VOLUME 2: CHAPTER 92 – CAVALRY
Status
Race Goblin
Level 21
Class King; Ruler
Possessed Skills Ruler of the Demon Children of Chaos; Defiant Soul; World Devouring Howl; Swordsmanship A-; Dominator; King’s Soul; Ruler’s Wisdom III; Household of the Gods; One-Eyed Snake’s Evil Eye; The King's Dance at the Edge of Death; Magic Manipulation; Soul of the Berserk King; Third Impact (The Third Chant); Instinct; Blessing of the Underworld Goddess
Divine Protection Goddess of the Underworld (Altesia)
Attributes Darkness; Death
Subordinate Beasts High Kobold Hasu (Lv1); Gastra (Lv20); Cynthia (Lv20); Orc King (Bui) (Lv40)
Abnormal Status Blessing of the One-Eyed Snake; Protection of the Twin-Headed Snake
I swept with the long sword in my hand.
That elven maiden dampened the mood a bit, but with the humans no longer able to stand united, the war was coming to an end.
I don’t know about the others’ situation, but as far as this place here is concerned, the humans have been scattered. Some of them fight, while others run.
As I hunted the crowd of confused humans, I looked around me.
The other goblins should be coming now if everything went well.
As I thought that and looked ahead, I smacked my lips.
“Of course, it wouldn’t be that easy.”
A group of humans headed my way as they tried to leave the forest. I brandished my black-flame clad sword and faced them.
“Come.”
One of them came thrusting with a spear. I cut him down, then threw him away. In no time at all, those who followed him all turned into corpses.
Each time I stirred up a blood bath among the humans, power would come gushing forth from the depths of my body. The air felt thicker, and it felt like no matter how much I moved, my body wouldn’t tire. Like that I swung my sword and cut down the enemy. The trees of the forest rustled. The grass growing from the land, the thorny vines blocking the human, the leaves of the many branches above me… they all rustled as the wind passed, and each time the wind blew, it felt like something was supporting me.
The wind blowing from the forest gathered around me then scattered to the four directions.
I don’t really understand, but it’s not a bad feeling. I swung my sword as Instinct dictated, and I turned the humans into a sea of death. The corpses for the isles, the blood for the waters. Steam rose as fresh blood splattered onto my burning body.
Whenever I would look down at the humans, they would back away. When I took a breather for just one moment, the trace of white breath coming from my mouth rose up to the heavens.
“U, Uwaaaah!” Finally, one of the humans screamed and ran, and then the rest followed suit. My blade mercilessly penetrated their defenseless backs.
◇◆◇
Though still in the embrace of the night god, rays of sunlight shone as the cavalry watched from outside the forest. Of the many soldiers outside the forest, the one responsible for the cavalry was Gowen’s most trusted retainer, Corseo. He had served Gowen for many years now, and the long time spent in battle has left deep wrinkles upon his face. He was a taciturn man. So much so that it was said he would not laugh in the presence of the younger soldiers, but they respected him all the same.
The morning dew greeted the plains.
The place they were standing upon now was also once part of the Forest of Darkness. But under their orders, they had cut down monsters, and were cut down in turn, all to expand their land and open a path to a blessed land.
Corseo sat within a simple tent meant only to endure the cold of the night as he ate a simple meal and glared at the forest.
“How is it, Commander?” The young soldier who acted as a messenger said as he brought medicine to the taciturn commander. The medicine the messenger brought was something akin to tea. By drying Shigeru leaves and boiling them in hot water, then drinking them, one could increase the flow of blood, improving one’s health. That was one of the so-called blessings of the forest.
The man who pioneered that tea was none other than the respected knight and feudal lord, Gowen Ranid, who himself was currently risking his life in the forest.
“We might have recovered the saint, but don’t let your guard down just yet. Have everyone be ready to sortie out any time.”
“Understood!”
The saint, Reshia Fel Zeal. The girl who received the oldest name in the tower, Fel Zeal, and the title of ‘Saint’. At first glance she appears to be no different from your average girl, but her face and figure and even the way she moved was unusually refined. Despite that, when Corseo saw her tearful face, he couldn’t help but find her pitiful.
She was young enough to be his daughter. Yet it was to such a young girl that such a solemn fate had been burdened. Just what was that god thinking giving her such a fate? He’d heard she had gone back safely despite having been kidnapped by the monsters, but…
“The holy knight, Master Gulland, is setting off for the capital. Shall we send them off?”
Corseo thought for a moment as he looked at the forest, then he shook his head.. “No need. It is enough to wish them a safe trip.”
“Ha!”
With this that girl’s safety should be ensured. All that’s left now are the soldiers that entered the forest.
Corseo didn’t think the soldiers could possibly lose under Gowen’s command, but things didn’t seem to be going well according to the messenger that dropped by a few days ago.
“We should send them some materials again.”
Horsemen could ride to and fro the cleared out road of the forest to send the necessary goods to the nearest village, yet there had been no news since last night.
Yuan and the young platoon leaders were tasked with the vanguard, while they, the cavalry, were tasked with watching the exit of the forest. It was a foolproof battle formation meant to secure the forest, yet for some reason, Corseo just couldn’t rid himself of this strange unease.
He looked up at the flag of the feudal lord of the west. On it was a horizontally drawn long sword and above it a helmet. That was the crest of Gowen Ranid. Yet even as that glorious flag swayed with the wind, it seemed like clouds would come.
When Corseo looked up to the sky, it suddenly dawned on him that clouds had crept up over him cavalry without his knowing. The sword and the helmet swayed powerless against the blowing wind.
“Commander!” The horseman that left to scout the outskirts of the forest came back hurriedly to report to Corseo. Without even batting an eye for the usually necessary courtesies, the soldier took off his helmet and quickly spoke. “The attack force led by Lord Gowen has been destroyed by the monsters!”
“What!?” Lord Gowen!?” Corseo said angrily in shock.
The already pale soldier went even paler at Corseo’s seemingly angry reaction. “Lord Gowen appears to be holding the line to allow the others to run away, but… There’s no telling whether he’s still alive. The soldier I received this info from also died immediately after. His wounds were just too much.”
The severity of the situation made Corseo look up to the sky.