12. The Goblin King and Regret
I wandered around searching for a spot where I could peek inside the stone walls or into the buildings, but nothing suitable turned up.
A single goblin stood on the watchtower. I couldn't tell if it had noticed us, but it stayed perfectly still, not moving a muscle.
We'd covered about a third of the planned route. Nothing had changed.
Fam walked ahead while I followed behind. Just as I started thinking we might end this with zero gains, Fam stopped in her tracks.
"I see a big trunk deeper in. If we climb that, we might be able to get a look inside."
"Let's check it out."
In the forest, the upper parts were covered in leaves, making it impossible to see clearly.
The trunk was thick enough that it would take four or five people stretching their arms around it to encircle it.
"Looks tall, sure, but no way we can climb that."
"Yes, you're right."
There were no handholds or footholds. Even if we forced our way up, we wouldn't be able to get down.
"Let's keep moving."
We gave up and pressed on. That's when I spotted something leaping out from the farm's stone walls. Fam noticed it too.
The shadow that burst out dove into the wheat field, barreling toward us like torpedoes, shaking the stalks. Five lines of disturbance. They were still a good distance away, but closing in fast. Not goblins.
"Monsters incoming! We'll meet them in the forest!"
"Yes, sir!"
We readied our weapons and waited for them to burst from the field.
I unleashed stone magic at the first one to emerge. A direct hit would counter and deal serious damage.
"Gyaaan!" Wolves. The stone orb hit true, drawing a scream.
We slashed at the wolves as they leaped out one after another.
My thrust missed, but Fam landed hers perfectly. Still, the wolf didn't go down.
We were surrounded by four of them. Even the one I'd damaged with stone magic was getting back up.
The wolves darted freely through the forest, toying with us. They used the trunks for triangular leaps, turning it into an aerial battle. Fam managed to keep up, but trees kept getting in my way, making it hard to swing my knife properly. The soft ground from fallen leaves made it tough to plant my feet or push off. I was purely on the defensive.
Fam moved nimbly even in the woods. Her light weight meant the uneven footing barely affected her. She learned from the wolves using trees as cover and started doing the same.
She took one down.
Looked like I should focus on defense and support her. Seeing me hunker down, the wolves bounded from trunk to trunk, lunging from above. At the same time, another came straight at me from the front.
"Ngh!"
I barely protected my head, but the frontal attack landed. The wolf's fangs pierced my leather chestplate but stopped there, avoiding anything fatal. I twisted my knife and sliced one's neck, but it showed no sign of real damage.
"Master, I want to use my Chrysanthemum Ichimonji skill. Let's head into the field."
"What? You learned a skill?"
"Yes, my level went up in the last fight."
No point hiding now that we'd been spotted. The field would let me swing my knife freely, and we'd avoid those irregular attacks from before. But the wolves could burrow into the wheat.
"No choice. Got it. Out to the field!"
Fam was our main damage dealer right now. Better to leave it to her judgment.
We burst from the forest. The wolves gave chase immediately.
Fam crossed her knives into an X grip. A faint light gleamed in her eyes.
"Chrysanthemum Ichimonji!"
She swung, unleashing a vacuum blade that shredded the wolves. Two vanished instantly.
I thrust at another leaping out and dropped it.
But the last one dove into the wheat field and went to ground.
"Watch the wheat's movement closely."
"It's fine. I know where it is. Right there."
Fam could sense it by sound and smell. I fired stone magic at the spot she pointed, flushing it out. Fam pounced swiftly, driving her blade home for the kill.
Fam picked up the mana seeds and returned.
"Fam... you've gotten strong. Way stronger than me now."
"Th-thank you."
She bowed shyly. Must be her talent. The dog-eared tribe's sharp ears and nose, her agile movements, perfect synergy with her class. Plus my experience-up skill boosting her levels. Hard to believe she was on death's door from that curse.
"Once we're back in town, I was planning to peep at your chest and force myself on you if I had to. But that 'force' ain't gonna work anymore."
"Um, confessions like that just trouble me. Please be gentle with me."
