Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Hobgoblin Bastards #2
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These bastards are living really fucking well!
About thirty of them had gathered to form a village and were living there.
This was no good for the Demon King's reputation. For mere monsters to be forming villages while Qlus, from the Demon Realm Duchy, hadn't even properly completed a single dungeon.
Anyway.
They were still dangerous.
The reason he hadn't encountered a village like this until now was probably just one thing. They'd moved here from somewhere else. Otherwise, he would've spotted them by now.
And if they'd moved here... inevitably, they'd scout the surrounding area as quickly as possible. What if their scouting range caught his home dungeon?
It'd be all-out war!
Whoa!
Coward!
Whoa!
A sudden wave of anxiety hit him, like an enraged Emblack had been summoned. Having judged that far, he analyzed their forces.
"Grak! Grak!"
"Grararak!"
First off, these hobgoblins seemed to have kids, adults, women, and elders. Narrowing it down like that... the number of warriors who could fight was probably about thirty percent?
Still around ten of them, fuck.
"..."
Should he just Demon Breath their huts right now and bolt? The thought crossed his mind, but he passed. It wasn't time yet. Attacking now wouldn't yield much.
Swish.
He confirmed the positions of the huts and such, then pulled back.
Collision with them was inevitable. If so, he had to wipe them out to survive.
He needed to bolster his forces.
"Sharan. Time to go. No time to waste."
"Shaa."
Sharan nodded as if she'd been waiting and grabbed his wrist.
* * *
"But you said there are humans in the Middle Realm."
He hadn't seen so much as a human grandpa, let alone humans.
Seeing a hobgoblin tribe form a village in this jungle... they must be pretty far from human settlements? If so, that was good. Clashing with humans wouldn't end well anyway.
But if there's a dungeon, isn't it common sense to raid it?
Human greed is endless. You couldn't say there wouldn't be guys coming to this backwater for anything valuable. Even if he didn't know for sure, wouldn't they pay a decent sum for a captured demon?
Fuck.
Things were too dire to worry about that now.
Focus on the situation at hand.
"Anyway. Not sure if you lot understand, but there's a hobgoblin tribe nearby. We're definitely gonna clash with them."
"Keruk."
"Keuruk."
His minions sat there, focused on him.
Their eyes were utterly dumb.
He'd gathered the kids and explained about hobgoblins, but they clearly didn't get it.
"Assuming you get the gist. We're entering wartime mode from now on. Dungeon expansion's on hold."
"Keruk?"
"From here on, we focus on force expansion and group combat training. Hey! Newbie!"
"Keruk!"
At his shout, Newbie sprang up and stood at attention, full of discipline.
"Keruk keruk."
Buril grinned a goblinish smile of satisfaction. Heartwarming sight. But this wasn't the time to just feel warm and fuzzy.
"Even goblins can be trained this perfectly."
That meant he could make them into a hobgoblin-like army. Look at his second goblin, Newbie. He hadn't been here long, yet he held that sharp attention pose.
These guys had innate talent as soldiers.
Soldiers didn't need to be strong individuals like warriors. They just needed to follow orders and control well.
"I, Army Sergeant Kim Qlus, honorably discharged after full term, will turn you into perfect soldiers."
You crush an army with an army.
Basic common sense.
Halt dungeon expansion for now and organize a goblin army. Considering his dungeon's size... eight to start. He needed to dominate eight goblins.
"For that, Sharan. I really need your help."
"Shaa?"
Sharan was a huge terror to small monsters like these goblins. And monsters gripped by fear were prime for his Domination skill. Time to exploit that to the max. He'd expand forces fast.
Until now, food shortages had limited numbers, but wartime meant rapid buildup.
"Anyway, Sharan. Wanna play tool-making today too?"
"Shaa!"
Sharan jumped up and toddled to the tree. Probably planning spears or shovels.
He stopped her.
"Sharan. Hold up. We need something different today."
"Shaa?"
"Watch close. Like this."
Swish.
He drew a circle and square on the dirt floor. Just the right size for a goblin to hold.
"This is a shield. Round one or square one. Whichever's easier for you to make?"
"Shaa...?"
"You hold it up like this."
He mimed holding a shield and explained. Smart Sharan would get it.
