Chapter 93 – The End of the Goblin Settlement

Chapter 93

The End of Goblin Settlement

Date : Day 11 of Grimleaf 1024 Aethellgard Concord Year.

The now small golden Sol and bigger silver Luna already perched halfway to their zenith when Hyoren and Elise woke up on the fifth day of their War of Attrition campaign.

The four quadrant night raids as phantom raids last night had started to take their toll on their bodies. Their muscles ached with a deep, satisfying soreness. Their minds were sluggish from the accumulated exhaustion. The rest was needed. Their dreamless sleep had been deep.

They stirred awake slowly, their bodies unraveling from the warmth of their sleeping bags. The dual suns' rays were already bright, peeking through the fabric of the tent and casting golden patterns on the ground. The light was warm against their faces. The morning air was crisp and cool, carrying the faint scent of stone and distant forest. The world was alive and peaceful.

Elise sat up first, her silver hair falling in disheveled waves around her shoulders. She rubbed her sleepy eyes with the back of her hand, trying to chase away the remnants of slumber. Her movements were slow and heavy, laden with sleep.

Hyoren shook his head, trying to dispel his own sleepiness. The motion was sluggish, his body still clinging to the comfort of rest.

Then both of them looked at each other and smiled at the same time. The sight was endearing and comfortable. Intimate in its simplicity.

"Morning, Hyoren."

"Elise, good morning."

Both chuckled at the same time. The sound was soft and light, carrying the ease of two people who had spent too many mornings together to count.

"Fufu. You have droopy sleepy eyes, Hyoren."

Hyoren reached over and pinched her cheek gently. Her skin felt soft and warm under his fingers. The touch was familiar and affectionate.

"You also have dark circles, Elise!"

Both of them laughed together, the tension from the night's work fading away with the sound. Replaced by warmth and the simple joy of each other's company.

They then exited their tent to start their morning routine. Washing their faces to dispel all traces of sleepiness with cool water from their skins. The liquid was cold against their skin. The water was refreshing, giving awakening slap on their sleepy faces.

They fixed their appearance with practiced efficiency, tying their hair into practical styles. Elise's long silver hair went into her usual high ponytail, the strands catching the light as she secured them. Hyoren's slightly long black hair was tied back behind his neck, keeping it away from his face. The familiar motions were grounding and calm, a ritual that prepared them for the day ahead.

Elise went to their makeshift kitchen next to prepare breakfast. Her movements were practiced and efficient as she gathered ingredients and set the pot over the small flame. The smell of cooking meat soon filled the air.

Hyoren went to the edge of their ledge, his footsteps quiet against the stone. Overlooking the Old Quarry. The wind brushed against his face, cool and fresh, carrying the scents of the morning. The world below was still and silent.

The goblin settlement was already quiet. There was no activity, no movement, no sound to break the morning stillness. Hyoren activated his Aethell Sense to see, the skill humming to life on his eyes. The magical signatures appeared before him like flickering lights in the darkness. The small lights which indicated living beings—goblins—flickered weakly. But what he saw was not what he expected. The settlement was sparse.  It was empty and dying settlement.

He checked every place with careful attention. Main gate—there were no goblins guarding it. Northern watchtowers stood empty, their platforms abandoned. East and west side were also empty. The walls stood silent and unmanned, torches unlit. The fortifications that had once been bustling with activity were now ghostly reminders of what had been.

He almost couldn't see any goblin signatures inside the settlement itself. He could only see less than thirty flickering light total. The numbers had plummeted drastically. The settlement was dying, its inhabitants reduced to shadows of their former strength.

Elise came not long after, carrying two bowls of hearty stew. The aroma wafted through the air, rich and savory. The steam rose in delicate curls.

She sat beside him on the ledge and offered the breakfast to him.

"Here, Hyoren. Might be our last breakfast here, so I put in more meat than usual. Fufu."

Hyoren smiled and took the bowl from Elise. The warmth seeped into his palms, comforting and grounding. The smell of the stew made his stomach rumble with anticipation.

"Haha. You might be right if you see the state of the settlement. We will finish our campagin today. We will clean up the settlement after this."

