Chapter 15 Hero and the City of Magicians (4)
While raising a noise similar to scratching claws on a blackboard, monsters with earth-coloured skin ca at while raising their weapons.
Goblin. The monster I have fought the most in this world. Inside the deep forest, their repulsiveness beca more prominent and gave you goosebumps just by rushing towards you.
The Forest of Magical Energy.
Its the place where I ca yesterday to collect spirit grass. I had been attacked by goblins that ti too but this ti the situation is a bit more troubleso.
After all, there’s still more?, they are coming in numbers that’d make you think like that. Spare from this. I think like that but the Goblins co at while I’m sighing.
Today also, the elf with whom I ford a party is not in visible range. Probably he’s hiding above a tree or sothing. I have this image of being able to aim easier from higher places with a bow i guess.
While thinking that, I rotated the knife in my hands.
[They’re coming.]
“I know.”
Without any kind of strategy, the goblin charged at head-on.
I turned away that attack with the iron knife in my right hand and the long sword being held by the goblin stabbed into the ground.
As it panicked to pull it out, I trampled on it with my feet and slashed with my knife. I couldn’t cut it apart completely but since it had torn open its flesh, blood began gushing out.
The bloodspray dirtied my mantle as the goblin collapsed in front of . But, the goblins showed no hesitation even after seeing its own kind fall like that. Another one charged at from behind while screaming.
“There’s quite a lot of ’em.”
This was the 6th one. As I turned back, the 7th goblin died after getting shot in the head by an arrow.
As it fell down while running, it stopped near my feet. I doubt there’s any need to deal another blow to it, its definitely dead. While confirming its death with a glance, I turned towards the 8th and the 9th one.
I didn’t even look towards the place where my comrade who had fired the arrow was at. Words of gratitude, etc, all will distractions in this situation.
I simply cut and my comrade shoots.
[They’re still coming——it really feels like there’s just an infinite number of them.]
“Anything but that.”
Swinging the knife in empty air, I got rid of the blood sticking to it. It’s sharpness has begun to fall. The edge is chipped as well. It won’t be able to take any more attacks. I clicked my tongue at that.
Well, it was ridiculous to fight monsters with just an iron knife in the first place.
Thinking that, I decided to borrow the long sword that goblin was using before I killed it.
As I pulled out the sword from the ground, I felt like my balance would crumble due to the difference in weight of it.
Since I had been using only an iron knife recently, using a different weapon suddenly becos all the more difficult. It’s been a long ti since i felt such a weight in my hands.
“I’m not good with heavy ones, really.”
[Wanna switch to using ?]
I decided to refrain from that. It would be one thing if I didn’t have any weapon at all but if I am not lacking of weapons, I want to avoid using Ernhilde. Also, if i unsheathed the GodSlaying weapon, my identity would also be revealed. That’d be troubleso.
If it was an extrely dangerous situation, I would have no choice but I should be fine for now.
“With a proper sword, I should be able to take care of re Goblins. Probably.”
[The Elf archer is there as well after all.]
“Yeah.”
At the sa ti as I answered that, i swung the longsword towards the 2 goblins coming towards . I used only one hand to attack but the slash was sharper than I expected and cut the through the shoulder of the one running towards till its chest. But due to lack of strength, I was unable to cut through completely and my sword remained stuck in its body.
“tch.”
The remaining one goblin swung its rusted axe at in the anti.
It was aid at my face but before it could reach, I kicked at its body faster. The leather boots crushed its flesh and the sensation of crushing sothing hard ca through my feet.
Faster than I could feel discomfort from that sensation, the goblin I had kicked bent forward and vomited.
Not letting that chance get away, I forcefully pulled out the long sword and struck it at its neck.
“fuu.”
[That was slightly dangerous.]
“That wasn’t just ‘slightly’ dangerous dammit.”
Throwing away the bloodstained longsword, I transferred the iron knife to my right hand again.
As expected, this was easier to use. But, sothing even lighter yet longer weapon would be more easier to use though.
While thinking that, I breathed a huge sigh. I’m tired. Both physically and ntally. This endless fight is making feel really anxious. If this goes on, I could only expect things to get worse.
Deep forest, thick vegetation. Even the sacredness I felt the last ti from the hundreds of years old trees was now getting swallowed by this dark ominous forest.
