Chapter 27 In the Goblin Forest (Ares’ POV)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Ares, it hasn’t changed much around here, huh?”
Guido, the temporary party leader and ‘Tank’, walks at the front for this exploration mission.
”Yeah. The types of monsters haven’t changed much either. What’s the situation around us?”
I reply to Guido’s back and ask the guy walking next to me about the situation.
”It seems there aren’t any strange monster presences within the range of ‘Detection’.”
Marty, the ‘Thief’ who is on guard next to Guido, answers.
”You guys got caught up in a tough mission right after your engagement, huh?”
Guido speaks without turning his head, of course, to ‘Fighter’ Isaac and ‘Magician’ Roana.
”We’re doing this for the village we’ll be taking care of. I volunteered for this mission.”
Isaac says this, and Roana nods beside him.
”Well, you don’t need to worry. The lord (the old man) told me to ‘not push yourselves too hard’.”
Guido tries to sound cheerful, but since we entered this forest, we’ve been on ‘high alert’ the whole time. The mental fatigue must be building up quite a bit.
”So far, we’ve taken down 7 goblins and 12 wild boars. I think that’s a lot for the outskirts of the forest, but it’s still manageable.”
I muttered to myself.
”But still, Ares, it’s crazy that there was an ogre during the village attack. If it was just one or 2, we could handle it… Hey, Guido, what would we do if we ran into more than that?”
Reacting to my mutter, Liz, who was checking the tension of her composite bowstring, called out to Guido at the front.
”Of course, if that happens, our priority is to escape. ‘A reckless adventurer only meets death’ is the lord’s (the old man’s) saying. We absolutely won’t take unnecessary risks. You all should prioritize your lives too.”
Guido answered like the experienced veteran he was.
* * *
This party’s goal is to investigate the monster environment in the ‘Goblin Forest.’ The final target is the area around the dungeon that caused the ‘Dungeon Burst.’
The leader, Guido, and Marty are both B-rank adventurers, while I am C-rank. Liz, Isaac, and Roana are D-rank. This is probably the strongest team we have right now in Razia Village (excluding the lord and Guardian Knight Lord Müller).
Adventurers ranked E would struggle against goblins, and those ranked F or G would just hold us back. Most adventurers in Razia Village, known as the ‘Starting Village,’ are at those low ranks.
”At times like this, it would be great to have Hiroya, Kazumi, and Rena with us.”
I know better than anyone here how strong those 3 are. They definitely have D-rank skills, and Hiroya might even be close to B-rank level.
”Right…”
Liz agreed. I really want them to become adventurers soon.
”About that Ares story from earlier, is it really that amazing? The lord’s son and Mr. Rudolf’s daughter from the clinic… is she the one?”
Just as we were about to reach the center of the forest, where the dungeon investigation area was, Guido started talking to me during a short break.
”Yeah. You know, someone like you from outside… oh, sorry, you and Marty were called here by the lord from the capital, right?”
”Don’t worry about it. Until I finish my job and contribute to the village, I’m still an outsider.”
Guido laughed as he said that. Then he continued, urging me to get to the point.
”So, what’s the deal, Ares?”
”Probably, if I told other adventurers, they’d just laugh it off… but the adventurers in this village all know how amazing he is. Especially Hiroya. He’s still just a 9-year-old kid, you know? He managed to take 2 out of 3 matches from me in a wooden sword duel.”
”──That’s rich coming from you. Didn’t you lose all 3 matches on the last day of practice?”
Liz teased me.
”Shut up! …Anyway, that kid is a genius, a prodigy, or maybe even a monster. He looks cute, though.”
Well, calling him a monster was just a joke. There aren’t any other kids as good as them.
”Is he really that great? I’m looking forward to seeing him. I can’t slack off now.”
The veteran adventurer grinned, resting his chin on his hand.
”──Stay alert ahead. Two large monsters… they’re coming.”
Marty, who was on a tree keeping watch, issued a warning.
”An ogre…”
Guido stood up, readying his large shield. I also drew my sword and raised my shield in my left hand.