Both of them ate their hearty, savory, and filling stew in comfortable silence. There was plenty of meat, tender and flavorful, providing them with sustenance to deal with the last remnant of the goblin settlement. The meal was satisfying and filling, the warmth spreading through their bodies. The vegetables were soft. The broth was rich and savory. It was perfect breakfast.

He looked at Elise with satisfaction, a smile on his face as he set down his spoon.

"Only about fifty or seventy goblins left in the settlement. And from the looks of it, most of them are probably starved and don't have any more will to fight."

Elise scooped another spoonful of meat and chewed slowly, thoughtfully. Her emerald eyes scanned the quarry below, calculating. Assessing.

"Yeah. The settlement is so quiet... we did it, Hyoren!"

She looked at him, her silver hair swaying with the motion. A proud smile decorated her face, transforming her features with genuine joy. Her emerald eyes were bright with accomplishment.

"We successfully dismantled a Bronze-rank... wait... four hundred goblins led by a Goblin Lord is more like a Silver-rank threat!"

Her emerald eyes glittered in the morning light. The suns caught them and made them shine with inner fire.

"No other adventurer would believe us! Your tactical mind is truly... your greatest asset, Hyoren."

Hyoren rubbed his nose in embarrassment. His cheeks warmed slightly at the praise. He wasn't used to such direct compliments.

"You also did great, Elise. We couldn't do those night raids without your expertise on reading the forest and creating perfect assault. Your experience on ambush. And your ranged attack which makes me go wreak havoc in front without worrying about something going to sneak on me."

Elise smiled widely. Her expression was warm and proud. She bumped her shoulder against his in a gesture of affection.

"Fine. It's because of us both. Fufu."

They had done it. They had systematically, methodically, and ruthlessly destroyed an entire goblin warband. They had turned a Bronze-rank threat into a pathetic remnant, a shadow of its former self. The frontal assault was no longer a matter of if, but when. And it was going to be less of a battle and more of a cleanup. The realization settled between them.

Hyoren set his empty bowl aside and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. The meal had been perfect and satisfying.

"That was delicious... the perfect meal before we finish our campaign, Elise."

Elise smiled beside him. Her gaze was soft and full of fondness

"Fufu. You're welcome, Hyoren. Cooking for you has become my passion now."

Her eyes brightened as if a thought had just come to her. Her expression shifted to one of excitement and anticipation.

"Oh, right! I think I'll learn from Martha after this. More recipes, more dishes... so I can make even better food for you. Fufu."

She raised her finger.

“Now I can only cook simple stew, soup and noodles. I want to cook more variety of food! Fried food. Karaage. Steaks. How to grill perfectly. Fufu.”

Hyoren smiled widely.

“That was a good idea. Martha cooking is great, you will learn a lot from her.”

He patted her silver hair. The gesture was full of affection.. Combing it. Her silky hair felt soft under his hands.

“I can’t wait…”

She closed her eyes. Enjoying the intimacy and his rough and calloused hands, but it felt soft and comforting for her. Her pointed ears twitched. She was happy.

“Fuuuh. It felt good, Hyoren…”

They spent some time continuing their intimacy, until he finally stopped.

Elise smiled at him, then took his empty bowl and headed toward the makeshift kitchen to clean up. Her steps were light and happy. There was a bounce in her stride that hadn't been there before.

Hyoren watched her go, his gaze soft and thoughtful. The morning suns caught her silver hair and made it shine like moonlight. The sight was beautiful. Peaceful.

Somewhere along the way, she had found something new—something she truly enjoyed. And it was for him. The thought settled quietly in his chest, warm and steady like a hearth fire.

He realized, in that moment, that this—her smile, her small excitement, the simple joy she carried—was worth more than any victory he could chase. The campaigns, the battles, the growth... none of it compared to seeing her like this.

If it meant seeing her like that again, he would trade anything without hesitation.

***

The suns cast their light upon a quarry that was no longer a fortress, but a tomb. The silence was the most telling sign of what they had accomplished. The constant noise, the raucous chatter, the clanging of metal—it was all gone, replaced by an eerie stillness that hung over the settlement like a shroud. The remaining goblins, if there were any, were hiding, cowering in the ruins like the rats they were. The once-bustling fortress had become a graveyard waiting to be filled.

And for the two adventurers in the ledge. Their intimacy was done. And now it was time for practicality.

