Chapter 161 - 134: Evil Goblins
Shire looked at the map in his hand, then checked the Compass. "This direction is correct. Let’s keep moving."
With that, he waved his hand, signaling his subordinates to continue north.
The exploration party consisted of twenty goblins, plus three Worker Ants, and...
a Unicorn.
Shire had encountered the Unicorn on the road. He had only waved a casual greeting, not expecting it to start following them—and it had been for quite some distance.
"You’re not planning to follow us the whole way, are you?" Shire asked, looking at the white spirit at the edge of his group. He couldn’t figure out what it was thinking. ’Oh well, maybe it’ll go back after a little while longer.’
The Rune Language Material Library was some distance from the Fortress. Combined with the fact they were traveling through unfamiliar territory, the goblins weren’t moving very fast. Other than the goblins "driving" the Worker Ants, the rest were all on foot. This was to be ready for any sudden ambushes.
"Chief," Broken Tooth ran back from the front. "A horse! A long-haired horse!"
"Huh?" Shire paused. "Another horse?"
He turned to glance at the Unicorn. "So, you’re here for a date, huh? Just tagging along with our group."
"Let’s go take a look." He ignored the creature beside him, which was tossing its mane and pawing the ground, and walked straight north.
However, when he saw the creature lying on the ground, Shire kicked Broken Tooth without a second thought.
He pointed at the female Centaur lying in a pool of blood and said irritably, "This is the horse you were talking about? Her hair is long, sure, but she’s not a horse."
Natural history books often recorded this interesting type of creature. Their upper body was a human torso, while their lower body was that of a horse. Shire had only ever seen illustrations before; this was his first time seeing a Centaur in person.
He figured it was Broken Tooth’s first time, too.
"With injuries like this... she isn’t dead, is she?" Shire leaned in, scanned the Centaur’s wounds, and then reached out to check her breathing. "Not dead yet. She can be saved."
"The books all say Centaurs are kind creatures that sometimes even help lost travelers. How did this female Centaur get so badly injured?" He hurriedly took out a Healing Potion from his belt pouch, wanting to pour it down the unconscious Centaur’s throat, but seeing her state, he felt it would have limited effect.
’I should’ve just agreed to let Shan Xi Ao come.’ When they were setting out, Shan Xi Ao had wanted to follow again. This time, Shire went directly to the little goblins’ Clan Leader. Not long after, he was smiling and bidding farewell to the little goblin, who was now dangling from under a wooden hut.
’With this much blood loss, she’s a goner if she doesn’t get treatment soon.’ Shire frowned, trying to think of a solution. Soon, he stood up and walked toward the Unicorn, which was hiding near the Worker Ants.
"Stop cowering and come help." He grabbed the Unicorn’s mane, trying to herd it over. "Use your healing Ability. Save this Centaur."
The Unicorn walked over to the female Centaur and touched her a few times with its ivory-like horn. Soon, Shire noticed a faint white light emanating from the Centaur’s body. The wounds on her skin began to heal slowly, her breathing grew stronger, and her eyelashes started to flutter. Then, the Centaur opened her eyes.
......
When Evita had broken through the encirclement last night, she had run into a Two-headed Ogre Warlock. The Magic Burst Technique it cast repeatedly had severely injured her. She had managed to shake the Ogre’s pursuit with great difficulty, but the chase by its hounds had thrown her into another desperate battle.
Fortunately, she still had some fight left in her. She killed the three hounds with her Short Blade. Then, dragging her wounded body, she struggled onward to the south. Her only hope was to escape the Ogre’s pursuit as quickly as possible and find a trace of the Unicorn.
She continued until she collapsed from exhaustion, losing consciousness.
’Am I dead?’ Evita felt an intense pain all over her body. She tried to lift a hoof but had no strength at all. ’Father, I’ve failed. I still haven’t found the Unicorn, and now I’ve foolishly lost my own life.’
She felt that her surroundings weren’t as cold as she’d expected; it was different from the legendary Nether Sea. ’So this is what death feels like? It seems nothing is worse than death itself.’
Evita struggled to open her eyes. Dazzling sunlight pierced her pupils, blinding her for a moment. After blinking a few times, she gradually adjusted to the light, and then...
she was horrified to find herself surrounded by a group of goblins.
’I’d rather be dead.’
Evita warily reached out, fumbling around her. She quickly found her Short Blade, grabbed it, and pointed it at the surrounding goblins. "Don’t come any closer! All of you, stay back!"
She cried out helplessly, but the goblins in front of her showed no fear. They all wore "vicious" smiles, looking as if they were about to pounce, kill her, and devour her at any moment.
’Father, I was wrong. I never should have come out looking for a Unicorn. Forgive me, Father.’ She pressed the Short Blade to her own neck, preparing to end it all.
"We’re the ones who saved you. You don’t have to kill yourself." The lead goblin took a step forward, trying to persuade her to stop.
