Chapter 13: Goblins

Momon returned to the Adventurer's Guild, only to be informed that someone was requesting him for a specific quest.

"A quest specifically for me? Could it be something Peroroncino arranged? No, probably not. He didn't mention anything like this to me."

"Who is it?"

"Nfirea Bareare," the receptionist replied.

A boy with hair covering his eyes approached Momon.

"It's me," Nfirea said.

"I just arrived in this city yesterday. Why would you commission someone you don't know?" Momon asked.

"I'm an alchemist. At my shop, I heard about a skilled copper-ranked adventurer who single-handedly tossed an adult man. The adventurers I usually work with are unavailable, so I decided to ask for your help. Also, hiring a copper rank is cheaper," Nfirea explained.

"What is your quest?"

"I need to gather herbs from the forest near Carne Village. I'm looking for someone to escort me and help collect the herbs."

"I must decline. First, I don't have the ability to protect anyone, and second, I don't know anything about herbs," Momon replied bluntly.

"This is a designated request! Are you sure you want to refuse?" Nfirea asked, visibly frustrated.

"Yes, I refuse."

"Wait! I think you should accept this quest," a voice interrupted. It was Peroroncino, who had arrived with a four-person adventurer team.

"That's… the guy who came to the alchemy shop to appraise the potion," Nfirea thought to himself.

"Chino, who are they?" Momon asked.

"I met them while hunting goblins. They invited me to join their team for goblin and ogre hunts, so I agreed," Peroroncino explained.

"Then I'll go along with Chino's suggestion. I'll accept your request, but we'll team up with them, and you'll need to compensate them as well. How does that sound?" Momon asked.

"Fine," Nfirea agreed after some thought.

.......

The next day, the group set off after making their preparations.

Nfirea drove the carriage while leading an eight-person team toward Carne Village.

The team included:

Peter, the warrior and leader of Swords of Darkness,

Lukrut, the ranger,

Dyne, the druid,

Ninya, the magic caster.

Joining them were Peroroncino, Momon, Yulia, and Nabe.

The main task of Swords of Darkness was to explore the forest near Carne Village and eliminate goblins and ogres along the way.

Peroroncino had been invited primarily because of the powerful swordswoman, Yulia, at his side. Given the uncertainties of exploring the forest, her presence provided an extra layer of security.

As they traveled, Momon approached Peroroncino and asked, "Weren't you planning to form a harem party? Why are you teaming up with this all-male group?"

"Don't even get me started. I spent half the day in the Adventurer's Guild, and the male-to-female ratio is 15:1.

And the few women I did meet were either tanks or… not exactly great-looking. When I ran into these guys during a goblin hunt, they invited me to join, so I agreed. After all, the best way to learn about this place is through the locals," Peroroncino explained with a sigh.

"I see…" Momon said thoughtfully.

During the journey, Momon learned quite a bit from Ninya about the production of magic items and the basic workings of this world.

Lukrut, the ranger, glanced at Nabe, who looked completely at ease, and asked, "Nabe-chan, you seem so relaxed. Is it because you trust my vigilance?"

"It's not because of you," Nabe replied coolly. "It's because Mr. Momon and Mr. Chino are here."

"Chino?" Swords of Darkness turned to Peroroncino with puzzled expressions.

"Nabe, you have such a sense of humor," Peroroncino said with a forced smile.

Although Peroroncino's current avatar had reached level 3, he was still very weak. At this point, he doubted he could even handle a single goblin.

"Excuse me, are Nabe and Momon a couple?" Ranger Lukrut suddenly asked.

Hearing this, Nabe became visibly agitated.

"What are you talking about… that would be Albedo..."

"Nabe!" Momon interrupted her before she could finish, making her realize what she was saying.

"Lukrut, please don't delve any further," Momon said to the ranger.

"My apologies. So Momon already has someone special," Lukrut replied sheepishly.

"Momon, I'm sorry for my companion's rudeness," Peter, the team leader, said.

"It's fine. Just don't let it happen again," Momon responded calmly.

"Lukrut, be more mindful next time..." Peter warned.

"Shh! Something's coming," Lukrut interrupted.

"Where?"

"Over there!"

Lukrut pointed toward a patch of forest.

Six or seven ogres and over twenty goblins emerged into view.

"What's the plan?" Peter asked Momon for his input.

"You protect Nfirea. Just watch me take care of these goblins," Momon replied confidently.

"Understood. But we'll still support you to the best of our ability," Peter said before turning to his team.

"We'll stick to the usual roles," Peter instructed his companions.

Ranger Lukrut was the first to act, firing an arrow that fell short and landed harmlessly in front of the goblins. The goblins laughed, mocking the weak shot, giving them the impression that their opponents were feeble.

"They've taken the bait," Lukrut said with a grin before releasing a series of precise arrows, taking down several goblins in quick succession.

"Armor Enhancement!" Ninya cast a defensive spell on Peter.

"Plant Bind!" Dyne used magic to summon vines that wrapped around the ogre's feet, immobilizing it.

Peter was just about to step in and use his martial skill Fortress to engage the ogre, but Momon and Nabe walked forward calmly.

Momon approached the ogre, drawing two massive swords from the hilts on his back.

The ogre swung its large wooden club at Momon, but in the next instant, its head was severed cleanly by a single strike.

"Amazing," Ranger Lukrut exclaimed in awe.

"His strength is beyond mithril rank—he's probably at or even above orichalcum," Peter said, equally impressed.

None of them noticed Peroroncino struggling on the side as he fought against goblins.

Seizing the chance while no one was watching, Peroroncino gave a subtle signal to Yulia. She effortlessly cleaved through a goblin in one strike.

Peroroncino wanted to level up but was caught in a dilemma: he couldn't handle the goblins alone, Yulia's strikes instantly killed them, and it would be humiliating if anyone saw him struggling against mere goblins.

"Scared to come at me?" Momon taunted an ogre in front of him.

Not the brightest, the ogre charged at Momon in a rage, only to be cut cleanly in half at the waist.

Dead.

The remaining goblins, seeing how fearsome Momon was, bypassed him and charged toward Swords of Darkness.

Another group of goblins rushed toward Peroroncino's position.

In a flash, Yulia dispatched them all with ease.

The goblins attacking Swords of Darkness were mostly dealt with as the team worked together.

Meanwhile, Momon rushed at the ogres in front of him, taking out four with swift, decisive blows.

The last two, terrified by their comrades' swift deaths, turned and tried to flee.

"Nabe!"

"Yes!" Nabe leapt high, flipping mid-air to position herself so the two fleeing ogres were aligned.

"Lightning!"

A bolt of electricity pierced through both ogres' chests simultaneously.

The two collapsed to the ground, lifeless.

Seeing the ogres annihilated, the remaining goblins panicked and fled in all directions.

"Don't let them escape!"

Peter and Ranger Lukrut chased after them. Momon and Nabe, however, didn't bother to pursue—they didn't think goblins were worth their time.

Shortly after, Peter and Lukrut returned. They hadn't managed to kill many goblins, and both had suffered minor injuries.

Dyne cast healing magic to treat their wounds.

.......

That night, the group sat around a campfire sharing a meal.

"So, why are you called Swords of Darkness?"

"It's named after one of the four legendary swords wielded by the Black Knight, one of the Thirteen Heroes. Our goal is to find that sword," Peter explained.

"Momon, you're truly incredible. If only we could be as strong as you," Lukrut said wistfully.

"This level of skill is something you could easily achieve," Momon replied casually.

Hearing this, the members of Swords of Darkness exchanged awkward glances and smiled wryly, unsure how to respond.

End of chapter

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