"Shaa... shaa! Sha sha sha!"
Sharan beamed.
"Ooh! You get it!"
Sharan headed to the tree at once. Huh? But she veered off to another tree. Seemed like she was picking one.
Gooo...
Soon Sharan cast her magic.
Crack! Crunch!
Tree vines grew rapidly, twisting into a spiral like a whirlpool.
"What the... oh! Ah! That's it!"
Crunch crunch.
The grown vines coiled like a snail shell spiral. A round vine shield was complete. Visually... yeah, like the at symbol. @ Exactly that vibe.
"Shaa."
"Our Sharan's so damn smart! Too cute!"
Mwah mwah!
He pulled Sharan into a hug and planted kisses on her cheeks!
"Shaa shaa."
Sharan licked his cheek happily in return. Ah! Skinship had leveled up to this! If he pushed the boundaries like this... boob touch incoming?
"Keruk..."
"Keuruk..."
"Gyusat..."
His minions stared. What of it? After enjoying as much skinship as he wanted,
he checked the vine shield.
"Hoo."
This was solid.
Tough vines wrapped around it, so durability looked decent. And smartly, it had a handle. Sharan was too cute. Vine shield and wooden spear? Perfect.
Anyway.
Training time.
"Alright! Newbie! Take this shield!"
"Keruk?"
"Buril, grab the spear!"
"Keruk keruk."
At his command, Newbie took the shield, Buril gripped the spear. Great pair.
"You're the shield guy, you're the spear guy. Newbie, stand up front with the shield. Buril, behind him."
"Keruk?"
Thud thud.
They moved as ordered.
Newbie up front with shield.
Buril behind with spear.
Perfect duo.
"Keruk?"
They didn't grasp the formation's meaning yet, but training would fix that!
"Newbie, raise shield! Buril, aim spear forward!"
"Keruk...?"
"Hey, you really don't get it?"
No helping it.
He snatched Newbie's shield and demonstrated.
"Hey, hey. Newbie. Hold the shield like this. Crouch down! Cover your body with it!"
"Keruk?"
"Try it."
"Keruk keruk."
Newbie mimicked him with the shield. Good. Put Buril behind again, positioned his spear shaft.
"Good. That's the basic shield formation stance. Got it? When I say 'form up,' you do this. Form up. Got it?"
"Keruring."
He emphasized "form up." They'd catch on eventually.
"Alright, Buril! Thrust spear forward!"
"Keruk!"
Buril, hiding behind Newbie, thrust forward.
Stab!
Excellent motion.
Thanks to ongoing spear training.
"Good! Very good, men! Training status is excellent! Spear guys, attack from behind the shield like that from now on!"
A goblin phalanx of sorts.
Placing a phalanx in the dungeon would be super effective given the narrow paths. Phalanxes were defensive formations by nature. Perfect for dungeon defense.
With it formed, even a hobgoblin army couldn't break through easily. They just fought in mobs with stone axes or spears, no advanced tactics.
They'd turn into pincushions the moment they entered.
"We'll fight like this... ah, fuck, you don't get it. Buril, go to that tree end. Newbie! Front of the dungeon!"
"Keruk!"
Crisp movements.
"Now!! Form up! Form up!"
He commanded at once.
"Keruk?"
Newbie looked around!
Damn fool!
"Keruk keruk!"
Then Buril yelled and gestured to Newbie. "Kerung!" Finally, Newbie grabbed the vine shield, rushed over, and stood in front of Buril.
Clang.
Smart Buril aimed spear forward!
"Keruk!"
He looked back for confirmation!
"Greeeeat jobbbbb! Buril! Well done! Newbie too!"
He ruffled their heads vigorously!
"Kerurung."
"Kerung."
They purred happily!
These guys grasped the concept from just that bit! Train them like this, and they'd deliver the results he wanted!
"Keuruk?"
"Gyusat?"
"What about you lot."
Once the goblin squad was done, next up: imp squad. They could throw fire. Line 'em up and have 'em blast together for some damage.
Kobolds were diggers, so workers.
Good.
Goblin phalanx.
Imp grenadiers.
Kobold laborers to form his demon king army!
"Alright, kids! Group outing today to recruit more comrades!"
"Keruk!"
Time for serious, no-bullshit force expansion!