87 Frontier kingdom (1/2)

Sisyphe

This isn't good, Sisyphe. It's getting dark out there. If we don't reach the Kingdom of Alm, we're in trouble.

My sister Keina, walking beside me, looks at me and says.

The time is dusk and it is already dark. Once the sun is out of sight, it will be difficult to walk.

'I'm sorry, Shizu. It's because I walk too slowly.

'It's not Maddie's fault. I thought we'd reach the Kingdom of Alm by nightfall, I was naive. I'm the one who owes you an apology.

Maddie has done nothing wrong. I am the leader of the group. I am the one who made a mistake in judgment.

I am the one who apologizes.

After a four-day boat ride, we arrived in the Kingdom of Wildona, which has a large river port.

Originally, we were going to stay one night here and then go overland to the Kingdom of Arum.

The reason why we were going to the Kingdom of Arum is because there is a place near that Kingdom of Arum where the Harpies are believed to be holding Phineas.

But without staying overnight we are heading to the Kingdom of Arum.

The reason why this happened is because Regina offered to lend us a lizardman and a small boat.

A small river, though no large river boats can enter, runs near the Kingdom of Alm. If I use the small boat pulled by the lizardman, I'm sure I'll be able to reach it faster than walking the streets.

Hearing that offer, I'm lost.

I unfold the map that Ligeena-san has and confirm the location of the Kingdom of Arum.

A dwarf's map with surveying ability is accurate and free of errors.

If I borrowed a small boat, I would be able to reach it by dusk.

After some hesitation, I consulted with my companions and accepted the offer.

Because it was a life saving mission and I needed to get there quickly.

Besides, there was something else that was bothering me.

The New Green Warriors had left the ship in the Kingdom of Wildona, just like us.

I don't know where they're going.

But maybe they are going to the same Kingdom of Arum.

If that's the case, I may end up going with them on the road.

It's not that I'm in a relationship to fight with them.

But for some reason, I didn't want to go with them.

That's also the reason why I accepted Regina's offer.

Thus, we took a small boat to the Kingdom of Arum.

However, from the place where we got off in the small boat to the Kingdom of Arum, it is naturally off the road. Therefore, it was difficult to walk and took a long time to get to the Kingdom of Alm.

''But it's certainly not a good idea to keep going. We don't have any tools for camping.''

Leiria-san also looks worried.

'Shouldn't we hurry up a bit, Siszfe?　Yes, Maddy, do you want me to give you a piggyback ride?

Novis turns his back on Maddy.

'Yes, but I'm sorry, Mr. Novi,'

Don't worry about it. Maddie might as well have been the one who beat up the kid.

Novis says with a laugh.

I turn around and notice that he clearly saw Maddy's breasts when he turned around.

He may mean well, but doesn't he know that Maddie is concerned about her child-like figure?

Mmm. That's okay, Mr. Novi. You don't have to pat me down.

Sure enough, Maddy says in a gruff voice. Then she forces herself to start walking faster.

'Whoa, hey, what's going on?'

Novice rushes after Maddy.

'Huh, what are you doing ......'

I let out a sigh and follow the two of them.

Soon, we emerged at what looked like a street.

I say ”street-like” because the road was so shabby that it was hard to believe it was a street.

However, this is definitely a street.

I'm usually familiar with the roads around the Republic of Ariadia, and that's why I think so.

The Kingdom of Arum is a country on the outskirts of the Minon Plain.

I've heard it's not a very rich country.

If the only people passing through are citizens of the Kingdom of Arum, then the Kingdom of Arum has to maintain the roads.

Because it is not a rich country, it is not possible to build a great road.

We walk along the road. It will be nighttime by the time we reach it, but it can't be helped.

'Wait!　Everyone!

As we are walking down the street, Nora suddenly lets out a loud voice.

'What's wrong? Mr. Nora?

There was something running behind me.

Then Nora put her hand to her ear.

Elves have a much better ear than humans. They can hear sounds that we humans cannot hear.

Nora's words change everyone's mood.

''Are the demons running this way?''

Nora shook her head.

'From the sound of his footsteps, he's human. They seem to be chased by something. Maybe they're being attacked by a demon.

The tension on everyone's face as they hear those words.

'I'm coming to help! Everyone!

We all nod.

We take out our weapons and run in the direction of the footsteps.

Kayna's sister and Nora are ahead of us. Then me and Novice follow.

Maddie can't run fast enough, so she and Leiria fall behind.

Soon, we see one man and one woman running towards us from ahead.

Several goblins are chasing behind them.

Goblins don't like daylight, so they don't show up much during the day. However, they can be seen at dusk when the light is fainter.

The number of goblins is quite high, maybe 20.

Hastily we go to the fleeing men and women.

The men are looking like knights and are running away while protecting the women.

''It's all right, sir! I'll help you now!

I shout and the knight looks at me in surprise.

'What about you guys?'

I'll explain later!　Step back.

I head for the goblins with my sister Kayna in the lead.

'Shit!　New humans are coming, Gob!

Some of the goblins noticed us and held up their bows and arrows.

The small single bows used by the goblins have a short range, but they are a threat if they are in range.

An arrow is released from the bow.

''Reena-sama!　Protect us!

I produce a shield of light by the power of Lady Raina's blessing. That shield prevents arrows from reaching us.

The goblins in the vanguard stand ready with their stone axes and stone spears to protect the goblins with their bows.

Goblins can't make iron weapons because they can't use fire, but they can at least polish stones to make sharp weapons.

If they attack you where you don't have armor, it can be fatal.

''Let's go!　Novice!

'Oh!　Sister Kayna!

Sister Kayna and Novice run into the goblins.

Kayna doesn't want to be restricted in her movements, so she only wears light armor.

Novice's upper body is bare, as she is a Thor's Madman without armor.

The two of them have a lot of exposed skin and could be fatally wounded by a goblin attack.

The goblins raise their stone axes and stone spears to intercept the two men.

''How could such a lazy attack hit you?!

The Kaina sister flies small, ducks the attacks of the goblins and attacks them with her spear.

The speed of Kaina's legs surpasses that of an ordinary person. She uses her healthy legs to break free in a single attack.

The goblins' ranks are broken by Kena's attack.

”Oryaaaah!

Novis raises his spirits and plunges into the crumbling ranks of the goblins.

A few goblins are blown away as Novis swings his great sword.

Watching the way they fight, I think again that the two of them don't need armor.

One of them ducks all the attacks and the other twists everything down with force.

A goblin bowman will aim at the two of them.

Of course, I won't let them do that.

Nora-san uses her rapid fire to accurately aim at the goblin archers who are aiming at the two of them. Even among the elves, the Oreiad clan is skilled with the bow.

Nora, who is from this clan, is an expert with the bow. The bowman can't aim at the two of them because Nora-san is blocking him.

''Sizfe!　I'll take care of the previous goblins!

Sister Kayna brilliantly avoids the goblins and heads for the goblins that follow.

The goblins are not stupid. They try to chase after Kaina's sister.

''There's no way I'm going to let them!

I confront the goblins.

Four goblins, afraid of being attacked from behind, head towards me.

In the past, I would have had a hard time dealing with just one goblin.