Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Conspiracy of the Goblin Den (2)
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The moment we turned to flee, the gray-robed mages raised their staffs high.
"No witnesses can be left alive. Capture them."
A chilling command shattered the silence.
Dozens of frenzied goblins lined up around them raised their weapons in unison and let out eerie shrieks.
"Kee-eek!"
A murderous intent that echoed through the forest. We were hopelessly outnumbered.
A head-on fight would be suicide.
There was only one option.
"Run! We have to get out of here first!"
The instant we started to move, Rodentia revealed her golden silhouette clearly and shouted.
"Apostle Loti! You can't just run blindly—they'll catch you!"
A dazzling golden light poured from Rodentia's body. She swung her tiny hand through the air and cried out.
"May the wind kiss the soles of the rat's feet! Run!"
⟨ Endless Sprint ⟩
A strange sensation swept over my entire body. The effect was instantaneous.
"Huh?"
The heavy weight of my backpack suddenly felt as light as a feather. My leg muscles surged with spring-like elasticity, as if coils had been implanted in them.
My body felt as light as if gravity had been halved.
My tail wagged wildly. It was like a wind-up toy that had just been cranked.
"Thank you for the blessing, Lady Rodentia!"
"Whoa! My body feels super light!"
"No time to admire it! Move!"
We launched ourselves toward the depths of the forest.
As we ran, I thought.
'If we just keep running like this?'
Our party would end up leading these monsters all the way to the village. Could ordinary farmers handle a horde of monsters and suspicious mages?
'No way!'
We couldn't burden them like that. At the very least, we had to thin their numbers.
I shouted breathlessly as I ran.
"Listen up, everyone! I'll stop first and shoot, so keep going and wait over there! Then Sena, then Mani in order!"
Mani on my left gripped her bowgun tighter and replied.
"Hit 'em while we retreat, right? Got it! Ow!"
As brush scratched her face, Sena on my right shoved through the undergrowth with her arm and yelled.
"Got it! Watch the front!"
No choices here. We had to reduce their numbers.
"Mani, Sena! Just keep running! I'll shoot first and catch up!"
"Got it!"
Our strategy was a thorough guerrilla warfare tactic with three-person teams moving in perfect sync.
We couldn't have even attempted it bare-handed and clear-headed, but with Rodentia's blessing, it was worth a shot.
"A wise choice, Apostle! Gnaw at their forces bit by bit, like a rat chewing through rope!"
Rodentia beside me seemed to grasp my intent. She immediately summoned Horned Rats and sent them charging the rear.
"Go, Horned Rats! Body slam! The Hamster Wheel will be with you!"
"Chirp chirp!"
The moment I stopped and turned, Ratty and Chirpy leaped at the two lead goblins.
The Horned Rats slammed their horns straight into the goblins' faces!
"Kee-eek!"
As they staggered with screams, a grotesque face appeared in my sights.
Thwung!
A crisp twang. The bolt pierced one goblin's chest. As it fell, I pulled the lever and fired again.
Thwung!
"Kree-eek!"
"Nice! Go!"
I fired off three or four more shots in quick succession, dropping another one, then turned with the Horned Rats.
Retreat.
Sena and Mani were already in position far ahead.
"Loti! Firing!"
"Careful!"
I dropped flat to the ground immediately. A volley of arrows rained over my head. The Rapid Bowgun spat bolts relentlessly.
Clack, thwung! Clack, thwung!
As the startled goblin vanguard hesitated under the arrow storm, I used the blessing's agility to leap through the brush like a squirrel and took position again.
While catching my breath behind a thick tree, Mani began firing from up ahead for her turn.
"Opening fire! Come on, you two!"
This time, I provided cover fire from behind cover for Mani.
Fire, retreat, fire, fall back!
Sena slipped past me like the wind, covering Mani in turn. We called it the wave retreat.
In that moment, our small stature became a huge advantage. We vaulted over thick tree roots that would trip a human, slid under thorny bushes.
"Yes! The goblins' numbers are thinning!"
The moment I cheered, a sinister voice came from behind.
"These rat pups are pretty quick."
It was the mage's command.
How could I hear it from this distance? Some amplification spell?
"Release the cavalry. Flank them."
Thud thud thud!
The thunder of hooves shook the ground, drawing closer.
Bursting through the hesitant goblin infantry came...
"Gah! Torani riders!"
"Kyaaah! Kyaaah!"
Horrific cries like a baby's wail. Goblin Torani cavalry!
