<h4>Chapter 15: The Hidden Tail</h4>


    “Let''s take a short break!” Ardin, leading the way, raised his spear and shouted. Only after venturing deep into the forest for a considerable length of time did he scan the surroundings and dismount from his horse.


    Karyl slowly looked back. <i>The forest path is narrowing.</i> It was simr to the terrain he knew. <i>This must be the ce, </i>he concluded, keeping his eyes on Ardin.


    Unaware of Karyl''s gaze, Ardin spoke to the three of them in a haughty tone.


    “Are you not finding it difficult? Such tasks don''t really suit young masters like yourselves, do they?”


    “We''re managing just fine.”


    Did he think that the sons of the MacGovern family were delicate flowers in a greenhouse? Karyl smiled faintly, smirking as he looked at Tiren''s face.


    “Should you find it tough at any point, just let us know. You can rest nearby, and we will handle everything. ughtering goblins hardly qualifies as a task at the border, after all.” His tone seemingly kind, yet carrying an underlying dismissal.


    He reached for the water sk hanging from his horse and took a drink. “Speaking of which, autumn is nearly upon us, yet it''s still so hot.”


    “Is that so? We''re ustomed to this level of heat at the MacGovern estate, so I hardly noticed.” Tiren spoke, his face remaining unchanged, which caused Ardin''s expression to stiffen.


    However, Tiren dismounted and spoke to Randol, disregarding Ardin as if he were of no concern. “Did you hear that, Randol? We''re entering the goblin territory''s boundary. From here on, you take the lead. There''s no need to trouble the Valsar family''s support troops with such a trivial task.”


    "Understood."


    “It’s such a <i>trivial</i> matter, after all.”


    Though childish, Tiren emphasized hisst words as if targeting Ardin specifically.


    Despite his young age, Tiren did not give an inch. Even if considered a fallen noble, Tiren—aside from Martte—was the sole noble among his brothers. This nobility was ingrained in his demeanor.


    <i>His personality remains the same, </i>thought Karyl, chuckling softly.


    No, that was the very essence of who Tiren was. His unyielding nature had stood firm even within the royal family.


    It was then that the goblins appeared out of nowhere.


    “Goblins spotted ahead!!!” The sentries shouted.


    “Prepare for battle!!” Ardin hastily raised his spear and shouted, his voice cutting through the air. At that moment, Karyl noticed a fleeting tremor in Ardin’s gaze, despite itsting only a split second.


    Following his cry, the soldiers swiftly drew their weapons, their expressions tense as they stood guard.


    <i>Boom—!!</i>


    The earth shook beneath them, causing the long grass around them to tremble violently and bend wildly.


    <i>Could it be...</i> Karyl thought, his mind racing.


    In that instant, goblins poured out from all directions.


    “Attack!!!”


    “Strike them down!!!”


    Hearing the shouts of Tiren and Ardin, the soldiers lunged at the emerging creatures with swords and spears.


    The sounds of battle echoed all around, relentless and fierce.


    Despite the overwhelming number of monsters swarming them, the soldiers countered with practiced skill.


    <i>Swoosh—</i>


    <i>Not yet, </i>Karyl thought as sliced a goblin''s throat.


    While the number of goblins—exceeding a hundred—was indeedrge, their own forces were more than sufficient.


    <i>Such an oue should note from this battle.</i> Karyl mused about this battle from his previous life. It was a near-total annihtion, followed by the death of Randol.


    “Maintain the formation!!”


    Initially shaken by the surprise attack, the soldiers gradually regained theirposure, and over time, the tide of battle shifted in their favor.


    Randol''s spirited cry further boosted the soldiers'' morale.


    “Aagh!!!”


    “Ughaaah!!!”


    At that moment, screams of soldiers came from the rear.


    “They are breaking through the backline!!”


    <i>Boom—!!</i>


    With a thunderous noise, soldiers were flung into the air as if caught in a storm, their bodies torn asunder, raining blood and flesh.


    <i>That creature is...</i> Karyl''s gaze sharpened, a realization dawning on him.


    Each goblin might be weak individually, but they tended to live in groups, usually ranging from dozens to hundreds. However, very rarely, a goblin with high intelligence would form a massive colony numbering in the thousands.


    They were known as the <i>Goblin Sorcerers.</i>


    But there was an even higher entity. The true leader,manding at least three Goblin Sorcerers: <i>The Goblin Chief.</i> Its size was double that of a regr goblin, and its intelligence surpassed that of the Goblin Sorcerer.


    Not only did it possess simple leadership, but it also enough intelligence tomand almost a unit-sized force. Itsbat prowess wasparable to that of ordinary knights.


    The appearance of a Goblin Chief meant there should be at least three thousand goblins here.


    [Roaarrr—!!]


    The Goblin Chief swung its massive broadsword mercilessly. The crude de was stained red with blood and bits of soldiers'' flesh sticking to it.


    “Fall back, everyone!!!” Tiren urgently shouted. However, the soldiers, frozen in fear, remained still, like sitting ducks.


    <i>Is it because of the Goblin Chief?</i>


    Randol''s death and the soldiers'' casualties.


    <i>Ardin Chandler might be a spy for the Lurein Principality, but could that ambush really have nothing to do with this incident?</i>


    Karyl’s eyes gleamed. <i>No, that''s not it.</i>


    With such a massive number of goblins, Kuwell would have subjugated them long ago.


    <i>The fact that it was unknown until now... Can a colony of thousands of goblins really form without being noticed?</i>


    It made no sense. Yet, there was one possibility.


    <i>They must have moved here recently before being discovered.</i>


    Then when could that have happened? <i>Precisely</i> <i>five days ago.</i>


    It was as if the goblins were waiting for their arrival. Goblins couldn’t possibly predict the timing of the subjugation ande here, after all.


    <i>There must be someone controlling them.</i>


    "Move!! Move!!" Ardin''s voice cut through the chaos.


    He raised his spear, and tried to move to the rear to face the Goblin Chief. However, the disarrayed soldiers, tangled up in the broken formation, made it difficult.


    Ardin fought fiercely, his spear bing stained red with the blood of goblins. If one did not know the oue of this battle from a previous life, they would never suspect him.


    Karyl cast a sharp nce at the shouting Ardin, and thought, <i>Is it you?</i>


    Now, show your hidden tail.


    ***


    There were two options.


    The first option was to kill the Goblin Chief there and gain merit. Kuwell, who had gone to the imperial capital, would soon return to suppress the barbaric tribes. If he were to not only prevent arge-scale attack, but also capture a big fish like the Goblin Chief, it would certainlye to his attention. And if it did, Karyl’s standing in the family would definitely change from what it was now.


    The second option was to give up on capturing the Goblin Chief and instead focus on observing Ardin''s actions. There might be some damage, but nearly a thousand troops wouldn’t be annihted by a single Goblin Chief. Moreover, his goaly beyond Ardin, in finding the hidden spy. Even if he couldn’t gain immediate merit, he could n for the future.


    Karyl faced the choice between immediate, smaller merit andrger future gains.


    For him, who was just starting out, it was crucial to figure out how to leverage this situation as a foundation.