Chapter 237 – Loyalty (4/5)

Although it was no longer any more than a memory, he still remembered the time he came to this country. Towering walls, the houses they enclosed, and the road he walked with his ‘master’. The goblins advanced like a muddy stream. The old goblin swam through that stream in desperate search of that nostalgic scenery.

That scenery that he let slip that time.

The scenery he once walked side-by-side.

After turning through many corners, the old goblin finally arrived at that place that still lingered in his mind.

“…It’s here.”

He said unconsciously in between his ragged breath, but then he opened his eyes wide.

After finding the path, the old goblin was about to walk forward, but then, a scream suddenly resounded, causing him to turn.

“Fu ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, hah ha ha ha ha ha! Goblin, goblin, goblin!!”

There, at the end of his sight, stood fear in the shape of a man.

Spears struck out, but they couldn’t penetrate the body of the man. The new soldiers weren’t holding back, but the man easily deflected their attacks, and in the next moment, crushed their heads. Even the three-man-cell attacks that had been beaten into the head of the goblins did not work and were merely three consecutive attacks in the face of this man.

The man stretched out his arms as the goblins passed him from both sides, and like catching a baby, he crushed their heads.

The holy knight, Zelkof. Also known as Zelkof the Knight of Destruction.

The goblins did not know this, but the most dangerous person in the imperial capital was standing right before them.

Zelkof’s mouth distorted into a smile of ecstasy. He was like a predator in the face of prey. The way he looked as he spread his two arms open was so powerful it reminded the goblins of the Fire-Speckled Big Bear in the Forest of Darkness.

The old goblin unconsciously backed off. The reason he was able to live so long in a world where everyone was struggling to exist was simply because of his cowardice. He would never fight the strong. He prioritized running. Although that dislike for conflict of his led to him never standing at the top of a horde, it did allow him to live a long life.

The instincts of such a coward screamed at him at full sound.

This enemy was someone he should not meet.

Unconsciously, he took a step back. Who could blame him? If he were to face this enemy before him, he would surely die. It was not cowardly to avoid a bad future that was basically guaranteed.

But when he took two steps back, what appeared before him was the townscape he walked with his ‘master’.

“…”

Without thinking about it, he wordlessly looked up at that townscape. The townscape made by humans was something that goblins like him could only look up at. But it was that townscape that awoke his memories of his ‘master’.

If he just took the third step, turned around and ran, he would surely be able to survive.

But he could not take that third step.

His body shook, his heart beat quickly, his throat dried up.

But despite that, he did not take a step back.

The breath he exhaled was white like fire.

“U, nu…”

He had to make a run for it. The moment he decided that, he moved. He made his body as small as he could and tried to pass under the swinging arms of the man.

But he suddenly jumped back.

If he had kept going, Zelkof would have hit him with the back of his hand. The old goblin’s head would have surely been crushed into smithereens.

“Nu, u…”

His body that was clad in armor drew cold sweat.

At that time, in some mischievous twist of fate, Zelkof suddenly looked at him.

That was death. That overwhelming death was looking straight at him.

The goblin had mustered every bit of courage he possessed to take a step forward, but a glance was all it took to break all of that.

His resolve crushed, his legs shaking… But just as he was about to take that third step back and turn around—

“Elder, so you’re safe.”

“Gi Gu-dono.”

One of the four generals, the lord class goblin, Gi Gu Verbena of the blood-stained Felduk called out to him.

“Looks like you guys were done in quite badly.”

Upon seeing the corpses of the young goblins, Gi Gu grit his teeth in anger. His subordinates stepped forward from both sides to cover the old goblin.

“Elder brother! It’s dangerous!” Gu Naga (Long) said.

Gi Gu nodded. “I know. But this fury of having our brethren slain cannot be quelled unless unleashed upon this foe.”

Though Gi Gu bared his canine teeth and shook in anger, Zelkof’s smile showed no signs of crumbling.

“Goblin, goblin, ku ha ha ha, ku ha ha!”

As Zelkof bent his posture forward like that of a beast, Gi Gu yelled.

“He’s coming!”

In the next instant, Zelkof leaped. The holy knight leaped close enough to the ground that it seemed as if he were running, then as he approached Gi Gu, he sent his fist flying toward the goblin. He did not have a stance. Normally, this was an attack that could easily be swept away.

“GU, NUuuu!?”

But when Gi Gu tried to sweep it away, his sword was pushed back, and his whole body was sent flying. Gi Gu fixed his posture midair, but the abnormal strength of the human caused him to click his tongue.

“What a monster! Are you really human!?”

“Ku ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!”