The Two Leaders

by Kugane Maruyama

  “That makes sense. East and West could team up against South… Oh, but South never leaves its territory, so they probably never thought to team up and defeat it. No point in awkward meddling…”

  “We don’t know what they were thinking. But up until now they each had personal territories and were building their respective kingdoms. But because of the Structure of—because of the master of that place, the territories have shifted. The two kings decided to fight the King of Ruin. So then the two kings started gathering disposable soldiers,” Arg explained bitterly. “They tried to force us into fighting on their side. But even if we allied with them, they wouldn’t care at all about goblin lives. We would’ve been throwaways—at worst, emergency rations—so we decided to run for it, but…”

  “Seems like it was impossible.”

  “Yeah. We got attacked by the barghest and the ogres. We had no choice but to scatter. I got this far with a bunch of others. We thought if we could reach the Great Magical Beast of the South’s territory, then the hunters wouldn’t follow us anymore.”

  Arg said he had come this far with some companions, but there was no sign of them.

  When a sorrowful expression came over Enri’s face, Gokou spoke. “Another team’s conducting an investigation in the forest. If there are any survivors, as long as they don’t resist, they’ll probably be brought back here.”

  “I’m sure. The wolves will smell them. So the issue is what else we’re up against besides the barghest and if there’s anything else coming. If we’re unlucky, they’ll chase you all the way to the village. Arg, what other types of monsters were there?”

  “Barghests, ogres, boggarts, bugbears…and wolves, I guess.”

  “So your run-of-the-mill monsters, then. I guess I’d rather hear more detailed descriptions of the Giant of the East and the Magical Serpent of the West—what they look like, what powers they have… Do you know anything?”

  Arg shook his head back and forth. “I dunno details. All I know is that they say the Giant of the East has a big sword and the Magical Serpent of the West has a head like you guys and can use magic.”

  All eyes gathered on Nfirea, but he shook his head. It was too little to go on.

  “The issue is what to do. If a monster equal to that amazing magical beast shows up, honestly, there’s nothing we can do. All the self-defense squad is capable of is escorting the womenfolk and making a run for it.”

  “Hmm. Would fortifying our defenses be enough, or should we be thinking of taking some other action? If the commotion stays confined to the forest, then we’re fine.”

  Everyone became absorbed in thought.

  The best thing for people living outside the forest was for these issues to come to a resolution inside the forest. It would be problematic if these events led to a situation where the villagers were completely unable to go into the woods, but in the worst case, they would do what necessity demanded.

  “But if the enemy can mow down tribes living in the woods, they must have gathered a crazy amount of combat power.”

  “No! My tribe used to be stronger, too. But way before this, we started thinking about looking for a new place to live, and we sent some adult goblin troops to the ogres. If it weren’t for that, we would have been able to put up more resistance!”

  “Those grown-up goblins never came back?”

  At Brita’s question, Nfirea cocked his head and seemed to be pondering something.

  “So I’m going to totally change the subject, but I just remembered something, so I wanted to ask: Do you talk normally for a goblin?”

  “What do ya mean?”

  “Ah, sorry, maybe that didn’t make sense. I met some goblins once before, and they sounded—this isn’t a nice way to put it but—not very bright. But since coming here, I see that Jugemu and the others talk normally, and you sound normal—fluent. So I wondered if maybe the goblins I met just happened to be that way, like they were a primitive tribe or something.”

  “No, I’m especially smart. Normal goblins don’t use much grammar when they talk… Sometimes I have trouble understanding people in my tribe. It’s gotten to the point where I even worry maybe I was kidnapped from a different tribe. Hey, I’m only asking just in case, but ya don’t think I might have originally been from around this village, do ya? Ya never heard of me before?”

  “Nah, I don’t know about that, but…it’s possible yer…well, boss lady, boss man, can I have a word?”

  Enri followed Kaijari to the corner of the room with Nfirea.

