Chapter 76 Trauma
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”There are 24 goblins, 4 high goblins, and 2 hobgoblins. That’s quite a lot, according to Rena.”
Kazumi and I are hiding in the bushes. Kazumi quietly tells me the details of Rena’s ‘Detection’ through ‘Telepathy.’
”…As expected of Liz. She quickly shared information through ‘Telepathy’ and spread us out.”
I load my crossbow while staying low.
”I was really worried when Hiroya got separated. We all came up with plans so that doesn’t happen again.”
”…I’m sorry about that.”
Either way, this combination is good. The two teams can share information and respond to magic. My only concern is Liz and Rena’s close combat ability.
”Even though Liz and Rena’s team seems a bit weak in close combat… we can draw them in with our team and Martina and Dorothy’s team.”
”Well, Liz’s bow and Rena’s magic are really strong, so it should be fine.”
”That’s true.”
A group is heading toward the spot where we were resting. Kazumi and I are ready with our crossbows, waiting for Liz’s instructions.
”…Instead of aiming for the big ones, we should take out the small ones to reduce their numbers. After we shoot 3 times, Rena and I will use magic. Liz and Dorothy will use their bows. Hiroya and Martina will wait until the enemy numbers go down.”
”Got it.”
”…Get ready… 3, 2, 1, fire!”
Ignoring the high goblins and hobgoblins, I aim at the goblins and pull the trigger.
I change my aim and shoot 3 times. The other teams also fire from their hiding spots, and the goblins are almost wiped out.
One hobgoblin seems to have given orders, and the high goblins split into 2 groups and run away.
One hobgoblin is coming toward Kazumi and me in the bushes. The other one that gave the orders…ran away?
”Kazumi, just in case, finish off the fallen goblins with magic.”
”Okay. Be careful.”
Kazumi kisses me on the cheek.
”Hehe. A little charm.”
”Thanks. I’m off now.”
I jump out of the bushes and confront the hobgoblin.
”Fire Pillars!”
With Kazumi’s voice, several pillars of fire rise up where the goblins fell. …The range and number of those flames don’t seem like beginner magic at all.
”Those goblins won’t survive that…”
I’m amazed by the power of the magic Kazumi used as I face the hobgoblin in front of me.
It’s not as big as an ogre, but it’s larger than a high goblin. Its eyes show a hint of intelligence, unlike the high goblins and goblins.
It swings a great sword, likely a trophy from some adventurer, at me.
”Physical Boost!”
The long sword, raised high, comes down with the strength of the hobgoblin.
Normally, I would dodge to the side, but with this force, I might lose my balance, so I jump back to avoid it.
As expected, the sword slams into the snow-covered ground, melting the snow around it.
I use the sword stuck in the ground as a springboard and leap at the hobgoblin’s head.
”!”
I get close to the hobgoblin and draw ‘Yamikirimaru.’ My strike hits its throat perfectly.
I sheathe ‘Yamikirimaru’ and land beyond my target.
Soon, the body without a head falls to the ground.
The two high goblins that went after Liz have already been taken down by Liz’s arrows and Rena’s ‘Light Arrow.’.
”Hiroya! Martina is in trouble!”
At Kazumi’s shout, I look over at Martina and Dorothy’s team.
Dorothy skillfully maneuvers her estoc, engaging in a fierce battle with the enemy.
(What about the other one?)
I quickly jump into the bushes where Martina was hiding.
There, I see… Martina being pinned down by a large high goblin.
Her eyes are wide with fear, and her body is tense, unable to move.
”Martina!”
As soon as my voice reached her, a strong light returned to her eyes, and she drew her dagger from her thigh, thrusting it into the high goblin’s waist.
”Gwaaaah!”
Martina pushed the high goblin away with her legs, creating some distance as it recoiled in pain.
”Leave it to me!”
I rushed past the high goblin’s side and, as we crossed paths, I slashed it with a quick draw of ‘Yamikirimaru.’
The high goblin fell, sliced in half from its stomach, and I rushed to Martina’s side.
