Knights & Magic - Chapter 106: Ulterior Motive

“Are you serious?”

When Eru leans on the chair, he stares at the goblin king. In response of that kind of sharp glance, he shrugs it off like it was nothing.

“Of course, I have been and always will be ‘think’ about that. Finally, I got my hand with every card I need, and now it is the time to put it into realization. Do it for all-or-nothing! No need for me to hesitate anymore”

As he snaps his finger, he tries to leave the house as is.

“Still, from your side it might be a sudden proposal. Think about it for a while. Either way, you guys will also need that in the near future・・・”

Then, the moment he puts his hand on the doorknob. Just before he opened it, the door has opened it self in a sudden momentum.

A lone girl stands up in the front of the narrowed King’s eyes.

“Hm? That appearance, you’re not a villagers・・・is she your friend?”

“Yes. Please open the way Addy”

Although Eru has said that to her, Adeltrud snarl up at Oberon with glaring look. When he smiled back, his path is cleared. However, he doesn’t leave the house instead as he watches the two of them simultaneously with a delightful smile on his face.

“Yes, indeed, how can I say it. The people in the west is surely send a lot of beauties. Is that really how it is?”

“Well, who knows?”

“Kukuku, either way I will welcome them all! hahaha・・・”

In the front of Eru who just merely pretending, the King has left the house after he suppressed his laughter. As if he was being replaced, Addy rushed to Eru direction.

“For crying out loud, what a creepy guy! Eru-kun, are you okay? Did he do something weird to you!?”

“I’m fine. What did you mean weird thing・・・・”

Like always, she is being herself and embraced Eru who have a grim smile.

“Who is that person? Oh right, I heard from Parl-chan that giant was actually a Silhouette Knight, right?”

“Yes. In here they are called Mystic Knight apparently. And the one who comes from that is his majesty Oberon himself. He is the King of the goblin who reign over this land”

Addy raised her face and starts blinking her eyes.

“Eh. Why does the King suddenly come to us? I thought he is more like a knight commander to me”

“I thought so, his way of speaking is rather bold after all”

Even without figure it out, there’s no king who would come so boldly like that. But after hearing from the scale of his story, apparently it was true it seems.

“Leaving that aside. Let us go too Addy”

“Together with that King?”

“I can say for sure the goblin is same like us. For that reason, they are asked us to fight Rubel Clan along with them”

When Addy is frown upon her brows, she then whispered in Eru’s ear.

“Isn’t it way too sudden. Somehow I caaan’t trust him at all. What about you, Eru-kun?”

“I think we should accept his offer”

Addy is unexpectedly tilted her head on the side.

“Are you sure?”

“We have nothing to gain even if we refuse, in contrary we will gain more allies if we accept it. Besides, Kaellous Clan also wants to fight with Rubel Clan, my debt to them hasn’t been paid too either way. It looks like we have a same interest with him” as he said that, he deepens his smile. “Moreover, it seems like he has many motives behind his situation. We must keep our link to his surrounding in order to find more about it”

“Uh-huh, sure. The basic of hunting is gathering information, right!”

“Our battle will start once we know their true motives”

Addy is once again hugged Eru tightly.

“Fufu” she chuckled. “It will be fine. No matter where you going, I will surely come with you my dear commander!”

“Thank you, Addy. While we’re talking with them・・・・it seems we need to hide Kasasagi for a time being”

“Kasasagi? For what?”

“Beside fighting with Rubel Clan, they were looking for a clue to return to the west. I suppose they were already known about levitate ship. In that case, they surely want to know about Ether reaction theory which is the flight technology that doesn’t rely on any demonic beast”

Eru is looking at the village center, within his sight the precious piece-of-junk flying object was still enshrined in there.

“Unlike the levitate ship which whereabouts are still unknown, Kasasagi is here after all. Although it is not something you can be imitated that easily, it is not like I can give it to them too. They surely must be prepared to be burned if the want to touch it”

“They are from our precious Ikaruga and Shii-chan after all～”

Both of them nodded at each other.

“Let us go to see their capital or whatever it was first then”

Afterward, when the both of them who have already decided on something left the house, unexpectedly Oberon was still in there. For some reason, he who was looking at the surrounding scenery spread his arms in the front of them.

“Well, well, I take it you already decided, right?”

“Yes. We will take your offer. All that is left is to explain everything with the Kaellous Clan”

Oberon then give a clap with his hand and deepen his smile.

“Well, I’m glad to hear it! It is truly wonderful, people of the west! And also・・・・”

He suddenly stops his remark and look up at the two of them for a while. Then closing his distance to the puzzled cautious’ pair and stretch out his hand.

“Hmm. As I though, it is different from our people・・・”

As if he was trying to lay his hand into Addy’s hair, but instead his arm got nothing to caught. In an instant, Addy moved behind Eru’s back and glare at the King from Eru’s small presence.

