Chapter 242.4

Volume 3: Chapter 242 – The Dark Hand Released (4/4)

Those under the Goblin King wouldn’t think about it so seriously . To the goblin warriors, it was enough to obey the king . They didn’t care about strategies or objectives . So long as the king wished for it, the goblins will would put down their lives and fight . That was their strength, but at the same time, it was also their weakness .

The only ones actually thinking were Pale and some of the elves .

Even Gi Za Zakuend and the others were liable to think of nothing but how to defeat the king’s enemies . It was true that if they kept defeating their enemies, they would eventually run out of enemies in the great continent, but new enemies were sure to sprung up immediately .

Conquer, govern, rule .

The only ones who thought about such things were the king and his aides .

But that very king has been wavering recently .

Pale always served beside him, so she could tell that the reason for the war has changed . Until now, the objective of the king’s war was to secure land for the demihumans and the goblins . But now they have conquered the south and vanquished Germion Kingdom, which is the greatest enemy of the demihumans and the goblins .

If one were to put it in a rather extreme sense, they have already acquired a territory that could equal the humans .

And if they included even the Forest of Darkness, then the territory they covered already amounted to one-fifth of the world . There was no human country that owned this much land . And neither was there a country that had an army bigger than theirs . As such, they already had more than enough land if the objective was merely to live on .

Pale believed they were at a crossroad .

“Your Majesty, are you truly planning on conquering the continent?”

The battle will likely be long and painful . Moreover, it will not be a battle to contend someone, but a battle to scatter the enemies and acquire territories out of greed . Yes, a battle of conquest done out of greed just like a human’s .

“But of course . It is inevitable . ”

The king turned to Pale and looked at her with his blood-red eyes .

“I have to stand at the frontlines to lead the many races to war . ”

The goblins were still fine . So long as they knew that the king wished for it, they would – without hesitation – take the initiative to throw themselves into the fray . But the humans, the demihumans, and the elves were different . For instead of tales of war and doom and gloom, would they not yearn more for a peaceful life?

Because of that the goblins will have to take the lead in battle more and more from here on out . It was also curious if the king could give a reason that could convince the demihumans and the humans to keep on fighting .

“The humans number many . That is true even for those under our rule . A trend that is sure to become more prominent from now on . Do you have a reason that could make them obey, understand, and throw themselves into the flames of war?”

“A reason? …To take back what was taken from me . Is that not enough?”

Pale remained expressionless as she bowed and replied .

“No . That is indeed enough, Your Majesty . It is a relief to hear your reply . ”

“But still,” Pale said without breaking her cold mask . “It really makes one curious just what kind of person could charm Your Majesty so . ”

“…”

As the king silently turned away from her gaze, Pale smiled a bittersweet smile in her mind, while keeping her face as cold as ever .

“I shall send a proclamation to the army . They are to march east to rescue the king’s beloved . ”

“…Are you making fun of me?”

“No . I’m dead serious . ”

For a moment, a monster and a person stared at each other . The one to break the staring contest was none other than the king .

“What do you want?”

“Time . Only a little . I know Your Majesty wishes to attack the east, but we are not ready . Gi Gi-dono being able to buy time was within our expectations, but Gi Ga-dono’s loss was not . ”

Seeing Pale bow her head so solemnly, the king had no choice but to sigh and give permission .

◆◇◆

When one speaks of a ‘hand of darkness’, the general understanding is that one is pertaining to a killer or an assassin . Of the clans, the ones who engaged in such jobs include the Shadow of the New Moon and the Dagger of Webrus . The number of assassins these clans have could be 50 or 100, but the exact number is unknown .

Trying to find out the exact figure is of course the same thing as asking to be killed .

The Valkyria Clan used their connections to gather these assassins and gradually slip them through the Kushain Believers as merchants . Mixed in with those were those who had received the original mission of causing a disturbance .

Finding the whereabouts of these people after slipping them in was no easy task . Since these people didn’t know who was out to get them, they will never look or expect reinforcements .

But despite that they will be sure to get the job done . As for why, that’s because of their personal circumstances .

Vengeance for a close friend . Salvation for a beloved’s debt . Pursuit of honor . There were many reasons . Whatever the reasons may be, Far was there to watch them as they left .

These were people that she would likely not meet again .

She did not have any obligations to watch them leave, but her conscience would not let her off .

It wasn’t as if the goblins wouldn’t attack them just because these people did not cause a disturbance, but try as they might to prevent a leak, nothing was certain in this world .

As the end of the month of Sheep approached, and the season when the tips of the branches grew was about to leave, a wind blew . It carried with it yet some heat, but already there was a sign in it of the winter to come .

Approximately one month later, at the end of the month of Moruki, word of the goblins moving came . Soon after Far gave the orders for her Valkyria to mobilize .