"How is this, bro? What should we do?" Elise asked.
"Let’s just go back to the city. Lynn, head back to the city first and inform the city guards and the Adventurer’s Guild. We’ll follow shortly," Al instructed.
"Mm!" Lynn nodded.
Following the order, Lynn quickly ran back to the city. The old man with a sprained ankle was carried by Al during the journey.
After a few minutes, we finally arrived at the city gate.
"You all! Are you okay? Earlier, an elf girl ca and reported a goblin attack," asked Gatekeeper 1.
"Yes, that’s right. This man is one of the victims," Al replied.
We rested the man at the city’s post. Afterward, we headed directly to the Adventurer’s Guild.
When we arrived, chaos was already unfolding.
"There they are," said Lynn, who was speaking with Nadya.
"Are you all alright?" Nadya asked.
"Yes, we’re fine," Al replied.
"Can you explain what happened?" Nadya asked again.
We recounted what had occurred earlier. After retelling the events, the commotion in the guild escalated.
"Everyone!"
A firm and commanding voice silenced the uproar in the Adventurer’s Guild lobby. It was Hektor, the guild master of this city’s Adventurers’ Guild.
"Can you explain the situation again?" Hektor asked.
"..."
"Hmm, the situation is quite critical... Has Ray’s group returned yet?" Hektor inquired.
"Not yet, chief. They haven’t returned," Nadya replied.
"Are there any Rank C adventurers here?" Hektor asked the crowd.
Upon hearing his question, the room fell silent, so much so that one could hear their heartbeat.
"No one, huh. How many people are here?" Hektor asked.
"If I’m not mistaken, there are fewer than 30 of us," Nadya answered.
"I see. Alright, everyone, listen up! Today, you are assigned an ergency quest: exterminating the goblins. They may only be Rank E monsters, but do not underestimate them—they are intelligent. Prepare yourselves!" Hektor commanded.
"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.
Half an hour passed, and we headed to the city gate. The guild master and several city guards stayed behind to secure the gate in case any goblins managed to sneak through. The rest were led by Al’s group.
"Everyone! If we leave alive, we must return alive as well. So don’t die! Rember, once you finish your part, assist the other groups!" Al shouted.
"Yaa!!" everyone shouted back.
"Luna, can you cast a protection spell on us?" Al asked.
"Alright," Luna replied.
With that, we entered the forest where the goblins were located. Each group would take on a goblin squad of 7–9 mbers. We had six groups, including Al’s. After finalizing the plan, each group moved to their assigned positions. On Al’s signal, they all moved out.
I stayed with Al’s group to target the leader. When we arrived, there were still 23 goblins left.
"Damn! There are still so many of them," Al cursed.
"What should we do, Al?" Kyle asked.
"I don’t know either," Al replied.
"..."
"I have a plan," I said.
"What do you an, Luna?"
"I have a solution. Can you handle one goblin squad?"
"Yes, we should be able to," Al answered.
"Good. You handle one squad; leave the rest to ."
"I know you’re strong, but are you sure, Luna?" Al asked.
"Just hold them off if you can’t defeat them. I’ll co to help imdiately."
"Alright, then."
After agreeing, we started our assault. Elise and Phina lured so of the goblins away from their group. Seeing them, the goblins naturally pursued. From the sides, Al and Kyle ambushed, catching the goblins off guard. Phina and Elise launched their magic from the front, while Lynn, positioned in a tree, shot arrows directly at their heads.
The remaining goblins at the back tried to advance to help, but a wall of earth suddenly blocked their path. From the side, Luna erged, holding her crescent-shaped magic staff.
"You won’t get past this point," Luna declared.
She chanted a spell, and two magic circles appeared on her left and right. From them erged two large lions, 1.5 ters tall, their bodies radiating electricity.
"Attack!" Luna ordered.
The lions charged toward the goblins. Luna didn’t just stand idle; she fought alongside her summoned beasts, taking down the goblins one by one.
When Luna was left behind by her lions that surged forward, she suddenly sensed an attack from behind. Reflexively, she turned and deflected the strike.
CLANG
The attack ca from a goblin larger than the others, roughly the size of an adult man. He wore armor and wielded a sword superior to the others’. He was undoubtedly their leader, the Goblin Leader.
