Chapter 238: Chapter 201: That Year at 18, Standing Like a Small Fry
"Follow me!" the Lord called out, raising his arm. Everyone charged out of the temporary camp.
Standing on a snowy slope, Si Kai pointed into the distance. The terrain was higher here, offering a better view.
The heavy snow had stopped, but under the night sky, it was impossible to see very far by the faint starlight alone. They could just faintly make out a dark figure treading through the ankle-deep snow, slowly advancing toward them.
Levi narrowed his eyes, peering into the darkness behind the figure, trying to spot more men.
"Just one?"
"I can’t see clearly. The scouts spotted him first, and they said there really is only one," Si Kai replied, shaking his head.
The reason he hadn’t acted rashly was that the whole situation was just too bizarre.
’If this was one of the Wilderness People deserting out of fear, why would he be walking *toward* us?’
But if not, why was he alone? It was completely baffling.
As time passed, the dark figure drew closer, and more details became visible.
It was a Giant Goblin. He had the exaggerated features typical of a Goblin, but his frame was much taller—close to six feet—and powerfully built. He wore a suit of Leather Armor and hunting boots that had the distinct air of the Military Nobility, and a short sword hung at his waist.
All together, he was not only free of the typical Goblin ugliness but was actually rather handsome. Even more striking were his eyes, which were clear and bright, as if holding a starry sky within them—a stark contrast to the dull, murky eyes of other Goblins.
At this moment, he was waving a gray cloth speared on a tree branch.
Watching this, Levi felt a sense of déjà vu.
"Is that Giant Goblin a messenger from the enemy?" Fujero ventured from the side.
Fujero couldn’t be blamed for thinking so. The Giant Goblin’s attire was clearly not that of some lowly deserter; Fujero would have even believed it if someone claimed he was a member of the Military Nobility.
"Whatever he is, let him approach and we’ll ask him. We’ll find out soon enough," Levi said with a wave of his hand. Behind him, the Panda Warriors lowered the javelins they had poised to throw.
...
When the enemy’s main force finally emerged from the Shadow Forest today and there was still no sign of Gus, Leiden knew. His old friend had either been captured or killed.
Either outcome made it difficult for him to hide his sorrow.
But he couldn’t afford to wallow in his grief. He had to find a way to survive.
Yes, a way to survive.
In Leiden’s eyes, the Zor Elves’ Alliance Army was like a ship riddled with holes on the Storm Sea. To remain aboard was to sink with it to a watery grave.
That was why he had braved the risk of coming to the human camp alone.
’Perhaps their sentries will shoot me down with an arrow before I even get close. Or perhaps their officers won’t deign to speak to a Goblin as lowly and insignificant as dust. But no matter what, this is my only chance, and I have to seize it.’
In any case, regardless of the odds, Leiden had come.
He had read a line in a human book: without action, a possibility is nothing more than a possibility.
This was his only chance to live.
The moment he saw an officer signal for that group of exceptionally brave Panda Warriors to lower their weapons, Leiden knew he was already halfway to success. Suppressing his inner joy, he walked closer.
There were four officers in total, standing on higher ground and looking down on him. In the flickering firelight, they seemed impossibly tall and imposing.
The most striking among them was the middle-aged human in the center, dressed in the attire of the Military Nobility. His expression was calm as he leaned on an exquisite cane, his posture both elegant and noble. He radiated a unique, commanding presence that naturally inspired awe. ’Clearly, he’s the highest-ranking person here,’ Leiden thought, ’the ultimate commander of this human army.’
Beside him stood the leader of the Panda People, who was as valiant as Gus, and a young human.
Although Leiden had never been to the Human World, he understood a few things about human armies. In a military setting, seniority and age were considered important factors. Typically, the human officers in command of soldiers were older, more experienced men.
Their experience and composure made them better leaders.
However, the human before him was excessively young.
He couldn’t help but wonder, ’Is this human an Attendant?’
After all, human nobles liked to keep an Attendant by their side, especially a handsome one. He wasn’t sure if there was some deeper meaning to the practice.
When his gaze fell upon the last man, however, his eyes lit up. The man’s face was resolute and determined, his build was powerful, and he exuded an indescribable aura. ’A powerful human warrior!’
Leiden was reminded of the Warrior in black Iron Armor who had so easily punched through the Alliance Army’s formation.
’It must be this human Knight right here.’
"Goblin, state your purpose," Fujero spoke. His voice was as heavy as a slab of rock, and just as intimidating.
"I am the Clan Leader of the Gale Tribe, and I come in good faith," Leiden said, placing a hand on his chest and bowing.
This took all of them by surprise. After all, since when did Goblins know the etiquette of human nobility?
His Leather Armor was slightly worn but clean and well-maintained. It definitely hadn’t been hastily stripped off someone else to make up the numbers.
The Sword hanging at his waist had a unique sense of history to it; one look at the Sword Scabbard told you it had seen its share of stories.
This Goblin was clearly different from the other Wilderness People.
He looked at Fujero with great respect. "Your Lordship must be the commander of this legion."
Fujero gave a slight nod.
"Your Wisdom is as if favored by the Gods. Every one of your strategic deployments has felt like trying to scale an insurmountable peak."
Leiden did not hold back his praise.
Fujero remained noncommittal. As the youngest Legion Commander, he’d been praised so often he was sick of hearing it, let alone from a Goblin.
Frankly, any other Legion Commander would have probably taken praise from a Goblin as an insult, but Fujero sensed something deeper.
’Could this Goblin be the commander who was leading the Wilderness Alliance Army?’
"And this Panda Warrior! Your valor is unmatched. You’ve crushed enough enemies to carpet an entire camp!"
Leiden praised each of them in turn, a brilliant smile on his face, as if he were filled with admiration and appreciation for every single one.
However, he didn’t realize that the straightforward Panda had already labeled him as a sycophant. Still, as the saying goes, you don’t hit a smiling face, so Panda gave him a perfunctory nod.
’Finally, it’s my turn!’
The Lord puffed out his chest like a proud peacock, ready to hear how this Goblin would praise him.
The deeds he had accomplished were earth-shattering, enough to be recorded in the annals of history. He could already imagine the Goblin’s praise flowing like an endless tide, that even by exhausting his meager vocabulary, the creature would struggle to express his reverence.
But to his surprise, the Goblin skipped right over him and turned to Si Kai, visibly perking up. A torrent of over-the-top, free-flowing praise followed—something about "outstanding strength," being "like a lofty peak," and a "reputation among the Wilderness People so fearsome it could scare someone from using the latrine at midnight."
Si Kai was dumbfounded. ’Since when was I that incredible?’ he thought.
Fujero’s lips, however, curled into a slight smile. It seemed the Goblin had mistaken his man.
The Lord of the land, standing there like a common gofer.
The Lord, having been mistaken for a common grunt, clutched at his chest, seething with indignation.
"You blind fool! I am the Lord, standing right in front of you, and you can’t even recognize me?"
"Huh?"
A knot of dread formed in Leiden’s stomach as he realized he had made a terrible mistake.
As he stared at the Lord—who was sneering at him while repeatedly tapping the hilt of the Treasure Sword at his waist—Leiden felt a chill on the back of his neck and couldn’t help but swallow hard.
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