第１２２７堀：驚きの事実 (Part1)
Chapter 1227: A Surprising Fact
Side: Jessica
*Crackle, crunch...*
The sound of grass being trampled underfoot echoed through the woods.
Since I was on horseback, I was less fatigued than those traveling on foot, but I couldn't help but feel a bit concerned for the guards. Coordinating between cavalry and infantry when something goes wrong is never an easy task.
Yes, we were currently en route to the goblin village.
True to Viscount Aoku’s word, the supplies had arrived on the scheduled date, so we had set out immediately. It was refreshing to deal with someone who actually kept to a schedule; with less competent nobles, one often finds the departure date pushed back repeatedly due to one excuse or another.
Well, since Yuki had invited Lady Fusora to Weed, the Viscount’s primary objective had, in a sense, already been achieved. The real issue would be managing the inevitable jealousy from other nobles who hadn't been invited.
But setting that aside, I needed to keep my eyes on our surroundings.
As I scanned the area, my gaze suddenly locked with Samantha’s.
"Jessica-san, is something the matter?"
"No, I was just keeping a lookout. As you can see, the visibility here is surprisingly poor."
"Indeed. Though, we can't exactly go around clearing the forest just to improve our line of sight."
"That is true."
If we were to exert even a fraction of our true power, carving a straight path to the goblin village would be trivial. However, doing so would ignore the will of the goblins themselves and potentially disrupt the local ecosystem. That being the case...
"Yuki, are we not going by air?"
If we used flight magic, we would be far safer, and we wouldn't be wasting time on a slow, terrestrial trek.
"I don't want to unnecessarily agitate the goblin village. Besides, we need to accompany the guides, Haiden and Zufia, along with the guards. Considering all that, walking is the optimal choice."
"I see."
Indeed, it would be a blow to the guards' pride if the people they were supposed to be protecting ended up escorting them instead. Furthermore, while Haiden might not mind, showing off such capabilities so casually could stir up unnecessary suspicion in Zufia. My suggestion had been rather shallow. Above all, there was no point in alarming the goblins we were about to make contact with for the first time.
Just as I was reflecting on my own lack of foresight, a voice reached me.
*“Lady Jessica. Please rest assured, we are monitoring the skies and the surrounding area.”*
"Thank you. My apologies, I had momentarily forgotten that Kirika and the others were with us."
Of course. It was absurd to think we were the only ones providing security. With Yuki out here, it was only natural that Kirika and her team were on duty as well.
"Well, it’s good to be enthusiastic, but don't forget to relax a little."
"Yes, sir."
It seemed I had been wound a bit too tight, perhaps because it had been a while since I’d served as Yuki’s guard. I decided to try and enjoy the rare experience of horseback riding, even if it was just a slow, steady crawl through the forest.
"Steve, come to think of it, I didn't see you in the town of Aoku. Where were you?"
"Ah, well, I'm a goblin, see? It causes a bit of a stir if I walk into town, so I was waiting outside. Or rather, waiting back at Weed."
"I see. Are you that popular?"
"I wouldn't call it 'popular.' I'm a rare species around these parts, so Enola-neesan told me to stay put to avoid any confusion. Right?"
"That’s right. Steve is an incredibly rare species on this continent, so he’d cause even more of a commotion than we would. Plus, he’s Yuki’s guard, right? If the locals found that out, it would be a massive scandal."
"Is that how it is?"
"Haha, in other places, I'm treated like a pest, but here... well, it’s a bit of a hassle, isn't it?"
I understood why Steve gave a wry smile. It was rare to see such a disparity in how one was treated, and it certainly sounded like a headache. Ever since I married Yuki, my official standing had surpassed even Lady Marly’s, and I still occasionally struggle with the confusion and complications that arise from how the people of Zilba treat me. Hivia, who had been my fellow adjutant, had once told me with a wry smile that it was just the price of success—though she had been complaining about how busy she was with Lady Marly’s affairs at a coffee shop at the time.
As we were chatting, Yuki suddenly looked toward Steve.
"Steve, come to think of it, do you sense anything?"
"Sense anything, boss?"
"I was wondering if you could track the thoughts of the goblins living quietly at the foot of this great mountain range."
"That’s impossible, boss. You know that better than anyone, right? I was raised under your wing. Even if we’re the same race, there’s no way I could understand the thoughts of these half-naked wild children."
Steve was right, of course. He was no ordinary goblin. Compared to wild goblins, the difference was like heaven and earth. In what other world would you find a goblin capable of operating firearms and heavy weaponry without a single issue?
"Well, I suppose that’s true. But the fact that they’ve built a village means they have intelligence and live in a collective society, right?"
"Now that you mention it, yeah. Man, it’s a mystery. Usually, in the wild, the pattern is they live in caves or ruins, attack people, and... well, you know."
"That’s what I find strange. Wild goblins multiply on their own. The fact that they aren't causing those kinds of incidents and are functioning as a village unit is what’s bothering me."
"Could it be something suspicious? For example, are they kidnapping women in the shadows?"
"No, if they were doing that, it would have become a problem long ago. Besides, Enola, have you ever confirmed anything like that in the goblin village?"
"Of course not. The goblins in that village are entirely self-sufficient."
"?"
We all tilted our heads at the sheer, jarring dissonance of Enola’s statement. As we were busy trying to figure out what was so strange about it, Enola dropped a bombshell.
"Come to think of it, the goblins we see in Weed are all male, aren't they? What do they do about the women?"
"Hah!?"
The shock of her statement was so profound that we all let out an involuntary cry, causing the guards to look our way, suddenly on high alert.