Chapter 91

Chapter 91

Squatjaw's Loosed Goblins in the City!

"Goblins!"

The scream of a bystandaer brought the dazed party members back to reality.

When they came to their senses, the word goblin' was resounding everywhere.

"Goblins! Squatjaw's loosed goblins in the city!"

"Squat-jawed goblins!"

Goblins?

It was a word she'd heard before. And that too, not very long ago.

Tanya rummaged through her memories.

And soon,

"Ah Eastland."

She was able to recall a related memory.

It was a word she'd heard from those pursuing her after she'd stolen the Ramirez.

That this newcomer was like a goblin.

At her words, Leo asked with a bewildered expression.

"What, do you know? What's a goblin?"

"No, I dont know exactly. But some people in Eastland called me that. That I was like a goblin."

"Is that so? Then, can you grow your jaw to jut out like that too?"

" Hell no."

Looking back, it'd definitely been strange.

Why did they think of a goblin when they saw her?

She's used an escape technique at that time, mainly to erase her traces and hide her appearance. She definitely didn't grow' some body part so strangely that it'd make people avert their eyes.

Was goblin' a trait that encompassed both things?

That was then.

"Let's just ask."

The redheaded man said so, and then stepped towards the place where the sound was coming from.

Then he brought a man with him.

Althought instead of bringing, it could be called kidnapping. The man was simply dragged by the collar.

But the strange thing was that the man who'd been suddenly taken captive didn't look upset. Even after suffering something so outrageous, he even seemed to be holding back laughter.

"Wh-, what is it?"

"I want to ask you something. What's a goblin?"

"Eh?"

"You were screaming goblin, goblin just now. What do you mean that goblins are loose in the city?"

"Oh, thats but, um! That's a secret"

"Hey, thats funny. Were you yelling something so secret for everybody to hear just now?"

"It's just it was so strange and surprising that I"

"Eeh"

It wasn't even funny.

He'd yelled so romptly as if he'd been waiting for a chance.

Not just him. Even now, screams of goblin!' could be heard everywhere.

This meant that an organization was moving systematically.

Although Leo and party didn't know what their scheme was.

"So? What's a goblin?"

When they asked the question one more time, the man shook his head as if he'd given up resisting.

Then,

"Goblin' is the name of a race. An enigmatic race that inhabits a place called the Goblins' Den in Eastland. They're cunning, mischievous and capricious; monsters who take pleasure in causing others trouble."

As if he'd been waiting for this moment, he started explaining enthusiastically.

It was a race of beings who were particularly outstanding as decipherers, had incredibly strong personalities, and possessed many mysterious abilities. What they were seeing now was a group of goblins mimicking the appearance of Squatjaw using their masquerade' ability.

"Then youre saying that the goblins are now carrying out a sabotage operation by Squatjaw's order?"

"I dont know for sure, but its probably something like that."

"Hmm, but why are the goblins listening to his orders?"

"Well, shouldnt you ask them that?"

"Is it possible that Squatjaw himself is also a goblin?"

Then,

"Hehe, no way. But it's a reasonable question."

It was as if he'd been waiting for the issue to be brought up. There was a bright smile on his face.

It was a really dubious response.

It seemed that the redheaded man felt the same way.

"Then can I ask you one more thing?"

"As you like."

"How did you get to know about that mysterious race?"

" Eh?"

"How did you know?"

"Ah, that was just a rumour"

"Isn't it a mysterious race, veiled by riddles? How come there're so many detailed rumours?"

The red-haired man took a step forward, and

"Who are you?"

" Hah?"

"What's your identity?"

"Uh I was just over there"

"Are you?"

That was then.

"Okay, let him go. He was kind enough was to answer our questions. Don't bother him anymore, Kiriko."

Leo stepped forward and stopped the redhead.

Kiriko scratched his head once at this, then took a step back.

Soon after,

"I can I go then?"

"Yes, thank you."

The guy ran away. Very promptly.

Leo, who saw it, said with a smirk.

"Hey, isn't it obvious? That guy must be a goblin."

"Why did he come himself to tell us all that, do you think?"

"He said it himself. It's a race that likes to attract others' attention. Maybe thats why?"

"Hmm."

Surprisingly, Leo and the redhead seemed to take everything in stride, including that goblin's explanation. The situation of Squatjaws pouring down the mountain, and the fact that Squatjaw might not even be human.

When Tanya inquired about it,

"Ah, we've seen it a few times already. That transformation ability, I mean. There's this small, horned guy in the Squatjaw Adventurers. There was a time when that guy turned into Squatjaw. How many times have we been through that nonsense? Hey, maybe that guy was a goblin too."

They replied indifferently.

"What, so you already knew?"

