Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Otherworld Demon King Survival Guide.

Episode 40: Hobgoblins (1)

They were seriously dangerous.

Stone axes and leather clothing? Even if I didn’t know who they were, it was evident they possessed a civilization at the level of the Neolithic Age.

“Grak! Grik!”

Moreover… following the lead of the one in front, a unit of them was moving in perfect harmony.

He was commanding them.

They were trained.

One squad leader and six squad members. A total of seven trained soldiers. Did Earth’s Neolithic era have such an army? I was not sure. Regardless, they were a species capable of command, control, and training.

And they were able to craft primitive tools.

“…Orcs?”

Were they orcs?

That common fantasy race?

No. Calling them orcs didn’t seem quite right. They were just a bit larger than goblins.

And their skin was red.

Weren’t orcs typically green-skinned and larger?

“Hobgoblin.”

Let’s tentatively name them that.

“Grak! Grik!”

“Grak! Grik!”

Anyway, the hobgoblins were marching somewhere in an orderly manner. What on earth were they doing, marching like that?

Training? Hunting?

Or… war?

“…”

Were there races that would go to war with these armed and trained creatures? That was something to consider. Of course, they might fight amongst themselves.

I observed the hobgoblin squad closely as I pondered.

Primitive clothing made from monster hides. There was no design, just holes punched into the hide. There were signs of basic stitching. Even the stone axes they held were tightly bound to the handle.

To sum up… they were able to make flint tools and knew how to sew and tan.

Calling them a tribe of humans living in the wild wouldn’t be an exaggeration. They seemed intelligent.

Judging by their situation, they hadn’t packed any provisions, though they were armed. If one were going hunting or to war, they’d need to bring supplies.

Given that they were only armed and marching,

It might just be a simple patrol or basic training. Perhaps a ritual or festival. That would mean their base is nearby.

“…Grik!”

They soon distanced themselves.

Swish.

I went back to Sharan in hiding. She, who was behind a tree, came out upon seeing me.

“Sharan, are they dangerous?”

When I asked seriously,

“Sha-a Sha-a.”

Sharan nodded her head.

“Sha-a. Sha-a. Sha-a.”

Zap! Woosh!

Sharan suddenly pretended to swipe at the air, then took on the gesture of running away.

“Fight but… run away?”

That seemed to imply that.

Certainly,

Sharan’s power swipe was potent. It could tear through goblin flesh and bone. But after using it a few times, she quickly became tired. If an army like that attacked with their weapons, she might kill a few, but that was about it.

When her energy dropped, she would be overpowered and killed. Naturally, it was hard for an individual to defeat an army. Even a forest nymph, a Dryad, should avoid the hobgoblin army.

“There were warmongers like that among our neighbors. Crazy bastards. Don’t they know about pacifism? Pacifism.”

This was a very dangerous situation.

An army trained and armed with stone axes. As it stands, even if only two squads of that kind attacked us, our annihilation was certain. Although I was stronger than those guys, once they were armed, that didn’t make much of a difference.

Even if we fought our hardest, at best, it would be one against one. If it became three against one, we’d definitely lose. Even if we somehow won, it feels like we’d suffer terrible losses and injuries. And being severely injured in this wilderness means death.

If they attacked, we might be able to escape, but a few of our own would likely die, and our dungeon would surely be taken over.

“We need to be prepared.”

Coexisting with those who possessed an army would be very challenging.

Given the nature of the military, if they spotted an enemy, they would try to defeat them by any means. That was the purpose of an army, wasn’t it?

And if our habitats overlapped with theirs… a collision was bound to happen eventually.

“Shaa.”

“Sharan. Let’s tail those bastards.”

Thinking about protecting my dungeon and subordinates, my mind was racing. Although it was a bit risky, if we didn’t follow them now, it would only be harder later. In terms of survival, gathering information was crucial.

Immediately, Sharan and I pursued the hobgoblin squad.

“Grararak! Grakgrak!”

“Kyuhsahat! Kyuhsaaaht!”

A battle between the hobgoblin squad and a group of kobolds.

—Peoheuk!

—Peoheuk!

The battle was one-sided. The kobolds, with their fangs and claws, couldn’t withstand the stone axe assaults of the hobgoblin army.

“Kyuhsaahk!”

“Grarang!”

Of course, a charging kobold was able to fiercely bite a hobgoblin’s forearm, but that was it. The hobgoblins fighting with their comrades quickly provided backup.

