Book 7: Chapter 97: The Village of Goblin

While staring at the passing clouds, Adeltrud was sitting on the edge of the cart. Her Ejection Gear is also placed beside her by kneeling on the heels.

“Eru-kun has stopped moving・・・・”

After the clash, every Rubel Clan’s member were eradicated. The carts which had been carried by the Rubel Clan are now in the hands of Kaellous Clan. Using the four-legged demonic beast to pull the cart, they are going at slow pace. Alongside the cart was Ernesti who had recovered Ikaruga’s wreckage.

“Eru-kun～. Ikaruga won’t recover even if you held it that much, isn’t it?”

“It doesn’t matter・・・・I can・・・・I can feel the strength coming from it”

“Aah. Eru-kun has turned into a good-for-nothing person”

He was refusing to leave Ikaruga’s side and didn’t even trying to move either. Seeing Eru in that such state, Addy let out her breath on a sigh.

There’s nothing she could do right now, the best way she can do is leave him alone while riding the cart to pulled them away. After absentmindedly without doing anything, a voice come down from their overhead.

“It’s not the time to sleep, goblin Braver”

Beside the cart, there is the Third-eyed Seat of Brave who took a peek at them while running along the cart.

“We will soon arrive at capital of the Hundred. However, we can’t keep to bring these carts forever”

They are heading to capital of the Hundred to fight the Rubel Clan. There is no fighting power for a such inanimate object like these carts. No matter how strong Eru and Addy are, they sure can’t afford to protect them all.

“It would be good if we leave it somewhere・・・・”

Of course, Eru has shown extreme reluctance to his statement.

“I cannot leave Ikaruga just because it got broken! I must have to keep it from being stolen again!!”

Addy shook her head in the front of reluctant Eru who was still hugging the wreckage.

“This is not good. If you wanted to force Eru-kun in that state, you will need to resolve yourself to fight him”

“To that extend?”

Even for the Brave, he doesn’t want to fight Eru for no such reason. And Eru might even opposing him seriously.

“Fumu. But, won’t it hard to move while bringing these carts?”

By using their small number and sneak into their base—— is one of strategy that had been suggested by no other than Eru himself. While the titans are still need his advice, it would be difficult too if they leave the cart along with Eru.

“In other words, it would be okay if we have a reason to not throw it, right?”

“I wonder if that’s the case?”

Although Addy was tilting her head, Eru was rather oddly motivated.

“Let see about that. First, this cart is the one which have been brought by Rubel Clan’s soldiers. I mean, they wouldn’t be thinking to throw this cart if they really need it right・・・? Second, won’t be more valuable for us to keep the Stained Beast’s material rather than throwing them up?”

Not only Silhouette Knight wreckage, but the Stained Beast’s carcass also loaded in the cart which had been carried by Rubel Clan.

“Fine. I know, I know. Leaving aside we can’t throw it away, however, we can’t also leave it as it is”

It can be said Eru has a silver tongue when it comes to a humanoid weapon. Meanwhile the warrior who had always been come to fight; the Brave cannot refute back to argue with Eru. And the brave was rather quickly given up after remembering about Eru nature.

“I agree too. At least we must create a base somewhere in this forest”

When they’re looking around the surrounding, nothing but a dense trees and tropical ground can be seen. Although one can assume if they proceeding the forest without leaving a mark is same like throwing them away. At any rate, they must create something as a landmark if they decided to hide it in the forest.

“Understood. Let’s start with proceeding further”

The titans began to continuing their advance with the four-legged demonic beast along them. Eventually, the road has gradually changed into wide and firm place. Granted, it’s a place where many other titans who were also using that place. By knowing that, the Third-eyed Seat of Brave has begun to increase his cautiousness and nervousness.

“・・・・We will arrive at the capital of the hundred. Do not lost your sight”

All of the Kaellous Clan’s members were nodding their head in agreement. Still no one knows when they will encounter someone in Rubel Clan’s members. Its not weird given the situation they are already in the enemy base.

By using the stolen helmet and armor, they are gambling how far they can go and if they were fighting in here, they will easily be crushed by sheer number of the enemy.

