Outside the Goblin's nest, where Itsuo and the others are waiting for Christa to come out of the nest, Itsuo finds himself in a dire situation as a group of goblins appeared - Taking Selene away while some of them cornered the three women they rescued.
With no hope for help from Christa who showed great strength at killing the goblins in an instant or an adventurer that would come to their aid, Itsuo thought that it might be over for him. However, the Image of his Mother and Selene fueled his determination.
"I'm going home to my Mother. I'm not gonna let Selene die. I will not die here!"
He shouted as a burst of wind sends outward like a shockwave around him. Then...
"Quick Footwork!"
Itsuo dashes with incredible speed than a normal sprint, thanks to his Martial Art Ability that enhances his movement by focusing his magic around his feet. Making him faster than a normal human. With a quick strike, he slays the goblins one after another while also keeping his distance in order to not get cornered. The goblins who took Selene and the ones who cornered the rescued women join the battle as they charged at him all at once. Itsuo continued to use his "Quick Footwork" to dodge their attacks. Then, he moved towards their backs in an instant. There, he enveloped his sword with his magic. Making it glow with light.
"Horizon Crescent!"
He swung his sword horizontally, sending a Crescent-shaped light that sliced the goblins in half, sending them to their deaths.
"I did it...?"
He panted as he landed on the ground. Itsuo could not believe what he just did, he took down several goblins all by himself. After watching Christa easily burning the goblins down with her flames and realizing the huge gap between their strength, he thought he was powerless, doubting his ability to kill a monster. But he's a Silver ranked adventurer, with the same division as Christa, along with Selene, he's with the group of adventurers who are adept at quests that slay monsters. Now that he finally experienced killing monsters on his very first quest, his doubts and anxiety had dwindled. However, that overconfidence caused him to let his guard down.
*Thud*
Completely lost in thought and unaware of his surroundings, the hobgoblin stood right behind him. If it weren't for its heavy footstep, Itsuo wouldn't notice the hobgoblin. Not being able to get away in time, all he could do was turn around and face the hobgoblin's fist coming straight towards him. He closed his eyes as the fist inch closer and closer. Right in that split second, the voice of a girl rung on his ear.
"Light Shield!"
The hobgoblin's fist that's supposed to hit and deal a hard blow in Itsuo had instead hit something else. Itsuo opened his eyes, and when he did, a confounding sight of a yellowish light scenery and a hobgoblin flying away after the force of its punch was reflected by the light barrier surrounding Itsuo was revealed before his naked eyes.
"This is?"
"Itsuo..."
He turned his attention towards the direction where the voice came from. Then, he saw Selene's hand wavering before it completely went numb and fell down. At the same time, her "Light Shield" that she cast on Itsuo have disappeared.
"Selene!"
He rushed in worry and relief, embracing her warmly.
"I'm glad you're okay."
Itsuo tightens his embrace towards her. Selene puts her hands around Itsuo as she responded.
"Yeah."
The two released each other from their warm embrace as they heard the hobgoblin getting back on its feet. Itsuo stepped forward as he gestured Selene to stay behind.
"Stay back, I'll take care of this guy."
"I'll heal you."
"No, you just regained consciousness, if you push yourself more than that, we don't know if you'll pass out again or die."
Selene insists on healing him at least a little, but Itsuo insisted that he is fine. In reality, Itsuo is already worn out. The only reason he could stand still is because of pure willpower. If he pushes himself further, there's no telling what would happen to him. Itsuo only got one chance, if he makes a wrong move, it would mean his and everyone's demise. But if he managed to do it, it would mean Selene and the others safety. With Selene and the others' lives on the line, risking his own life for the others, Itsuo vows to Selene and himself.
"I will kill it with a single strike."
He spoke filled with great resolve, Selene sees it into his eyes, too. But Selene could tell that Itsuo is also in the same situation as her just by looking at Itsuo and his rough breathing. But with that face full of unflinching determination, she couldn't bring herself to stop him. She spat out a sigh before she took a few steps backward.
"Okay, I'll let you take care of it, Itsuo."
"Thank you, Selene."
Obviously, she was lying about what she said. Standing behind him, she prepares herself for whatever is going to happen. If the worse comes to shove, she will rush on him to heal him. She clenched her fist as she watched Itsuo who is about to fight the Hobgoblin.
Roaring as if it was angered after being sent away, the hobgoblin glared daggers on Itsuo. Itsuo took a battle stance as he waits for the goblin to make the first move.
'That hobgoblin is not injured and worn out unlike me, but if it continues to be driven by anger, I can make an opening. And that opening is where I'll end it.'
