1-18 Shall I Use You as a Shield?
I woke up sharp and clear.
As I focused my senses to figure out why, I heard a clamor.
And faintly, Elliott's voice giving orders, along with some cavalry member's angry shout.
"...! An enemy attack?!"
I threw off the blanket and bolted upright.
Sarsa was up too, looking sleepy, but she quickly grasped the situation and snapped awake. A capable slave.
"Master, your gear?"
"I'm good to go already. Sarsa, make sure you're fully equipped before you come out, got it?"
"Yes."
I was already geared up and burst out of the tent first.
Around the rest area, Elliott's group and the cavalry were moving in disarray. But they were all looking up warily in unison. Bird types, huh.
Elliott stood at the center, in front of Aawinda's tent, trying to assess the situation.
"What happened?!"
"Yoyo, it's harpuadons."
"Night hunters?"
"Yeah, those. Cavalry's Daruk took a hit."
"Injured?"
"They ate his face. No life-threatening wounds, I think..."
"..."
Sounded worse than I thought.
"I thought we were on high alert... but a pack of over ten hit us. Couldn't hold them all off."
Elliott sounded frustrated.
"What do you need me to do?"
"Can you use the magic gun?"
"Yeah, should be fine."
"Sorry about this. I'll ask for compensation after."
"Nah, the pay's plenty good already."
Compensation meant billing for magic stone use, probably.
But since I didn't actually use any, claiming it would be fraud. Better pass.
"Alright then. Count on you. I'm heading up front—hold it down here. Prioritize supporting the cavalry."
"Got it."
Elliott drew his beloved sword and dashed forward.
As I watched his back with magic gun in hand, Sarsa caught up.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Master. What about me?"
"Yeah, check on Aawinda and the others inside first? Hard for a guy like me to go in, and I can't look away from watch."
"Yes."
Once I saw her enter the tent, I scanned the surroundings to gauge the situation.
Seemed like the harpuadons were dealt with—killed or driven off.
But true hunters like them don't let prey escape easily, or so I'd heard.
Plus, the flames set up to deter harpuadon ambushes made perfect beacons for fire-immune monsters.
Had to watch for ground attacks too.
"...Situation?"
Patch poked her head out from the rear tent.
"No changes since the shift. How much do you know?"
"Enough. Elliott briefed me."
"Good. Trishiera with her bow, and your... Sarsa—they're precious assets. Want one here on guard."
"Yeah."
"Sarsa's preference?"
"Ask her... but yeah, leaving Sarsa makes coordinating easier."
Her bow practice had been with my magic gun covering, after all.
She moved with my gun in mind, so teamwork flowed.
"Right. Sarsa stays, Trishiera as messenger. Anything for Elliott first?"
"Yeah. No issues so far. Magic gun good for... five, six shots."
"Got it. I'll pass it on."
Patch ducked back in, and soon fully armed Trishiera emerged.
"Heard the message. Leave it to me."
"Thanks."
"Sarsa's helping Aawinda a bit, but she'll be right out."
"Okay."
Helping? No details, so probably fine.
A couple minutes later, Sarsa appeared. Bow was bigger than usual—borrowed, probably.
"Borrowed a bow?"
"Yes, Aawinda's. She said it's good, so use it."
"Gotcha."
...Gonna give it? Nah, probably just a loan.
Better assume that.
"Anything inside?"
"...No, nothing special."
"Okay."
"Just... Aawinda might be a bit on edge."
"Yeah..."
Goblin trauma flashing back? At her age, surviving that hell—makes sense.
"Master..."
"What?"
"I heard you weren't a mercenary recently."
"True."
From Elliott's girls, probably. Not a secret.
"Weren't monsters scary? Like, shaking when you killed them?"
"Nope."
I said it flat. No real fear of killing or being attacked. Sure, dying sucks—but no paralysis.
"Might be numb to it... Dunno if that's good or bad."
"I see..."
"Cold-hearted?"
Didn't want the psycho label. Got anxious.
"No, not cold. Useful for mercenary work, no?"
"...Yeah."
Thought Aawinda was unstable from the attack. Maybe guilt over killing her first person—or subhuman. Whatever, my words wouldn't help.
"Messenger! Fanged dogs from front, night goblin squad from rear! Hold center, support front!"
"Hold center, support front—got it!"
Repeated to confirm Trishiera's orders.
Rear goblins? They'd handle it. I just follow.
"Sarsa, watch rear and surroundings mainly. I'll cover front."
"Understood."
"Don't slack on air. One heavy injury already."
"Yes, saw inside."
"...Here?"
"Patch was treating."
"Ah, makes sense."
Command post and aid station. Fewer spots to guard—smart.
"Alright, time for the magic gunner to shine..."
Up front, cavalry formed a defensive line.
Far but close enough to shout. Gun range fine.
Something moved—glanced up. Good call. Black shadow dove straight at us.
Reflex-fired rapid shots—low power, high speed, my fave.
"Kieee!"
Shadow screeched; cavalry noticed, looked up.
"Harpuadon! Watch out!"
"Damn, can't see even with fire!"
They'd cover front; I checked flanks for more.
"Master, movement right..."
Sarsa loosed an arrow; shadow dodged, revealed.
Rapid-fired magic bullets—third hit.
"Kii... kiii!"
Dropped shadow ignored for now. Harder to spot than expected.
"Guh... right arm bit!"
"Calm, it's light!"
Front fighting hard. Risked friendly fire, but suppressed overhead carefully.
Some had bows, arrows flying back.
Spearmen hurled javelins wildly—misses, obviously.
