Chapter 30 – Humanity chose to Forget (3)
Translated by : betterdays
Proofread by : ch17175
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“Kkkkkaruk.”
With a low cry from the Goblin, the spear headed toward the edge of her neck, drawing a soft line of blood. After looking at the spear blankly, Reika came to her senses in a hurry.
Kaga Gak!
“Hup-!”
Reika dodged it by a hair’s breadth, but her wrist was throbbing. She slowly pulled back and tried to get space between them but to no avail. The Goblin was smirking as he closed in on her and did not allow her any breathing room.
“…Not bad.”
Whoosh-
The spear’s tip closed in on Reika’s hips. Reika shook her wrist in a hurry and the sword twisted in an odd angle. She quickly used her footwork and dodged with skill, leaving an afterimage of her body in the place of where the spear was aiming for, but the Goblin smirked and canceled the afterimage as he charged on her.
‘What the hell!’
“Hu…Huap!”
Reika swung her sword roughly in a messy attempt to attack, but the spear moved through the flaws in her swordsmanship with a light and elegant maneuver, completely rendering her attack useless.
Seeing this, Reika clenched her teeth and kicked the floor with her foot. With her foot, she kicked up splinters and debris from Asher’s move earlier at the Goblin.. However, all the debris was removed with just one movement of the Goblin’s spear.
It wasn’t all for naught though, it gave Reika some room. Reika quickly stepped out of the range of the Goblin’s Spear.
“Shit.”
Reika cursed as she was desperately trying to recollect her breath. Her face was starting to turn slightly blue from the lack of oxygen in her body.
Even with the time she earned herself, she couldn’t get any breathing room.
“You…. What are you?”
Reika bit her lip. The mastery the Goblin in front of her, had over his spear was something she had wanted.
It was similar to someone she knew and wanted to be like. Simple, with little finesse, lacking in flaws and true to exploiting one’s weak points.
The Goblin was like Asher in a way. Reika grabbed the sword roughly, denying the thoughts that were arising at the moment.
“I’m a warrior.”
The Goblin said as he gripped the spear with both hands.
“Then show your strength, Human. We can still tangle can’t we?”
The spear cut through the air. Reika forced her throbbing hand to move and react to the spear. She was only able to avoid it with a narrow gap and saw an opening.
‘Finally!’
Reika clenched her teeth and shook her wrist. The sword created several images and spread everywhere.
“Oh…!”
The Goblin burst out into admiration. Reika’s sword burst out with pure speed as the trajectory of the sword twisted and turned as it came out looking like a beautiful flower. All of these beautiful techniques were molded into one strike towards the Goblin.
“Haaa.”
Reika smiled. She had recently run into a wall during her training these past few weeks. No matter how hard she had trained, she didn’t feel like she was getting stronger. Asher said it was natural, rather, it was strange that she had not been blocked with a wall so far, but she wanted to move on from it quickly and continue to improve.
And now, in a life-or-death crisis, like many other talented swordsmen before her, she had used it to break through her limitations and improve. Her body’s physical limits were still there, but she felt as if she was making full use of every muscle in her entire body, as if all the cogs had been put in place and were allowing her to move ten times more efficiently.
“Kruaaaak!”
The Goblin moved the spear as fast as it could, defending itself from the incoming sword strike. As her sword tore through the air, the Goblin and the area around it was getting chipped apart from her sharp move. As soon as Reika started to smile after looking at her beautiful breakthrough, the Goblin sneakily started to move the spear.
Round and round, the spear started to twirl.
The spear turned in circles, creating a perfect crescent. Then it slowly started to collide and make small adjustments to parry the sword of Reika that was ruthlessly aiming at the Goblin. Slowly but surely, the momentum of Reika’s sword started to shake and lose it’s stability.
“Uk-“
Reika withdrew her sword in a hurry. If this continued, she was sure the Goblin would start to adjust to her skill and improvement. Thus resulting in it only getting much more difficult. But, the Goblin did not let her get away so easily.
The spear pierced through the gap as she tried to step back.
Clang-
Her sword suddenly shattered upon trying to block the spear. It was futile.
“Oh my god… Hup-“
She was hit by the spear and flung back into the tree behind her. She threw up blood and tried to lift the hilt of her sword, but her hands couldn’t move. She was at her limits now. This time, she really couldn’t move at all.
‘If only I had a better body….’
She smiled bitterly as she thought. This was just another excuse. Even though she broke through her recent limits during the fight, she was completely overpowered. Even if she had broken through before the fight, she would not have stood a chance against the Goblin. It was too powerful for her.
‘Am I really going to die?’
She was determined to follow after Asher and improve, but she couldn’t help but fall behind. She was still young. No matter how much of a genius she was, she could not overcome an entire lifetime of hard work within a single year.
But she didn’t want to make any excuses right now.
She looked calmly at the Goblin who started to approach her, as she lay still and slumped over against the tree.
“Hmm.”
The Goblin stopped and did not approach her further. It stroked its chin as if it were pondering about something deeply.
“I see.”