Hyoren and Elise prepared themselves with methodical efficiency. Checking their gear. Ensuring everything was in place for the final push.

Hyoren checked his spear first. The Yew-wood shaft was still pristine and polished without any blemish, smooth beneath his fingers. He ran his hand along the length, checking for any cracks or weaknesses.

He checked the blade, the Mithril-alloy gleaming under the light, no chips marring its edge. The metal caught the light and reflected it back like a mirror. The crossguard was also secured, the fittings tight and ready. The steel counter-weight felt good in his hand, balanced and familiar.

He then checked his four Cinder-maw Daggers one by one. The blades were sharp. He sheathed them back on his belt in their designated positions. Ready to throw at a moment's notice.

And lastly, he checked his Ramtauro Armor. The clasp was still secure against his chest. The leather held firm without any signs of wear. Jena's work was flawless, maintaining its integrity through the entire campaign.

Elise beside him also did the same. Checking her Green Leather Tunic for any damage. The fabric was still flawless, the enchantments holding. She then checked her bow with practiced hands. The tension of the string was perfect. The silver wood still held its strength and flexibility. She counted the arrows in her quiver. The number was still plenty. Enough for dealing with the rest of the goblins.

Hyoren looked at Elise. His expression was calm.

"Let's pack up and say goodbye to this base, Elise."

Elise nodded. Her pointed ears twitched slightly. A small smile crossed her face.

"This base was really good. Almost perfect and made for us to do this campaign. Fufu. It's a bit sad to leave it after almost one week living here."

They then packed everything with efficient movements. Hyoren moved to pack their tent, sleeping bag, and tarp. Folding the fabric carefully. Securing the stakes and poles. Elise went to their makeshift kitchen. Packing the portable magic stove, water orb, and other cookware. Each item found its place.

Hyoren then moved around the clearing, taking every four square Ward Stones which had protected them for the last five days. He pulled each one from the ground with careful hands. The barrier shimmered once, then faded away into nothing. The ledge, cliff, and big dark oak trees were back to their natural state.

Elise then packed everything in her storage bag. Every tool and piece of gear entered the void without problem, disappearing into the void. The camp that had been their home for nearly a week was now empty.

After packing ended, Hyoren and Elise stood on their edge, looking down at the desolate scene on the Old Quarry. They had done it. They had broken the enemy's supplies, shattered their morale, and decimated their numbers. There was nothing left to be gained from waiting. The settlement below waited for them.

Elise turned to Hyoren. Her silver hair swayed with the motion. The morning light caught the strands.

"It's time, Hyoren. For the frontal assault."

Hyoren nodded. His expression was grim but resolute. His jaw was set.

"Yes, Elise. It's the time. To finish what we started."

They had pushed the goblins to the brink, and now it was time to deliver the final blow. The weight of the moment settled on their shoulders.

"So Hyoren. What's the strategy of our frontal assault?"

Elise looked back at the silent settlement. Her emerald eyes scanned the ruins below.

Hyoren shook his head, then gestured over the quarry. The buildings stood silent. The walls were empty.

"We won't use strategy, Elise. They're not an army anymore. They're a bunch of disorganized, starving mobs."

He turned to Elise. His eyes held a chilling, predatory light. The warmth from their morning meal was gone. Replaced by something harder.

"Elise, we each will circle the settlement, killing every goblin we find. The ones starving in the shacks, sprawling around the bonfire, in their holes. We'll start on opposite ends and work our way towards the center. We'll be an executioner that leaves them nowhere to run."

 He pointed to the center of the quarry, at the mouth of the main mine tunnel. The opening was dark and foreboding. They didn’t know what was inside. They never see Goblin Lord come from it. But there’s no other place, the Lord must be inside they thought.

"And we will meet in front of the middle of the quarry. At the big main tunnel. I predict the Lord is inside the main tunnel, hiding behind his last, best guards."

Elise nodded. Her expression was a mirror of his own cold resolve. There was no fear, no hesitation. There was only the final, grim duty of extermination.

"Understand, Hyoren. I'll take the western rim. You take the east."

Hyoren gripped his spear. The wood was solid in his hand. Reassuring.

"Let's do this, Elise. Time to finish our quest."

