Smile! The Carriage Plummets into Akinzrow Gorge

Akinzrow Gorge. The carriage tumbled off the cliff. Thud against a rock. Another thud against the rocks below. Zain, clinging to the roof, went thud as well. And with that, his consciousness faded to black.

How much time had passed? When Zain opened his eyes again, he braced for the excruciating pain. But not a hint of it came. Am I already dead? It was possible, falling from that cliff. But there was no regret, no resentment. He'd died doing something shameful, after all. In the midst of seizing a territory and chasing its rightful lord's daughter.

If he hadn't sworn his oath of obedience when he joined the Iron Lion Knights, he would've given up and left long ago.

'That acrid smell...' The scent of a burning altar. The smell of a temple. Looking around, he realized this was a temple of the Hearth Goddess.

Zain unconsciously touched the necklace around ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠his neck. He'd never been particularly devout before, but things had changed. Ever since that day in the Akham Basin when he'd barely escaped with his life. He'd met the goddess in a dream and survived. A miracle.

Since then, he hadn't missed a night of prayer.

'Looks like I didn't end up in hell.' Which was only fitting for a pathetic wretch like him.

What had happened to Lady Lania? She might be dead. Even if not, she'd be badly hurt and eventually captured by the soldiers from Grayrim. Guilt clawed at Zain's chest. He dropped to his knees and prostrated himself.

"Urk..."

And before his bowed head, a white foot slowly descended from the air. Zain flinched but didn't dare look up. Whether this was the afterlife or a dream, he had a feeling he knew who this was.

"Goddess...?"

The goddess placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

「Raise your head.」

Cautiously, Zain lifted his gaze.

"Ahh..."

He couldn't see the goddess's face. The flaming halo was too blinding. Why had she appeared before him?

「Fulfill your role, knight.」

What do you mean? My duty? But like any oracle, the goddess offered no further explanation.

「Fulfill your role.」

How could she give such a command? It was so perfectly in character for the Hearth Goddess. Perfectly so.

Was this an oracle? Unlikely. He wasn't a priest, and there hadn't been an oracle in the Hearth temples for decades. Zain craned his neck higher, desperate to see her face. And screamed.

"Aaaack!"

「Iron Lion precept number one: Obey.」

The goddess's face had become Gunter's. Then it shifted again, this time to his father's.

「Pathetic wretch, shaking like a leaf.」

In that moment, he realized. This is a dream. Zain's face twisted.

"God... dess...?"

As Zain murmured the goddess's name, someone flinched.

"That's creepy, Sir Zain."

"...Hah!"

Zain's eyes snapped open. He jolted upright in shock, only to collapse again. Pain wracked his entire body. His shoulder, left arm, ribs—probably broken.

"La, Lady Lania."

"..."

Tending to him was none other than Lania herself. The very target he'd led soldiers to pursue. His left arm was bandaged and splinted.

"We used the last potion... but you need proper treatment."

"Tha, thank you..."

Had this young girl treated him?

"Oliver did it."

"..."

Why would Oliver save me? He ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wasn't here now. Zain realized where they were: inside the half-wrecked carriage. The iron frame had held the passenger compartment together. Wheels, seats, furnishings—all smashed, but a miracle nonetheless.

Zain glanced at Lania and flinched. Blood trickled from her forehead.

"You're bleeding. Are you all right?"

"...Yeah. Just a scrape."

Lania wiped it away casually. So composed. Was she always this tough? The carefree lady he'd known... Gunter and the Iron Lion Knights must have stripped that innocence away. And of course, Zain himself was to blame.

"Why... did you save me?"

"..."

"You could've just let me die."

Zain asked sincerely. The hunter he'd seen was ice-cold. He wouldn't suddenly grow sentimental and save a pursuing knight. So Lania must have begged him to. But why?

Lania gave a bitter smile.

"That rainy day... you recognized me but let me in anyway. When the soldiers were harassing me."

