The Fight of the Frail

Goblin is a race that is looked down upon not only in Elverwad but also other continents.

On top of having their physical and magical abilities low compared to other races, they have a bad reputation when it comes to their ancestors.

The ancestors of goblin race was considered monsters long time ago. However, the theory was proven to be a misunderstanding when study prove that Goblin is not a monster.

In this world, monster is a mutation of animal or plants. All of them have the characteristic to attack people, I was taught that it is part of their nature.

Goblin, however, is not considered animal or even monster. They are not a mutation of other animals and they have a intelligence that is high enough to use magic formulas and communicate with other races.

Their race as a whole was misunderstood by other races due to many of their ancestors commit hideous crimes. Most of the crimes were no less than killing people and some of them are too disturbing for me to think about.

Due to those deeds that not all goblins commit, their whole race was hunted down especially by humans.

Their race was almost pushed to the brink of extinction until some messengers from other continent published the theory about Goblin not being a monster. Goblin race is no longer hunted ever since then, but most of people from other races still look at them with eyes full of disdain.

I won't pity them though. It's not because I hate their race or anything, but I just don't really care about other people when they are not related to me.

But their case is a bit similar to how humans are treated in this continent. That's why that goblin kid piqued my interest as she came here knowing that she will be treated badly by other races.

Rimikia the receptionist elf lady is writing on a quest paper while confirming the content with the one who request it.

"So your name is Ean?"

"Yes," the goblin kid answered to Rimikia's question.

Rimikia is sitting on the receptionist desk while both me and that goblin kid standing on the opposite side of her.

"1 Sword Wolf has been attacking your village for these past few days. So you want to hire adventurers to hunt them. Is that it?"

"Yes!"

That Goblin kid whose name is Ean said that quite loudly. I am currently behind her just to see how Rimikia will handle this kid. For some reason, she never threaten me for paying attention to this Goblin kid unlike how she threatened other adventurers few minutes ago.

"How much would be the reward for completing the quest?"

That Goblin kid starts rummaging her pocket. Then she bring out bronze coins and put those on the table.

"11 bronze coins... this is all I have.. please!! Help us!"

Despite Ean's plead, Rimikia's expression never really changed and speaks to her in professional tone.

"11 bronze coins as reward, confirmed."

"Pfft, 11 bronze she said."

I suddenly hear a familiar sound from behind. It's from that dark elf adventurer, Panthos Genuma.

He is sitting with some adventurers while his one armed slave boy is still standing besides him.

"What a joke. The usual cost for hunting 1 Sword Wolf is 3 silver coins. You expect any adventurer here gonna accept that request?"

The guild do not have minimum cost requirement for quests. However, whether the adventurer will take them or not is up to them. There are exceptions when a person force adventurers to participate but it's very rare and only those that have relations with the guild can get that privilege.

This goblin kid is definitely not an exception. And that Panthos guy still talks with other adventurers like there's no tomorrow.

"Oh! But there might be some idiots out there who gonna accept that quest. We need to give them cheers at least, right guys?!"

"Yeah! We need to pray that they survive against a mere single Sword Wolf."

After one of other adventurer replied, the people near Panthos start laughing except the one-armed slave boy.

On top of having terrible taste of joke, that Panthos even went as far as telling others that accepting this quest is stupid. Seriously, what is his problem...

Ean looks really bothered by it. While standing near receptionist desk, I notice her body trembling because she is holding back her tears.

The sight of her reminds me of my junior colleague who was with me right before I died in my previous world. Back when she made a mistake in her work and one of the managers scold her in front of my other colleagues including me. That manager shouted non-stop like he got no other better things to do.

And I just can't help but dislike that kind of situation.

When Rimikia is about to place the quest to the board, I stop her by grabbing her left hand.

"Excuse me, I'm accepting that quest."

Ean suddenly looks at me with shocked eyes. I accept this quest because it feels irritating to see that Panthos guy running his mouth with terrible jokes.

And thus, my first quest in fighting a monster ended up like this.

Ean was in a hurry in bringing me to her village. But I stopped her because I need to prepare lots of things in order to fight the Sword Wolf.

Sword Wolf might be one of the weakest monsters here... but I have bad compability in fighting that one.

The difference between monster and its previous forms which are animals or plants lies within Astral Body. All monsters have Astral Body, the inner storage that human use to keep their mana within their body, whereas animals and plants do not have one.

That's why most monsters can use magic.

