A/N: I'm back, hehe. I've also changed the grammar of the previous eight chapters to smooth the flow of the story. Sorry if your comments disappeared because of that.
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"That's the cave, right?" Alfred asked, glancing down at the young girl beside him—his slave, Satya. He pointed toward the rocky entrance visible in the distance, the jagged edges of the cave mouth looming ominously against the landscape.
Behind them, three more adventurers trailed along, all here for the same reason: to find Frederica. She wasn't just another adventurer. She was someone they all knew personally.
The team of five was a balanced mix of skills: two Swordsmen, two Magicians, and Alfred himself—a Magic Swordsman. Alfred Will wasn't just any adventurer. As a C-Rank with exceptional potential, he was one of the rare few who might rise to become an A-Rank—or even an S-Rank—adventurer someday. That reputation carried weight, and everyone here knew it.
"Yes, Alfred-sama." Satya responded, her tone calm but respectful as she gave a small nod.
"Alright, stay sharp, everyone. We don't know what's inside that cave—bandits, monsters, or something even worse. Whatever it is, it's dangerous enough that Frederica and her teammates haven't come back. Let's not take any chances." Alfred turned to address the group, his expression serious.
The others nodded in agreement, their faces reflecting a mix of caution and determination. Everyone here understood the risks, but they also knew the stakes. With a final glance toward the cave, Alfred adjusted the grip on his sword and took the lead, the group falling in step behind him.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
The Training Room echoed with the clang of wooden weapons as the goblin girls sparred, their movements quick and determined. Each clash was a test of their growing combat sense. While it wouldn't directly level them up, the practice was sharpening their instincts and coordination. Soon, they'd start hunting in groups of three, a plan designed to not only increase their survival skills but also accelerate their leveling.
Leo leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed and eyes closed, listening intently to the rhythm of their training. Then, without warning, his eyes snapped open.
"A group of humans is heading this way." He said, his tone calm and detached, as though he were talking about the weather. There was no fear in his voice—only a hint of amusement. The humans were weak. If he wanted to, he could wipe them out in an instant. But why bother? They'd make excellent practice for the girls.
The goblin girls and Frederica froze mid-motion, their training forgotten as they hurried to gather around Leo, their curiosity piqued.
"Humans? What could they possibly want here?" Frederica asked, frowning. This place had been abandoned for so long that the thought of humans showing up felt surreal. She and her ill-fated team had only come here because of a mission, and even then, it hadn't been by choice.
"They're looking for you, of course." Leo turned his sharp gaze to Frederica, a knowing grin playing on his lips.
Frederica's eyes widened in surprise. Before she could respond, Leo stepped closer. He tilted her chin up with a hand, his fingers gentle but firm, his intense gaze locking onto hers.
"Do you want to go back?" His voice was steady, but his eyes seemed to pierce into her very soul. Unbeknownst to her, he was already using his [Mind Reading] skill to gauge her true feelings.
The question caught Frederica off guard, her mind scrambling for an answer. Go back? Back to what? Life here has been dangerous, yes, but also rewarding. Her growth had been exponential, far beyond anything she'd achieved as a human adventurer.
"No." She finally said, shaking her head. Her voice was firm, though her heart raced. "I don't want to go back."
Leo studied her silently for a moment longer, his expression unreadable. Then, he let go of her chin and smiled—a grin that sent her pulse racing even faster.
"Alright, then. Stay with me. Forever." He said, ruffling her hair with a casual confidence that left no room for argument.
Frederica's face turned bright red, and she quickly ducked her head, trying to hide the blush creeping up her cheeks. His words carried a weight she wasn't ready to unpack, but something about them left her feeling oddly… safe.
The goblin girls exchanged wide-eyed glances, stunned by the exchange. The boldness of their master, paired with Frederica's shy response, was too much for them to process without giggling. They silently vowed to tease her mercilessly about it later.
Despite the teasing that awaited her, Frederica couldn't help but smile faintly.
"You don't mind if we kill them, do you?" Leo asked again, his tone calm but with an edge of finality.
Frederica hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor. "…No." She answered softly, the word leaving her lips like a reluctant sigh.
It wasn't that she was indifferent to the fate of her fellow humans. Deep down, it still pained her to think about their lives being cut short. But she understood her position—she was a captive, and Leo was her master now. His decisions carried more weight than her own feelings.
In her mind, she framed it as a necessary sacrifice. That was the only way she could make peace with it.
"Good." Leo replied, a flicker of approval in his eyes as he nodded. He didn't press her further—her response was enough. "Alright, here's the plan."
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"Stay sharp in there." Alfred said, his voice firm but calm. He glanced back at his teammates, who all nodded in unison. Their grips tightened on their swords and staves, their faces tense with determination. None of them wanted to fall victim to a surprise attack.
