Escape
“Take that if you’re so hungry!”
I sent the bottom half flying as well. The monster opened its mouth to catch it.
Could this…work?
When one is hungry, one does not like to move. Both man and beast. Perhaps it was the same with monsters.
I didn’t know if it would work, but at the very least, I would not have to fight it while dealing with the goblins. So it was worth a try.
I picked up my sword and cut down the hobgoblin that was approaching me, and then I used its body to block the sorcerer’s fireball. And then I tossed the crisped body towards the altar.
Perhaps it was still too hot, as the monster dropped it at first, but then it picked it up again and started to eat.
Hobgoblins were larger than normal goblins. While it was busy eating, I searched for the next goblin to throw.
Four goblins were trying to surround me now, but when I turned to look at them, they took a step back. It was no wonder. They had seen their own being turned into food.
However, I could not wait patiently either. Yutere would be in danger if it ran out of food.
“Hyah!”
When I swung my sword, the goblins scattered. I had no time to chase after them. And so I cut the corpse at my feet into two, stabbed my sword into the ground, and tossed the body to the platform.
“Gugya!”
Upon seeing this, the goblins attacked. I blocked the club with my arm guard, and then slashed its throat with a dagger. When the next one came, I plunged the same blade into its chest.
Showing an opening had lured two of them in. However, the third was too cautious.
Well, I had more food for the monster anyway.
After this horrible sight was repeated several times, the goblins eventually fled in terror. I understood how they felt, but this was no time for sympathy. I continued to chop up the parts and throw them to the ravenous monster.
“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!”
Just then, I heard a scream coming from the altar. The monster jumped back in surprise. So Yutere had woken up! At the worst timing.
I stopped throwing the goblins and climbed up onto the altar. However, the monster was now looking at Yutere cautiously, and she was lying there, completely still again. She must have fainted from the shock.
“Here, eat this.”
I threw some goblin pieces, and the monster sniffed it before eating. After it had eaten around five goblins, it turned around and went back into the depths of the cave. Apparently, it was full.
But what was that monster? I was curious, but had no time to find out. As for the goblins, they had all run away. Kejide and Hilit were waiting outside. I hoped that they had stayed hidden…
I cut the ropes that bound Yutere and picked her up. Her clothes were torn in some areas, and there were scratches. However, no heavy wounds. That was a relief. Now I will be able to keep my promise to Kejide.
I carefully leaned her against the wall.
“Mei-lei-mote-sei Heal.”
Even if she didn’t look injured, I cast Heal just in case.
“Yutere, wake up. Yutere.”
“Mm…hmm…”
She muttered weakly and opened up her eyes.
“Yutere, are you alright?”
“…Mmm… Uncle Ajifu?”
If I were actually as young as I looked, I might have been a little shocked to be called that. But since I was much older, I didn’t mind.
“Yes. I came to help you.”
“Help…? Ah!”
She must have remembered the situation, and she hugged herself and shook. The poor thing. She would have terrible memories.
“When I opened my eyes, goblin bodies were flying and…”
…Yes, poor thing. She would be terrified. Though, some of it might just be an unfortunate accident.
“Don’t worry, the goblins are gone now. Does anything hurt?”
She patted herself down to check.
“I don’t…think so.”
“I see. Good. Do you know where you are?”
“I was gathering clams in the river…and then the goblins came… Yes! I tried to escape, and then something hit me in the head!”
Apparently, she had no memory of being brought here. And while I checked her head, Heal must have worked, as there was no mark left.
“You seem to be alright then. Can you stand?”
“Yes!”
She got up to her feet and brushed off the dust. I would have just carried her, but there may still be a need to fight.
“We are underground. And while the goblins fled, there could be some that are still around. So we must be on our guard.”
Yutere nodded with a serious expression.
“Let’s go then. Kejide is waiting outside.”
“My brother!?”
It was then that she finally smiled. The support of your family was important during such times.
