Chapter 12
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Goblin Lord (4)
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A dark, murky forest was blanketed by a wave of dark green.
Like algae overtaking a pond, the goblins filling every inch of sight glared at the subjugation force, each one radiating ferocious killing intent.
The atmosphere was utterly unlike ordinary goblins, no matter where you looked, and the subjugation force's morale visibly wavered.
"What the hell, goblins with eyes like that...?"
"How are there so many?"
"There were no stories like this! Has to be over a thousand just by looking!"
By numbers alone, the enemy outnumbered them nearly eight to one.
Naturally, the mercenaries—who'd seen this as an easy job—began to falter first.
"Shut your mouths! Scared of mere goblins right now?!"
"You call yourselves mercenaries acting like this?!"
"Snap out of it!"
The commanders and unit captains seized the crumbling morale.
Fortunately, the soldiers pulled themselves together quickly.
It helped that their spirits had held strong on the march here.
"Yeah! Just goblins!"
"Even if they roll up in wagons, no problem!"
"We've got the knights!"
The soldiers—generally sharper than the mercenaries—trusted their comrades.
The mercenaries' rally, though, fell disappointingly flat.
Unlike the soldiers, they remembered the recent rumors of mercenaries wiped out in the Black Forest.
"This is bad luck..."
"Won't we croak like those guys?"
But their thoughts changed nothing.
The two assault commanders issued the charge.
"Shields up! No gaps!"
"Forward, loyal heroes of the Empire!"
No backing out now. The mercenaries hefted their shields and advanced.
Soon, the human ranks slammed into the green horde.
Unlike the shaky start, the battle raged fiercely.
Mercenaries out hunting now fought for their lives, while soldiers had paralysis resistance potions ready for the poison needles.
The mercenaries had scraped together their own potions too.
With the goblins' paralysis venom falling flat, the horde buckled under the humans' push, led by the two commanders.
"Man, Cloi must be rolling in it by now."
Potion bottles littered the ground—plenty of brands, but Gilenoi Merchant Guild labels dominated.
"Sharp as ever."
Meanwhile, Jun scanned the field with his [Bright Eyes] skill.
Amid the brutal frenzy, his forces inched ahead.
But it wouldn't last.
The enemy's main body hadn't shown yet.
"About time for the boss."
Goblins were brutal and sly.
A Goblin Lord layered wisdom on top.
It'd strike at peak human momentum—the perfect moment.
Kyaarrgaaaaa—!!
To smash their spirits.
Its arrival shook the forest with a colossal roar.
Kyaarrgaaaaa—!!
Even the pushed-back goblins cheered.
A bit shy of a thousand now, but their eyes still burned with murder.
The subjugation force felt their bodies grow leaden.
Shields strained harder against clubs; steps dragged.
They knew: the Goblin Lord's doing.
Not far off.
Jun spotted the hulking brute pounding its chest, bellowing.
Bronze sword and shield—not like the club-wielding rabble.
Dark green mana cloaked it: physical enhancement.
'Goblin Great Warrior.'
It moved—sly as a goblin, hitting the flank, not the knight-packed center.
Its warrior escorts jabbed spears into shield gaps.
"Damn it! Shields up straight!"
"Shut it! You spear right! Numbers ain't dropping!"
"Fuck, so many upfront! Aagh!"
"Shit!"
The Great Warrior spurred reckless charges. Needles from everywhere grew irksome.
Potions or not, nonstop hits slowed you down.
Against the tireless tide, mercenaries cracked first.
The march had drained them; few used mana.
Soldiers—with more mana users—plugged holes, but were mere fodder before the Great Warrior.
"Kugh!"
Unlike child-sized goblins, the Great Warrior and crew matched grown men.
Its bronze blade splintered wooden shields.
Lord's aura, numbers, knight lockdown.
The beast swam free, warriors surging behind.
"Flank breached!"
"Damn!"
"Sir Mardin! Break through!"
"Ugh!"
The commanders decided.
Drag this out? No good.
Who knew if that was all the goblins? Stamina plummeted.
