Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Demon King Qlus, Descends! #10
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By devoting the entire daytime to it, I managed to wrap up the training quite satisfactorily.
"Keuk...!"
Buril's face took on a resolute expression as he gripped his spear and snapped to attention. He looked every bit the perfectly disciplined guardsman.
"Heh heh heh! Trainee Buril! You've completed your first training session outstandingly today! This Demon King, Kim Qlus, hereby praises you for it! Salute!"
"Kerung, keuk!"
—Snap!
—Crisp!
Buril immediately assumed the rifle salute position!
It was a move I'd improvised based on memories of standing guard duty in the army, holding rifles at the ready. The clever Buril had mastered it in just a few hours.
He's definitely smart. Is it because goblins naturally have high intelligence? Or maybe my Domination skill makes him understand better? I don't know exactly, but this guy's capable of this much already.
If I keep training him steadily, I'll definitely see some dramatically meaningful results.
"Good. At ease."
"Kuruk."
"That's training for today, Buril. From now on, when you fight, you have to use that spear. That's the only way you can take down enemies bigger than you."
"Keuk?"
Buril tilted his head, as if he didn't quite get it.
Truth be told, you can't expect dramatic changes from just one day of training. This little punk would probably drop the spear and charge in bare-handed the moment a real combat order came down. Then he'd fight with claws and teeth.
Right now, Buril was just mimicking the moves I taught him without understanding the purpose of spear fighting.
"I have to suppress that instinct through consistent training."
That's what training is all about.
Training is exactly that.
I'll make sure to keep it up from now on. I've got a solid daily routine now. Train in the morning, head out for hunting and fruit gathering before noon, come back, and that should do it.
"Anyway, Buril! Let's go gather some fruit!"
"Keuk keuk!"
It'll be dark soon. Too late for proper hunting. We'll just pick some fruit, lightly roast the outside with Demon Breath, and eat.
By the time the sun sets, I can do some meditation and hit the sack.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After that day, we made a few more spears. Since they're consumables, it's best to make them ahead of time whenever possible.
Once we had the spears ready, we started proper spear training with Buril, and he came to understand them on his own level. After drilling it into him relentlessly, it seemed like he grasped the basic concept of stabbing enemies with the spear.
"Hm."
When we actually went out to hunt lizards, he didn't charge right in but took a stance like he was going to thrust with the spear. But he couldn't utilize the goblin's natural agility at all. Buril just stood there in front of the lizard, waiting for my command.
—Whoosh!
In the end, the lizard escaped, and Buril stared blankly at its retreating back, spear still aimed.
"Yeah, that's about right."
For now, he seems to think he can only move on my orders. Telling him to fight autonomously with the spear is still beyond him.
"Alright, Buril. Let's go hunting with this spear again today."
"Keuk keuk."
With steady practice, he'll get there. Today, too, I headed out of the dungeon with Buril for some real combat experience.
"Spending time here really makes it feel familiar."
"Keuk."
I've got Buril by my side now. And no more of those damn army bugs that tormented me endlessly. At first I was scared stiff, but I haven't encountered any monsters strong enough to threaten me yet.
Ah, except for that fairy.
I'm still cautious around them, but since they hardly show up, I'm getting used to it.
—Crunch crunch.
That's when it happened, as we were walking.
"Kek...!"
Suddenly, Buril grabbed my clothes and stopped. What else could it be? I immediately ducked behind a nearby tree with him.
—Swoosh.
Buril pointed toward the distance with his hand.
Looking there... Hm?
—Rustle rustle!
A goblin was moving at a pretty fast pace. Then, in an instant, the goblin vanished.
"What the hell was that goblin doing?"
"Keuk?"
This was the second goblin I'd seen since coming here.
Of course there'd be other goblins around. I considered following it, but something about the way it was running made me hesitate to mess with it rashly. "Hm." Should I tail that goblin? If I'm lucky, I might find their habitat. Knowing where they are would let me scheme something to add another subordinate. "Buril. Let's shadow it, then... Whoa!" "Keuk...?!" "G-get down." —Grip. I immediately shoved Buril's head down and crouched low. It appeared. A fairy. —Flit flit flit. The fairy was flying in from over there. A fairy with pretty butterfly wings, looking just like a doll. It was Tinkerbell straight out of the stories. Since it was moving straight ahead... as long as it didn't suddenly turn, we wouldn't be spotted. Was that goblin just now fleeing from this fairy? Good thing I didn't move recklessly. If we'd made noise and drawn the fairy's attention, it could've been dangerous. —Flit flit flit. I observed the fairy flying by. I caught a glimpse of its face... it really was doll-like cute. —Swish. Anyway, the fairy soon disappeared. "Haa. Fuck, it's nerve-wracking every time one of those pops up. I swear." What is this, Ao Oni? "Anyway, Buril. Let's track that goblin from earlier. Can you follow its scent?" "Keruk kegerung." Buril nodded affirmatively. The fairy had flown off in a slightly different direction. We could circle around and track the goblin. "Keruk." Buril went right up ahead and started sniffing the ground on all fours. Tracking like this with his nose to the dirt showed his sense of smell was good, but not dog-level. I gripped my spear and guarded Buril as he tracked. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We'd been tracking for quite a while when it happened.
