The Humans #4
"Damn it! Everyone! Keep your distance and follow me! When I give the signal, ambush them immediately! Sharan, follow me!"
"Yes, my Demon King!"
"Keruk!"
Dash!
I sprinted toward the direction where the screams had originated. What the hell was going on? Why the sudden screaming? Did another monster appear? Based on the monsters in this area, I didn't think there was anything capable of making them scream like that—unless it was a Barghest!
The situation wasn't looking good. Or, perhaps, was it the opposite?
"Aaaaaaaah!"
"Son of a biiiitch!"
Regardless, as I ran, the screams grew closer.
"Stop. Ambush here, Buril."
"Keruk."
After ordering the goblins to lie in wait at a suitable spot, I pressed forward. Stay calm. The screaming is getting closer. They won't hear our footsteps. I approached the scene while maintaining stealth, and what I saw was...
"Kyahahahaha!"
"Waaaaaaaah!"
"Aaaaaaaah!"
A fairy, fluttering about and scattering dust, and... the adventurers, who were in a state of total panic upon seeing it.
"R-run! Run away! It's a real fairy! A killer fairy has appeared!"
"Aaaaaaaaaah!"
"There's one behind us too, you bastard!"
Looking closer, it wasn't just one fairy. A total of three were circling the area, laughing.
"..."
What is this? Are these guys really that terrified?
"Uwaaaaaah!"
Swish!
Whoosh!
An adventurer with a sword slashed at the air, but catching a flying fairy was impossible. He even seemed to be stumbling, perhaps intoxicated by the fairy dust.
Fairies. They were certainly dangerous monsters, but they wouldn't be a problem if you kept your wits about you. Yet, these guys were acting as if they had never seen a fairy before, completely lost in panic.
This is my chance.
Seeing them act like that, they would soon be completely drugged by the fairy dust and fall into a state of mental instability. Or they would exhaust themselves running away. Then, I could easily subdue or capture them.
I'm lucky.
"Sharan. Bring Buril and the others from the back. We're starting the battle immediately."
"Shaa. Be careful, my Demon King."
"It's only 30 seconds away anyway. Don't worry."
With that, Sharan went back to fetch my goblin unit. But at that very moment:
"R-run! Just run!"
"But the dust is spread out like a curtain!"
"Just push through with your body! What else can we do but die if we stay in here!"
Whoosh!
The three adventurers kicked off the ground as if they had made up their minds... right in my direction!
"You sons of bitches!"
I immediately straightened my hunched posture and leveled my sword! Why did they have to run toward me of all places!
"What?!"
"W-what is that?!"
"Big faiiiiry! It's a big fairy!!!"
At that moment, I locked eyes with the group of adventurers running toward me!
It was an unexpected situation, but fine! I can handle it! Since it's come to this, I have no choice but to clash!
Keruk!
My goblin unit was already coming to support from the rear. I immediately gave them the order.
"Buril! Form up!"
"Keruk!"
Buril's voice echoed. The adventurers running toward me were shouting like berserkers, swords raised, as if they intended to kill us and push through.
"B-break through, quickly!"
"Aaaaaaaaah!"
Naturally, they were bound to be severely confused. Running away. Fairies behind them. A mysterious, unknown entity—me—suddenly appearing in front. They must be confused. They must be afraid. I know all of that. And in situations like this, I never lose. I already have the upper hand; what is strategy, anyway? Using the opponent's panic is strategy!
But wait, there weren't three of them running toward me! The one at the very back had changed direction entirely to save his own skin!
If I only have to deal with two, it's even easier!
"Demon Breath!"
Whoosh!
As I thought that and exhaled fire to obscure their vision:
"Ugh?!"
"Fire?!"
The two charging adventurers were momentarily caught off guard, and I simultaneously stepped diagonally to move to their flank.
"Buril! Maintain formation and charge! Charge! Wipe these bastards out!"
With that, I ordered the goblin unit that had formed up behind me to execute a `Formation Charge`.
Keruuuuk!
It wasn't a reckless dash, but a technique of charging while keeping step and maintaining formation! It was a charge that relied on the shield-bearers in the front line; because they had to match their steps, the speed was slow, but!
In a close-quarters situation like this, just before impact, it was bound to be highly effective!
Keryaaaaak!
The goblins immediately let out a war cry and initiated the charge.
"U, Uwaaaaaah!"
"Oh, noooo!"
Seeing that, the humans turned pale and tried to run away. Unfortunately, that wasn't going to happen. Because you're going to die here.
Catching and killing beings running away in a panic is extremely simple. They aren't enemies anymore; they're just easy targets.
"Where are you looking!"
Thinking that, I aimed for the head of the guy trying to run away.
Swish!
I swung my sword with all my might!
Thwack!
"Ugh!"
It was a slightly off-target hit, but I had smashed his head with over a kilogram of iron. He stumbled, trying to regain his balance, but that was it.