The Goblin Leader was shocked when Luna managed to block his surprise attack and withstand his strength.
"If you think I’m just a weak mage, you’re sorely mistaken," Luna said.
Luna pushed the Goblin Leader back several ters. Regaining his stance, he seed to shout sothing incomprehensible. Monts later, arrows from four different directions flew toward Luna’s head. However, the arrows stopped 30 cm away, halted by an invisible barrier.
Two fireballs followed, aid at Luna, but they too exploded harmlessly against the unseen shield.
Luna retaliated with an ice spear that pierced through the trees and struck the hidden goblin archers. Their screams echoed through the forest.
The two goblin shamans who had cast the fireballs were defeated by Luna’s "Fire Pillar" spell. A magic circle appeared beneath their feet, and towering flas engulfed them, leaving their bodies charred.
Seeing the unfavorable situation, the Goblin Leader attempted to flee. But as he turned and took his first step, he fell to the ground, his legs ensnared by thorny vines that erged from the earth—Luna’s Thorny Vines spell.
Approaching the fallen leader, Luna cast Wind Cutter, severing his head and the ground beneath him. With their leader dead, Luna quickly returned to Al and the others.
When I arrived, Elise and the others were sitting on the ground, exhausted. It seed they had successfully defeated the goblins.
"Are you all alright?" Luna asked.
"Yeah... we’re... fine," Phina replied.
"They’re just drained of mana," Lynn added.
"I’m glad you’re all okay," Luna said.
[At the City Gate of Barqa, Half an Hour Earlier]
"Chief! I heard what happened from Nadya and rushed here," said a man.
"Good. Since you’re here, Ray, I want you to catch up with the others in the forest imdiately," Hector ordered.
"Understood! We’ll head there right away," Ray replied.
Ray, who had just arrived with his team, was imdiately sent to follow the others into the forest.
[Outside the Forest]
"Ray, look!" said one mber.
"Isn’t that magic?" asked another mber.
Two massive fire pillars were visible rising high into the sky from within the forest.
"Let’s hurry, everyone!" Ray commanded.
[Inside the Forest]
After entering the forest, Ray and his team encountered the adventurers one by one. So were injured, but none were in life-threatening condition. They continued deeper into the forest until they found Al’s group resting.
"Are you the one in charge here?" Ray asked.
"Ah, Ray—"
"No need to stand; you can talk while resting," said Ray.
"Yeah... the chief asked to lead since no one else of higher rank was available," Al replied.
(I recall soone in their group is at least Rank C. Could it be because of this woman?) Ray thought, glancing at Luna.
"Did your group handle the situation here?" Ray asked.
"Yes, we took care of it," Al responded.
"Ray, over here!" one of Ray’s team mbers called out.
Ray walked over to the spot his teammate indicated, just a few ters from Al’s group. On the ground lay goblin corpses, so showing signs of magic, but most bore claw marks.
(Was there another monster besides the goblins? Maybe wolves or a bear?)
"Ray! Over here, too!" another teammate called.
Ray approached and found two charred bodies burnt beyond recognition.
(Is this the result of the fire pillars we saw?)
Ray also discovered the decapitated body of the Goblin Leader.
"Gather all the corpses near Al’s group!" Ray ordered.
"Yes, sir!"
Returning to Al’s group, Ray saw Al and Kyle standing again after resting.
"Were there any monsters besides goblins, like wolves or bears?" Ray asked.
"Not that I know of. Luna, did you encounter any other monsters?" Al asked.
"No, I didn’t," Luna replied.
"Why do you ask, Ray?"
"The traces of battle here are different from those over there, as if they were from two separate fights," Ray explained.
"Oh, that! This spot was handled by and the others, while Luna dealt with the rest by herself," Al answered.
Hearing this, Ray was visibly surprised, his eyebrows furrowing as he looked at Luna.
(This woman... She did it alone? Fighting that many goblins and even a Goblin Leader?)
"Miss Luna, could you explain the claw marks on the goblins?" Ray asked.
"Of course," Luna replied calmly.
From the forest erged two massive lions, running toward them. Seeing this, Ray and the others, including Al and Kyle, imdiately prepared for battle. However, the lions stopped beside Luna, who gently stroked their heads.