“If we have to fight, we can’t protect it alone goblin Braver”

“I don’t mind. I will destroy every existence who want to touch my belonging without mercy”

They had not understood the reason but, it seems they are not worrying about it anymore.

◆

As far as they’re proceeding it further, finally the time has come. A huge shadow has appeared beyond the roadside. A giant-like humanoid form mixed with lump of metal. The closer they came at it, the more they realize it was an armed Rubel Clan’s member.

“It would be nice if we can ignore it, but at least I want to gather some information about them”

“You want to ask them? I think not”

Behind his helmet, the Brave shows his bitter face. It was unlikely for the Brave to exchange words with the loathing Rubel Clan’s soldiers. And so, the One-eyed Seat of Servant who had been carrying their baggage all this time, come before the Brave.

“Leave it to me Brave”

As he said that, he takes the lead. Eventually, closing up their distance and close enough to exchanging words. As for Eru and Addy, they are secretly hide in the wreckage. Because they are not sure if they should be seen to them.

“Halt. You there, what are you carrying on that cart?”

Just as they thought, one of the Rubel Clan’s members start talking to the one in the lead. In response to the question, the One-eyed Seat of Servant from Kaellous Clan replied.

“Agreed. We brought the Stained Beast and Mystic Beasts’ corpse here”

When the Servant pointed his finger in the cart direction, the Rubel Clan’s member smirked after taking a glance.

“Hmm. That was goblin’s food, wasn’t it? Then just carry it at once”

In the shadow of the wreckage, Eru and Addy look at each other. They have realized something on the titan’s word. And the Servant continued to ask a question to the Rubel Clan without knowing there is someone who heard their conversation secretly.

“Understood. Then, where should I carry it?”

“As usual. To the goblin’s settlement”

As if they were saying the most obvious thing, soon they’re leaving and spits without interest.

“Right. Then, which direction is the goblin’s settlement?”

After continuously asking a question, the Rubel Clan’s members stopped their advance and looked back slowly. A slight nervousness runs through the Brave guts and withdrawing his weapon whenever he ready to strike them down. As he thought they had asked them too many questions.

However, although they have tilted their helmet a bit, the next moment, they are responding with a mocking voice and told him bluntly.

“Hmm? Given by your eyes, I thought you are smarter than that? Obviously, it was over there. Did you have not opened your eyes properly?”

While they glanced at him with a sneering expression, they had pointed to the other separated road.

“I see. Thank you, I must go now”

Although his response is kind of laid-back, every Kaellous Clan’s member continued moving the cart forwards. Behind them, a faint laughter can be heard as they could imagine it clearly what are the Rubel Clan’s members talking about.

Then, after passing over the Rubel Clan’s members, the Brave went to the Servant’s side. Even though the Brave was doing his best to keep quiet, his face now looks something like a dreadful criminal beyond the helmet.

“I’m sorry to have you close your eyes to face the Rubel Clan・・・・”

When the Brave grabs his axe tightly, the Servant understood what he means and shook his head in disagreement.

“I am the Servant, the one who will follow its master. The Brave duty is to fight. Therefore, other than fighting is my role. I do not mind it”

“・・・・Leave it to me. When the time for enquiry has come, let us fight with all of our might”

Once again, the Brave has renewed his resolution. He cannot betray the expectation from his own clan.

“Nee, Eru-kun. Its look like we will head to the goblin place”

“Let’s see, when they were looking at the wreckage, they are immediately point to the goblin’s settlement direction. I’m grateful for it but, what else could they have in there?”

While they were being drifted away by the cart, Eru and Addy are lost in the train of thought after proceeding through to the forest.

Anyway, the Kaellous Clan had no idea where this path will lead them to, still they have no other choice than moving toward the direction indicated. Also, when the road divided into other path again, for the time being they had to choose the same direction like before. The road they had took before were already headed into different direction, of course.

“Looks like we have arrived. Hou, is that what they call goblin’s settlement?”

The tree’s density had become sparse, entering the open spaced place.

In there, there are a small building obviously too small for a titan which had been lined up. And there was a thin smoke rising from all over place, they even could feel the breath of life between them.

“Well then, we’ve found it. What’s to do next?”

“Yeah, we can’t hand over our baggage to them though”

There’s no way for Eru to hand over his precious treasure which had been carried in the cart. But at that time, he suddenly raised his face and twitched his nose like he smells something.

