Chapter 162

Chapter 162

Otherworld Demon King Survival Guide.

Episode 162: Collision (5)

They didn’t notice the existence of Sharan and me. As a result of continuing to eavesdrop, it became clear that they would search a little more.

But there seemed to be a time limit.

It seemed that we had to retreat after they did a bit more searching, but we could find out the rest after taking a mage as a prisoner. Anyway, if they didn’t come within a certain time, they would be considered dead, that must be the reason.

“Sharan. Retreat.”

“Shasha.”

We immediately increased the distance from them.

First, we needed to lure them towards our dungeon. Fighting in the field was… disadvantageous.

Since they were expert scouts and masters of escape, it would be a problem if we let them get away.

Although the forest was my territory, chasing the fleeing scouts would be our final plan. Whatever it was, it was important to do it safely. There’s no need to test the scouts’ ability to escape.

Anyway, how to lure them?

Send the pixies?

Fairies were a rare existence. If they saw a pixie, wouldn’t they try to investigate? No. That’s not it. Humans also knew that fairies were dangerous. There’s also a possibility they’d turn back as soon as they saw a pixie.

“Hobgoblin.”

Right. Let’s organize a hobgoblin special force to lure them.

My goblins had grown too big now and didn’t look like goblins anymore. If I were part of the search party and saw such strange goblins?

Suspicion would arise. They would probably run away and report immediately, thinking of capturing one for evidence.

But if it’s hobgoblins, they might not be as guarded. There’s a high possibility they’d think of checking out a cave or something.

Let’s organize a hobgoblin luring team and try to lure them once. It didn’t matter much if we failed since humans couldn’t interrogate hobgoblins.

“Pixies retreat. From now on, we’re returning to the dungeon. Sharan, be careful not to leave any traces on the way back.”

“Yes, Master.”

Then, we returned to the dungeon.

After returning, we immediately organized a hobgoblin luring team.

Including the chieftain Hookbeak, there were three.

“Your mission is to find humans following the guidance of the pixies. Once found, make some noise and then run to the dungeon.”

“Grak… just run?”

“Yes. It’s about luring humans. But it would be troublesome if you’re caught or killed in the middle. You need to run well.”

“Grak. Got it.”

Hookbeak nodded seriously. It felt like he’d do it since he was told to. It’s doable for him since he was not asked to fight directly but just to run.

As we were about to dispatch them.

“Keuk. Master. I’m not very confident. May I also go?”

Buril said.

“If humans see you, Buril, they might be very cautious.”

“Is that so? Then, I’ll stay behind or something. Surely, the hobgoblin chaps will fail. Keuk. I need to watch over them.”

“Hmm.”

Buril didn’t have much faith in the intelligence of the hobgoblins. Sending Buril? This could be quite dangerous.

Strictly speaking, Buril could be considered a ‘goblin variant.’ We shouldn’t give the humans any excuse to withdraw.

But if it was Buril.

“Hey. Will it be alright? Buril, you must absolutely not be caught by humans.”

“Keuk! Just trust me! Who do you think I am, Master! Am I not Buril!”

ㅡFist clenched!

With his fist tightly clenched, Buril confidently shouted out to me.

“Buril, you little… Do you want to achieve a feat?”

“Keuk! Yes!”

“Khehehe! Alright! Then guide the hobgoblins well! Hookbeak! Follow Buril’s command! Got it!”

“Grak. Got it.”

The phalanxes were skilled enough to operate even without Buril. So, let’s send them off. I immediately gave orders to the pixies as well.

“Serinu, secretly scout and inform the kids about the humans’ location. Remember, you absolutely must not be caught.”

“Got it. I’ve done this several times, so don’t worry. So, this scouting team includes me, a pixie, Buril, and a hobgoblin?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll be back!”

Serinu shouted confidently.

“Then, deploy! Lure the humans into the dungeon!”

“Keuk!”

ㅡTap tap tap.

