Lord: Starting from a Goblin Nest

Chapter 26: Chapter 26: Arriving at Delusional Land

"Goblins?!"

Victoria’s expression soured as she watched a dozen or so wolves gallop toward them, each carrying two or three short, humanoid creatures on its back.

"How are there so many? Does that mean there’s a goblin nest nearby?!"

"Don’t panic. They’re with us," Ron said, patting her on the shoulder. "At least for now."

"It’s not realistic for just the few of us to explore the entire Delusional Land, is it?"

"So you allied with goblins? Gods," Victoria sighed. "They’re completely unreliable. Has no one ever told you that...?"

The Priest’s words were cut short by an even more piercing howl.

On the horizon, a massive beast, considerably larger than an ordinary wolf, came charging toward them. It wore a full set of barding and a saddle, upon which sat an Earth Goblin holding a long spear.

It was Klade.

"An Earth Goblin... and his Warg Mount!" Victoria’s wariness and hostility deepened. "Ron, this ’ally’ you’ve chosen is incredibly dangerous. You—" freēwebnovel.com

"I’m flattered," Klade said, urging his Warg Mount forward until he was right in front of them. "Delaford said you found us a decent spot?"

"Unclaimed land, rich in resources, and a harsh environment," Ron confirmed with a nod. "Where are the other goblins?"

"We’ve had to kill some of our mounts, so the rest are on foot," Klade said. He nodded to Aive, then his gaze fell upon Victoria. "And who is this woman?"

"I am..."

"She’s from a nearby town. It’s been plagued by refugees from the surrounding villages, so they’ve decided to expand into new territory..." Ron briefly explained the situation in Fromm.

"Hmm, so their town’s leader isn’t very interested in the Delusional Land," the Earth Goblin said with a grin. "Good. Then she can live. So can the refugees."

"Assuming there are actually enough resources there."

The history and culture of the Earth Goblins was one of constant conquest and expansion. Under normal circumstances, Klade would never have ignored the nearby town and its refugees. In his eyes, all other races—including their goblin cousins—were nothing more than slaves and cannon fodder.

But these were not normal circumstances. His army was at the end of its rope. Survival was the number one priority; everything else had to be set aside for later consideration.

"My Lord has no interest in new territory, but that doesn’t mean he’d appreciate having an Earth Goblin Warlord for a neighbor..." Victoria muttered. But since things had come to this, she didn’t take any further provocative action.

Whether it was out of loyalty to her two leaders, Victor and Ron, or her devotion to Heim, she would not show hostility now that an initial agreement had been reached—not even to goblins.

Heim’s teachings called for vigilance, a clear head, and keeping one’s word. Victoria decided to obey her Deity’s tenets: she would continue to follow Ron, but she would remain on high alert at all times.

"Excellent. It looks like we’ll get along just fine," Ron said with a smile. ’Lawful Neutral people really make for good companions,’ he thought. ’They might complain and question, but it never stops them from doing their duty.’

"To be honest, I didn’t have much hope, but you actually kept your promise," Klade said as he rode his Warg Mount at a slow pace beside Ron. "I’m impressed, human."

"So many races look down on us. They don’t trust us, so they feel justified when they betray us—they’re convinced we’d inevitably do the same to them."

"I lost a meal because of you," the Warg Mount under Klade huffed, its breath fogging in the air to show its displeasure. This massive beast was clearly a cut above the rest; it could actually speak the Common Language.

"Maybe that’s because so many of your kind have done just that," Ron said, glancing at the Warg Mount. ’It’s not like I’m blaming the victim,’ he thought, ’but everything I’ve seen and heard across two lifetimes has given me a pretty low opinion of goblinoids.’

"Is that so?" Klade feigned surprise. "Have you met many Earth Goblins? Or maybe she has? Or her?"

Klade pointed first to Aive and then to Victoria. Both women snorted in unison.

"Stories about your kind circulate among both Elves and humans," Aive said in a low voice. "And in those stories, Earth Goblins are rarely the heroes."

To say nothing of Goblins. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

"But I released you from prison, gave you a new lease on life, and even allowed you to leave our stronghold," Klade chuckled hoarsely. "And yet, it seems your opinion hasn’t changed."

"No, I have changed. The fact that I’m still here is the best proof of that."

It just went to show how poor relations were between goblinoids and other races, that simply keeping one’s word was considered proof of friendship.

Ron and Victoria chose a route that bypassed the town of Fromm, to avoid being seen consorting with goblins—not everyone would be willing to listen to Ron’s explanation.

The journey to the outskirts of the Delusional Land took about four days, though the goblin Wolf Cavalry scouts sent ahead were slightly faster.

"The air is getting damp," Klade said, licking his chapped lips with a look of excitement. He gazed up at the sky, where vast banks of rain clouds were gathering on the distant horizon.

"It’s going to rain," Victoria murmured.

It wasn’t just the goblins; the town of Fromm hadn’t seen rain in a very long time either.

"So this is the Delusional Land... Looks like we came to the right place," Ron said, breathing a small sigh of relief.

For the past several days, they had relied almost entirely on Victoria for drinking water. But while Water Creation Magic was useful, it consumed precious Casting resources. And according to Victoria’s own admission, she didn’t have Buni’s power and couldn’t perform more advanced Divine Magic.

The Priest had spent most of the past few days serving as a Warrior—though with so many goblins in their party, there was little need for them to hunt.

"What’s the plan?" Klade asked from his high vantage point, surveying the terrain ahead. "There’s a mountain hollow to our left. I’m not familiar with your customs—is that a suitable location for an outpost?"

Over the last few days, Ron and the Earth Goblin had struck another deal: the goblins would help them establish an outpost to maintain contact with the town of Fromm. In return, Ron would be responsible for persuading any arriving refugees, townsfolk, and merchants to coexist peacefully with the goblins and provide Klade’s people with trade.

"It could work, but we still need to push deeper. We’ll have to get our stone and lumber from the Delusional Land, after all," Ron proposed after a brief exchange with a returning Wolf Cavalry scout.