Chapter 51

While Antonio and his companions encountered the goblins, Gaudini, who ran a jewelry shop in the shopping district, was trying to sell a ruby necklace to the Viscountess Juliet, a regular customer.

"Isn't it a bit too flashy?"

The Viscountess was a charming woman in her late thirties.

"No, no, it suits you perfectly."

At that moment, the outside of the shop became noisy. Suddenly, several men and women burst into the store.

"It's a monster. A monster has appeared."

The man who burst in shouted loudly.

Gaudini didn't take him seriously, thinking he was joking. The next instant, the sound of something colliding with the door was heard, and a small creature with red skin rolled in.

"Ow!"

Gaudini, who let out a silly sound, turned pale the moment he realized it was a monster.

"What's wrong?"

The security guard, who usually waited in the back of the store, came out upon hearing the commotion.

"It's a monster. Do something!"

Gaudini ordered the security guard.

The security guard, who seemed to have little experience fighting monsters, held a short staff and faced the goblin.

The goblin's hideous face not only repulsed but also terrified humans.

The security guard, who was slightly hesitant, was soon overwhelmed as two more goblins appeared at the store entrance. The fight turned three against one, and the security guard was quickly overpowered. His short staff was taken away, and he was beaten mercilessly.

The Viscountess Juliet was so frightened that she almost fainted.

"What should we do?"

Gaudini looked around the room.

"Is there anything we can use as a weapon?"

Hearing the word "weapon," the Viscountess Juliet suddenly remembered something.

"That's right. My husband entrusted me with a weapon for self-defense."

"A small dagger won't be of much use," Gaudini replied, not sounding very hopeful. However, what came out of the lady's purse was a magic gun, a new gadget that the Viscountess had won at an auction.

"What is that?"

Gaudini, who had never seen a magic gun before, asked.

"It's a magic gun used by Prince Gaius."

The lady tried to aim the gun at the goblins and pull the trigger, but her hands were shaking, and she couldn't steady her aim.

"Let me take the shot."

Gaudini offered, and the pale-faced lady nodded.

Gaudini took the magic gun, aimed at the goblin, and pulled the trigger. A shockwave was released from the gun and hit the goblin's head, causing it to collapse as if it had fainted.

The goblins, surprised by their companion's sudden fall, looked around. They noticed Gaudini holding what looked like a weapon and approached, growling menacingly.

"What are you doing? Shoot quickly."

The lady's voice urged Gaudini to pull the trigger again. Another goblin fell. The last goblin roared and charged.

"Ah!"

Gaudini hastily pulled the trigger, but missed. The goblin used the short staff it had taken from the security guard to strike Gaudini's arm, causing the magic gun to fly out of his hand. The goblin tackled Gaudini to the ground and, straddling him, raised the staff to strike his head. Gaudini wriggled to avoid the attack.

The staff hit the floor instead of Gaudini's head. The goblin raised the staff again.

"Someone, help..."

At that moment, the goblin's body went limp, and it fell to the ground.

Gaudini quickly got up and saw the Viscountess Juliet, pale-faced, holding the magic gun. Realizing she had saved him, he thanked her.

"Thank you."

The Viscountess Juliet, looking as if her legs had given out, sat down on the floor. She looked at the magic gun and thanked her husband for giving her this weapon for self-defense.

Gaudini, also looking at the magic gun, decided to get one for himself. On that day, several people were saved thanks to the magic gun, and later, more people started to request them.

◆◆◇◇◆◆◇◇◆◆

At the same time, news of the appearance of monsters in the capital quickly reached the Prime Minister at the Vizel Castle. The Prime Minister hurried to the king to report the situation.

"Call Samuel and Vittorio."

King Althibald summoned General Samuel of the Royal Guard and Chief Court Magician Vittorio.

When General Samuel arrived, Vittorio and Prime Minister Marsilio were discussing the situation with serious expressions.

"Your Majesty, the city guard alone is not enough. To minimize casualties, we should issue a royal order to send part of the Royal Guard, who are guarding the castle, to slay the monsters."

Vittorio appealed to the king. The Prime Minister, however, frowned and countered.

"Wouldn't that leave the castle defenseless?"

Surprisingly, the regular troops stationed in the capital were few. The main forces of the kingdom were dispersed among four fortresses, and the capital's defense was handled by the city guard and the Royal Guard.

"There is no problem with that. We, the court magicians, are here to protect the castle."

"..."

Vittorio's words were true, but the Prime Minister, who did not trust Vittorio, could not accept it easily.

After some thought, the Prime Minister made another suggestion.

"Instead of the Royal Guard, why not send the court magicians to the city?"

Vittorio objected to this idea.

"I don't think magic is necessary for goblins. Besides, using magic could damage civilian homes."

"Damage to civilian homes... Isn't that because the court magicians are inexperienced?"

The atmosphere became tense, and King Althibald intervened.

"Stop bickering. ...What do you think, General?"

The general, asked for his opinion, considered the report that the monsters were goblin wolves and decided that soldiers were more suitable for the task than magicians. He conveyed this to the king.

After further discussion, no better plan emerged than Vittorio's. King Althibald accepted Vittorio's suggestion and ordered General Samuel to leave a portion of the Royal Guard to guard the most important areas and send half of his men to the city.

However, the king's decision was too late. The monsters had spread throughout the capital, and it would take time to eliminate them all.

That said, the responsibility did not lie solely with the king. In a kingdom with underdeveloped communication and transportation networks, it was difficult to grasp the exact situation, and it took time to make decisions based on inaccurate information.

◆◆◇◇◆◆◇◇◆◆

Immediately after the monsters appeared in the capital, Ricardo was at home taking care of the children.

