Volume 5, Chapter 40 – Goblin King

◆ Christina POV ◆

“Now, all of you! We’re heading back!”

“”””YEAH!”””””

I raised a victory cry, and the soldiers erupted in celebration.

Amidst the excitement, however, Lumia alone wore a dark expression.

“What’s wrong, Lumia? Why the long face?”

“Um, let’s go back quickly. There’s still… an incredibly huge monster…”

“Are you saying there’s another Lord?”

“Ah, no, well, something even bigger than the last one…”

As she spoke, Lumia’s face turned pale.

“I see. I’ve never heard of a Goblin larger than a Lord, but very well. Let us return for the time being.”

“Yes! Quickly! Hurry!”

“Understood. All personnel, retreat to Chi Tien. We shall return to Chi Tien before the sun sets! Hurry!”

“””Yes, sir!””””

Just as we were jogging back toward the city of Chi Tien, supporting the pale-faced Lumia, it happened.

Thump. Thump.

Something colossal was approaching, radiating a terrifying amount of bloodlust.

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“H-Hurry! We have to run!”

Completely terrified, Lumia panicked and started running forward.

“Hurry! Follow Lumia! Lumia! Get to the city! General Lu Fei is in the city! Fiene-sama is there too! Everyone, survive!”

Even I could tell by now.

That thing was likely on a completely different level than a Lord.

I didn’t know if we could win in a fight, but it was certain that the soldiers would not escape unscathed.

As I ran, I glanced back over my shoulder in a slightly open area.

There, a terrifyingly massive, muscular Goblin—one that was easily ten meters tall—was chasing us with a smirk on its face.

“Hiee!”

It seemed another soldier had done the same.

Shocked by its sheer size, his body froze in terror, causing him to trip and fall!

“Get up!”

“Hiee, h-help—”

His plea for help was cut short by a flying fireball.

“Damn it, this thing can even use magic!?”

Yes, that giant Goblin had launched a fireball to kill the fallen man.

That meant this giant Goblin had been chasing us around like it was playing a game, even though it could have attacked us at any time.

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“Ah!”

Lumia let out a cry and came to a sudden halt.

“What is it!”

“Uugh, we’re surrounded…”

Waiting for us as we reached a clearing in the forest were a staggering number of Goblins, their higher species, and multiple Goblin Lords.

“What…?”

“That’s why I told you to run away quickly…”

Lumia complained to me, her voice trembling as she held back tears.

“Ah, my apologies. But I’ll listen to your complaints after we get through this and return to Fiene-sama.”

That said, I couldn’t think of any way to break through this situation.

“Grrr… how does it feel? Being lured into a trap and hunted by Goblins?”

“A Goblin… speaks!?”

“Grrr… I am the Goblin King. The King of Goblins who rules over all Goblins.”

“The Goblin King!?”

“Grrr… only two females that look delicious, eh? But this should make for an easy meal. Your luck ran out the moment you were lured by the decoy in the south and came here in such small numbers.”

“A decoy!?”

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“I knew you were here for reconnaissance. Grrr… I made it look like there was only one Lord, while diverting the rest here. That strange beast was gone as well, after all.”

With a smirk, it let out another guttural growl.

“Damn, so that’s how it is.”

“Grrr… everything is in the palm of my hand. Become flesh and blood for my tens of thousands of starving kin.”

As the Goblin King spoke, the massive horde of Goblins charged at us all at once.

◆ Protagonist POV ◆

“Messenger! Messenger! We encountered Goblin Lords in the northwest forest! The unit led by Holy Knight Christina-sama is currently engaged in combat. They request the presence of General Lu Fei and Saint-sama! Also, they encountered a vast number of Goblins in the northwest forest; all messengers other than myself are currently engaged in combat!”

“What! Is Chris-san okay!?”

I had left the first-aid station and was in the command room listening to the battle reports when the shocking news arrived.

Wasn’t the Goblin swarm supposed to collapse once the Goblin Lord was defeated?

“Multiple Lords, you say? What on earth is going on?”

Upon hearing the report, the General crossed his arms, his brow furrowed.

“I’m going. Please lead me to Chris-san. Shizuku-san!”

“I understand!”

“Wait! Saint, you stay at the first-aid station! I cannot allow the healer to leave the perimeter!”

The General opposed me, but this time, I couldn’t back down.

“No, I’m going. Chris-san called for me specifically. That means she must have judged that my power is necessary.”

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“Impossible! You have your own duties!”

“Is that so? Well, I’m pushing through. Barrier!”

I cast a full-power Barrier, trapping General Lu Fei inside.

“Now, you there, please lead the way. Shizuku-san, let’s go!”

“Aye, leave it to me.”

“Eh, eh? Ah, but the General should come too—”

“It’s fine. By the time we leave the city gate, the barrier will dissolve. He’ll just chase after us anyway. Now, let’s go.”

“Eh, ah, yes. Um, General, I’m sorry!”

I walked right past the General and bolted out of the command room.

“Hey! Wait! Hey! Dammit! What is this!?”

The General seemed to be pounding on the barrier with all his might, but my full-power Barrier didn’t budge.

Even Suikyou couldn’t break it through brute force and had to try to break my spirit with words instead.

No matter how extraordinary the General is, he shouldn’t be able to break it that easily.

We burst out of the building housing the command room and first-aid station and sprinted toward the west gate.

“Chris-san, Lu-chan, please be safe!”

The western sky was gradually turning crimson, and the veil of night would soon fall. I continued to run, praying to the setting sun for the safety of those two.