It was already over.
Thwack!
Thud!
Thwack!
My goblin unit arrived and pierced the backs and thighs of the humans with their spears.
"Gaaah...!"
"Ugh...!"
Humans are weak beings. If you put holes in their bodies, they have no choice but to die.
"..."
Under normal circumstances, they would have been difficult enemies. But I had maximized the enemy's confusion, driven them into a corner, and reduced them to simple prey.
"Who, who on earth are you...! Ugh, Gaaaaaaaah!"
The fallen adventurer lifted his head and screamed at me. His eyes were filled with resentment and terror.
"...Confirm the kill. Drive your spears into their necks."
Keryaaaaak!
Keruk! Keruuuuk!
Thwack!
Thud!
As soon as the order was given, countless spear thrusts rained down on their necks.
"...Ugh."
"Oh..."
The end.
Their lives were extinguished...!
Keryaaaaaaaak!
Keruk! Keruuuuk!
Kerurururung! Kerurururung!
The goblins howled with the pleasure of victory gained from killing a powerful enemy.
"Phew!"
I exhaled as well.
"I killed them!"
I killed two humans!
I had killed humans with whom I had no grudge, turning them into such a miserable sight! Last time, I killed that guy because he charged at me mindlessly, but this time, I had planned to kill them from the start! These people, who were someone's children! I committed premeditated murder!
An extreme criminal act!
But I wasn't feeling any guilt at all...! Because it was only natural! I was even feeling the pleasure of victory, just like the goblins! And the joy of survival as well!
"Uwoooooooo!"
A shout erupted!
"My Demon King! There's one more human!"
Sharan immediately reminded me of that fact.
"I know. I know."
Naturally, I couldn't let him get away.
"He saw me. I must catch and kill him."
If he survives, my life and the lives of my subordinates are over. Strange fairy-like monsters in the forest? A subjugation squad would be deployed immediately. As of now, I wouldn't be able to defeat a subjugation squad. Killing these two bastards without taking any damage was a stroke of luck.
"Leave the corpses here and track the other one!"
"It's that way!"
"Follow me, everyone!"
He's a human anyway. And an exhausted one at that. I immediately tracked him down. The fairies, who I thought might be annoying, had already scattered.
No problem.
* * *
"Haaaaaah! You monster bastards!"
Tracking the exhausted adventurer wasn't very difficult. He hadn't even been able to cover his tracks in his haste to escape, and since I was following his trail, he couldn't hide, as he was completely caught in Sharan's senses.
I just kept chasing him.
Dash!
The male adventurer with brown hair had long since discarded his military gear and kept running, but his running speed had slowed significantly.
He was already exhausted. He had wasted stamina on the fairies earlier, and he had been forced to change direction and sprint after meeting me. Regardless, he was more exhausted than I was.
But he was holding a sword.
He was holding onto that sword until the end. It was his lifeline, so he was clinging to it... Of course, there was no need to fight a guy with a sword directly. Couldn't I or the goblins get hurt?
I just had to drive him like this and capture him when he was completely exhausted. That was all. He would tire himself out on his own.
Stability.
Let's go with stability. There's no need to take risks. Going with stability is best here.
"Don't follow me! Don't follow me! I'll get out of your territory!"
The adventurer shouted in desperation.
Naturally, I had no intention of listening. We silently tracked him. I ran slowly, Sharan ran beside me, and the goblins behind us kept pace.
"I have to catch him."
He was just one prisoner, but he was very useful. If I could just catch him, I would be able to learn all the common sense and information about the human world. Right now, that was all I was thinking about. If I could capture him and interrogate him, I would be able to learn about this world!
Dash!
Just like that, very calmly.
I was running while watching the back of the fleeing adventurer.
"Oh, uhhhhh?!"
Suddenly, the adventurer ahead of me let out a sound. What is it? Did he find another fairy? That guy hit the jackpot today. How could he be so unlucky?
Stop.
The running adventurer came to a halt.
Did he give up in despair?
I thought that for a moment, but...
"...My Demon King."
"Hmm?"
"Humans."
"Yeah."
"More humans have appeared."
"..."
Up ahead.
A new group of humans had appeared.
"Huh? Who are you?"
"Oh, uh! Uhhhhh!"
"What's with this guy? Why is he screaming?"
Clink.
It was a woman with flowing blonde hair. She was wearing clothes that looked like a nun's habit, and she grabbed the shoulder of the screaming adventurer and said:
"Are you being chased by a monster? If so, rest assured. I am a nun from the convent."
"Oh, uh! Uhhh! That! So! Haa, haaaah...!"
"A nun? Who is this person?"
"I don't know. He just appeared."
Two warriors dressed similarly to the adventurer who had been fleeing appeared behind the nun.
"First, calm down... Huh?"
I locked eyes with the nun.