Chapter 41
TL Note: There's a queue now, but this won't count against it as I still owe you guys a free extra chapter. Well here it is. Enjoy!
Goblin Name Cheat Sheet:
The goblin in that estranged group that was with the protagonist when he defeated an orc. He is currently a n.o.ble cla.s.s, the highest amongst the protagonist’s subordinates. He prefers to use the spear.
[Goblin] Gi Gu
Known as a beast warrior, a goblin with the ability to tame beasts.
He prefers to use the axe. His goblin cla.s.s is rare.
[Goblin] Gi Go
The druid goblin rare that recently joined them.
[Goblin] Gi Ji
[Level] 62
[Possessed Skills] > > > > > > > > > > > > >
[Attributes] Darkness; Death
[Abnormal Status] >
It was clear even from a distance. The current situation was headed toward the worst possible conclusion.
After attacking the orc horde for the fourth time, I saw the state of the village.
s.h.i.+t!
Half of the traps have already been used.
They haven’t reached the fences yet, but that’s only a matter of time.
The stones and the magic are continuously being shot at the orcs, and are keeping the situation together, but that too is only a matter of time. At some point, this situation will topple over in favor of the orcs.
The orc horde’s attack is too fierce. It might be because their king is leading them, but either way, they’re charging recklessly. They’re not even bothering to help their trapped brethren up as they trampled them over underfoot.
Don’t they know fear!?
I couldn’t help but think that as I watched their fearless charge unfold before my eyes.
After a while, the orcs finally reached the ditch.
s.h.i.+t!
Quickly, I looked toward the orc horde.
There’s still plenty of fighting force left in by the orc king who was leading the raid against the village. Compared to that, we’re… I glanced at the goblins behind me, and I observed that they were all clearly exhausted.
Each time we attacked, the goblins had to dodge the orc’s attacks that could fatally injure any one of them with a single stroke. Of course, we could also whittle away the orc’s forces slowly, but at this rate, the village will fall before we accomplish anything of note.
And while Gi Go, Gi Ji, and the other goblin rares still have some strength, the normal goblins are clearly about to reach their limits.
But, even then–––
I have to make them march. Otherwise, the village will fall.
"Onwards!" I commanded.
They don’t even have the strength to speak. Even that silent nod of theirs only bore hope at most.
s.h.i.+t! What king!? I call myself king, and yet the most I can do is rely on their strength!?
With my body lowered, I approached the orc horde from the thickets.
"PyuGUaAAa!"
At the orc’s cry, I looked up momentarily. There, I saw the orcs quickly gather into one group as they began to head toward our direction.
How did they notice us!?
"Retreat!" I immediately commanded.
We have to retreat! Otherwise the goblins will all be eaten!
Then in order to weaken the oncoming orcs, I stood before them, and swung my great sword.
As we began to retreat, it suddenly hit me.
The direction of the wind has changed!
The orcs’ sense of smell is strong. Did they notice us because of that?
Orc clubs came swinging at me from my left and right. One of the annoying things about fighting in war is that the attacks come from so many directions, causing the kind of opponents that would normally not be a threat in a one on one become dangerous.
Not to mention that there are actually more orcs than us. On top of that, they’re strong enough to kill the goblins in one hit.
Knowing that,
I swung my great sword, and pushed aside the oncoming clubs. Then I forcefully changed the direction of the swung sword, and swung it back where it came from, slas.h.i.+ng the chest of the orc that had neared me in order to chase the goblins.
Normally, this orc would have already faltered from this attack, but now it was as if it was not even fazed. In fact, the orc even grew angrier, and attacked me even wilder than before.
An orc then tried to catch me from my right. I dodged him, and at the same time, the club that had been swung from my left pa.s.sed by my eyes.
This b.a.s.t.a.r.ds, they’re not considering the damages they could incur at all!
If just now, I had instead cut the arm of the orc that tried to capture me, that club would have landed itself firmly on my body.
They just tried to kill me even at the cost of that orc’s arm!
On top of that, they did it so smoothly… So this is the orc’s madness! The power of the orc king!
Fixing my aim at the oncoming attack from the orc to my left, I swung my great sword. With the a.s.sistance from > that swing went straight for the orc’s head. The orc tried to defend with his club, but my sword was faster, and his head splattered into blood and gore. I wielded my great sword over my shoulder as I fixed my posture.
As I did, an orc entered deep into my range, challenging a melee. In response, I let my sword descend with great power.
At the sword’s descent, the orc’s skull split, but before I could cut the orc all the way through, I stopped.
It’s because another orc was attacking me from behind.
The orc extended his spear, and it whizzed right past my shoulders.
I was vexed at having to deal with the fear of being attacked from behind, but I only gritted my teeth as I focused on the fight at hand.
Suddenly, a short sword was thrown, drawing a parabola before piercing my feet.
f.u.c.k, f.u.c.k, f.u.c.k!!!
As I quickly retreated, I hid my body within the thickets, and crawled about. Like that I desperately ran from the orcs.
I then followed the goblin’s trail of smell. It was dark by the time I reached them.
"Chief…" Gi Ji drooped his head powerlessly.
Seeing that along with Gi Go who was silently staring at me, made me seethe in anger.
Why!? Why am I so weak!?
Why is there such a huge gap in strength!?
Am I going to lose!?
Am I going to be defeated!?
At this rate, the village will be annihilated.
A place like this… In a place like this!
As I gripped Iron Second, I remembered the sword’s weight.
There’s no time!
In that case…
In that case!
"Gi Go, Gi Ji"
As I quietly closed my eyes, I sighed deeply.
I need to win while minimizing the casualties…
Yes, it was because I thought of such things that we were pushed by the orcs. It was because of that that I had to run away with my tail in between my legs.
As I thought that to myself, I began to speak. And I asked.
"Are you prepared to follow me?"
I don’t know if the goblins felt something amiss, but they glanced at each other.
"At this rate, the village will be annihilated," I continued.
The goblins remained quiet as they listened to my words.
"This is no longer a fight that can be fought without sacrifices," I declared.
I am the king. Therefore, I must order them…
To put their lives down to protect that which must be protected.
"If the king commands it, then…" Gi Ji looked at me straight in the eyes.
Yes. That is exactly it. I am ordering you all to die.
To all of you, who shared a meal with me, who hunted with me… To all of you who lived with me…
I am ordering you all to die.
"My life already belongs to the king," Gi Go said as he bowed his head.
I don’t know how to describe this feeling.
But unless I give this order, the village will fall. My dreams will be crushed. And all the blood that have been spilled will all go to waste!
But, yes… In the end… I am ordering you all to die for me–––
"…From here on, we will be attacking the orcs. This time, you are to stop them in their tracks. And you shall not stop until the orc king is dead."
"As you will!"
Heavy Armored (Sword, s.h.i.+eld, Armor): 16
Long Spears: 19
Short Spear: 8