  “That Arg kid, I wonder if he’s a hobgoblin and not a goblin.”

  Hobgoblins were a subspecies of goblin and more advanced than goblins in a variety of ways. Goblins were the size of human children even as adults, but hobgoblins eventually grew to be the size of human adults.

  They were on par with humans not only physically but mentally as well. Since they could crossbreed with goblins, they often lived in goblin tribes, but there were never as many of them as there were goblins, which often led them to taking up the position of tribal leader or special guardian-type roles.

  “But if his mom or dad was a hobgoblin, he would have realized his identity, wouldn’t he?”

  “Maybe his parents were goblins, and he’s the only one who’s a hobgoblin?”

  “Huh? Is this like one of those intense dramas you find in stories?!”

  “…I’ve never seen that look on your face before, Enri… Unfortunately, I don’t think that’s the case. It could be that there are changelings among goblins just like there are among humans.”

  “Something like that could be possible. Not sure that there is anything to do about it, in that case, but…”

  When the three of them returned to the table, Lupusregina, who had been silent up until now, spoke. “So do we have a decision? If you want, I can ask Lord Ainz, tell him you’d like the problem solved.”

  That was just what they wanted to hear.

  Surely the hero who saved the village would be able to take on a great magical beast–class monster and win. But—

  “We can’t depend on him so much.”

  When Enri made that unexpected remark, the goblins agreed. Only Brita and Arg, who had never met Ainz, looked confused. For some reason, Nfirea’s expression seemed to indicate he had mixed feelings.

  “This village is our village. We need to do as much as we can ourselves. I’m sure these are nothing more than the thoughts of a girl who’s useless in a fight and has never spilled blood, but…”

  “No, I agree with ya. This is the boss lady’s village—” Kaijari cocked his head with a “Hmm?” before restating. “‘Boss lady and our village’ doesn’t sound quite right, either…”

  “You mean the village belongs to everyone who lives here?”

  “Yeah, that’s it, boss man. Figures that you would understand! Anyhow, that’s why asking Sir Caster for help should be our very last resort.”

  “But what if everyone dies ’cause of that?! Getting chopped up hurts, ya know!”

  “Hah! We wouldn’t let that happen, Miss Lupusregina. If it comes down to that, we’ll be everyone’s shield and at least buy them enough time to escape!”

  Lupusregina seemed to feel awkward. “Oh, huh. Then do your best.”

  “So as far as what action the village should take, I think we should contact—or make a report to—the Adventurers Guild in E-Rantel. When the guild takes a request, they send out a survey team first before doing any follow-up, so there’ll be trouble if we wait until an emergency to make a request.”

  As an ex-adventurer, Brita added her thoughts to Nfirea’s proposal. “Yeah. The guild looks out for adventurers, so they don’t die fighting an unexpected monster. People who are nuts, like workers, make fun of the practice, saying the guild coddles adventurers, but that’s just a garbage accusation made by a greedy bunch. It’s only natural for a guild to want to protect its members.”

  “Brita, I don’t mean to imply anything bad about adventurers, but wh
y during emergencies do rates jump or some requests get refused?”

  “Adventurers don’t want to die any more than other people. Plus, the guild doesn’t want to send adventurers to their deaths, either. So for very sudden jobs, even if it might not require an extremely skilled adventurer, the guild offers greater compensation to attract higher-ranking folks for the job.”

  Enri, the village girl who was neither an adventurer nor anything else, meekly listened to everything the experienced Brita had to say. Certainly, from the point of view of someone in a spot who needed help, it was emotionally hard to swallow her explanation, but from an adventurer’s perspective, it made sense.

  “Well, even when the guild does investigate, there are still plenty of people who die from an unlucky encounter…” Brita bit her lip. “I start shaking even now when I remember being attacked by that vampire. For a while, I couldn’t sleep without medication…”

  “A vampire? What are ya talking about?”

