Chapter 292 - Goblin Nest

In the distance, Isabell jumped off the top of the buildings into one of the alleys. After doing so, she removed the mask from her face and then took a deep breath.

"Damn, how can he know I'm chasing him?"

[ You are underestimating him. I told you he's very strong, didn't I? His senses are sharp. ]

"But I didn't think he would notice. I was far away."

[ Well... But why are you doing this? If you want I can keep you informed about him, you don't have to keep chasing him. ]

"You don't have to."

[Are you so in love with him that you're stalking him? Did that kiss he gave Ciaphia make you angry? ]

"It's not like that!"

[ I see. Well, I have to go now, good luck. ]

"See you later."

Isabell put her mask back on and headed towards the inn she was staying at.

'I've been living in inns for years, I should buy a house...'

####

The next day Noah went to Lisandra, CIaphia, Taciane, and Eli's house to see how Lisandra was doing.

Fortunately, she was better.

She was now smiling happily as she walked down the street together with everyone. Noah felt relieved about this. 

"I told you she was a strong girl," Noah said to Ciaphia. They were heading to the guild all together.

"... Last night was a little troubled, Lisandra had trouble sleeping."

"Really?"

"Yes. She was up most of the night. I'm glad she woke up feeling well."

"I see..."

'Isadora, you could have warned me about this.'

[ I'm sorry, I was asleep too ].

'I didn't know that gods slept.'

[ We sleep too. ]

'...'

Arriving at the adventurer's guild, Noah and the girls went to the counter together. Rose looked at Noah and then at Ciaphia who were further ahead. Lisandra and the others were further away.

"So you decided to join their group?"

"Hm? No, that's not it."

"Oh, really? It's because you're all together, I thought you joined their group."

"I don't do well with groups, I prefer to venture out on my own."

"I see. But if you joined their group, Ciaphia and her sister would be pretty happy, you know?"

Noah looked at Ciaphia and she looked away.

"I'll think about it." Noah smile.

After Ciaphia picked up her reward from yesterday's mission, they went to the mission board. Just the two of them, Lisandra and the others sat at a table.

"That mission over there looks interesting." Noah pointed to a mission and Ciaphia picked it up to examine.

"Destroy a goblin nest?"

"That's right. It's an easy task, you guys are sure to do it easily."

"We've done it before, I'm sure it will be easy. But Lisandra doesn't like goblins much, so..."

"I see. Then I guess I'll take that mission for myself, is that okay?"

"Sure." Ciaphia handed the paper to Noah. He then went to the counter to register the mission.

After that, Ciaphia also appeared bringing a mission with her.

"Kill two ogres? That's hard, are you guys sure to make it?" Noah said a little worried, but Ciaphia just gave a proud smile as she tapped her chest.

"Don't worry, we've done this before."

"Fine... But be careful. I'm going now, I'll see you guys later."

"Okay, see you later."

Noah and Ciaphia kissed and he left the city towards the goblin nest.

####

In the goblin nest, a few miles from the capital, a group of dark-skinned goblins were working hard to finish building a throne.

Further away, a nearly three-meter tall ogre with black skin and large horns on his forehead was giving orders to all the goblins.

"Gyaaa"

"aaaaaaa"

While talking among themselves, the goblins nimbly took clay and built the throne.

The walls were also covered with clay, giving the cave a rather interesting look.

"Urg, why did master have to put me in charge of these useless goblins? I wanted to be by his side." The ogre almost started to cry.

The goblins noticed this and started to laugh, so the ogre took his big iron staff and slammed it into the ground to intimidate them.

After that, the goblins went back to work.

"I wonder how the others are doing."

But not only that throne room was being built and improved.

Corridors were made through the walls, and several rooms were made.

The number of goblins and ogres that were increasing all the time was frighteningly large.

In every room, large ogres with black skin commanded the goblins.

And outside, security was also provided by ogres. They are wearing armors made of rare metals. 

"I just wonder why the master always hides inside that place. Is he by any chance afraid to come out? Then why did he have us build a throne for him?"

####

Noah ran for a few miles until he reached a small lake with clear water that was behind a mountain.

The mission was in a remote place that he had never visited before. It was completely off the route he normally took to get to the capital.

When he arrived at the place the guild signaled on the map, he found the lake and also a steep mountain.

Noah ignored the mountain and approached the lake. He looked at the water for a while but found nothing interesting. So he decided to climb the mountain.

It was the place where the supposed goblin nest was. It was not a high mountain, and also not a very long one.

And less than 4 kilometers from there was a community, so the goblin nest was putting the people living there at risk.

And that is why the request was made to the guild.

"Isadora? Could you tell me where the nest is? I'm not in the mood to search for it."

[ Sure. On the other side of the mountain. Go down a little and you will find a hole in the hillside. If you go in there and walk a few meters you will be able to find the gate to the nest. ]

"A gate?"

[ That's right. And there are not only goblins but there are also ogres. And they are ogres and dark-skinned goblins, probably descendants of some demon, so be careful. ]

"Ogres? Descended from demons? I'm glad Lisandra and the others didn't come. That would have been dangerous."

Noah climbed up the mountain and then went to the other side and started down.

He had to be careful because some rocks could fall at any moment.

After coming down a few meters, Noah found a hole made in the side of the mountain. It was a large hole, about 4 meters high and 5 meters wide.

As soon as he approached it, Noah soon began to smell rotten meat smell.

"I think there's someone dead inside."

[ That smell is because of the goblins and Ogres. Their dark skin produces that odor. ]

"Impossible! It stinks."

Noah covered his nose with his shirt and then entered the dark cave.

After walking a few meters, he felt the stench getting stronger and stronger.

'I feel like I'm going to puke.'

[ Try to clear your mind and ignore that stench. ]

'That's impossible.'

[ All right. But now pay attention in front of you, there's a trap on the floor. ]

'Trap? They're really smart. I've never seen goblins set traps before."

[ Yes, they are smart ]

Noah carefully avoided a metal plate that had been placed on the ground.

He then used his magic to activate the trap. After throwing a stone created with earth magic at the trap, the iron plate collapsed and fell into a hole.

Down below, iron skewers pierced the metal plate with ease.

"If a person fell there..."

[ She would die instantly ]

"Yes..."

Noah moved on and realized that the path was getting stranger and stranger. He had to turn a few times and even came to a place with two paths.

Of course, Isadora helped him to go the right way to get to the gate.

And all along the way, Isadora helped Noah to detect the traps.

There were many traps.

[ Do you see that light? The gate is right there. Two ogres are standing guard in front of the gate. They are not ordinary ogres, so be careful. ]

"Do I need to be careful?"

[ No, you're sure to kill them easily ].

"Just as I imagined."

Noah smiled and then moved on.

After taking a few more steps, he found a somewhat large room. In that room, there was a large gate made of concrete. On the gate, the goblins had carved out some strange designs.

Besides the gate, they also had the two ogres that Isadora had said.

They had not noticed Noah's presence, so he took the opportunity to cast two magic directly at the only unprotected place of the two ogres. The holes in their helmets.

Noah cast two small projectiles that entered the holes in their helmets and pierced their heads.

The ogres died and fell.

"I think I got the others' attention.. Those fat guys made a lot of noise when they fell."