Thinking back to the last ti I saw a goblin or kobold, I could only rember them as simple-minded monsters, reminding how they were usually the first enemies you would fight in video gas. They were treated as training dummies for beginners to ease them into the gas fighting system.
When I first ca to Peolynca, my opinion on kobolds were pretty much like training dummies, if you ignored how I almost died against them twice, but my outlook on them has changed ever since. From what I heard from fellow adventurers gossiping over so curry or beer, most new hunters specifically young, inexperienced mbers joining due to their fantasies of monster hunting reminisced how badly their first Quests were if they involved goblins or kobolds. So even stated they lost so partners from a goblin ambush.
Goblins and kobolds were grimgarians, a kind of demi-human. They were a mix of monsters and humanoids, aning they possessed a simple intelligence even if they were mostly feral after being born from a monster spawning. They were able to use weapon and craft armor while having the cunning to ambush with traps and poisoned weapons poison which primarily ca from their flower gathering.
I learned from my ti in the Belzac mountains, where I was reborn in this world, of how kobolds could act if they werent trying to turn into dinner. They celebrated over a successful hunt and partied with each other. It humanized them for .
However, it also made wary of them. With the potential to beco as shrewd as a garm or dragon, plus the power of evolution, there was a chance of a formidable goblin or kobold lord appearing. At the very least, goblins and kobolds who are able to prove how dangerous they truly were certainly existed.
Hobgoblin
A greater goblin, fortunate enough to have built up a strong body to use for battles. They are still simple in mind, but their base strength and endurance are higher than a humans. Rank E
Echikobold
A greater kobold, showing potential to beco master tars. While their overall strength and endurance have not increased, their intelligence and deftness are far more advanced than a normal kobold. Echikobolds are never alone, either more are nearby or a pack of tad monsters will shadow their master. Rank E
There were a few F rank goblins and kobolds among this horde, but the majority were evolved grimgarians. The hobgoblins looked like they were almost human-sized, making them look like lankier and less savage-looking versions of orcs. The echikobolds had their dog faces replaced with a wolf-like face, with wild fur imitating human hair or a lions mane; fortunately, they werent much taller than a normal kobold.
Gruuu, an echikobold, positioned in front of the rest of the horde, raised his bow while on his warg and aid at the fleeing mage girl. Even from this distance, I could feel the confidence in its action, contrary to the more cowardly G and F rank kobolds.
Faster, parallel minds!
Saori hadnt completely subrged in her shadow yet, nor would Tasiannas ice daggers hit him in ti. The green-haired magician girl carrying Roosterhead wasnt walking very fast, probably due to having to carry her armored companion despite only being a mage. She was an easy target for a competent archer!
Lightning Bolt! The elent type with the fastest attacks, even faster than wind spells, was definitely [Lightning Magic], although the casting ti was a bit longer. A purple magic circle appeared before my hand as I stared down my arm, aiming at the moving kobold.
And I fired.
The roar of thunder echoed through the forest. A bright purple beam shot through the trees, piercing through the air, before striking the head of the warg the echikobold was riding on. With the loud cry of a pained wolf, the warg fell face down, tumbling like a ragdoll across the ground.
The kobold, having lost its mount, was launched off the wargs saddle. Surprised, it let go of the bowstring, releasing the arrow before it could be pulled back fully. Unfortunately, the arrow didnt hit the ground, but rather still managed to pierce the girls leg.
Kyaaargh! she scread out, dropping the unconscious Roosterhead on the ground as she fell on her knees. She clutched her leg in pain, before looking back and seeing the imminent danger she was in. Hiiiiiieeeeee! H-HEIIIIILP!!!
Her shrieking was filled with fear and hysteria, perfectly showing how consud with terror she was. But with a cry of help, cos also the helping hand.
Saori sprang out of her shadow, whispered sothing calming to the girl before grabbing her around the waist and the red-haired boys arm and swinging it over her shoulder. She then dived into her shadow, just in ti to dodge more incoming arrows, which t nothing but the ground.
