Chapter 111 – Crimson Full Moon
[What’s wrong? Why are you so wary of some goblins lurking around?]
[It’s only natural. We are investigating the anomaly here. You’re the one who seems to have forgotten about that.]
[I haven’t forgotten! Let me tell you this, I’m quite strong despite my appearance.]
She declared while swinging the magic sword Flamberge――with flames made of magic power swirling along the blade, around.
[In that case, I’ll be counting on you.]
[Fufu~, praise me more!]
[Thank goodness that Miria is tagging along with us. Behold, kingdom’s strongest magic swordsman!]
[That’s a little too much~, guhehehe]
[Keep your guard up. What are you doing anyways?]
[Sorry]
[Anyways, this place is eerily quiet.]
[In the past, there should be hobgoblins wandering around here.]
[Let’s go deeper into the forest. I can sense the gaze of those monsters, so keep your heads up.]
[ [ Yes ] ]
[It’s nice to see you two reply in unison like that]
[Is it possibly a Goblin King?]
[No idea….but, as far as I know, Goblin Kings can only give rough command to other goblins, not some detailed instruction such as this.]
[Indeed]
『If you like this place that much, why don’t you live here instead? Hahaha』
They were supposedly highly territorial monsters, so it made me feel uneasy to actually see ten Goblin Kings, who shouldn’t be working together, actually did just that.
[The goblins are indeed fighting in a strange manner. Perhaps Roxy should be the rear guard just in case?]
[Understood. Then, Fai and Miria, I leave the floor to you.]
[ [ Roger! ] ]
『This brings back memory, isn’t it, Fate!』
[Yeah, it’s been a while]
I cut down the hobgoblin that was right in front of me, then did a jump slash. Doing so, I decapitated the Goblin King that was being distracted by Miria.
[Oi, that one was my prey! No target-snatching]
[My bad. I’ll listen to your complain after the battle is over.]
[Wait, ughh]
Miria seemed to be more well versed in duelling compared to fighting against many enemies. I could see that she often got distracted by the crowded monsters. Her sword was no longer as fluid as usual.
『You are someone of area E now, those arrows won’t even nick you』
[I know that. But Greed told me already. I think I’m developing a bad habit of taking the attack head on. Right, it’s just a bad habit kicking in]
『It’s Fate’s habit, so of course I remember it. In any case, reform! Reform!』
[Focus on the battle! Miria! Don’t fight while only relying on your eyes, sense the sign of opponent’s magic power]
[Sorry. I know that, but….]
[Greed, shall we?]
『This me is always good to go as usual. It’s all up to you』
[What the?]
[Fai, look down!]
[Wha, whawhat is that? This thing!?]
The same pillar of light also started appearing around us. The red color invoked a terrifying feeling that penetrate to the spine.
[Miria, leave this place quickly!]
[Argh, Roxy-sama]
『Fate, shoot』
The bloody ptarmigan released its arrow as Greed spoke. The arrow collided with the pillar of light, engulfing it in a huge explosion.
[Did that do it?]
『No idea……anyways, I have no idea what kind of magic this is, but it seems like we managed to stop it before it’s fully invoked.』
[Yeah, somehow.]
My and Roxy’s body glowed red light for a short while. But we didn’t feel any abnormality even after the light dissipated.
[What was that? That last attack was….]
[Even Greed don’t know about it. But it seemed that the goblins were aiming for this. Looking at how they all escaped as soon as the plan failed.]
[But you saved us there. That was a marvelous skill]
Roxy said that as she looked at the trail left by the bloody ptarmigan. Then she said as she got reminded of something.
[The valley north of the Heart territory….didn’t it get destroyed just like this?]
[Aaaaaaah, sorry about that]
[It’s alright. It was to protect the people from the rampaging kobold. Even this time is the same. Her Majesty would be gentle and forgive you]
[I don’t think Eris-sama would want her country to be exposed to danger either.]
[Exactly.]
『Fate, one more shot with the bloody ptarmigan!』
[You…aren’t you listening to what Roxy said?]
『Just shoot！』
[Let’s go check. Miria should be fine, right?]
[Yes]
[Just leave me be]
[How troublesome…]
『It wasn’t your part to begin with. Give it up!』
It was those rare moments when Greed actually sounded serious.
『Remember what happened with Roxy. You did things in a roundabout way.』
[Kuh, I can’t refute that.]
『That’s how it is. If you want to do something about it, then first look around and think some more.』
『You should experience all the sufferings when you’re young. If you slack you’ll only suffer later！』
[Oi!]
[You make me feel sick]
[Guhaa!]
Uhh….. that dealt a huge damage to me. Meanwhile, Roxy was smiling as she looked at me.
[Roxy-sama thought so too, right?]
Miria smiled, asking for Roxy’s agreement. But Roxy merely shook her head and said.
[That is something important for Fai. Don’t say such a thing.]
[So he talks with his sword every time? That’s weird]
[I have no other choice! Greed cannot speak unless using Mind Reading.]
Right after I said that, she pointed at me.
[Don’t you dare control my mind with that skill]
[I didn’t and I won’t! You’re in control of your own actions.]
[Suspicious!]
[Oi]
[Let’s ask Raine-san about this later. Also just in case, me and Fai should get our body examined.]
[Of course…..that girl]
[What’s wrong? You don’t seem convinced]
[While doing the diagnosis, she often touched on various parts including weird places….]
[That’s, unbelievable. I need to have a proper talk with her about it!]
[This is a goblin’s arm…]
[Goblins are green skinned. This one is gray. So this must be not a goblin.]
[Let’s have Raine-san examine that as well. Fai, can you please?]
[Yeah….I get it.]
[It’s late already, let’s wrap this up.]
[Thank you for today. We’ll be bothering you again tomorrow.]
[Yeah, the same]
[Bye bye]
[See you tomorrow]
[You’ve returned, Fate. How was it going with the goblins?]
[Something is indeed different. We collected some information, what’s left is to analyze it.]
[I see…. I wonder if this has something to do with that as well. At the Palace, I heard that monsters are becoming more active in various places.]
So it’s not only here but everywhere…. This caused me to worry about the people on Heart territory and Barbatos territory. But Aaron tapped on my shoulder and said.
[Even if you are worried, you should just leave it at that. You are now a Lord. Others will only feel uneasy if their Lord felt disturbed. Just forget about it for now.]
[Yes]
[Welcome back, Fate-sama. The dinner is ready. Since Aaron-sama is currently putting Shara to sleep, shall we dine together?]
[Yeah, please do]
[Yes, as you wish.]
[May I come in?]
[Today is a full moon….]
[Yeah…indeed it is.]