"Silence, you evil goblins! Don’t even dream of seeing me afraid! I would rather die!" Evita shouted in grief and indignation. "You filthy creatures! I will not submit!"
She glared at the goblin in front of her with contempt, ready to swing her Short Blade. But then, she froze, her eyes widening in astonishment as she stared blankly at what was behind the goblin.
A radiant white Unicorn with a golden mane like satin stood behind the goblin. As the Unicorn paced back and forth, Evita’s head slowly swayed, her gaze locked onto it.
Finally, the Unicorn walked up to the goblin, and the "evil" little green-skin even reached out and stroked its neck a few times.
Evita fell silent. She just stood there, stunned, the Short Blade still pressed against her neck.
After a few seconds, she finally blurted out,
"Unicorn... you’ve fallen from grace."
......
"So that’s what happened. The Unicorn saved you," Shire said, shrugging with his hands spread. "I knew you’d react, I just didn’t expect you to react *this* strongly."
"Hmph. Don’t try to fool me," Evita retorted, leaning against a tree trunk with her Short Blade still in hand. She had lost too much blood in the earlier fight; although her wounds were healed, she still felt sore and weak all over. "You must have done something to the Unicorn, you evil goblins!"
"What could we possibly do to this guy?" Shire gently patted the Unicorn’s neck. "It could just lower its head and run me through."
"You..." Evita was at a loss for words. She realized the goblin was right; the Unicorn showed no signs of being coerced. Moreover, Unicorns were immune to most Magic—ordinary illusions or the Mind Confusion Technique would be completely ineffective against it.
"Nothing to say now, huh?" Shire smiled, raising his hands slightly to show he had no ill intent.
"Then why is a Unicorn with you? It’s a Forest Elf, a guardian of kindness! It would never associate with evil!" Evita shouted. She truly couldn’t understand why a Unicorn would travel south to join a group of goblins.
"Maybe," Shire scratched his cheek with a finger, "the grass is just tastier where we’re from."
"Hmph, hmph, hmph," Evita sneered. "Who are you trying to kid?"
RUSTLE RUSTLE. The sound of rustling grass and branches came from the woods to the north. The surrounding goblins warily drew their weapons, and Shire drew his as well. He had noticed earlier that the Unicorn was acting restless. He’d thought it was due to the scent of the Centaur’s blood, but now it seemed something had been chasing her.
"There you are. No running now." A Two-headed Ogre stepped out from behind a tree. Its left head sniffed the air, its expression one of pure enjoyment at the scent of blood on the ground.
"Prepare for battle!" Shire yelled. Immediately, with a SWISH, the Centaur had already fired an Arrow.
"Ugh," the Two-headed Ogre took a step back after being hit, but its hide was tough. The attack had done little damage.
"A pack of goblins! Excellent! I’ll capture you all and present you to General Evil Throat. He should be very pleased." The Two-headed Ogre laughed heartily and raised the Magic Staff in its hand. "Magic Burst Technique!"
BOOM! A green light exploded, sending a shockwave rippling outward. Four or five goblins were thrown to the ground, and two were already bleeding from the blast.
"Throw the Stinky Balls!" Shire commanded loudly. Seeing how little damage the Arrow had done, he judged that the Hand Grenade Fruits would have limited effect and had his subordinates throw the Spore Balls instead.
POOF! Three Stinky Balls exploded around the Two-headed Ogre, and a foul stench immediately filled the air.
"What is this? What did these goblins throw?" The Ogre clapped its hands over its two sets of mouths and noses. "It stinks so bad! I’m about to puke up the goblin I ate yesterday!"
"Shut up, you idiot Dagou! Let’s run!" the head named Damo cursed loudly. Then they turned, wanting to flee.
"Don’t let him escape!" Shire yelled, covering his mouth and nose. At the same time, he glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw that the Centaur had already fainted from the stench.
After taking a few steps, the Two-headed Ogre suddenly felt a sharp pain in its lower back. It reached back, grabbed a goblin, and violently threw it aside. However, the sneak attack had successfully slowed it down.
Immediately after, it felt a cold sensation on its left knee, followed by an excruciating pain. Its entire lower leg had been severed.
"Red Eyes, take his head!" Shire roared, simultaneously scanning the area for the Unicorn, which had been scared off by the Stinky Balls.
Soon, a few goblins finished off the fallen Ogre. Shire finally found the Unicorn hiding far away. He carried the wounded over to it for healing, one by one.
"You’re a pretty fast runner, aren’t you?" Shire stared at the Forest Elf, his tone ominous.
Still, it was a good thing it hadn’t run off completely. Otherwise, they might have suffered casualties in that fight.
"BLEGH..." Evita was on the ground, vomiting uncontrollably. Even though she was far from where the Stinky Balls had landed, the smell still lingered around her.
She wiped the tears from her face, wiped her mouth, and then looked angrily at the nearby goblins.
"You really are evil goblins after all."