  Brita smiled bitterly in response to Arg’s less-than-tactful question.

  “It’s a secret. But seriously, don’t make me remember it. I’ll pee my pants.”

  “But I told ya my story…”

  “That was in exchange for us saving your life…”

  “So I guess our plan for the time being will be to report to the guild and maybe make a request depending on how things go? I’m sure the fee is no laughing matter, but we need to get an estimate. We also need to relay this info to Jugemu and the headman. That sounds good, right, Enri?”

  “I’ll let the self-defense squad know. I have the feeling what we discussed here will end up being what we do.”

  Enri nodded at Nfirea’s and Brita’s comments.

  “Okay, then I’ll hang around the village a little longer before headin’ back. Are ya sure ya don’t need Lord Ainz’s help?”

  “Yes. We’d like to do as much as we can on our own. Feel free to let him know what’s going on, though.”

  “Gotcha.”

  Arg was still having a hard time understanding as he watched Enri and Nfirea stand up and start working on their plan.

  “What’s so great about that woman?”

  “What’s that?”

  Arg trembled at the grown-up goblin’s threatening voice.

  This grown-up goblin seemed stronger than any of the ones in his own tribe. Getting a hostile reaction from someone like that gave him goose bumps all over.

  Still, he couldn’t suppress the curiosity that children naturally had.

  “Are girls always in charge in Carne?”

  Enri didn’t look so strong to Arg. She seemed to have a bit of muscle on her arms and legs but not anywhere near enough. He wouldn’t say she needed as much muscle as an ogre, but a leader needed more than she had.

  He would have understood if she was a caster. In goblin tribes, too, girls could become leaders if they could use those mysterious powers he didn’t understand. But this one wasn’t a caster anyway.

  He honestly couldn’t understand why she was in charge.

  “No, that’s not it.”

  “…Isn’t that newer ranger lady stronger?”

  “Well, Miss Brita is pretty strong, but we’re stronger.”

  Arg’s impression of the grown-up goblin before him improved a notch. He sensed there was a reason behind the confidence that allowed him to make such a claim despite the difference in height.

  “And the lady who appeared behind us, is she not that strong, either? I mean, I was surprised when she showed up out of nowhere, but…”

  The grown-up goblin suddenly went silent and stared at Arg.

  Arg sensed something he couldn’t understand and asked nervously, “Wh-what? Is there something wrong with her?’

  “The lady who appears suddenly…her name is Lupusregina… She’s dangerous. I imagine you’ll be in the village for a while, but don’t talk to her. Stay away. I’m saying this for yer own good.”

  “Uh, oh…okay.”

  “And I’ll say another thing. It should be obvious, but if ya do anything to any of the humans here, ya won’t get off with just a beating. Be ready to pay with yer life.”

  “G-got it. You’re just telling me to accept being treated like a member of a defeated tribe, right? I promise. I won’t harm anyone from the Carne tribe.”

  “All right, then… And don’t go anywhere near Lupusregina!”

  Realizing how wary and frightened the grown-up goblin was of her, Arg took the warning to heart. Then he realized he hadn’t gotten an answer to his original question, so he asked again, “So why is Miss Enri in charge?” Even Arg could learn. Rather, he was the smartest one in his tribe; he even had trouble meshing with the other members. For him, learning was simple.

  The grown-up goblin sighed. “The boss lady…is actually reeeally strong.”

  “Huh?!”

  “You’re just weak so you don’t understand. When she gets serious, she can wring a barghest’s neck with one hand, pour its blood into a cup, and drink it.”

  “Really?!”

  “Seriously. It’s true.”

  Arg recalled Enri’s appearance. When he took a moment to think about it, he remembered her giving orders with a determination that resonated in the pit of his stomach. So that was just a glimpse of her true character?

  “Our boss lady’s just pretending to be weak. If ya go around asking weird questions, she’ll get pissed and wring yer neck with one hand! That’s a lot of work to clean up. The blood sprays everywhere.”

