---Alina's PoV---
"RUN!!!!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, hoping that the cloaked man run and flee with his all. But as if he didn't hear my words, he continue to walk towards the rushing hobgoblin with a carefree smile on his face.
(Does he didn't realize that he's about to die!? Tsk! None of us could save him!)
I could only clench the sword in my hands as I saw the hobgoblin about to kill the man.
"Sorry..."
Sorry for not being able to help... You got caught up in this because we ran here and brought them here near the end of the forest...
*Slash!*
The hobgoblin slashed with his sword, but the direction where he slashes is strange.
"Eh?"
The hobgoblin slashed right at the thin air in front of the man with his full strength, leaving the man without getting even a tiny scratch on his body. At that moment when the hobgoblin's defense is open because of his big attack, the man kneed the hobgoblin right at his groin with powerful force enough to send the hobgoblin flying several feats back and stop moving.
"Ah... Opponents blinded by anger are always the easiest opponent, isn't it? Thanks for the sword, by the way," The man takes the sword the hobgoblin drop. Since he didn't use the hood of the cloak, we could see clearly his carefree face that didn't seem to be on the battlefield at all.
"He defeated it barehanded...?" (Xena)
"It looks like he used some kind of illusion magic to make the hobgoblin mistake his position," (Belle)
I see... Illusion magic, huh...
As I got too focused on him, I forgot that we were still facing the goblins as well. But when I saw the goblins that just a moment ago staring at us with murderous eyes and attacking us, all of them stopped and are warily staring at the man.
"Kkkieek!" The goblin shaman shrieks, but it seems that it's a command since, after he shrieks, five goblins immediately rushed toward the man with a weapon in their hands.
"Hou... Sending your pawns as a test first, huh...? Shouldn't the hobgoblin be enough for it, though?" The man continues to approach to our direction slowly without breaking the carefree smile on his face.
The approaching goblins seems to take his words as a provocation and got even angrier. Unlike normal goblins, they didn't fight blindly without a plan, the goblins split up and attempt to attack him with a pincer.
Three goblins attacked him from his left and the other two attacked him from his right.
"They're surprisingly bright. it makes me feel it's a shame to kill them here," Praised the man. He didn't falter, and faced the goblins with the sword he got from the hobgoblin without changing the expression on his face.
The coordinated attack from the goblins looks promising, but-
*Slash!* *Slash!*
The man didn't retreat, but take a move forward. He dashed to the right and killed the two goblins with an elegant spin from between the goblin. And without wasting any moment-
*Slash!* *Slash!* *Slash!*
The three goblins on his left that lost their momentum and got surprised because of how fast the two comrades of them died at the hands of the man got slashed by the man with one powerful slash.
He must have powerful strength to kill the three of them in one swipe. But more than that, he has great swordsmanhip skills, battle instincts, and great judgment.
"Kkkieek!" The goblin shaman gives out another order, and more goblins accompanied by two hobgoblins rushed toward the man. But even so, the man's expression remains the same.
The remaining goblins and hobgoblins surrounding the goblin shaman didn't budge. Some of them watched the upcoming fight between the cloaked man and their allies, while some of them remain vigilant of us, ready to respond if by chance we take the initiative to attack them.
"Alina, if we want to flee, this will be the best moment. Even if he's strong and seems to be helping us right now, you know right?" Xena's suggestion entered my ears.
She's right. He's strong enough that it seems that the goblins wouldn't be able to defeat him here.
But even so, encountering such a powerful mercenary or adventurer isn't always a good thing.
"You're right. Let's run. Belle,"
"Okay," (Belle)
Belle chants the spell's chantation and-
"[Dark Smoke]!" (Belle)
Like before, the thick black fog appeared from Belle's staff, concealing us from the goblins' view. With the dangerous cloaked man's presence, the goblins wouldn't want to chase us since it will only make them easier to get killed by the cloaked man.
This is the best chance. We need to live.
"Let's go!"