Thus, the luring team departed from the dungeon.

“Juragi!”

And immediately called Juragi to give the next order.

“Shwak! Did you call me?”

“Take the remaining hobgoblins and enter the underground passage! Go to the end and wait there! And when I shout, rush into the dungeon and attack the humans! We’ll take the front, so you handle the rear!”

“When the signal is given… attack the humans inside the dungeon! Shuralarak!”

“Yes. Exactly that. Did you get it?”

“Shwak! Of course!”

“Then go!”

“Shwak!”

Juragi led his subordinates into the dungeon’s underground passage. Now, there’s no need to ambush using imps like before.

Gyuil and the Kobold kids had completed the Vietcong-style underground passage. If you went down to the underground passage inside the dungeon, you could exit through the outside of the dungeon.

Thus, the moment humans entered the dungeon and the signal was given, monsters hiding in the passage could rush out and ambush the humans in the dungeon.

“It’s the first time using this tactic.”

But you learned by doing.

And it’s damn perfect, wasn’t it?

“Everyone! Prepare for battle!”

Ah, should I create some hobgoblin footprints in front of the dungeon?

And then.

Serinu returned.

“Hey! Quick! They’re coming!”

A desperate face.

“Serinu, quickly, give a proper report.”

“Ah, yes! So, the pixies and Buril are hiding outside! The hobgoblins are coming to the dungeon! It seems like the humans are slowly following!”

Slowly?

Ah, since they were scouts, there was no need to hurry? They planned to let them escape and then followed, it seemed.

“Pretty laid-back.”

The pixies, being able to fly and hide in the dense trees, were unfindable, and the smartest Buril had probably hidden well.

“Then, Serinu. Return to the troop and prepare to command the pixies. When the humans enter, we’ll hit them with a volley of fire.”

“Okay!”

Serinu immediately went inside the dungeon.

“Are we to protect the demon king?”

“Do that.”

Sharan, Lumica, and the rest of the royal guards should protect me. Anyway, while waiting in that state.

“Grak! Gralak!”

“Gralalak!”

The hobgoblins, looking terrified, rushed in furiously.

“Hey! Hookbeak! Snap out of it and report!”

“Grak?! Re, report?!”

“Tell me what happened!”

“Grak! The humans are following!”

“Okay, then. Wait here, and when I say, go into the underground passage and move forward. Tell the others to rush to the dungeon as soon as you meet them.”

“Ah, got it Grak!”

The hobgoblins immediately sat down to catch their breath. Now, it would be perfect once the humans enter the dungeon. This time, we didn’t set any separate traps.

We were thinking of ambushing them with firepower from the front and back.

Now, we just have to wait patiently.

That’s what I thought.

“Ah.”

After a few dozen minutes.

ㅡCheruk.

I felt the arrival of humans in front of my dungeon.

“What’s this? A burrow?”

Chasing the fleeing hobgoblins, a strange burrow appeared.

“Umm?”

“What exactly is this?”

Following that, the scouts stopped in front of the burrow. It’s a very strange burrow. Different from burrows dug by monsters or formed naturally.

“What’s going on?”

The timid mage asked, to which the bulky one responded.

“Ah, we came across a strange burrow.”

“Strange, you say…?”

“Yes. I’ve never seen a burrow of this form before. Some kind of roots are covering the walls and ceiling… I wonder what it is.”

“Aha.”

As the mage showed interest in the explanation, the bulky one started to explain eagerly.

“Tsk.”

The scout, Mareun, didn’t like the scene. Everyone was eyeing the young and pretty mage. She was timid and seemed unable to refuse things well, making her seem like someone who could be easily taken to bed.

Naturally, he didn’t want to lose her.

Mareun immediately spoke up.

“It’s suspicious, but the tracks are clear. Look at the footprints ahead. All belong to hobgoblins.”

The tracks confirmed it. This place was inhabited by hobgoblins. And no traces of any stronger monsters were visible.