Damn those mages. With their infantry toyed with, they'd unleashed the cavalry. The muscular Torani closed the distance at terrifying speed, unhindered by the rough forest terrain.
"Gah! At this rate, they'll catch us!"
Sena cried out desperately. We'd gotten faster thanks to Rodentia's blessing, but it wasn't enough to outrun four-legged beasts.
I scanned ahead. Perfect—a sloped mound lay in front. High ground. We needed to seize even a little elevation.
"Up that mound! I'll lay a little gift for them!"
As I ran, I untied the bundle of cords from my waist and scattered them at the mound's entrance, over the thick leaf litter.
Swish.
Caltrops linked by cords scattered across the ground. We scrambled up the mound and turned. As expected, the Torani riders charged without slowing.
"Bolts loaded!"
I hurriedly opened the magazine and reloaded. A jam from excitement would be fatal. Calmly, slowly pull the lever.
"Kyaaak! Kyaaaah!"
They're closing in. Drooling maws of the Torani, flashing fangs within.
And goblins gripping spears, radiating killing intent.
"Kee-eek!"
"Got 'em."
The lead Torani stepped on the leaves.
Pfshk!
"Kii-eek!"
The beast's scream tore through the forest.
The Torani, spikes in its paw, went mad with pain and rolled sideways. The sudden stop caused the following riders to crash into its rear, tumbling like dominoes.
"Now! Fire!"
Three crossbows atop the mound unleashed a barrage. The rolling goblin riders made perfect stationary targets. Bolts mercilessly pierced backs and skulls.
"Shoot the Torani too! They're getting up!"
"Kiik! Kee-eek!"
Everything in our sights was the enemy. We pulled triggers without pause.
"Rider down!"
Is it over? No, too soon to relax. While the cavalry bought time, three or four swift goblin infantry bypassed the caltrops and closed in.
"Grrr!!"
They charged, swinging rusty scythes and axes. No time to reload. I gripped my bowgun upside down and swung.
Crack!
"Kee-eek!"
The front goblin sprawled. I slung the crossbow over my shoulder, drew my wooden shield and shortsword.
"Close quarters! Shields up!"
Sena drew her own shortsword.
"Hearth Goddess! Grant me strength to smite evil!"
Whoosh!
Another goblin charged in the meantime.
Clang!
My shield blocked the goblin's scythe. Its strength was no joke.
My arm went numb. The creature bared its teeth in a wicked grin. Foul stench wafted from its savage fangs.
"Kirruk?"
But it froze. The scythe was deeply embedded in my shield!
That meant an opening for me.
"Hah!"
I lunged into its guard. As it grunted and stumbled, I plunged my blade into its belly.
Pfshk!
"Grk!"
No time to recoil at the squishy feel—I stabbed and kicked repeatedly.
Our training with Sena paid off!
"Purge the wicked with holy flame!"
Beside me, Sena unleashed her aspiring holy knight prowess.
As the goblin swung its rusty axe wide, Sena angled her shield to deflect. Its armpit gaped open. She thrust without hesitation.
"Hah!"
Stab.
Clean strike. Red flames erupted from Sena's blade tip, burning the goblin. Blood spurted from its white-haired, round-eared body as it ignited.
"Die! For our ancestors!"
Smash!
Mani smashed their heads like watermelons with her hammer in succession.
We dispatched the close assailants in seconds and grabbed our crossbows again. But then, the air crackled.
"Uh! The mages!"
"These minions are dragging this out too long. Against mere rat pups...!"
At the mound's base, gray-robed mages emerged between the trees.
One aimed its staff at us. Dark red mana gathered at the tip.
"Vanish."
Rumble!
Black lightning snaked through the air toward me. Far faster than any arrow. No dodging it!
"Loti! Dodge!"
Sena's scream pierced my ears. The lightning struck right in front of me.
Boom!
My vision flashed white.
"Ugh, gah!"
I'm dead...
But there was no pain. Instead, a brilliant light burst from my chest.
Crackle!
"Huh?"
The red wooden figurine—the Rodentia statuette—rolled out, forming a dazzling golden barrier.
Crack!
The barrier blocked the lightning and shattered. I tumbled backward from the impact, but my body was unscathed, without a single scorch mark.
"How dare you touch my apostle! You scum! I'll summon my rat legion and gnaw you to bits! Chirp!"
Rodentia raged beside me, swinging her tiny fist. Seeing her, I knew: the Hamster Wheel's blessing had saved me!
"Long live the Lord! Thank you!"
I sprang up. The statuette was shattered, but I was alive.
The goblins' numbers had dwindled to almost nothing.