He had planned to go to the Alchemy Bureau in the afternoon, so he intended to read a book in the morning. However, he was ambushed by Serge and Pamela and dragged to the living room where the neighborhood children were playing.

Incidentally, Monta woke up but went back to sleep when he realized it was Serge and Pamela.

Laura, who was close to Serge's age, came to Ricardo.

"Hey, Ricardo, read a book for us."

The book was a picture book he had bought for Serge and Pamela.

It was similar to the old tale "The Three Talismans."

"Once upon a time, there was a boy named Marco who was training under a great sage."

As Ricardo started reading, all the children gathered to listen.

"One day, Marco was asked by the great sage to deliver food to a temple on a nearby mountain."

Laura asked a question.

"Isn't the mountain dangerous... Mom always says it's dangerous to go outside the city."

Ricardo smiled wryly.

"Yes, it's dangerous to go outside."

Ricardo continued reading the book.

"The great sage prepared three magical tools for Marco, who was being sent to a dangerous place. The journey to the temple went smoothly, and Marco delivered the food safely. However, on his way back, he encountered a goblin."

When the children asked what a goblin was, Ricardo described it as a large, green-skinned creature about two meters tall. The picture book had an illustration of a goblin, but it didn't look very scary.

"So, what happens next?"

Encouraged by the children, Ricardo resumed reading.

"Marco tried to run away, but when he was about to be caught, he decided to use the magical tools given by the great sage. The first tool created an illusion of Marco, successfully luring the goblin in another direction."

"Wow, I want one too. Ricardo, can you make one?"

Laura made an unreasonable request. When Ricardo said he couldn't, she asked why. ...Dealing with children was exhausting.

"Keep reading."

Serge urged him.

"When the goblin caught up to the illusion and attacked, the illusion disappeared. Realizing it had been tricked, the goblin returned to the chase. Marco, about to be caught again, decided to use the second magical tool."

At that moment, a scream was heard from outside.

Ricardo instinctively activated his magic detection and sensed the presence of monsters outside.

"Everyone, go upstairs."

Ricardo led the children and Laura's mother, who was preparing lunch, to the second floor.

"Ricardo, what's wrong?"

Laura's mother asked.

"I'm not sure, but there are monsters outside."

"Monsters!"

Laura's mother exclaimed in surprise.

The sound woke Monta, who came out of Ricardo's room and looked around.

"Kyu Kyu Kyu" (What happened?)

"Ah, Monta, you're awake. Monsters have appeared."

Monta offered to help, but Ricardo politely declined.

Ricardo gathered everyone in his room, opened the window shutter, and looked outside. He saw three goblins attacking passersby on the street below.

"Goblins."

Ricardo muttered, and the children gathered at the window to look down.

"Big brother."

Pamela clung to Ricardo with a tearful voice, and the other children looked anxious.

"Beata, I'm going to help the people downstairs. Please take care of the children."

Ricardo entrusted Pamela to Beata.

"Ah, okay, leave it to me."

Ricardo took out his magic gun and magic rod, ran downstairs, and rushed outside.

He heard a scream and ran toward it. A man was being attacked by a goblin, which had scratched his face with its dirty, black claws. Ricardo kicked the goblin's stomach hard.

Perhaps due to the kicking practice he had done with Antonio, the kick was sharp and effective. The goblin was sent flying and rolled on the ground.

Ricardo aimed the magic gun at the goblin's head as it tried to get up and pulled the trigger. The goblin was instantly killed.

Seeing Ricardo take down its companion, another goblin attacked. This one had a stick in its hand and raised it threateningly.

Ricardo pulled the trigger. The magic gun, designed based on his experience fighting goblins, was effective. He took down the second goblin and soon the third as well.

The people who had been attacked were injured but not severely. Ricardo used a healing spell to treat their bruises and cuts.

The rescued people thanked him and hurried home, probably worried about their families.

Ricardo checked the area around the house to ensure there were no more goblins, then returned home and secured the doors.

When he went upstairs, the excited children were waiting.

"Big brother, you were so cool."

"Hey, hey, show us the weird-shaped weapon."

The children, impressed by Ricardo's bravery, were eager to see the magic gun.

Ricardo used his magic detection again and sensed the presence of a monster at the edge of his detection range.

"Are there still more? What's going on?"

Ricardo muttered to himself, puzzled by the large number of monsters in the capital. They couldn't have climbed the high city walls, so someone must have brought them in or summoned them.

Why would someone release monsters in the city? Was it someone with a grudge against the royal family or the capital?

"I have no idea."

"Hey, what don't you understand?"

Ricardo's muttering was overheard by Serge.

"Ah, the mothers are back."

One of the children, looking out the window, called out.

Ricardo went to the front door and opened it. The mothers, looking for their children, came in.

"The children are upstairs."

Ricardo told them, and they rushed up the stairs.

Antonio and Ricardo, left in the living room, exchanged information but found they had little to share.

"I'll recharge the magic gun while we have the chance. Give it to me."

Ricardo took the magic gun from Antonio and recharged it. He also recharged his own as a precaution.

"What should we do now?"

Antonio asked, looking worried.

"We can only stay home until the commotion dies down."

"Shouldn't we go to the Magicians' Guild?"

"It's not necessary. There are many skilled magicians there."

However, his words seemed to set a flag, as Patrick and Tania soon arrived to fetch Ricardo.

"What are you doing here at a time like this?"

Ricardo asked.

"Because it's a time like this that we came to fetch you."

"Councilor Isarco has called for you."

According to Tania, many people were seeking refuge at the Magicians' Guild, causing chaos.