“Let’s go inside and take a look. It’s just hobgoblins, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

“Isn’t it a bit strange, though? Maybe we should investigate a bit before entering.”

“We don’t have much time, do we? Just a quick look at this and then we can check other places.”

Though not sure what the burrow was, it’s currently being used by hobgoblins. A quick look should be no problem. That’s how the scout, Mareun, judged.

“Isn’t it dangerous…?”

The timid mage hesitantly said that.

“Sigh.”

As a leader, to hear such words… Anyway, despite being timid, she’s quite busty. Mareun inwardly licked his lips, smiling.

“It’s fine. Right now, it’s inhabited by hobgoblins. They’re not particularly dangerous. They can’t attack from a distance and are shorter than humans. No matter how many are inside, we’ll be able to subdue them.”

“Is that so…?”

The mage seemed slightly reassured by his words.

“…”

He wanted to drag her to bed by any means. To grab those filthy breasts tightly and knead them as if bursting them, pounding all night long. She seemed different from the typically haughty mage ladies, presenting a possibility.

“Then let’s depart.”

As a leader, he had made his appeal. Mareun instructed his team to light the lanterns, naturally formed a formation, and commanded them to enter.

“Lumica, just support from the rear.”

“Yes…”

Thus.

ㅡTrudging.

The scouts entered the burrow.

“Stay calm. Hobgoblins are nothing special.”

“But more than that, these tree roots are very peculiar. How did they cover the burrow’s walls and ceiling like this, I wonder.”

“I think so too.”

The scouts moved along, tossing comments back and forth without much tension.

“…”

Mareun wasn’t tense either. Hobgoblins weren’t a significant threat. Anyway, as they walked, the corridor turned out to be quite long.

Just as they wondered when the creatures would appear.

ㅡHalt.

“Wait. Stop.”

From within the darkness.

Something was seen.

“Eh?”

Making a ferocious expression… Was it the hobgoblins? Then, what about those shields and spears?

ㅡWhoosh.

The sound of flapping wings.

Flying?

That thought was brief.

Suddenly.

“@##@#%!!!”

“@#%#@%!!”

“@##@%!!!”

ㅡSwoooosh!!

A fierce shout followed by a magic blade brushing past the cheek. ㅡWhoosh! His cheek felt scorched. Naturally, blood would flow.

“What, what in the world!”

“Formation! Maintain the formation!”

Something was wrong.

The scouts thought.

“Everyone, retreat!!!”

The moment Mareun shouted.

ㅡThud.

A scout standing next to him fell forward.

“Argh…!”

He groaned, clutching his face, from which blood was overflowing. The magic had hit him right in the face…!

“Aaaaaah!”

The mage screamed. The fallen one couldn’t be helped. Quick judgment. Whatever this was, it wasn’t hobgoblins. Something far more dangerous was present. They needed to inform the lord immediately. That’s what Mareun thought as he turned and kicked off the ground.

But.

“Eh?”

For some reason.

“Shwaaaaaaak!”

“Graaaaaak! Graaaak!”

ㅡThudding rapidly!

Enraged lizardmen and hobgoblins were charging, filling the dungeon corridor.

“Is the entrance blocked…?”

There’s no stopping this!

“Damn it!”

Unable to find a way out amidst the confusion.

“Keuk! Kekkek!”

“Kekkek!”

Goblins armed with shields and spears inside the dungeon.

“What on earth is this?!”

ㅡMarching.

They advanced in formation like an army, stepping in unison.

“What in the world is this?!”

It was incomprehensible. What were these creatures, and why had the monsters banded together?

“Aaaaaah! Aaaaaaaaah!”

“Qu, quickly! Draw your swords! We must create a way out, urgh?!”

As the bulky scout said, they grasped their swords and took position, but they were already surrounded front and back.

“These damn bastards!”

As they screamed, the spears of the goblins, armed like soldiers, flew at them.