Chapter 132 : The Days Toward the Rostingia Marcher Lordship (16)
Chapter 132: The Days Toward the Rostingia Marcher Lordship (16)
One day, two days.
And even after three days passed, the goblins did not budge.
“Um.... those bastards are not coming to attack?”
“????”
At first, the sentiment was still ‘let us wait.’ However, even as more time passed, there were no goblin ambushes at all.
Feeling that things were strange by this point, scouts were sent in all directions, but indeed, no particular movements of goblins were seen. Suddenly, those many goblins had completely vanished.
“Is it really that difficult to find them?”
“Yes! Captain. It is so clean that not even a single rat is visible. Even when we followed their tracks, the burrows were blocked up.”
“Huh. The burrows?”
“Blocking the burrows?”
“Did they move because they got scared?”
For a moment, the meeting hall stirred.
It was because the story of blocking the burrows they used to move back and forth was unprecedented.
“Enough, enough.”
As a commotion broke out, Shatien hurriedly calmed them down.
“What are the thoughts of Mage Agpiel? Do you think those goblins truly disappeared just like that?”
Because the number of goblins was large, it was difficult to move away from the village recklessly. If they were to receive a large-scale ambush like last time while the army was out, defending would not be easy.
Was that why? Mage Agpiel’s words were quite conservative.
“Hmmmmm. Certainly, their movements are abnormal. Usually, blocking a burrow is an action taken before moving a residence. Tell me, were there any traces of them moving? on a large scale.”
“T-There were none. Sage of the Forest.”
“Right. It is definitely strange. If so, it means those bastards have curled up and hidden inside those burrows.”
“They are hiding?”
“Yes. Whether they were scared or there is another reason, they are hiding. I see a will to delay time.”
Then the audience stirred for a moment again.
“Huh. Would mere goblins even have such thoughts?”
“They are just magical beasts.”
At their words, Mage Agpiel let out a smirk and countered.
“Would they be unable to think just because they are magical beasts? Furthermore, they formed ranks while receiving systematic command and control the other day. Goblins also possess that level of intelligence.”
Certainly, considering the movements of the last battle, that was the case.
Of course, Shatien thought that it was possible then because that bizarre hobgoblin was there.
‘Mm?’
As if reading Shatien’s thoughts, Mage Agpiel, whose eyes met his for a moment, shook his head cautiously.
A sign to stay still.
He did not know the reason, but Shatien decided to follow Mage Agpiel’s lead for now.
“Then what are Mage Agpiel’s thoughts?”
“What else.”
Mage Agpiel shrugged his shoulders.
“We must rebuild the village first. Fortunately, the Paladins of the monastery are here, so it will be easy to persuade the scattered villagers. And while rebuilding the village, continue to send the unit on patrols to solidify the defense first.”
“Then what about the burrows?”
“Naturally, we must subjugate them. But with a small number. Anyway, it is not easy for many people to move in a burrow. Besides, are they not just mere goblins? It is a matter of taking a few people and pushing through. Many are not needed.”
“Hmm. Indeed.”
It was a valid point.
Subjugating a burrow was not a task so difficult that even ordinary villagers could not do it.
“Then, as for forming a subjugation team with a small number....”
“Haha. Is there even a need to form one?”
Mage Agpiel quickly cut off Shatien’s words.
“Huh?”
“Just attach a few nimble mercenaries to me for now. I shall step forward personally.”
“Are you serious?”
“I am. Hahaha. I must earn my keep after a long time. I have received much from Count Joberham.”
Why was this heavy-bottomed gentleman doing this? Did he send that look because he had some scheme? Shatien was puzzled.
“I understand. Then I shall attach a few nimble mercenaries to you.”
Of course, there was no reason to refuse that.
* * *
“Here. Come over here.”
As soon as the distribution of roles ended and the meeting adjourned, Mage Agpiel hurriedly called Shatien, who was leaving.
“You are more observant than I thought. I flinched, thinking you might act like those stupid tin-can knights. Knights are really stupid and hard to persuade. I really don't know what is inside their heads.”
“...I am also a knight, though?”
“Is that not why I said it? That you are excellent. Hahaha.”
Shatien was flabbergasted by Mage Agpiel, who showed a brazen attitude while spitting out words that could be either a compliment or an insult.
“By the way, what on earth are you thinking? To suddenly say you are going out on a subjugation.”
“Hmmmmm. My goodness. Do you still not know?”
“I don't know?”
“Tsk tsk. I thought you were wise, but you are still slow. Young knight.”
Mage Agpiel clicked his tongue.
“Do you not have a matter to resolve with Count Joberham?”
“What does that... Ah? Wait. Did you know?”
“Yes. Doing this work, how could I not have heard the story from Count Joberham? It would be weirder if I did not know.”
“A-Ahem.”
Shatien was even more flustered because he did not expect him to know.
“A burrow is the perfect place to dispose of corpses. If we appropriately put in some goblin shamans or such and say they were struck by evil sorcery, Count Joberham’s face will be saved to some extent.”
“Is that why you suggested moving with only a small number?”
“That is right. There is no good in it reaching the ears of the Paladins or elven knights for no reason, is there?”
“Indeed.”
It was advice befitting the Sage of the Forest. Of course, if there was something a bit strange....
“But why do you intend to come along, Mage Agpiel?”