Suddenly, once again the bushes swayed unnaturally. As expected, once again goblins appeared from it. And they’re even ard. And there’s four of them……My sigh beca deeper.
But one of them died suddenly by getting hit by an arrow to its head. The remaining goblins showed signs of unrest montarily due to that and in that ti, one more died from another arrow.
How many exactly have we killed till now?
While I was thinking that, the remaining two faced towards .
“So they still aren’t running away?”
[And that’s really weird.]
Ernhilde said that. I, and even the Elf archer are probably thinking the sa.
It’s weird. Even if they’re just goblins, they should have realized the difference in strength after seeing so many of their comrades getting killed. In the first place, these wild goblins should be more sensitive in that aspect as compared to humans.
But even so, there’s no signs of them wanting to run away.
I ended up clicking my tongue. I don’t have infinite stamina here. Even if I get an infinite number of weapons, the user is only a slightly skilled human. I’m not sure how many arrows does the Elf still have either. While I was thinking that, one of the goblins coming towards died after getting shot at the heart with an arrow.
“With this–”
I threw the rusted axe lying near my feet towards the goblin.
Both the aim and strength of that throw was half hearted and the axe was deflected by the goblin.
In that mont, the iron knife, which was the actual attack, stabbed into its face. It stood stock still for a mont then soon fell to its knees.
The annoying sound that had been resounding till now, the sound of weapons, all disappeared. It was silence that could hurt the ears.
Even after around 15 secs passed, more of them didn’t co. I finally breathed in relief.
[It’s over, eh?]
“…….Thank god.”
[Oh c’mon—you could’ve fought even more if you use .]
“This much is my limit realy.”
I shrugged my shoulders. Ah, I’m really tired.
I looked at the goblin corpses lying around and began to count them. 12. I tilted my head due to the fact that the number didn’t match to what I had been counting while fighting.
Was I unable to completely kill so? While I was thinking that, the Elf guy ca down from the sky. Well, I guess he really was sniping from so tree branch.
“Are you really a human?”(elf)
“Well, I’m not an Elf atleast.”(renji)
Replying that to the sudden words, I pulled out the iron knife sticking in the goblin’s head.
While thinking about the fact that the number of corpses didn’t match, i swung the knife once to remove the blood remaining on it.
Goblin. They were one of the major and most common of the monsters on the Imnesia continent but…..
“Wasn’t their numbers a bit too much?”
[That’s true.]
eting monsters when going into the grasslands for herb collecting isn’t rare. Since we went into the Forest of Magical Energy this ti, the encounter rate would be even higher.
That much wasn’t really surprising but this ti, their numbers were really too big.
It’d wouldn’t be unreasonable if this was a cave or a Goblin dwelling but this number wasn’t sothing one should face inside this kind of forest.
Even I am pretty used to travelling and journeying. I make sure not to get too close to places that might be a place where monsters would gather. I wasn’t even cautious since we were near the entrance of the forest. When the battle had begun, I was sure that it’d end pretty quickly.
Sure, Goblins tend to flock together. That habit is what makes Goblins more difficult than usual but even so!
And they seed to be even filled with excessive bloodlust as well. Even if we had smaller numbers, it was still ridiculous to attack us directly from the front. Even the fact that they kept on coming even after seeing so many of their comrades killed was weird in my opinion. Their actions were different from what a goblin would usually take.
Any sane person, if they had bigger numbers, would first surround us then weaken us before going for the kill.
But even so, these goblins didn’t even make use of the terrain inside the forest and charged at us head-on blindly. That’s why, I was confused.
Maybe Ernhilde also felt sothing, its voice was low.
Feeling the sacredness of the forest getting tainted by the sll of blood, my mood worsened.
“Are you fine?”
“Yeah, no problems. You seem fine as well.”
“I’m so tired I feel like crying though. I’ve had enough of monster subjugation for so ti now.”
As i shrugged my shoulders I sighed.
I think I also heard fed-up sigh coming from my pocket as well.
“Your personality is really hard to understand.”
“Isn’t it the opposite. I simply hate trouble and want to live in peace.”
[Work seriously.]
Am I not working seriously? After all, didn’t I co to this forest to collect spirit grass?? Though I don’t really feel like doing that request anymore. I’m really tired. I want to go back and sleep.
But still, to think that we’d get attacked by goblins again when we both decided to go gather herbs together.
“It seems we have so kind of fate with the goblins.”
“Well, it’s not sothing good to have.”