Tasianna, lets do it! I shouted, having already constructed an air rifle using [Aerokinesis]. I loaded the gun barrel with small earth pellets, filled with a small amount of my scale-dust. Compared to my normal bombs, these little guys still produced an explosion, but were significantly smaller in size in order to prevent forest fires and such. I shall deny my destiny of burning down every forest I enter with this invention!
Yes, my Lady! Icicle Gust! Tasianna, with her fully repaired catalyst, shot out not only her ice daggers but also the spell [Icicle Gust] at the stampeding horde of grimgarians. At the sa ti, the sound of exploding winds could be heard from as I shot out each pellet with [Wind Blast].
Guuuuraggh!!
Shariyk! Gurrraaagahhh!
Gizamp! Gizampa run!
Including the first echikobold, the front row of warg riders was buffeted by our ranged attacks, falling down after receiving one or two hits. Noticing the danger, the kobolds in the mid and rear end of the horde began to swerve to the sides, using the trees as protection from our shots.
Hey, you two, help out! I called out to Cernust and Antonio who were standing still, not moving.
Tch! I apologize for reacting slowly! Bornelli, we ride! Antonio quickly mounted his hippogryph and was about to ride into the battle before ordering Cernust. You, drake, stand and protect my sister! If you dare run away, I will make sure to hunt you down with an army next ti!
I thought Antonio seed to have llowed down a bit after hearing what happened with Cernust and Severa, but it still seems like he couldnt trust him fully yet. Cernust seed to think the sa, You cant order around! I am an adventurer from a different country, I do what I will! If you cant trust , then stay back and defend Severa! As if I can allow Lady Hestia and the ladies to handle everything while Im here!
Imbecile! You are slower than my Bornelli! You will be made a fool against these warg riders, so allow a Knight of the White Talon order to handle this! Accept the situation, for I can aid the Lady Shrine Maiden better! Antonio replied with an equally prideful statent.
What the hell are they doing? I wondered, flabbergasted.
That was when Saori jumped out of the shadows with the rescued adventurers. Lady Hestia, she needs treatnt. You, whatever you do, do not leave my Ladys side, alright? You will be safe here.
With a trembling voice, the girl nodded and said, O-Ok. Saori then turned to Cernust and Antonio, who were still arguing at this point. You two! What are you doing arguing on the battlefield?! You two should be ashad for acting like this when you are facing the enemy! Start moving and participate; Lady Hestia and Tasianna are proficient enough to defend everybody else here! With that harsh criticism, Saori dove back into her shadow and reappeared from the shadow of a tree, taking down a hobgoblin rider and summoning her three garms.
Whrooooooooooh!
Hunt them down! Saori commanded the now collared garms, each moving in different directions to challenge a warg. Whether it was due to being the superior version of their race or sothing else, the wargs seed to hesitate as they saw the garms appear, panicking even, as they seed to not listen to their riders. It was even more evident when none of them wanted to even get close to Saori, the pack leader.
You two, leave this to ! I reassured the two worried n. Do not underestimate or my friends! To demonstrate, I produced multiple magic circles at once and shot them out at so targets.
A-Alright, thank you, Lady Shrine Maiden. Bornelli, we ride! Antonio shouted, which was reciprocated by a loud shriek of an eagle.
Please, Lady Hestia, Cernust simply said, before charging into the fight while commanding the trees to stop blocking Tasiannas attacks.
With Saori, Cernust, and Antonio joining the offensive on the east side, I told Tasianna to start shooting the enemies on the west. I put down my rifle, ordered my parallel minds to use [Detection Sensor] to shoot spells in my stead while I treated the arrow in the girls leg. I had to make sure it wasnt poisoned.
Eiiiiieeek! she cried out through clenched teeth, tears flowed down her face, as I pulled the arrow out of her leg. From a closer inspection, her blue robes were tattered and had signs of dirt and blood, mostly on the shoulder area. She didnt have any wounds there, though.
