"Goblins?"
Staring at the figures emerging from the dense forest, Roland couldn't help but frown deeply.
The creatures had long, pointed ears, protruding fangs, and ugly, vicious faces.
The only difference from his memories was that their normally green skin was covered in strange crimson patterns.
Although people often said that goblins were the lowest-level monsters, even weaker than kobolds, Roland still didn't dare let his guard down.
The bloodlust flashing in those triangular eyes was completely different from the cowardly, timid image described in the rumors.
Even more unsettling was—
"More than a dozen? N-no, that's not right!"
As more and more goblins emerged from the forest, Roland tightened his grip on his sword hilt, his knuckles turning faintly white.
It wasn't that he was afraid.
With his current strength, killing ordinary kobolds was effortless. Naturally, he had no reason to fear these smaller goblins.
But a vast difference in numbers could often make up for a lack of individual strength.
After all, he was still made of flesh and blood. His stamina would eventually run out.
Thinking this, Roland discreetly swept his gaze to the side, searching for a way out as he spoke.
"Master Darko, something's wrong. We should prepare to run."
"Hey! So it's just these green-skinned trash!"
Darko ignored Roland's cautious advice and merely licked his lips excitedly.
"Roland, have you encountered goblins before? This is my first time seeing them anywhere other than in books."
Darko tightened his grip on his sword hilt. His body tensed, eager to try his hand.
"I heard the estate guards say that on the Adventurer's Guild's bounty list, each ear from these bastards is worth eight copper coins."
"Not only that, but if you hunt enough of them, you'll even win the cheers of everyone here."
Perhaps imagining himself surrounded by people praising his valor, the young noble's eyes seemed to blaze with fire.
"Don't be reckless, Master Darko."
Watching the goblins form a simple formation and advance slowly, Roland lowered his voice in warning.
Darko, however, merely grinned, completely unconcerned.
In his eyes, these green-skinned monsters, barely half a man's height, were even less dangerous than the wild wolves he had hunted before.
"They're just goblins. What's there to fear? Watch me!"
Before he had even finished speaking, he ignored Roland's attempt to stop him, drew his sword, and charged forward. The silver blade traced a fierce arc beneath the sunlight.
The goblin at the very front raised its rusty short knife, but before it could block, its head was already flying high into the air, filthy blood spraying everywhere.
"Now that's satisfying!"
Darko paid no attention to the blood splashed across his face. After letting out a pleased growl, he kept moving and continued charging ahead.
His sword strokes were broad and powerful. Every blow carried the elegance and precision unique to nobles. Wherever the blade passed, goblins wielding crude wooden clubs collapsed with wails.
But Roland noticed the fatal weakness of this young noble.
Darko's swordsmanship was indeed exquisite, and his strength far exceeded that of ordinary people. However, his movements were too proper, even somewhat rigid. Clearly, he lacked much real combat experience.
Every angle of his swings and every step he took seemed to follow a swordsmanship manual strictly, leaving him completely unable to adapt flexibly to his enemies.
Just as Darko had killed five or six goblins in succession and advanced deep into the enemy formation, three goblins suddenly attacked from different directions at once.
They worked together with perfect coordination. One swung a nail-studded wooden club from the front as a feint, while the other two thrust rusty short spears from either side.
Darko hurriedly turned his sword to block the frontal attack, but the attacks from both sides caught him off guard.
Although he barely dodged, a bloody gash was still opened across his left arm.
"Damn bastards!"
He cursed through gritted teeth and was about to counterattack when he noticed five more goblins closing in around him in a semicircle.
They bared their fangs, crafty light flickering in their eyes.
At the critical moment, a black shadow suddenly cut into the battlefield.
"Fall back!"
Roland's low shout exploded beside his ear.
Darko instinctively retreated half a step. In the next instant, Roland's sword swept out like a raging gale.
There were no flashy techniques, only the most direct slashes and thrusts.
The first sword severed the wrist of the goblin on the left. The second pierced the throat of the attacker on the right. The third horizontal slash cut the enemy lunging from the front in half.
"What incredible swordsmanship..."
Darko's eyes widened.
This swordsmanship, born purely for killing, was completely different from the noble fencing he had learned.
Roland did not pause. He said sternly, "Don't just stand there! They're surrounding us!"
Only then did Darko notice that the remaining goblins had changed formation.
They spread out. Some climbed into the treetops, preparing to throw stones. Others circled around to the rear, attempting to cut off their retreat. The five strongest among them advanced slowly, holding various crude weapons.
"These beasts... They actually know how to use tactics?"
Darko gripped his sword hilt and cursed in disbelief.
"Keep moving. Break through to the rear left!"
As Roland spoke, he suddenly lunged forward, his sword point piercing precisely into a goblin's eye socket.
"Deal with the ones carrying throwing weapons first!"
The two began rotating forward with their backs pressed together.
Darko had learned his lesson this time. He no longer pursued perfect sword forms, instead imitating Roland's practical combat techniques.
Though somewhat clumsy, they were more than enough against goblins who knew nothing of technique.
