Goblin Rider

A blazing spear of flame. The heat was so intense that even the surrounding fresh grass withered and twisted.

Much less recoil than when I used it on the orcs before. The magic power consumption was also less. The flame spear was smaller and not blue flame, but this was enough.

“F-fuck…!”

The eyes of the man who had been sneering widened as if they might burst. The adventurers standing beside him also froze in place and stared blankly at the spear.

The adventurer standing behind suddenly raised his crossbow. He aimed at me and immediately pulled the trigger.

Twang―!

Inis’s ponytail shook. She raised her shield to block the arrow. I raised the corner of my mouth and flicked my finger.

Whoosh―

The spear that had been still began to move. Divine power rushing towards the enemy. The other adventurers all fled, but the man who had conversed with me just sat down in his place.

Whoosh―!

“Aaaaaahh-!”

The flame spear passed through him and pierced the other adventurers. Those screaming as their internal organs burned.

“Aaaa….”

Bubbling liquid flowed from their mouths, nostrils, and anuses. Even their eyeballs melted, leaving only their skin.

Three humans just lost their lives. It was truly a moment that could be called an instant. It was more cruel and painful than being stabbed with a sword.

“Master?”

As I walked towards the man, Inis called me.

“It’s okay.”

She hurriedly stuck to my side. I squatted in front of the man.

Ashen complexion. Sweat like beads flowed down from his forehead. His lips and chin trembled, and when our eyes met, his body trembled mercilessly.

Hisss-

Yellow liquid spurting from between his thighs. The body covered in cold sweat emitted a foul smell, a mixture of stench and urine.

“10 seconds.”

“Wh-what…?”

“Just as you gave me a last chance. I’ll also give you 10 seconds of opportunity.”

“W-wait. W-we don’t have to fight like this…! I-I was wrong! I was all… th-that, uh, outside reward. Yes. I’ll compensate you… So let’s stop, stop here now….”

A face forcing a smile.

A severely trembling voice.

A voice trying to stay bright despite everything.

He kept stuttering, making it difficult to understand what he was pronouncing. Of course, I roughly guessed what he was saying.

“10. 9. 8….”

I counted numbers, regardless of his plea. The man would not have listened when other Teufels pleaded either.

“You fucking bastard! Let’s stop. Please stop, stop…! Hnngh….”

The man, who had burst out in anger, began to sob. He wiped around his eyes vigorously and staggered to his feet.

“7, 6, 5, 4….”

“Uaaaaa…!”

A body sprinting across the field. His gait was quite stiff, as if his body had frozen. He was probably running with all his might, but he wasn’t very fast.

“Three.”

The running adventurer suddenly stopped.

“Two.”

Then he suddenly turned around and began running towards me. In his tightly clenched hand was a sword.

“One.”

The moment the adventurer raised his sword towards the sky, the flame spear moved and pierced his heart.

“Grrrk….”

When I put magic power into the spear, the flames became even more powerful. Something seemed to be boiling under his skin, and eventually, he completely melted.

A vast field. Withered and twisted grass. Pink puddles were scattered here and there. On top, the adventurer’s equipment was melting.

“Retrieve.”

I recovered all the magic power I had put into the flame spear. Magic power that barely recovered. Probably because I had already used it plenty. I had also maintained it for too long.

“Was that too much?”

I glanced at Inis.

If I had been alone, I would have passed by without much concern. But with Inis beside me, I found myself being somewhat mindful. It was a cruel scene by anyone’s standards.

“No. They were bad enough people. I think this is sufficient.”

“Really?”

Relieved, I picked up a pouch among the bubbling liquid. When I turned it upside down, coins poured out.

“Oh.”

One gold coin and five silver coins fell. They seemed to be fairly diligent fellows. I collected the coins and put them in my pouch.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

“Kerrrrk―!”

The greenskin layer was definitely chaotic.

Groups of multiple goblins roamed the fields in disarray, and orcs also moved in groups the same way. They had realized that traveling in pairs as before might lead to death.

To think it’s already like this when not even a few days have passed. It was obvious that it would become more of a mess as time went on.

“I wonder if killing a tribe chief or goblin king would end the disaster?”

We quietly watched as a group of goblins passed by. I didn’t want to waste magic power here. Who knows when and how it would be needed?

“I’m not sure about that. It’s not written in the guide. But if the focal point disappears, wouldn’t the disaster naturally end? After all, both orcs and goblins are creatures that follow their leaders.”

“That would certainly be the case. Let’s move for now.”

