The Trap Springs
The creatures hadn't noticed Sharan or me. After eavesdropping for a while, I realized they were planning to continue their search for a bit longer.
It seemed there was a time limit, though.
They intended to search for a short while more before withdrawing. I’d be able to get the rest of the details once I took the mage prisoner. I suppose the logic was that if they didn't return by a certain time, they’d be considered dead.
“Sharan. Retreat.”
“Shaa.”
We immediately put some distance between us and them.
I needed to lure them toward our dungeon. Fighting in the open field was... disadvantageous.
They were supposedly expert trackers and masters of escape, so it would be a disaster if I let them slip away.
While the forest was my territory, I decided to save the pursuit of fleeing trackers as a final plan. Whatever the case, stability was key. There was no need to unnecessarily test their ability to run away.
Anyway, how should I lure them?
Should I send the pixies?
Fairies were rare beings. If they saw a pixie, wouldn't they try to investigate? No. That wasn't right. Humans also knew that fairies were dangerous entities. There was a high chance they would turn back the moment they saw one.
“Hobgoblins.”
Yes. I would organize a Hobgoblin special forces unit to lure them.
My goblins had grown so large that they didn't look like goblins anymore. If I were a tracker and saw such strange goblins, what would I do?
I’d become wary. I’d probably run away immediately and report it, thinking I should catch one as evidence.
But with Hobgoblins, they wouldn't be particularly guarded. They would likely think, "Let's just investigate the den once."
I would organize a Hobgoblin lure squad and try to draw them in. Since humans couldn't exactly interrogate Hobgoblins, it wouldn't matter much if the plan failed.
“Pixies, withdraw. We’re heading back to the dungeon now. Sharan, be careful not to leave any traces on the way.”
“Yes, Demon King.”
We returned to the dungeon immediately.
After returning, I immediately organized the Hobgoblin lure squad.
It consisted of three members, including the chieftain, Hunchback.
“Your mission is to be guided by the pixies and find the humans. Once you find them, make your presence known and then run back to the dungeon.”
“Grack... Just run away?”
“Yes. You’re luring the humans. But it’ll be a problem if you get caught or killed along the way. You need to run well.”
“Grack. Understood.”
Hunchback nodded with a serious face. It was the look of someone who would do what he was told. Since I wasn't asking him to fight, just to run, he probably thought it was manageable.
Just as I was about to send them out:
“Keruk. Demon King. I don’t trust them. Can I go too?”
Buril said.
“I think the humans will be very wary if they see you, Buril.”
“Is that so? Then I’ll stay in the back. Those Hobgoblin guys will definitely fail. Keruk. I have to watch over them.”
“Hmm.”
Buril didn't have much faith in the intelligence of the Hobgoblins. Sending Buril? This was a fairly dangerous move.
Strictly speaking, Buril could be called a 'mutant goblin.' I couldn't give him a reason to retreat.
Still, if it was Buril.
“Hey. Will you be okay? You must never be discovered by the humans, Buril.”
“Keruk! You can trust me! Who do you think I am, Demon King! I’m Buril!”
—*Flex!*
Buril, who had clenched his fist tightly, thrust it toward me and shouted confidently.
“You bastard. Are you trying to earn some credit?”
“Keruk! That’s right!”
“Kuhahaha! Good! Then you guide those Hobgoblins well! Hunchback! Move according to Buril’s command! Do you understand!”
“Grack. Understood.”
The phalanxes were already well-trained, so they could operate without Buril. Let’s send him. I immediately gave instructions to the pixies as well.
“Serineu. Scout stealthily and let the others know the humans' location. Remember, you must never be discovered.”
“Got it. I’ve done this a few times, so don’t worry. So, this scouting party is me, the pixies, Buril, and the Hobgoblins?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll be back!”
Serineu shouted confidently.
“Then, deploy! Lure the humans to the dungeon!”
“Keruk!”
—*Thud, thud, thud.*
The lure squad left the dungeon.
“Juragi!”
And I immediately called Juragi to give the next order.
