Chapter 10…
Barua
When Barua’s group crossed over the ridge, the goblins were gathered along the riverbank. It seemed they were not very good with water. The evacuation camp was on the opposite bank from the goblins. The food brought by the evacuees had been piled up along the riverbed, but it was planned that if women and children had to retreat deeper into the mountains, that food would serve as bait even if the goblins managed to cross.
“Alright! We’ll drive them into the river from behind!”
At Barua’s command, everyone prepared to rush down from the ridge toward the river—when it happened.
From higher up the ridge, something enormous came rushing toward Barua at terrifying speed. The next moment, a tremendous shock and vibration blasted everyone several meters down the slope.
“Is everyone alright? Damn it, what was that?”
As Barua said this and got up, he looked to the side.
There stood a giant goblin—around three meters tall—holding an equally massive stone hammer, standing like a deity.
“Damn… a Goblin King…”
When goblin outbreaks occur, the one at the center is the Goblin King, like a queen bee. Its strength and durability are incomparable to ordinary goblins, and even skilled swordsmen may not be able to defeat it. Normally, it should remain at the origin of the outbreak and not move with the horde… but there was no time to think.
Barua quickly gave orders.
“Everyone, spread out! Don’t cluster together! And take down the goblins on the riverbank while avoiding that giant as much as possible!”
Following Barua’s instructions, the others descended toward the riverbank and began slaughtering goblins. Seeing this, the Goblin King tried to descend as well—but Barua stepped in front of it.
“Sorry, your opponent is me!”
—
Everything that happened was being watched from the forest on the opposite bank by Prune.
“Imenzi…”
She wanted to rush in immediately, but she could tell at a glance that the enemy was far beyond her level.
Yuta had told her before: against a superior enemy, you must not intervene unless there is absolutely no other choice.
Her role was to deal with stragglers. In fact, some goblins who lost their way were already heading toward the opposite bank. If she let them pass, she didn’t know what would happen to Melon and Akari-mama.
She decided:
Leave the Goblin King to father. I will handle the stragglers crossing the river.
With that resolve, Prune charged toward the riverbank.
—
“Ah, big sister!”
Melon tried to run forward, but Hoshi held her tightly.
“No, Melon-chan. If we go, we’ll just get in her way. Let’s trust her and wait.”
Even as she said this, Hoshi was desperately worried about Yuta.
Fortunately, Prune seemed to be handling the goblins crossing the river without difficulty. But Barua…
—
“Ah—no! Barua-san, there are three behind you!”
Hoshi’s shout did not reach Barua.
In the next moment, Barua was pinned down by goblins from behind.
Without hesitation, the Goblin King brought down its stone hammer.
“No—why would it even strike its own allies—!”
Hoshi screamed.
Prune noticed it too.
“Imenzi—!”
Prune screamed and rushed across the river, cutting down goblins in her path.
She reached Barua—but her beloved father was no longer breathing.
“No… Imenzi… don’t leave us…”
—
The goblins on the riverbank were mostly cleared out. Okiya and the others formed a defensive circle around Barua and Prune.
“Everyone, protect Prune at all costs! We can’t face Barua otherwise!”
At Okiya’s words, everyone shouted “Yeah!”
But they were all heavily exhausted. Whether they could even avoid another blow from the Goblin King was uncertain.
The Goblin King raised its stone hammer and charged toward Okiya.
“Damn it! I’ll endure this!”
Just as Okiya raised his sword—
A black shadow leapt from the side.
It struck the Goblin King’s Achilles tendon.
“Yuta!” Prune shouted.
“Sorry I’m late, Prune. Is Barua alright?”
“No… he’s not breathing… Father is not breathing!”
“Calm down, Prune. We’ll take care of this giant. Okiya, fall back and start treating the injured!”
“Okay… understood…”
—
Across the river, Hoshi was jumping in joy.
“Yes! The hero has arrived! Yuu-kun, I’m so glad you’re safe! Hey, don’t get beaten by that giant, okay?”
“Akari-mama, what is a hero?”
“Hmm, Melon-chan… a hero is… a defender of justice?”
“?”
It seemed Melon did not fully understand.
—
The Goblin King’s movement had clearly slowed after its Achilles tendon was cut.
Yuta and the others surrounded it.
“Yuta. Is this the leader?”
“Yeah, Yuta. That’s the Goblin King. The parent of this entire horde.”
“Understood!”
Yuta moved to its side and aimed at the opposite Achilles tendon, slashing with his sword.
But—
“Giiiin!”
A sharp metallic sound rang out as the blade failed to cut through cleanly.
“Damn it… what toughness… no, my angle was bad… that’s on me.”
Although the tendon was not severed, the impact forced the Goblin King to lose balance and crouch forward.
In that instant, Yuta drew his second sword from his back and struck the back of its neck with all his strength.
With a sharp sound—
The Goblin King’s head and body separated cleanly.
“…That was a perfect strike.”
Even though it was a monster, cutting off a head didn’t feel good.
“You did it, Yuta!”
Everyone ran up to him in celebration.
But Yuta pushed past them and rushed to Prune.
—
“Imenzi… Imenzi…”
Prune kept calling her father’s name.
Okiya looked at her and silently shook his head.
I see…
Something unexplainable surged through Yuta all at once.
So this is what it feels like to lose family.
Yuta quietly approached Prune and held her tightly in his arms.
Across the river, Hoshi, holding Melon, was also crying loudly.
