Chapter 82

VOLUME 2: CHAPTER 82 – BEGIN

Status

RaceGoblinLevel1ClassKing; RulerPossessed SkillsRuler of the Demon Children of Chaos; Defiant Soul; World Devouring Howl; Swordsmanship A-; Dominator; King’s Soul; Ruler’s Wisdom III; Household of the Gods; One-Eyed Snake’s Evil Eye; The King's Dance at the Edge of Death; Magic Manipulation; Soul of the Berserk King; Third Impact (The Third Chant); Instinct; Blessing of the Underworld GoddessDivine ProtectionGoddess of the Underworld (Altesia)AttributesDarkness; DeathSubordinate BeastsHigh Kobold Hasu (Lv1); Gastra (Lv20); Cynthia (Lv20); Orc King Bui (Lv40)Abnormal StatusBlessing of the One-Eyed Snake; Protection of the Twin-Headed Snake

I can’t stop sweating.

That monster was just too scary. I hit it with my sword, but instead of cutting its arm, I just ended up numbing my own. I shiver at the thought of that monster still running around in the dark.

“Are you alright, Wyatt?”

The Herculean Wyatt, renowned for his skill with the shield, but even he could not fully defend against the relentless sword of the monster. They managed to run away with the help of the White Hand of Life’s magic, but it was doubtful the same trick would work twice.

A simple magic that flashed a great light to blind the enemy, forcing the monster to close its eyes and retreat.

“I’m fine, but… I don’t want to fight that thing again,” Wyatt scowled.

Vitz nodded. “Bellan’s sword broke too.”

“To think my sword would actually crack in one hit, I still have much to learn.” Bellan’s countenance as he ran while watching the back was grim. So grim, in fact, that one could tell even in the darkness. But that was only a given, after all all the confidence he had built up to this day was in one fell swoop crushed.

“I wonder if Fick managed to safely run,” Vitz asked.

“Let’s pray he did,” the White Hand of Life said.

Talking among themselves as they ran, they made way for the village where Gulland was. Their only hopes for winning was to surround the monster and overwhelm it with their numbers, forcefully exhausting its strength until it is too weak to resist.

For some reason, however, Vitz could not imagine that monster kneeling.

◇◆◆

The night was coming to an end. A faint light could be seen extending from the eastern sky, and the forest was there to greet it.

I chased after that big man from awhile ago and attacked a couple of camps along the way, but by the third and fourth camp, it became apparent that the humans were taking refuge somewhere.

But where?

There were roughly 20 humans in the first camp. The rest of the camps I’ve seen until now seemed to be about the same size as the first one. If so, then taking into consideration the number I’ve killed, it should be a place able to accommodate at least 40 humans.

Could they be at the village? Or perhaps the lake to the north?

Calm down. I need to think. Where would the humans hold themselves up? That watery area the lizard men frequented? Or perhaps they would prefer the village with its houses fit for humans?

But why would they retreat anyway? Did they realize they were under attack? If they did, then there’s someone with a good head among them.

I’ve been running all this time, but it seems I’ll have to gather my thoughts first.

The humans are at the village, and there’s not much time. If the humans are gathering, then they must be doing so with a plan in mind. They could be retreating, but they could also be gearing up for another attack. Alternatively, they could be strengthening the village’s defense instead. In any case, I have to hurry.

If they retreat, I will pursue.

If they attack, I will stop them.

And if they try to strengthen the village defenses, I will attack before they finish.

It’s often said that time is gold. And tonight there isn’t a proverb more fitting, for it is exactly time that will decide the goblins’ fate and mine.

◇◇◆

“Hmph, not too shabby,” Gulland snorted as he watched men on horses going to and fro the cleared road.

Gowen’s subordinates had skillfully readied the carriage, while also managing to quickly contact the fief.

“It’s proof of the feudal lord’s excellent planning. Now, we just need to pass the forest, as the feudal lord’s true army is waiting for us on the other side.”

Gowen was truly remarkable. He not only managed to quickly ready the armored carriage, which Gulland, Mill, Reshia, and Lili would be riding, but he also managed to have the army station themselves by the forest’s exit, and have the escorts of the saint patrol the cleared road.

“Now be a good girl, and go in the carriage,” Gulland said to Reshia as he urged her in.

Then he turned to Mill. “Make sure you properly protect the saint, alright?”

“You don’t need to tell me,” Mill spat, and Gulland haughtily laughed.

“You know how to drive a carriage, right?” Gulland asked Lili.

“I can,” she replied.

“Then drive this thing. I’ll write you a recommendation to the guild once we get out of the forest.”

As a holy knight and an adventurer, Gulland’s letter of recommendation was priceless.

Lili noted Reshia’s downcast face, but she still nodded. She was worried about her, of course, as she understood how Reshia felt, but this concerned her future too, so in the end, she found herself in a dilemma.

As a knight who has sworn herself for the saint, she wanted to know what Reshia wanted. If Reshia decided to sacrifice all that she had in the human world to live here in the forest, then Lili would stake her life to battle Gulland and Gowen. She would do so even if Mill were to try and fight her.

But when she thought about it, Reshia only lived alongside the goblins because they kidnapped her. She did not come here on her own volition. This simple fact became the seed for Lili’s doubt.

Not to mention that the one ordering her was none other than the holy knight and adventurer, Gulland. A man renowned throughout the country. It was not easy to go against his orders.

In the end, Lili decided to ask Reshia herself. Though she did so with a gaze.

—Are you fine with this?

But she could not read anything from Reshia’s downcast countenance.

“It’s time. Make sure to hold those reins tight,” Gulland said.

But just as Lili was about to urge the horse to go, a soldier’s scream resounded.

“—Enemy attack!!”

When Lili turned around, what she saw were none other than Gi Gi and Gi Ga, one riding on a Triple-Head and the other riding on a black tiger.

◇◆◆

After seeing Gene passing through the circular green light, Gi Gi and the young chieftain, Hal, took a long detour and headed for the village. To their fortune, they did not meet any humans along the way and were able to near the village without having to fight a holy knight.

They saw a great number of humans when they sneaked about to scout the village. They also noted the horses among them, though this would be their first time seeing one.

Gi Gi was surprised at how much the forest had changed. The trees had been cut down, and roads were made in their place, upon which humans traversed on the backs of those mysterious four-legged beasts.

They were not completely clueless, however, as they have heard stories regarding the humans, so they knew that what the humans were doing must be that so-called ‘Horse Riding’. Then as the noble class, Gi Gi, looked around, he saw the treasure of the king, Reshia. He also saw the female swordsman who battled Gi Ga. And he saw the both of them being pushed into this mysterious box.

He did not understand what was going on.

But he knew full well that the humans had committed an unforgivable crime.

They had stolen the treasure of the king.

“Lord Hal, let us begin.” Wielding his axe in his hands, Gi Gi turned to the young chieftain beside him.

“I am somewhat concerned that the king is not here, but yes… We should begin,” the young chieftain, Hal, said.

Gi Gi shook his head. “They have stolen the king’s treasure. That is an unforgivable crime!”

Nodding, Hal ordered the iron legs of Paradua behind him to mount their beasts.

“Great warriors of Paradua! Rejoice! For tonight we carry the king’s honor on the tip of our spears!”

As they ferociously brandished their spears, they charged into the village toward the patrolling horsemen.

“Onwards!!”

And so, with Hal and Gi Gi at the lead, the curtains upon the human-goblin war were drawn.