Chapter 121: Bear-san Departs To Subjugate The Goblins

After listening to the village chiefs request, we went to the rooms they had prepared for us.

The boys and girls rooms were separate, of course.

We were all in the girls room, having a meeting about tomorrows goblin extermination.

We sat in a circle on a soft carpet that was spread out on the floor.

So, we should discuss how to find and defeat the goblins. From what the village chief told us, it seems that they dont move as a single group. The villagers mostly saw only one goblin at a time and never more than three at once.

Timor asked for ideas for tomorrows subjugation.

In that case, isnt this a good time to rely on the Bear-sans strength? This subjugation is not a part of the practice training, after all.

Cattleya looked towards me.

Hmm, was it really so?

An excursion is an excursion until you return home, was something that was often said

Wouldnt everything before going back be a part of the practice training?

Or was this a special case?

I agree. The situation is different than normal. It will be dangerous. We can defeat one or two goblins at a time, but it will be difficult if there are more. We can defeat the goblins safely with the bears detection ability, though.

Timor and Cattleya went with the idea of relying on me.

Marcus, who got us in situation in the first place, spoke up.

Could you please lend the bears abilities to us?

Marcus asked me with a polite bow.

Can I ask you just one thing first? Why did you accept this request? You could have left it to the adventurers, right? I really dont think you had to force yourself to do it.

This wasnt a job for students who just had to deliver wheat flour.

Also, the goblin subjugation had nothing to do with the practice training, so there was no need to put themselves in danger.

I aim to become like my father and uphold his policies.

Like your father?

When there are people who are in need of help, help them. Its better to regret helping them than to regret not doing so. Still, dont do what you cant do. You need to put in a lot of effort to improve on the things you cant do so that you can do them next time.

Marcuss father is the captain of the second knight order.

s.h.i.+a, who sat beside me, whispered to me.

Didnt that mean he was someone incredible?

Well, I didnt really know the ranks of the official positions.

Still, if he was a captain, he should be someone important, right?

Thats why, since the village is troubled, I will help.

But, he told you to not do what you cant do, right?

We can do it; I just have to rely on my comrades and your bears. That is something I grew to understand from the two battles during our journey.

So, he thought that if we picked off goblins one by one using my detection magic, they would be able to handle it?

Still, you dont really have to put yourselves in danger, you know. Its not like any serious damage had been done, and the villagers just have to wait a few more days for an adventurer to arrive.

And what if they were attacked during that period? Its not really a problem for men, but the goblins could attack woman and children who cant defend themselves, you know!

Marcus really is kind to children. Thats why you didnt argue with Yuna-san, right?

Shut up!

s.h.i.+a said something incredible.

Did that mean they considered me a child?

I was shorter than s.h.i.+a and Cattleya, so I might look younger, but

Treating me as a child just because I was short I was shorter by only a bit you know!

Was this why I was always asked to stay put in the carriage when they were fighting the goblins?

You also asked me to carefully protect Yuna-san

s.h.i.+a!

s.h.i.+a just laughed when Marcus shouted at her.

Was this for real?

Did that mean Marcus ordered s.h.i.+a to protect me?

Well, s.h.i.+a knew about my strength, so I was sure that she had no intentions of being my guard, butthe other three thought differently, right?

Since Im a girl, he nagged me to take care of you.

I never noticed such a conversation happening

Was he possibly a tsundere?

I thought only girls could be one.

It wasnt cute when a boy did it, you know.

Also, tsunderes were allowed only in the 2D world.

If you did it in the real world, n.o.body would realize, and you would just end up p.i.s.sing people off.

You dont really have to be embarra.s.sed, you know.

s.h.i.+a seemed to be only teasing Marcus.

Was this something funny for those who knew about it?

To avoid further teasing, Marcus forcefully changed the subject.

Anyway, if I run away from this now, I wont be able to become a first rate knight like my father. I know that with my current skill, it would be impossible for me to subjugate those goblins alone. Thats why, I would like you to lend us the bears powers.

He said seriously.

What would you do if I refused?

I would do anything, even get on my knees and beg you. If its to reduce the danger the villagers are in, doing that is nothing.

That wasnt an answer.

He thought that if he kneeled and begged, I would accept?

Was he a brainless idiot?

Well, I was planning on accepting from the start, but I wanted to hear what he was thinking, so I continued to question him.

Isnt that something you should have done before accepting the subjugation? If I dont accept, all of you will face danger, you know.

Sometimes, harsh words were needed too, right?

I thought that if s.h.i.+a said that she would come with me, you would use the bears.

So, you thought I wouldnt refuse for s.h.i.+as sake?

Marcus nodded in an honest manner.

He planned it in advance, huh?

If s.h.i.+a went with Marcus, I would come too, and if I went with them, I would use the bears.

This wasnt really something I would do just for s.h.i.+a, though.

After all, my job was to protect all of them, including Marcus.