Please, hang on, I told her before readying a spell. With the information I heard from adventurers, I slled the arrowhead, noticing a putrid stench only shit and urine could produce. The arrow was poisoned, it needed to be purged! This is my custom spell, so please dont be alard. Itll get rid of the venom and heal your wounds. Sanctified Blaze.
Since she was a mage, she should understand what I just said. I placed a white magic circle on her skin, which imdiately produced white flas which entered her wound. She scread out in surprise but I held her down and told her to calm down, ntioning the fire was a custom spell.
As my spell was treating her leg wound and the many scratches across her body, I could hear Tasianna tell that the horde was retreating. Through my [Detection Sensor], I confird her statent as multiple signals were moving away from where we were standing. Even if they were a small army, getting ambushed like this would dissuade anybody from continuing the charge.
I asked Tasianna to apply so ice on the patients leg once I dispelled [Sanctified Blaze], now that we were out of danger.
T-Thank you very much, Lady Priestess, the green-haired girl told . U-Uhm, I know, this might be very rude to ask of you after what happened, but I beg you in the Goddess na, please save Leif!
It took a while for to rember her, but it didnt take a second for her to realize who I was. I guess I left an impression. I nodded, telling her the past wasnt very important when life was in danger, causing her face to brighten up.
Using [Mana Eyes], I checked on Roosterhead. His profile was not worth ntioning, since it was probably the norm for an F or E rank adventurer. On the other hand, his Health was dropping from [Bleeding (Minor)] and [Poisoned (Minor)], and his Stamina was zero. What happened to them, I couldnt help but wonder.
I identified the blood spots on Roosterheads clothes, each sliced open with so blade or sothing, and was bleeding quite a bit. I quickly applied [Sanctified Blaze] to handle any wounds I missed and used [Major Heal] on the ones I could see. During this treatnt, my ears picked up his strained breathing.
The armor!
Brigandine armor, what I originally thought of as leather armor but Saori later inford of its real na. I wouldnt be surprise if the armor was the cause of his troubled breathing, seeing as how tight it looked. I called Tasianna over to help pull it off him. We first unequipped his brigandine, then the chainmail underneath it, and lastly the gambeson. Layering armor to improve defenses seed to be smarter than what fantasy gas do, where your character could usually wear only one layer.
I pulled up his shirt to reveal his bare stomach and chest, where I noticed my flas healing an area quite aggressively. It was a large purple spot, probably caused by blunt trauma. Were his ribs broken? Regardless, nothing [Major Heal] couldnt handle now that I knew what was causing his breathing problem.
With his body now healed, I pulled his shirt down again and let him rest until he woke up. That was when Cernust, Antonio, and Saori returned. Saori spoke up first, Uno, Song, and Sarasa are handling the clean-up of any stragglers or survivors. Each of them leveled up once. Saori was showing a rather pleased smile, probably happy to see her garms getting stronger.
Or, shes just happy that our at stock got another refill. Goblin at, kobold at? Bit stinky, but edible with spices.
Was this forest always a goblin and kobold lair? Antonio complained, short in breath.
Not at all. That grizzly shouldnt even be here, since this is an F rank monster-infested area. No way would the adventurer guild mark it as such when hobgoblins and echikobolds walk around, making it unsafe for gatherers or newbie hunters, Cernust explained, showing he had done his research before coming here.
I agree, I said in support of his statent since I had been here before with Ellaine. The last ti I ventured here, there were only animal-level monsters. Skorrs, loopabits, fowls. Nothing that would pose such a problem.
They retreated, no? Severa chid in, looking anxious as she looked where the warg riders fled to. W-We should go, yes? I-I trust in your strength Cernust, and in your party, Lady Hestia, but I do not wish to be here when they co back to retaliate.
She speaks the truth. It would be safer if we left the forest for now to assess the situation, Antonio agreed to his sisters suggestion. Even with Lady Shrine Maidens white grace, we still have two exhausted, injured adventurers and Severa is a non-combatant. Let us not risk anything.