Fam didn't take my words seriously. It was a joke, but nine-tenths serious.
"We've been spotted and out in the open. No point retreating to the forest now."
We'd been flushed out. This wasn't stealth recon anymore. If they sent more wolves, we'd be done for. But we'd learned something: they'd confirmed we were out with the wolves, so they'd send reinforcements. No sign of that meant they either thought we were weak or lacked the forces to spare.
"I'm thinking we regroup with Aidan. Don't know his situation, but if we're fine, he should be too."
"What do you plan to do?"
"Switch to show-of-force recon. Cut straight through the field to the other side. Get as close to the buildings as we can en route and hit the goblin on the tower with magic. Souvenir on the way out. Nice if we drop it, but no big deal if not."
Fam nodded.
"Fam, hang back a bit and follow. Keep a close eye on reactions from the buildings."
I swapped my knife for a one-handed sword and shield.
"Last thing: if something happens to me, prioritize regrouping with Aidan."
"I can't agree to that... but I will."
Both Fam and I had things to say, but arguing wouldn't help. Time to move.
First, we advanced through the wheat toward the buildings.
As we closed in, the goblin on the tower came into clear view. It looked down at me arrogantly. I banged my shield with the sword hilt.
"Hey! You idiots! Quit hiding and come out!"
I howled to draw their eyes outside. Banged the shield. The weird yells felt good. "Hyahaha!"
Doing that, I approached near the gate in the stone wall.
The tower goblin loosed an arrow. More came from beyond the gate.
I fired stone magic at the tower goblin. The stone orb arced in, hitting the goblin that hadn't predicted the path. As it groaned, I followed with a fireball. It scorched its face. Screaming, it tumbled from the tower.
Good enough.
We pulled away from the buildings and cut across the field. Fam kept pace properly. Arrows flew, but no counterattack from anyone bursting out.
Yeah, not many of them. The first goblin and wolves were just probes to chase us off casually—no intent to fight. Our small numbers made them cocky, and they slipped up.
I kept banging the shield, yelling Aidan's name as we went.
We crossed the field and entered the forest, where Aidan appeared right away.
"Art thou a fool?!"
He bellowed. I got to see a new side of the usually calm, emotionless guy. I was satisfied.
"Master's an idiot."
Even Fam piled on.
"Circumstances changed." I explained switching to show-of-force after being spotted.
"Hmph."
Aidan nodded, lost in thought.
"I think there were at least five archers. Probably more. And..."
"Speak."
Fam hesitated; Aidan urged her on.
"...people are alive in there. Probably. Not certain. I think I heard Master's weird yells. Sounded like cries for help."
"I see..."
Aidan fetched his hammer from the "workshop" and slung it over his shoulder.
"What're you planning?"
I asked Aidan.
"Charge in. Thou and the girl cut through the field back to the path while I distract. Head to town."
"Can you win?"
"Dunno, but if folk are alive, must save 'em. At most twenty."
Twenty's a lot. Fam watched me silently. She knew it was reckless, whatever her feelings. She'd follow my call.
"Got it. I'm in too. I'll move to not drag you down. Bail if it gets bad."
"Grateful. Count on thee."
Aidan nodded. Fam had no complaints.
"One more thing, Aidan."
"What?"
"You're a pretty big idiot too."
The sun was dipping low. Night fights were impossible. Had to hurry.
Back through the wheat field.
We reached the gate. Standing just at arrow range. A goblin lookout on the tower—no burn marks. Not the one I scorched.
Aidan nocked an arrow at the tower goblin. Return fire started from inside the walls.
He switched to hammer and charged the gate. Battle spirit rose from his back. He swung the hammer in a flash.
Siege
A massive shockwave blasted the gate and surrounding walls. Aidan plunged inside without pause.
Following his back, Fam and I stepped into the compound.
That Siege strike was devastating. Archers clinging to the walls, the tower, even part of a nearby building—all destroyed. The building collapsed with a roar. Hope no one was inside.
Besides the rubble, two residential buildings, one barn-like, one livestock shed.
Surviving goblins crawled from the wreckage. Fam and I finished them.