"Sir Chern, your honor!"
"Of course!"
The lesser knight volunteered first.
Better punch through with aura than dance to the beast's tune.
But that left the other hogging Lord kills.
Aura didn't last forever.
Situation forced a quick pact; they moved to reclaim momentum.
Meanwhile.
"Ooh... that's aura. Damn impressive."
From afar, Jun felt oddly moved.
Aura—game screen only—live before his eyes. Novel.
"Goblins slicing like tofu."
The aura knight was a tank in melee chaos.
Nothing halted it; swings felled five, six goblins.
Kin dropping in seconds? The horde dodged knights.
Knights closed on the breach.
"Aura's busted."
How long for Aiden?
"Hah."
Aiden fixated on knights like his life depended.
'That talent? Soon.'
Not sure when, but quick.
Jun eyed Jinovan's sword hand.
"Ready, Commander?"
"Mm. Your word."
"Now, Sir Chern!"
"Haaap!!"
In goblin swarms, Chern ignited aura.
Target: brazen Great Warrior in the green surf.
Bold flank dive was smart, but too deep in battle heat.
Spotted knights late; retreat cut off.
Rear goblins clawed for path; crisis-hardened humans stonewalled.
"You! Done!"
Aura Chern shredded blockers, faced the beast.
Bronze up—but toothpick to aura, snapped.
Kyak—!
Head flew like the blade.
Pathetic end for the pusher-turned-prey.
"D-Dead!"
"Goblin Lord's down!"
"Knight took the head!"
"Waaaaah!!"
Soldiers, mercenaries roared cheers.
Momentum surged; goblins reeled.
Knights grinned at glory, but.
"Hm...? Goblins why..."
"Not retreating?"
Chern, Mardin sensed first.
Behind Jinovan in intel, but academy elites.
Some Goblin Lord data.
Cunning: leader down, they scatter.
Why aura-rush the Warrior? Exactly.
But no retreat.
And.
"Commander, r-rear!"
"Goblins rear!"
"Reinforcements!!"
Knights scowled, truth dawning.
Warrior wasn't Lord.
"Hints galore."
First: too straight for sly goblin.
Humans knew them; they knew humans—strong foes especially.
Yet blatant show.
Good ploy—flash power, skirt knights, deep dive—but flawed.
No knight counter.
"Aura mismatched too."
Jun gripped slack arms, knowing the feel.
"Goblin Shaman. This horde's lord, Irregular."
Shaman aura.
Weakness curse blanketed all.
Warrior lord? Goblin buffs, not debuffs.
"Front couldn't tell. Death inches away."
Fatigue or Warrior aura boost?
Blurred line.
Unless rear like Jun.
"Totem shapes clinched it."
Disgust totems.
Jun eyed close: sun-shrunk, but.
"Young goblin skulls."
Warrior lord? Elder skulls.
Youth totems: Shaman mark.
"Old times. Spotted it, Lords easier."
<Blackout> hidden bit—no guides.
Lee Jung-jun's detail.
'Shaman slyer than Warrior.'
Newbie forums raged.
Kyarrrrtutaka—!
Rear cheers.
New green wave: rag-draped Goblin Shaman, as expected.
"Let's watch newbie commander shine."
Jun plotted to tag-team.
Rear Goblin Shaman.
Three hundred goblins around.
Fewer rear to dodge eyes.
Still deadly.
Rear guard: Jinovan's twenty soldiers max.
"Battle ready!"
Veteran barked; shields gripped.
Do-or-die.
Front tangled; rear just Jun, Aiden, Jinovan's crew.
Sensing doom?
"S-s-sir Jinovan! Sir Jinovan!! Where?!"
Baron Dortagon's screech rang.
No Jinovan beside.
Luck: baron center-ish, not instant goblin chow.
He disagreed.
'What glory dragged me here!!'
Should've stuck Imperial.
Regret hit for Blackout ambition.
Behind formation, Jun mana'd up, chanted first.
[Detecting Target]
[Lightning Whip]
Mana-fueled electric lash ready.
Chance to test pricey spells.