They shared a final, determined look. A silent promise of survival and victory. The air between them was thick with understanding. Then, they moved.

They descended from their ledge for the last time, not as shadows, but as executioners. Their footsteps were sure. They split up at the bottom of the ridge. Elise melted into the western shadows, her bow ready. Hyoren moved towards the eastern slope, his spear in hand. The hunt was over. The cleanup had begun.

Hyoren moved with a swift, relentless pace. He was no longer sneaking or hiding. He was a force of nature, with a thirst for finality. The settlement sprawled before him.

He encountered his first group of three goblins huddled around a dying fire. The flames were weak. The smoke was thin. They looked up, their eyes wide with terror, but they were too weak, too starved to even raise their weapons. Their movements were sluggish. He killed them with three casual thrusts, not even breaking his stride. The bodies slumped.

He moved again. Checked the nearby shacks. The structures were crude and broken. But then he grimaced at what he found inside.

Inside, there were six goblins, laying around on beds of hay. But that was not what made him grimace. The state of their bellies indicated they were pregnant. The goblins there were definitely female, and carried goblin descendants. The bellies were swollen and round.

His Aethell Sense skill also confirmed it. Inside the bulging bellies of goblins, there was a small flicker of core. The baby core—faint, but present.

The goblins' hollow eyes looked at him with horror. They were too weak to move. Too weak to flee. Too weak to fight.

His morale was being questioned. His Earth morality clashed with the reality of this world. Pregnant creatures were defenceless. The prospect of attacking such creature hit him hard.

"Killing a pregnant creature... should I do it... or not..."

Then he remembered Elise's story. Goblins reproduced fast, they were only pregnant for a few weeks. And even children grew quickly. The cycle was brutal and efficient.

And goblins didn't have any semblance of morality. They would kill humans, no matter how weak or defenseless they were. From elderly, to children, to mothers, and other non-combatants. They were worse than even animals. They killed without restraint.

He gripped his spear tighter. His knuckles turned white against the wood.

"I need to harden my resolve. If I didn't wipe them out. Those pregnant goblins will give birth, then the children will grow, then they will attack villagers."

He took a deep breath. The air was stale in the shack. Thick with fear.

"This is not Earth. This is Kresneger. With its own law of nature. With its own morality. With its own common sense."

He exhaled a long breath. Steadying himself.

"I need to start to think like a native of this world."

He then decided. His eyes focused. His heart hardened.

"Sorry. But it's kill or be killed, goblins..."

He then thrust his spear. Killing the six pregnant goblins with precise, efficient strikes. The blood pooled on the hay on the ground. Dark and thick. He quickly gathered the magic stones. Checking the bellies of them— which already lost the last flickering light. The cores had faded. The life was gone.

He then exited the shacks. His hands were stained. His resolve was steeled. With newfound and hardened resolve, his pragmatic mind won over morality which he had learned on Earth. This world demanded different choices.

***

He continued his circuit, a grim reaper scything through the quarry. The settlement sprawled before him. He killed them with the same cold, brutal efficiency. He found another group of two hiding behind a broken cart. They didn't even try to run. He ended them quickly. He found other pregnant goblins in different shacks. And this time he did not hesitate.

There was no challenge, no fight. There was only the grim, methodical work of ending a plague. The quarry grew quieter with each passing minute.

After about an hour, when the dual suns reached their zenith, he finally reached the large, open area in the center of the quarry, the ground before the main mine tunnel. The heat bore down on his armor. Sweat trickled down his back.

The suns were high overhead, casting the deep, dark entrance of the tunnel in stark relief. The shadows were long and deep. The darkness inside seemed to breathe.

He saw Elise emerge from the western side a moment later. She moved with the same fluid grace, her short-sword in her hands, her expression calm and focused. Blood stained the blade. Her breathing was even. It seemed it was similar for Elise. For her, it was also culling and methodical slaughter. She didn't even need her main weapon to do the jobs of killing weak and starving goblins.

They met in the middle, standing before the maw of the tunnel. They were both unscathed, not even breathing heavily. The final push had been nothing more than a light warm-up. The breeze stirred their hair. The silence between them was comfortable.

Hyoren greeted Elise with a nod.

"Good work, Elise. I killed thirty-four on my side. It was a slaughter. There's no more fight."

