kscans

Chapter 80 - The Reincarnated Hero Goes to the Hobgoblin's Cave

A deep chasm in the moonlit mountain, the gaping mouth of a forest cave. Hero Ares stopped before it and muttered under his breath.

"This is it... the Hobgoblin's cave. The place where I first crossed swords with that reincarnator, Mamoru."

Behind him stood Yuto Mikazuki, a black sword on his back, and Mel Aria, attended by her demonic human dolls. This was their first time setting foot in this place.

"The air is heavy... Something is here." Yuto placed a hand on his sword.

"The presence, the flow of magic, it's all murky. There are certainly many traps," Mel Aria whispered quietly.

Ares lightly tapped the sword on his shoulder and laughed.

"Relax. I know this place well. ...And I also know that Mamoru isn't here."

"Then why have we come?" Mel Aria narrowed her eyes.

"This cave is a place of history between me and him. And it's also a convenient battlefield."

"Narrow passages, tough goblins... If we prepare and meet them head-on, this is the perfect spot."

"I see... so it's a trap to lure him in," Yuto nodded.

Ares laughed.

"Nope. This is my declaration of war."

The three slowly advanced into the cave's interior.

The first thing they encountered was a pitfall trap, hidden in the dirt.

"Right there. Leave a one-foot gap to your left, then jump."

Ares's memory was vivid. Recalling the line of death he had barely survived last time, he unerringly identified each trap.

In the poison swamp area, Mel Aria immediately deployed a purification spell. In the hall of illusions, Yuto advanced without hesitation, cutting down the phantoms that lurked in the shadows.

These three were no longer just reincarnators.

They were a unit, moving in a straight line toward the enemy they must defeat.

Eventually, they reached the deepest part of the cave. They arrived at the stone chamber, the "Throne Room" where Mamoru and Ares had once crossed blades.

Mamoru was not there.

Unfazed by this fact, Ares walked straight to the throne and sat down with an air of authority.

"Phew... Yeah, this is where I feel most at ease."

At his feet, a single captured goblin knelt, trembling.

"Hey, you. Can you hear me?"

The goblin nodded, shivering.

"Go and tell Mamoru the Hobgoblin. Tell him 'Hero Ares has come.' Summon him here, right now."

"Ch, Chieftain... Hobgoblin, Mamoru-sama... I'll tell him, right away!"

"That's right, tell him..."

Ares's eyes glinted sharply as he thrust his sword into the ground.

"I'm gonna defeat him and change this twisted world. I'm gonna make my ideal world, a kind world where no one gets left behind..."

Beside the throne, Mel Aria covered her mouth with her hand, staring intently at Ares. Yuto said nothing, simply holding his sword at the ready, waiting for Mamoru to appear beyond the door.

In the silence, all that remained in the cave was the lingering scent of battle and the palpable presence of a decisive clash to come.