For example, the One-Horned Rabbit that I used to fight back in area near my mansion usually use the magic called Haste, a wind magic that make its user to have faster movement. I used to take advantage of that magic using my Overtake and reverse Haste's effect, making them move slower as a result.

If I can use Overtake, I would have a chance to win even if the monster is as strong as Gestalt Hydra.

Unfortunately, Sword Wolf is an exception. They have Astral Body but they does not have the ability to use magic. Or rather, their weapon which is their sharp blade tail can be moved as a weapon despite not using magic.

I learned the information of Sword Wolf from Liasr city's library. The fact that they cannot use magic makes them the weakest around here but it will be a different difficulty for me that has a physical strength of a child.

Thinking that my knowledge alone is not enough to think of a countermeasure, I went to the halfling Pepprica's Item Shop and the dark elf Antarea's Blacksmith Workshop so that I can get more advices regarding Sword Wolf. Of course I dragged Ean along with me.

In the end, both people cannot really provide better advices than my knowledge. However, Antarea gave me some short swords and daggers which she called "failed creations". She said that I can get those for free and gave it to the other goblins to protect themselves. But I feel bad to get all those for free so I pay at 6 bronze coins for those 4 short swords and 2 daggers.

I ended up stuffing those weapons into my bag. But Antarea made a fair point. It does not have to be me alone to fight the Sword Wolf and other normal wolves. Ean also said that she will convince others to help me.

It took me few hours to walk from Liasr Town to the goblin village which resides in the middle of forest.

On the way there, I asked her why the goblins would send a kid like her to ask for request and not some adult goblins.

Then she told me that almost all the adult goblins got killed from the wolf's second last attack last week including her father and older brother. Originally, there was 1 Sword Wolf leading 4 normal wolves to attack the village. While all the normal wolves got killed, the Sword Wolf alone annihilated all the adult goblins despite the difference in number.

The Sword Wolf eventually retreated due to the wounds that was inflicted by some of the adult goblins. However, it came back yesterday. The Sword Wolf annihilated and ate all the adult goblins that cannot fight including Ean's mother. Ean and other goblin children was able to hide in the village without being able to be found because of adult goblin's efforts in confronting the Sword Wolf.

Wait, was Sword Wolf supposed that powerful? It is supposed to be the weakest monster around here right? But for all adult goblins being unable to kill it after fighting in groups...

I start having bad feelings about this quest. But I cannot back down now.

It will most likely come to that village again if it even bother came back there for second time.

All that is left in that goblin village is just children. Ean then said that the reason why she decided to come to Liasr Town alone is because she is the eldest and she is the only goblin left that is capable of using magic.

Ean told me that she can only use 2 magic, Clairvoyance and Floating Orb of Light. Clairvoyance is the magic that can let you see far. Floating Orb of Light is a light magic to create floating balls of light midair, usually used for the purpose of lighting up the vision in dark places.

At least I have some ideas on how to use my Overtake and her magic.

When we enter a forest where the goblin village resides, I can see a goblin kid running towards me and Ean.

"Milua?"

Ean said something that sounds like the name of her acquaintance. That goblin called Milua rushed towards Ean while shouting something.

"Ean! This is bad!!"

"W- what's wrong?"

Milua arrived near Ean before continue speaking in panic.

"*pant* T- that wolf came again just now... and Dhilli become a decoy to lure that wolf away from village!!"

Ean's face instantly become pale after hearing that.

"But that's...!"

"Where did this Dhilli person go?"

Milua seemed surprised when I suddenly ask that question. Ean then immediately speaks after my question.

"That's right! Where is him now?!"

"H- he ran from the back of the village."

I immediately asked Ean something to confirm my plan before she gets more panic than she is now.

"Ean, can you track this Dhilli using your clairvoyance?"

"... probably, I have rough idea where he will go to. We should be able to reach him faster if we go that way."

I can tell that Ean is trying her best to keep her cool.

"Understood."

Right after I said that, I place my bag on the ground and take a short sword out of it. I usually use dagger but I need a weapon with longer reach for this fight.

I look at Ean before speaking to her.

"Lead me there."

Both me and Ean start running inside the forest leaving my bag and the confused Milua behind.

"Ean, once we find the sword wolf, I need you to cast your Floating Orb of Light near this sword."

"Eh? Why-"

"Can you do it or not? Make up your mind."

I can't really explain my plan while running after all. That will waste most of my stamina.

"Y- yes! I can do it!"

Then my plan against that Sword Wolf is confirmed.
_______________________________________
*Interlude*

A goblin kid can be seen running through the forest.

