Episode 11: Deepening Misunderstanding
Episode 11: Deepening Misunderstanding
The Mage Family's Family Head's Chamber.
The Mage who had emerged from the underground prison sat there.
One week prior.
Immediately after the incident occurred
He had utilized the family's power.
If they stayed there any longer, they would die.
After escaping the underground prison, he had secluded himself in the Family Head's Chamber.
They needed to root out the traitor. The barrier was still active at the entrance.
This meant the traitor came from within, not outside.
They needed to capture the madman causing discord to stop the frenzy.
"The Chieftain is dead."
But ultimately, they couldn't stop it.
The Chieftain was dead. The opportunity to resolve the conflict had vanished.
He bit his lip at his subordinate's report.
Their last bastion had disappeared.
He could almost see the impending doom approaching.
"The Castle Forces have declared support for Karan Kal."
He closed his eyes. Just as he'd suspected.
With the Chieftain gone, the Castle Forces were openly intervening.
"Karan Kal has sent a message... He says he'll make us pay for assassinating the Chieftain... And that he'll make us pay for humiliating him."
The subordinate's voice trailed off. They knew death was approaching.
He pondered. Would he accept the coming death?
Or would he cling to life like a coward?
He opened his eyes.
"Pack up. We're entering the caves to fortify our position."
He chose to survive like a coward.
The family members packed their belongings. They left the mansion. Their destination was the caves.
* * * *
"What the fuck, where did these bastards go?"
The mansion was completely empty. Not a single ant could be seen in either the Family Head's Chamber or the servants' quarters.
I sat on the mansion's ceiling. Fuck, they'd clearly abandoned their family pride and fled.
'This ruins my plan.'
My strategy to weaken the Mage family's forces, provoke a battle, and reap the benefits had gone up in smoke.
'Would they still fight to the death?'
It was doubtful they'd come out for mutual destruction after abandoning everything to flee.
In this situation, preserving strength and consolidating power should come first.
They'd deal with dissidents eventually.
After fully consolidating their power
By then, clearing the dungeon would become nearly impossible.
The perfect situation for my activities was apocalyptic chaos like now.
'Huh? Aren't those swordsmen?'
A group was running through the streets.
Goblin swordsmen.
Crash.
The goblins broke down the door and stormed in.
"So they really did flee."
The Hobgoblin I'd seen at the meeting spoke.
A fresh scar marred his face.
"The trail is still fresh. If we pursue now, we can catch them."
"Oh? Then let's chase. I'll make them pay for staining my honor today."
My eyes widened at the Hobgoblin's words.
This was my chance. These idiots had no intention of stabilizing the city.
They just wanted to charge in blindly.
"Stop, Karan Kal-sama! We need to stabilize the city now."
There was one with brains. Yes, he'd been the first to enter when the Chieftain died.
"Shut up! That bastard killed my men and humiliated me. You expect me to let that slide? Absolutely not. I refuse to be remembered as a coward."
The Hobgoblin cut off the wise counsel. He left the mansion.
He followed the trackers.
"That fucking moron! I never thought he'd make such a choice..."
The lone remaining goblin erupted in anger.
"No time for this. I need to return and protect my own forces..."
A thinker. I needed to kill him here to avoid future trouble.
[Death's Countdown]
I equipped Rapid Metabolism. Energy drained at an accelerated rate.
I lunged forward.
"You seemed smart! Shouldn't have sided with him!"
The goblin raged.
"What's this?"
He sensed something wrong and turned. The goblin's eyes widened.
Too late.
I swung my tentacle. The goblin's skull caved in.
"You... It was you... who killed the Chieftain..."
His final words remained unfinished as his breath ceased.
'No time to eat.'
I needed to follow the Hobgoblin.
I left the goblin's corpse behind.
'Grab some nearby Magic Stones and pursue.'
I followed the Hobgoblin's trail.
"Food! It's food!"
Goblins discovered the corpse. Lovely creatures.
I left the cheering goblins behind.
'Two Magic Stones? Should be enough for about ten major spells?'
A "major spell" referred to magic infused with 10 units of mana.
The spell's power varied based on mana infusion.
Pumping 10 units at once produced 10 units of power.
A Magic Stone would deplete after five major spells.
Numerically speaking, about 50 units
As expected of lowest-grade stones, their capacity wasn't great.
'I'd love to find more hidden stones.'
No time. I collected only the stones along the path and pursued the Hobgoblin.
The Hobgoblin walked toward the city outskirts.
His destination was one of four cave entrances.
The streets improved as we neared the entrance perimeter.
Thanks to the families guarding the entrances.
Entrance areas were strategic hubs.
Naturally, families guarding them prospered.