He laughed a little.
I rember getting a request to subjugate goblins during the first ti as well.
And this ti as well, we were attacked by goblins. There really might so kind of fate.
With Goblins.
…….It’s really an ill-fate to have. I want to work more safely.
“Weren’t the goblins just now, weird?”
“Hmm….true, I felt that they were more bloodthirsty than usual.”
Putting a finger on that well-shaped face, the elf closed his eyes as if thinking sothing.
He might have sothing to think about this. The fact that he isn’t saying it out loud ans that I’m still not trusted well enough.
Without really minding that, I kneeled near the goblin corpse nearby.
[It’s just a normal corpse. I can’t feel any kind of special magical energy from it.]
“Thought so.”
I checked through the corpse while keeping my knife unsheathed but there wasn’t anything unusual about it.
If Ernhilde didn’t feel anything strange, then there really isn’t anything to it. Well, both and Ernhilde aren’t really familiar with magical energy though.
I could think of various possibilities but all had very low chance to be true. The Demon Lord or the demons could manipulate monsters but they don’t co out of their continent, Abenelm, normally. Now that the Demon God has been killed, the chances should be even lesser.
The sensation of blood on my fingers wasn’t really pleasant but it was usual stuff for . I rubbed my fingers with the blood but there was still no change.
Am I overthinking this?
It really might be just a swarm of goblins.
“Well it’s no use investigating it without knowing anything, I guess.”
“That’s true. Also, if there was a change in the monsters in the forest, then we elves would have noticed.”
“I guess that’s true as well.”
Elves should be more sensitive to such things than . Especially if its sothing inside the forest. Cutting out the proof of subjugation from the goblin, I put the knife in its sheath and breathed a sigh.
As the scent of blood stuck into my nose, I ended up grimacing. I have gotten used to the scent of blood but that doesn’t an I’ll start liking it.
Also, my iron knife has also gone bad. I guess, sharpening it alone wouldn’t cut it anymore.
After returning to the Magic City, I should see if there’s a better weapon available sowhere.
……Though Ernhilde would start sulking again if I do so.
“It’d be tiring to fight any more goblins. Let’s quickly gather the herbs and return.”
“Yeah, let’s.”
Even the Elf would want to avoid tainting the forest with monster blood.
Well, they don’t seem to forgive the existence of monsters inside the forest either.
While thinking that, I began walking.
[This isn’t interesting.]
As if I care.
Rather than that, I brought out the mo from my pocket.
It’s the mo which has the request written on it. In the client’s na part, Aya’s na is written. It’s details involved collecting herbs together with her. The rewards was 50 copper coins. It’s an extra-ordinary amount.
“What, did you have another request accepted alongside this?”(elf)
“Sothing like that.”
A few days have passed since then. The reward amount has been steadily increasing.
She should be getting impatient by now. It’s fun just imagining it.
“….You’re making a disgusting face.”
“I was born with it. Leave alone.”
I guess I should go and et her already.
Just as Ernhilde had said back then, the reward for just herb gathering would probably really beco 1 gold coin.
A gold coin. That’s way above a child’s pocket money. Well, one way or the other, she is also a hero of the country. She should be having gold coins unlike . But if I actually made Aya do that while teasing her, how would others look at if they knew about it….?
Well, they’d probably realize that I was just playing around. I’ll still get scolded though.
[Seriously—-Are you really that afraid of eting them?]
“Haa~h”
I answered Ernhilde’s words with a sigh. As usual, this one is straight to the point.
The fact that I was unable to refute it, was it because it was correct or because there was the elf beside ?
Without knowing that, I could only sigh and continue into the forest.
[It has only been an year. Your bonds won’t disappear in just that much ti.]
Inside my pocket, I traced the dal with my finger.
As usual my partner is straightforward. I lightly patted it.
If the Elf was not beside right now…..how would I have answered it back?
Well, whatever. I would know the answer when I et Souichi and the others.
The case with the goblins, was it just our bad luck? It was slightly worrying but it shouldn’t concern in any case. I have no intention to thrust my neck into more trouble and its the job of brave protagonists to solve such things. I’m not one.
I explained myself. I did but—
“It’d be nice if nothing really happens.”
“—?”
I really think it’d be nice if nothing happens.
I hate trouble. I have been involved in way too much already after coming to this world already after all.
……now that the world is saved, I just want to live in peace.
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