Episode 4: Goblin Tribe (3)
Episode 4: Goblin Tribe (3)
-Thwack! Crash! Bang!!
The ceiling of the tunnel collapses.
Even within the narrow tunnel, while carrying both Elysia and Alusia on his shoulders and running, Ban was sprinting at a speed hard to believe a human could produce.
Ban thought the Ogre was causing the collapse by headbutting the tunnel walls.
However, the walls had already begun to sustain severe damage after being struck several times when Ban smashed the goblins with his fists from the entrance.
The state of having broken the wall of the cage where the two were trapped had made it easy to collapse.
Because it was in such a state, the tunnel easily began to collapse even from the headbutt of the dying Ogre.
Soon after, a wind carrying dust blew from the dark tunnel entrance.
From that distant darkness, Ban, carrying the two on his back, ran out.
-Crash! Bang!!
Simultaneously with Ban's escape, the tunnel collapses, and its interior is already filled with rocks and soil.
"That was close."
Without shedding a single drop of sweat, Ban set the two down.
"As expected of Your Highness!! That was an excellent run!"
"Ah~ My legs suddenly feel~"
While Knight Commander Elysia praised Ban's stamina and clapped, Alusia staggered in a dramatic performance and threw herself into Ban's arms.
"Sis!!! What are you doing!!"
Seeing this, Elysia flew into a rage and tried to pull her off.
"Elysia~ You're the Knight Commander, so this level of exertion is probably fine, but I'm just an ordinary noble lady~ I can't help it!"
Unfazed, Alusia clung to Ban's waist, trying not to fall.
"What are you two doing."
"A thick waist that doesn't fit properly in my arms even when I hug it... It's so impressive."
Ban forcibly peeled Alusia, who was rubbing her face against his chest, off and set her down.
"You look fine, so follow the path back to the village. Your surviving knights are there."
"Some survived... That's a relief. As the Knight Commander, it pained my heart... Now I can rest easy."
"Next time... No. Why am I explaining anything to nobles? My problem is solved, so I'll be on my way. Tell the village headman as well."
Ban turned around, picked up his Great Sword, and prepared to leave. Seeing this, the noble lady Alusia grabbed Ban's hand.
"My fated one... Might I ask your name?"
Ban hesitated for a moment, let out a sigh, and answered.
"Ban."
"A__A__!! Sir Ban!!"
And then, Alusia leaned close to Ban and whispered softly.
"Sir Ban... Leave that girl behind and come back to the village with me. I really want to repay you for saving my life."
Alusia slightly loosened her disheveled noble clothes, showing a glimpse of her cleavage.
Ban paid no attention, turned his back, waved his hand, and walked away.
"Not interested. You two hold hands and go back on your own."
Seeing this, Elysia tapped her sister Alusia on the shoulder and spoke quietly.
"Sis, with your meager figure, His Highness could never be satisfied. Watch and learn."
"You bitch...?"
Elysia roughly loosened the dirty armor she was wearing, revealing the thin doublet she wore underneath, which showed off her figure.
"Your Highness~"
Elysia ran to the walking Ban and clung to his arm.
Pressing herself tightly, Ban's thick forearm was buried between Elysia's breasts.
Alusia was no slouch either, but Elysia's size was on another level.
"Sir Ban~ I feel too sorry to let you go like this, how about we return to the village together, have a drink, and unwind?"
Elysia looked up at Ban with sparkling eyes and spoke.
"No, I'm not interested in you, so stop. I have a lot to do at home."
Ban didn't budge at all and gently extracted his arm, stepping away.
"Pfft! Just what am I supposed to learn from that~"
Elysia, teased by her sister, switched to an indignant expression.
Just as the two were bickering, the forest began to rumble and shake.
"There are still some left? Really annoying."
Ban lifted the massive Great Sword he had strapped to his back.
-Thud. Thud. Thud.
The sound of the forest shaking grew closer, and its true form appeared, breaking through trees.
-Groan!
The Ogre that had just fled and an Ogre that looked several times larger than it.
The female Ogre that appeared with her belly wobbling was enormous, comparable to the giant trees.
"I see... So it was an Ogre and Ogre couple."
The Ogre gently set down the Ogre she was carrying on her back.
"Grrraaahhh!!! Not a single one...! I will let...! none live...!"
A voice so loud it made their ears ring erupted, and the two sisters covered their ears and slumped to the ground.
"You two, go hide somewhere over there. Don't get in the way."
Ban approached the Ogre and the Ogre.
"Your Highness!! An Ogre is a powerful enemy that requires a 3rd-class or higher mage or dozens of knights to deal with! Let's run away together!!"
Elysia gestured to Ban, trying to dissuade him.
But Ban glanced at Elysia and silently advanced forward.
**
-Kwang!
The Ogre swung the massive club she was holding down at Ban.
