Chapter 301
We talked about matters related to scouting while making our way to the Nise Yggdra Tree . Anis brought two other scouts with her, so we were a party of four in all . They were all so light on their feet . From what I heard, they mainly fought while staying hidden and using surprise attacks . We came upon several goblins on the way, and I was able to observe them in action . I was very impressed .
“That’s a good way to fight as well . Of course, you have to be extra careful and prepare, but it’s less tiring in the long run, since you trade fewer blows . ”
“We don’t specialize in combat, so we have no choice but to make due through other means…”
Anis scratched her cheek awkwardly . One of the other scouts, who went by Igeldo, continued .
“We used to work as scouts in a different party . But there were too many meatheads, if you know what I mean . And we were eventually driven out . ”
“Hmm…”
The other scout, Ulgio, nodded . Both these guys were pretty different in personality, but Anis seemed to get along with them quite well .
“Well, a lot of people don’t care, as long they win in the end . As for me, I want to learn as much as I can . ”
“Is that why you have your own concealment set, Mister Asagi?”
“Yeah . Since I have the Presence Block skill, I thought that I might as well have a set that would help me get the most out of it . ”
“Ahhh… You sure have a lot of talents . ”
“It’s no wonder they call you Silvergreen…”
I hadn’t meant to boast . Regardless, it really was Jack of all Trades, Master of None that made it possible for me to acquire these skills .
Even as we talked, the three of them continued to put their scouting abilities to good use . They would find footprints in the snow and use Presence Detection to find the goblins . And they were able to hunt down their prey, all the while leaving very few traces of their own . They watched from a short distance away, carefully taking stock of everything before they planned . And they would go in for the kill in a flash . It was amazing .
“It’s really hard to chase someone’s traces…
“Oh, but it’s quite easy in the snow . After all, there are very visible footprints . ”
“The grasslands are where it gets difficult . At least in forests, there are fallen leaves and trees that can leave marks . But the enemy tends to hide in the grass . ”
“Besides, there is nothing to block the wind, so they can smell us easily…”
I see . I nodded understandingly, even though I didn’t really . Still, they talked about everything as if it were simple to do . At least I had Jack of all Trades, Master of None, which would allow me to practice . Observe and steal . That was my strength .
“…Ah, is-isn’t this a footprint?”
“Yes . A boar’s footprint . ”
“So it’s not a goblin…”
I was finally the first to discover something, and it was just a boar . Being a scout was hard…
“This is the Nise Yggdra Tree . ”
“It’s huge…”
My neck started to hurt really quickly . The giant tree that stood before me was reminiscent of the sacred trees I had seen in Japan . There was no rope tied around it, but this tree was related to the old Yggdrasill trees, which was practically a sacred tree, so perhaps they were more similar than you’d think .
“Look over there . ”
“Hmm . Ah, it’s hollowed out . ”
There was a hole that looked like a vertical crack going down the trunk of the tree . And around it, you could see that the snow was trampled and covered in filth from the goblins . There were also many places where the tree bark had been carved away .
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Perhaps the most obvious indication of a goblin presence, was the animal bones that were littered everywhere . The goblins in this area must have been hunting for food . Hunting would be difficult if all you did was chase the animal around . Perhaps they had some kind of trick .
“Hmm… There are a lot of goblins gathered underneath the tree . ”
“You can tell?”
“Yeah . I’ve had a lot of practice when it comes to using Presence Detection from above . ”
Of course, it was thanks to Jack of all Trades, Master of None . Apparently, Anis and the others weren’t too good at it yet .
There was a horde of goblins below us . Maybe not exactly one thousand and five hundred-sixty, but still a lot . And there were more than a few advanced types .
“Some of the presences are really strong . We’ll die in an instant if you’re not careful . ”
…”
Ulgio flinched at the word ‘die . ’
“Well, we should keep that in mind . I…I’m sure it will be fine . I’ll protect you . ”
“If it comes to that, we will be counting on you . ”
“Leave it to me . ”
They had told me that they weren’t exactly fit for combat, and so I would have to protect them . In the back of my mind, there were definitely concerns about my body . But, it would probably be fine as long as we weren’t caught .
“The three of you, stay on guard . I’m going to take a look inside . ”
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“Be careful… We went inside partway as well, and there were so many . ”
I nodded at Igeldo’s warning and activated Presence Block . The clothes I was wearing gave me a boost as well, and the effect was much stronger than usual .
The three were quite surprised by this, but they quickly gathered themselves and began to watch the surrounding area . I sighed in relief and headed towards the hollow in the tree .
The entrance was incredibly disgusting, so I entered it without touching anything . Immediately, all light vanished around me, and so I had to activate Nighteyes . Hmm . That was much better . I could keep going now .
The hole was really just big enough for a single adult to walk through, and then it quickly went down in a steep incline . Well, it was practically a drop . The path was hardly flat, and it would be hard to move if you were in a hurry . Considering that we might have to escape… It might be better to find a different way to get in… Well, I’d leave that to Manager .
As I descended while using Legs of the God Wolf, I started to hear something . When I perked up my ears, I heard the groaning of numerous goblins .
“Damn it…”
It sounded like I was near a busy shopping district . That’s how many were below me .
On the way, the ground became more soil than roots . Before I knew it, I was off the incline and in what looked like a tunnel . The voices I had heard must have been echoing through here .
I carefully made my way through the tunnel . Surprisingly, it did not branch out . This was actually a relief, as there was no need to worry about ambushes . I used Presence Detection to search the place, but there were no trap doors or hidden goblins .
“Hmm… This is bad . ”
As I spread out the range of Presence Detection, I sensed that some goblins were coming down the tunnel . As there was just one path, we would definitely bump into each other . I could just kill them here, but I was worried if the others would smell the blood . It could just end up rousing the them .
“…”
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“Grrr . Ggggg ggrr . ”
“Grrll . Rrr . ”
And so with Presence Block activated, I used Legs of the God Wolf to stick to the ceiling and wait for them to leave . As it would be hard to stay there for long, I thrust my sword into the ceiling and held onto it . Thankfully, goblins were rather short creatures, and so there would be enough distance between us . The others might be surprised when they saw them coming, but I’m sure they would manage just fine .
I calmed my breathing and watched them come . That’s when I realized something .
These goblins were wearing leather armor . So they were just like the goblins that had been sent to Namila Village . However, the goblins that we had killed in the area surrounding the tree had not been wearing armor at all .
Had they been thrown out because there were too many of them . . ?
It was very curious to be sure, but I couldn’t find an answer . It didn’t take too long for the goblins to pass me and leave the cave . I suppose they would use their claws to climb up the steep wall . Well, good luck, scouts .
Once they were completely out of sight, I dropped back down and continued on my way . This time, I moved a little faster .
After a number of turns, and descending quite a bit, the path suddenly grew wider . Up ahead, there was no visible ceiling . The underground nest must be up ahead . And so I slowly approached it and peered over the edge; I gulped .
“Well, there it is…”
That Nise Yggdra Tree hadn’t been planted here for no reason . It was likely used to hide this place . A tree of that size would be more than enough to conceal such a place .
Well, there was one great flaw . And that was the hollow in the tree . It led me straight to this place, after all .
“This is bad… You damned ancient elves . What have they left us…”
The underground of the Nise Yggdra Tree .
It was an abandoned city .
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