Saori nodded. It is getting dark, anyways. We should not be fighting in the dark without knowing the full strength of the enemy.
As everybody agreed it would be wise to leave the forest for now before night ca, we were about to move but the green-haired girl stopped us. Please, dont leave! Mister Raian, Wulf, and Verdiena were captured by those monsters!
Who? I turned around to the frantic mage girl.
Lady Priestess, I-I dont know if you still rember us, but they are part of our party. She pointed at Roosterhead and then back to her. She then bowed her head, prostrating before . Please, please, save them. By the Goddess, I beg of you! I-I still rember what Miss lia said about your high level, so please, you should be able to do it! Please!
She was obviously asking to do sothing about her missing party mbers, but I had no idea what she was talking about with her voice nearly breaking under stress. I held up my hand and told her to calm down first, Hold on, breathe in, breathe out. What are you saying exactly?
Her na was Lucia, a mage working at the hunters guild. She and her party recently took on a Quest to hunt down so kobolds sighted in this forest by so adventurers. Once they arrived, they managed to find an echikobold riding a warg commanding a hunting group of kobolds and goblins. They successfully took down all the goblins and kobolds, but the echikobold escaped.
Leif and Wulf wanted to pursue it since it was part of the Quest. Mister Raian and Verdiena, on the other hand, thought it would be dangerous, but eventually agreed that we had to scout out if there was a camp nearby, Lucia explained.
Hmm, yeah, sounds fishy when goblins and kobolds work together. Kobolds can be cooperative when desperate, but goblins are just slimy, little shits filled with hatred and jealousy. They would never ally up with other goblin tribes or grimgarian races, except when they are being dominated by stronger beings, Cernust added.
Grimgarian? Severa tilted her head, just like Antonio and Lucia. Didnt they know what the race na of kobolds and goblins were?
Ahh, I forgot, you humans dont call them like that. Forget what I said. Just continue, but Im guessing that your little scouting trip didnt end too well, Cernust urged Lucia to continue.
Looking as if she was about to tear up again, she endured and continued, speaking as fast as she could while making it understandable. A cave; the tracks led into a cave. M-Mister Raian made sure we understood what we had to do before we entered the cave, making sure we had the preparations the guild would suggest before entering a cave. W-We prepared for only a few more goblins or kobolds maybe so wargs, too but-but there were too many.
The horde we saw just now was just a fraction of an army hidden inside a cave. Wargs, a grizzly, and other tad monsters. Hobgoblins, echikobolds, and orcs were roaming inside that place, all ard with iron or steel weapons and armor. It was like a war camp.
Has the grimgarian army co? I thought as I looked at Saori and Tasianna, sharing my thoughts as they nodded.
They found us. Mister Raian sacrificed himself to allow us to escape, but then Wulf and Verdiena got separated from us. Leif and I sohow made it outside. We tried to hide, but Leif lost consciousness from the bleeding, which was enough for the wargs to find us. I-Im only here because I heard that loud roar, and I was desperate enough for any help I could get. Even if it was from a giant monster.
With all the roaring Cernust and I did, I guess being loud has its perks.
If that horde was only a hunting party, then this might be more problematic for Greenveil than I thought. We should leave and report this to Lord Marquess Sirus imdiately, Antonio suggested after hearing all that.
W-Wha-?! Lucia trembled.
Brother?! Severa turned around, not understanding what her brother was saying.
Severa, dont be naive. This is an army we are talking about, and we are only a pitiful number. We will also need to fight inside a cave, and hippogryphs will never, ever enter a place they cannot escape from. Are you suggesting we throw our lives away, even the life of a holy servant of the Goddess? Antonio replied with a pretty convincing argunt from a realistic standpoint. Also, I might be a knight, but I am a knight of the Lecartiglio Duchy. This is an issue the Greenveil duchy must tackle themselves, including asking for reinforcents.
