Seeing the two powerful ogres fall so easily to Sakeer's blades, the hidden goblin's heart sank. The human was getting closer — step by step — and with each swing of his twin swords, the wind pressure alone stung the goblin's face.
Escape...
For a goblin, fear wasn't just instinct — it was woven into their very being. Faced with certain death, the urge to flee overwhelmed all other thoughts.
Yet...
If the goblin had simply remained motionless, Sakeer might have overlooked it. After all, Camouflage magic blended perfectly with the environment, and as long as Sakeer didn't step directly on it, there was a good chance he'd pass right by.
But in its panic, the goblin bolted.
The magic shimmered and distorted as it moved, revealing a shifting blur — an unnatural patch of changing colors, like a living smudge on the scenery.
Unmistakable.
"I see you!"
Sakeer's voice was cold, yet his smile betrayed his satisfaction.
Without hesitation, he turned, locking onto the fleeing blur.
Huh?
Sakeer's eyes narrowed as he noticed something unusual.
The goblin was fast — remarkably fast. Despite the dense jungle, it moved effortlessly, weaving through twisted roots and tangled undergrowth as if running on flat ground. The surrounding foliage barely seemed to hinder it.
"What kind of ability is this?"
Sakeer's curiosity flared — but his actions didn't falter. Gripping his sword's hilt in reverse, he drew back his arm and hurled the weapon like a javelin.
Whoosh!
The blade tore through the air, whistling as it shot forward with deadly speed.
Thud!
The sword struck true, piercing the fleeing goblin's back.
"Aahhh!"
A pained shriek erupted from the creature as it collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony.
Sakeer strode forward, calm and deliberate.
With its concentration shattered by pain, the goblin's Camouflage spell unraveled. Its true form flickered into view — and Sakeer paused, momentarily surprised.
"This…"
This wasn't a typical goblin.
Instead of the usual dark green skin, this one's complexion was noticeably paler. Two sharp fangs jutted from its lower jaw, and most striking of all — its size.
Unlike ordinary goblins, who rarely grew taller than a human child, this creature's body matched that of a dwarf — compact yet solidly built.
"I'm going to die!"
"It hurts... I'm gonna die!"
The goblin writhed on the ground, voice trembling with pitiful cries. The sword jutting from its back oozed green blood, painting the forest floor.
Sakeer's expression remained cold.
His earlier guess had been off — this wasn't a mutated goblin.
"A Hobgoblin...?" Sakeer murmured to himself.
Hobgoblin.
A subspecies of goblins, superior in both strength and intelligence. Their mental faculties were closer to that of humans, making them far more dangerous than their lesser kin.
However...
Unlike standard goblins, Hobgoblins had significantly weaker reproductive abilities. Since they could still breed with ordinary goblins, they often lived alongside them, enjoying a higher social status due to their superior traits.
Sakeer stepped forward and planted his boot firmly on the wounded Hobgoblin's head, grinding it into the dirt. The Hobgoblin's wails faltered, its breath catching in terror.
Sakeer reached down, grasped the hilt of his embedded sword, and yanked it free.
Splurt!
Green blood sprayed from the open wound.
"Aahhh!"
The Goblin's screams returned — louder, shriller. It convulsed violently, voice breaking into a desperate plea.
"Human! D-Don't kill me!"
"If you kill me... the trolls won't let you go! Aaaahhh!"
Bang!
Sakeer's boot drove down again, shoving the Goblin's face deeper into the dirt. Rotten leaves and mud filled its mouth, cutting off its cries.
"Noisy." Sakeer's voice was sharp with irritation.
Yet as the Goblin's muffled sobs quieted, Sakeer's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
"...Trolls?"
That word sparked a memory.
If he recalled correctly, there was indeed a Hobgoblin settlement that operated under the protection of trolls — the Gigu Tribe.
"I see..." Sakeer muttered.
So this wasn't just random stalking. There was something more behind this.
The Hobgoblin beneath Sakeer's boot was no ordinary Hobgoblin — he recognized that now.
This particular goblin — a Hobgoblin — belonged to a subspecies known for their superior intelligence and stronger physique. Much like how regular goblins relied on ogres for protection, Hobgoblin played a similar role under the rule of trolls. Thanks to their cunning minds, Hobgoblin often found themselves integrated into troll societies — serving as scouts, informants, or even strategists.
Of course, in the eyes of the trolls, Hobgoblin were still just expendable. If food ran scarce, their "allies" quickly became a convenient meal.
Sakeer recalled the stories he'd heard — after the Bone King had slain the infamous Eastern Giant Troll, Guu, the Gigu Tribe was freed and later merged with the Carne Village. That same tribe had also fallen under the rule of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, making it one of the rare races that had survived the brutal power struggles of this world.
But that group was supposed to live deep within the jungle — far from the outer region where Sakeer had been operating.
"So what's a Hobgoblin like this doing here?"
Sakeer's gaze hardened. The pieces of the puzzle were falling into place — this Hobgoblin was the one manipulating the goblin groups that had been harassing him for days.
It made sense. Hobgoblins like this one — considered nobility among their lesser kin — had the authority to command ordinary goblins.
As for the ogres?
Thanks to their simple minds, ogres were far more likely to follow a clever Hobgoblin's orders than a regular goblin's.
Sakeer shifted his foot slightly, eyeing the trembling Goblin beneath him. The creature's breathing had grown ragged, its body twitching uncontrollably as if it could expire at any moment.
"Tch... fragile."
Still, Sakeer had to admit — this Hobgoblin was far tougher than its lesser kin. The sword he'd thrown earlier had been restrained, yet still strong enough to kill an ordinary goblin outright.
Yet this Hobgoblin, despite being severely wounded, had managed to survive.
Sakeer's expression suddenly shifted as a new thought crossed his mind.
"You might still be useful."
He extended his hand toward the Hobgoblin's bloodied back.
"Minor Heal."
A soft white glow enveloped the Hobgoblin's wound, causing the bleeding to cease. Though the injury wasn't fully healed, it was enough to stabilize the creature's condition.
The Hobgoblin, who moments ago seemed on the verge of death, stilled. Its trembling eyes gradually regained focus, and its breath steadied.
Dazed and disoriented, the Hobgoblin weakly lifted its head from the dirt — face smeared with mud, leaves clinging to its greasy green skin.
Its gaze locked onto Sakeer, who stood above it with cold, calculating eyes.
"H-Human..."
The Hobgoblin voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper. Its body jerked as it instinctively scooted backward, shrinking into itself.
"If you let me go... Troll-sama... Troll-sama will spare you!"
The Hobgoblin's words stumbled out in a frantic attempt at persuasion. It gripped its throat tightly — as if the pressure on its neck would somehow make its trembling voice sound more confident.
But the forced bravado didn't fool Sakeer.
His expression didn't change.
(End of Chapter)