Chapter 33: Discovery

Several soldiers ran back and forth from the main tent, within the tent sat Derek Kel and the previous leader of the camp, Headmaster Lam.

Soldier 1: “Sir, the goblin mages are retreating.”

Soldier 2: “Reinforcements have arrived from the garrisons of Fort Bardock”

Adventurer: “Guild master Siz has arrived with help!” (Chapter 22 appearance)

Everyone, upon hearing the name Siz, looked up towards the tarp door. The guild master entered the tarp with a confident gaze, however, his face was serious.

Guildmaster Siz: “It would seem evidence leading to a nest of the goblins to be located here. I’m glad that you managed to hold strong here.”

Siz sat down in front of Derek Kel’s desk and gave a brief appreciative look at Derek and Lam.

Derek: “Guildmaster Siz, it was simply a mission that was to be done. Luckily for us, we managed to hold on. Here are the documents for the goblin scouts that we encountered.”

Derek handed over a couple pieces of paper with some decent artistic depiction of each goblin, mages, and the different variety of hobgoblins seen.

Siz looked over the papers and his face frowned.

Guildmaster Siz: “The fact that a hobgoblin can use enhancement magic is unheard of. They simply cannot learn magic at all…”

Derek Kel: “One of headmaster Lam tasted its fist personally. He said that the arms were like steel, an extension of a sword of the like.”

Siz closed his eyes and breathed in and breathed out.

Guildmaster Siz: “This is more serious than I thought. If this was simply the scouting party, then what of the king himself?”

Lam and Derek stayed quiet.

Guildmaster Siz: “I believe that the goblin holes that we found back near the town of Remilington, was a small summoning ground. These tunnels spread out from the underground. Unfortunately, wind magic can only travel so far from the caster… however the base idea of where these tunnels head to are within the forests.”

Derek Kel: “The scouting party had somehow hired the usage of dire wolves within the forest.”

Guildmaster Siz: “This is quite common, for the goblins are basically similar to humans only without the intelligence. Think of it like the kobolds and the dwarves… the kobolds can equally craft items but due to the materials that they could use, they are inferior.

Lam looked rather disappointed once Siz mentioned the comparison of humans to goblins but said nothing.

Lam: “Another thing to note, the goblins seem to have no fear when rushing at us. The only ones that had some personality or of some sort were the hobgoblins.”

Siz listened.

Guildmaster Siz: “No fear? Were there any indications of magical spells of some sort?”

Derek Kel looked at Regis who was sitting there quietly next to Derek.

Regis: “I did not sense any of the sorts.”

Guildmaster Siz looked at Regis and asked.

Siz: “Who might this gentleman be?”

Derek Kel: “A wizard sir.”

Guildmaster Siz’s eyes looked surprised for a moment before returning to normal.

Siz: “I apologize for not recognizing you.”

Regis: “It’s fine, many do not know the face of the wizards. The only identity we have are travelers within this world. Only revealed by the amount of magic that we hold… and perhaps if some were more observant. They may recognize my features albeit aged… however, to answer your question about any magical auras for the goblins. There was none unfortunately, I did not sense anything out of the ordinary of the goblins other than the fact that they showed no fear… but aggression.”

Siz: “Hmph… goblins are ruled by fear, death. For they are pure cowards in their hearts… the only reason why we humans can live in peace is that they fear death, are idiots, and are weaker than the average warrior. However, if fear is removed and they move as a horde…”

Regis: “...”

The leaders sat there silent.

Ben’s party was in the tent with Wilmot, who had woken up in a weakened state. Linzet by his side, giving him a slice of apple for him to eat.

Wilmot: *cough* “Th-thanks.”

Linzet simply smiled sweetly while Ben and Scarlett looked at these two with a blank look. Noticing the strange atmosphere, Wilmot looked at Ben and Scarlett.

Wilmot: “Linzet, told me the gist of the battle. However, are you all fine?”

Scarlett looked at Ben.

Ben: “Most of my wounds are healed up, but it’s still numb with pain for the moment.”

Scarlett: “My spear is broken, however, we manage to defeat the hobgoblin captain.”

Wilmot looked a bit sad.

Wilmot: “Well done, I’m sort of sad that I couldn’t be in this fight with you.”

Scarlett slightly frowned, however, Wilmot and Linzet didn’t notice.

Scarlett: “. . .” Ben notices her hesitation but continues to talk.

Ben: “The hobgoblin was tough. The guild master is here now, so I assume that we will be able to return to the town.”

Linzet: “I wonder if we get some kind of reward for this battle.”

Wilmot looked at Linzet.

Wilmot: “ Although, having the rewards is nice. At the very least we got out of this our lives for now.”

Ben: “The guild master and Derek Kel are currently talking about this situation, but I’m assuming we will have a public announcement soon.

Wilmot: “Ugh,” Wilmot held his head in pain. “That hobgoblin did a number on my head.”

Linzet looked worried, as she touched Wilmot’s head.

