Chapter 27 - Goblin Mage

"Keeeh!" One of the Goblins screeched in excitement as another one pointed its finger towards Kiro's group.

All of a sudden, there were roughly ten Globins that were charging en route their direction.

"Tsk! What should we do now?" Aldin clicked his tongue out of frustration. He and Alina were the only ones who could fight in close combat.

Kiro glanced at the horde of Goblin charging towards their direction. As he moved forward, Kiro said. "Aldin, Alina, the three of us should buy enough time for Alyva and the rest to let them retreat for a safe distance." He said. "With that, they can cover our rear once we move back. We will do the same tactic until they give up pursuing us." Kiro proclaimed. Seeing their party was about to crumble in fright, he must stabilize their structure first. With proper formation, the chance of their survival would increase.

"It can't be helped then. But Kiro, are you sure you can fight in close combat?" Aldin glanced at him with eyes full of doubt.

"Yes, I can fight in close combat. Didn't you forget who my Master is?" Kiro used his Master's name as an excuse in a time as such because he doesn't have the time to explain it to Aldin.

"Okay then." Aldin eventually nodded to Kiro's scheme while giving a glance to Alina. Noticing that she did not utter her rejection, Aldin considered her silent approval.

"Okay, now go!" Kiro yelled at Alyva's group who were staring at the horde of Goblins in horror.

Hearing Kiro's voice, Alyva and Mirabell were awakened from their predicament.

"Okay, let's move out!" Alyva proclaimed as she gazed at Aldin's figure with anxiety.

Aldin, who noticed that Alyva was glancing at him with eyes full of concern, smiled slightly while saying. "Don't worry Alyva; we have Kiro here. Didn't you see earlier how monstrous his strength was?"

"Mm, okay, be careful!" Glancing at their group once more, Alyva's group eventually moved out.

"Heeeh!" The Goblin started to yell once they saw Alyva's group running, pointing at the Archer within their group as if indicating that they should shoot them dead.

*𝑆𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑠ℎ * 𝑆𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑠ℎ * 𝑆𝑤𝑜𝑜𝑠ℎ*

Multiple arrows flew at Alyva's group, but before it could even move further, Kiro countered their attack.

"[Arrow Shock!]"

*𝐵𝐴𝑁𝐺!* with a single arrow, Kiro succeeded in obstructing their assault. "Go!" He yelled at Alyva's group while fixing his sharp gaze at the upcoming disaster.

With Kiro alone, he could break through this horde of Goblins. Utilizing a proper tactic, he could even wipe them all out. However, this time Kiro wasn't alone. Even with his current capability, Kiro wasn't sure if he could protect them all unscratched. He had to consider the worst-case scenario.

The arrow wasn't used in pieces, as he summoned ten pieces of arrows inside his spatial pouch. Utilizing his mana control, Kiro simultaneously aimed at the wave of Goblins.

*𝑇𝑢𝑑!* 𝑇𝑢𝑑!* 𝑇𝑢𝑑!*

"Gaa-haa!" Multiple Goblins died in a flash. Withdrawing his longbow, Kiro switched to his short dagger.

Aldin and Alina stared at the scene before them in amazement. Glancing at Kiro, who switched weapons, Aldin curiously asked. "Kiro, why did you switch to a different weapon? Isn't it much better if you keep using your longbow?" He said while observing Kiro with eyes full of wonder.

"Well, there is no point if I killed all the Goblins right? We came here to exterminate them as a group." Kiro said. He was requested by Instructor Ralph to watch over their group while not obstructing their growth. Because he knew if they only relied on Kiro's prowess, they would never grow as a strong Adventurer that he envisioned.

"Mm, I guess you are right. However Kiro, you are not the only one who developed their skills in our group you know!" Aldin said as he raised his sword horizontally, slashing the nearby Goblin.

"[Sword Strike!]" He muttered the word while his sword was enveloped with a luminous light.

"Geeh!" The Goblin screamed as it flew two meters away from its original position.

Alina who was watching the two in silence became motivated after hearing Aldin's speech.

She gripped her short saber tightly as she braced herself at the upcoming Goblin.

*𝑇𝑖𝑖𝑖𝑛𝑔~*

Alina deflected the Goblin's crude wooden mace while activating her skill.

"[Quick Slash!]" A sharp light pierced through the Goblin's neck, making it fall on the ground.

