Chapter 22 The Heavy Knight, Roars on the Battlefield
#KyoudoushaThe Heavy Knight, Roars on the Battlefield
“Aaaahhhh! Smash them all!!”
I, Gomez (ゴメス), the Heavy Knight, smashed several goblins to pieces, the force of my blow leaving a deep hole in the ground.
The overwhelming impact caused the nearby goblins to retreat in fear.
Good, good. That’s it.
You don’t want to die, do you?
Sensei once said,
“Gomez, no matter what kind of monster it is, they hesitate when they see their comrades die a horrible death. So, killing them brutally can be an effective tactic.”
He said something so horrifying, yet with a warm smile.
Sometimes, that person is truly terrifying.
Still, since it actually works, I can’t argue with him.
I swung my club to shake off the chunks of flesh stuck to it.
…There’s no end to this…
I muttered into the chaos of the battlefield, which had turned into an all-out melee.
Behind me was the Boss, Sieg, injured and in pain.
He was supposed to be leading the charge but had suddenly been brought back here by a soldier.
Apparently, Monica had stabbed him with a poisoned knife when she emerged from the forest.
Really! I don’t understand what’s going on.
I don’t understand any of it.
Can someone please explain this to me?
Just as I was about to treat him, goblins started appearing all around us.
A hole had suddenly opened, and they were pouring out endlessly.
I thought we were doomed, but surprisingly, the hole’s exit wasn’t very wide, causing the goblins to pile up as they tried to get out.
Well, they are just goblins, after all.
Because of that bottleneck, we managed to hold our ground even with some members who weren’t suited for combat.
Gideon-sama said it would be fine, that it was just for show and nothing serious.
He’s reliable, but he can be scatterbrained at times.
I don’t mind that about him, but I’d prefer if he didn’t act like that on the battlefield…
Anyway, we’re not going to last like this.
If we don’t do something, I won’t be able to treat Sieg properly.
I’m starting to feel uneasy.
At this point, retreat might be our only option.
I have to lead this group, but I’m also the only one capable of breaking through the enemy lines.
Damn it!
It’s a tough situation, but with Sieg incapacitated and Sensei absent, I must protect my comrades…
My bond with Sensei is second only to Sieg’s.
He was the one who taught us how to survive when we were starving in the slums.
He didn’t just give us food; he gave us knowledge and wisdom.
I always thought I was stupid.
People called me a slow learner, a blockhead.
But Sensei said,
“No, Gomez, you just think you’re stupid. You’ve convinced yourself of that and stopped trying to think.”
Sensei looked me in the eye and continued,
“Water flows downhill, and people take the easy way. You see?”
It was shocking.
That’s true, maybe.
Because people told me that, I started believing it.
“So let’s study together! Then, you can decide for yourself!”
Sensei said with a wink and placed a textbook on the desk.
But I don’t want to go back to that insane study room…
I still sometimes dream about that room with walls covered in writing.
I studied hard. Actually, I was forced to study hard.
I spent almost every waking moment studying.
I was also drilled relentlessly in practical skills.
It was incredibly tough, but I never grew tired of it.
Sensei would keep only the bare minimum for himself and give the rest of his earnings to us.
A man would be ashamed to give up after being treated so generously.
Within a year, I started doing odd jobs as an adventurer.
By the second year, I was taking on lucrative monster extermination jobs.
Over time, our lives became more stable and comfortable.
Once I was skilled enough, everything fell into place.
I worked hard, and before I knew it, we had built a clan house.
It was our home—my home—everyone’s home.
Sensei saved us, children who were destined to die in the slums.
I thank God I met Sensei that day.
“Oh, ho ho, what filthy little brats! Well, if you’re hungry, why don’t you listen to my story? It’s not a bad one!”
Looking back, those words definitely sound like something a kidnapper would say, Sensei.
I still dream about that day.
It’s an unforgettable memory.
I thought everything was going well, but lately, Sensei’s behavior in the clan had been a bit off.
He often seemed downcast.
When I asked him about it, he just gave a tired smile and said, “It’s nothing serious.”
Sieg and Monica claimed they didn’t know anything either.
While I was wondering what to do, a subjugation mission request came in, and I left on an expedition with Anna and the others.
When I returned, Sieg told me Sensei had left the clan.
I couldn’t believe my ears.
Why? Why? Why?
I demanded an explanation, but Sieg said he didn’t know.
I was heartbroken that Sensei had left, but what hurt even more was that he hadn’t confided in me.
What happened, Sensei…?
I tried to find him, but there wasn’t a single trace.
Well, if Sensei really wanted to disappear, there’s no way I could track him down…
Even though Sensei was gone, the clan continued.
It’s okay; Sensei wouldn’t abandon us.
He’ll return one day, and I’ll proudly welcome him back, having protected the clan with all my might.
At least, that’s what I believed…
Behind me, Sieg groaned in pain.
What the hell is happening?
“Go…Gomez…”
A faint voice called out.
“!? Boss!? What’s wrong!? Ricardo! Take over here for a moment!”
“Got it!”
I switched places with Ricardo and rushed to Sieg’s side.
“Th…the bag…my…elixir…”
“What!? You had an Elixir!? Why didn’t you tell me sooner!?”
The Elixir is an extremely rare item capable of healing anyone completely.
I’d heard the clan had only one.
I searched for Sieg’s spatial expansion bag.
It wasn’t there.
I checked his body, but it was nowhere to be found.
“It’s not here!? Where did you put it!?”
“…Wh…what…yesterday…I’m sure…”
Sieg’s voice grew weaker and weaker.
Ah! Ah! This is bad! This is really bad!
I’ve seen this happen so many times before!
I’ve smelled this stench before!
In the slums! On the battlefield!
It’s the smell of death and despair!
If this continues, Sieg will die!
I desperately searched around his body, but it was nowhere to be found.
Sieg’s arm, which had been reaching out, fell limply to the ground.
He was dead!
Boss Sieg was dead!
“Aaahhhhhh!!!”
A silent scream erupted from my throat.
Why!? Why did this happen!?
“Boss! Boss!”
I shook him, but there was no response.
“Boss is dead!!!”
I shouted, unable to hold it in.
“Gomez, even if the Boss is dead, don’t panic. If the chain of command breaks down, we’re doomed. Stay calm and consult the next in line.”
This is bad!
My outburst caused the clan to panic, and we were pushed back by the goblin horde.
Ahh, this is my fault!
I’m sorry. I’m sorry!
At that moment, a huge flame in the shape of a bird erupted from Sieg’s body.