Chapter 98 – The Huge Lizard Got Me

“GURUUAAAAA!” (ORRRAAAAAAAAH!)

With a battle cry, Buster maneuvered in between the trees and approached the Goblin Cavalryman who was stuck with the boar monster the same time I unleashed my earth magic.

“Giuooh!” (I won’t allow it!)

However, one of the Cavalrymen riding the earth-colored monitor lizard, the Land Lizard, approached from the side, pulled out his Saber, and attempted to intercept the black-armed Kobold’s attack!

“Gauh, kuogaruuoaaa voruouh!!” (Hah, you think you can stop my attack with a single hand!?)

【Activated：Arm Strengthening (large) + War Blade】

While the Goblin Cavalryman held the reins with his left hand and his right hand handled the Saber with his right hand, Buster unleashed a heavy blow with the overpowering force of his muscular arms.

“Guh!? GIAAAAAAAAAAAH!!”

“U-ugaaaaaah!?”

The sharp blow, which was clad in fighting spirit, not only cleaved the Goblin in half, but it also went through the mounted Land Lizard’s saddle and made a shallow indent on the ground.

Meanwhile, Ax, who had jumped out at the same time, closed in on the Land Lizard whose mouth was opened wide when it was pierced by the earthen fangs…

“WORUAAAAAHH!!” (TEYAAAAAAH!!)

“Guuuuuh, aaaaaaaaaaaah!?”

He swung his Battle Axe down and it shattered the Land Lizard’s skull as it slammed to the ground.

“Giuuuh!!” (Tsk!!)

Another Goblin Cavalryman unleashed a slash attack aimed at Ax’s neck from below by swinging his Saber in a diagonal cut, but the big blue Kobold calmly held up his long Shield.

“Waouh.” (Heave-ho)

Clang

The raised Duel Shield easily repelled the attack. Ax then let go of the Battle Ax which was still lodged in the Land Lizard’s head and punched the Goblin Cavalryman in the face.

“Gahah–” (Gahah!!)

The Goblin Cavalryman who was hit square in the face loses consciousness and limply falls from the saddles…

(These Cavalrymen cannot easily maneuver within the forest after all… If it’s like this, then their threat level is quite low.)

I reaffirmed my observations while staying hidden behind the trees. I raised the arrows which I had been holding in my right hand and nocked them into the Mechanical Bow when an angry shout rang throughout the forest.

“GIUOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!” (YOU BASTAAAAAAARDS!!)

The leader, a Goblin Cavalier who was missing a part of his ear, rode the Land Lizard at a speed that did not match his frame, made his way through the trees, and aimed for Buster’s flank.

Holding a Lance made of thick wood and an iron spearhead, the Cavalier charged at the massive, black armed Kobold. Meanwhile, a short distance away from Buster, the remaining Goblin Cavalrymen also launched continuous attacks at the big blue Kobold with their Lances.

“UGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!” (UGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!)

“Uoh!?” (Uoh!?)

Buster nimbly avoided the accelerated rush by a hair’s breadth by shifting his weight to the side, while Ax parried the spear-attack of one of the Goblin Cavalrymen and counter-attacked with his long Shield!

“Uh!? Uwaaah!!” (Eh!? Uwaah!!)

“GIUREIAH!!” (THIS IS THE END!!)

Ax fell over and managed to avoid one of the Goblin Lances thrust at him, but he was hit by the huge Land Lizard and was flung away.

“U-uu… uuhh.”

“Giuaah!!” (I got you!!)

The Goblin Cavalryman who counter-attacked earlier pulled out his Lance from his mount and approached Ax who received the Lizard’s blow and fell to the ground, and attempted to strike a finishing blow on the dazed Kobold.

“Kuh, woruoann!!” (Kuh, Penetrating Burst!!)

I jumped out from the trees and took the Goblin’s attention, and the move bought me enough time to fire a Wind magic-imbued arrow straight to his heart!

“Guh!? Giih, guuaaaaah, uah…” (Guh!? Nnngh, guuaaaaah, uah…)

The arrow pierced the Goblin’s Leather Armor and lodged itself in his chest, and the concentrated Wind magic in the arrow tip burst and pierced his heart. The Goblin stiffened for a moment, and limply slipped away and fell from the saddle on the Land Lizard’s back.

During this time, the eyes of the Goblin Cavalier, who was missing a part of his ear, widened in surprise as he made eye contact with me.

“Gyaou, gigiugio giuesugarugiah! Gii, kyuueruh!!” (So these were the dogs’ Lord Brave was talking about! Tsk, retreat!!)

Having accurately assessed the current situation, the muscular Goblin instructs his two companions who dismounted the boars and were holding their Sabers to retreat. While he skillfully maneuvered the enormous Land Lizard and disappeared deep into the forest…

The two remaining Goblins hurry and try to make their retreat, but a shadow drops over their heads.

“Woruaoouah!” (You’re not going anywhere!)

“G-gah!? Giuh!” (G-gah!? What the–!)

Dagger, who had been aiming at them from the treetops, dropped down onto one of the Goblin’s shoulders and wrapped her legs around his neck.

(Isn’t that the Headscissors Whip*!? I haven’t even mastered it yet!!)

It was an advanced technique described on page 147 of the grimoire “Herculean Crushing”.

It was a move that mainly disables your opponent’s arms and crushes their balance while you wrap your legs around their neck and throw them down with the centrifugal force created by a somersault.

Another variation of this is to leap vertically while trapping your opponent’s neck with one leg and putting all your weight to drop them to the ground to break their neck, but… It was a Muscle Art that did not require the use of magic at all.

“Wauh!” (Ei!)

“Giaaaaahh!!” (Giaaaaahh!!)

However, my sister betrayed my expectations and pulled out the Stiletto made of a unicorn’s horn while in that position and ended his life as she plunged her weapon deep into the Goblin’s skull.

So it wasn’t a Headscissors whip after all…

“Garuaaaan!” (You’re mine!)

As Dagger jumped away from the fallen Goblin’s corpse, she pushed the release button of the Mechanical Dagger on her left hand and sent the blade hurtling towards the throat of the other Goblin who was shocked by the power of her throw.

“Kathy, ua…”

The remaining Goblin finally toppled over while holding the part of his neck that was pierced by the short blade. On the other hand, Ax was relatively safe even though he was hit by one of the giant lizards, and our encounter with the Goblin Hunting Party came to an end.