Through a dark forest, a wagon adorned with golden carvings, beautifully contrasting its white body, raced along a narrow woodland trail. The horses ran fiercely ahead, while cavalry armed with swords rode on both sides of the carriage.
The thunder of hooves echoed through the forest, ravaging the silence of the night.
"HALT!" the front cavalryman shouted.
The carriage came to an abrupt stop.
"What's the matter?" voices rose from different sides.
The man at the front narrowed his eyes. "Looks like there are monsters ahead."
"Really? Now we're afraid of some monsters?" another scoffed.
"We should still be careful," the first replied firmly. "We need to protect the young master."
Rustling sounds emerged from the bushes.
A goblin stepped out.
The other cavalryman chuckled. "See? What did I just say? It's just a mere goblin."
He stepped forward confidently.
"WAIT!!" the front guard suddenly roared.
The man stepped forward to eliminate the goblin.
But before he could strike—
The bushes around them began rustling.
Not one.
Not two.
All of them.
In the next instant, goblins started pouring out from every direction, crawling, shrieking, baring rotten teeth under the dim forest light.
They were surrounded.
A horde.
The man stumbled back half a step, worry flashing across his face—only for a moment.
"They're still just weaklings," he muttered through clenched teeth.
A goblin lunged at him.
Slash.
His blade cut clean through its neck, the head rolling across the dirt as the body collapsed.
"FORM UP!" someone shouted.
"Protect the carriage!"
"Don't let them get close!"
Steel clashed against crude weapons. Horses neighed violently as goblins tried to slip past the front line.
One cavalryman cut down two in a sweeping arc.
Another kicked one away before driving his sword straight through its chest.
"They're heading for the young master!"
"Kill them before they reach the carriage!"
A goblin leapt toward the wagon wheel—
It was split mid-air.
"Stay sharp!" the front guard roared. "There's too many!"
The forest echoed with battle cries, the clash of metal, and the high-pitched screeches of dying goblins.
And yet—
They kept coming.
From the shadows.
From the trees.
From everywhere.
The battle continued.
Thirtyminutes passed.
The ground was littered with goblin corpses, and the cavalry stood breathing heavily, blades stained, armor scratched.
"We've almost won," one man said with a relieved smile.
The next moment—
A blur flashed past.
His head split in half before the smile could fade.
Another soldier was lifted off the ground, a crude blade piercing through his chest. He coughed, blood spilling from his mouth before he collapsed.
"T-Those… those are High Goblins[1]!" someone shouted, fear cracking his voice.
From the shadows stepped taller figures—leaner, muscular, eyes sharper, movements disciplined.
The front cavalryman tightened his grip on his sword.
"Don't lose your calm!" he roared. "Hold them! We cannot let them reach the carriage!"
Steel clashed again, but this time the rhythm had changed.
The High Goblins moved with coordination, deflecting blows, striking at gaps, forcing the cavalry back step by step.
Inside the carriage—
A soft, cold voice spoke calmly, almost annoyed.
"What an irritating noise… Looks like I'll have to step outside."
A smaller hand grabbed hers tightly.
"No… don't go," came a soft, immature voice.
Outside, the battle raged on.
The cavalry were barely holding the line now.
And the High Goblins were advancing.
The front cavalryman fought desperately, shielding the carriage with the last of his strength.
A High Goblin slipped through the chaos and lunged from behind.
He saw it.
The blade descending.
Is this… my end? he thought.
But before the sword could reach him—
It stopped.
Right before his eyes.
For a split second, time froze.
Then the High Goblin's head slid cleanly off its shoulders and fell to the ground with a dull thud.
The body collapsed.
Behind the falling corpse stood Lucas.
Just in time, Lucas thought, relief flashing across his face.
Then his expression twitched.
It took all my savings to get here… I'm broke again.
The cavalryman stared at him as if witnessing a miracle.
Who is he? the man wondered in awe. An apostle sent by the gods to protect us?
Lucas noticed the stare.
What's his deal?
"Stand up," Lucas said calmly. "It's not the time to sit there."
Another High Goblin charged.
Lucas stepped forward.
One slash.
Clean.
Another came from the side.
He pivoted, blade flashing in a precise arc. The goblin fell before it could even scream.
They were fast.
But to Lucas—
They were slow.
Nothing compared to the Goblin General, he thought coldly. That thing was a real headache.
A High Goblin attempted to flank him with a coordinated strike.
Lucas ducked under one blade and drove his sword upward.
And I nearly died for that core.
Another one leapt from a tree branch.
He didn't even look up.
His sword moved.
The body split mid-air.
At least the reward better be worth it.
Within moments, the remaining High Goblins hesitated.
Their coordination faltered.
Lucas stepped forward again, eyes sharp.
"Come."
His blade shimmered faintly in the forest light.
They rushed him together—
And one by one, their heads hit the ground.
Silence slowly returned to the forest.
Only the sound of heavy breathing remained.
Lucas exhaled softly.
Next time… I'm charging extra.
---
Silence finally descended upon the forest.
Corpses of cavalrymen, goblins, and High Goblins lay scattered across the blood-soaked trail. The air smelled of iron and smoke.
The front cavalryman, wounded yet standing, stepped forward and bowed his head slightly.
"Brave hero… I don't know how to compensate you for saving us."
Lucas gave him a bright, harmless smile.
"It's not a big deal. Anyone would've done the same."
Like hell they would, he thought flatly. It took all my savings to buy a new weapon and travel here.
The least you can do is pay me ten times— no, a hundred times what I spent saving you.
The man continued insisting. "Please, allow us to reward you properly."
Lucas kept shaking his head modestly, even as an internal war raged within him.
Accept it. Take it. You're broke. Completely broke.
For a brief second, he almost opened his mouth—
But he stopped.
No.
What I came here for isn't money…
His gaze subtly shifted toward the carriage.
It's something far more valuable than that.
From within the carriage—
A small boy, no older than six or seven, stepped out hesitantly.
He had soft golden-blonde hair that fell neatly around his forehead, framing a pair of clear blue eyes that seemed far too calm for someone his age. His features were delicate, almost doll-like, giving him a refined, noble appearance.
He wore a white long-sleeved shirt beneath a light gray vest patterned with subtle diamond stitching, fastened with dark buttons down the front. A thin black ribbon was tied neatly at his collar. Dark navy shorts reached just above his knees, paired with long white socks and polished black shoes—simple, elegant, unmistakably aristocratic.
Despite his composed expression, his small hands were gripping someone tightly beside him.
Lucas watched him.
And then—
Here comes my entry pass, he thought, excitement flickering in his eyes.
He remembered this incident from the light novel.
The story mentioned this exact attack…
The wagon ambushed in the forest.
The cavalry slaughtered.
Everyone inside presumed dead.
Except—
The boy.
And the other person inside the carriage.
That much had been written.
But one detail had always been left vague.
The novel never mentioned who the other person was…
It was glossed over. Skipped. Treated as unimportant.
And yet—
That "unimportant" existence had clearly survived.
Lucas felt a faint thrill run through him.
Finally… I get to see that mystery unfold right in front of my own eyes.
His gaze shifted.
He looked beside the boy.
It was—
[1] High Goblins are an evolved variant of normal goblins. Unlike common goblins that rely purely on numbers and instinct, High Goblins possess enhanced intelligence, physical strength, and basic tactical awareness.They are not a different species — but a rank evolution triggered by survival, combat experience, or exposure to dense mana regions.