Hobgoblin.
A unique individual among goblins.
Goblins, which usually have short lifespans due to battles with external enemies, internal power struggles, or just being eaten by natural predators, sometimes manage to survive long enough to become experienced fighters.
“GGREEEEEEEE”
“GYAGYAGAYAGAYA”
“WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO”
Ah, look at that—clubs and bone spears covered in blood.
Some of the ambushed ones might be dead.
“Why is there a hob here…?”
“W-we were told it only appears on the second floor and beyond!!”
Let’s do this without using any magic power.
If I do that, they won’t suspect a thing!!
“It’s coming!! Everyone, protect yourselves with your magic power!!”
“Yes!!”
At Aki-kun’s command, everyone shields themselves with magic power.
Interesting. Even in a situation like this, habits show.
Some people channel their power from their abdomen, others from their head—it varies.
“Watch out! Kasuya-kun!”
Huh?
“BURUOOOOOOOOO”
“You idiot! You’re not paying attention!”
A hobgoblin leaps, aiming its spear directly at me as it plunges downward—.
“Hey, what kind of bone is this made from?”
“BURU!?”
I casually take a step back, dodging the spear.
The advantage of a spear is its reach for attacking from a safe distance.
A diving attack? Keep that for video games.
Now, I punch its exposed belly!
“Yoi-sho!!”
“BURU!?”
Whoa, it’s heavy!
My planted foot skids across the ground.
An attack without magic power.
Just pure strength developed from working in the fields, hunting bandits, and daily bodyweight training (100 push-ups, 50 squats, 100 sit-ups, all-out pull-ups)—.
“UOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE”
The hobgoblin puked.
Ah, I landed a good hit, but no blood mixed in.
Its thick layer of fat and hide armor must’ve blocked it.
Oh, my fist got scraped.
“Time to train some more.”
“………..”
Oh.
Oops, I got carried away.
Now everyone’s looking at me like they’re seeing something unbelievable!!
“…Isn’t holding back supposed to be different from enjoying a self-imposed challenge?”
I got so into testing how far I could go without magic that I ended up… yeah.
“Kasuya—”
“Ugh, aaaagh! My hand! My skin—no, I mean, I sprained my finger!! Be careful, everyone! This is a second-floor-level monster! C-rank or above!”
I put on my best act to clear everyone’s suspicions.
“…We’ll have a talk later, Kasuya-kun.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Everyone, focus for now! Aki and I will be in the front! Haru-chan, Natsu-kun, provide support! Kotori, stay close to me as much as possible!”
Everyone follows Snow-san’s instructions.
…Good, I managed to fool them.
They probably just forgot to give me any orders.
The group begins to fight the hobgoblin.
Well, I know Aki-kun is pretty capable, but what about the others?
