(Book One Complete!) Friendly Neighbourhood Goblin (Mercenary Company LitRPG)

Self-Published

Community Rating

Description

The gods are dead, and a summoned hero has killed them.

Exiled from his goblin tribe, Stump finds himself in a world reeling from an isekai. The corpses of deities litter the landscape, their guts imbuing the world with magical power, and their killer has become the new god.

Stump will carve out a small home in the slums of a city locked in twilight, in the fungal graveyard of a murdered divine. There he will harness light magic to illuminate a small corner of his darkened world, and start a mercenary company to piece together his fractured neighbourhood through quests big and small; because in the post-post apocalypse, the quest business is a-boomin'.

But there are those who long for another hero and the destruction they bring, and they will stop at nothing to recreate the apocalypse of the past, no matter how many isekais it takes.

BOOK ONE IS COMPLETE. CHAPTERS WILL RESUME WHEN BOOK TWO IS WRITTEN.

You can expect:

✅ A Nobledark tone. Noblebright MC in a Grimdark world. Sometimes cozy, sometimes dark, maybe at the same time.

✅ A slow burn story with a D&D-likestructure. Rotates between "downtime" arcs (slice-of-life, lower stakes), and "quest" arcs (adventure, higher stakes). All of it will be character focused.

✅ Slow but meaningful progression. Numbers go up gradually, but they're tied to the plot and character growth.

✅Expanding systems. Numbers and systems start out straightforward, but slowly become more complex as layers are added and "ranks" are achieved.

Do not expect:

❌OP characters. MC starts weak and grows stronger, but they need to strategize with their abilities and work with others.

❌Harem. 'Nuff said.

Information

Status: Hiatus
Year: 2025
Author: James Tadhg

Royal Road Stats

Rating: 4.7/ 5.0
Followers: 1,567
Views: 265,253

What readers say about (Book One Complete!) Friendly Neighbourhood Goblin (Mercenary Company LitRPG)

“This story is outstanding. I will break down why I gave it the ratings I did in the various sections. Style The author does an exceptional job of knowing where to start and end scenes. In this sense, it is perfect for a serial format. A reader can sit down…”
Aiden MarquisRoyal Road5.0 / 5
“Goblins, as characters in games, novels, or anime, are often inconspicuous (except in Goblin Slayer – that manga is terrifying!). Of course, I still prefer a more positive image of goblins, like the Goblins in Warcraft or the powerful Goblin towers in Kingd…”
BayardADRoyal Road5.0 / 5

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Community Reviews(10)