—Keuk! Kerrrruk!
—Kururuk! Kekuk! Kururung!
—Kerayaak! Keryak!
"Hm?"
What was that noise?
Suddenly, noisy sounds started coming from ahead. Listening closely, it sounded like goblins howling ferociously.
"Buril?"
"Keuk...!"
Buril seemed excited.
Up ahead.
There were multiple goblins.
"Buril. Stay hidden. Advance in concealment."
I went prone with Buril and crawled slowly toward the source of the noise. Even as we pushed through the underbrush and vines, the goblins' savage cries didn't let up.
When we finally parted the last bush...
"Kerrrruk! Keuk!"
"Kerayaaaak!"
"Krrraruk!"
We witnessed something astonishing.
Dozens of goblins, more than ten at least, clustered together in a massive brawl. Biting, clawing, piling on and pounding each other mercilessly. Blood sprayed everywhere. It was like a battlefield.
"...!"
—Tremble tremble...!
Buril covered his mouth with his hand, trembling as he stared blankly at the scene.
And... I was the same.
"Kerrrruk! Kerrrruk!"
"Kekrayaaaaak!"
"Krrraruk!"
The goblins fought savagely.
Combat.
Struggle.
Was it intertribal goblin warfare? Fighting tooth and nail for survival, for more fruit and prey, battling over territory?
Majesty.
Grandeur.
Those emotions welled up.
And I watched that majestic, grand battlefield as if entranced.
"Kerrrruk!"
"Kerung! Kerung!"
It felt like watching a nature documentary. In the documentary, the savanna predators showed no mercy or pity.
A mother gazelle, lower body torn away, entrails being devoured while still alive. And right before her eyes, her fawn brutally ripped apart. No mercy to end it quickly, no pity to spare the mother the sight. Wild hyenas have none of that.
Just to survive!
To eat!
They hunt with full force, tear apart, and devour!
Brutally cruel, but that's the wild...!
—Kerayaaaaak!
The goblins were doing just that now! Biting, ripping open bellies with claws, tearing out guts! Fighting with such ferocity!
Thrill.
Nothing but thrill. Buril, prone beside me with his mouth covered, felt the same. We hid in the bushes and observed the warzone.
—Rustle.
That's when it happened.
—Flit flit flit.
Suddenly.
—Flit flit flit.
Suddenly, the fairy appeared. The winged sprite. It was the same one from earlier. This fairy descended into the chaotic goblin battlefield like a goddess.
"Ke, keuk?!"
"Keuk!"
"Kerrrrrruk!"
And with that, the war ended.
—Scatter.
The goblins who spotted the fairy panicked and tried to flee. Dragging wounded bodies, bleeding profusely, they scrambled to escape.
But it was too late.
—Flutter flutter.
The tiny fairy flapped her wings furiously, scattering some kind of powder that whipped up the wind.
"Kerrr..."
"Kaerung... Kaerung kaerung..."
"Gurrurung..."
The goblins exposed to the powder staggered around like drunken middle-aged salarymen, stumbling in every direction.
Bleeding goblins, all together.
"Kyahahahahahaha!"
And a burst of cruel laughter. One thing was clear: the fairy was delighted by turning the goblins into this state.
—Stagger stagger.
Did she hypnotize them or something?
The goblins lurched off in random directions. How long does it last? Out here in the wilds, stumbling around drunk like that... they'll get killed soon enough!
That's why!
That's why Buril feared fairies so much! Of course! Getting hit by magic like that is as good as death! It's not just fire or ice that kills—that stuff is murder magic too!
—Flit flit flit.
After scattering the goblins, the fairy flew off somewhere else. She was definitely laughing. Like she'd toyed with them for fun and lost interest, flying away! We must never tangle with something that dangerous!
Always bolt in the opposite direction!
"B-Buril. Let's go."
"Keuk..."
We turned to head elsewhere when...
"Ke, kerruk... Kerruk..."
One drunken goblin came staggering by, eyes rolled back. Its path overlapped ours. Should we avoid it...? No.
"Buril. Let's chase that bastard down."
"Keuk."
Perfect!
We'll catch up and subdue it!