Chapter 12 - The Goblin King and Regret
We walked along the perimeter, searching for a place where we could peer over the stone wall or get a view of the buildings inside, but we couldn't find a good spot. A single goblin stood atop a watchtower. I couldn't tell if it had noticed us, but it remained perfectly still.
We were a third of the way through our circuit. Nothing had changed.
Fam walked ahead while I followed behind. Just as I was beginning to think we'd finish our scouting with nothing to show for it, Fam stopped.
"I can see a large tree trunk deep inside," she said. "If we climb it, we might be able to see what's going on."
"Let's check it out."
From within the forest, the canopy of leaves obscured our view of the top.
The trunk was so thick it would take four or five people with outstretched arms to encircle it.
"It's certainly tall, but it doesn't look climbable."
"I agree."
There were no handholds or footholds. Even if we forced our way up, we'd never get back down.
"Let's keep moving."
Giving up, we pressed on. Just then, I saw something leap out from the farm's stone wall. It seemed Fam had noticed it too.
The shadow dove into the wheat field, and the stalks began to rustle as it sped toward us like a torpedo. Five trails in total. They were still a good distance away, but they were closing in fast. They weren't goblins.
"Monsters are coming! We'll intercept them in the forest!"
"Right!"
We readied our weapons and waited for them to burst out of the field.
I unleashed my stone magic at the first enemy that emerged. A direct hit would be a perfect counter, and should deal significant damage.
"Yelp!" It was a wolf. A stone projectile found its mark, and the creature cried out in pain.
We charged the wolves as they emerged one after another from the field.
My thrust was dodged, but Fam landed a clean hit. The wolf, however, didn't go down.
We were surrounded by four of them. The one I had damaged with my spell was already getting back on its feet.
The wolves darted freely through the forest, running circles around us. They used the tree trunks to launch themselves into the air, turning the fight into an aerial battle. Fam managed to hold her own, but the trees kept getting in my way, preventing me from swinging my sword properly. Worse, the soft ground, covered in fallen leaves, made it difficult to get a firm footing.
I was forced completely on the defensive.
Fam, on the other hand, moved through the forest with ease. Her light weight made her less susceptible to the poor footing. She quickly learned from the wolves' tactics, using the trees for cover, and began to employ the same strategy herself.
She took one down.
It seemed my best bet was to focus on defense and support Fam. Seeing me fortify my guard, one of the wolves scrambled up a tree trunk and leaped at me from above. At the same time, another came at me from the front.
"Tch!"
I managed to protect my head, but I took the frontal attack. The wolf's fangs pierced my leather breastplate but stopped there, saving me from a fatal blow. I twisted my blade and managed to slash the wolf's neck, but it didn't seem to faze it.
"Master, I want to use a Mibu-Rō skill. I need to get out into the field."
"What? You learned a new skill?"
"Yes, I leveled up during the last fight."
Now that we'd been discovered, there was no point in hiding. The open field would give me room to swing my sword, which was a plus. We wouldn't have to deal with their unorthodox attacks either. But it also meant the wolves could hide in the wheat.
"We have no choice. Alright, let's head for the field!"
Fam was our main source of damage right now. It was better to trust her judgment.
We burst out of the forest. The wolves were immediately on our heels.
Fam held her knives in a cross guard. A faint light flickered in her eyes.
"[Kikuichimonji]!"
As Fam swung her knives, a blade of vacuum shot forth and sliced through the wolves. Two of them vanished instantly.
I thrust my sword into another one that leaped out at me, finishing it off.
But the last wolf dove back into the wheat field and disappeared.
"Watch the movement of the wheat carefully."
"It's alright. I know where it is. Over there."
Fam could pinpoint its location by sound and smell. I launched a stone spell at the spot she pointed to, and the wolf leaped out. Fam pounced, swiftly finishing it off with her blades.
She retrieved the magic seed and returned.
"Fam... you've gotten strong. You're clearly stronger than me now."
"Th-thank you."
She bowed shyly. She must have had a natural talent for it. Her dog-kin ears and nose, her light and agile movements, and the synergy with her chosen profession all played a part. My experience-boosting skill had helped her level up, too. It was hard to believe she'd been on the verge of death from illness.
"When we get back to town, I was planning to check out your chest and then take you by force. But it doesn't look like force is going to work anymore."
"Um, I'm not sure how to respond to a confession like that. I'd prefer it if you were gentle with me."
Fam didn't seem to be taking my words seriously. It was a joke, but... it was about ninety percent serious.
"We've exposed ourselves in the field. The enemy knows we're here. There's no point in going back into the forest now."
We'd been flushed out. This was no longer a stealth reconnaissance mission. I didn't want them siccing more wolves on us. But this also told me something. If they'd confirmed they had flushed us out with the wolves, they should have sent reinforcements. The fact that they hadn't meant they either thought we were weak, or they didn't have the manpower to spare.