”Are you okay?”
”When I got close to the high goblin, my body suddenly stopped moving…”
Martina clung to me, her expression on the verge of tears.
”But… I heard Big Brother Hiroya’s voice… I managed to land a hit on it… I did it… I did it, Big Brother Hiroya…”
”Yeah, yeah. You’re okay now, Martina.”
I continued to gently stroke Martina’s head, which she held against my chest as she cried.
* * *
”We decided to take on one each and charged forward… and at that moment, I saw Ms. Martina freeze at the edge of my vision…”
”So Dorothy used ‘Telepathy’ to tell me, ‘Martina is in danger.’”
After that, we rested around a campfire in the dim forest, even though it was past noon, with Martina sleeping in her sleeping bag after collapsing.
Dorothy was cleaning her estoc, stained with high goblin blood, with a cloth, and Kazumi was watching over Martina, who was sleeping next to me. They explained the situation at that time.
”…I guess she still had some trauma from the goblins…”
Liz muttered, gently fixing Martina’s disheveled hair.
”Trauma…?”
Dorothy doesn’t know about that, does she?
”Yeah. You see, Martina…”
Liz began to speak as she stroked Martina’s hair.
* * *
”…That’s what happened…”
”In the previous battle, she said, ‘I landed a hit on it,’ and was crying, saying, ‘I did it. I did it.’ I hope this means she’s overcome it…”
Dorothy, who had tears in her eyes after listening to Liz’s story, told me what Martina had said earlier.
”In any case, once Martina wakes up, let’s have a light lunch and then go after the hobgoblins who ran away. Their lair might be nearby.”
Liz threw some firewood into the campfire.
”They seemed to be running in a different direction from the center of the forest, so shall we head that way?”
”Yeah. I also want to hurry to the dungeon, but we can’t leave the hobgoblin, who was leading all those goblins, unattended.”
Rena and Kazumi also agreed with Liz.
* * *
Around the time Rena, Kazumi, and Dorothy started preparing a late lunch, Martina woke up in front of me and Liz, who were worriedly peering in on her.
”Big Sister Liz… Big Brother Hiroya… wait, what?”
”You fell asleep right after fighting the high goblin.”
”Oh, right… I landed a hit on it… I guess I’m okay as long as Big Brother Hiroya is by my side…”
”Yeah. You’re strong, Martina. You’ve become even stronger because Hiroya is with you. Good job.”
Liz gave me a glance and then went to help with lunch.
”Am I… holding Big Brother Hiroya back?”
”No, you’re strong, Martina.”
”No. I can try hard because Big Brother Hiroya is with me…”
Martina shook her head slightly and, looking embarrassed, half-buried her face in the sleeping bag.
”I’m always with everyone and… Martina.”
”Yes! You know… I’ll try harder… can I ask you something?”
”?”
”I want Big Brother Hiroya to… give me a kiss…”
Martina made her request in a small voice.
”Sure… here, the trees provide some shade, so no one can see… it’s the one we couldn’t do on our date.”
I lifted the sleeping bag a little and kissed Martina’s full lips. It was the intense one we couldn’t do on our date.
”Mmm… fuuun… chuu…”
I licked Martina’s tongue, which tentatively touched mine, without any reservation, intertwining them.
”Chu… nfuu… nchu… chu… fuu~♡.”
Eventually, we parted our lips, and Martina chased after my tongue with her own, as if reluctant to let go. I gave her tongue a light kiss.
”Naan~♡.”
Then, Martina, with her finger on my lips, whispered, “This is… an intense kiss…”
”Don’t get me wrong. I didn’t kiss you because I wanted you to try harder. I kissed you because… I like you, Martina.”
Martina’s melting expression after the kiss turned into one of surprise, and then she turned bright red, once again burying herself in the sleeping bag.
”Yeah… thanks, Big Brother Hiroya…”
Martina mumbled an answer from inside the sleeping bag.
”Let’s have lunch. Get up quickly.”
I patted Martina on the sleeping bag and then stood up.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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