Chapter 11
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Goblin Lord (3)
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Two days later.
The reconnaissance team, retracing their steps exactly, was greeted by the main force—which, just as Jinovan had predicted, had completed the base camp.
“Jinovan Edmiller. I have returned after completing the reconnaissance mission as ordered.”
“Oh, Sir Jinovan! You've made it back safely!”
Baron Dortagon, a noble whose girth had grown to quite a substantial degree, welcomed Jinovan heartily.
Standing beside the man were two knights, fellow graduates of the military academy like Jinovan.
“This is the totem we discovered in the northeast forest.”
“Hmmm! Just as I thought!”
The totem Jinovan handed over was grotesquely shaped.
They grimaced briefly at the horrific sight of a young goblin's severed head, dried in the sun.
“But Sir Jinovan, you returned sooner than scheduled?”
“Indeed. Was the mission simpler than expected, perhaps?”
In the midst of this, the two knights feigned casual inquiry while attempting to diminish Jinovan's accomplishments.
Baron Dortagon echoed their sentiment. Jinovan's return had indeed been about two days ahead of schedule.
“That's true enough. Sir Jinovan, have your skills advanced by leaps and bounds? Hahaha!”
“The mercenary I hired proved excellent at pathfinding. And above all... I discovered this totem right at the entrance to the northeast sector, Commander.”
“Hm? Ah, haha! I see. The goblins must have expanded their territory swiftly.”
The commander, more versed in politics than rigorous military training, dismissed the totem's location at the entrance as inconsequential.
The other two commanders appeared similarly unperturbed.
It wasn't a lack of competence on their part; unlike Jinovan, who had directly sensed the crisis on the ground, they simply lacked the full intelligence.
Reading the mood, Jinovan spoke as if steeling himself for a decision.
“Commander, may I have a word?”
“Oh, Jinovan. What has you looking so grave?”
In response to the commander's question, Jinovan opened his mouth cautiously.
“I suspect... the Goblin Lord may not be an Irregular after all.”
“Senior. Do you think Sir Jinovan's persuasion will get through?”
Aiden's question drew an ambiguous expression from Jun.
“They won't outright ignore it.”
The Level 1 fortress commander was a fresh transplant from central politics, so his grasp of tactical minutiae inevitably lagged behind academy-trained officers.
Thus, he naturally heeded counsel from those under him.
“But they won't take it all that seriously either. What worries me more are the other two commanders. They're the ones actually leading the assault troops.”
“Ah... Still, don't they crave achievements too? They're academy grads like Sir Jinovan.”
“Sure, probably. But reality has a way of turning half-baked knowledge into a bigger mess sometimes.”
Those who cling blindly to incomplete understanding are the dangerous ones.
Aiden nodded, as if something clicked at Jun's words.
“You're right... The other seniors who went ahead first were just like that.”
“Exactly the type.”
What doomed the mercenary corps in the prior goblin subjugation?
They'd trusted superficial goblin lore, only to fall to paralytic venom far deadlier than anticipated.
“I can't speak to the other commanders' temperaments, but from Sir Jinovan's reaction...”
They likely wouldn't dismiss his view entirely.
Just in case.
“To be safe... let's make our own preparations.”
Events unfolded precisely as Jun had foreseen.
They acknowledged the Irregular possibility to a degree but implemented no further precautions.
No additional supplies or reinforcements discussed.
Merely advising soldiers to stay vigilant.
That alone was a relief, truthfully.
Better braced somewhat than blindsided.
‘Probably thanks to Sir Jinovan's prior failed subjugation.’
The other commanders had checked and prodded Jinovan, yet they shared academy roots.
They knew his caliber. Surely reasoned he had cause to falter.
Hence, even they didn't trivialize the threat.
The true issue lay elsewhere.
“The mercenaries seem awfully pumped.”
“Well, from their angle, it's a jackpot.”
Just joining a Goblin Lord hunt boosts the resume massively—and an Irregular at that!
Mercs staking lives for value leaned excited over tense.
“Not odd they're optimistic. Difficulty up, sure, but three knight commanders on our side.”
In the <Blackout> world, knights reigned supreme.
Imperial Military Academy knights? Pinnacle of talent.
“Irregular or not, goblin racial ceilings persist. Knights? Zero chance of loss.”
“Aura?”
“Yep. Irregular doesn't grant Aura.”
Aura.
Warriors' ultimate dream, warrior class romance.
Having leveled a warrior as ‘Lee Jung-jun’, Jun knew its devastation best.
‘Pre-Aura warrior: tanky. Post-Aura: combat god.’
Thus, most fixated on rewards over risks.
“Mercs slay small fry same as always, but 72-year Irregular on record? Resume glows.”
Their fervor made sense.
“But not as straightforward as they assume. Field boss Irregular.”
“How so, specifically?”
“Irregular field bosses carry signature auras. Buff nearby allies, debuff foes sometimes.”
Warrior-type Goblin Lord? Buffs goblins in range.
Shaman-type? Curse aura sapping enemy physiques.
“Not fretting commanders' prowess. Elites through and through.”
Aura-wielding knights versus Level 1 field boss? No fall.
Three, even.
‘Knight Aura snaps goblin warrior blades like toothpicks, shreds shaman spells like tissue.’
Knights human, though—stray pebble kills.
Pinpoint Lord amid horde? Relies on supporting ranks.
‘Fresh academy knights' Aura? 30 seconds, minute tops.’
Troops and mercs clear the way.
