9 – No Wings Needed

Raymund continued to give his warnings. "Don't let him go, Elise!"

"Arrrgghhh!!!" Elise didn't care about her body, which felt like it would crumble because it kept hitting various objects, from houses to trees.

"S-she is great…" Alex was stunned.

"Perhaps she really was sent by God to save us?" Hannah chimed in.

Nora sighed and shook her head. "You still believe in such a thing? If so, what is she? An angel? I don't see the wings on her back."

After a few minutes, the goblin's movements finally slowed down. He staggered, and his hands were down, no longer trying to untie his neck.

"Hold on, Elise! A little bit more!" Raymund couldn't hide his excitement.

Elise only used what was left of her strength to keep entangling the goblin. Apart from his body being afflicted with immeasurable pain, his head now felt a floating sensation. She wanted a long sleep after this.

"Oh, shit…" Alex hissed, then ran to the goblin. "Oh, sh*t! Shit! Shit! Shit!"

Elise couldn't even realize what was happening. The goblin staggered backward and finally collapsed, pressing onto Elise's body.

The woman could only remain silent with her mouth agape and eyes almost closed. Her body felt crushed, and her lungs squeezed until she couldn't breathe.

"Help me!" Alex tried to lift the goblin's body slightly to allow Elise to creep out.

Nora brought her hand to the goblin's nose. She didn't feel the breath from the monster. "Don't lift it like that. Use the lever and fulcrum! This fat body is so heavy!"

"I don't even know what you mean!" Alex was still trying to lift the goblin's body.

"Idiot!" Realizing there was no time to explain to that man, Nora spoke to Hannah. "Find a big rock! I'll find the wood!"

"Hey, where are you guys going!? Help me!" Alex bewildered.

It didn't take long for Hannah and Nora to find what they needed. The healer put a big rock on the ground, then Nora put a long thick wooden stick on it. She used that stick to leverage the goblin's body.

When the goblin's body had lifted enough, Alex pulled Elise's body until it was finally free from the giant goblin's corpse.

"She's unconscious." Hannah examined the female warrior's face. "Elise? Can you hear me?"

Slowly, Elise opened her eyes, which made Hannah heave a sigh of relief.

"The fight is over." Alex gave a smile. "All thanks to you."

"I'll make a bonfire." Nora got up and walked away. "Looks like we're safe. Those goblins wouldn't dare attack us if they saw the corpse of their greatest warrior."

Elise looked at the already dark sky. So, finally, this torment will be over.

"May I ask you?" Alex widened his smile. "You actually know about goblins, right? You could run after we ran, but you were determined to kill the giant goblin. Goblins are vengeful, and they will launch attacks elsewhere if they can't find their previous attacker."

Elise was silent for a moment. Everything that happened to her body made her brain blank. She even had to remember why she was in that place. "It's because of God's command."

Alex chuckled, and that made Hannah snort in annoyance.

"Don't laugh at her, Alex." The petite girl was on her hips.

"Why did you guys leave me?" Someone else came to them.

"Ah… You're awake, Grant?" Alex answered that young man with a body full of bandages. "Forgive us. We just had a fierce battle… No, we're just helping out a bit. It was this brave woman who defeated the giant goblin."

Grant shook his head, continuing to limp with his dimly lit magic staff. He looked at the giant goblin corpse for a moment, then raised an eyebrow when he saw Elise's wounded body. "This… Is she still conscious? She should have been unconscious for a long time with injuries like that."

"She just woke up, and I was shocked too," Hannah answered while treating Elise's wounds. "But, that's one of the miracles of Elise. It's because she was sent by God."

"Even I almost believe that she really came from heaven." Nora, who came carrying pieces of wood ruins from the destroyed houses, chimed in. From the tone of her voice, she was clearly joking.

A bright light fell on those people, and it didn't come from Grant's staff or the bonfire that had obviously not been made. They looked up, finding something shaped like a cloud shining brightly.

Then, Elise's body started to lift up on its own. The adventurers immediately gasped because of that.

"I told you, didn't I!? He is the messenger of God!" Hannah jumped for joy.

Grant sneered. "Perhaps the so-called god is a wizard with levitating and portal abilities."

"Has anyone really solved the portal theory yet?" Nora replied. "That's one of the lost ancient magic, right?"

"That's just my guess. And why do you even say that? You are the most atheist among us. You should support my theory."

Nora shrugged.

"Where are you going?" Alex asked in a disappointed tone.

A faint smile formed on Elise's lips. "To God's place."

"Can we meet again?"

"I don't know, Alex." Elise took a deep breath, desperately holding her pants. "I thank all of you for helping me. Goodbye…"

Her body continued to rise and finally entered the fog portal. The adventurers were speechless at that strange phenomenon.

***

I carried Elise with both hands and put her near one of the pillars. The woman didn't respond to me because she was fast asleep.

I then looked at a small clear bottle filled with blackish liquid in my hand. It was a random reward from the first mission. I felt it was too insignificant for Elise's great struggle.

Sh*t.

Is this what my friend meant, don't get too attached to the characters in this world? Yes, I have to admit that the way they behave and talk is more advanced than NPCs in any game. They are very similar to real humans.

But, I will not be deceived. I don't want my emotions to be swayed because of a them. This is just a game.

While leaving the woman's body just like that, a few lumps of fog came over to me. The silhouette of one figure carrying a large bag on its back appeared there.

"How are you doing, Sir Raymund!?"