Goblin nodded its head if it had realized something finally.
“You’re not a real swordsman, I see… Quite the shame.”
“I’m a fake…?”
At that moment, she heard the spear move. Reika’s eyes closed.
At that moment, the air cracked apart.
BOOM!
The spear that was heading for Reika was sent flying. Like a ballista, the spear that struck the Goblin’s spear, made a beeline, demolishing anything and everything in its way.
For the first time during the entire fight it had with Reika, The Goblin’s face contorted in confusion and rage.
“KERUK!”
The Goblin could not avoid the blow. It thought about it for a moment, but realized it was impossible.
The Goblin brought it’s spear close to itself and tried to block the spear that had flown in suddenly but was flung back with a thunderous roar.
Reika looked in the direction of the spear that suddenly was thrown at the Goblin.
“That was close, sorry about that Reika.”
“Asher…”
She was alive. As soon as she saw him, she relaxed. But as she did, she felt all the pain she had been ignoring up until that point and started to lose her balance
***
Asher grabbed Reika who was about to hit the ground and checked her condition. Asher examined her and clicked his tongue. Her whole body was in a mess and her muscles were convulsing in pain. Even if Asher could treat her right now, it was clear she needed rest.
“It was a little too much for your first time.”
“He….”
Reika tried to speak but couldn’t formulate her words.
“I’m just glad you didn’t die.”
As soon as he helped Reika to her feet, a sound could be heard in the direction of where he had thrown his spear earlier.
“Kkkkkaruk.”
“Huh? It’s alive?”
Asher’s expression changed slightly. The spear he just threw, was thrown with all his might. The Goblin was not at a level that could completely stop the blow, but it was standing in front of Asher without being hurt.
‘This guy.’
Asher remembered the Goblin’s appearance. He had encountered this Goblin earlier. Asher frowned slightly.
“Are you the one who broke into my hut?”
“…….”
Asher stopped his thoughts for a moment. The Goblin was speaking to him in human language? Asher shut his mouth and narrowed his eyes coldly.
After a while, the Goblin burst out into laughter.
“Ha.”
It was him, Asher, the one who broke into its hut earlier and killed many of its subordinates.
“Nice to meet you. I am the leader of Goblins.”
The Goblin in front of him, was the one who had played him for a fool and caught Asher in a trap.
“Yes, you might wonder what I am, but I am the Leader of these stupid things.”
The Goblin spoke haughtily in front of Asher, demeaning its own kind.
“Then what should I call you.”
“I’m but a warrior. I walk the path of warriors alike to achieve perfection.”
“But you’re a Goblin.”
“What does race have to do with it?”
The Goblin snorted at Asher and lifted its spear. It then kicked the ground, and shot towards Asher, drawing a clean trajectory with its spear.
“Then it seems you are the one guilty of obstructing my duel earlier. You bastard!”
The spear moved closer towards Asher, and Asher took out his sword. The sound of iron banging against iron, echoed as the two rushed toward each other.
Kaga Gak!
The sword and the spear collided with precision and speed. The two of them had very unique styles of swordsmanship. It was a technique that was honed through countless years of practice and hard work.
“…you.”
Asher looked at Goblin with a shocked face. The Goblin in front of him had a systematic rhythm to its strikes. It was not like any other goblin he had faced, and was following a technique. More than that, there was no way Asher could not notice. The Goblin’s technique and movements were that of a veteran who had practiced for countless years.
What Goblin could possibly fight like this? Asher stood there with a blank expression, staring at the Goblin in disbelief. However, the Goblin was doing the exact same as it stared at Asher with shock present on its face.
“I see… You’re not a fake.”
“A fake?”
The Goblin didn’t bother to answer Asher’s reply as it spoke out with glee.
“Today is a good day. I’ve been fighting so long against fake swordsmen up until now! But in front me right now, is a real opponent! I have been cursing my luck, unable to find someone that could satisfy me with a real battle! I must thank you dearly for this opportunity.”
The Goblin, after speaking, rushed at Asher. The speartip twisted and moved like a snake towards Asher’s shoulder.
Asher pivoted his left foot, shifting his weight as he raised the sword and stabbed forward. When the Goblin pushed the spear towards him, Asher lowered his posture and turned his body roughly by bending his ankle. The Goblin retracted its spear and hopped up, avoiding Asher’s stab with the sword.
“Haha! Good!”
Goblin shouted with satisfied eyes. The spear struck the air.
***
Reika was watching the fight with a blank expression. The spear drew several and intricate trajectories, as Asher met them all with ease and pure technique. It was something impossible for her to replicate right now, and stood there, leaning against the tree, in awe.
“Ah….”
She already knew it, but the fight in front of her was clearly showing the vast difference between her and Asher’s swordsmanship.
Despite Asher’s flawless technique with his sword, she never felt despair about it. Her swordsmanship was a hero’s style of swordsmanship. Thanks to Asher only using the Imperial Swordsmanship, she was sure she would be able to catch up someday.
But, that idea was being shattered as she watched the incredible fight unfold before her very eyes.