“Oh my. Kuku, pardon me. Well, don’t be so hard on me”

He showed unexpected emotion at first but immediately smeared it with a smile. When he shrugs off his shoulder, he immediately returns to his heels and beckons.

“Anyway, shall we go to our capital, then? I can’t even show you our hospitality on this small village. You can expect to be welcomed with a party by then”

Addy is closely hugged Eru while glaring at the King’s back.

“What’s his problem? Now I’m certain, I don’t like that guy at all”

“Mmm. Well, for time being, he is in our side. Let’s leave it on the right times if we are eventually going to be against him”

With a sullen look, Addy pulled Eru’s squishy cheek.

“I’m sure Eru-kun is looked like planning two or three steps in the future, but in truth you’re juuust flowing from the flow, I am right?”

“Whet aeee you syaing jeezz. Please say it like I’m always do my best in everything”

Thus, the lovely couple went to the Kaellous direction.

◆

There are many titans gathered near the entrance of the goblin’s village. There is a Mystical beast in front of them. Although it is something like an enemy for them who have challenged the battle, but now Eru is talking with them. They couldn’t afford to fight with them. They are waiting quietly as if they were meditating but without releasing any tension, they were able to fight immediately if something has happened.

“Sorry to keep you waiting”

In there, Eru has come back. The Third-eyed Seat of the Brave opens his closed pupil and look at his feet.

“How was it the enquiry?”

“We have decided to not fight with them”

“I see”

Eru continues to explain the contents of the discussion with the King. The member of the Kaellous Clan looked at each other faces and think deeply about the contents. Among of them, the Brave smack his knee in amusement.

“So, the goblins have decided to fight Rubel Clan. That’s the good thing to hear. I can see how much their eyes have been corrupted to an extent being betrayed by their own protégé. That’s what you get when you can see your surrounding” sneered the Brave and tries to stand up. His eyes are pointing at their hundred capital (Metropolitan). “It seems you are correct, goblin braver”

“Let’s see, what do you mean?”

“Rubel Clan was indeed the largest clan among of us. And in order to defeat them we need to unite ourselves with another smaller clan. However, that ignorance was our fault in the beginning. They also have a weakness as well. In order to do that we must know more about them first. Just like as you said”

“Brave, so you mean”

In the response of the Servant question, the Brave nods his head.

“We shall go as well. To be closer with them, to know them better. We still have many things to know”

The Kaellous Clan’s members responded to the Brave’s word, then stood up and rang their arms in unison.

Also, Eru is nodding his head in agreement.

“Well then, let’s go with them. I’d like to go there immediately but it seems I need to explain this to the people in the village”

Later, Eru goes to the hiding villagers and explain the situation. Although they were looked each other face in an uneasy condition, eventually the village chief came forward like he has determined his intentions.

“How could・・・the King want something from me”

“It seems his interest is focused on us, and it’s not like he was coming to blame us either”

When Eru said he is accepting their offer, a groan has raised between the villagers.

“Then, what should we from now on・・・”

“Yes. Together along with us, let’s go to the upper city”

In regard of their determination who just nods one after another, Eru was rather put his head on the side.

“If you go with them, what you will face later on is a war. And the opponent is Rubel Clan which known as the largest clan among the giant”

In one word, they are depressed at once. It can be said, they have no power to fight at all, this fact alone already proved by earlier assault. They can feel a whole new change like a wave will hit them.

“Moreover although, we will go along with the King, this battle will surely give an impact to every goblin’s live who resides in this land”

Once again, Eru corrected his posture and face in the villagers’ direction.

“Everything will be fine. I will do my best to make it a good result for you guys. I will return the favor for giving me a change to build Kasasagi in here”

When Eru shows his gentle smile, every villager nod in agreement. There is no other choice for them who didn’t know what will happen in the future other than believing this small knight.

◆

A strange looking group was advancing through the beast trail surrounded by the hollowed path among the trees. The one who leading them in the front is the artificial titan, Mystical Knight and the ones who following it are several numbers of titan. In addition, Eru and Addy are riding Kasasagi just above of them which look like a bizarre-looking machine that floats in the sky.

It was such a disoriented group but their objective is focused in one place. The journey to the goblin’s capital was quite peaceful than they imagined. Speaking of commotion, there was once an appearing demonic beast that happened to misread the situation then served for their meal of the day.

Then, after going through the path for a while. Eru and his companion are basically working with the Kaellous Clan. When they are in move, he is always above of them, and when they are resting, he also rested with them. One day right at dinner, Oberon show up his face among the Kaellous Clan group. So far, the goblin didn’t interfere that much with the Kaellous Clan and just lead through the way. While the titans were also having no intention talking to the goblin, in the end there was a little distance between them.

