Chapter 51

“Ugh, I’m feeling a bit uneasy.”

In situations like this, you usually expect someone to pop up and say, “I thought they were weak, but they turned out to be super strong!”

It’s not exactly ‘common sense,’ but it’s definitely a cliché.

Well, considering Glaria, Ria, and even Lee Si-yoon or Han Yu-ri show up properly in the main story, maybe they won’t be that big of a problem.

Plus, it’s not just us here. Unlike in previous dispatches, there are hunters around us who are at a level capable of protecting ‘high-ranking individuals.’

And we have a mobile team waiting behind us to retreat if needed. Although we’ve confirmed some things on this side, it’s not completely ‘occupied’ yet.

The hunters were quietly crouching down, and that strange tension started seeping into us as well. Without exchanging words, we quietly crouched down and followed behind the hunters.

Snap.

The lead hunter raised a hand.

All of us halted at that signal.

Though Glaria was in a protected position, she was a princess who came from a civilization that actively used magic. Naturally, her magic skills were impressive for a princess.

Usually, when one civilization interacts with another world, it’s usually for reasons related to magic or knowledge about creatures.

…Though, I’m not sure what Glaria’s world wanted from this side.

“…That’s…”

Glaria muttered.

I felt a subtle emotion in her voice. It wasn’t… fear.

More like—

“That’s a ‘Gobling.’”

If I had to express the emotion behind her words, it was probably close to ‘disgust.’

It was the same feeling as seeing a cockroach scurry by.

“Gobling?”

The hunter next to me asked.

His voice carried a hint of curiosity.

The world beyond the Gate often has flora that doesn’t match up at all, leading to a firm conviction that it’s a completely different world. It’s not just that they are far apart; sometimes even the atmospheric conditions and gravity are entirely different.

Sure, some say there are countless people in the world and that the world beyond the Gate is just another planet.

So, logically speaking, it would make sense for Glaria not to recognize a ‘creature’ we’re seeing for the first time.

“…Just look. There’s nothing to worry about. It’s not that powerful of a creature.”

However, Glaria answered as if she didn’t care much about it.

Ria and I exchanged glances, then took a few steps forward to get closer to the hunters.

There was a rustling sound. It wasn’t us; it was coming from some distance away.

And there it was—

“…A Goblin?”

I couldn’t help but mutter.

With its green skin and short stature, it looked fairly muscular, even though it was wearing clothes but no top, exposing a protruding belly compared to its developed muscles.

With its short height and big nose, there was no doubt—it was a ‘Goblin.’ The kind often depicted in Japanese comics and anime.

…Hmm.

While it’s common to follow the tags from the serialized source, I have no way of knowing what kind of settings the author has established outside the story.

There are all kinds of people in the world, and some writers love to mess with their readers in any way they can.

I don’t even know if they consider that art…

“…?”

The creature seemed unaware of us.

It held a pretty big wooden club and looked quite menacing. It certainly looked like a beast that could be called a monster, but—

Clang.

I turned my head at the small sound coming from the side and was startled.

Glaria was floating some kind of gemstone in her hand. It was sharp at the tip, and a cold aura was emanating from it—ah, it’s not a gem; it’s an icicle. An attack spell.

“Wait a minute.”

I grabbed Glaria’s arm and said,

“What are you doing?”

“Well, I have to eliminate it, right?”

Glaria tilted her head, asking back.

“Eliminate?”

“Goblings are just trash creatures.”

“…?”

Whoa, she’s super certain about that.

“What kind of creature warrants such a response?”

The hunter asked with a serious expression.

“They live in groups and survive by plundering.”

Glaria’s eyes narrowed.

“It’s not just about plundering. They abduct women and children to expand their numbers. If we leave them be, there will definitely be problems.”

“…?”

That… well, you know.

Though Glaria framed it as if they just increased their numbers, it means they are… possibly the kind of Goblins that show up in Japanese eroge or those slightly extreme comics and novels?

Glaria’s gaze fell on my hand holding her arm.

Only then did I let go of her arm.

If what she said is true, then it would be best to eliminate them…

The hunter nodded in agreement.

Well, that’s logical too. Even I can see that it’s a ‘Goblin.’ It looks pretty terrifying just by looking at it, and honestly, it seems unlikely we could communicate at all.

Plus, when I think about it logically, I figure that would be the right decision. After all… I know the existence of the original work.

Web novels certainly draw a lot of influence from various comics and animations, or movies. So, it’s common for ingredients used in those to come almost directly.

In most web novels, Goblins are low-tier monsters. Targets for extermination, and depending on the genre, they often engage in actions suitable for ‘adult novel’ material. Glaria’s words suggest that was the case in her world too.