So I will ask once more. Please lend us the bears strength.

Marcus bowed again.

Okay. I will lend them to you.

Thank you, you are a lifesaver. I will protect you no matter what, so you dont have worry about your safety.

Before improving your swordsmans.h.i.+p, shouldnt you first improve your ability to judge people?

The bear in front of you wasnt so weak that it would need your protection, you know!

Next to me, s.h.i.+a was looking at the floor, barely stopping herself from laughing.

Was this party really okay?

But, your practice training results might decrease, you know? I will properly report everything, after all.

I dont mind. If I couldnt save the people I wanted to because I aimed for good grades, I wouldnt be able to become a full fledged knight. I want to become a knight who can protect the people he wants to, even if my grades are affected by it.

A low rating, huh. There is no helping it. Marcus, when we go back, treat me to a meal, okay?

In that case, I know a delicious restaurant. Its expensive, though.

We will be able to order all we want, right?

You guys

Marcus said as if he was annoyed, but there was a smile on his face.

But, before that, we have to defeat those goblins.

Youre right.

Then, we should think about how we will defeat them, together.

When Cattleya said that, everyone nodded, except me.

They then started planning on what they should do.

I wanted to go sleep, though.

We were in the girls room, so I couldnt really leave.

Also, I couldnt really say that I was sleepy when all of them were this pumped up.

The discussion continued late into the night.

The next day, we got ready to head to the forest to subjugate the goblins.

I was a bit tired; the lack of sleep wasnt good for my body.

The four of them were full of energy, though.

Being young sure was incredible.

I let out a small yawn.

We will be going now.

Please dont try to do the impossible, okay?

The villagers were there to see us off.

We headed the forest by foot.

I confirmed the surrounding with detection magic.

There were about 12 goblins; all spread out.

One, one, two, two, three, two, and one.

The only problem would be the group of three goblins, huh.

Yuna-san, how many are there?

There are 12 goblins.

I gave them the locations and the numbers of goblins.

You know that even without bringing the bears out?

Yes. Im linked with them, after all.

It would be troublesome to walk while hugging the bears, so I told them that.

A group of three, huh. For now, we will start with the nearest goblin that is on its own.

We moved towards the closest goblin, with Marcus at the front, then s.h.i.+a, me, Cattleya, and finally Timor.

After walking for a while, we found the goblin and approached without alerting him.

Im counting on you two.

They put the plan they had thought up before in action.

If there was just one goblin, s.h.i.+a and Cattleya would fire magic at it, and Marcus would use that chance to finish it off. Also, if one of the girls missed, Timor would fire his magic as well.

Both girls. .h.i.t the first goblin, and Marcus attacked as planned.

I was reminded of the game, seeing them like that.

The magicians attacked from the rear, then the warriors or swordsmen rushed in. It worked great especially when they had a healer as well.

I partied a bit too, of course.

I was a magic swordswoman, after all.

Its true, you know!

The next place had two goblins.

We will split in two groups and attack at the same time!

The other three nodded.

Timor and Cattleya were in the back acting as supports while s.h.i.+a and Marcus were up front, ready to rush the goblins.

If they registered at the Adventurers Guild, they would become E rankers in no time.

That makes three of them.

The Bear-sans detection ability is really incredible. To know their location so precisely

Thanks to them, we can defeat the goblins easily.

They removed the magic stones and buried the corpses.

The goblin hunting was progressing well.

They first defeated one and now two.

Both were surprise attacks, but they were able to kill them safely.

We should take a break.

Yeah, next is the group of three goblins. Timor, is it really okay?

Dont worry. I can hold two of them off while s.h.i.+a and Cattleya defeat the other one.

We will defeat it quickly, so do your best.

Im counting on you. Unlike you guys, Im bad with fighting up close.

We finished our break and went to where the three goblins were.

They should be just behind this thicket.

We reached an open field inside the forest.

When we arrived, the three goblins were attacking a wolf.

A wolf?

It wasnt there a moment ago.

Ah, it might be that I just didnt take note of it.

I was only looking for goblins.

What should we do?

We have a good view from here, so we can see them if they approach us.

While we were watching the fight, a black shadow arrived and killed all the goblins.

What is that!?

Why would something like that be here?

This is a joke, right?

They were looking at it as if they couldnt believe their eyes. I was sure they didnt want to acknowledge it.

What was standing in the middle of the field was bigger than Swaying Bear, a beast wrapped in a pitch black fur.

With a fiendish look, it was crunching a goblin with its enormous teeth.

Black Tiger.

s.h.i.+a revealed the ident.i.ty of the black beast.

Ripping the goblins apart with its sharp claws and growling from its large mouth, a Black Tiger was there.

The fact that I didnt detect this monster was completely my fault.

Authors note:

You can now see the ill.u.s.trations on the PAs.h.!.+ editor blog.

Those who are interested can go check it out.

Next time, Yunas peerlessness will finally be shown.