Chapter 13 The White Mage, Runs Away

The White Mage, Runs Away

Gah! Gyaah! Gyaah! Guah!

Goblins are chasing me from behind.

I’m running frantically.

At first, I was running with a few others, but now I’m on my own.

I was surprised that a group of goblins had suddenly attacked the formation set up to confront the Demon King, but everyone thought it wasn’t a big deal.

With a click of his tongue, Sieg immediately ordered the new adventurers he had brought with him to attack first.

I thought it would end right away.

It was a stroke of bad luck that I decided to unload and change my clothes in the tent that had been set up for us.

We were attacked by goblin riders on mad boars.

The tent was overturned, and there was great confusion.

In the confusion, I couldn’t find my space expansion bag and lost all my belongings, including weapons and food.

If I had been wearing my usual adventuring gear, it wouldn’t have been a big deal, since Vee had prepared good equipment for me (because he didn’t want me to get hurt), so I probably wouldn’t have taken much damage from the goblins.

But now I’m in casual outfits.

It’s a flashy outfit that emphasizes ease of movement and appearance.

It’s easy to imagine that it would have been a very conspicuous target when being chased by goblins.

“Monica, you have cute outfits. But you’re a white mage and an important member who heals everyone’s wounds. So I want you to wear less conspicuous outfits from now on.”

I remembered being told that before.

It was for my protection.

Vee, I’m sorry.

I made a mistake again.

I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…

I just kept running.

When I realized that I was alone in the night forest.

What was I going to do?

The goblins that had been chasing me were gone.

…If I thought calmly, I could have just kicked the goblins away….

Usually, Vee would gently lead me “this way”….

Why did he disappear…?

I feel as helpless as a little child.

Ah, at that time, Vee came to help me….

“Ugh… Which way do I go to get out of the forest…? Not being able to bring anything is tough.”

Normally, the rule is not to move when lost in the night forest.

But that’s assuming help is coming.

Sieg and the others probably won’t come to rescue me.

I’m all alone.

Tears well up in my eyes.

Don’t be weak!

I’m a member of the Fairtrack Clan!

It’s okay! I can make it somehow!

I’ve done it before!

I keep telling myself.

I slap my face lightly to cheer myself up.

I’m not a little kid anymore; I’m not a child crying alone in the forest!

All right! Let’s go!

The moment I stood up, I noticed.

The countless goblin eyes shining through the trees were watching me.

It really might be hopeless.

I’m sorry, Vee….

I was surrounded by countless goblins.

There’s no way I can escape through this crowd.

Goblins have excellent night vision. Once cornered in the forest, I was doomed.

Overwhelmed by despair, all my strength left me.

I’m going to die here.

I was so scared that I couldn’t do anything.

My teeth were chattering.

No, I don’t want to die alone in this forest.

I don’t want to die without anyone to see me off.

I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die, I don’t want to die!

A particularly large goblin silently emerged from the darkness of the forest in front of me, where I had collapsed and covered my ears.

“You…are you…one of the heroes…?”

I heard a voice that was hard to understand.

“Eh…?”

I thought I was wrong.

“Can’t you…hear me? Are you…one of the heroes…?”

Oh, no.

“Y-yes… a… a goblin is speaking.”

I’ve never heard a goblin speak before.

That’s when it hit me.

Ah… ah…!

It’s him!

It’s the goblin king, the demon king!

“Ah… Ah….”

I never thought that the king of the goblins, who is supposed to be pitiful, would be so terrifying!

Scary! Scary! Scary!

I stagger backward, my legs feeling weak.

The goblin king smiles at my trembling.

“Funny! Funny! Human! Looking at us! She’s, she’s scared!”

Gigi gigi gigi gigi gigi gigi gigi gigi gigi gigi gigi gigi gigi gigi gigi gigi gigi….

All at once, the goblins laughed.

“Kiik! Kiik! Kiik! Are you…scared? Good! Good! I feel so…good!!!”

The goblin king pulled his ugly face.

He must be laughing.

The demon king laughed for a while and whispered.

“H…human…you…don’t want to die…do you…?”

“No, I don’t want to die….”

“It’s…painful…isn’t it?”

“Yes, it’s painful.”

I had no pride left.

Most of all, I didn’t want to die.

Please forgive me.

I don’t want to die.

“I’ll do anything, so please don’t kill me.”

The king laughed.

“Then…be…a traitor…to the humans…to your companions.”

The demon king extended his gnarled hand.

Ah… God… Where did I go wrong?

Ah… God… What should I have done?

Vee… the one I loved, please help me.

Come to my rescue, like that starry night.

I….

Slowly, I took his hand.

And gripped it.