"I think we should regroup with Aidan. I don't know what his situation is, but since we're okay, he should be too."
"What's the plan?"
"We're switching to reconnaissance in force. We'll cut across the field to the other side. On the way, we'll get as close to the buildings as we can, and I'll hit the goblin in the watchtower with magic. A little parting gift. It'd be nice if I could take it down, but I'm not focused on the result."
Fam nodded.
"I want you to follow me, but keep some distance. And watch the buildings closely for any signs of activity."
I swapped my katana for a one-handed sword and shield.
"One last thing. If something happens to me, I want you to prioritize regrouping with Aidan."
"I cannot agree to that, but... I understand."
We both had more to say, but there was no point in arguing. I put our plan into action.
I started by heading through the wheat field toward the buildings.
As I got closer, the goblin in the watchtower came into clear view. The little bastard was looking down on me. I started banging my shield with the pommel of my sword.
"Hey! You idiots! Stop hiding and come on out!"
I let out a strange cry, hoping to make the ones inside curious enough to look outside. I banged my shield. Shouting felt good. I even let out a wild 'Hya-ha!' for good measure.
While doing this, I approached the gate built into the stone wall.
The goblin in the watchtower started shooting arrows at me. More arrows flew from over the gate.
I launched a stone spell at the watchtower goblin. The projectile arced through the air, hitting the goblin, who hadn't anticipated its trajectory. As it groaned in pain, I sent a fireball its way for good measure. It hit the goblin square in the face, scorching its skin. It let out a shriek and fell from the tower.
That was probably enough.
I turned and ran from the buildings, cutting across the wheat field. Fam was following properly behind me. Arrows were shot at us, but there was no counterattack from outside the walls.
Just as I thought, there weren't many of them. The first goblin, and then the wolves, were probably just meant to scout us out and drive us away. They likely hadn't intended to fight. Seeing our small numbers, the enemy must have misjudged and thought they could win.
I continued on, banging my shield and shouting Aidan's name.
As soon as we crossed the wheat field and entered the forest, Aidan appeared.
"Are you an idiot?!"
He bellowed at me. It was another side of the calm, stoic man I hadn't seen before. I was satisfied.
"Master is an idiot."
Even Fam was calling me out.
"The situation changed," I explained, telling him how we'd been discovered and had switched to a reconnaissance in force.
"Hmm."
Aidan nodded, lost in thought.
"I think there were at least five of them shooting arrows. There seem to be others. Also..."
"Go on," Aidan prompted as Fam hesitated.
"...There are people alive in there. Probably. I'm not confident. I think they heard Master's strange cries. I think it was a voice calling for help."
"I see..."
Aidan took a hammer out of his 'Workshop' and slung it over his shoulder.
"What are you going to do?"
I asked him.
"I'm charging in. While I create a distraction, you two cut across the wheat field and get back to the road. Head for the city."
"Can you win?"
"I don't know. But if there are people alive in there, I have to go save them. There can't be more than twenty of them."
Twenty was a lot. Fam was looking at me silently. Feelings aside, she must have known how reckless it was. It seemed she was leaving the decision to me.
"Alright. I'm going too. I'll do my best not to get in the way. If things get hairy, I'm running."
"I appreciate it. I'm counting on you."
Aidan nodded. Fam didn't seem to have any objections to this choice either.
"Also, Aidan, there's something I have to tell you."
"What is it?"
"You're a pretty big idiot yourself."
The sun was beginning to set. Fighting at night would be impossible. We had to hurry.
Once again, we made our way through the wheat field.
We reached the front of the gate and stood just at the edge of the arrows' range. A goblin lookout was on the watchtower. It didn't have any burn marks; it was a different one from the one I'd scorched with my fire magic.
Aidan fired an arrow at the goblin on the tower. Return fire began from inside the stone wall.
Switching from his bow to his hammer, Aidan started running toward the gate. A battle aura rose from his back. He swung the hammer at the gate.
"My Divine Blessing, Siege!"
A violent shockwave erupted, blowing away the gate and the surrounding stone wall. Without a moment's hesitation, Aidan charged inside.
Fam and I followed on Aidan's heels, stepping inside the walls.
The force of Siege was immense. It had destroyed not only the archers on the wall and the watchtower, but also a part of the adjacent building. The structure collapsed with a deafening roar. I hoped no one was inside.
Besides the collapsed building, there were two residential buildings, one that looked like a barn, and another for livestock.
Surviving goblins crawled out from the rubble of the collapsed building. Fam and I finished them off.
About ten more goblins emerged from the residential buildings. Among them was one with an enormous body. It was clad in a helmet and armor, and wielded a massive club that matched its physique. It radiated a strange aura, an overwhelming presence that dominated the area.
The goblin let out a roar. The shockwave from its cry shook the air. In response, arrows began to fly from inside the buildings, and the goblins under its command charged at us.
"It's a Goblin King!"