While having her follow me, we left the large chamber and made our way back to the entrance. Yutera would occasionally gasp when she accidentally stepped on a corpse. But she was born on the frontier. And so she continued with steady feet.
Though I created a sphere of light to make it easier to walk, we did not encounter any of the survivors.
When we reached the entrance, I looked towards the forest, but did not see any goblins. A moment later, Kejide and Hilit jumped out.
“Ajifu!”
“Yutere!”
“Brother!”
I smiled as the siblings embraced each other. I was so glad that this had not ended in tragedy.
“I knew you would do it, Mr. Ajifu.”
Hilit said as he patted me on the shoulder.
“I’m just glad that she was alright. Did you see the goblins? Some of them got away.”
“They came running out before you did. Around fourteen of them. They seemed to be very frightened.”
He was part of the village defense team, and was able to remain calm even when so many goblins came rushing out. However, it was unfortunate that so many goblins got away. As they multiplied quickly.
“I see. Then we cannot leave this cave like this.”
“Aye. It must be crushed, or they will settle here again.”
The northern forest was usually forbidden territory. As the monsters were strong there, there had never been a goblin settlement before. But with a cave like this one, they might be able to increase their numbers. But destroying a cave was not easy. In any case, right now, we had to prioritize getting the two children to safety.
I took the lead as we walked through the forest on our way to the village. As I was using a light sphere so it would be easier for the others to walk, we would attract attention from monsters.
“Hyah!”
I cut down the paralyze bat that flew at me. These things hid in the shadows at night, and then took you by surprise. Their bites caused a paralysis effect, which made them very dangerous. But as I had the Nightvision skill, I could see them before they attacked.
“Amazing!”
Kejide said as he saw the bat fall to the ground. As it was dark, it would have looked like I just swung through empty air.
“Kejide, keep it down. The monsters will hear you.”
He covered his mouth with his hand and nodded.
After that, we encountered some shadow spiders, but managed to avoid anything too strong. Eventually, we could see light through the trees up ahead. They must have heard the news, and were waiting for us outside of the forest.
Torches attracted attention though. And while Kejide and Yutere tried to rush forward, I stopped them, and we slowed down our pace. If any monster was going to attack us, now would be the time. And so we could not lower our guard.
As we got closer to the edge, they must have seen my sphere of light, as they began to wave the torchers.
“Father! Mother!”
Once they saw their parents, Kejide and Yutere could no longer stand it, and they rushed forward. Well, we were close enough to be safe. Besides, I likely could not hold them back even if I wanted to now.
“Yutere!! You’re safe! And you too, Kejide.”
They had known that Kejide was safe, and were now relieved to see Yutere as they embraced the children.
Seeing them like this, I felt glad that I had been able to help. Well, those children would probably be scolded harshly afterwards, but I would leave that to them.
As for the reason that they had left the village in the first place, it was because they wanted to gather clams, and there was a good place inside of the forest. I wondered how they even knew this, but I suppose children had their secret places.
Perhaps they had encountered goblins who were also after river clams.
“Good work, Mr. Ajifu.”
The chief held a torch as he greeted me. There were many other villagers around us. They had come out with their weapons.
“Some of the goblins were able to escape. As they may try to settle in that cave again, I will need help from the villagers in order to investigate, and bury it.”
“I see… In any case, you should rest first. Let us go back, and then we can discuss the matter. The rest of you too. Let’s go back to the village.”
Said the chief, and everyone walked back to the gate. Things must have been very tense while they were waiting. And I could see the relieved expressions under the torchlights.
“Mr. Ajifu. Thank you so much!”
“Thank you, uncle Ajifu!”
The Kemuit family thanked me as we walked. But I hadn’t done it alone. The defense team had helped a lot. We had been able to rescue Yutere, because they found Kejide so quickly.
“I made a promise, after all.”
I said as I patted Kejide on the head.
“Yes!”
He smiled, and I thought that that was enough of a reward for my work.
Thank you for the chapter!
What a satisfying ending! Thanks for the chapter!