"Don't throw spears—they'll drop back dangerous!"
"Shit, no good."
"Shoulda brought more bows... ugh..."
"What? You okay?!"
Five or six harpuadons down, assault paused.
But threats kept coming.
"Goblins from right! Forest types, archers!"
"Bows? Damn it!"
Countered with bows, but trees blocked—unsure hits.
Through breached fence right: subhumans. Not ape-folk or fishmen. Classic goblins—small, impish.
"Oh, real goblins."
No time to admire. They bypassed defense, charged us.
"Hey, goblins breaking in!"
Front busy in melee.
"Fanged dogs front too—we can't move!"
"...No choice."
"Master..."
"Sarsa, alert tent. Aid if messenger comes. I'll handle incoming goblins."
"Is that wise?"
"Orders are hold here... but can't ignore goblins. Hurry—no time."
"Understood."
Glanced as Sarsa ran; fixed on goblins.
Five... no, six. Forest shadows hid more?
Goblin fights before. Strategy: strike first.
Always seize initiative, overwhelm weaker physiques. Dominate. That was the plan.
"Come at me, you rotten scum!"
Learned here: curse and scream to pump adrenaline. Battle prep, warmup.
"Graaaaaah!!!"
"Gii... giii!"
Goblins yelled back—lacked spirit!
Smashed lead goblin's head.
Follow-up wood spear jabbed back—not vital, fine. Grabbed leg bite, swung.
Hit rear goblin, blew two away.
Chaos building nicely.
Pulled magic gun from subspace mid-turn, sniped two bow goblins rear.
Bows scary.
"Kiii!"
All-black goblin from woods. Night goblin type? Fish-goblin night variants too?
"Kiii! Kii!"
"Kii! Gii gii!"
Two black goblins, sword-like blades. Small stick-wielding goblins guarded.
Black ones huge—three, four times bigger.
"You leaders? Die."
No hesitation. Switched gun to power/AOE, pumped MP, fired.
Sword time. Exploded forward into blast.
"Gii!"
One black goblin injured but up.
"Kweaaaa!"
Dull edge, but full-power diagonal slash.
Black goblin parried my all-out strike.
Thrust through gap; blocked with shield.
"Tch."
Parried. Elites had skill unlike goblins...
Swinging sword closing in.
Goblin parried, aimed dagger at neck.
Right: normal goblin spear.
Dodged, grabbed normal's neck, hurled at black.
Black sidestepped, thrust again. Repeating built habit. Pulled head, evaded.
Counter-slash read, parried.
Try this...
Ditched shield, two-handed sword.
Read thrust, feinted kesa slash, targeted incoming blade.
Caught weighty strike; goblin stiffened. Wrenched sword away forcibly.
Full strike into gap. Metal crushed bone, dull shock up arm.
"Uoraa!"
Kicked tumbling, backflipped.
Flanking spears whiffed.
Shield time? Nah—stumbled normal goblin right in front.
"..."
Thrust dissection knife from waist into chest, yanked up by neck.
Yeah. Good shield.
"Kiii..."
Swinging goblin-and-sword, checked all sides.
"Kiii! Gii!"
"Kii..."
Shield goblin weakly cried at allies' cheers? C'mon, perk up.
Shield up, charged rear-blocking goblins.
"Oraa!"
Shield blocked wood spears perfectly.
Sword through gap. Routine flow.
"That all you got, imps?! No spirit! Next shield you?!"
"Kii..."
Goblins recoiling. Weird—I seemed the barbarian.
What'd I do?
"Guoraa!"
Sword spin checked rear.
Strange, quiet standoff with goblins.
Arrow pierced goblin, shattered it.
"Ki!? Ki, giii!"
Goblins dropping like flies.
Saved...
"Yoyo, that was reckless."
Marie sliced goblins fluidly.
My encirclement crumbled instantly.
Arrows... Sarsa.
"Brought reinforcements, Master."
"Good work, Sarsa."
"Utterly reckless... facing this many alone..."
Looked around: ten to twenty goblin corpses.
Odd—went for five or six.
"Rear goblins were decoys... got played."
"Marie, Elliott?"
"Guarding rear. They'd shoot arrows then flee. Frustrating."
"Yeah..."
Anyway, saved.
Front fanged dogs calming. Reinforcements would end it soon.
"Help out?"
"Yeah."
This night's assault: over ten harpuadons ambush, then 40+ goblin decoy pack, 50+ fanged dogs total. Massive.
Unlikely coordinated. Just bad luck.
Harpuadon noise probably drew others.
Casualties: one half-blind from harpuadon bite, one arm shredded to bone by fanged dog, many minor.
Light for scale, but heavy for Emond's precious cavalry.
After cleanup, front commander apologized for misjudging goblin numbers, leaving me solo.
"No biggie," I said, calming him—got chewed by Elliott and Callwing.
Said: retreat on spotting numbers, consolidate, shorten lines. Solo heroics hurt overall.
Fair. Next time, cooler head.
But mid-fight, charged in, lost count in frenzy. Realized numbers post-fight.
That's the issue, yeah. Berserk tunnel vision—familiar flaw. Saw new side of self. Unimaginable from old apathetic me. Good or bad?
"If Master died on whim, I'd be lost. Please restrain yourself."
Sarsa unusually sharp.
Full-on mad. Calm anger. Scary. Eyes elsewhere.
"...Don't look away!"
Swore no repeat to Sarsa; shifted to watch duty.
Elliott's crew napping in shifts. Good luck.
Now, check status while slack.
Swordsman and Magic Gunner both leveled up. Worth the grind.
Real combat gives fat XP, huh.