—Peoheuk!

“Kyuhrk…?!”

The kobold’s head, which was biting the forearm, was smashed. The hobgoblin who saved his comrade offered his hand to help the fallen one up.

“Grakgrak.”

“Gruheuk.”

They even exchanged greetings and chuckled.

“Damn.”

It was incredibly genuine. These guys weren’t just imitating an army; they genuinely knew how to fight.

“…”

Let’s summarize the situation.

Not long after tailing the hobgoblin squad marching in formation, they discovered a kobold den and immediately launched an attack. It was incredibly efficient and swift.

“Grakgrak.”

“Grak.”

The hobgoblins, who had finished pillaging, came out dragging the bodies of the little kobolds.

Incredibly quick and clear role division.

“Grakgrak. Grak.”

The squad leader gave some orders, and the hobgoblins moved. It’s astonishingly impressive. These guys are a truly experienced army.

But why hadn’t we encountered such guys before? If they were plundering like this, we should have met them at some point.

Could it be…

Did they come from outside our area?

They might have moved from another area to this region. Why? Driven out in territorial disputes? Or perhaps the strong monster in this territory disappeared? I was not sure, but it was not good.

Then, that moment came.

“Sha-a.”

Sharan grabbed my shoulder.

Then she pointed straight ahead.

Swooshing sounds.

Suddenly, a fairy appeared.

“Grak Gratak?!”

A hobgoblin exclaimed, seemingly in shock upon spotting it. As expected, even for a group as organized as this, they seemed to fear the fairy.

“Grakgrak Grakgrak! Grakgrak!”

“Grakgrak!”

The working hobgoblins quickly dropped what they were doing. Two by two, they gathered and dispersed. Were they spreading out?

Then…

Swooshing sound!

They started throwing stones fiercely at the fairy!

“Grakgrak! Grakgrak!”

“Grakgrak!”

“Grakgrak!”

They were attacking the fairy!

“Eek!”

The fairy, sounding distressed, began to dodge as stones flew its way.

Swooshing sounds filled the air!

And then it completely fled.

“Grakgrak!”

“Grakgrak!”

The triumphant hobgoblins.

“…!”

I couldn’t help but shiver at the sight.

They calmly drove away that fearsome fairy. From their flawless movements, this wasn’t their first time. They had repelled the fairy multiple times before.

It was clear.

They quickly grouped in pairs, spread out, and focused their attacks.

They were obviously trained against the fairy to avoid its widespread hypnotic powers…!

Gasp.

I was deeply moved, covering my mouth.

These creatures were truly incredible.

Though they feared the fairy, they dealt with it as they had been trained. After confirming that, I retreated with Sharan.

“Sha-a.”

Sharan looked worried.

She was probably on guard against them.

“Sigh… Sharan, do you know about fairies?”

Flapping sounds.

I imitated a fairy by bringing my palms together and flapping. Sharan growled at the imitation.

“Sha-a…!”

She seemed alert.

She probably didn’t like fairies very much.

“Sha-a. Sha-a Sha-a.”

Soon, Sharan grabbed my wrist and started pulling me.

“Sha-a Sha-a.”

She looked worried.

Was she suggesting we go back?

Well, she used to be a wild girl until recently. She probably thought it was better to avoid them instead of stalking enemies.

“Sha-a Sha-a. Sha-a.”

She kept insisting we go back… but I held onto Sharan’s wrist. We couldn’t leave now. We needed to gather as much information about them as possible for our safety and future.

“Okay. But wait. Let’s just see where they’re going and then head back. Got it?”

“Sha-a…”

Did she understand?

Her ears drooped.

Sharan’s leaf-like ears drooped.

“Oh dear, Sharan. I’m sorry. But it’s vital for our survival. Let’s just see that and leave.”

Her ears perked up.

When I apologized and patted her head, her previously drooped ears perked up again. After patting her head for a while…

We followed the hobgoblin squad again.

And so, we arrived at their main camp.

“…”

Huts.

Primitive huts that seemed appropriately built came into view. And that wasn’t all. The hobgoblin residents were bustling around the hut village.

Their number was at least equal to a platoon.

“Grakgrak Grakgrak!”

“Grakgrak! Grakgrak!”

“Grakgrak!”

The residents welcomed the army, who returned carrying the bodies of kobolds.