Chapter 23: Goblin Settlement
Inside the carriage on the way back, I practiced my magic at a reduced power so that it wouldn’t be noticed. I conveyed to the two of them that it shouldn’t be difficult to manifest magic at a lower power now. Once they understood what I meant by “Secret Technique,” they fell silent, deep in thought.
With a Mana Grade of 70, if the enemy is within a 70-meter radius, I could attack without them even realizing it.
“That’s true. If this method becomes widely known, assassinations would be rampant, and it would be extremely dangerous. I’d only use it when my life is on the line. Just being seen by others and having them wonder how I did it is risky enough.”
After being dropped off at the Adventurers’ Guild, the two of them followed me again.
“Yahan, there are a lot of Horn Rabbits. Are you sure it’s okay?”
“How many are there? Did you catch them while practicing magic with the Viscount and the others?”
“Probably over 50. We ended up catching more while we were at it.”
When we reached the disassembly area, we had hunted down 61 Horn Rabbits. Yahan looked exasperated, while Hyalda and Fiene exchanged wry smiles. We received 18 silver coins and 3 copper coins for the buyback and were escorted to the hotel.
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As peaceful days continued, one autumn day, I returned from gathering medicinal herbs to find the guild in an uproar. After selling the herbs, Fang Boar, and Big Elk, I ran into Hyalda.
“I’m glad I found you, Kaito. I was waiting for you.”
“What’s going on? What do you need at the guild?”
“Deep in the forest, about two days away, a large Goblin settlement has been discovered.”
“Oh, I’m not taking on any extermination quests, so goodbye.”
Even as I turned my back, someone grabbed the collar of my shirt and wouldn’t let go. When I turned around, the Guildmaster was grinning widely.
When the wolfman Guildmaster grinned like that, it was genuinely terrifying. I felt a shiver run down my spine.
“Hey, Kaito, you were accepting escort missions, right?”
“That was just a job where I could ride in the carriage and hum a tune. If anything, it was more about being a conversation partner.”
“Don’t make that face. It’s an escort mission for the Viscount and the young ladies.”
I looked at Hyalda while being held by the collar like a kitten.
“It’s an escort request for me and Fiene. Can you take it?”
“If that’s the case, I guess I can accept it… maybe.”
“Alright, it’s settled then. Now I can relax.”
“Why is the Guildmaster so relaxed about this?”
“Well, the Goblin settlement found deep in the forest is said to have nearly 200 of them. The guild and the lord’s army are planning a joint operation, but knights aren’t suited for the forest, especially when it comes to escorting the lord’s siblings.”
Pointing at myself while still hanging from the Guildmaster’s arm, he nodded with a beaming smile.
“You tricked me!”
“Kaito, just focus on protecting me and Fiene. If things get dangerous, use that Earth Magic of yours. Fiene and I will handle the attacks.”
“I’ll do my best.”
With that, I was finally set down in front of Hyalda.
The extermination team for the Goblin settlement consisted of 54 members from the Adventurers’ Guild, including Bronze, Silver, and Gold ranks, along with 120 troops from the Marquis’s army, with one being unfit for battle. We set off two days later in the morning. The adventurers were well-acquainted with the forest and moved quietly, while the Marquis’s troops were specialized for combat against people and were not accustomed to the woods. On the second morning, the adventurers sternly instructed them to wrap cloth around their longswords and armor to minimize noise, changing the formation to one adventurer for every two or three soldiers.
In the early afternoon, the entire army stood by while scouts went to survey the Goblin settlement. Their report indicated that there were over 200 Goblins. They confirmed one Goblin King, two Goblin Lords, one Goblin General, and two Goblin Archers. The settlement was located in a large cave, with only a few makeshift huts outside. Although the nest was large, the conclusion was that they wouldn’t be moving anytime soon due to the abundance of food from the autumn harvest. The commander of the Marquis’s army, Hyalda, looked at me. Don’t look over here!
“Kaito, I have a favor to ask.”
“I don’t have any.”
“If the cave is the main nest, sealing the entrances would minimize the damage during the extermination.”
“Yeah. Good luck with that.”
“During discussions with the adventurers, we decided to launch a surprise attack on the entrances early in the morning and bombard the inside with magic to gain an advantage.”
“Oh, as expected of the lord’s siblings!”
“Kaito, please help us. There are three known entrances to the cave. While it’s impossible to seal the large one in front, I want to block the smaller entrances. Please, I’ll protect you along with Fiene.”
