Chapter 36

"An Orc Village?"

At first, I doubted my eyes. The architectural techniques and styles were clearly those of the orcs, who are sworn enemies of the goblins.

To the self-proclaimed warriors, the goblins, who are plunderers, would be their sworn enemies.

But goblins in an orc village?

"It was an abandoned village. Our scouts have been reporting that the goblins have been gathering here for some time now."

It was uncertain information, but it seems to have turned out to be true.

As expected, there were about 150 of them. The fact that their numbers had been replenished despite many dying in raids suggests that they were indeed being reinforced from somewhere.

So, they must exist in other places as well.

The kidnapped villagers were not visible, presumably held inside the dilapidated buildings of the village.

"Those bastards... to Rini..."

Turning at the sound of grinding teeth, I saw a young vigilante with bloodshot eyes, looking as if he was about to shed tears of rage.

He seemed to be barely holding back his urge to charge in, his blood boiling.

"Are you angry?"

When I calmly asked him, he clenched his teeth and nodded vigorously.

I then looked at the entire group of vigilantes.

"Do you want to kill those bastards?"

My calm words spread like a wave among them.

"Yes!"

"I want revenge!"

Not just him, but the other vigilantes also nodded and answered loudly, their faces filled with anger, ready to swing their crude weapons at any moment.

I could feel the goodwill of the people in this fief.

Otherwise, they wouldn't be so angry for people who aren't even their own family.

"I chose the right fief."

A smile naturally formed on my face.

Then, I raised the bow in my hand and nocked an arrow.

Closing my eyes, I drew mana.

My first real combat as a lord came much sooner than expected.

* * *

'Qiangsha (Strong Arrow).'

On the surface, it just looked like the posture of drawing and releasing an arrow.

It might look crude, but it was far from it.

I had absorbed all the skills of the archer Apollo.

Despite his lecherous personality, he was a master of archery, and the arrow I shot was far from ordinary.

The knights were taken aback by my sudden action, their eyes widening.

What I was about to do seemed straightforward to them.

"Your Highness?!"

"A frontal attack won't work!"

They must have thought it was absurd.

If we were surrounded in such a wide area, it would result in many casualties.

Given the number of goblins found in the village and the state of the vigilantes, the situation was so unfavorable that a complete annihilation seemed more likely.

They probably expected me to reduce their numbers through proper traps or guerrilla tactics.

After all, I had boasted that I would ensure no one would die.

But I had no intention of cleaning up the mess in such a frustrating way.

Am I afraid of dust that I can't sweep?

"Don't forget. I promised not to let a single person die."

Smiling, I lightly twisted the bowstring and released it.

Twang!!

The sharp arrow flew through the air.

Thud!!

-Keeeeeek!!

-Kaaaaak!!

The arrow instantly shattered the skull of a goblin holding a twisted club, killing it instantly.

The eerie cries of the goblins, upon seeing their comrade die, began to shake the entire village and the nearby forest.

It was a strange and eerie sound, no matter how many times I heard it.

The goblins, drawn by the sound, soon discovered me standing there with an arrow in my bow, and they let out fierce roars, filled with hostility.

It was like bees swarming out of a disturbed hive.

Perhaps overwhelmed by their ferocity, the vigilantes began to pale.

What is this crazy kid doing!

They might not say it out loud, but they must be thinking it.

So, I immediately nocked another arrow and drew mana.

And I gathered my voice.

Your lord is a remarkable person. Watch closely now.

"From today, I, your new lord and family, will give my first command."

In the suffocating silence, I looked at them.

"Everyone!!!"

I had their full attention.

As I said this, the scar on my back began to glow faintly.

Skin reinforcement, strength enhancement, agility enhancement, stamina enhancement, mana defense, and overall ability enhancement.

A circular wave of pure white light spread from where I stood, enveloping them in various buff spells.

Not just a few, but all of them.

While the buffs were light, the effects of divine magic, which can forcibly elevate the rank of the same spell, were excellent.

As numerous buff spells flowed from my body and enveloped them, their eyes widened in surprise.

They were filled with a strange power, as if their bodies were overflowing with strength.

Are you too surprised? This isn't even the end.

Swinging the white radiance like a sword, I released more divine will.

-Are you planning to use them all?

Since I've started, might as well do a bit of a saint cosplay.

They don't even know what kind of magic this is.

Advanced defense enhancement, increased health regeneration, mental fortitude,

This is enough, but... why not go all out?

Buff efficiency amplification field.

Whoosh!!

A golden radiance enveloped the area, and the 6th-rank buff amplification spell [Saint Gloria] activated, making their bodies feel even lighter.

At this level, even ordinary people could achieve expert-level skills under certain conditions.

"What is this...?"

"Unbelievable..."

The highest rank of divine magic I can currently cast, considering the artifact, is 6th-rank late stage.

While the basic divine buffs are 1st to 2nd-rank, and at most 3rd-rank, the effects are incomparable when elevated.

Trust me, you won't find such powerful buffs anywhere else.

Even the holy knights of