That was it.
He wondered if there was a reason for Mage Agpiel himself to be mobilized for this task. Then Mage Agpiel stiffened his face and cautiously brought up the story.
“It seems something else has intervened.”
Intervened?
Shatien was even more flustered by those words. What kind of nonsense was this all of a sudden?
“Even if a hobgoblin’s body is large, it is not as giant as that bastard from last time.”
“Mm.... Did you not say then that it was surely the influence of a wicked mystery?”
“Because that was the most plausible among several possibilities.”
“Then as of now, it is not?”
“That is right.”
Mage Agpiel nodded with a darker face.
“To be honest, I felt a bit uneasy even then, but only now am I certain. It is clear that the intervention of certain beings exists in the movements of these goblins. Wearing metal equipment, the giant hobgoblin, and this time, are they not hiding and even blocking the burrows after a very organized retreat?”
“Hmmmmm....”
At this point, Shatien’s expression could not help but stiffen as well. Something controlling or assisting monsters like goblins? Would those not be truly evil beings.
“Then would we not need more knights instead? Is it possible with mercenaries?”
“Hahaha. Would those tin cans follow my words? Their skill is excellent, but burrows are dark and the floors are uneven. It is not a very good environment for knights.”
“Well, that is true, but....”
Shatien trailed off due to the uneasiness of whether he was driving his subordinates to their deaths. If it was a dangerous task anyway, would it not be better to use those Paladins of the monastery or elven knight bastards.
If he mentioned this, they would jump at the chance to take the lead.
“My friend. My young knight. That is why I am stepping forward. I can handle a mere piece of sinister sorcery like that.”
The pride of his reputation as the Sage of the Forest was visible in the appearance of Mage Agpiel as he spoke while thumping the floor with his staff.
“Well, certainly, if Mage Agpiel steps forward, the burden will be less. I shall speak well to the mercenaries.”
Since he was speaking like that, surely he would not just abandon the mercenaries under him. He would spare them as much as possible. Shatien thought so and nodded.
However, Mage Agpiel looked at Shatien as if he were saying something nonsensical.
“You must go too.”
“Huh?”
“Hahaha. Are you not a ‘mercenary’ in name as well? Naturally, you must come too. My, how precious a knight-class being who can be reasoned with is. It is a plan I thought of because you are here.”
“Ah, yes. I see....”
Truly.... he is consistent.
Shatien evaluated Mage Agpiel in that way.
* * *
-Ah, and there is something I did not mention earlier....
-What is it? -Usually, there is always a reason why those who wield such wicked mysteries move.
-Mm... do you mean a clue to a wicked mystery, or that a wicked mystery exists, things like that?
-Exactly. Surely there will be something in this vicinity. Especially since there was even a pagan temple, it is even more so. There might be large-scale ruins from the era of the Ancient Empire.
-Mm... then are you saying there is a dungeon?
-Hey. Would it really be something so grand? If that were the case, this place would already be scorched earth. It is likely just a small fragment from the era of the Ancient Empire. It might be an auxiliary facility of the pagan temple.
-So what is it you want to say?
-If a stone tablet or stone door engraved with strange patterns appears, or if a site for ruins and artifacts appears inside the burrow, never lay a hand on it. Call me first without fail.
Shatien moved the unit while recalling the words he had just shared with Mage Agpiel.
Somehow there was a reason why he wanted to step forward personally. Ruins and artifacts from the era of the Ancient Empire were a treasury of immense wisdom.
As a mage, he must have wanted to move first. Because if the clerics of the monastery had discovered it first, it was certain they would have gone wild and shouted to destroy it.
“The scouting must be certain. We shall subjugate at least three burrows today.”
“Don't worry! Captain! We tracked them meticulously.”
“Right.”
Still, one never knew.
Because the height of the goblin bastards was smaller than humans, the burrows they moved through were difficult to distinguish from the burrows of general animals.
Of course, regardless of that, it did not take very long for Shatien’s worries to be proven groundless.
“It is here!”
“Oh... the handiwork of those bastards is quite plausible?”
“It is my first time seeing such a burrow. It is fascinating.”
The burrow the scout led them to was clearly a goblin burrow to anyone. Setting aside the characteristic goblin footprints stamped countless times on the floor, the size of the burrow and the shape of the blockage were clearly artificial to anyone.
“First, three of you step forward and break through the entrance of the burrow. The rest, prepare for a possible attack.”
“Yes!”
“Miles!”
“Ohhh, yeah. Shatien, what is it?”
“I shall ask you to guard Mage Agpiel.”
“Ehehehe. Got it. Just trust me.”
There would be nothing more reassuring than standing at the front with Miles, but what was more important now was the safety of Mage Agpiel.
Considering the warnings he heard continuously while coming, the core of this task was ultimately how well they could block and resolve the mystery.
It was even more so seeing beyond the burrow where wicked mystery was surging even now.
‘I don't know what the scheme is. What are they trying to do using goblins....’
While Shatien was thinking that, the entrance to the burrow collapsed before he knew it.
-Rumble.
-Fssssss.
The hollowed-out entrance of the burrow was spitting out deep darkness as if tempting them. Shatien brushed away the question from a moment ago and drew his sword.
“I shall lead the way. Follow me.”
Now it was time to move forward.