Thus, the four entrance-guarding families were influential in the underground city.
The Hobgoblin led one of these four families.
The Mage had fled north.
Neither the cave where I was reborn nor the Hobgoblin's territory.
'This cave is much larger.'
We entered the cave.
Vastly bigger than where I'd lived.
Nearly three times larger. No wonder the fleeing family chose it.
"Why? Why did you do it!"
"I repeat, it wasn't us! We've checked countless times. Everyone has alibis!"
"Silence! That strange barrier still stands! If no outsiders could enter, who else could be responsible!
Did some ignorant fool spontaneously learn magic? Ha, if that's possible, even I could become a mage!"
I moved quickly toward the arguing voices.
From the heated exchange, combat seemed imminent. Timing was crucial.
'Found them. Both forces gathered.'
The cave widened. Both factions faced off in an open space.
The Hobgoblin's side held overwhelming numerical advantage.
But Mages could reverse situations instantly.
"You're utterly unreasonable! I'll kill you and end this!"
The Hobgoblin gestured.
"Kill them all!"
Battle commenced. Swordsmen charged.
Their sharp blades seemed ready to butcher the mages.
"Fireball."
"Fireball."
"Fireball."
The mages formed ranks.
They unleashed magic in volleys.
Their formation resembled early modern line infantry.
The front line fired spells. Mages who finished incantations stepped forward.
Followed by the next volley. The next row's mages advanced.
A seamless rotation like interlocking gears.
Goblins wielding cold steel fell helplessly.
"Loose arrows!"
Arrows flew. But they struck a translucent barrier.
"Keep firing! Drain their mana!"
Standard anti-mage tactics.
A mage's chronic weakness-mana depletion-always topped their causes of death.
But now was different. The mages had means to replenish mana.
"Magic Stones! You bastards hoarded them for this!"
Magic Stones. Mana-depleted mages grabbed stones. Replenished their energy.
Once replenished, they resumed spell bombardment.
"This is fucking hilarious."
Nothing beats watching others fight.
I settled in to enjoy the goblin civil war.
The Hobgoblin's forces rapidly diminished. Unable to withstand the magical onslaught.
"I'll handle this myself!"
The Hobgoblin who'd only commanded now stepped forward.
A Hobgoblin wielding a massive greatsword in both hands.
An oppressive aura radiated from him.
"Hraaaaaah!"
The Hobgoblin charged. Blinding speed. So fast the mages noticed him a beat too late.
"Die!"
A split-second difference decided the battle. The greatsword smashed into the shield.
Crack.
The shield fissured. Then shattered completely.
Allowing him close to mages spelled their doom.
Indiscriminate slaughter.
Half the mages died in an instant by one being.
"You damn magic bastards!"
"Drop dead!"
Following subordinates finished off remaining mages.
Melee erupted. A deadly free-for-all.
A mage died. The swordsman who killed him fell to another mage.
Friend and foe mingled chaotically.
Dying goblins multiplied exponentially.
"Shall I begin?"
I stopped spectating. The battle's end approached.
I channeled mana. Poured it into the artifact.
'Amid the chaos, one shot at the densest cluster.'
I hurled a spell at the largest goblin concentration.
Boom.
A flame sphere detonated. Goblin remains scattered.
Preoccupied with survival, none noticed the external attack.
"Next target there!"
I targeted only the largest gatherings.
Five shots total. One Magic Stone depleted.
Five shots remaining. Exactly one stone's worth.
Goblin numbers drastically reduced. Few mages remained alive.
Except the mage leader.
"Die!"
The Hobgoblin swung his sword. The mage began an incantation, but too late. The blade would reach before he finished.
I rapidly formed a flame sphere. Mutual destruction. I needed to ensure mutual destruction.
The Hobgoblin and Mage were the most troublesome.
Killing both together would be ideal.
I threw the hastily made flame sphere.
It flew straight toward the Hobgoblin's back.
'Clear!'
I cheered internally. The Hobgoblin was battered from fierce combat.
Taking a major spell unprotected meant certain death.
The others were mere chaff.
Only the Hobgoblin's death mattered for clean victory.
KABOOM.
The explosion echoed through the cave. Dust clouded thickly.
With bated breath, I waited for the dust to settle.
"Cough... Damn... Monster... You hid in shadows and turned us against each other!"
The dust cleared. The Hobgoblin stood unharmed.
Not a single scorch mark on his body.
Baffling. Him surviving was understandable, but lacking burns was strange.
"Kill that thing! Tear it apart for Zipel's feed!"
The Hobgoblin screamed.
He pointed his greatsword at me.
His surviving subordinates converged.
Five in total.
Instinct screamed warnings.
Regardless of incomprehensible events, I knew-I was fucked.