"Something's wrong. There's definitely something wrong with these Goblins!"
Cornell stared at the Goblins before him, their bodies draped in a thick, pus-green sheen. Under the effects of the Black-Robed Goblin's spell, they had nearly doubled in size.
A bad feeling rose in his heart.
Although before entering the Thin Mist Forest, he had already known that this seemingly ordinary "Goblin-clearing mission" was not simple.
After all, if it were only a common lair of a few dozen Goblins plus one Bear Goblin, the association would not have needed to hire high-level adventurers like them.
But based on his past experience, as well as the reward tier offered by the Adventurers Association...
At most, it should have been a large Goblin settlement gathered and commanded by some "Hobgoblin" that had obtained a Profession Level; or perhaps some lucky Goblin priest that had received a divine blessing.
It basically should not have been able to pose a threat to them.
But right now, the Goblins that seemed endless, surrounding the members of the party like a tide, frenzied and excited, showing not the slightest fear or intent to retreat no matter how many were killed...
And that Black-Robed Goblin standing silently atop the altar, which had reduced their party's numbers with a single strike...
Had clearly already exceeded his expectations.
The situation was gradually slipping out of Cornell's control.
And for a Spellcaster who, since his days as an apprentice, had followed his mentor and buried himself in countless complex data and experiments, accustomed to holding everything in his grasp, this was absolutely unacceptable.
His teammates on both sides cleared out the Goblins constantly surging in around them, giving Cornell the chance to observe and think.
His calm, steady gaze swept across the battlefield, and his brain rapidly gathered and processed