Soldier: “Everyone! Gather! Public announcement! Public Announcement! Everyone to the meeting!”

Scarlett: “ Time to go.”

Ben’s party joins the group of injured, fatigued soldiers and adventurers. Where their heads are turned towards, Guildmaster Siz in his leather patched jacket with plates of steel on his shoulders, and the lazy stance of a leader. Looked awe-inspiring to these common soldiers and adventurers alike.

“Guildmaster Siz is here.”

“Stories of his infamous martial flames have spread”

“I’ve heard that he once ax kicked an ogre in half!”

“I’ve heard that he destroyed a gigantic rock with one punch!”

As Siz stood at the platform silent, the crowd slowly quieted down. Only after the crowd had died down, did he step forth and address them in a semi-formal fashion.

Siz: “Everyone, I thank the people that held their grounds here. I understand that many were forced into this situation without much choice. Although you may have felt that your actions have gone unnoticed in this grand world, however, your actions here have allowed us to provide a proper response to this gigantic threat that looms across this very land.”

Siz looked behind him as a couple caravans of merchants, soldiers and adventurers alike joined the camp.

Siz smiled as he said this.

Siz: “Everyone, this will be a quest for both adventurers and soldiers alike. Report to your commanders for details, while all party leaders of their respective groups are to decide whether or not they should accept this quest. Everyone else that was here for the defense, report to the main tent for further briefing and relief.”

Guildmaster Siz stepped down from the platform and entered the main tent, while the crowd of people quickly dispersed. Seeing that the meeting is over, Ben looked over at Scarlet and Linzet.

Scarlett: “I suppose we can see what the guild master has to say.”

Ben and Linzet nodded.

Lam: “I believe this is what remains of my squad… and some unfortunate travelers.”

Lam looked sad as he searched for familiar faces. Derek Kel simply nodded as he checked over his own. Siz looked over at the group of people that stands before him.

Siz: “For everyone present, all the soldiers here have the option to return home. Each soldier will receive an extended stipend as well as hazard pay, for this scenario was much more dire than usual. As for the adventurers you have the choice of staying for the next mission in this forest or leaving. All adventurers that had missions in this forest are considered to be completed and will be paid accordingly. The mission here will be open to all adventurers, however, the difficulty of this mission is unranked, therefore proceed with caution, this will be open to all ranks available for combat, due to the lack of human resources that we have. Also for this horde battle, you will be paid according to your badge’s count on kills. Any questions?”

Someone in leather armor and a buckler raises their hand. Siz nodded for the person to give a question.

“When will the mission for this forest be posted?”

Siz looked at the adventurer.

Siz: “The mission for the forest will be posted within a day, as we have just sent scouts and established camp. At that time we will investigate and provide a fairer evaluation of the danger levels of this mission.”

After the meeting has ended, with everyone getting the prospective gold, Ben’s party approaches.

Derek’s eyes lit up.

Derek Kel: “Ben, this one is Ben the one who took down the Silver Hobgoblin.”

Siz looked at Ben once more.

Siz: “... You seem familiar.”

Ben: “We met at the hobgoblin caves before.”

Siz: “Ah right, well… apparently, you managed to slay a Silver hobgoblin whom I’ve heard could form fist of steel, and use magic to enhance itself.”

Ben: “Well, I had help.”

Scarlett nodded at Ben’s response and input her own response to Ben’s short answer.

Scarlett: “Although Ben had some help, he still held out and fought most of the battle against this monster.” As Scarlett said this she turned to Ben with an affirmative gaze.

Siz: “The monster’s abilities were not normal… goblins and hobgoblins are not known to possess such powerful enhancement abilities.”

Regis: “Unfortunately, that is what happened today in front of our own eyes. Its entire body was full of black inked tattoos, its powers are unknown, however, I feel that the answer to this would be to kill the goblin king.”

Siz: “Wizard Regis, may I request a favor of your intellect?”

Regis looked at Siz for a moment, then back at everyone else inside the tent. As Regis looked around the tent, Siz's eyes narrowed, and raised his hands to send off everyone. Yet, he tells Derek to stay.

Before Ben left the tent. Regis’ voice rang out. It was both eerie and with a more base tone.

Regis: “Ben… you stay as well".

Siz, Derek, and Scarlett’s eyes widened at this request. Ben nodded and looked at Scarlett as he returned back into the tent. Scarlett hesitated for a moment until she decided to move out of the tent as if nothing had happened.

Regis looked at Ben with a distant gaze. Siz looked at Regis with questions while Derek Kel only looked at the strange spectacle of including an ordinary adventurer. Much less a poor ranked C.

Regis: “Ben… I believe that you once more have a choice. For I see an aura.

As Regis said the word aura. The entire tent glowed in a bright brown color, and transparent glass-like material appeared. As it appeared the sound of horses whining and people's common chatter, slowly dissipated into the thin air, as if the world had gone silent for this brief moment.

Regis: “Ben… you hold a power, related to the Saviors.”