Chapter-10 · EP-159

Episode 159: Kyoya Murasakimura – Our Cooperation

The annoying streamers who had been torturing goblins to the brink of death and streaming the cruel footage.

While I was warning them and arguing, the incident happened.

A large horde of goblins appeared, their faces dyed bright red with anger.

Ichinose-kun immediately checked with the AI and explained.

"These goblins are called Angry Goblins. They're stronger than normal goblins. Fight carefully."

Enhanced goblins.

From our fights so far, I knew we could handle normal goblins without issue.

But could we fight these on equal terms?

Just as I felt a flicker of unease, Ichinose-kun ran straight toward the large enemy horde.

Seeing his back, I decided I couldn't afford to be scared either.

"Let's go!"

I called out to Mamoru and Akaishi-kun and followed Ichinose-kun.

Then, three goblins slipped past Ichinose-kun and came toward us.

Ichinose-kun ignored them and headed for the main horde.

I was also worried about him, but we had to intercept the three coming our way.

Ichinose-kun had instructed that in a three-on-three situation, we should each fight one goblin.

Whether they were normal goblins or Angry Goblins, it was the same.

Without a word, we each picked a target and went for it.

I swung my wooden sword, raised overhead, down at the goblin's neck.

Thud!

A dull impact transmitted to my hand. I immediately pulled the sword back.

The Angry Goblin's movement stopped for a moment, but it braced itself and then readied itself to attack me again.

It was strong.

A normal goblin would have had its neck broken by that blow.

This one indeed had high durability.

I pointed my sword at the Angry Goblin to keep it from attacking easily, gauging the distance.

The Angry Goblin slowly closed the distance.

To my left and right, Mamoru and Akaishi-kun seemed to be struggling like I was.

I had to defeat this one quickly and go help them.

I stepped in and thrust at the goblin's solar plexus.

With a dull thud, the goblin doubled over. Even that didn't kill it.

I didn't let up my attacks. I continued striking at what seemed to be weak points on a humanoid body: ribs, throat, collarbone. Finally, with my consecutive attacks, I defeated the Angry Goblin.

"Haa, haa…"

Striking with full force repeatedly was quite taxing.

I felt my breath getting ragged.

This wasn't right. The way of swinging a sword that Takigawa-san taught me wasn't like this.

Reflecting on the previous fight, I looked at Mamoru and Akaishi-kun. They both seemed to have the advantage.

At this rate, they should be able to defeat theirs by attacking multiple times like I did.

As I was thinking who to help, a new Angry Goblin appeared in my field of vision.

Right, where was Ichinose-kun?

Looking past where the newcomer came from, I saw Ichinose-kun fighting the large horde of Angry Goblins with the advantage.

This one must have slipped past his side.

Then I had to defeat these quickly and go help Ichinose-kun.

Thinking that, I faced the Angry Goblin again.

My sword swinging from before wasn't good enough. I had to relax my shoulders more and put my body weight into the wooden sword.

Remembering my usual practice swings, I brought the sword down.

Thud!

I felt the impact transmit deeper into my hand than before.

I could do this!

I continued attacking, imagining Takigawa-san's swing, not relying only on arm muscles.

I defeated the second Angry Goblin faster than the first.

Mamoru and Akaishi-kun had also defeated their first and were fighting their second. And a third Angry Goblin came toward me.

Angry Goblins kept coming one after another. If I didn't defeat them quickly, we'd be increasingly disadvantaged.

Just as I was about to fight the third, I saw another goblin coming our way, putting us outnumbered.

This was bad.

We were already at our limit fighting one-on-one. If more came, someone would be in trouble!

Just as I thought that, Akaishi-kun moved.

He pushed the goblin he was fighting toward the newcomer.

The two collided, their postures breaking.

"I'll take two!"

Those were reassuring words. But that would put Akaishi-kun at a disadvantage.

I focused on quickly defeating the one in front of me.

Just as I did, another new one came toward us.

At the same time, Mamoru, having defeated his, said.

"I'll take the newcomer. Kyoya, help Akaishi-kun!"

"Yeah!"

Leaving the newcomer to Mamoru, I went to help Akaishi-kun.

One goblin was clinging to Akaishi-kun's mace. Another was about to attack Akaishi-kun, who couldn't shake it off. Akaishi-kun kicked that one, knocking it down.

I swung my wooden sword at the goblin clinging to the mace.

"Gyah!"

The goblin let go of the mace with a scream.

"Sorry."

"No, I'm sorry for being late."

We could do this. With our cooperation.

Ichinose-kun was holding back the main horde. We could handle the few that slipped past him with our teamwork.

We were again in one-on-one situations, facing goblins.

Just then.

"Gyaaaa!"

"Benji!"

A scream came from the streamers' direction.

Looking, one of them had fallen, and several goblins were on top of him.

That's dangerous!

I found myself running toward them.