The mages were within 50 meters.
Would our bowguns work on them?
"Keep running!"
"Got a next plan, Loti?"
"Yeah! That thing! The one you made, Mani!"
Excitement lit Mani's tense face.
"Ah!"
We ran with every ounce of strength. The forest's edge appeared, and Pinehill Village's fence came into view.
"Emergency! Enemy attack! Enemies! Goblins! Mages!"
My shout made the youth in the watchtower ring the bell frantically.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
"Raid! Raid! Grab your weapons!"
Villagers poured out with spears, scythes, farm tools, and bows. Not adventurers, but their numbers could handle the goblin remnants.
The problem was those mages.
Swish!
We slid behind the village entrance fence. Mani didn't even catch her breath before diving into the village hall.
"Wait, aren't you adventurers?"
"Gimme my cannon! Where is it!"
Moments later, Mani dragged out massive metal components, hurriedly assembling them. It was the prefabricated ballista we'd left with her.
"Loti, Sena! Buy me time! Just 30 seconds!"
"Got it!"
The mages and remnants emerged at the forest edge. They sneered at the villagers' crude armaments.
Sena and I mounted our Rapid Bowguns on the barricade and unleashed into the woods.
"Foolish creatures. Behold the power of the abyss."
The mages aimed their staffs and began chanting. Ominous mana swirled, forming black, spiked orbs that flew at us.
Thwung!
"Get down!"
"Gah!"
Villagers and we hit the dirt. Far off, a fist-sized hole punched through the fence with a crack.
"Take this!"
We fired back at the magic with bolts in volleys. Fire, fire again!
But the attacks were futile.
Ting!
Bolts bounced harmlessly off. The bowgun barrage couldn't pierce the shield.
"Mani! Not yet?!"
"Done! Clear out!"
Mani's shout. She'd already finished assembling the siege weapon with complex pulleys and steel strings. The winch was cranked, the string taut.
A massive bolt, thick as a spear, was loaded atop it.
Wait—these were suspicious mages commanding goblins and wielding demonic marks. Could this pierce their shield?
"Sena! Can you bless it? The bolts! Lady Rodentia! Got anything strong? One big shot!"
"...Bolts? Might work? I'll try!"
"Horned Rats! Mount that bolt!"
Sena's prayer ignited flames on the bolt, and two Horned Rats hopped aboard side by side with a "Chirp!"
'Wait, shooting rats?'
"Lady Rodentia? This is right?"
"Horned Rats are spirit warrior mice with holy power! Even if something happens, they return from the Horned Rats' paradise—don't worry!"
No time for doubts. Mani aimed the ballista at the nearest mage.
"Eat this, you goblin-shit bastards!"
Twaang!
The trigger released. The twisted string snapped free with a sound like tearing steel plate. The massive bolt cleaved the air.
Target: the lead mage, smugly chanting at the forest entrance. It sensed the incoming projectile and hastily raised a mana shield.
The flaming bolt with Horned Rats aboard slammed into the shield.
"Please work!"
Crackle!
Mani's masterpiece ignored the shield entirely. It shattered like glass. The bolt didn't stop, piercing the mage's abdomen.
"Khek...!"
It flew back 5 meters, impaled on a tree.
Boom!
The impact shook the tree violently. The mage slumped, nailed in place.
"...?!"
The other mages halted their spells, horrified at their comrade skewered like kebab. Panicking, no less.
They'd never dreamed a rural backwater had siege weapons.
"One more shot!"
Mani grabbed the winch for reload with a grunt. Far off, the apparent leader gnashed its teeth and yelled.
"Damn it... Retreat for now!"
The mages grabbed their dead comrade's body and chanted an unknown spell. Black smoke rose from the ground, enveloping them.
Poof!
"W-what was that?"
I muttered at the bizarre sight, and Sena replied.
"Teleportation magic!"
As the smoke cleared, only the bolt-pierced tree and goblin corpses remained at the forest entrance.
"...They ran."
Sena collapsed with a sigh of relief. The villagers stared between us and the forest in disbelief.
The village chief, clutching his club, asked in a trembling voice.
"What... what were those? Did we win?"
"For now."
I stood, steadying my shaking legs. We'd held them off for the moment, but those suspicious foes would surely return.
Our party had burned through most of our bolts in this one fight.
Above all, we hadn't removed those banners in the woods.
Whoever they were, they'd come back with bigger forces.
"Chief, send a messenger to Oakwood right away. We can't hold them alone!"
The chief nodded solemnly at my words.