"About the ability itself? Sure. But I just thought it was an unique abilitiy. This is my first time hearing about a new race. It does sound odd, though."

That was then.

"Is that Squatjaw really a goblin? Was that how he could mimick our abilities every time?"

The dwarfish boy who'd been silently observing the situation from the sidelines finally spoke up.

"Hm? I don't know about that. That guy talked a lot about the goblins, but he never mentioned that they have such an ability. Anyway, we'll find out sooner or later."

"So what now?"

Of course, I'd expected that.

If any Tom, Dick or Harry could find them, I wouldn't have thrown the treasure at the goblins in the first place.

I turned on the holographic window and opened the product locker' at one side.

There were two items in it.

[Check the main character of the chapter]

[Penalty veto] x 8

The character shop could only be used when no chapter was running, but some items could still be available if you purchased them in advance.

These two, for example.

I immediately clicked on [check the main character of the chapter].

And then,

The main character of the current chapter is Isaac of Wales'.

A single line of information appeared on the message window.

Really.'

I'd judged correctly.

This time, a newly created character had taken up the leading point of view. Although the situation had changed a bit, this meant the author was still trying to unfold the story in the same old way.

To have this character take over the Ramirez.

"Cocoa, we need to find a guy called Isaac of Wales."

"Wales?"

"Skinny guy, very long hair. Uses a long spear."

"Well, I think I can find him. But why him?"

"Hes the one closest to the Ramirez right now."

What I was aiming for was simple.

1. As in the original, let the main point of view be evenly distributed to the various characters.

2. Hunt the guys who got it.

3. Sanction from the preciding plot? That's what the [penalty veto] was for!

"Have you got the silver screen from Chinuavi? Use that."

"Why? Its uncomfortable."

"Because they might guess I'm the real one if they see you with me."

"Hmm, okay."

Then I pulled up Cocoa, covered by the silver screen, so she could grip my neck.

"Oh, be careful. Don't cover my head."

"Its fine, it's fine. This is how you goblin!"

" Is that so?"

Anyway, the preparations were over.

Now it was time to go hunting.

Wales was wary of making a mistake from being overexcited.

He asked his vice-captain, standing next to him, once again.

"It's him, right?"

"It must be"

They'd found it earlier than expected.

The treasure, Ramirez.

Of course, he hadn't gotten his hands on it yet.

Wales looked at the Squatjaw in front of him, who was looking around with a bewildered expression.

"Goblin"

He hadn't given much credence to the information at first. He'd thought it was just a funny rumour.

How the hell could creatures like that exist in this world?

Although the ability to create clones was rare, it was still a known quantity. Of course, considering the sheer number it was a bit impressive.

Anyway, that was what he'd thought it to be at first.

A ghostly and insubstantial mirage, merely imitating the creator's appearance and wandering around.

But the guy in front of him was different.

He was real. He had physical power and could be cut by a sword. He even shed real blood.

He was even carrying the actual treasure.

This was a real goblin (or something).

However, one question still remained.

Is this guy really the Squatjaw?'

Weak.

His technique was weird for sure, but nothing particularly powerful.

Too weak to match up to the rumours surrounding him.

Is this then another goblin?'

But Wales quickly shook his head. There was no way a guy who wasn't even the real Squatjaw could have the real treasure on him.

" The rumours were really overblown."

Wales was preparing to hit', but

At that time,

"Hey! Wait, wait!"

A voice came from right behind him.

"Eek!"

Startled, Wales jumped to the side.

When he turned around, another Squatjaw was peering at him.

"Whoo I almost missed the timing."

There were now two Squatjaws?

""

Then, the latecomer Squatjaw approached the first one.

They started having a conversation that Wales honestly couldn't make head or tail out of.

"Oh Big Brother?"

"Wait, how come you got it?"

"Well things just turned out that way, I guess?"

"It was dangerous just now, you know? You almost got taken down. Don't slack off."

"Actually, I was just really confused for a moment. The bastard who had it suddenly said it was annoying and threw it at me And just then, these guys popped out of a nearby bush"

"Heh well, things turned out okay this time. Try hiding next. Ah, wait, make sure you leave some traces behind."

"Uh yeah, got it. See you later."

Wales watched the scene silently.

Even as the first Squatjaw ended the conversation, turned around and disappeared.

And then,

"Don't you want to follow?"

His vice-captain next to him asked in a confused tone.

But Wales shook his head.

"How far can a flea like that jump? And in any case, we can't ignore what's already in front of us to go off on some wild goose chase."

Because the bastard in front of him was definitely no flea.

Wales asked the second Squatjaw, still standing in front of him.

"What are you? Another goblin?"

"What do you think?"

I'm the hunter.

Editor's Notes:

None for this chapter.

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