Falter there? Knights capped.
“Commanders fail to corral mercs tight... combat gets rough.”
“R-really?”
“Eh, should hold. Soldiers too, not just mercs.”
Tough fight ahead, but Jun's options slim.
Can't meddle in command.
‘So what can I do now...’
Eyes on Jinovan emerging from HQ, Jun licked his lips.
“Time to toss bait to our shiny newbie.”
That evening.
Frantic preparations for tomorrow's march.
Yet Jinovan approached the comparatively serene headquarters.
“Commander. A word, if I may.”
“Oh, Sir Jinovan. What's on your mind?”
“Once full engagement with the Goblin Lord commences, could you assign me and my unit to the rear?”
“The rear? You?”
Baron Dortagon cocked his head at the abrupt rear-guard bid.
“Necessary for you to volunteer there?”
“I'd love frontline swordplay, but goblin turf spans farther than anticipated—it's nagging me.”
“Hmmm...”
72-year hype aside, just a Goblin Lord.
Three knights? Overkill.
Moreover.
“Commander, Sir Jinovan's right. Recon reports vast territory—rear incursion risk mid-battle.”
“Agreed. He'd safeguard you securely. I back him.”
Other commanders endorsed, spotting opportunity.
Fewer glory-sharers best.
Confident duo could solo the Lord.
Baron grinned.
“That so? If ye insist, I'll ponder gravely. Rear wobble disastrous. Indeed. Sir Jinovan, such foresight!”
“...My thanks, Commander.”
Bowing gratitude, faint weariness shadowed Jinovan's face.
Political maneuvering far from his bent.
‘Proceeded as he outlined. Pray the plan unfolds as described.’
Jinovan harbored merit ambitions, sure.
Just banking on that shrewd mage's counsel.
Nearly 150 strong traversed the Black Forest.
Recon blazed trail ahead; tough foes signaled main force naturally.
“Advance swifter than expected?”
“Yes. Sir Jinovan's recon shining.”
Recon and rear aid shifted other commanders—now crediting Jinovan fittingly.
His feats fade post-victory anyway.
“Hoho! Sir Jinovan's toil exemplary. Proper commendation later.”
“Ahem!”
“He'll honor your call, Commander.”
Jinovan's recon truly steamrolled.
Courtesy of Jun and Aiden's subtle boosts.
Soldiers, sensing their impact over time, lavished praise at rests.
“Mage aboard? This comfy? Unbelievable.”
“Right! Why merc work?”
“Hush. Private motives.”
Jun, the man himself.
“Senior, you good?”
“This godforsaken trail... walks on, never familiar...”
Subpar stamina; chugged vitality potion, near collapse.
As they neared the Black Forest's northeast entrance.
Recon sensed the woods' mood shift.
Monsters thinned abruptly; uncanny hush blanketed all.
“Goblins onto us.”
“~150 strong? Figures.”
Prior recon: no fires, trace erasure focus.
Main force? No concealment.
Jinovan detached a squad accordingly.
“Jun. Lend your comrade?”
“Name it.”
“Forward-deploy some of mine with him. Ambush likely.”
Jun eyed Aiden.
“Aiden. Up for it?”
“Aye, senior! Entrust it.”
Aiden, recon-pro now, decided swift.
Detachment off soon after.
“Hm.”
Mana-sharpened eyes caught Jinovan spotting a bird weaving trees, red ribbon trailing leg.
Ambush ahead signal.
Alerted HQ pronto; forces split for annihilation.
One assault knight flanked via recon-scouted route.
Meantime, recon clashed ambush goblins; commander's main smashed lines instantly.
Fiercer human onslaught spurred goblin routs.
Flankers nixed that.
Annihilation.
Flawless triumph.
Morale skyrocketed.
Cheers mingled Baron Dortagon's booming laugh.
“Hahaha! Thy prowess magnificent!”
“Overkind, Commander.”
“Your brilliant orders.”
“Grateful for faith.”
Commanders' humble bootlicking buoyed Baron's spirits like the troops'.
“Music to ears! Especial Sir Jinovan—recon mastery unforeseen.”
“My thanks.”
Jinovan inwardly astonished.
Smoother than dreamed.
Yet no solo credit.
‘That mage's insight proves invaluable.’
Academy elite or not, first Black Forest dip; monster lore pure theory.
Anticipated grinds, but butter-smooth.
‘Commander, blue molds abound. Plant Undead turf likely.’
‘Tree scars: Outer Wolf territory marks. Fresh traces.’
‘Corpse flower there... Corrow Bee favorite.’
‘Torn plants? Goblin poison harvest signs.’
New monster zones: mage's eerie tips ever-present.
Mostly familiar lore, but his speed unmatched.
‘Uniform woods to me. His eyes see distinct.’
Boss upheaval reshuffled territories now.
Each tip golden. Prepped troops, minimal casualties.
Suddenly grasped Cloi's junior mage fixation.
‘Such aide under me...’
Commanderly talent lust surged.
Quickly reined.
‘Gilenoi Merchant Guild backed, no less.’
Elite grad, but penniless starter.
Mage bound to soar sans him.
‘Connections worthwhile.’
Guild itself promising—ground ops eyeing Blackout creep.
Advance pressed.
Nearing entrance proper: goblin skirmishes ramped; territory ingress full.
And.
Kyagyagyagyagya!!
Kyar! Kyar! Kyartuga!
Kihorururururu!
At goblin hamlet, hordes awaited.
Trouble: double anticipated count.