Aidan shouted as he swung his hammer at the advancing goblins. One was sent flying, vanishing into particles. The hammer must have been incredibly heavy, but Aidan wielded it with ease, bringing it down on the next enemy and crushing both the goblin and its weapon.
Fam unleashed her [Kikuichimonji], taking down another goblin.
Seeing them in action, I moved too. I slipped past a goblin's attack and landed a blow.
"KISHAAAAA!"
The Goblin King let out a shriek and leaped into the air. It brought its massive club down on Aidan, putting its entire body weight behind the blow. The impact shook the ground. Aidan rolled out of the way, quickly got to his feet, and swung his hammer at the Goblin King.
The blow landed, but the Goblin King didn't flinch. The two faced off.
Arrows rained down on Aidan from inside a building. As he dodged, the Goblin King's club swung again. Aidan dodged that too.
Fam and I fought the other goblins. I took down two with a thrust and a diagonal slash. Fam, too, was dispatching them, her quick movements keeping them off balance. She'd gotten much more used to combat.
Before I knew it, only two goblins were left. Fam and I took care of them.
I hesitated, unsure whether to take out the archers hiding in the building or to help Aidan. There were two archers. It seemed like a small number, but Aidan must have blown the rest away along with the wall. One in each residential building. They weren't a major threat, but they were annoying. I had to keep moving erratically to avoid becoming a target.
"I'll take them down."
Fam charged toward them.
Just then, Aidan was struck by the Goblin King's attack and sent flying.
"Aidan!"
I rushed in to cover him, slashing at the Goblin King. It blocked the attack with its arm. Though bare, its muscles were so tough my blade couldn't cut through. It was hard as rock.
I narrowly dodged a sideways swing from the club. The wind pressure alone was almost enough to knock me over. I regained my footing. Just as the Goblin King began to swing its club again, I timed my attack to strike first, seizing the initiative. I put my faith in Aidan's sword. With the tip of the blade, focusing the power in my pinky finger, I drew the sword back as if tightening a bowstring.
I sliced off the Goblin King's wrist. The beast roared in pain.
Now to take its head. As I stepped in, an arrow pierced my thigh. Almost simultaneously, the impact of the club hit me. Even with one arm, its power was immense.
I tumbled across the ground several times.
My body wouldn't move from the pain. It was infuriating, but I'd been done in by a goblin again.
I was supposed to run if things got bad. Why did I fight?
There were still enemies left, but there was nothing I could do.
This time, I didn't see any light-blue panties. My vision was filled with the ass of a bearded dwarf.
"Leave the rest to me," the ass spoke.
Then I lost consciousness.
When I came to, it was completely dark.
I seemed to be inside one of the residential buildings. A lamp was lit.
And Fam was using her lap as my pillow.
"I'm sho shorry. If only I'd daken out the archers shooner. No, we shood've jusht gone shtraight back do town..."
I couldn't quite understand what she was saying, but I could tell she was apologizing. Tears fell onto my face. She cried so easily.
I tried to move my hand. There was no pain. I tried to lift my body. It seemed okay. But it was hard to leave the comfort of Fam's lap pillow.
"The arrow wash poishoned. Bud we had an andidote, sho you shood be fine."
Was she doing this slurred speech as a bit? She'd never talked like this before when she cried. Was she trying to make me laugh? Whatever it was, I just wanted her to stop crying.
I reached up and gently pinched Fam's cheek. She placed her own hand over mine.
"Master, Master, sob, hic... Master..."
"It's okay, stop crying."
"We should have done what you said and gone back to the city. But I... what have I done..."
"It's alright. We made it through. So don't cry."
I pulled on Fam's cheek, then let go. I poked it with my finger. It was soft and squishy.
Just then, I felt a gaze on me. Actually, I'd felt like I was being watched for a while. I looked around and saw Aidan staring intently at us.
I was suddenly overcome with embarrassment and shot up.
A sharp pain shot through my side.
"Your ribs are broken," Aidan said. Potions could heal bruises and cuts, but they couldn't fix injuries beyond a certain threshold, like broken bones.
"Sorry about that. I got myself taken out."
"No, you saved me. I wanted to thank you."
"The difficulty was way too high. Wasn't this supposed to be a beginner quest?"
Aidan didn't answer, just chuckled softly.
"Were there any survivors?"
"Yeah, locked up in the livestock shed. Three of them, but they were alive. I gave them potions and some food. They can move, but it's late. It's better to wait for you to recover a bit, too. We'll stay here tonight and head back to the city in the morning."
I was about to ask how many people had died, but I stopped myself. I should be content that we were able to save three.
I nodded.
The next morning, we buried the dead and started our journey back.
We returned to the city four days later. The quest, which was supposed to take ten days, was completed in eight.
I exchanged the two magic seeds for thirty gold coins. Fam and I received half of that, plus our one gold coin reward.
Thank you for reading. To those who have bookmarked and rated this story, thank you very much. Your support encourages me. I'll do my best.