  “O-oh… Why is she pretending to be weak? I can’t imagine she’d have much to worry about if she’s really that strong…”

  “When yer strong, some idiot always wants to test themselves against ya! It’s more troublesome than ya’d expect!”

  I thought being strong meant ya could do anything, but maybe that’s not the case? Arg got caught in a maze of thoughts.

  He didn’t notice the look on the grown-up goblin’s face that said he was only joking.

  In the middle of the night, Enri suddenly woke up. She scanned the room and made sure nothing was off. The world around her was mostly pitch-black. The only source of light was the moon coming in through the cracks in the shutters. The lighting was poor, but she didn’t detect anything amiss.

  She strained her ears.

  Horses neighing, the sounds of knights running around in armor, people screaming—she didn’t hear anything like that. It was an ordinary night.

  She exhaled quietly and closed her eyes. Perhaps because she’d been sleeping so deeply up until now, she didn’t feel the urge to go right back to bed.

  So much had happened that day. After the meeting, they’d gone to talk to the headman and then returned to explain to Jugemu. I wonder if they’re okay…

  Jugemu and his team had gone back into the woods that evening to confirm the new information they’d received. Walking deep into the forest at night was too dangerous. Unlike humans, goblins could operate fine at night with even a little light, but many monsters like magical beasts were nocturnal and grew active once the sun set.

  The danger jumped dramatically compared to the daytime.

  If there hadn’t been urgent needs, such as making sure no other monsters were coming after Arg, even Jugemu and his team wouldn’t have gone out right away.

  The goblins were strong, but that was only in comparison to Enri and the other villagers; there were monsters in the forest—like the great magical beast—more powerful than them.

  Enri was so scared at the thought of losing them that she flinched, and perhaps in response, her little sister snuggled up to her, murmuring, “N-ngh…”

  Enri opened her eyes slightly to look at Nemu.

  It didn’t seem like she had woken her up. She could hear her even breathing.

  Hee-hee…

  She suppressed a laugh just as she heard a soft knock at the door. It wasn’t the wind, and she wasn’t imagining things.

  She furrowed her brow. What could it be this lat
e at night? But precisely because it was so late, it had to be something important.

  She dexterously shifted the blanket covering her sister and her, then slowly got out of bed. She moved carefully so as not to wake Nemu. Her heart pounded a little at the thought that the creaking of the floor might wake her at any second.

  Ever since the incident, Nemu always slept with Enri. Her emotional wounds were severe.

  Enri didn’t feel like trying to persuade her to do otherwise—because it comforted her just as much when she slept with her sister.

  But she knew that even when they went to bed together, there were times Nemu jerked awake from a nightmare, so when her sister was sleeping soundly, Enri wanted to let her rest.

  Quietly and slowly, she moved toward the entryway where the knocking showed no signs of stopping.

  When she nervously peered through the peephole, she saw Jugemu illuminated in the moonlight. She sighed with relief.

  In a low voice so as not to wake her sister, she called outside, “So you’re back safe, Jugemu.”

  “Yes, boss lady. We made it somehow. Sorry to wake ya. I thought I should inform ya right away.”

  Enri opened the door slightly and slipped outside through the crack. She was worried the moonlight shining in would wake Nemu.

  Perhaps sensing her concern, Jugemu spoke quietly. “I want ya to come with me.”

  “Now?” She smiled. “I don’t mind.”

  “I’m really sorry.”

  Enri told him he didn’t need to apologize and set off walking after him. She wondered if maybe it would have been better to wake her sister after all but decided it was better to let her sleep.

  “Allow me to give ya a brief explanation while we walk.”

  Normally, Jugemu spoke in a more relaxed tone, but when he felt like something was official—for work—he spoke more formally.

  Enri was only a village girl, so she thought he could be more familiar with her, but he hadn’t changed in all the time they’d been together, so she had resigned herself to his just being that way.