"Ah..."

Yes, there had been that time. He'd chased off the guards and let the trembling Lania pass. He'd agonized over whether it was right.

"Sir Zain."

"Yes?"

"The territory... the territory's burning."

Tears streamed from Lania's eyes. Zain's eyes widened. What? Through the carriage window, he saw thick smoke billowing. In the direction of Grayrim Territory. And toward the capital road and plains too.

Zain thought of the oil and explosives stockpiled in the territory. No way... did the seniors go through with it?...

"I have nowhere to go now. What happened to Mother? Grandfather told me to go to him..."

Zain had no words for the crying girl. His lips trembled.

Thud! An impact rocked from outside. Then Oliver's tearing shout.

"Knight! If you're awake, grab a sword and get out here!"

His voice was frantic.

"Monsters!"

"M-monsters...!"

Monsters from Akinzrow Gorge. Zain looked around desperately—no sword. Lost in the fall. Then Lania handed him her dagger.

"Sir Zain, please help me..."

Zain hesitated. Wasn't he the one who'd stolen her family and home? He didn't deserve such a tearful plea.

Mistaking his pause for refusal, Lania begged again, voice shaking.

"Please..."

"Zain! If you're a knight, do your duty! Get out here!"

Oliver urged again. Zain carefully took the dagger. He held it before his face like a ceremonial sword.

"Yes, Lady Lania."

Lania stared blankly.

"Knight Zain Krotz swears to protect you with his life."

He pledged as a knight. Then stood. Crack! An ominous snap from his body. Pain like spikes between his ribs. His splinted left arm was useless. But Zain showed no sign of it. Clutching the overly ornate dagger, he stepped out of the wrecked carriage.

His body screamed, but his mind did not. A sensation he'd forgotten these past years. He'd broken his oath of obedience, but for the first time, Zain felt like a true knight.

He dragged his creaking body outside, dagger in hand, staggering.

"Finally!"

Before him, Oliver faced the monsters. His state was as bad as Zain's. Fingers on his sword hand twisted grotesquely. Blood streamed from his head.

Zain stepped up beside him.

"Where'd these monsters come from?"

"Ever fought goblins?"

Oliver grinned. The monsters gathering to attack the carriage were goblins.

Zain nodded.

"They didn't come through Grayrim Territory, did they?"

He recalled the flames rising that way. But Oliver shook his head.

"Climbed the gorge. Probably from the Great Forest."

"...Tribal migration?"

"Who knows."

Right now, it didn't matter. The goblins wielded crude weapons, but there were many.

"Kirruk."

"Chit kek! King git!"

Incomprehensible speech, seething with hostility. The fallen goblins were Oliver's work. Even injured, he could handle ordinary goblins.

"Don't underestimate them."

Oliver warned. Soon, the reason was clear. Larger goblins charged with heavy thuds among the small ones.

"Hobgoblins!"

Red-skinned, definitely hobgoblins. But off—bigger, more ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠muscular than known ones. When one swung its club, Zain was sure.

Boom! The force was inhuman. Zain's arm nearly shattered blocking it. No way a dagger could handle that. He rammed his shoulder into the hobgoblin's chest and locked its arm—a knightly joint lock.

Crunch!

"Kweeeek!"

Hobgoblin—no, an evolved one—howled. But the joint was fully locked. Hanging with his weight would dislocate its shoulder.

"Kuuk, chwee!"

Yet the hobgoblin had monstrous strength. Like an orc warrior, it lifted Zain clean off the ground. Slammed down, he'd be done. Fortunately, Oliver joined.

Slash! The hobgoblin's forearm severed; Zain was free. He scrambled for his dagger. But watching goblins rushed in. Small but numerous and threatening. Life hanging by a thread.

Someone shouted.

"You filthy bastards-!"