Itsuo spoke inside his head. After that, Itsuo began to call the goblin to attack him in a way as if he was deliberately mocking it. The hobgoblin could not really understand Itsuo's words, but that smile he gives off as he talks, and that look in his eyes as if Itsuo was looking down on the hobgoblin really did hit its nerves.
The enraged hobgoblin dashes forward as Itsuo followed suit.
"Quick Footwork!"
Itsuo increased his speed once again as he used his ability to rush forward to the hobgoblin. As they finally get close to each other, the hobgoblin clenched its fist and throws a right punch straight towards Itsuo. Itsuo, on the other hand, continues to push forward, as if he's trying to let himself get hit.
"Itsuo...!"
Selene shouted as a magic circle formed in one of her hands, preparing to use her magic at any second. But, it looked like she will not need to use it at all.
*Dash*
Right before the hobgoblin's fist reached Itsuo, he reflexively stepped on the left side, dodging the punch that would surely knock him out. Then, he went straight at the hobgoblin's exposed opening - It's back. At that moment, Itsuo poured his magic onto his blade, the way he did when he used his "Horizon Crescent" ability. But unlike the last time where he swung his sword horizontally, he pointed the pointed edge of the blade right to the hobgoblin.
The hobgoblin turns around to Itsuo as he lunged himself towards the opening that he found. Sure enough, it felt the same feeling Itsuo felt when it suddenly appeared behind him. The only difference was, there's no goblin shaman out there who would block Itsuo's attack with a shield.
Itsuo thrusts his blade on the hobgoblin's back - straight to its heart. The goblin wailed in pain as Itsuo pierce the hobgoblin's head.
"Die!"
He thrusts even further with such a force, pushing the monster down on the ground. And finally, the hobgoblin is dead. Itsuo pants as he pulled his blade out of the dead goblin's body. After that, Itsuo casually sat on the ground next to the hobgoblin he killed. Itsuo continues to perform short, quick breaths. He stared at his right hand as he grasped it tight. Yes, Itsuo did it, he killed every single goblin all by himself. Much to his surprise, he did not pass out or die out of overusing his magic as he expected. But he sure feels a bit lightheaded.
"Heal!"
His eyes widened as he began to glow with light. Then, he felt the pain and fatigue gradually diminished. Selene then approached him as the three survivors followed suit.
"You did it, Itsuo."
"Idiot! I told you not to use your magic right now!"
Itsuo raised his voice towards Selene.
"Don't worry, I only healed you enough so you can stand."
Selene spoke while performing a warm smile on her face. Then, she hugged him tightly. It was so hard and tight, Itsuo, couldn't breathe on her chest.
"I can't breathe..."
"I'm so glad you're okay."
Itsuo paused briefly after hearing the words of relief from Selene. Then, he replied.
"Yeah."
"Look out!"
A voice of one of the three women forced Selene to release Itsuo from her grasp as it caught their attention. When Selene looked forward, a goblin commander and two hobgoblins suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
Itsuo and Selene could not prepare themselves in time as the goblin commander was about to hit them with its huge, long sword. But before it could even hit them, its hand that holds the sword suddenly fell off, following the heads of the three goblins after being severed. After landing on the ground, the person who cuts the goblins spoke.
"Looks like I made it in time."
A familiar voice of a girl rung on everyone's ears. Yes, it was none other than Christa.
"Christa...!"
Everyone went completely silent as they looked at Christa whose body was covered in blood all around her. But they sure felt a bit frightened for a second. They can't decipher if blood is hers or from the countless number of goblins she killed inside the nest. And so, Itsuo asked with a concerned look on his face.
"Are... Are you okay? You looked like you went through a lot."
"Ah, this?"
Christa pointed her finger on the blood.
"It's from them. They sure let out a lot when being sliced apart, ahahaha!"
She casually laughed while she's covered in blood. A truly normal sight to be seen.
"Does this mean we actually completed the quest?"
"Pretty much."
Christa replied to Selene.
"Then, what do we do now?"
"I guess, we'll go back to the village and tell them what happened. But before that..."
"Christa? Where are you going?"
As Selene asked, Christa, walked towards the entrance of the cave. Then, she slammed the corners of the cave with her sword, making it crumble and block the path inside out.
"Alright. Now no monster can use this cave as their nest anymore."
She smiled.
"Just how strong is that wooden sword?"
Everyone mumbled at the same time with the same blank expression on their faces.
"Alright, let's go back to Karna Village."
Following Christa's lead, everyone walked towards Karna Village.