Sword of Gluttony Queen - Chapter 27 - Goblin's Flock

Chapter 27 : Goblin’s Flock

「I can’t rip this measly demon beast’s flesh, what a nuisance!」

Beelzebub pulled back her arm that pierced through the Hob-Goblin’s body and then leaped toward the goblin behind it and bit its head.
The goblin’s head was ripped apart, revealing its broken skull, its Odo’s light moved into my body.

… My body experienced a slight vertigo.
Although Beelzebub’s avatar was created with 《Tulpa [Creation Spirit Magic]》which was powerful, I couldn’t keep her materialized for too long.
Summoning her once was my limit.
She was my trump card to overwhelm the D-rank demon beasts during her summoning durations but… Beelzebub was recklessly moving around which added more strain onto me.

「Cheh! I thought I could kill the other one but….」

Beelzebub’s body turned into particles of light and vanished.
… But then I realized, she caused tremendous damage to the enemies.
I was left in a better situation as long as she defeated the two hobgoblins.

「GO-GOAAAAAAAAAA!」

The hobgoblin who attacked me was also looking dumbfoundedly at Beelzebub … but it stepped back upon seeing me dazed due to vertigo and readjusted its crumbled stance.

「GOOOOOO!」

The hobgoblin’s body was brimming with fighting spirit.
But, the hobgoblin’s body stiffened in the next moment.
… So it noticed that I just robbed it of its battle arts.

「《Fire Clad》！」

I used the stolen battle arts in front of that hobgoblin.
It was an art that converted my Odo into fire that wrapped around 《Beelzera》.

「GUUU……!」

I raised my sword, stabbing into the base of the hobgoblin’s neck.

「GOO….」

「I-I did it….」

When I celebrated my small victories, my 《Odo Perception・Low》 told me that hobgoblin was still alive.
When I was about to swing my sword to the side, I noticed that the two remaining goblins were in my blind spots, and the Gold Maimai, who was watching the situation from the side, had made their move.

Those goblins might be circling around behind me with their 《Darkness Steps》 to try to take me by surprise.
It was a simple yet troublesome battle art.

「CIH!」

I pulled my sword out and jumped back.
The hobgoblin’s eyes that were about to close shut suddenly snapped open, and it swung its club towards me while raising an indescribable cry.

That club missed its mark and hit the floor.
I would’ve been done for if I had escaped a moment later.
I really was saved by 《Odo Perception・Low》.

…. But, my back was basically wide open for the two goblins behind me to attack.

「Don’t worry, leave your back to me!」

Mani who came to assist me threw three flame stones from her hands towards the goblins.
When the goblins flicked away those flame stones, Mani continued her attack with her 《Flame Hammer Kaguna》.

「《Petit Flame》！」
A magic circle appeared at the pointed end of 《Flame Hammer Kaguna》, the flame then rushed towards the goblins.
Upon contact with the fire, the three flame stones became small fire pillars that burned the goblins.

「Haa, haa…. I compressed those stones with 《Alchemy》 to raise its explosive power, a specially made flame stone. 」

… If it’s just one enemy, then I can do something about this situation.
The goblins’ speed and power were a far cry compared to the Wight.
The current me shouldn’t have any problems beating it from the front.
I leaped toward the remaining goblin at once.

「Raaa!」

I stabbed 《Beelzera》 into its chest and then swung it down as it sliced its body.
With this, we disposed of all of the goblins.
The remainder was that half-dead hobgoblin and the Gold Maimai.

「Sorry Mani, you saved me there. But, if you went ahead too much….」

「No worries, I’m the next target if you lose to them after all but… geez. I know that you have that close to cheating skill, 《Tulpa》, but please consider more about what the right situation to use it is. You always charge ahead without thinking when you get too excited.」

「Urgh, that’s harsh…」

I fixed my stance again with 《Beelzera》 and locked onto the hobgoblin.

「… However, it’s fine to participate in that kind of reckless behavior if you’re alone, but make sure to not do that when you’re with me. Both of us might be dead due to your recklessness after all.」

Mani gave me such manly advice.
Though I indeed couldn’t rely on Mani in frontal combat, I never expected that her help was really effective despite the level difference.
… I’ve to do better to show her that I’m worthy of this sword.

「GIGIN!」

The Gold Maimai shortened the distance between us.
It finally realized that it couldn’t do anything just by staying at a safe distance.

「Mani! That guy has 《Poison Water》 and 《Sticky Ball》」

「Understood. I’ll focus on defense and try to distract the Gold Maimai and hold its attention.」

The Gold Maimai had no trump card.
Even someone as weak as Mani could fend it off as long as she focused on her defense, thus I could focus on killing the hobgoblin for sure.

「O-GOO!」

The dying hobgoblin dashed towards me.
Although it should be exhausted due to excessive lost blood, it was as vigorous as ever.
As I thought, it resented me for piercing its throat.

My 《Beelzera》 has once again clashed against the hobgoblin’s club.
Even though I could overpower it in its current condition, I flicked its club to the side and circled to its back.
Although it was on the verge of dying, it was still quite a powerful opponent.

My level had risen to the point that I could handle both goblins and hobgoblins at the same time… but I was still no match against the dying hobgoblin in terms of power.

… Luckily, it might be thanks to the continuous battles and long-distance movements, the Gold Maimai’s movement itself was far slower compared to the first time I met it.
Even though it moved to my blind spot, I could detect its position thanks to 《Odo Perception・Low》.
Though it was facing off against Mani who was focusing on defense, it kept doing half-hearted movements that were neither attacking nor retreating.
If it was me, I would rather use my everything to escape from the battlefield but….

Suddenly, I noticed it.
I was mistaken. The Gold Maimai’s movement was as if it was to draw a straight line towards both me and Mani.
Its true target was me.
What a nasty snail.
This Gold Maimai intended to escape from this place after killing me, the main force.
I wouldn’t have noticed its intention if not for my 《Odo Perception・Low》.

Then I guess I could use its plan to my advantage.
The one skill that could be used by the Gold Maimai to come to my position was 《Sticky Ball》.

And just as I expected, I felt the Gold Maimai’s fighting spirit rise.

「Mani, dodge it! Its aim is me!」

「Eh…?」

Despite her confusion, Mani did as I told her, followed by me leaping to the side.
The sticky mass fired by the Gold Maimai passed by my side. It went towards the approaching hobgoblin.
Though the hob-goblin barely dodged that sticky ball, its stance crumbled.

「GOTCHA!」

I used that chance and stabbed 《Beelzera》 into the hobgoblin’s back.
The already-on-the-verge-of-death hobgoblin finally went down with that last stab.
Odo lights released from the hobgoblin’s body then went into my body.

「I-I did it… I defeated a D-rank demon beast… with my own hands!」

I’ve experienced numerous unpleasant experiences due to the Battle Rats. Now that I defeated a demon beast of the same rank as the Rat, I felt like I was truly released from my past.

But, this wasn’t the end.
The last one left was the exhausted Gold Maimai.