A human voice. Reinforcements? He turned hopefully—and saw someone charging through the goblins. At first, he thought human. Slightly red skin, much taller than goblins. A beautiful woman with a cat-like face.

But she was a hobgoblin. Their king, unifier of Great Forest goblins, conqueror marching on the continent. Nanaruk leaped like a tiger, kicking Oliver.

Thwack! Oliver flew like a ball. He landed barely, vomiting blood. Zain lunged at Nanaruk. His dagger aimed for her throat. But she blocked with her hand.

Thud! The blade pierced her palm, but she ignored it, grabbing Zain's hand.

Chills ran down his spine.

"A-are you human or goblin?!"

"Can't you tell? I'm the Goblin King!"

King? Nanaruk's fist smashed toward his head.

Whoosh! He jerked back, jaw twisting. Zain knew close combat too. No way he'd lose to a bipedal beast. But her punches were lethal. One hit and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he'd die. He was outmatched.

"Crazy goblin!"

Oliver joined. Still, Nanaruk was stronger. If only Zain and Oliver were uninjured...

"Not bad for humans."

Nanaruk stomped, shoving them back. They barely regained balance. An old goblin whispered to her. She clicked her tongue, glaring at Zain.

"Protecting a little human girl, huh."

"You bastard-! The lady..."

"Shut up before I kill you all."

Her voice held infrasound rage at her injured minions. Zain's legs shook, but he hid it. Unexpectedly, Nanaruk took two longswords from her minions and tossed them.

"Take them."

A sword fight? But no—she wasn't arming them for fairness.

"You fight with swords too. If you don't wanna die here."

Zain didn't get it but picked up a sword cautiously. Nanaruk ignored them from then on. She tied her hair, drew her axe.

"Dodged the wave this way, and they flock here."

She yelled.

"To the wall! Right wall, hug it tight! Hobgoblins up front!"

Goblins clustered to the gorge's right wall. Strongest hobgoblins shielded the front. Zain and Oliver retreated to the carriage, crashed right against the right wall.

"Kweeeek!"

A goblin shrieked.

"It's coming!"

Nanaruk shouted. The ground trembled.

Rumble...

Shaking the earth came hordes of monsters. Endless ranks.

Oliver, knowledgeable hunter, realized.

He urged Lania, hiding in the wrecked carriage.

"Lady, close your eyes and stay hidden."

"What? What's happening?"

"Quick! Don't come out, no matter what."

He barricaded the entrance with debris. Poor defense, but he hoped.

Thundering hooves! Monsters approached. Bears, insects, birds, giraffes, elephants, dogs, leopards, jaguars... Unlikely allies, mad together. Most stampeded past goblins. But some eyed them. Danger enough.

"Uwaaaah!"

Zain stabbed a boar's face repeatedly. The mad beast shoved him off despite the blade. Oliver stabbed its spine.

Thud, boom! A giraffe-like monster nearly crushed Oliver with a hoof. He rolled away. Hellish.

Goblins died one by one. The carriage slammed Oliver's back. Shameful, but he wanted to hide inside with Lania now. Then he spotted a massive monster. Snake-like chimera. Tree body, crown on head.

"Grroooaaar-!"

Its roar made others roar. Surely the leader. Facing death up close, Oliver trembled. Grotesque. White mushroom-like on its neck? No... a snake?

Then.

"Wha, whaa?!"

Fighting-mad hobgoblin Nanaruk shrieked.

"Little White!"

Little White? Who? Joy laced her voice.

'Nanaruk?!'

I'd recognize the one calling me. Nanaruk and goblins under monster attack.

I fired a ray ahead. Our Little White Snake leaped high, crushing monsters attacking goblins on landing.

Kaboom! Monster blood sprayed. Goblins seeing me for first time hugged in shock. Some begged for mercy, hands and feet flailing.

'Why's the vibe like this!'

"Yeah, everyone smile! Gotta smile!"

Nanaruk yelled to her goblins. I grinned too.