Chapter 15
Greenhorde forest is a large forest just 43 kilometer southeast of Blizzard city. Due to its close proximity to the city, new adventurers would often venture there to gather alchemy materials and for training.
That said, there’s really nothing special about the place except for the fact that it’s a very large forest.
Being near the capital of the kingdom, the monsters leaving in the forest were relatively weak. Aside from that, the castle would also hire large groups of adventurers to clear out the place of powerful monsters every few years along with the regular army. As such, Greenhorde forest was relatively safe compared to other similar places.
Unfortunately, the ongoing war against the neighboring kingdom of Forst had put a stop to the monster cleanup for several years now – allowing monsters to gather and propagate once more. Nonetheless, adventurers were still regularly hired to reduce the numbers of monsters in the area.
But due to the sheer size of the forest, and the lack of manpower from the adventurer’s guild side, they could only do so much. Moreover, adventurers were also needed elsewhere and the guild could not put all of their manpower on a single task.
This resulted in the current predicament that the city is facing – the appearance of a goblin village.
Goblins are weak monsters that could be seen almost anywhere. They are ugly creatures with green skin, large inhuman eyes, sharp teeth, and are the size of a human child. Due to their small and weak stature, goblins are relatively easy to kill.
Alone, a goblin is very weak. Still, one should never underestimate goblins. They might be small and weak but their numbers are great. This is due to the fact that goblins could reproduce at an incredibly fast rate.
A female goblin could give birth two to three times a year. Worse still, male goblins could not only reproduce with female goblins, they could also reproduce with females of other races. To be more specific, with humanoid races.
Obviously, no females from the other race would willingly mate with a male goblin. But goblins were never concern about consent. They would just abduct any female they come across with and force themselves upon their victims.
The unlucky females would then have no other choice but to give births to goblin children until they die. And even after their death, these unfortunate souls would not be able to have respite as goblins would just eat their corpses.
Being one of the most populous races in the continent, human women were the constant victims of goblin abduction. Sole travelers were favorite targets of goblins. But if the horde was large enough, goblins would even attack large group of travelers or even caravans.
Travelers are not the only victim of goblin abduction, small settlements and villages were also at risk of being targeted. Stories of village girls being abducted by goblins during the night were very common.
Although females captive suffered the worst fate at the hands of goblins, males captives weren’t treated kindly either. Since males from other races could not reproduce with female goblins, keeping them alive served no value to the goblins; which means that only one fate awaits any male captives: Death.
Being a repulsive race though, male captives won’t have an easy death. No, far from it… Before being slaughtered, male captives would suffer all kinds of degradation and torture. After they die, they would then use to feed the hordes… and their female captives.
Yes, goblins are that brutal of a race – making them the most hated race in the land. For this reason, goblins were killed without mercy if they were discovered. Among the many subjugation quests in the adventurers’ guild, goblin subjugation were never in short supply.
If we consider all that had been discussed till now, a single goblin pose not much of a threat but two or more can be a threat. Against a single goblin, anyone, even without a weapon could kill it. But faced against two goblins, it’ll be another story altogether, especially against goblins wielding weapons.
Since a large enough horde could pose a threat against a caravan or a village, a goblin village would be even more so.
Unlike human villages that have several dozens to a hundred people, a goblin village has thousands of goblins!
Thousands of child-like monsters might not seem that much but goblins are not like human children. They’re ferocious and sinister creatures that know how to fight dirty. Certainly, they might not be much of a threat to Blizzard city but the same thing could not be said for the surrounding towns and villages.
Also, the number of goblins would only increase and not decrease as days passes by. So the longer the goblins are left alone, the bigger the threat they possessed.
Moreover, a goblin village didn’t have just regular goblins. The village also has chieftains, hob-goblins, goblin mages, goblin champions, and might even have a goblin king!
These were the elites of the goblin race.
The numbers of elite goblins I’ve mention might be smaller in comparison to regular goblins but these goblins are incredibly powerful by themselves. This is especially true for the goblin champions and the goblin king.
If left to unattended, the village would grow so large that they could threaten even a kingdom!
This was the main reason why the female guild employee was so nervous and panicked.
****
“Did a goblin king appear?” Guild master Tigre asked one of the adventurers who discovered the village in a very solemn manner.
The person being asked, a male adventurer shook his head before answering, “We didn’t see a goblin king, guild master. But that’s because we run away the moment we spotted the village.”
Guild master Tigre nodded his head. He understood the decision of the adventurers who found the location of the goblin village. In that kind of situation, the best response was to run as quickly as possible and report to the guild. If the adventurers choose to stay, they might have been overrun by the goblins.
Still, he wanted to get as much information as possible…
That said, he will never blame these adventurers.
“You guys did well. I’ll make sure to give you guys your rewards later. For now you should all rest.” The guild master instructed.
“Thank you, guild master!”
Hearing that they’re going to receive a reward, the adventurers grew excited and quickly thank the guild master. After that they were lead to the infirmary to get treatment and rest.
Guild master Tigre turned around and looked at her secretary, “Karen, order some people to gather all of the adventurers in the entire city, even those who were just loitering around or resting. Aside from that, have someone go to the castle and report the situation. We need to coordinate with the local garrison to properly deal with the goblins.” He instructed.
“I’m on it, guild master!” Karen didn’t dawdle around and quickly went into action. Having been working in the guild for many years, she fully understands the gravity of the situation.
Tigre let out a sigh and turns towards another person, “Sorry to ask you of this but we need your help. The appearance of the goblin village is a disaster to the settlements near it. Therefore, we need to destroy it before it grows even bigger.” The guild master explained. “Can you lend us your strength?”
