Elfaria Chapter 33

033. Respect.

　The next morning.

　We visited the Karguri branch of the Fixers Guild with a fulfilling mind and body, and immediately sought information on the latest situation.

「As you can see, there are a lot of people running around from places like Hanaria and Bele, saying, "Let's make a name for ourselves by defeating the goblins!" so there is still some leeway.」

　The man in charge of the reception desk, who appeared to be in his late thirties, was called "Rodl".

　Judging from the old scars on his face and arms, he was probably a former fixer.

「That said, we are not in a state of relief. Some female staff members have been moved to other locations, and preparations are being made in secret for worst-case scenarios.」

「I see.」

　No wonder there were not many young female staff members in the facility.

「More than anything else, the number of people who fail in their requests to take down a target has been increasing, albeit little by little. Well, most of them are G ranks who have just made their debut, but such a thing was unthinkable in the past, you know? Even though their numbers are increasing, they are still goblins after all.」

　Rodl said, but I couldn't agree with him.

　It's just goblins.

　They're still goblins.

　That's what I still feel. There is also the case of Lilyza and the others.

「Anyway, according to my estimation, the number of goblins in Forres is currently between 1,000 and 1,500. They have a strong reproductive capacity and are not a number to be underestimated. We'll pay a little more for their crystal stones, so go kill them all」

　After being told that, we leave the branch office for the time being.

「I feel like... It's the end for a lot of things」

「As I thought, do you think so too, Osada-kun?」

「Yeaah. Anyway, the guild staff doesn't have enough "sense of crisis". If there are more than 1,000 goblins around the town, they should be more panicked, don't you agree?」

　I totally agreed with him.

　I don't know if this Rodl guy just happens to be a blockhead guy with little sense of crisis, or if he is overconfident due to absolute confidence, but with his tone like that, the residents would be furious.

「Anyway, let's brace ourselves. Also, Osada-kun. I know it's probably too late to say this, but if you really think you're in the condition "This is bad", or "I really think I'm in trouble". You must abandon me and run away. Can you promise me again?」

　Osada-kun was originally positioned as a "supporter".

　His main role is to transport and manage supplies and collect materials during peacetime, and fighting and covering for others are just "extras".

　I couldn't just "leave him in town," but if something were to happen, I wouldn't want him to die as a result of my actions.

　I got down on one knee on the ground myself and looked Osada-kun in the eye as I said this.

「........I get it, but it's so frustrating. Even though I want to be strong, too」

　Though he felt a sense of helplessness, he thinks it was a matter of the "right person in the right place" and "the unsuitable person for the job".

「I can't say, "Don't worry about it," but Osada-kun, please focus on your "role". 'Cause I'll focus on my role, too.」

　With a pat on the head, we headed toward the gate that separates the inside of Kargari from the outside.

　◇◆◇◆

　I didn't mean to let my guard down, but still, I guess I have to admit that I "underestimated" the odds.

「[Energy bolt]!」

　In the forest lined with trees, we struggled against the goblins that quickly appeared, but...

(These guys! They're used to attacking people!)

　Each one is no big deal. They were easy to kill.

　But they never tried to fight each other seriously.

　On the contrary, they use all kinds of guerrilla tactics such as "surprise attacks," "hiding," "decoys," "traps," etc., to attack you, and it's unbearable.

(The fact that their bodies are grass-colored is one of the reasons why we are so slow to detect them.)

　I had only fought goblins in relatively open areas before, but in a battle in the forests like this, their level of threat immediately jumps up.

　If I had not been able to use folia (*especially 【Sensing】) ― if I had not been at level 12 ― It would be no strange if I would have been killed long ago.

(In the case of the game, though, it was only the appearance rate and a slight change in parameters.)

　I still think this world is crazy.

　On the other hand, I began to feel joy and pleasure in the "life crisis" that I had never felt in Hanaria.

(These guys ...... are seriously strong and learning a lot!)

　The only thing that separates strength and weakness, life and death, is "level" and "folia" ― somewhere in the back of my mind, I was dismayed at my own stupidity in thinking so.

　I had also had the condescending impression that they were the "weakest monster of the subhuman type," but I decided to completely discard that perception.

　I respected the fact that even though they were monsters, they wisely gathered their wits and ingenuity to survive, and risked their lives to fight the enemy.

(Though, as long as they were my enemies, I had no intention of letting them live.)

　If we allow even one of them to escape, the damage would be that much more extensive.

　We had to be on our guard and make sure to slaughter the goblins to the extent we could. And then

「Ooohhhh! Incredible, those guys!」

「They've hunted down 60 goblins in just a few hours!」

　In the evening.

　When I and Osada-kun returned to the branch office with the goblins' crystal stones, the people around us began to make a fuss.

　I had never been the center of attention before, but this kind of thing might not be a bad thing once in a while.

　Rodl-san also praised us, saying, "You did a good job!" and as promised, I got quite a bit of variety in my reward. And then...

「Hey, hey! Would you mind telling us a story?.」

「How about having a meal with us?」

　A few of my colleagues approached me, but I said, "Sorry, I still have some work to do". I gently turned them down and walked out with Osada-kun.

「Hmmm? What's the matter? If you want to eat, why don't you go with them? The girl who approached you was pretty cute too, so why don't you have a delicious meal with her later?」

「Hey, hey, hey. It's not that I didn't think of that, but I think it's more important to improve the various problems we've identified today, don't you think?」

「Specifically?」

　When Osada-kun ask that, I told him: 

＊There are a lot of surprise attacks, which inevitably force the use of [Sensing] at all times, and this drains a lot of force.

＊The goblin is a long-range attacker, so I use [Energy Bolts] and "Boomerangs" very frequently. Inevitably, the means of attack are limited.

＊The [Flame] causes forest fires, so it is necessary to learn a different kind of folia. The [Energy Bolt] is not enough.

　I told him, "Let's call it a day."――Immediately after I decided to do so. I also told him that for a brief moment, I felt someone's gaze.

「A gaze, huh?」

「It could have been my imagination, or I could have been oversensitive―but in any case, this incident, there may be more to this case than meets the eye, you know?」

「Having said that, does it sound like you're having fun? Yuuto」

「Sort of. I understand that it's inappropriate, though.」

　I can still be strong - the certainty of this possibility only buoyed my heart.

Previous Chapter --- TOC --- Next Chapter