Elise smiled at him. She sheathed her short sword on her belt and took her bow again. The motion was practiced.

"Same for me, Hyoren. I didn't even need my bow. And I decided to just use my sword to save the arrows. And for the goblins, I got thirty, Hyoren."

Hyoren nodded. His expression was satisfied.

"That means we killed a total of sixty-four today. Add it with our tally, that was a total of three hundred ninety-six goblins we killed."

Three hundred ninety-six. The number was staggering. They had single-handedly decimated a warband.

Hyoren looked at the dark tunnel. The entrance loomed before them. A mouth ready to swallow them whole.

"Our estimate is indeed correct. A total of roughly four hundred goblins."

Elise nodded. Her emerald eyes scanned the darkness.

"Yeah, Hyoren. And I think there can't be more than twenty goblins left in that tunnel. And most of them are probably the Lord's personal guard."

They checked their gear for the last time, their movements economical and precise. This was it. The final confrontation. The end of their campaign.

Elise then took two bottles of potions from her potion pouch. The golden liquid sloshed inside the glass. Catching the light. She gave one to Hyoren. The vial was cool in his palm.

"Here, Hyoren. Stamina potions."

Hyoren tilted his head. Confused.

"Why do we need stamina potions, Elise? I'm still not tired yet... the goblins didn't fight back."

Elise smiled. But the smile didn't quite reach her eyes.

"This stamina potion is not for restoring stamina. It was a buff potion. It's made from Dreambloom nectar. Refined and enhanced."

Realization dawned over him. Dreambloom Nectar. The golden liquid from a flower monster called Dreambloom. Its effect was enhancing his capabilities. One cup of it boosted his power by almost twice for fifteen minutes. It was the reason he could save Elise, both from the goblin warband which captured her and to fight the Alpha Greenwolf.

"I see. Potions made from dreambloom."

He examined the liquid. The liquid swirled.

"But did we need it, Elise?"

He looked at the surrounding quarry. They successfully dismantled the goblin settlement. The ruins stood silent.

"If the Lord's entourage is in a similar state to the goblins outside, it will be another child's play."

He tried to understand her reasoning. Why did they need such important potions and trump cards for weak remnants of the army?

Elise smiled at him, then looked at the dark entrance of the main tunnel of the quarry. Her expression shifted.  She felt a chill radiating from inside. Different from the chilly air of a mine tunnel. This was something else. Something darker.

"Call me being paranoid. But looking at the entrance gave me an eerie feeling. You might be right, the Lord and its guard might be weak. But there's better safety than sorry."

She looked straight at his eyes. Her emerald eyes glinted with uneasiness. The concern was real and genuine.

"This stamina potion is more potent than raw Dreambloom nectar. The boost to our capabilities is still roughly the same. But the effect lasts for more than four hours."

She smiled. But it was tight. Controlled.

"Let's use it, Hyoren."

Hyoren looked at her, his expression serious. Then he nodded slowly. Trusting her judgment.

"Okay then, Elise. I won't dismiss an experienced ranger's instinct. I hope you are wrong and the Lord is weak. But I guess, if the Lord is stronger than our prediction, this potion will help us."

Elise smiled. Then both of them drank the golden liquid. The taste was sweet,  rich, and warm.

The effect was instantaneous. Hyoren felt his body fill with power. Energy surged through his veins. His muscles hummed with strength.

He flexed his fingers. The grip was stronger. He tried a small jump. His jump was higher than expected. His mind was clear. It was like his instinct was sharpened to a razor's edge. He might even think he could fight an Alpha Green Wolf without relying on his berserker skill. His newfound level of nine, boosted by the stamina potions. His body radiated power.

He then looked at Elise. Her eyes were brighter. Her stance was more grounded.

"Okay, Elise. Let's go. And as usual. Let me handle the Lord. You focus on killing his guard."

Elise nodded. Her agreement was immediate and absolute.

"Let's go, Hyoren."

They shared one last, determined look. There was no more need for words. They moved in sync, two shadows merging into one as they approached the dark, foreboding entrance of the mine. The final battle was about to begin.

They entered the main tunnel, the air growing instantly cold and damp. The temperature dropped. The smell of wet stone and mold filled their nostrils. The sounds of the outside world faded, replaced by the dripping of water and the echo of their own footsteps on the stone floor. The tunnel was empty, a long, straight corridor that descended into the heart of the rock. The darkness swallowed them.