Ban moved lightly despite his heavy body, evading the attack, and immediately swung his Great Sword down, severing the Ogre's arm.
"Kyaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!"
A scream, mixed with seemingly tearing agony, echoed from the Ogre.
"Ugaaaaaah!!"
Seeing this, the Ogre, dragging his broken body, charged at Ban.
"Yeah, it's about time to finish you off."
Before the Ogre's new axe blade could reach Ban, he lifted the Great Sword he had just swung down and cleaved the charging Ogre vertically in two.
"No... No! Kheeeeek!!"
Seeing the Ogre's state, the Ogre let out an enraged roar and lifted her other arm to raise the giant club.
Seeing this, Ban struck the club with his Great Sword, shattering it.
-Kwaaang!!
Before the Ogre could despair over the broken club, Ban swung his Great Sword once more, cleaving through the Ogre's abdomen.
-Splaaaat!!
The pained scream was brief... Ban's unwavering strike, without hesitation, next aimed for the head of the Ogre, who had collapsed, clutching her stomach.
-Kwang!!
The Great Sword was driven straight down to the ground, bisecting her from the head through her massive torso.
"Hoo..."
Ban pulled the Great Sword embedded in the ground and slung it back onto his back.
"Going to have a hard time cleaning the blood off this at home."
The two sisters, seeing Ban's expression as if it were nothing special, stood with their mouths agape, unable to close them.
They thought they had seen many strong individuals living in the kingdom, but the person before them displayed a level of strength on a different scale.
Despite fighting and running non-stop from dozens of goblins to Ogres and Ogres, the giant man in their eyes appeared not tired at all, just cold, composed, and calm.
Ban slowly walked toward the two women, who were silently just looking up at him.
"Now it's really safe, so go back to the village."
The two, who had been silently staring at Ban for a moment, finally shook their heads and answered.
"Y... yes... Your Highness..."
"Ah... uh... We will."
Elysia and Alusia, speaking in a dazed, stuttering manner. This time, without any fuss, they agreed to the instruction to go back.
"Good, you've worked hard. Well then."
Ban left the two like that, gave a small wave, and passed by.
"Wa... Your Highness!! Where must I go to see you again!!"
Elysia shouted. Ban did not answer and just kept walking.
"I will find you someday and repay you!!! My fated one!! Sir Ban!!"
Alusia waved her hand at the departing Ban, shouting.
Before they knew it, only Alusia and Elysia remained in the settlement.
"Sis, will we be able to see Sir Ban again?"
"We must find him, no matter what. I won't see any other suitor now except Sir Ban. Let's tell Father and mobilize the entire army to search for Sir Ban."
"As expected, sis is a genius. If Father sees Sir Ban's strength, he'd accept him as a son-in-law, right? Let's report it as soon as we get home."
The two looked at each other, nodded, then got up spiritedly and headed toward the village.
**
"Phew... It was more troublesome than I thought."
After resolving the problem in the village, I finally returned to the swamp where Priscilla-nim and I live.
I wasn't tired physically, but perhaps due to the mentally bothersome individuals, a strange sense of fatigue washed over me.
-Creeak.
'It seems a bit late, Priscilla-nim must already be here, right? She'll complain about the late dinner.'
While pondering what to make for the evening meal, I opened the door, but Priscilla-nim was not at home.
'Has she not returned yet? She went all the way to the Walpurgis Empire, so it might take a little longer.'
Recalling Priscilla-nim's words that it might take until tomorrow, I prepared dinner alone for the first time in a while.
But as soon as I entered the kitchen, I didn't feel like cooking.
It seemed that without Priscilla-nim, who always enjoyed the meals I made, I just didn't have much motivation.
I took out some smoked sausages, ate them simply, and had my meal.
Afterwards, to soothe the emptiness until late at night, I devoted myself solely to exercise, and before I knew it, the time to sleep had arrived.
For the first time in a while, I lay down alone on the large bed big enough for two.
Whenever we went to bed, Priscilla-nim would always lean against my arm, and not seeing her now, I couldn't shake off the hollow feeling.
There had been times before when she returned the next day.
But this lonely feeling that arises every time just never seems to adapt to.
"Sigh..."
Letting out a small, drawn-out sigh, I fell asleep alone in the quiet room.
**
The next morning, I heard the sound of something falling right in front of the house.
-Crash!
Along with the sound of the fall, I sensed a presence approaching in this direction.
I knew it wasn't Priscilla-nim's presence.
I immediately went to the front door to check the situation and opened it.
-Creeak
There, as expected, was not Priscilla-nim, but an unexpected person, her long-time colleague,
The Witch of Flowers, Lady Valentine, with an injured body, panting for breath.
"Valentine-nim, what happened!!"
I quickly rushed over and supported her.
"Haa... Haa... Ban... Priscilla..."
Seeing me, perhaps relieved, she couldn't continue her words and fainted on the spot.