Carefully, the five adventurers stepped into the cave, their movements slow and deliberate. The dim light barely illuminated their path, casting eerie shadows on the damp walls. Every creak of their boots against the stone floor felt unnaturally loud, as if the cave itself was amplifying their presence.
"This is strange… no vengeful spirits." Alfred muttered under his breath, though the sound carried and echoed through the cavern.
"There aren't even rats or bats." another adventurer added, his voice tinged with unease.
Trailing at the rear, Satya felt a prickle of uneasiness crawl up her spine. Her senses sharpened as she listened to her companions' observations. Something wasn't right. Her instincts screamed at her, and then she noticed it—a faint, almost imperceptible surge of mana near the cave entrance. Her heart sank.
"It's a trap!" Satya shouted, her voice urgent and desperate.
But it was too late.
BOOM!
The ground trembled violently as a massive stone slab shot up from the earth, slamming shut the cave's entrance with a deafening crash. Dust and debris filled the air, and the echo of the explosion seemed to rattle the very core of the cave.
"From below!" Alfred shouted, his eyes widening as he felt the ground shift beneath his feet.
The floor buckled like a living thing, cracking apart and sending shockwaves through the group. In an instant, thick slabs of stone erupted from the ground, creating impenetrable walls that separated the five adventurers from each other.
"Damn it! Satya!" Alfred roared, his voice filled with frustration and fear. Without a second thought, he unleashed a fiery explosion against the wall blocking him, the heat of his magic lighting up the dark cavern.
For a moment, it seemed to work—the slab cracked and splintered under the force of his attack. But as quickly as it broke, it began to regenerate, sealing itself as if it were alive.
"Shit!" Alfred punched the stone in frustration, his fist aching against its unyielding surface. His mind raced as panic threatened to set in. Satya was on her own, and she was the most vulnerable among them—a mage with no close combat skills.
"Wait for me…" Alfred muttered under his breath, his voice a mix of anger and determination as he tried to think of another way to break through.
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"Damn it! What the hell just happened?" Jeff groaned, his voice echoing in the newly formed narrow passage. He pushed himself up from the cold, uneven ground, brushing dust off his clothes. The impact of the quake had knocked him flat, and his head was still spinning.
Blinking rapidly, he tried to adjust to the darkness. All he could make out were faint outlines of walls on either side, closing him into a tight corridor. The vast cave from earlier had been twisted into something unrecognizable—five narrow paths, each stretching into ominous blackness.
"This isn't normal." He muttered, a scowl twisting his face. His fingers instinctively tightened around the hilt of his sword. "There's gotta be a damn powerful monster here."
Taking a deep breath, Jeff began to move forward, each step cautious but deliberate. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the soft scuff of his boots against the rocky floor. He hated this feeling, the creeping tension that crawled up his spine.
After a few minutes of walking, he froze. Three faint glimmers appeared ahead—pairs of glowing eyes piercing through the dark. From their height and the subtle silhouettes, Jeff immediately guessed.
"Goblins." He hissed under his breath. He didn't wait for them to make the first move. With a battle cry, he charged forward, his blade glowing faintly as he activated a sword skill.
The goblins didn't scatter or flee as he expected. Instead, they stood their ground. One stepped forward—E, wielding a massive hammer almost too big for her small frame. With a swing that belied her size, she brought it crashing down. Jeff barely managed to dodge, the hammer missing his skull by inches but sending a shockwave that threw him off balance.
Before he could recover, another goblin—Fu—darted forward with her spear. The weapon's tip gleamed as it thrust toward him with pinpoint accuracy. Jeff parried just in time, the clash of metal against metal ringing out in the corridor. But the force behind the strike sent him stumbling back.
Then, from the shadows, the third goblin—Me—struck. Her dagger flashed in the dim light as she moved like a wraith. Jeff felt the cold sting of steel across his side, blood dripping from a shallow wound.
"Damn it!" he growled, swinging his sword wildly to fend them off. But the goblins moved in perfect sync. E's hammer came down again, smashing into the ground and shaking his footing. Fu's spear lashed out, grazing his arm, while Me's dagger found another opening, carving a line across his thigh.
Jeff's strength faltered, his movements sluggish as the blood loss took its toll. The goblin girls pressed their advantage, overwhelming him with relentless teamwork. E's hammer delivered the final blow, a crushing strike to his chest that sent him crumpling to the ground.
As his lifeless body lay still, E stepped forward and pulled out a black, orb-like object from her pouch. It resembled a small ball, dark and ominous. She tossed it onto Jeff's corpse. The ball emitted a faint hum before expanding like a net slightly, devouring his body in an instant. Then, the ball reverted to its original size and rolled back into E's hand.
She examined it for a moment before tucking it away. "One down." E muttered with a smirk, glancing at her sisters. "Let's go back."