Sigh I had a feeling it would come to this. Before dawn, the three of us set out to seal the smaller entrances, with the two of them wearing their favorite outfits resembling samue, providing support from behind. I donned my adventurer attire and hood, getting close enough in the dim light to confirm the entrances, then used my Secret Technique: Remote Magic (my own name) to seal them in a grid pattern. The lookout was kept quiet by Hyalda’s Ice Magic.
After successfully sealing two entrances, we crept up to the large entrance in front. Utilizing my camouflage skills, I got as close as possible and began to grow large spikes from the ground. If a Goblin came out, the spikes would injure their feet, making it easier for the adventurers to fight, so I didn’t skimp on the preparations.
As the cave grew noisy, it seemed they had discovered the two sealed entrances. That was the signal for the adventurers and the Marquis’s army to rush in and crush the makeshift huts outside. Fiene launched a Fireball toward the depths of the cave. The adventurers’ mages were also attacking the cave, but their power was on a whole different level.
With a signal from an adventurer keeping watch, a new entrance was found. It seemed Goblins were coming out from there, but the main battlefield remained the front entrance. I created an earthen shield in front of Hyalda and Fiene to protect them.
Suddenly, Fiene’s shield burst into flames.
“Hyalda, it’s coming from the upper right of the cave! Fiene, are you okay?”
The one attacking from above the cave was shot down by an Ice Lance and fell to the ground. Fiene’s hair was slightly singed, but it didn’t seem to be a serious injury, and she continued her attacks. From above the cave??? This meant there were other holes leading to the cave above.
If we got attacked from above now, it would be bad; we’d be completely exposed, making it extremely dangerous.
“Hyalda, it would be bad if we got attacked from above the cave, so I’m going to check it out.”
“I’ll go too. Fiene was almost taken out.”
“Hey, I’m going too. I’m worried about you going alone, Kaito.”
“Who’s the escort here? I’ll go up from the spot I was hiding next to the cave.”
“You can’t climb up from there.”
“Did you forget I’m an Earth Magic user? I’ll create a railing to climb safely.”
I shrugged past Hyalda and, once I reached the side of the cave, created a U-shaped railing and foothold to climb up the rock wall and observe the situation. There were three Goblins lurking, so I took them out with my shotgun, but next to the fallen Goblins, there was a barely passable hole.
“Should we seal it?”
As I pondered the hole, Fiene asked me, and a good idea came to mind. Since I had heard it was a cave, I thought I could smoke them out and turn it into jerky if possible. I had gathered some wood along the way that could serve as firewood.
“Hyalda, keep an eye out.”
From my Magic Pouch, I began tossing in the assorted firewood and small fallen branches I had picked up. Thanks to the Magic Pouch, I had gathered quite a bit without worrying about it, and I stuffed it all in.
“Fiene, light it up, and be careful of attacks from below.”
I stopped her from launching a Fireball and instructed her to ignite it with the image of the fire rising without destroying the firewood. I shaped the area around the hole to create a chimney effect, ensuring it would burn well, and then it was just a matter of watching.
After a while, Goblins began to flee the cave, chased by flames, and Hyalda picked them off one by one from above. The adventurers cut down those who slipped through.
It seemed like things had settled down, so I looked at Fiene, who had a burn on her face.
“Fiene, does it hurt?”
“It hurts, but I don’t know what to do.”
She said with teary eyes, and I almost laughed, but I held it in; laughing now would be a bad idea.
“You can use Healing Magic, right? Heal yourself.”
“Wait, I can heal myself?”
“I’ve told you many times, magic is all about the image. If you wrap your Mana with the image of healing yourself beautifully, I think you can do it.”
Fiene took a deep breath and murmured with a serious expression.
“Be healed, my dear♪… The pain is gone, right? I’m all better now!”
“You’re fine, really. But your singed hair is a lost cause.”
Just then, I heard a deafening roar, “Gugyāā!” Turning around, I saw the charred Goblin King lunging at the Adventurers. They were struggling against it, four of them working together, so I decided to provide support by firing a Stone Arrow from behind.
With its movements slowed, the Goblin King was swiftly countered by the Adventurers, who brought it down in a flurry of strikes. That seemed to be the last organized resistance; the rest of the battle turned into a hunt for the remaining stragglers, and the Adventurers busied themselves extracting Magic Stones.