Chapter 293

I left the house and rushed to where Adlus was. Daniela went to go get Manager. It was difficult walking in the raging blizzard, even if it was just a straight line. The snow was so thick in the air that it was hard to see the house next to you. And yet the goblin was walking towards us. It was hard to believe.

I walked from one house to the next until I reached the one Adlus was in. And then I knocked on the door. One of the scouts came out to greet me. Perhaps they were having a meeting. She was a woman with short hair, and looked very surprised when I told her about what I had just seen.

“There’s a goblin headed straight for us in this blizzard. It’s clearly no ordinary goblin. I want to discuss it with Adlus, so us Rubies can deal with it. Will you tell the others?”

“Leave it to me!”

“Tell them to stay inside!”

I added as I stepped in. I hadn’t walked more than fifty meters, and yet I was covered in snow. I brushed it off and walked to the back. There were several other scouts there as well.

“What is it?”

Adlus looked surprised as he began to stand up. A map was spread out on the table in front of him. I raised a hand for him to stay.

“I think something bad is going to happen.”

“Let’s hear it.”

And so I gave him a quick report of what I had seen. And also showed him the picture I had drawn.

“This is terrible…”

“Shut up.”

“So? You said that you saw it. How?”

It was something I kept secret, but I decided to tell Adlus. We came here together. We were linked in a way. A common destiny, perhaps.

“With these ‘Eyes.’”

“You…”

“It’s called ‘Eyes of the God Wolf.’ It allows me to see things that are far away, regardless of obstacles.”

“…To think that you had such a hidden skill…”

“Not so hidden now.”

“Indeed. So that’s how you had all directions covered.”

Adlus thought back on the battle during the day and nodded with satisfaction.

“But it’s really tiring to use. However, we’re in a horrible blizzard. I had to use it if I wanted to relax enough to sleep.”

“And it is thanks to that that we are warned. Alright, let’s get everything straight.”

Adlus looked towards the map and made a suggestion. I nodded.

“This goblin that you saw. It’s likely a High Red Goblin… A unique one.”

“A unique High Red? I thought maybe the High Red was unique…”

That was what Daniela had seemed to suggest. It had made sense to me…

“Ah, High Reds are not particularly rare. When a goblin has fought long and hard and has been soaked in so much blood, it is able to evolve. And in this wide world, that can happen often enough.”

“I see.”

“But as High Reds are larger threats, they are actively hunted down by humans. Regardless, there is one big difference between High Reds and the goblin that you described.”

“Which is?”

“High Reds don’t use greatswords.”

I gulped.

“You see, High Reds are especially vicious because of the great hunger that they feel. They are always hungry. And so when they find their prey, they kill and eat it immediately. There is no intelligence to be found in such creatures. They don’t need swords. Their claws and fangs are enough.”

“So, that goblin…”

“It is a unique mutant…”

That made me think of other words.

“An abnormally evolved being…”

Perhaps Adlus had been thinking of the same thing. He nodded.

“This is bad…”

“What’s bad?”

I turned around to see two women brushing off snow from their clothes. It was Daniela and Manager.

“Daniela. The High Red I told you about. Apparently, it’s not an ‘ordinary’ High Red.”

After that, we shared the conclusion that Adlus and I had reached. Daniela nodded as if she agreed with us. Manager folded her arms, deep in thought. Adlus stared at the map.

“Adlus. We do not have much time.”

“Very well.”

Daniela urged him and they began to talk. Manager also joined in, as did I.

“Asagi, where is his position now?”

“Wait a second.”

I looked at the map on the table and then activated Eyes of the God Wolf. I saw that it was about two kilometers from the north side of the village. And just like before, it moved steadily through the snow.

“Here.”

“Hmm… Still some distance. I would like to fight it without doing any damage to the village.”

“Or anyone getting killed.”

“That will be difficult if it is only us. Someone will get hurt.”

“And so I have an idea.”

This was Adlus’s plan.

I would be the main one fighting. Manager would assist me. And Daniela and Adlus would support us from a distance. Adlus would deal with the snow and Daniela the wind. Manager would use her shadow magic to take it by surprise when she could. I would attack it from head-on. It sounded simple, but would be difficult to pull off.

“I will turn the snow into water and control it. Just in a small area.”

“And I will define that area. My wind magic will silence this blizzard. The spirits will help me.”

“As for the night’s shadows, that’s my job. I will harass it with surprise attacks. You can do a lot with shadow magic.”

“Which means I’m the meathead. I see what you’re doing.”

Everyone made use of their unique abilities while I swung a sword around. It’s true, I had Jack of all Trades, Master of None, but no showy magic! Still, it made one just a little bitter.

“What are you talking about? You are the most important.”

“…Meaning?”

“Listen. Adlus and I are eliminating all of your obstacles. You will be free. Do you understand?”

“I guess…”

“And Rindo will cover everything in shadows. Understand?”

“Yeah…”

Daniela paused for a few seconds and then pointed at me.

“The light that shines in the shadows. That is what you are.”

“????”

“People are frightened of the dark. And all it takes is one ray of light to cause them to run towards it with gratitude. You are that ray of light. You are the hope that shines in the darkness! Do you understand?”

“Uh, um…”

Daniela was usually the quiet type, but she was raising her voice in an attempt to rouse me.

“You are our last home in this desperate situation. We are like the world that you shine down on.”

“W-world…?”

Her analogy was expanding. Still, I understood that she was cheering me on. It was very clear. And so my eagerness was at an all-time high. I thought I could do it. It didn’t matter what enemy I faced. I would crush it into the ground. My body felt warm. Almost hot. Yes. I didn’t even need these winter clothes anymore!

“Alright, leave it to me! I’ll kill that thing!”

“That is the spirit!”

“ARRRGGGHHH!!!”

I pulled the Velnoir out of the hollow bag and marched towards the door. The others quickly prepared to leave as well. What was taking them so long? I’m going on ahead!

“He is very simple-minded…”

“Well, that’s why he’s the meathead.”

“But he was always like that, you know?”