The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 15

14. Hidden Tail

“Take a break!”

Ardin, at the head of the group, raised his spear and shouted.

After a long march deep into the forest, he scanned their surroundings and dismounted.

Cahill slowly turned back.

‘A forest path with narrowing roads…’

The terrain was familiar to him.

‘Is this it?’

He watched Ardin.

Oblivious to Cahill’s gaze, Ardin spoke to the three McGovern heirs with an arrogant tone.

“Aren’t you tired? This kind of thing doesn’t really suit young masters like you.”

“We’re fine.”

Was he thinking of the McGovern heirs as delicate [sheltered and inexperienced]?

He chuckled, looking at Tiren’s face.

“Feel free to tell us if you’re having a hard time. You can rest nearby, and we’ll take care of it. Goblin extermination is nothing on the border.”

He seemed kind, but his attitude was utterly dismissive.

He took out a canteen hanging from his horse, drank from it, and said.

“By the way, autumn is coming soon, but it’s still hot.”

“Is that so? This level of heat is common in McGovern, so I’m not sure.”

Ardin’s face hardened at Tiren’s unchanging expression.

But Tiren, as if he didn’t care about Ardin, dismounted and said to Randol.

“Did you hear? Randol, from now on, it’s the border of the goblin territory. Lead the way from now on. No need to trouble the Valsar’s support troops who are here for the first time.”

“Understood.”

“For such a trivial matter.”

Childish, but Tiren emphasized the last words, seemingly aiming at Ardin.

Tiren didn’t yield an inch despite his young age.

Even as a fallen noble, Tiren was the only noble among the remaining brothers except for Mart.

The attitude of a noble was ingrained in him.

Cahill chuckled quietly.

‘That personality is still the same.’

No.

That was Tiren’s true self.

His unyielding personality didn’t bend even in the Imperial Palace.

It was then.

“Goblins found ahead!”

The shouts of the sentries were heard.

“Prepare for battle!”

Ardin hurriedly raised his spear and shouted.

In that moment.

Cahill didn’t miss the flicker in Ardin’s eyes, though it was fleeting.

Swish—!!

Clang-! Clang-! Clang—!

At Ardin’s shout, the soldiers drew their weapons and stood guard with tense expressions.

Thud—!!

The ground trembled.

The tall grass around them swayed violently and bent haphazardly.

‘Could it be……’

In that moment.

[Screech-!! Screeeech—!!]

Goblins poured out from all directions.

“Attack!”

“Attack!”

With the shouts of Tiren and Ardin, the soldiers thrust their swords and spears at the emerging creatures.

Clang!! Clang-! Clang-!

The sound of weapons clashing was heard from all directions.

Despite the seemingly endless monster attack, the soldiers skillfully dealt with them.

Slash-

‘Not yet.’

Cahill thought, beheading a goblin.

The number of goblins, exceeding hundreds, was certainly large, but their forces were also sufficient.

‘It’s impossible for such a result to occur with just this.’

Nearly complete annihilation.

And the subsequent death of Randol.

“Maintain the formation as it is!”

Although shaken for a moment by the initial surprise attack, the situation began to favor them as time passed.

The soldiers’ morale rose further at Randol’s shout.

“Aaaagh!”

“Uwaaaagh!”

At that moment.

The soldiers’ screams were heard from the rear.

“The rear is breaking through!”

Thud—!!

With a loud noise, the soldiers’ bodies soared into the air.

Severed limbs fell everywhere like rain, scattering blood.

‘That guy is……’

In an instant.

Cahill’s eyes widened.

Each individual is weak, but goblins, who live in groups, usually range from dozens to hundreds.

However, very rarely, goblins with high intelligence form large colonies of over four digits.

That is.

Goblin shamans.

But there is an even higher entity.

The true leader who commands at least three goblin shamans.

Goblin Chief.

Its size was about twice that of a normal goblin, and its intelligence was superior to that of goblin shamans.

With the intelligence to lead almost a unit of troops rather than simple command, its combat power was comparable to that of ordinary knights.

The appearance of that guy meant that there might be at least 3,000 goblins here.

[Kuaaaaaa—!!]

The creature swung its massive cleaver mercilessly.

The crude blade, stained red with blood, was covered with soldiers’ flesh.

“Everyone, fall back!”

Tiren shouted urgently, but the soldiers, already frozen with fear, were helplessly being attacked.

‘Is it because of that guy?’

Randol’s death and the soldiers’ casualties.

‘Ardin Chandler is a spy for the Lurein Principality, but is it really unrelated to this incident?’

Cahill’s eyes gleamed.

‘No, it’s not.’

If such a large-scale goblin presence existed, it would have been subjugated by Kwell long ago, not now.

‘The fact that it wasn’t known until then… Is it really possible that a colony of over thousands of goblins could have formed without being noticed?’

It doesn’t make sense.

There was only one possibility.

‘They moved here recently before being discovered.’

If so, when?

Exactly.

‘Five days ago.’

As if.

Waiting for them to come.

There was no way goblins could have predicted the timing of the subjugation and come looking.

‘There’s definitely someone manipulating them.’

“Get out of the way!! Get out of the way!”

Ardin’s shout was heard.

He raised his spear and tried to move to the rear to face the goblin chief.

However, he was blocked by the soldiers tangled in the collapsed ranks, making it difficult.

His spear, which had fought harder than anyone else, was stained red with goblin blood.

No one would suspect him seeing that.

Unless they knew the outcome of this battle in their previous life.

In that moment.

Cahill stared at Ardin, who was shouting, with sharp eyes and thought.

‘Is it you?’

Now.

Show your hidden tail [reveal your true intentions/allegiance].

* * *

There are two options.

First.

Kill the goblin chief here and gain merit.

Kwell, who had gone to the capital, will soon return to subjugate the foreigners.

Clearly, the fact that he not only prevented a large-scale attack but also caught a big shot like the goblin chief would be known to him.

If that happens, his position in the family will definitely be different from what it is now.

Second.

Give up catching the goblin chief and instead observe Ardin’s actions.

There may be some damage, but nearly 1,000 soldiers will not be annihilated by one goblin chief.

Besides, his goal is to find the hidden spy above Ardin. Even if he can’t gain merit right now, he can plan for the future.

Small merit in front of his eyes versus great merit later.

How he uses it as a stepping stone is also important for him as he starts for the first time.