Aiden MarquisRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story is outstanding. I will break down why I gave it the ratings I did in the various sections.
Style
The author does an exceptional job of knowing where to start and end scenes. In this sense, it is perfect for a serial format. A reader can sit down and take in as much as they have time to, stopping at a break or a chapter, and when they return the story will be easy to pick back up. The author also makes great use of scenes to build anticipation and tension. There are literary elements present, yet they never bog down the story. The prose is likewise excellent - rich enough to present a vivid story, accessible enough to keep the momentum. The pacing is brilliant.
Story
The story reads like an engaging YA fantasy novel that is enjoyable for all ages. It is also a fantastic read if you had not read LitRPG extensively and want to be eased into the genre. The system is present but it is in bite-sized pieces and never overwhelming.
The plot has clearly been thought-out and the author layers in aspects of it that build on each-other. The reader gets hooked and genuinely invested in what happens next.
Grammar
The story is presented clearly and professionally. The author has obviously spent a great deal of time editing and focusing on presentation. This is not one of those instances where the writer wished to use this platform as a beta reading service. In my opinion, this story is in a state that James could submit it for publication without second thoughts.
Character
This is probably the writer's area of strength that shines the brightest in this story. If you are into character-driven fantasy, this is for you.
You are totally brought into the perspective of a goblin. It is a third person limited telling with one POV - and you are immersed in it. Everything from the goblin's perspective on things, to the various war names that his peers in his tribe have, to his thoughts as he processes the world around him as we move deeper into the story, is exceptionally render
BayardADRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Goblins, as characters in games, novels, or anime, are often inconspicuous (except in Goblin Slayer – that manga is terrifying!). Of course, I still prefer a more positive image of goblins, like the Goblins in Warcraft or the powerful Goblin towers in Kingdom Rush: Vengeance. Naturally, goblins more often appear as minor mobs or villains, but this novel fulfills my curiosity about what it would be like if a goblin were the protagonist.
This core creative idea itself is very appealing. The initial world-building, the protagonist's atypical setup, and the creation of suspense are all well done – from the primitive and savage goblin tribe with its unique matron judgment culture to the diverse and chaotic "monster metropolis" of Grimsgate, which feels like the Mos Eisley cantina from Star Wars. The details and atmosphere are spot on.
The character portrayal is also successful. Stump's adventures in Grimsgate have a certain The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild vibe to them. He evolves from a penniless outcast banished by his tribe to a being with mysterious powers, aspiring to establish the "Goblin Knight" mercenary company.
The LitRPG elements are well-designed too. While I generally lack a deeper interest in complex LitRPG systems, the system in this novel isn't overly verbose or complicated; its simplicity is very good for me. The plot progression is also commendable, with well-placed suspense.
If I were to express my expectations, I'd look forward to even deeper character development. Stump's goal gradually becomes clearer, from initially fleeing for survival to conceiving the idea of establishing the "Goblin Knight" mercenary company. Future developments could further explore his internal transformations – for example, his acceptance and reflection on his goblin identity, his understanding and pursuit of a "knightly code" (if that's his aim)
Additionally, balancing the plot's rhythm with a sense of "daily life" would be beneficial. Although LitRPG and adventure s
Bill ShyrokuRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
So far I've been enjoying our journey of stump. Scared he maybe, he doesn't let that stop him from achieving his dream to become a knight and start his company.
Manages to show how crafty he maybe with what limited knowledge he was able to acquire and I can't wait to see what other ideas he has in store.
And yet I'm glad to see how good nature he naturally is despite being a goblin and yet he can still show off his goblin nature. It's interesting seeing how those two mix in.
And the system placed in this world has me intrigued as well as the lore behind the gods and their aftermath.
Overall I'm enjoying the direction this story is going and can't wait to read more
CritHitRoccoRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This is exactly the kind of story I like most. It gives me all the fantasy escapism I love, lets it unfold in a unique way, and doesn't sacrifice attention to character development. Plus there's humor baked in (I mean come on, the goblin names alone crack me up).
I mentioned escapism above, and one of my favorite things is following characters from small regions as they explore the world, because I get to sit beside them and join in. And this is a really vibrant world, filled with culture and beautifully written. None of the worldbuilding feels like it's bashing me over the head, either. It comes out naturally and that keeps me in the story.
Also, Stump himself is incredibly likable. He's an outcast and an underdog, but he's also scrappy and smart. That was basically me as a kid (the outcast and underdog part at least... and maybe still is today). I find it easy to relate to him, and I love how he never gives up. What else can we do but just keep pushing on, even when things get tough?
And this is still just the beginning. I'm excited to see how the rest of the adventure turns out!
DarwinningRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This has quickly become one of my favorite stories on RR. A goblin trying to to the right thing and be kind in a world where many see kindness as too difficult. This story is a well written dive into a goblin MC that feels different from others like him. If you've read Shrubley, the monster adventurer, then you'll love this. Some similar flavors but written in a less goofy way.