”Ares and Isaac, split up and hide. Marty, stay as you are. If the enemy shows any openings, attack from there. Liz and Roana, fall back and keep your distance. Attack and use magic based on your own judgment.”
Each of them follows Guido’s instructions.
”I’ll take on one of them. While I do that, focus your attacks on the other one. Hurry up, please. I’m getting old, so I can’t hold out for long.”
Guido says this with a laugh.
Soon, an ogre appears from behind the trees. Two of them.
”Alright!”
Guido’s body is filled with energy. At the same time, he charges at the ogre on the left.
With that movement as a signal, I rush toward the other ogre. I catch a glimpse of Isaac leaping at the same time. The timing is perfect.
”Ice Bind!”
With Roana’s voice, the feet of the ogre in front of us start to freeze. The ogre’s movements slow down immediately.
”Right!”
Isaac shouts and raises his longsword.
Understanding his intention, I aim for the ogre’s right leg and bring my longsword down. The two longswords hit, and the ogre’s knee bursts with fresh blood.
”Guuaaaah!”
”Ares! I’m counting on you!”
Isaac targets the other leg of the ogre that is about to fall.
I, being entrusted with the task, strike down on the ogre’s head, which is now within reach. Almost at the same time, the ogre’s left leg and head are crushed.
──How’s that!
I immediately deliver the finishing blow to the fallen giant.
(Where’s Guido?)
I glance over and see Guido, unfazed by the massive club strikes from the ogre, continuing to block with his huge shield.
(Nice job, old man. The ‘Tank’ really is reliable.)
Liz’s bow supported Guido. At the same time, Liz nocked 2 arrows. The two arrows shot out, one piercing the forehead and the other the right eye.
The ogre groaned in intense pain.
Guido caught the ogre’s club, which was swung down with incredible force, with his shield held high. The power was so great that even Guido knelt, and dust flew up around them from the impact.
I wouldn’t miss this chance. I thrust my longsword into the ogre’s side as it swung its club down from above.
With that force, the ogre fell sideways.
”Take this!”
Isaac’s swung longsword struck the ogre’s neck, severing its head from its body.
* * *
”Guido, are you hurt?”
Isaac and I rushed over to Guido.
”Yeah, I’m fine. Well, my shield is in pretty bad shape──”
As Guido stood up, he suddenly disappeared from my sight.
”That’s a troll! Run! It’s going to throw rocks!”
Marty shouted from up in a tree.
Isaac helped Guido, who had been knocked away by a rock the size of my head.
”Guido is fine… we need to run now!”
Following Isaac’s command, we all started to run. Marty jumped from tree to tree.
A rock came flying at Liz as she turned to escape.
”Liz!”
I raised my shield and ran toward Liz.
(Please make it in time!)
I jumped on her and pushed her down into the bushes. I felt a strong impact on my leg when I jumped, but it was probably nothing.
”Liz, are you okay?”
”I’m… fine.”
”Marty is the fastest! Don’t look back, just run! Report to the village!”
I gave orders from the bushes.
”You run too, Liz.”
”You too!”
”To escape with the injured Guido, we need a rear guard. I’ll hold them off.”
Peeking from the bushes, a giant with a greenish hue, like an ogre, appears, holding huge stones in both hands.
”Go quickly!”
I push Liz away. Through her, I can see Isaac running with Guido on his back, and Roana running beside him in the distance.
”I don’t want to…”
Liz’s eyes well up with tears.
”Just go! If I hold them off for a bit, I’ll escape too! Luckily, trolls aren’t that fast.”
I take out a pendant from my chest plate. It’s the one Kazumi made for me.
”I’m your ‘shield’.”
”!”
”If you understand, hurry up and go.”
Liz nods slightly and starts running after Isaac and the others.
”Ares! I don’t want you to die!”
She turns back and shouts at me.
”I won’t die…”
I mutter quietly, but it seems like getting out of this situation will be tough. Besides, I wonder if my left leg, which took a direct hit from a rock when I protected Liz earlier, is broken…
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.