I dont know what to think about that last statent, but the bright, heroic knight in shining armor image I had of him was slowly dying.
Saori? I turned to Saori, since I knew she would complain if I said anything without consulting her. My fight with her inside the Belzac Forest was still vivid to .
Hestia, you know what I think about this. I really do not want us to get into this much danger. Even the one we had in Rashan Village was a bit too much for , Saori sighed loudly. If those adventurers were not inside the cave, then I would say it should be easy enough for you to detonate and destroy the cave with your bombs and spells, but we need to enter and rescue them it would require stealth.
Yes, Tasianna nodded. Lady Hestia, your power ans nothing if you were to cause a cave-in while we are fighting inside the cave. You would need to reinforce the walls and ground again, but the last ti you did this, it was inside a dwarven ruin. The stone might have withered through ti, but their craftsmanship was indisputable still. We cannot say the sa for a normal cave.
So, you two suggest we should give this up? I asked, hesitating a bit since they were clearly pointing out their disagreent with the plan. Lucia looked like the world was ending.
Hestia, please, do not give that look. I do not want to have the sa argunt with you again that we had with the lizardn. I didnt say anything in Rashan Village, since it was my fault for being so excited and taking that Quest in the first place, but this one? This is a request we should deny for our safety. She then activated [Telepathy]. [Do you rember those mana cannons? If those trolls had them, then this group might have so, too. We saw what an army with those could do to a certain B rank wyvern.]
Just the ntion of those [Warhamr Mana Cannon]s made shiver a bit. I barely blocked the projectile and it shredded my arms to the point I couldnt use them. Thankfully, I was able to heal them with my magic, so I was spared from becoming a cripple. Saori was right
Also, its a cave I hate caves. No sun.
Please, Lucia begged once more. I know this is selfish, b-but you should be able to do sothing, right? Advanced elents, level 80, and the guidance of the Goddess. Please, I dont want to lose them all.
I could hear the other three whisper Level 80?! but I ignored that for the mont.
While I could sympathize with her, helping her would an either I go in alone or endanger Saori and Tasianna. In either case, it was simply impossible. I would worry them with the forr and I would feel bad with the latter. There was no winning in this situation. I an, in the first place, we dont even know if her companions were alive.
This was a conundrum, and I was about to rip my hair out as I didnt know how to answer Lucia. I wasnt a hero, but I know the right thing to do was to help her. However, I dont want to worry my friends who are vehently against taking large risks like these. What am I to do? What am I to do?
You know, Lady Hestia? As I was working out this inner dilemma, Cernust poked my shoulder. You know, a Kargryxmor wouldnt be thinking this long on an issue, you know? The black tyrant doesnt exactly care for whatever is standing before him, only that it needs to go. Its not my place to say as a descendant of Kurnistus, since we are supposed to be passive and peaceful and all that, but, you know, maybe its ti to burn stuff?
Cernust, you dont exactly understand what my problem is, but it isnt about fighting or not fighting. We dont know what they-
Hold on, hold on, hold on! Burn sothing, Saori interrupted , looking as if she had the idea of the century. Lady Hestia, tell , can you make a hole as silently as possible? Drilling a hole through stone quietly, I an.
Huh? Uhm, I dont think I can do that without tearing pieces of the mountain down with spells, but maybe that might be too loud. Oh, [Rumbling Might] can cause a minor earthquake, I threw out ideas at Saoris question.
Cernust then stepped in. I am not the best digger, but I have claws adapted to digging. I can probably tear through rock if its weakened first, but I havent leveled up my Earth magic that high yet. My [Floral Magic] is my specialty.
Saori nodded before a smile appeared on her face. She then looked at , Lady Hestia, do you want to help Lucia? I still do not approve of this, but I think I have a plan where we could get rid of the unknown factors and threat of ambush inside a cave.
I nodded.
She then turned to Lucia, We will do our best.
I have no idea what she thought off, but she is more or less the brains of the party. It probably will work hopefully.
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