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The adventurer wielding the heavy sword was a towering figure, his muscles taut as he gripped the hilt with both hands. His blade gleamed in the faint light, massive enough to cleave a boulder in two. He stood his ground as Rin, Rai, and Sa approached cautiously.
"Come on, goblins! Let's see what you're made of!" he roared, swinging the sword in a wide arc. The gust from his swing alone sent dust scattering.
Rai nocked an arrow and fired, but the adventurer swatted it aside with his blade. "Weak!" he sneered, stepping forward and bringing the heavy sword down with crushing force.
Rin darted forward, her iron-coated fists glowing faintly as she activated her skill. She sidestepped the blow with ease, closing the distance. Her first punch landed on his side, and while the impact made him stumble, his armor absorbed most of the damage.
"You hit like a child!" he taunted, recovering quickly. He swept his sword horizontally, forcing Rin to jump back.
Rai fired another arrow, this time aiming for his legs. The adventurer blocked with his sword again, but the distraction was enough. Sa rushed in from the side, her mace raised high. With a loud crack, she struck his shoulder, denting his armor and making him grunt in pain.
"Damn pests!" he roared, spinning around to catch Sa with his blade. She barely managed to duck, the blade missing her head by inches. Rin seized the opening, her fists striking his exposed side repeatedly with brutal precision. Each punch was aimed at weakening his stance.
Rai kept her distance, firing arrows strategically to limit his movements. One arrow finally hit its mark, piercing through the gap in his leg armor. The adventurer faltered, his movements slowing.
Taking advantage of his stumble, Sa charged in again, this time swinging her mace with all her strength. The weapon connected with his helmet, the impact sending him crashing to the ground. Rin didn't waste a moment, delivering a crushing punch to his chest that left him motionless.
Breathing heavily, the three goblin girls stood over their fallen foe. "That was tougher than I thought." Rin admitted, shaking the numbness from her hands.
"But we did it." Rai said, her eyes scanning for any sign of movement.
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The adventurer in the third corridor had a sly grin as he stood at a distance, the staff on his hands glowing faintly with swirling energy. "You goblins think you can match me? Pathetic." He sneered. A gust of wind surged forward, sharp as blades, forcing Ka, No, and Sui to shield themselves.
"Stick together!" Ka ordered, raising her shield to block the incoming magic. The wind struck her shield, but she held firm, her broadsword gleaming as she charged forward.
The mage smirked and conjured a jet of water, aiming to knock her off balance. Ka braced herself, but the force of the water pushed her back slightly. No took this opportunity to flank him, her axe gleaming as she closed the gap.
"You're too slow!" the mage taunted, sending a swirling gust of wind to knock No off her feet. She stumbled but didn't fall, her grip on the axe tightening.
From behind, Sui charged with her mace. The mage turned just in time to see her coming, conjuring a barrier of water to deflect her blow. The mace struck the barrier with a loud splash, sending droplets flying.
"You can't break through my magic!" he shouted, his confidence growing. But his distraction cost him. Ka had recovered and was closing in fast. She fainted left, then brought her broadsword down in a powerful arc. The blade broke through his water barrier, grazing his arm.
The mage screamed in pain, his composure faltering. No seized the moment, swinging her axe with deadly precision. The blade struck his leg, causing him to collapse.
Sui moved in for the finishing blow, her mace smashing into his chest with a sickening crunch. The mage coughed, blood trickling from his mouth before his body went still.
"Nice!" Ka lowered her shield, her eyes scanning the corridor with a victorious smile.
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Back in the main chamber, Leo sat on his makeshift throne, his eyes closed in deep focus. Despite his relaxed posture, his [Universal Perception] allowed him to observe everything happening in the five corridors. A small smile tugged at his lips as he watched the goblin girls' battles.
"They've improved." He murmured to himself.
Beside him, Mi sat cross-legged, her eyes full of curiosity.
"What's going on out there?" she asked, tilting her head.
"Your sisters are doing well. Three paths cleared already. The humans didn't stand a chance." Leo opened one eye and glanced at her.
"Why didn't you let me fight? I could've helped." Mi frowned slightly.
Leo chuckled, reaching out to ruffle her hair.
Leo's voice carried an unshakable confidence as he leaned back in his seat. "Because you've already evolved into a Hobgoblin." He explained, his golden eyes glinting under the chamber's dim light. "They need this more than you do. Besides." his tone shifted, becoming almost fatherly, "they need to learn how to work as a team without leaning on someone stronger."
Mi shrugged but leaned back, her curiosity unyielding. She kept watching him, noting the subtle pride etched across his face.
"You're proud of them." She said with a small smirk, her sharp eyes catching his emotions despite his composed demeanor.