"They’re the ones who caused the claw marks," Luna explained.
(Thundering Lions?! Why are they here? Wait... they’re her summoned creatures?!)
Everyone was stunned. Though Luna reassured them that the lions wouldn’t harm them, it took so ti before the group lowered their weapons. They watched in disbelief as the fierce lions nuzzled Luna like house cats.
"What about the two burnt corpses?" Ray asked.
"I used the Fire Pillar spell on them. They were goblin shamans," Luna replied.
(What?! She killed goblin shamans with a single spell? Even Rank C mages wouldn’t be able to do that with a third-tier spell.)
"And the Goblin Leader?" Ray inquired further.
"I decapitated him with Wind Cutter," Luna answered.
"..."
"Thank you for answering my questions. From here on, the chief has entrusted everything to . You can head back to the city and rest. Don’t worry about the report; I’ll handle it," Ray said.
Hearing this, Luna and the others returned to the city. They rested at the inn, had dinner together, and ended their day.
[Hours Earlier in the Adventurer’s Guild Chief’s Office]
"Chief, who is she? Why did you ask to keep an eye on her since yesterday?" Ray asked.
"What’s your impression of her after observing her?" Hector replied.
"She’s... truly mysterious. I couldn’t learn much, but she seems kind. With the girls, she acts like an older sister caring for her siblings. When I used Identify on her, I got no results. Yesterday, she didn’t showcase her strength and only acted as an overseer. Today, when we arrived at the scene, the battle was already over. But one thing is certain: she tad two Thundering Lions, Rank A beasts. Strangely, both are only Level 60, while Rank A monsters are usually over Level 150," Ray explained.
"Level 60, you say?" Hector asked.
"Yes, I’m certain of it," Ray replied.
"Not doubting you, but..." Hector said, pulling a book from his shelf and handing it to Ray.
"What’s this, Chief?"
"This is a relic from the Hero of the Chaos Era. It contains information about various types of magic from that ti, including Summoning. Look at the section about summoned creatures’ strength," Hector said.
"’The lowest strength of a summoned creature is one-tenth of the summoner’s level.’ Wait! If they’re Level 60, that ans..."
"Yes... She’s around Level 600," Hector added.
"No way!" Ray exclaid.
"It’s just an estimate. We don’t know for sure," Hector said.
"..."
"You noticed the difference between her and the elf girl, didn’t you?" Hector asked.
"Of course. Luna has shorter ears, while the other has longer ones. Why?" Ray asked.
Hector showed Ray another part of a book about elves and their ancestors, the High Elves.
"!"
"She’s a High Elf?!" Ray shouted.
"If she’s an elven noble, why is she in the human realm?" Ray added.
"According to Al’s group, she’s looking for soone nad Rimaria Oberyth," Hector replied.
"Oberyth? As in that Oberyth?"
"Of course. Who else would dare claim that na?"
"..."
"Why is she looking for her?" Ray asked.
"She says it’s her sister, whom she hasn’t seen in a long ti," Hector replied.
"..."
"Whatever the case, keep watching her from a distance. Just make sure to stay on her good side. That’s all," Hector concluded.
"Understood, Chief! I’ll take my leave," Ray said.
[The Next Morning]
The next day, we woke up as usual and headed downstairs for breakfast, our last al together before I left for the capital. After breakfast, they escorted to the city’s eastern gate, where many carriages awaited to travel to the capital.
I thought Phina would be the saddest, but it turned out to be Elise, who cried her heart out in my embrace. Of course, Phina and Lynn also cried, so I ended up hugging all three of them as onlookers watched. When they cald down, they let go of .
"Big Sister Luna, don’t forget us, okay? Stay safe!" Phina said.
"Yes, thank you for guiding us these past three days. I won’t forget our ti together," Elise added.
"We owe you our lives," Kyle said.
"Let’s go shopping together again soday!" Lynn chid in.
"I’ll be stronger when we et again," Al declared.
"I’ll never forget you. Stay safe, all of you. If you feel indebted, repay it by becoming stronger. If you ever visit the capital and see , don’t hesitate to say hello," Luna said.
"Okay, big sister!" "We will, Luna!" everyone replied.
After bidding farewell, I boarded the carriage and set off for the capital.
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