“This is, the smell, of blacksmith・・・・”

“Eru-kun, did you get any strange quirks again”

Despite Addy’s confused looks, Eru has begun to think about that village. The existence of goblin——the similar shape which had been carried in the cart——and the technique of blacksmithing.

“・・・・Perhaps, they were the one in charge to process the material. So, I could fathom why we must bring the material here. If I am right, we might able to persuade them to help with anything”

The answer is clear.

With a big grin, his face has changed to form a (evil) smile.

“To the goblin? But we won’t know if the Rubel Clan really keep them that way”

“Yes. That’s why let’s us suppress it. Their scale seems small, and we could easily conquer them with our small number”

“They’re the same race like you, aren’t they・・・・?”

Although the surrounding titans seems taken back, only Eru who was full of motivation.

◆

On that day, the goblin’s village was hit by sudden uproar. The heavy footsteps can be heard from the other side of the road which the only path leading to them, as if it was driving away the tranquility while they are still working in the middle of the day.

“Is that・・・・huh!? A giant!?”

“What they want in our lowly village・・・・the ‘payment’ day hasn’t arrived yet”

“I don’t know・・・・・inform this to the chief, quickly to the village chief!”

They were in havoc after seeing a group of titans who wearing an armor approaching to them steadily, because it was very rare for a titan coming to this distant land. The village’s resident, regardless of adult or children, were forced to lock their doors and windows while shutting themselves away in their homes. Although, there’s no meaning to lock themselves in their homes, but for now, they had no other place to flee from them.

The village has engulfed in tranquility, as if they were living to hold their breath from the approaching titan’s footsteps.

“What a small settlement for a goblin”

At the end of the road, the Brave sighed after looking around on the entrance of the village. Still, this village is not much different from a small scale like the Kaellous’s settlement among the other clan. Moreover, their buildings are just for a goblin, so it was rather hard to stand out.

When they were waiting at the village’s entrance, a few goblins tottered unsteadily while coming to greet them. Apparently one of them is already old and walk slowly than the other.

“・・・・・So that was a goblin. They are truly a normal human after all”

Eru who was watching quietly from the shadow in the cart, uttered a groan after looking at them. No matter how they look, everyone who had lived in this village and been called as a goblin were just a normal ‘villager’. There is no difference between the people who lived here and the people who lived in Flemmevira Kingdom or in the west. However, they seem wearing rugged clothes which likely have been worn out many times in the past. Although their atmosphere was even worse than the rural area in the kingdom.

Then, among the gathered attentions, the elderly people had come to the titans’ feet on their knees and lowering their head into the ground. Although their shape was already small, they are even smaller as if the ground itself.

“Oh・・・ooh, m, may I ask what kind of business for Your Grace to come to this lowly village? Perhaps, we still have a time before the payment day for this year・・・”

As they spoke with a trembling voice, they can’t even lift their own faces. There is a 18m titan before them, and they could be easily crushed even if they slightly worsen the titan mood. However, they seem have another reason beside their excessive fear.

Well, so far, the Kaellous Clan had to come here for no specific reason. Although the one who seriously planned to conquer the village is only Eru.

“That’s wrong. We were just carrying the material”

“I, I, I am afraid Your Grace has mistaken for lowly village like us・・・・ According to Your Grace, the right path to take would be the ‘upper town’ direction”

The surrounding titans look at each other face. Of course, they don’t know the goblin have a multiple settlement.

“I see. But, must we carry this to upper town-or-somewhat too?”

Soon after that, their faces come in bewilderment. For a titan, they don’t really care about the goblin society.

At that time, a bell-like voice can be heard in the cart direction.

“Then, how about we took a rest in here?”

“Hmm”

Clearly, another voice can be heard among the surrounding titan. When the village chief raises its fearful face in astonishment, a small shadow standing on the cart could be seen.

A small figure standing out among the group of intimidating titans with armor. No matter how they look at it, the small figure that looked like a child was standing there beside the surrounding titans confidently.

The village chief opened his mouth after comparing the small figure with the titan, shortly after that he had noticed something different between the hair color and attire.