He's panting so much while running because it's a matter of death and life for him.

Behind him, wood cutting sound can be heard. A Sword Wolf is chasing after him while using its tail to cut any trees and other plants standing in his way.

This goblin kid is Dhilli, Ean's younger brother which is also famous for being the fastest runner among the goblin children in their village.

While waiting for her older sister to come with some help from the guild, the Sword Wolf came again faster than expected. Dhilli then use a wooden slingshot to shoot rocks at the sword wolf and make it chase him away from the village.

He expected the forest to slow down the Sword Wolf but that monster just cut anything blocking in its path using its long tail.

His next plan is to lure it to the training ground which is an open space where he can aim his slingshot better at that monster.

"...! There it is!!"

He goes through the bushes and arrives at an open field.

"(If it's here...!)"

Thinking that he quickly prepare his slingshot for the incoming monster.

The moment the Sword Wolf come out from the bushes, Dhilli shot rocks non-stop at the monster.

*trang!!*

The Sword Wolf was surprised and stop running but it repels all the shots using its tail.

"Take this! And this!"

Thinking that he might stand a chance against that monster, he repeatedly pull out the rocks from his pocket to shoot it towards the monster.

"!?"

When he wants to grab the next rock in his pocket, he realise that there is no more rock in his pocket.

"No way..."

He looks at the Sword Wolf in fear. He knows that he need to run but his feet cannot move at all.

"No..."

As he says that, he remembers the fact that this is the same monster which killed and ate his family and friends.

"Grr!!"

The Sword Wolf who is cautious before finally showing intention to attack.

"(Ean...!)"

Dhilli closes his eyes thinking that this is the end for him.

However, 3 small bottles of brown liquid suddenly drop near the wolf. A magic circle lights up and the bottles instantly explodes spreading brown smoke to the whole open area.

Dhilli opens his eyes out of shock only to find his vision gets obstructed by brown smoke.

"What the!? It stinks!!"

The smell from the brown smoke is so terrible that his body got paralyzed in different way than before.

*End of Interlude*
_______________________________________

I made it in time...

From behind the bushes, I just threw 3 bottles of rotten Rorean fruit extract which I bought from Pepprica's shop. That bottle bring out smells that is so bad that paralyzes people, animals and monsters that has strong sense in smell like Sword Wolf.

"Cast your magic now!"

I look at Ean while showing her my short sword.

Ean immediately casts her magic as planned.

"Floating Orbs of Light!"

Right as a floating light ball comes from both of Ean's hands, I immediately use Overtake at that magic and modify it to become a spell that will sharpen my short sword.

"Eh?"

Ean becomes confused as her magic suddenly envelop my short sword. I modify the magic into "Light Sabre" magic. A sharpening magic for metallic weapon.

However, in exchange of the sharpness, the heat from the magic's light will eventually melt the metal as time passes. That's why...

I need to settle the fight before that happens!

*tap!*

I rush towards the brown smoke. The smell does not bother me as much the monster and the goblins. I also can see the Sword Wolf's silhouette as the smoke starts to clear up.

As planned, I quickly slash the wolf's front right leg. However, the wolf noticed me and try to evade my slash.

*zrash!*

As a result, I cut the wolf's leg deeply instead of cutting the whole leg.

However, the wolf lose its balance as planned. Right after the wolf's body fall to the ground, I rushed and stepped on its tail using my right shoe with force so that it won't be able to move its tail.

I quickly raise my short sword and slash the tail.

*zraaashh!!*

I manage to separate the tail away from its main body. With my blood-stained sword, then I proceed to slash the back of the wolf.

However, the wolf was nimble enough to evade my next slash despite after I cut its tail.

The smell is starting to dissipate, however I manage to cut away its trump card.

I am just one step away from killing this wolf. The moment it rushes towards me...

The wolf sounds more aggressive after I cut its tail and it finally rushes towards me.

(Now!)

I use stab attack towards the wolf's head. But the wolf jump up, high enough to escape from my vision.

In an instant I can feel the top of my head being stepped on by something.

The wolf use my head as a stepping stone to jump behind me!?

"Whoa!?" *thump!!*

Due to the weight of the wolf, I immediately fell to the front.

"Ow...!"

Due to the pain, I cannot get up immediately.

"Watch out! Behind you!"

!? Ean's voice brought me to my sense. I need to get my short sword back and-

But right after I look behind. The Sword Wolf is already midair after jumping itself towards me with it's fangs ready to chomp me.