Style - this story is very well written and descriptive without being too flowery. I find myself really immersed in the setting and the characters. It has some humor but still maintains its gravitas.
Story - The story sucked me in quickly. The first two arcs are great and the story overall is a refreshing take on the wholesome hero plot. The MC is beginning his journey to power, and there are hints that he may have something special about him without giving anything away yet to the reader. He is weak, but in a believable way.
Grammar - again, well written with no obvious mistakes or awkward word choices. I get the vibe this author could correctly use a semicolon. No complaints and a good example of the quality I'm finding more and more on recent RR releases
Character - the author manages to breathe life into his characters, even side characters; the interactions have depth and believability.
LudomentisRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I find that a well-written novel starts with well-written charecters. In this story the characters have multiple dimensions. They grow and change, and the world grows and changes with them.
The MC is a bit naive and ideallistic(there are several easter eggs that send us to Don Quixote) , but what else should he be at 7 years old? I appreciate that he uses his contrarian attitude to build, and not to destroy. To me, this story is about building a community.
The world building is complex and has interesting and realistic history. I paricularly enjoy the effects of language drift in the characters' vocabulary ("Jaessun, the emsee, the ohpee").
Many readers can relate to Stump's strugles. He was bullied in his tribe (some are very specific, like an ambush date with a popular chic), yet persevered in resisting his society's norms. Stump is a bit of a "frog in a well", and as he discovers greater world, we discover it with him. The changes wreaked on this fantasy world are reminiscent of "Mistborn". Stump grows through his discovery, becomes more daring and brave. It is a bit like a "Diary of Wimpy Kid" in a way, until the storm of Peaktree and death. I don't expect this story to be too tragic, but would like to see the character growing through his downfalls, not only his victories. This story is not about reincarnating as a monster, but about living a life as a person.
Wizardly DudeRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
Okay, I'll admit I was slightly biased going into this because I absolutely love goblin characters (TWI is my favorite written work of all time), but that also means I had very high expectations for the author. Thankfully, I'm happy to report that the author has more than lived up to my expectations, and has honestly taken goblin culture with his story to an entirely new level, and I am all for it!
Style: Huge fan of how we're witnessing the events and story from Stump's perspective. All the things Stump doesn't know, we don't know, and that means we get to learn about the world at large through him, which is always enjoyable. Third person as well, which is my personal preference for a story.
Story: Without any spoilers besides what's already in the blurb, we follow Stump's journey after being exiled from his tribe, and watch him make his way out in the world of the 'tall men'. In only a few chapters the author has managed to suck you into Stump's journey and the surprising twists and turns he encounters.
Grammar: Didn't notice a single mistake, flows very well.
Character: Our MC Stump is a well-written underdog that you can't help but root for, and the side characters all feel unique and colorful. I was a big fan of the descriptions for the goblin matrons and the clever way the author made each one stand out from one another.
All I have to say is if you're a fan of non-human MC's, this is absolutely a story you shouldn't pass up on. And if you're not a fan of them, maybe give it a shot anyway, it's good enough that it just might change your mind!
XimiraRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I started reading this novel because of the initial description of a mercenary company management story. But, as I read on, it turned out as a really well thought and well executed series of twists.
I may not be a avid consumer of novels, and it could be said that this is nothing new under the sun, but the concept of a world not saved, but ravaged by a reincarnated idiotic hero is who, in his indiscriminate pursuit of power without consequences, destroys a whole pantheon is new to me.
Also, the way these events seep into the world around is so funny. The mispronounciation of many english words and all the gamer jargon being used in a entire new religion who worships basically a plane walker without manners is a chef's kiss for me.
The main character also encompasses traits that I like a lot. Selfless heroes are my weakness when it comes to a hopeless world.
Overall, I really like the work being put in this novel and I really hope it succeeds in what the author have in mind since I want to see the next adventures of Stump and Co, aka The Nobodies. The little guy has spirit.
clemenciojRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
This story is very good, it deserves more recognition. That's why I'm giving this review.
If you're looking for a story where the main character has a slow growth in power, but little by little he lives stories and makes friends and allies in her adventures, this story is for you.
One of the most positive points is the characters in the story, all of them have a story, a goal and interact in a human way, unlike many stories on this site. I know I'll follow this story until the end and I wish the author success in continuing to publish this incredible adventure.
pissgastriqueRoyal Road
★★★★★ 5.0
I'm a sucker for a side story, I'll have you know. This one is a story thats so side that the generic isekai god fight happened a long time ago, and isnt that important. Sure the world is affected, but our hero is the little guy, and thats so far above his paygrade it doesnt bear thinking about.
The world feels unreal in a real way, like a natural evolution of what happens when the generic fantasy world has its whole cosmology deicided and then given a few decades to cobble something back together.
The characters work well. None of them are totall unique, but they're each a good read, and feel like a part of their world. The protagonist is a pansy with a secret spine, and, wonder of wonders, actual diplomatic ability. Hes not the generic OP arrogance (that guy came and went a long time ago and it didnt really help things much)
Read this one. Its good.