“H, how・・・ can be for an upper town’s ‘nobility’ like yourself in this lowly place?”

In the amazed elderly and the groaning village chief. Eru who still doesn’t really understand what’s going on, start to tilt his head while the villagers were lowering their head to him.

Aside from their situation, the surrounding titan began to discuss each other.

“What are you going to do, Brave? Build a base in here for a while?”

“Too small for us. However, I do not mind at all. I think the goblin Braver will be satisfied if we leave it here”

For the Kaellous Clan, they didn’t really mind at all about the village itself.

“I hear there is no other clan who comes here. In that case, encountering them would be unlikely then”

“Let’s go for a hunt first. We have eaten too much in these past few days. We need to replenish back our reserve”

While the goblins are having conversation, the titan was trying to give a breath among themselves. Thus, the group began to settle down in the village of goblin for a time being.

◆

Without troubling the villagers, the Kaellous Clan have begun to hunt in vicinity after dropping their baggage. Even though there were not too many, with reasonable results they are lining up their prey in satisfied looks. First, they need eat a food for today. When they are handling the prey by chopping them, they pass it to the fire for a while. As always, the titan’s cuisine was truly astonishing.

“This is yours Braver”

“Thank you as always”

After receiving suitable piece of meat, Eru and his company will prepare the dinner. For a titan, one slice of meat is same as huge-pile of meat for a human being, which had been cut nicely by Addy. Although she was trying to cook using many different kinds of herbs, her expression becomes cloudy soon after that.

“Hmmm, as I thought there’s not enough seasoning～. I wonder if I can trade something here”

When the Kaellous Clan’s settlement was attacked, they had lost a lot of luggage because of that. And without any supply, their food is become more and more tasteless. But now, they have come to this far, there are many things they wanted to replenish in this full of life’s place.

While thinking about that, Addy shook her head by looking around. Soon, her eyes meet with a villager. Although the villager was rather a small child thought.

The children who had been watching them for a long time, were staring at the meat which has been cut off by Addy.

Eru and Addy looked at each other face without nothing but unshaken enthusiasm.

“・・・・Nee, want to eat this?”

“!? Ah・・・・uu”

The children didn’t expect being called up by them, as if they were wanted to run away, soon they are immediately stopped in hesitation. Their gaze now reciprocates between the lump of meat and Addy.

“What should I do? Trade and exchange it with some-kind of materials?”

“That’s worth considering but・・・・before that. I will give you a meat in exchange would you hear my story?”

The children were even more puzzled and hesitated for a while, eventually they had come closer. Even if given a meat that have been cooked, they didn’t even mind the heat.

“Do you like this meat”

“Yes・・・・yes!! It’s delicious!! Very delicious!!”

Although, without much seasoning but only cooked by a fire. Eru had narrowed his eyes after seeing them eat like a feast.

“Are you usually doesn’t eat that much meat?”

“Yes! Because we need to hunt for that”

“・・・・・Hou”

Eru was listening with a slight smile on his face——but, for Addy who had always be with him, know what he will thinking for. That’s a face when he started to planning something.

“Eru-kun・・・・?”

“I see. I think this will be a good ‘businesses’ for us”

When the children were eating with them, the adults who looks like their blood had been drained from their face, ran through to them.

“Wh, what are・・・・・!! What are you guys doing here!!”

Their face turned to white when they are seeing Eru and Addy after appearing in anger. They soon bow down on the spot as if they were rubbing of their head into the ground.

“How can you so rude to the nobles!! However・・・・however they are still a children, please! Please be mercy at us・・・・!!”

“I hear this village is forbidding to hunt”

Eru asked them while ignoring their beggar.

The villagers trembled in fear, because they could not ignore his question and raises their head.

“・・・・We are not only one who live in here. If we enter the forest carelessly, we will easily become the beast’s prey. Therefore, the honorary ‘Knight’ forbit us to hunt”

“I see, it would be dangerous if you encounter demonic beast, right?”

Although Addy was convinced after hearing that, Eru has sensed something wrong in the story.

“I’ve been thinking since the first time I come here but. Slightly, feels off, right?”

“What are you mean?”

“Why the giant won’t live together with the goblin in this village?”