As they walked deeper, Hyoren felt a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature. It was a foreboding, a primal sense of dread that crawled up his spine. The hair on his arms stood up. His instincts screamed warning. His Aethell sense, usually a source of clarity, was now picking up a strange, oppressive distortion in the air ahead, a dark aura that was fundamentally different from the chaotic energy of the goblins they had been fighting. The signatures were wrong.

A thought formed in his mind.

Is Elise's hunch correct? What's waiting for us?

 Finally, they entered a large, circular opening deep within the mine. The chamber was lit by flickering torches set into the walls, casting long, dancing shadows. The light was orange. The shadows moved. And in the center of the chamber stood the last of the goblins.

But they were not the pathetic, starving creatures they had been hunting. There was no Goblin Lord and his guards.

There was only a single creature, which they can say it is a goblin. It stood in the middle of a big clearing inside the main tunnel. It crossed its arms and watched a pulsing archway planted on the back end of the clearing, its back facing them. The archway was etched with glowing runes. The dark glow felt sinister. Wrong.

The creature's silhouette was like goblins. The green skin. The shape of the head and its ears. The weird proportion of the arms and legs. But the creature in front of them was big, unlike normal goblins. It was human-sized, stood tall at roughly 180 centimeters, and encased in a suit of shining black armor that seemed to absorb the torchlight. The metal was dark. Gleaming. Dangerous.

On its hip, a one-meter curved single-bladed sword that looked terrifyingly well-made was sheathed. Hyoren's mind instantly filled with the name of the familiar sword—Katana. The blade was long. Curved. Deadly.

Hyoren gulped down. The sight shocked him. They were expecting to see a Goblin Lord, but what greeted them was something else entirely. Something more sinister. Something that shouldn't exist.

Elise's eyes widened, her voice filled with shock and disbelief. Her body tensed. Her bow lowered.

"What is that? I have never seen or known a goblin like that! That's not Lord, Shaman, Chieftain, or even King! Even a goblin king would be way smaller than that!"

The armored goblin turned its head. A low, guttural voice, filled with cold intelligence and contempt, echoed through the chamber. The sound reverberated off the walls.

"So it is you two, who decided to make a mess of my army. You think you going to play a hero, huh?"

Elise took an involuntary step back, her face pale. Her hands trembled slightly.

"That goblin talked? Why does he understand human speech? All monsters shouldn't talk! It's common sense! What is that?"

She was distressed. Something sinister, breaking her common sense. It triggered her breakdown. Her breathing quickened. Her eyes darted.

Hyoren tightened his grip on his spear, his every sense screaming danger. The grip was white-knuckled.

"What are you? You are not a goblin, you are too big! Monsters shouldn't talk just as she said!"

The armored goblin stood to its full height, a sneer in its voice. The armor clinked. The torchlight caught the black metal.

"Oh? But I'm a goblin. And look. I can talk. You are not hallucinating. Haha."

It then spread its arms wide. It smiled, revealing jagged teeth. Its beady black eyes were still full of confidence.

"And right, I should introduce myself. I am a servant of Demon God Gidol-sama. I'm a goblin bestowed with blessing by Gidol-sama. I am a Goblin Knight, Hifoppe."

The silence dawned over them,  heavy and oppressive. A servant of Demon God Gidol. A Goblin Knight. A new kind of monster which was not in every monster encyclopedia which Elise knew. The implications settled on them.

Hyoren gripped his spear tight. His knuckles turned white. He finally remembered Luminara's Prophecy. And somehow it settled in his mind, a thought which screamed to him from the back of his head—this enemy was the one which Luminara warned him about.

His mind was full of chaotic thoughts. He was confused and afraid of this new development. A new kind of enemy—new species of goblin. Directly under the Demon God himself. In the middle of an old quarry on the frontier.

He also noticed. The shape of its weapon—a Katana. The shape of his armor resembled samurai armor. And the way Hifoppe addressed Demon God with "-sama". The details clicked. Formed a picture.

But it was not important for now, as the enemy, the servant of Demon God Gidol—Goblin Knight Hifoppe—started to move.