At first Oberon himself was rather not mind about it. However, as expected, he can’t bring him along by himself and eventually he had several servants behind him.

All of his followers are wearing leather armor that focused on beast’s fur, and they clearly know how to fight. They are not a mere follower, but they are the highest class within this land, which known as a knight.

Unlike the King who behaved like a fool, they are just stayed on the behind. Although they were always shut their mouth, sometimes they were ogling at Eru and Addy which is guest from the west without reserve.

Addy was rather creeped by it but in contrary Eru didn’t seem to mind them at all and then greet them.

“Let us have a nice detailed story. I don’t want to turn this trip into a boring guide tour one however!”

The King laughed while companying Eru on the dinner.

“I see, when you’re always with the giant, you don’t have to worry about food, huh. That’s really convenient”

Then, while he was eating the dinner away, somehow, he nodded by himself and looked back again.

“By the way Ernesti, it seems you have a good relation with the giants, right”

“Well, are you not?”

When Eru asked Oberon back, he made a straight face for a moment then immediately laugh it off that enough to make him hold his belly and long enough to make him settled.

“Are we not you say? Haha! Yes, we’re not. We are absolutely had no good relation at all! Those guys think us no more than like an insect with a brain inside!”

Although he was laughing for a while, none of his eyes reflecting the faint glint of joy.

“Even though you have such splendid Silhouette Knight, you are also familiar with the giant enough for them to share their food. How wonderful! How can you able to tame them this much?”

“There’s no such thing like a taming you know. Albeit, a lot of thing happened first, in the end we are welcomed as a clan member”

“You say, the goblins and the giants!! My, my, your humor is quite good, I see!!”

Eru didn’t blame for the King who is casually laughing in front of him for not believing. He was welcomed as a member of the Kaellous Clan because he is the top-class knight back in his country. There are no much people who able to defeat the Brave with skill alone. Moreover, if this kind of power were also having the same extent in other clan, it wouldn’t be hard to imagine how the remnants of the Bocuse Expeditionary Force which once had been exhausted and lived on this land.

“A military power・・・in other word, the Silhouette Knight, I mean, the Mystical Knight is the ones who maintain this land right”

Eru looks at the person behind the King who still continue laughing. Comparing the loud King, they didn’t say even a word and just stay there. That kind of atmosphere is more refined and dangerous than the knight from Fremmevira Kingdom. Granted, their relationship between the titan isn’t the peaceful one.

“Kuku. Sorry I just hear something very important. I’m sure you’re not lying when I see you were working with them like this. I’m grateful for you to deal with the Rubel Clan no matter what the result!”

After that, the King and his follower went back to their camp.

“He surely wanted to do something, isn’t he?”

The only one person who was making noise until the end is the King, as for the follower, they didn’t even change their expression at all. From Addy’s way of things, she finds it rather creeped by it and then puts her head on the side.

“Was it to deepen our relationships, or just want to sell us high with praise. I don’t really care either way”

“Eru-kun, sometimes I find you rather evil”

Thus, she washed away her previous thoughts and sigh to embrace Eru again.

◆

The camping location of the goblin is surrounded by the Mystical Knight. Unlike the titans who were able to do move freely when they are attacked, or like Eru who gifted with many kinds of abilities. They need to be prepared for the demonic beast.

“Sometimes, a lively meal is not bad too, huh”

“However, My King・・・there is no reason for you to behave like that”

An elderly man advanced from the middle of the followers. He opened his mouth on the slightly wrinkled face in distortion.

“It is fine already. I think it would be a good training when dealing the brainless giant to have a hearth together”

The man couldn’t hold his breath anymore. He already knows from his past experience that this King will not listen from such a word. When he regained his composure, he changes the topic.

“My King. No matter how it looks, we’re unable to see them no more than a child”

“You already saw it didn’t you? His attire, there’s no way for him to be a mere villager. And there’s no way for us to know he is already a knight”

“Certainly, he is sure the strange one. Even so, what can a mere child do to us?”

Looking at the man who uttered the obvious reason, the King twisted his mouth into a shape of a smile.

“Whether young girl or dying old man, I do not care. Someone who keeps that strange-looking Silhouette Knight, and a technique to fly in the sky without anyone help. That’s enough for me”

“Yes, we only need the Silhouette Knight. There’s no need for a child, no?”

Immediately, the King erased his smile. When he takes a long deep breath, he glare at the man with different gaze unlike before.

“You fool. We’re only taking the ‘Song Catastrophe (Necrolis Song)’, how long do you think it would take. Our opponent is an unknown Silhouette Knight, there is no guarantee we can handle it easily. And whatever it is, we absolutely need it”

The King stood up, and looked at the surrounding knight.

“Once we have the song and the sky, we joint hand together and slay down the enemy. When the giant has left, we will get the ‘ship’・・・・that is the only wish we have”