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Chapter 17: Exploring the Goblin Nest

Just as Reiner was studying spells.

The knight they had met last night rode over on horseback.

Without his helmet, he looked sullen and said to Junice, “Come on, we’ve located the nest.”

“Understood.”

The young knight’s gaze fell on Reiner again, yet he said nothing.

Reiner glanced back at him and also kept silent.

Seeing the awkward air between them, Junice hurriedly patted Reiner’s shoulder and explained to the knight, “He is my friend.”

The knight still said nothing, merely gave Reiner a silent look and then rode off.

“You know him?” Reiner asked Junice.

“Of course, that is Dimas of Melod; he is an upright, selfless knight and the lord’s son, he often helps poor commoners, but as you saw, he can be harsh and rude to strangers.”

Reiner silently memorized the name, narrowed his eyes, and muttered, “I noticed, he is indeed pretty mean…”

Junice chuckled and said, “Let’s catch up.”

At that moment Nora’s inner voice drifted into Reiner’s ears again.

It even carried a faint resentment: (Master is chatting so happily… he doesn’t talk to me anymore.)

Reiner turned his head toward Nora.

Their eyes met, and she immediately shifted her gaze guiltily and looked around.

He decided to tease her later; right now the mission mattered more.

Following the knight for a while, Reiner arrived at a small hillside thick with pines.

Several goblin corpses lay at the foot of the slope.

He looked up.

Reiner saw a cave entrance hidden among the pines.

Adventurers had long since taken positions on both sides with weapons drawn.

The knight tied his horse at the foot of the slope and then climbed up on foot.

Reiner followed close behind.

Another knight pointed his sword at the entrance and said coldly, “Dimas, they’re holed up inside; let’s go in.”

Although Reiner had not killed many goblins in this world, in most games goblin nests were sprawling and never had only one exit.

It was impossible to seal them inside completely; if they wanted to, they could always escape.

Dimas looked back with his nose in the air and ordered, “Junice, throw a fireball into the cave so I can see inside.”

Junice raised her staff, walked to the center of the entrance, chanted briefly, and fired a fireball toward the deepest part of the cave.

For an instant the whole cavern lit up, and Reiner vaguely saw goblins who failed to hide in time.

“The number doesn’t seem large; light the torches and let’s go in.”

The adventurers all took out torches and lit them.

Dimas and the other knight accepted the torches and led the way, while the rest followed.

The usually quiet Martina suddenly spoke; puzzled, she asked, “Reiner, what are they doing? Don’t they fear death?”

“What do you mean?”

“These aren’t common goblins; they set traps inside the tunnels; if falling rocks drop, there will be nowhere to dodge and they’ll be flattened,” Martina added, “Being that careless will get them killed.”

Watching them walk farther and farther and thinking that Junice was also in the party, Reiner shouted anxiously, “Wait!”

At the head of the line, Dimas stopped, and like the dozen adventurers around him, looked back at Reiner.

Reiner translated Martina’s words and relayed them.

All he received in return was their mockery.

“Since when do goblins use traps? They’re just green-skinned vermin.”

“A young man shouldn’t be so timid.”

“If you’re that scared, why not go home and hide?”

The party then continued deeper into the cave.

Reiner was momentarily speechless.

Respect other people’s fates and let go of your urge to help.

Although Martina could not understand Dyast, she guessed the gist, spread her hands, and said, “Then let them die; they’re an arrogant bunch; just as there are smart and stupid people, there are smart and stupid goblins.”

Junice ran over, panting, and asked, “Reiner, is what you said true?”

“I’m not sure, but it’s very likely.”

“Then I’ll try to persuade Dimas for you.”

Reiner shook his head, “He won’t listen; stay with us, and I’m not certain anyway; I just wanted to warn them.”

Junice lowered her head as if thinking and after a moment said, “Then I’ll stay with you.”

Reiner nodded.

The four of them followed the party from a distance.

Before long, Nora tugged Reiner’s sleeve and whispered, “Master, something’s up.”

“What is it?”

No sooner had he spoken than a heavy stone wall dropped behind them, making the whole tunnel tremble.

Their way out was completely sealed; even if they wanted to run, they could only move forward and look for an exit.

Reiner drew his flanged mace and said, “Nora, perk up your ears from now on; tell me if anything happens.”

“Got it.”

The four of them headed deeper into the cave.

After a short distance they met two retainers who were coming back.

Looking at the stone wall behind them, the retainers asked in confusion, “What happened?”

Reiner pointed behind him, “A mechanism was triggered; our retreat is blocked.”

The two retainers walked to the wall, kicked it hard, and then hurried back.

Junice shrugged and said, “Looks like you were right, but Dimas wouldn’t listen; I’ve cleared several goblin nests, yet only this time have I seen something so strange.

Thinking about it, the goblins here really are odd; it’s my first time seeing goblins who actually make their own armor…”

Junice had not finished when a pained wail came from ahead.

The four of them ran over.

An adventurer had stepped into a trap, and wooden spikes pierced his calf; he was screaming.

“Hang in there.” Dimas cut the spikes with one swing and, together with a retainer, pulled the adventurer up.

Junice stepped forward, forcefully pulled out the spikes, and let a stream of water flow from her palm to cover the wound.

Soon the torn calf stopped bleeding and even began to heal.

“It’s cured, but you can only walk for now or the wound will reopen.”

Dimas left the wounded man behind and led the adventurers onward.

Reiner and the girls also trailed them from afar.

There were many traps in the tunnel; almost every stretch brought news of injuries, and the party’s numbers kept shrinking.

Including the retainers of the two knights, only a dozen or so people in the group could still move, nearly half had been crippled by the various traps.

Dimas, who had been dismissive at first, gradually became cautious.

After a while, a faint light appeared deeper in the cave…

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