I haven’t heard any stories about Goblins interacting with humans in the original work. They might not have crossed paths before, but this Gate is reputed to be one of the safest and most reliable gates managed by the association.

Which means, it’s quite possible they were just acknowledged as ‘monsters’ and exterminated without a second thought?

Some hunters who knew how to use magic slowly prepared their spells. Ice shards and little fireballs like those Glaria had appeared here and there.

The Goblin hadn’t looked our way yet. Did it fail to notice? Even though we were hitting it with a light show, we had enough camouflage of our own.

“Why?”

Seeing me restless, Ria glanced over and asked.

“Is something troubling you?”

“I, I…”

Should I prepare to attack too? It doesn’t seem like it’s just a single Goblin. If it’s a scout, it most definitely wouldn’t be alone.

Yeah. That’s the problem.

The creature from yesterday was no different from a wild animal. Just like a rampaging boar or something. In such a case, it would either have to be driven away or eliminated if that wasn’t possible.

But those creatures weren’t wearing clothes. They didn’t use tools.

They were just a roaming pack of wild beasts.

The Goblin in front of us, at least to my eyes, didn’t seem to fit that category. It was wearing clothes and holding a weapon— a tool.

“…?”

Ria’s eyes on me looked pretty serious.

“What do you think?”

Ria asked.

What do I think…

To be honest, I feel uneasy about just ‘eliminating’ it like this.

It’s unavoidable that the inhabitants of this world become somewhat numb to situations like this. After all, they’ve faced various mishaps because of the Gates.

So maybe it’s my senses that are the weird ones.

“That’s an important question.”

Ria said.

It didn’t sound like a joke or a casual conversation.

It was clearly the face of someone genuinely serious about asking. It was as if she truly wanted to know my answer.

“What do you want to do with that creature over there?”

“…?”

Humans are emotional creatures. Well, no creature is completely free of emotions either. While they emphasize reason and rationality, ultimately, those two concepts only came about to supplement human feelings.

And because of those feelings, ironically, humans sometimes confuse reason and rationality.

Typically, feelings that tend to fall into that confusing category are ‘disgust.’

Declaring something ‘evil’ just because it looks strange to them, while something beautiful or useful is labeled ‘good.’

Such divisions are unnecessary among living beings.

…The reason humans don’t instantly eradicate elves upon encountering them, despite their excellent mastery of magic, isn’t due to some rational thought; it’s likely because the elves’ appearance is that of ‘beautiful humans.’

The reasoning goes that they must have created a civilization and thus should be capable of rational and reasonable interactions.

“How do they look to you?”

Just moments ago, Ria, who was talking to me about monsters, was now throwing me such a question.

“To me…”

“If you have any thoughts, just express them.”

Ria said calmly.

“Try saying it like that… I’ll do my best to support you.”

At her words, I turned my head back to face the front.

“Kyaah!?”

The Goblin finally looked in our direction.

It seemed it caught sight of the spells that were being prepped behind the barrier.

Everyone, including Glaria, was ready to launch their magical powers.

What would the Goblin do? Would it charge straight at us? Would it immediately recognize us as a target and attack?

No. The Goblin didn’t do that.

It quickly turned and ran back. The weapon in its hand fell to the ground. It seemed scared of a threat it couldn’t even see.

“Kyaaah!”

And it let out a loud shout.

Other underbrush started rustling, and Goblins raised their heads.

Once more, the Goblin shouted as it turned tail to flee.

And the other Goblins hurriedly followed suit, and none of them were without clothes. Some were even fully dressed to the upper half.

One Goblin fell over.

It reached out towards the one at the very back—

“…?”

I think that was when I decided what I would do.

“Wait a minute!”

I shouted as I jumped up from my spot.

A light shone from above, and the spells being prepped around us dissolved into that Saint Power.

I couldn’t tell what kind of being was up there, but— at the very least, it agreed with my actions.

Could this even be part of a trap to push me deeper into a pit? There’s no evidence to support that all their actions thus far haven’t been just a facade.

The way I put faith in Saint Power is similar to how I trust someone who shows me kindness. If that being above suddenly changes its mind, there’s nothing I could do about it.

…Unless it’s the opposite.

Could that being also agree with my words?

Honestly, I don’t really know.

“For now, let’s capture it alive!”

At my shout, the hunters, who had looked at me with bewildered expressions, rushed forward in a flurry.

Glaria was still looking at me as if she couldn’t comprehend my actions until the very end.

And I felt extremely embarrassed to have received that look.

Ah, I totally messed up.

I crouched down, wrapping my head with both hands.

Though, Ria, being my knight, stood calmly beside me.