This is a village only for a goblin. A village dedicated to a small person which located in the corner of the demonic forest; Bocuse Sea of Trees.

“For us, we had to use Silhouette Knight to repel the demonic beast. But there is nothing here. Although I can understand if they are scared being protected by the giants but, there’s nothing like that”

While looking around, Eru let the villagers raise their head and stood among them.

“Why they forbit to enter the forest because it was dangerous but was forsaken in the forest? It’s almost like, they had been treated like no one cares if they died in here?”

“That would be right if you say it like that. But, what should we do?”

With a kind smile, Eru slowly stands in the front of the villagers. They don’t know what kind of speech he would give to them while trembling in fear.

“I have something to discuss with the villagers here. Would you like to have a deal? I will give you enough foot and security”

Eru put the cooked meat in front of them. And the villagers who saw it got their stomach pangs.

“In return, I want you to provide blacksmithing technology for us”

Ah that was your aims from the start

At that time, the first one who notice that was Addy.

◆

“Yes, yes. Line up properly please. It’s okay, we still have many so please be patient. It’s not like we normally can eat the whole duel class demonic beast at all”

In the next day, a duel class demonic beast which had been hunted by the titan placed in the center of the village. By Addy command, the woman in the village were taking it apart and dismantling it together.

“Well then. Because the demonic beast’s muscle is hard, it would be troublesome if we don’t handle it properly!”

In the first place, Addy has considerable cooking skill, and she has completely mastered dismantling a demonic beast while living among the titan.

She had to arrange the unskilled villagers without a miss.

The line of sight of the women who were following Addy’s command was oddly glistening. With a knife in the hand and a basket in the back, they were participating in a war to get as much meat as possible. For the villagers, the opportunity to get enough meat was valuable enough to think it like a battle.

“I’m sorry for asking to hunt more for us”

“I do not mind. We didn’t have any trouble to cover for a whole goblin. Moreover, it was natural to get reward from the hard work”

This is not just a good intention. But it was a contract and business negotiation. The villagers who had received the meat will fix the Kaellous Clan’s armor.

“Because the ‘spoils of war’ we get from the Rubel Clan were different size with us”

“Please leave it to us! We already used to make an armor for Your Grace to wear!!”

The men who were gathering at the titan continue to appeal one after another. Rather than appealing to work hard, it was an attitude to give them more meat after all.

And then, the duel class demonic beast is dismantled before the villager’s appetite. At that night, a banquet was held in the center of the village. Drinking the treasured alcohol and eat the cooked meat.

Addy was also happy to get their seasoning, including the herb they had used first time in their live. It was better to cook with a proper seasoning after all.

“Well then, we can make the Outer Skeleton with this・・・・”

In the loud voice, Eru has deeply smiled in satisfaction.

◆

Thus, the time has flown so fast.

“How about that master”

“Fumu, this is good. It won’t get in my way. Hmm, I cannot underestimate the goblin skill at all”

“Well, we are eating a meat nowadays. So, everyone were also motivated by that”

The villagers have worked hard. In the first place, this village has many blacksmiths and their main livelihood were producing an armor for the Rubel Clan but got replaced by a deal with Kaellous Clan.

As a result, not only meat, but their food situation was also had been improved at once. Because blacksmithing is a physical labor and their food had increased, the blacksmiths are getting better and healthier. So, they can move more energetically.

The one who have increased their work is not only the blacksmiths. Everyone in the village were making a dried meat after getting the meat from the demonic beast. They intend to use the food without exception. In their eyes, there was a glimpse of an extraordinary obsession in them. At the same time, they were also preparing to make a dried meat for the Kaellous Clan.

In the busily village, Eru and Addy have visited the village chief.

“Aah. My, my. We are really grateful for a noble like yourself and of course without the giant help we still able to live to this extend”

“No, no. This is what they call a business. More importantly, we have a few things to ask you today”

The old village chief nods in smile while advising Eru and Addy to take the brewed tea.

“Yes, I’ll answer it everything I know”

“I am probably not a noble like you have known”

Unable to understand the sudden released words, the village chief blinked his eyes.

“We might even not a goblin either. I want to know about the tribe called goblin who looks like ours, and able speak in the same language like ours”

With a fluffy smile, Eru has done taking a sip of tea.