“Shuwack! Did you call!”
“Take the remaining Hobgoblins and enter the underground passage! Go to the very end and wait! And when I shout, rush into the dungeon and attack the humans! We’ll take the front, so you take the rear!”
“When you signal... attack the humans who entered the dungeon! Shurararack!”
“Yes. That’s it. Did you understand?”
“Shuwack! Of course!”
“Then go!”
“Shuwack!”
Juragi immediately led his subordinates into the dungeon’s underground passage. There was no need to ambush imps like last time.
The Viet Cong-style underground tunnels built by Gyul and the Kobold children were complete. If you went down the underground passage inside the dungeon, you could exit through the tunnel outside.
The moment the humans entered the dungeon and I sent the signal, the monsters hiding in the passage would emerge and rush into the dungeon, allowing us to sandwich the humans.
“It’s a tactic I’m using for the first time, but...”
You have to try it to get better at it.
And it’s fucking perfect, isn't it?
“Everyone! Prepare for battle!”
Ah, should I make some Hobgoblin footprints in front of the dungeon?
And then.
Serineu returned.
“Hey! Hurry! They’re coming!”
She had an urgent face.
“Serineu. Give me a proper report, quickly.”
“Ah, right! So! First, the pixies and Buril are hiding outside! The Hobgoblins are coming to the dungeon! The humans seem to be following slowly!”
Slowly?
Ah, I guess they figured there was no need to rush since they were trackers? They probably thought they’d just let them run away and follow them at their leisure.
“They’re quite relaxed.”
The pixies could just fly and hide in the dense trees, and I was sure Buril, the smartest of them, would hide well on his own.
“Then Serineu, go back to your unit and prepare to command the pixies. Once the humans enter, we’re going to hit them with a three-stage volley.”
“Okay!”
Serineu immediately entered the dungeon.
“Should we just protect the Demon King?”
“Do that.”
Sharan and Lumika. And the rest of the royal guard just had to protect me. Anyway. As I was waiting in that state.
“Grack! Grarack!”
“Grararack!”
The Hobgoblins, looking pale, came running in like crazy.
“Hey! Hunchback! Get a grip and report!”
“Grack?! Re, report?!”
“Tell me what happened!”
“Grack! The humans are chasing us!”
“Fine, then. Wait a bit, and when I say so, go into the underground passage and keep going. And tell the others to rush into the dungeon as soon as they meet them.”
“Ah, understood, grack!”
The Hobgoblins immediately sat down and caught their breath. Now, it would be perfect as long as the humans entered the dungeon. I hadn't made any separate traps this time.
I intended to project firepower and sandwich them from the front and back.
From now on, I had to wait patiently.
That’s what I thought.
“Ah.”
A few dozen minutes passed.
—*Thud.*
I felt that the humans had arrived in front of my dungeon.
“What is this? This tunnel?”
As they chased the fleeing Hobgoblins, a strange tunnel appeared.
“Hmm?”
“What on earth is this?”
The trackers stopped in front of the tunnel. It was a very strange tunnel. It was a different form from tunnels dug by monsters or formed naturally.
“Wha, what is going on?”
At the timid mage’s question, the burly man answered.
“Ah, a strange tunnel appeared, you see.”
“Strange, you say...?”
“That’s right. This is the first time I’ve seen a tunnel of this shape. Some kind of tree roots are covering the walls and ceiling... I have no idea what this is.”
“Ah, I see.”
As the mage showed interest in the explanation, the burly man began to explain something enthusiastically.
“Tsk.”
The tracker, Marn, didn't like that sight. Everyone was aiming for her because she was a young and pretty mage. She was a woman who seemed timid and unable to refuse things well, so he thought he could drag her to bed if he played his cards right.
Naturally, he didn't want to lose her.
Marn opened his mouth immediately.
“It’s suspicious, but the traces are certain. Look at the footprints in front. They’re all Hobgoblins.”
Looking at the traces, it was certain. Hobgoblins lived here. And there were no traces of other strong monsters.
