Chapter 121: After victory

Yey, it’s finally school break! Sorry for the long hiatus guys.

---

The hobgoblin was a stagnant mass of magic that affected the surrounding goblins. What would happen if it disappeared? Well, it was evident from the scene of the troops who had been escorting us –they began to kill the goblins easily.

It may be better if I help them but it’s not the mission I was told to do. Besides, in addition to the bruises, scratches and cuts I took from the battle I just had, my energy bar is now empty. I can barely able to sit up and my priority now is to drink water from the canteen I had brought with me and rest my body. However, in an event that someone looks like they’re in trouble, I’ll readily come to their aid.

Just in case, I asked Liddy-san to stay with me. But looking at the situation, it’s only a matter of time before this place is cleaned up. Since the source of the monsters and the source of their reinforcement is gone, they are no different from an army that has lost all of its supplies. What will happen to such army is very obvious.

As we watch the situation, I wasn’t sure whether it’s okay to ask or not, but I still ended up asking Liddy-san.

“The sword that I fixed…, uhm, someone risked his life to use it to defeat the monsters here, right?”

“Yes. There was something even stronger than the monster you defeated earlier so we had no choice but to use it to defeat it.”

“If it’s stronger than that, then I guess it could only be the way…”

If it’s stronger than that hobgoblin, it’s probably a goblin lord or an ogre or something like that. I’m sure such information didn’t get to Camilo because they already took care of it before anyone else got hurt.

“Usually, if you defeat one of those, it will take a long time until the next one appears. However, this time, it’s faster than we imagined…”

In a murmuring manner, Liddy-san continued to speak.

So that was why they decided to ask for a subjugation team huh. And during that interval, it’s easy to imagine that it was such a fierce battle, considering that they managed to hold off the enemies and wait for the subjugation team to arrive.

“Does this mean that it will be okay for a while?”

“Yes. Almost certainly. The magical power of this forest is not so strong that it would happen three times in a row. It is abnormal to have two occurrence in a row in the first place.”

I see. I guess that’s a relief then. I then noticed that the sounds of battle had almost disappeared from the surroundings. Looks like the commanding officers already annihilated the goblins.

“Alright then, let’s join over there.”

“Yes”

The two of us head towards the commanding officer without me noticing that Liddy-san’s usual calm voice was tinged with a little melancholy.

“You’re really something! It’s no wonder you’re in charge of guarding the elf lady!”

The commanding officer energetically hit my shoulder as he said that. Uh-, with this force, it would surely hurt even if I don’t have an injury. He is in tatters but he is full of spirit because of the excitement from our victory.

“I’m just a blacksmith though.”

“Yeah, a blacksmith that can handle a spear so well.”                                                       

Urr- right. I can only smile wryly.

“Well, a lot has happened you see. Uhm, don’t spread it around.”

“I know! Alright then, let’s head back!”

“Okay”

With the commanding officer in the lead, we went out from the innermost part of the cave. Liddy-san is right behind me. It would be too unbearable to look at if one of those monsters remained somewhere and attacks us. As we go out from the innermost part, the last goblin is about to be defeated in the hall. Leroy, who I did not see earlier, was also there. I wonder if he was on the byroad. Leroy glanced at me and nods lightly. I also nodded modestly and we commended each other for fighting bravely. A few free soldiers cheered when they saw us safely return and it eventually spread throughout the hall.

Amidst such cheers, we cross the hall and head back the way we came here and eventually got out of the cave. Maybe one person already came out earlier and reported to him as Marius was there waiting for us with a big smile on his face. Miss Frederica was also by his side. After seeing me come out, she looked relieved and then she looked at Liddy-san with a pout.

All the commanding officers lined up in front of Marius and they simultaneously knelt down. Me and Liddy-san followed suit and knelt behind them.

“With the help of Eizou-dono and Liddy-dono, we have successfully defeated the boss monster. The rest is now being wiped out by Leroy-sama. It’s only a matter of time though.”

The commanding officer officially gives a report. Miss Frederica seemed to be writing it down.

“Un. You did well.”

Marius nods and urges everyone to stand up.

“For the meantime, take a rest until everyone comes back.”

“Yes. Understood Sir.”

The commanding officers saluted to him and then they head towards the square in front of the cave. When me and Liddy-san also tried to go there, Marius stopped us.

“Oh you two, this way please.”

He led us to a tent that was probably the front line’s command center which is much smaller than the one in the garrison but still, it is quite a decent tent. Liddy-san and I looked at each other and then we followed Marius inside.

“I had you guys follow me for us to talk about your reward.”

Once we entered the tent and confirmed that no one else was around, Marius spoke to us. Well, aside from Marius’ knight guard –there are some servants around as well but Miss Frederica is not here.

“I made “Eizou” do work other than blacksmithing after all.”  

Marius continued. Calling me “Eizou” instead of “Eizou-dono” huh. It means that I can do that as well.

“What are you saying? In the first place, I was prepared to work with my spear to some extent when I was called here. Besides, it wasn’t me who defeated the boss monster, it was someone else.”

I also speak to him in my usual tone. Liddy-san looked surprised. I don’t know if it’s because of my tone or because of what I said. Or both I guess?

The commanding officer did not say that I was the one who killed it, he said that the monster was killed with my and Liddy-san’s help. For the record, me and Liddy-san did work together but it’s not strange to say that it was someone else who killed it.

“You are such a great help for being so perceptive.”

Marius says with a slightly troubled and sad look. I guess he thinks it would be better if he can defeat it but as he can’t do that, he felt bad for me.

 “Don’t mind it. That feeling is enough for me.”

I said so from the bottom of my heart.

“Thank you. Well, that’s the reason why I can’t talk about the rewards for this in front of that young lady.”

“Un, I thought it would be like that.”

If we talked about this in front of Miss Frederica, it could be recorded. She is an official dispatched from the country after all, not as a vassal of the Eimurl Family. It doesn’t matter to her whether it would be at the disadvantage of the Eimurl family or not.

“So, why did you let Liddy-san follow us too?”

If it’s just a matter for my treatment, he only need to talk to me and he shouldn’t have to bother to show this side of us.

“It is related to the other request from her. That and for me to take care of your injury.”

Marius winks as he said that. Unlike an old man like Camilo or me, it looks good when a handsome guy does that. As I am receiving medical treatment from Marius’ guard, I was thinking about such useless things.

This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.

---

Previous ⚜ Table of Contents ⚜ Next

---