7 – Hunting
Sheto’s brows furrowed after hearing the words of the hobgoblin leader.
Capture, not kill. Normally, kobolds would get killed if they resisted even a little.
No, that didn’t matter right now. He had to focus on being the hunter.
The enemy wore leather armor and were equipped with swords. Some also had spears and round shields. But there were no ranged weapons or magic users.
And he now knew who the leader was. If he took the hobgoblin down, the others would scatter like little spiders.
However, if he made this known, the goblins would surround him quickly.
They were already moving towards him, but as the trees were in the way, they were not very organized. Also, they hid behind the trees, as if afraid of getting hit by arrows.
If he ran while using his bow, he could likely fight without putting himself in danger. On the other hand, it would affect his accuracy, and he would waste arrows.
It was seven against one. If they got close, he would be surrounded and killed.
How could he fight without wasting, while also staying out of range of their swords?
Sheto put away his bow and pulled ‘it’ out.
With an eerie, metallic clang, it drooped to the ground.
“A whip!?”
The hobgoblin said with alarm. Sheto ignored him and swung at the closest enemy who had been approaching from behind.
“Aghhh!?”
The first hit made a shallow but definitely cut.
And then Sheto ran towards the wounded enemy.
“Arghhhhh!!”
Using the momentum of his dash, he swung the thorny whip again.
“Ahhhhhhh!”
It smashed into the goblin’s face. And when Sheto pulled back, the goblin fell to the ground.
“Wh-what is that weapon!?”
“A whip!? But it’s got blades attached to it!”
As the others watched in surprise, he dashed again. The goblins moved back frantically, and then the whip flashed in the air again.
“Aghhhhaa!”
Even though there was no blessing on the whip, it easily tore into the leather armor.
This was a modified version of the whip, which used tendons from the carved wyvern, as well as mythril shards. And it now tore into the enemy with the hunger of demon beasts.
“Tsk. Zes-kana-ros-an-zul! Harden!”
The gobgoblin chanted and then touched his leather armor. It glowed white and it became obvious that the surface strength had changed.
“All of you, do the same! This one is more dangerous than he looks!”
And then the other goblins cast curses on their armor.
It was known that there were some monsters who could use ‘charms.’ It was not as strong as normal magic, but since it was easy, monsters preferred it.
After that, they regrouped quickly and continued to surround Sheto.
They were a surprisingly organised unit. Completely different from the ones he had been captured by before.
While running, Sheto targeted a branch above his head, and swung the whip.
“Whooa!”
“What!?”
“He flew!?”
While pulling, he held onto the ship and kicked off of the ground. Immediately, Sheto’s small form went flying into the air, and he landed atop the tree.
“What!? How did he do that!”
He had learned to use the whip like this while fighting against the hundred Heroes. It was faster than running, and allowed him to escape into the trees.
Like this, he was able to create distance.
“Damn it! All of you! Keep your eyes up!”
While jumping from branch to branch, Sheto pulled out his bow.
The goblins had lost sight of him now, but he could see them clearly. And while aiming, he charged the mithril arrow head with the power of defense, attack and break arts.
“Shh!”
“Gah!”
Their weak charms were no match for break arts, and the mithril was stronger than steel. And so the arrow pierced deep into the goblin’s chest.
“There! Up in that tree! Raise your shields if you have one! The rest of you, hide behind the trees!”
The hobgoblin ordered frantically as Sheto jumped to a different branch. At the same time, he threw a rock at a different branch.
“Huh!? Don’t be fooled. He’s still over there!”
Said the hobgoblin. But one goblin had already turned his head to look. A moment later, an arrow shot into his head.
Now there were only four left.
“Damn it! Withdraw for now! We must join Gaide and the others!”
And so the goblins started to move back.
“Be wary of your backs! Don’t forget that he is up in the trees! Instead of running in a straight line, use the trees for cover!”
Of course. Sheto would do the same in their position.
Still…had they not noticed it?
Even when they ran in a zigzag, Sheto followed them closely.
“Da-damn it! What the hell is he!?”
Shouts and curses. And then another goblin fell.