“Let’s go inside and take a look. They’re just Hobgoblins, so it won’t be a problem.”
“But isn't it a bit strange? Shouldn't we investigate a bit before going in?”
“We don’t have time anyway, right? I think we can just take a quick look and then go check out other places.”
He didn't know what kind of tunnel it was, but Hobgoblins were currently using it. It wouldn't be a problem to take a look once. Marn, the tracker, judged it so.
“Wo, wouldn't it be dangerous...?”
The timid mage said hesitantly.
“Phew.”
He had given clear instructions as a leader, and she said something like that. Anyway, for someone so timid, her breasts were quite large. Marn smacked his lips inwardly and smiled.
“It’s fine. Hobgoblins are living there right now. They aren't very dangerous. They can’t even use ranged attacks, and they’re shorter than humans. No matter how many are inside, we can suppress them.”
“Is that so...?”
At those words, the mage’s complexion improved as if she were slightly relieved.
“...”
He wanted to drag her to bed no matter what. He wanted to grab those lewd breasts, squeeze them until they burst, and fuck her all night long. She was a different type from the usual haughty mage bitches, so there was potential.
“Then let’s go.”
Anyway, he had appealed enough as a leader. Marn ordered them to light their lanterns, then naturally formed a formation and ordered them to enter.
“Ruby, you just need to provide rear support.”
“Yes...”
And so.
—*Step, step.*
The trackers entered the tunnel.
“Stay calm. Hobgoblins are nothing.”
“But more than that, these tree roots are very unique. I wonder how they covered the tunnel walls and ceiling like this.”
“I think so too.”
The trackers moved, throwing out a word each.
They weren't particularly tense.
“...”
Marn wasn't tense either. Hobgoblins were nothing. Anyway. As they walked, it was quite a long hallway.
The moment he wondered when the bastards would appear.
—*Halt.*
“Wait. Stop.”
In that darkness.
Something was visible.
“Huh?”
Are they... making a fierce expression? Are they Hobgoblins? If so, what are those shields and spears?
—*Whirrr.*
The sound of wings flapping.
Are they flying?
That thought was very brief.
In an instant.
"@##@#%!!!"
"@#%#@%!!"
"@#&##@%!!!"
—*Swoosh!!*
Along with a fierce shout, a blade of magic grazed his cheek. —*Pew!* His cheek burned. Naturally, blood would be flowing down.
“Wha, what on earth is this!”
“Formation! Maintain the formation!”
Something was wrong.
The trackers thought.
“Everyone, retreat!!!”
The moment Marn shouted.
—*Thud.*
The tracker standing next to him toppled forward.
“Ghaaaack...!”
He was groaning while clutching his face. Blood was overflowing between his hands. The magic from just a moment ago had hit him in the face...!
“Kyaaaack!”
The mage screamed. There was no helping the guy who had fallen. A quick judgment. He didn't know what was going on, but these weren't Hobgoblins. This was something much more dangerous. He had to go and inform the lord immediately. Thinking that, Marn turned his body and kicked off the ground.
However.
“Huh?”
For some reason.
“Shuwaaaaaaaack!”
“Graaaack! Graaaack!”
—*Thud, thud, thud, thud!*
Frenzied Lizardmen and Hobgoblins were rushing in, filling the dungeon hallway completely.
“The entrance is blocked...?”
They couldn't block that!
“Damn it!”
While he was at a loss for what to do.
“Keruk! Keruruk!”
“Keruk!”
Goblins holding shields and spears, who had been inside the dungeon.
“Wha, what on earth!”
—*Step, step, step.*
They were advancing in step, forming a formation like an army.
“What on earth is this!!”
He couldn't understand it. What were all these things, and why were the monsters allied?
“Kyaaaack! Kyaaaaack!”
“Hu, hurry! Draw your swords! We have to make a path to retreat somehow, kuhuk?!”
As the burly tracker said, he drew his sword and took a stance, but they were already surrounded from the front and back.
“You fucking bastards!”
As they screamed, the spear tips of the goblins, armed like an army, flew toward them.