About ten more goblins emerged from the residences. Among them, one huge one in helmet and armor, wielding a massive club to match its build. It exuded an eerie aura, dominating the area with overwhelming presence.
The goblin bellowed. The shockwave rippled the air. Arrows flew from the buildings in response, and its minions charged.
"Goblin King!"
Aidan roared, swinging his hammer at the oncoming goblins. One flew and vanished. The hammer must weigh a ton, but Aidan wielded it effortlessly, smashing the next weapon and all.
Fam unleashed Chrysanthemum Ichimonji, dropping one.
I moved too, slipping a strike past goblin attacks.
"Kishaaaah!"
The Goblin King screeched and leaped. It swung its full weight club at Aidan. The ground shook. Aidan rolled aside, stood swiftly, and hammered back.
The hit landed, but the Goblin King didn't budge. They faced off.
Arrows from the buildings targeted Aidan. He dodged; the club swung again. He evaded that too.
Fam and I fought the others. I thrust and diagonal-slashed two down. Fam toyed with them agilely, cutting them down. She'd gotten battle-hardened.
Soon only two goblins left. We cleaned them up.
Take out the archers or aid Aidan? Two archers. Fewer than expected—probably blown away with the walls. One per residence. Annoying but not threatening. Had to keep moving irregularly to avoid becoming a target.
"I'll get them."
Fam headed off.
Then Aidan took a club hit and flew back.
"Aidan!"
I slashed at the Goblin King to follow up. It blocked with its arm. Bare but muscled—blade wouldn't cut. Tough.
Barely dodged a lateral club swing. The wind alone nearly blew me away. Regain stance. Timed my slash as it swung again, seizing initiative. Trusted Aidan's knife. Tip-first, pinky strength, pull like drawing.
Severed the Goblin King's wrist. It howled.
I'll take its head too. As I lunged, an arrow pierced my thigh. Almost simultaneously, the club smashed me. One arm was plenty.
I tumbled across the ground several times.
Pain locked my body. Infuriating—I'd gotten done in by goblins again.
Could've run. Why'd I fight?
Couldn't do anything with enemies still around.
No light blue panties in view today. Just a bearded dwarf's ass in my sight.
"Leave the rest to me." The ass spoke.
I blacked out.
When I woke, it was full night.
Inside a residential building? A lamp burned.
And Fam was giving me a lap pillow.
"S-sowy... If I'd jusht taken youh back to town wike you shaid... N-no, we should've gone shtwaight back..."
Couldn't make out the words, but she was apologizing. Tears fell. She cried easily.
I moved my hands. No pain. Sat up. Seemed fine. But hated leaving her lap.
"The wound ith shored up, sho it thould be okay now."
Was this an act? She'd never lisped like this even crying before. Trying to cheer me up? Anyway, wanted her to stop crying.
I reached for her cheek, pinched lightly. She laid her hand over mine.
"Master... Master... Ugu... Higu... Master."
"Enough. Stop crying."
"We should've gone back to town like you said. But I... what have I done..."
"It's fine. We made it through. So no tears."
I tugged her cheeks, then poked. Squishy.
Then I felt eyes on me. Actually, had felt watched awhile. Looking around, Aidan stared intently.
Embarrassingly so. I sat up.
My side hurt.
"Ribs're cracked."
Aidan said. Potions healed bruises and cuts, but not fractures or worse.
"Sorry. Got taken out."
"Nay, thou saved us. My thanks."
"Demands too high. Wasn't this a beginner quest?"
Aidan chuckled without answering.
"Any survivors?"
"Aye, locked in the livestock shed. Three, alive. Gave 'em potions, fed 'em. Can move, but too late today. Better wait thy recovery. Stay the night, head to town tomorrow."
I held back from asking the dead count. Saving three was enough.
I nodded.
Next morning, we buried the dead and headed back.
Four days later, back in town. Eight-day quest shortened by two.
Sold two mana seeds for thirty gold coins. Fam and I split half plus the one-gold reward.
Thank you for reading.
Thanks to everyone who bookmarked and rated.
It motivates me. I'll keep at it.