After confirming that the goblins had completely disappeared, we came out of the forest. While walking across the field, we continuously watched our surroundings. Orcs and goblins could appear at any time.

Probably the adventurers we killed also moved like this. The reason they looked like beggars was probably because they had expended a lot of energy.

“Let me know if you spot orcs or goblins. We’ll run away immediately.”

“Yes.”

The fortunate thing was that both orcs and goblins weren’t particularly difficult to flee from if spotted in advance.

As we patrolled the plain with caution, a sense of vagueness overwhelmed me. How on earth could one find people in such a vast place? It felt like a miracle that we found other adventurers initially.

“Master!”

It was while we were walking aimlessly. Inis called me. She pointed to one side, and I turned my gaze in that direction.

“Hmm?”

I concentrated with a frown. Then I saw a black dot approaching us. How did she see this from so far away?

“Is it a goblin?”

“It is a goblin, but….”

Inis closed her mouth for a moment and then continued.

“It’s riding a boar. And it’s quite a large one at that.”

“Riding a boar?”

One entity immediately came to mind at her words.

Goblin Rider. It was a creature I had hunted a few times during my gaming days. From my memory, it wasn’t particularly easy to deal with.

“A goblin rider?”

“Yes. It’s not well-known, but goblins have the ability to raise and connect with animals. Of course, their skills aren’t that exceptional. Still, they take care of them from infancy and use them as mounts like that.”

“Are there any precautions when dealing with them?”

“Never engage in a frontal fight. If you get stabbed by the boar’s tusks during a charge, your bones and internal organs will be shattered. Even if you just get hit, your bones will definitely break.”

Inis nodded, indicating she understood.

“Weight and speed. Besides the reckless charge that results from these, they’re not much to worry about. Their turning is very slow. What you really need to be careful of is the goblin rider on top.”

“The goblin rider?”

“It shoots arrows.”

“Arrows? A goblin?”

“They’re smart and have good dexterity. So handling a bow is nothing for them.”

Inis had a slightly shocked expression.

“I never dreamed that goblins could make and use bows. I thought they could only throw stones.”

“As adventurers grow stronger, goblins evolve too.”

While having this conversation, the goblin rider significantly closed the distance. Now we could even see each other’s faces.

“Keralalalalak―!”

The goblin rider began pulling the bowstring, making a strange sound.

“Fire Arrow.”

I immediately summoned a fire arrow and sent it flying towards it. Its eyes widened as if they might burst. The goblin was startled on top of the boar.

“Keaak! Keaaaak―!”

When the rider said something, the boar that was coming straight ahead gradually changed direction. It probably thought that something shaped like an arrow only goes straight.

Flick-

Unfortunately for the goblin, my arrow could change direction.

Whoosh―

The trajectory of the fire arrow bent. The arrow hitting the charging boar.

Whoosh―!

With so much fur on its body, the fire spread in an instant. Squeeeeal! The boar rolled on the ground with a squealing sound.

Bang!

The rider who had been on top also tumbled. Seeing it twitching with a broken neck, it seemed to have died instantly.

Twang!

Although I had dealt with one, there were still two more left. One of the arrows they shot passed by our side, and the other was blocked by her.

“Fire Arrow.”

This time too, I summoned a fire arrow and sent it the same way. The two riders exchanged glances and split to either side.

Whoosh―!

When the attack hit, the boar began to burn just like before. The rider jumped off with perfect timing. The goblin rolling on the ground. It managed to survive.

“Fire Arrow.”

I wasn’t one to stand by and watch. I immediately shot my ability and dealt with it.

“Master! To the side!”

While I was focusing on that goblin, Inis called me. Turning my gaze to the left, I saw the goblin rider that had scattered earlier charging towards me.

A resolute gaze. It seemed to be thinking of taking me as a companion on the journey to the afterlife by burning to death. But the distance was still quite far.

Whoosh―!

This time too, I sent an arrow the same way and burned the boar. The boar, though crying out, absolutely did not stop. It was a clearly different reaction from other creatures.

“Kerruk!”

It was the moment when the boar finally fell and rolled on the ground. The goblin rider jumped up towards the sky.

Skin blackened and blistered. Its eyes glowed fiercely blue. It had tremendous fighting spirit.

Bang―!

“Keruuuuk―!”

Inis, who appeared in front of me, struck it down with her shield. As if swatting away an annoying bug. It flew to the side and fell.

“Hmm.”

An attack made with the resolve to die was certainly impressive. The problem was that it had no particular utility.

“…For something you said was difficult, this was too easy?”

“I… guess so?”

It was a day when I newly realized Egun’s greatness.