Combined with his immense strength, the simplified movements became increasingly deadly. Every sword strike could cleave a goblin and its weapon in half.
Roland's Lionheart Swordsmanship also displayed its full might in battle.
Whenever golden text appeared in his vision, he felt that his understanding of Lionheart Swordsmanship had deepened another level. The iron sword seemed to merge with his arm, moving at his slightest command.
As blood splattered, the battle grew increasingly fierce.
After realizing that their usual tactics were ineffective, the goblins began charging wildly without any regard for formation.
"Damn it!"
After cursing, Darko endured the waves of pain from his arm wound and swung his iron sword with all his might.
However, the blood continuously seeping from the wound made his movements slower and slower. Gradually, he found it difficult to withstand the goblins' increasingly ferocious assault.
Roland keenly noticed the young noble's predicament. He had no choice but to deal with the enemies before him while dividing his attention to block deadly attacks aimed at Darko.
The battle, which had originally been under their control, was now visibly turning against them.
Just then, a goblin that had been standing in a tree throwing stones suddenly dropped down, its rusty dagger aimed straight at the back of Darko's neck.
"Above!"
Roland shouted furiously. He drew the dagger from Darko's waist with his free hand and threw it with all his strength, accurately piercing the attacker's throat.
Seeing the goblin corpse fall in front of him, Darko broke into a cold sweat.
"Thanks, Roland! Your skills are simply—"
"Save the praise for later!"
Roland cut him off and pointed toward the dozen or so goblins gathered along the retreat route ahead.
Those creatures had actually begun forming a shield wall. Several held battered wooden shields in front, while those behind thrust spears through the gaps.
Although the formation was extremely crude, it was highly effective against Roland and Darko, who were deep in enemy territory and severely outnumbered.
"We can't let them stabilize their formation!"
Facing this situation, Roland no longer bothered with the difference in their status and shouted, "Darko, stay close to me!"
With that, he suddenly accelerated. Just before reaching the shield wall, he changed direction sharply and accurately found a weakness in the formation.
His longsword swept sideways, cutting down the outermost goblin together with its shield.
As soon as the gap opened, Darko immediately understood. With a roar, he charged into the formation, swinging his iron sword like a windmill and instantly crushing the goblins in front of him.
Then he turned the blade and precisely stabbed it into another goblin's chest.
Looking at the green-skinned monster twitching in agony before him, Darko was about to laugh in triumph when the dying goblin suddenly let out a shrill screech. Its bloodstained claws clamped tightly around the sharp blade and refused to let go.
"Wh-what?"
Darko was stunned for a moment and instinctively pulled hard on his sword.
In that split second of hesitation, another goblin at his feet, nearly cut in half, relied on the last of its viciousness and thrust its short spear with all its remaining strength.
The rust-covered spearhead glinted coldly beneath the sunlight.
Then it plunged deep into Darko's calf, spraying a burst of blood.
"Ah!"
With a shrill cry of agony, Darko endured the pain and beheaded the goblin. Then he dropped painfully to his knees, his forehead instantly covered in dense beads of cold sweat.
"Damn it!"
Seeing this, Roland first thrust his longsword precisely into the throat of the goblin before him, then turned and hauled Darko to his feet.
"Can you still walk?"
"I-I think so..."
"Tsk."
Looking at the goblins surging endlessly from the dense forest, Roland clicked his tongue and frowned.
Without hesitation, he pulled the short spear from Darko's calf, then quickly tore off a strip of his own clothing.
Taking advantage of the brief gap before the goblins in the distance drew near, he swiftly bandaged Darko's wound, then shoved him backward with force.
"Run! Don't look back!"
"But... Roland..."
Darko stared at the thin figure before him, who was several years younger than himself, and was at a loss for a moment.
His lips trembled. In the end, he gritted his teeth and said, "Forget about me! Escape on your own!"
"Stop wasting time!"
Roland had already taken out his bow and arrows. Nocking an arrow and drawing the string, he shouted, "Go find the guards and call for help!"
Darko still wanted to argue, but after seeing Roland's resolute gaze, the young noble could only shout hoarsely, "Roland! You have to stay alive until I come back!"
With that, he staggered away and disappeared into the depths of the forest.
After confirming that Darko had retreated safely, Roland let out a long breath.
If it had been anyone else, he would have escaped on his own at the very start of the battle.
After all, apart from the days when his Original Body had worked as a horse boy, he had known this young noble for only half a day. Their relationship was nowhere near deep enough for him to risk his life in his defense.
But Darko was Baron Foslin's only son.
If the young noble died while he survived, then even with Hawk's protection, he would probably be unable to escape Baron Foslin's wrath.
Of course, Roland had no intention of truly sacrificing his life to cover the retreat.
In fact, without Darko dragging him down, these short green-skinned monsters before him posed no threat at all.
Even if their numbers were truly astonishing.
Looking at the surging green tide, Roland closed his eyes and focused.
When he opened his eyes again, the world seemed to fall into slow motion.
The [Focus] trait, activated!
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