*𝑇𝑢𝑑.*

Glancing at the Goblin's lifeless body, Kiro smiled slightly at the two. "Okay, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to underestimate you guys. Well, seeing both of you can slay the Goblin effortlessly, I guess I'm worried for nothing." Kiro said as he observed the two who was grinning cheekily at him.

"You don't have to worry about us Kiro, you just have to focus on the enemy in front of you," Alina said while staring at the horde of Goblin who suddenly stopped their advance. "Why did they stop pursuing us?" Alina asked in bewilderment.

"Maybe they became afraid after we've killed a dozen of them?" Aldin said in a tone that did not hide his confusion.

Noticing the oddity of the Goblin's behavior. Kiro had a bad premonition. With the unusual number of the Goblin, it was natural that there would be a Goblin Captain or Goblin Mage that's leading the settlement.

As if acknowledging his doubt, Kiro's senses started to cry. The atmosphere inside the forest started to become hot. Suddenly, a huge flame flew towards their direction.

"Watch out!" Alyva and her group who were watching from afar shouted in fright.

Hearing their warning, Kiro looked above his head and saw a huge fireball fiercely advancing to their location.

"... A Goblin Mage?" Kiro exclaimed in astonishment.

"Move out!" Aldin yelled at the two while kicking the ground hard, retreating toward Alyva's group location.

Alina, who was about to follow his lead when she saw Kiro's immobilized body, halted her footstep. "Hey, Kiro! Snap out of it! We have to move now. With a Goblin Mage in their ranks, there is a high possibility of a stronger existence inside their settlement." She said, while worriedly staring at Kiro, who stopped moving.

The reason Kiro stopped moving was not that he was afraid of the upcoming attack, but it was because he remembered something about the booklet of monsters he received from the Guild. Inside, it said that the Goblin Mage would only appear if a higher existence than it emerged. If it was only a Goblin Commander, Kiro thought he could manage to beat it somehow, but if it was a Goblin King, he wasn't sure if he could even make it out alive in this forest.

"You guys go first!" Kiro said while glancing at Alina and the others, his eyes flashed with determination. "Go, I'll catch up with you guys later," Kiro said in a flat tone. Dashing toward the huge fireball in front of him.

Kiro summoned his longbow once more, while simultaneously activating his skill.

"[Arrow Shock!]" Kiro imbued his dense mana to the arrowhead as he initiated his skill.

*𝐵𝐴𝐴𝐴𝑁𝐺!*

A thunderous explosion resounded throughout the Plainlan forest, startling the nearby Goblins who halted their movements.

"Kiro!" Alina screamed at Kiro's disappearing back.

"Alina! Get back, we need to report this to the Guild first!" Aldin said while trying to calm her down. "Look, we have to report this event to the Guild first." He said. "If you are really worried about Kiro, we could split our group into two."

After saying those words, Aldin glanced at Alyva's group. "Missa, Alina, and I will pick up Kiro. You guys should go ahead and report everything to the Guild."

Missa was shocked when she heard her name being called out. Noticing her reaction, Aldin added. "We need your healing magic just in case Kiro received some critical injury."

"Mm, okay, I will accompany you guys," Missa said while gripping her long staff firmly. It would be a lie if she said that she wasn't afraid, but she already started this path. Missa knew that she could not always run away from the trouble.

"Mirabell, I will be counting on you to safety escort Alyva out of this forest." This time Aldin bowed his head to Mirabell. He knew he was asking too much of a favor. Hence, he could only bow his head to her.

"Mm, don't worry, Alyva is much stronger than you know," Mirabell replied while not rejecting his request. Glancing at her sister, both of Mirabell's eyes moistened. "Be careful, if you think you are in danger, you can just run away," She stated, not minding the weird look of the surrounding people.

"Stop joking around! There's no way I could abandon them." After hearing her sister's joke, Missa's mind calmed down for a bit.

"Then, I'll entrust the safety of my sister to you." Mirabell stared at Aldin fiercely, grabbing Alyva's hand as she dragged her way out of the forest.

Aldin nodded his head heavily. "Mm."

"Wa—wait! I-" Alyva tried to say something, but before she could, Mirabell shut her mouth using her other hand.

"You have to come back all alive! Or else I won't let you rest in peace!" Alyva, who managed to free herself from Mirabell's grasp, yelled toward their direction. Even though she wanted to stay and help, Alyva acknowledged that she would only be a burden to them. With their line up, It was already an excellent search party unit.

"Let's go," Alyva said with a hoarse voice.

Glancing at her sister's direction one more time, Mirabell left the place with a heavy footstep