped up, "Maybe they eat them, or turn them into 'Monsters. I heard the gods have a pit where they throw those who couldn't survive."
"Shut up, blasphemer," snapped the old billy. "Don't fill his head with nonsense." The old goat turned to Yuji, her gaze sharp. "Listen to me, kid. He's not coming back. Those chosen by the gods are destined to live a different life from us. Only a few ever return.
You might not know it, but they're called apostles. They're strong, can do things no other goat can. All those who follow them are strong, too. You should be happy for him. Don't pursue him."
Yuji listened to every word, his mind spinning. There was too much information to process. He tried to press for details, but the herd was already drifting away. Still, he shouted after them, "Who are they?"
A voice called out from the distance, low and final. "He is the council leader. Never look for him unless he seeks you."
Council leader. The words echoed in Yuji's mind. Someone who called himself an apostle. Someone who returned and gained power. Wait, there isn't just one. The goat said "them." That means there are more.
Yuji remembered his mission, Unmask the Mastermind. He still needed to find out who was behind his attack, and the goat who had helped him. He hadn't forgotten how the yearling goats had backed off the moment they saw his mysterious ally.
A slow smile crept across Yuji's face. So that's why parents tell kids to go outside instead of wasting time watching po** 'cough' playing games. You learn more out here. Goat society's deeper than I thought. Supernatural goats, apostles, council leaders and a hidden world. There really were supernatural goats on this farm. As for how they became that way… he'd figure it out soon enough.
He turned toward the row of houses outside the pen, debating his next move. Now what? Go or not go? He glanced at his mission log. The EXP was tempting, but, damn it, was he really risking his life to save another goat?
This is an unnecessary risk, Yuji. Why are you even thinking about it? The thought jabbed at him, sharp and honest. He hesitated, weighing his options. What do I actually want? He snorted to himself. Nah, risking my life for someone else? Never. I'm not some hero, I just want the EXP. I need to get stronger. That's it.
Yuji made up his mind. He'd go check it out. If he found Bojo, great. If not, no big deal. The system had said it before, he wouldn't be punished for a failed mission. No penalties, no lost progress. Just another chance to grind.
Yuji spent the rest of the day watching, waiting, and thinking. He tracked the humans' routines, memorizing every movement. He studied the fence, searching for weak spots. And he waited for dusk, when the shadows stretched long and the farm finally quieted.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Yuji's nerves buzzed with a strange mix of fear and determination. He crept along the edge of the pasture, keeping low in the tall grass. A dog barked somewhere near the barn, and Yuji froze, heart hammering in his chest. But the dog lost interest and wandered off, leaving Yuji alone in the gathering dark.
He reached the fence, a patch where the wire sagged and the posts leaned outward. He glanced back at the herd, most of them were already settling in for the night, heads down, eyes closed. No one was watching.
Yuji took a deep breath, squeezed through the gap, and stumbled out the other side. What he saw nearly blew his mind. The world beyond the fence felt bigger, colder, and infinitely more dangerous, and most shocking of all, there were trees. Not just a few, but trees everywhere, towering overhead and blotting out the sky.
What the hell? Yuji spun around. More trees. He turned again, half-expecting to see the familiar farm, but it was gone, just endless forest in every direction. Am I hallucinating? He walked back to where he'd crawled out, heart pounding. The moment he stepped through the gap, his vision shifted. Suddenly, he was back inside the farm, surrounded by the bleating herd and the muddy pasture. He glanced over his shoulder: outside, just empty fields.
What is this sorcery? Yuji's thoughts raced. Don't tell me this is magic.
It made no sense. From inside the farm, the world outside looked like barren grassland. But from outside, the farm itself vanished, replaced by a forest so dense the trees seemed to scrape the clouds. And when he looked back, the farm was simply…gone. Just trees where the barn and fences should be.
He looked back once more. Inside, the goats milled about, oblivious. No one noticed him slip away. No one came after him.
Yuji steadied himself and slipped through the gap again, emerging into the forest, no, not quite the middle, he realized. He could see a village not far away, rooftops poking through the green. No turning back now, he thought, jaw set. Hang on, there my exp I am comeing.
Before moving on, Yuji knelt and scratched a mark in the dirt, just inside the treeline. If I have to run, I'll need to know where I came from.
He crouched low in the tall grass at the edge of the human village, heart thudding so hard he was sure even the bugs could hear it. The world beyond the fence was nothing like the goat pastures, no gentle bleating, no comforting scent of hay and mud. Just the wild, the unknown, and the promise of something he couldn't yet name.
Here, everything was sharp, loud, and unpredictable. Humans moved in and out of squat wooden houses, their voices booming, laughter echoing, dogs barking, and somewhere, a child shrieked with glee. Lanterns hung from crooked poles, casting pools of golden light that seemed to chase away the darkness but also made every shadow deeper and more menacing.
He pressed himself lower, trying to become just another lump in the grass. This is insane, he thought. I was an office worker last month. Now I'm a goat on a spy mission. He almost snorted, but caught himself. No need to draw attention. He had to focus, my life and reward depended on it. 'Cough' Bojo's life depended on it.
He crept closer to the houses. From inside the farm, it had looked like just a row of buildings, but now, up close, it was clearly a village, way more houses than Yuji had expected. Real roofs, smoke curling from chimneys, the faint smell of something cooking. For a second, he just stared. This is a whole world out here.
Yuji kept low, belly almost brushing the ground, and edged toward the house where the most noise was coming from. Human voices echoed out loud, overlapping, but all he could hear was gibberish. Words that made no sense, just a jumble of sounds.
No time to waste. He focused, willing his system to help. Instantly, a tingling sensation swept through his skull. A crisp, emotionless system notification flashed across his vision:
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[Language: Human – Activated for 1 hour]
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