Chapter 17

"Ah, that's... a Goblin───!!"

I looked up at the monster that appeared before me,

and my words caught in my throat from the shock.

──That is the 'Goblin Emperor.'

It is called this to distinguish it from the naturally occurring disaster-level monster, the 'Goblin King,' and is a 'subspecies' of the highest rank of goblins.

The 'Goblin Emperor' does not occur naturally.

In other words, it is a monster that is created through artificial means.

It is known that goblins can undergo 'mutation' through artificial manipulation.

Knowledge gained from forbidden research conducted long ago, now banned – by embedding magic stones into the skin of goblins and pouring magic power into their bodies through them.

Usually, if you pour magic power exceeding the tolerance level of goblins or other monsters, they will either burst or die.

But occasionally, very rarely, there are individuals among goblins that can adapt to such excessive magic power.

If you continue to pour magic power into such individuals, they will keep swelling like balloons – and if they can withstand it, they will stabilize the magic power as their own.

Thus, goblins that obtain vast amounts of magic power are said to possess the same physique and strength as the 'Goblin King,' which is classified as a disaster-level threat, 'Class A.'

Therefore, the 'Goblin Emperor' is considered to be a threat on par with the 'Goblin King.'

But, that goblin is unbelievably large –

At least twice the size of the 'Goblin King' I know.

The amount of magic power poured into it,

and the quality of the magic stones embedded in its body, are said to produce different results –.

Still, could the size of that goblin be due to the magic stone?

The magic stone shining on the forehead of that goblin – it is out of the ordinary.

You can tell just by looking at it.

An incredible size.

An incredible purity.

It might be in the same class as the 'Heart of the Demon,' the highest-grade magic stone I saw in the Holy Misra Kingdom during my studies abroad.

Such a thing is embedded in that goblin –?

──It can no longer be compared to a 'Goblin King.'

The threat level of the 'Goblin King' is said to be Class A.

It is a strength that can only be handled by a gold-class adventurer party.

Yet, this goblin is – far too large.

Moreover, it is a 'cannibal.'

'Cannibals' are said to absorb the magic power of their own kind and become even stronger.

It is impossible to gauge what kind of threat it will become.

Why is such a monster here –?

I definitely can't match it –.

Moreover, it was concealed.

Whether by magic tools or something else, it was clearly artificial.

It makes sense that there were no animals in the forest.

They were all secretly eaten by this monster.

Perhaps even humans were eaten.

Could it be that the teacher sensed this and came here –?

No, there's no other way to think about it.

Saying he wanted to go on a 'Goblin hunt' –

I thought it was strange for someone of Mr. Noal's caliber to say such a thing.

At that time, he seemed to be innocently happy,

but it was a means to eliminate a hidden crisis –?

Does the teacher always help people this way…?

I am ashamed of my own shallowness.

Thinking back, when the teacher looked at me with a worried expression at the adventurer guild,

it might have been because he anticipated this.

──Is it really okay to bring this child along?

In fact, I was just a hindrance –.

The fear from when I was attacked by the 'Minotaur' resurfaces.

I can't help but tremble.

My legs feel weak, and I almost collapse to the ground.

"──Don't be afraid, it's just a... Goblin."

But the teacher says it firmly.

It's just a Goblin, he says.

──That's right, fear dulls judgment.

Calm down.

…It will be fine.

I am not alone now.

The person standing next to me now is someone who has faced and defeated abyssal monsters –

Mr. Noal.

Surely, there must be a reason why the teacher brought me here.

"──We will defeat it, Rin."

The teacher called my name.

Mr. Noal is relying on me, even in my current state –

That's what his words conveyed.

That's right, maybe there is something I can do.

──I can't afford to tremble now.

I will fight alongside this person.

──Thinking that, my trembling stopped.

"──Yes, teacher."

It's a very strange feeling.

Just a moment ago, I felt so much fear that I couldn't stand.

I felt death and despair so close to me.

And now, we are about to face a monster that even disaster-level threats can't compare to, just the two of us.

Right now, I was smiling a little.

I was smiling while looking at the teacher's back.