"I am." Leo admitted without hesitation. His smirk widened as he folded his arms and shut his eyes once more.
"They're proving themselves, step by step. Now let's wait for the rest to return—and for the strongest prey to finally show themselves."
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Satya tread cautiously down the dark corridor, her staff clutched tightly in one hand, her senses heightened to their peak. The silence was oppressive, broken only by her soft footsteps.
"Satya!" a familiar voice called out, echoing faintly through the cavern.
Her heart skipped a beat. That voice… She turned sharply, her eyes narrowing as she spotted Frederica stepping into the faint light ahead.
"Frederica?" Satya's tone was cautious. Something felt off. She raised her staff defensively, not lowering her guard. "Prove it's you. Say something only we'd know."
Frederica hesitated for a moment, then her lips curved into a faint smile. "Do you remember that time we tried to save that poor kitten stuck in the rafters at the guildhall?"
"Yeah, and you thought the best idea was to charm it down with magic." Satya's wary expression softened slightly.
"It wasn't that bad of an idea! How was I supposed to know it would set the firewood pile ablaze?" Frederica let out a light chuckle.
"You literally summoned fire magic under a pile of dry wood, Frederica!" Satya's lips twitched as she fought to keep a straight face. "The guild master made us clean soot for days!"
"It got the cat down, didn't it?" Frederica shook her head, a rueful grin on her face.
"Yeah, and the kitten didn't even look grateful. It scratched your face and ran off!" Satya laughed despite herself, her tension momentarily forgotten.
That memory, absurd as it was, broke the ice for Satya, making her believe Frederica's presence was real. She lowered her guard as a nostalgic smile lingered on her face.
Frederica stepped closer, her expression unreadable. When they stood face to face, Satya saw Frederica's lips tremble as she whispered, "I'm sorry."
Before Satya could react, she felt a sharp sting in her neck. Her eyes widened in horror as Frederica withdrew a thin needle, the tip glistening with a strange liquid. Paralysis swept through her body in an instant, leaving her helpless but conscious.
"Frederica… why?" Satya's voice was a desperate whisper, her body frozen as she collapsed to the ground.
Frederica knelt beside her, her face filled with sorrow. "I'm sorry." She repeated softly, avoiding Satya's accusing gaze. Without another word, Frederica hoisted Satya onto her back and carried her silently toward the main chamber.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
The dim glow of torches illuminated the grand chamber as the goblin girls filed in one by one, victorious. Satya, however, was bound tightly with glowing threads of mana spun by Leo, her body immobilized but still trembling from the remnants of the poison.
Frederica stood nearby, her face pale as she avoided Satya's betrayed glare.
The goblin girls approached Leo in small groups, each presenting a black sphere to him. The spheres pulsed faintly, containing the condensed essence of the adventurers they had killed.
"Good work." Leo said with a satisfied grin. One by one, he absorbed the black spheres into his body, his skin glowing faintly as the energy merged with him.
The process seemed almost effortless, and Leo exhaled deeply when it was done.
Frederica crossed her arms, her voice low but filled with tension as she spoke to Leo.
"It's a good thing I asked their names when they came looking for me. If I hadn't…" She glanced at Satya, who was still bound tightly and glaring at her with a mix of hurt and confusion. "…She'd have ended up like the rest of them."
Leo leaned back in his seat, a lazy smirk playing on his lips. "You give yourself too much credit." He said, his tone dripping with amusement. "Even if you hadn't asked, I wouldn't kill her. She's useful to me."
Satya froze, her eyes widening in shock and horror as she processed their words. "What do you mean… 'the rest of them'?" she asked, her voice trembling. "What happened to my companions? What did you do to them?"
Frederica averted her gaze, her lips pressing into a thin line, unable to meet her friend's desperate eyes.
Leo, on the other hand, grinned wider, clearly enjoying her reaction. "Oh, your companions?" He chuckled darkly. "They're dead. All of them. Well… except for one."
Satya's heart sank, her mind reeling. "Alfred-sama…" she whispered, her voice barely audible. "What about my master? Is he—?"
"Oh, he's still alive." Leo interrupted, his tone light but cold.
"For now, at least. He's making his way here as we speak." His grin turned sinister. "But it won't be long before he joins the others."
Satya's body trembled, both from the bonds that kept her captive and the sheer weight of Leo's words. Her thoughts were a whirlwind of disbelief and fury. "You… monster." She hissed, her voice shaking. "How could you?"
Leo didn't respond immediately, simply leaning forward, resting his chin on his hand as he regarded her with an expression that was equal parts curiosity and indifference. Finally, he said, "You'll understand soon enough, Satya. Survival requires sacrifices. Your 'master' is just another piece in this game."
Satya's glare burned with defiance, but deep down, the sense of helplessness and betrayal clawed at her.