“Ah….”
The spear and sword flew through the air, clashing fiercely. She felt a wall with Lepenia’s swordsmanship lately and thought she had broken through it just now. She had, but she was already taking a glimpse at another wall before her very eyes.
Regardless of her feelings, the technique standing before her was beautiful. Reika looked at the two as if she were possessed and did not dare to miss a single movement with her eyes.
***
‘A Goblin that can speak human language, and has mastered spearmanship.’
Asher thought as he blocked the spear. It was strong. It was natural for Reika to lose to this Goblin. How strange had the world truly become? Without realizing it, a smile popped out from Asher’s mouth.
“This is what I wanted. A true fight with each other’s life and death on the line!”
Goblin pounded the butt of the spear on the ground as if he was really enjoying it. He then took the spear back and calmed himself.
“Come back here tomorrow. Let’s call it a day.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t afford to let that happen.”
“You think I’m just going to run away?”
“It’s a possibility.”
The Goblin paused at Asher’s words. At the same time, a fire spread from behind it.
A roar of flames were burning the forest in a bright scarlet light. Countless Goblin’s screams rang out everywhere. The Goblin’s pupils dilated in fury, realizing what Asher had done.
“Kaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!
“It doesn’t matter if you say you’re going to fight me again later, you won’t come back here after you let your people burn to their deaths.”
“…….”
The Goblin stared at Asher as if he were going to tear him apart. The Goblin had been relaxed until this entire time, enjoying its fight, but its content and complacency were demolished apart. Asher just smiled at the Goblin as it cursed at him.
“You’re a fucking coward.”
“Is that something you should really be saying to me?”
“Grrr…”
The Goblin hit the floor with the spear in anger. As soon as the sound of it hitting the ground spread throughout the forest and numerous footsteps could be heard retreating.
“My race may be stupid, but we won’t sacrifice ourselves needlessly.”
“You’ll save a lot of your kind if you back off.”
“I see… hey, human. You must be a resident of the place we’re going to invade, right?”
Asher nodded silently. The Goblin raised the corners of its mouth in a malicious grin.
“Then you should be looking forward to the future. I won’t be able to run away then.”
The Goblin went back to the forest and retreated. Asher didn’t move this time and let the Goblin go. Once the traces of the Goblin completely disappeared, Asher let out a sigh.
“I’ll have to prepare accordingly, this is going to be troublesome..”
Asher grabbed Reika who fainted and passed out and laid against the tree. He mumbled to himself as he noticed her complexion was starting to regain its color. Asher then picked her up, slung her over his shoulder and started to move out of the forest.
***
The gate was starting to come into sight.
They finally returned.
Asher moved his feet and arrived in front of the gate. The guard on the gate was frightened and came to his senses as he was startled at the sudden appearance.
“Stop! Who is it?”
“It’s me.”
“…Asher?”
The guard opened his eyes wide when he heard the voice. Asher’s entire body was covered in green blood, so it was not easily recognizable.
“Why don’t you open the door for now. I have someone on my back.”
“Wait, what? Lady Reika!”
When the guard recognized Reika on Asher’s back, the guards hurried down to Asher’s position. The door slowly opened. Several people were huddled around inside the village.
“What are you doing here?”
“She disappeared and everyone was looking for her. What are you….”
The guard’s words were blurred. Was it because of what he saw next in Asher’s hand? Asher tossed the body of a Goblin in front of the townsfolk that had gathered around. When the Goblin corpse landed in front of them, they backed away in fright.
“It’s the body of the things that will be attacking us soon. You can study it or dissect it. But….”
“But- But what?”
“I’d appreciate it if you could open up a path for me. I’m tired. She needs a break, too.”
Asher pointed to Reika who was sleeping on his back.
“Well, yeah.”
The guard nodded in a hurry and backed up the crowding people to make a path for Asher. No one stood in their way until they entered the estate’s premises. When Asher got onto the premises, he left Reika to the maid who was about to faint and went into his bathroom inside his sleeping quarters. When he took off my clothes and poured water onto his body, the murky and green blood from the goblins he had slain, trickled down.
“Whoa.”
Asher felt the pain he had been suppressing on the journey back. His muscles creaked and screamed in pain at how much he had overworked his body.
‘It’s been a long time since I’ve been in this much pain.’
A full day’s rest would surely make him feel better. His body’s resilience and recovery speed was abnormally quick. Asher thought, as he knew people would eventually storm in, and the Lord would pry him for information, but that was for later. He just wanted to rest for now. Suddenly, Asher recalled his unique experience with the Goblin he had faced.
‘That Goblin.’
It was a Goblin that defied all common logic he had. It mastered spearmanship, and could speak the human language. Was this part of the changes that were happening?
It had trained with the spear, not just to survive, but to chase perfection. It was something that was rather human-like.
Goblin walks the path of the spear and had a high intellect. It was pretty funny.
What would happen in the future? How would they defend properly?
Asher closed his eyes and cleared his thoughts as he soaked his tired body in the warm bath water.
Chapter 30 – Fin