Rennel who was just listening from the sides nodded her head. Although there were no goblins near her old village, she was still aware of the atrocities committed by the goblins thanks to the teaching of her teacher and that of the female adventurers she was acquainted with back in Alchur.
As such, Rennel have no problem acquiescing to the guild master’s request. Not to mention she’s an adventurer now and could not really refuse emergency quest issued by the guild, unless she no longer wanted to be an adventurer.
“No problem. I’ll help with the goblin extermination, “Rennel said. “But I have a request. I would like to work independently." She added.
Guild master Tigre was happy to hear Rennel agreeing to his request but couldn’t help but frown after hearing her condition. Still, after thinking for a while, the guild master finally agreed.
Since Rennel was able to defeat and subdue a monster king on her own, her might would be of great help against the goblin champions and the goblin king.
“Alright, you can act alone. But I hope you can cooperate with other adventurers if the situation calls for it.” He said.
Rennel didn’t see any problem with that and nodded her head in agreement. For her, temporarily teaming up with other adventurers if needed was not a problem. That is of course on the pre-condition that they didn’t slow her down.
****
A few hours later at the outskirt of the city…
“Is everyone here?” Guild master Tigre turned to her secretary, Karen and asked if all of the adventurers in the city were present.
Karen nodded and said, “Yes, everyone except for those who not in the city or are currently doing quest.”
“Good.” Guild master Tigre scanned every adventurer with his eyes. His eyes stopped at several adventurers for a moment before looking at the others. Among the groups of adventurers were several elites. These elites would be the backbone of the operation.
After looking at the adventurers, he turned his eyes towards another direction. Gathered in an orderly fashion were several platoons of soldiers. These platoon of soldiers were from the nearby garrisons; left behind to depend the castle and city from unexpected attacks while the king is out.
The adventurers and the army would coordinate with one another in exterminating the goblins. It’s just coordination though. The adventurers and the soldiers would still be under the command of their respective organization. Since adventurers are not under the army, the army officials could not command them, and vice-versa.
Still, it wasn’t the first time that adventurers and the army coordinated with one another. Every time there’s large scale monster extermination, the two organizations would cooperate in order to tackle the problem. And it can’t be helped really, the adventurer’s guild have limited manpower.
Besides, adventurers weren’t responsible for the protection of the people and the territory; that was the duty of the army. At the end of the day, the adventurer’s guild was a just private entity.
Guild master Tigre returned his gaze to the adventurers, “I think everyone should be aware why you are all gathered here today. A few hours ago, a goblin village was discovered in Greenhorde forest by several adventurers who were gathering materials there. These adventurers didn’t stay and quickly returned after discovering the village to avoid detection. As such, they weren’t able to discover the exact number of goblins. That said, a goblin village have a minimum of a thousand goblins. So expect to see thousands of them.”
Reaching that point, the guild master paused for a while to allow the adventurers to digest what he had just said. After watching the adventurer’s reactions, he resumed his speech.
“Goblins are very weak monsters but that only applies if they were alone. Once in a group the threat of the goblins increases exponentially. Moreover, not all goblins are weak. They have elites too. Since where facing a goblin village, you should all expect to face hob-goblins, mages, chieftains, champions, and even a king!”
A hubbub suddenly broke out after the guild master mentioned the goblin elites. All of the goblin elites that the guild master mentioned were very troublesome foes. This was especially true for the goblin champion and the goblin king.
But despite feeling fearful, their determination did not waiver. They knew what was at stakes in this extermination quest. If the goblin village was left to grow, it might turn into an unprecedented disaster.
“I believed that all of you are aware what will happen if the goblins were left alone. These bastards can reproduce like rats. If left alone, they’ll eventually overrun the kingdom!” The guild master’s voice grew emotional after reaching this point of his speech.
“Do you want to see women being violated by these vermin?” (Tigre)
“No!” (Adventurers)
“Do you want to see your fellow men being killed and eaten by them?” (Tigre)
“No!” (Adventurers)
“Do you want to see your homes destroyed?” (Tigre)
“No!” (Adventurers)
“Then, what do you want to do?” (Tigre)
“Kill them! Exterminate them!” (Adventurers)
Seeing the adventurers all fired up, guild master Tigre let out a satisfied smile. A large extermination quest was no different from a large battle between armies. And in every battle, the army with the highest morale would fight the fiercest. The same goes for the adventurers.
That’s the reason for the rousing speech that the guild master just gave. Meanwhile in the army’s side, a general was doing the same thing. He too gave a rousing speech to raise the soldier’s morale. Only by being emotionally rouse would the adventurers and soldiers fight with their lives at stake.
Chaos and Rennel watched everything unfold before their eyes. They didn’t do anything and simply listened to the speech. Chaos also didn’t give any advice to Rennel, letting her absorb everything by herself.
After the speech, the guild master and the general had a meeting. Since they were cooperating, they must coordinate the movement of their people. Only by doing so would they reduce the chaos and confusion that would ensue in the incoming battle.
Once that was done, the two organizations marched towards Greenhorde forest in order to destroy the village and exterminate the goblins.
Seeing the adventurers and the army marching, Rennel also began to move. As agreed upon, she will act independently. The reason she insisted on acting alone was because she could only show her true capabilities without other people getting in her way.
It has nothing to do with trust; she just simply didn’t have much experience working in tandem with others. Besides, it’s not like she needed anyone’s help. As long as she has her spear, she will not be afraid even if she were to face an army of goblins!
****
To be continued
Previous Chapters: https://read.cash/@beastion
