The Mysterious Black Goat
1061 Words
Kraun ventured deeper along the hillside, preparing to practice his shooting while foraging for herbs. As his skills in herbalism improved, he naturally became aware of certain mutated plants once deemed unusable, which now exhibited extraordinary value.
Ahead, dense weeds obstructed his mule's path. He tethered his mount to a white birch tree, casually discarding his empty herb box nearby, and began to explore the surroundings.
A gray dove cooed cheerfully as it flitted by. Instinctively, Klauen drew his g*n in one smooth motion.
“Bang!”
By the time he spotted the dove, his arm was already fully extended.
“Silence! Don’t call out; you’ll pay for your noise!”
Pleased, Klauen stowed the dove into his pre-prepared bag and pressed onward.
With a stick, he pushed aside the underbrush and uncovered a black sage plant. This variety, said to have emerged post-cataclysm, was unlike any sage before it.
Its deep, rich hue shimmered with an otherworldly glow. Some claimed it was a deadly poison tainted by malevolent spirits.
Carefully, Klauen extracted the entire herb with his trowel and placed it solemnly into a small wooden box. His growing expertise revealed that black sage’s potency far surpassed that of ordinary sage, making it, in some sense, a poison.
With black sage in hand, he could concoct a more effective ointment for treating injuries. Despite being on the mountain’s fringe, Klauen's bounty was plentiful.
His herb pouch quickly filled with gorse, comfrey, and ground roots, alongside two wild chickens and a rabbit.
As the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of red, Klauen estimated it was around four in the afternoon. He turned back, aware that camping outdoors at night posed grave dangers.
Wandering spirits or monsters would relish such an opportunity for a feast.
Upon returning to his mule, he found it had devoured the tender grass around the birch tree.
Setting down his catch and herb pouch, Klauen searched for some larger stones to practice his shooting.
Despite his efforts, he encountered scant game and fired only a few shots.
He hurled a stone with precision, gripping his g*n with one hand, swiftly taking aim.
“Bang, bang!”
It took two shots to hit his target.
Contemplating for a moment, Klauen resumed shooting. Insights blossomed in his mind; by the time his ammunition ran out, his accuracy on the first shot at a swiftly flying stone had surged to about 80%.
Before him, golden walls appeared.
[Shooting: 1026/5000; Level 3] (You can hit stationary targets at medium to short range with perfect accuracy, and have a high hit rate on moving targets.) At this rate of progress, he anticipated completing his shooting skill upgrade in four to five days.
Satisfied, Klauen retrieved six bullets from the pouch attached to his belt.
These were specially tailored for him, ensuring his revolver was always loaded.
With swift efficiency, he reloaded and mounted his mule, setting off for home.
As he rounded a bend and exited the forest, he found himself pausing involuntarily upon reaching the northeastern corner of Mr. Lokent's farm.
Beyond a rough netting lay a chicken coop, housing fierce goose and several goats.
Klauen’s eyes widened as he observed the scene unfold within.
A long-haired black goat stood on its hind legs, its front limbs bent like a kangaroo, moving toward an open wooden shed.
Behind it, three chickens followed in a daze.
As they entered the shed, Klauen retreated with his mule into the forest, tethering it to a tree.
He slipped into a hidden spot to watch the small building.
Before long, after approximately ten minutes, the goat emerged from the shed, its limbs back on the ground.
Its mouth moved as it chewed, revealing the feet of a chicken protruding from its jaws.
A cunning ruse—this goat had become a thief of chickens!
Klauen concluded, shifting his gaze away and returning to his mount.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, he remounted and galloped out of the woods toward the town.
Passing the chicken coop, he caught a glimpse of the goat still feasting, now with a tuft of grass in its mouth, its head tilted curiously in his direction.
The rectangular pupils glimmered with a human-like intelligence.
Suppressing a creeping unease, Klauen feigned indifference and rode past.
...
The following afternoon, at the church.
Klauen recounted the strange occurrence he witnessed at Lokent's farm to the priest.
Nick squinted thoughtfully, nodding slightly. “Undoubtedly, it's a case of demonic possession.”
“What exactly are these spirits, and can they truly inhabit animals?”
“You may consider them spiritual entities that remain unseen to the untrained eye. Only those who become Mystics can observe their forms. Some feed on human emotions, while others draw sustenance from the lifeblood of animals. The spirits inhabiting animals belong to the latter category.”
The priest stood, declaring, “I’ll change clothes. Are you interested in witnessing how to eliminate such spirits?”
“Absolutely!”
Klauen eagerly accepted the invitation, feeling that his desire for training in the church had garnered Nick's newfound kindness, leading to this opportunity to observe.
Nick quickly donned his gear, momentarily stunning Klauen.
He appeared in silver half-armor, gripping a large iron shield that covered much of his body, while his other hand wielded a spiked flail.
Staring at the spiked ball of iron, Klauen's eye twitched.
Though slim, the priest's weapons carried significant weight.
Klauen had once contemplated being a deadbeat, shirking his debts, and felt relieved he hadn’t sparked any conflicts.
“Should we notify the constables?”
“Not necessary. They are of little use against demons.”
The two led two sturdy horses from the church's stable and galloped toward the eastern outskirts of the town.
...
At Lokent's farm, the sight of Nick in full battle gear left Lokent astonished.
He cast a dubious glance at Klauen, inquiring, “Father, what’s the matter?”
“Let him explain!”
The priest commanded, turning to Lokent. “Take us to the chicken coop.”
Klauen flashed a smile at his benefactor. “Sir, I discovered the identity of the chicken thief in your coop yesterday.”
Lokent appeared even more perplexed.
If Klauen had identified the thief, shouldn’t he inform the victim directly? Why, then, had he first notified the priest?
- Writer