Sorry, cloaked man. And thank you
***********************************
(The three girls ran away! Pfft! Master got rejected!) (Lilith)
"I did not. I haven't even talked with them," Lyan respond to Lilith's teasing.
(This black fog is so annoying. Can't you remove it? I can't look at anything) (Griselda)
(If I'm not mistaken, since our contract is now written on the summoning grimoire, shouldn't you be able to use a portion of our abilities as well, master?) (Arturia)
(Why don't you just summon us? You should be able to do so now, right?) (Hestia)
"Indeed... I could sense different kinds of mana elements inside me now. I want to try to summon some of you, but it would be a waste to summon you for mere goblins. I guess I'll just test at this new mana I got from all of you first," Lyan looked at his own hands.
(T-Then you should use my magic, master. I-It should be able to get rid of this black fog) (Sylphia)
"True. Wind magic, huh... If I'm not mistaken. Spirit of winds, bring me your force, [Gale]!" (Lyan)
Following Lyan's chantation, powerful winds appeared from all over the place, sending away the black fog covering the surroundings. But when the black fog disappeared, the three girls had already disappeared, leaving Lyan and the group of goblins in front of him.
At the time the black fog appeared, the goblins the goblin shaman sent to kill him lost their vision, but since they are standing near Lyan, he easily killed all of them by sensing their presence.
The remaining goblins and the goblin shaman stared at the lying corpses of their comrade.
"Kkiieeeeekk!!!" The goblin shaman let out another shriek, but different from before, it seems that he gives a different command.
One of the hobgoblins raises him and put him on his shoulders and runs to the opposite direction where Lyan is together with the other goblins, while ten goblins rushed toward Lyan.
"He~ So you're thinking of running... I'm sorry but, it won't be that easy," (Lyan)
*Snap!*
At the moment Lyan snapped his fingers, the scenery of the forest changed into that of a desert.
The remaining goblins, The goblin shaman, and the hobgoblin he's riding on stopped, and the ten goblins rushing towards Lyan stopped as well.
"None of you will be leaving here alive today," (Lyan)
***************************
"Phew! that was a great exercise," Lyan muttered in satisfaction as he stretched his body.
"The swords I got from the goblins are decent, and the staff of the goblin shaman seems to be a magic item," Lyan gathered the loot he got from the goblins.
(But the girls ran away from you. Maybe you're too scary master) (Lilith)
"Stop it. Is my face that scary...?" (Lyan)
(I'm sorry, master) (Cynthia)
Cynthia apologized as she is one of the spirits that encourages Lyan to help the three girls.
(Me too. I didn't expect that they will leave you with their opponents and flee...) (Arturia)
"It's fine, I didn't save them because I want to be thanked anyway," (Lyan)
(But their decision is the right one. Their leader made a wise call) (Griselda)
(What do you mean, Griselda? Do you mean that leaving the opponent that originally attacked you with the person that is trying to help you is wise?) (Arturia)
(She's right, Miss knight. Getting help from strong Mercenaries and adventurers isn't always a good thing. Especially those girls that could be considered as beauties) (Hestia)
(Different from knights, mercenaries and adventurers didn't save people for free. They that had been used to get paid for every quest they take are used to rewards and hope for rewards whenever they do something. If the ones they help are women, then I believe I wouldn't even need to explain what kind of demand they would have for their rewards) (Griselda)
(When she's explaining things to the others, she used a slightly polite manner and formal tone. While in the other hand, she talks harshly when the other side is me. What a difference in attitude...) (Lyan)
(Are you thinking something rude about me, huh!?) (Griselda)
"No ma'am," (Lyan)
(I see... So that's the case, huh...) (Arturia)
"Well, it's fine. It's a shame that I couldn't make a conversation with some beauties, but I guess they made a wise decision then. By the way, what should we do with that thing?" Lyan points at the shadow hobgoblin that got enslaved by the magician girl before.
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<+1 Hobgoblin's Sword>
Name: Lyan
Occupation: None
Money: None
Weapon: Hobgoblin's Sword
Equipment: Black leather cloak
Grimoire's Companions: 8 High Spirits