Day 27:

Please kill me!!

Even if the exhaustion from yesterday’s battle was gone after a good night’s rest and a full belly, forcing us up as soon as the sun rose to run laps on the open space by the cave is just too much Colonel.

“Aaaah~ another ten more laps.”

He yawned! He seriously yawned!

My lungs are on fire and I can’t feel my arms or legs. At this stage it’s just auto pilot.

The sound of footsteps from a small group of people and some shaking bushes stopped everyone in their tracks. Gobukichi stops swinging his axe, Gobumi stops her target practice and Gobue at the head of the runners even slows her pace. Seems after yesterday everyone's on alert.

The Colonel looks wide awake now, drawing his estocs with a bloodthirsty grin on his face.

Will I have time to run back and grab my weapon or will we attack unarmed?

I was thinking just as a burly Hobgoblin wearing blood smeared good quality leather armour pushes his way casually through the undergrowth. Behind him around two dozen or so armed and armoured Goblins. I was surprised by the two other Hobgoblins in the group but the biggest surprise came from seeing the treasure they had brought back.

Five human girls.

Over the whispers of the others I heard Gobujii’s voice

“Calm down. Those are just your parents generation back from raiding.”

Then he and Goburou went off to meet the new group.

The tension on our side was still high and the tension among the older Goblins lower halves seemed to be increasing.

“What did you say!!?”

Don’t know what I missed but that leader looking new Hobgoblin is gripping the Colonel by the collar roughly while Gobujii his standing between them shaking his head in a ‘yare, yare’ like fashion.

Why’s he drawing his sword?!?

Like a match to a powder keg the tension on both sides exploded; Gobukichi is backing up Goburou with his axe out up front while the girls are covering them from further back. On the other side most of the new Goblins have drawn their own weapons and are glaring menacingly at us.

So far it’s just a pissing contest between the leaders and a staring contest between the grunts. Won’t anybody stop this before it gets too far??

“Oi! Don’t involve us in your personal war. To bothersome.”

“Seriously Annoying~”

Thank you my Goddesses.

The one who spoke up was the Hobgoblin wearing the robe and carrying a gnarled wooden staff. She’s looks like a magical girl or at least the tribal Hobgoblin equivalent of one. The other Hobgoblin, also a female, chimed in behind her. As I was lost in my adoration she sorted out the mess, calming the scene and making it a one on one duel to decide the leadership of the Goblin community.

“Ahahaha, as expected of Hobusei.”

The other Hobgoblin had an athletic build compared to the more indoor type vibe of the first. Their contrasting personalities actually go together quite well.

With a well-toned, battle scarred physique of a veteran who looked like he could snap the lithe body of our boss in half, the Hobgoblin leader had stripped off his armour and was limbering up in just a dirty tank top and pants.

Meanwhile Goburou seemed unconcerned, even as his opponent dropped into a low stance. It was evident from it that he’d start with a tackle and let his superior strength finish it off.

The rabble of new Goblins had broken out and were leisurely sitting around.

They were taking small objects out of worn pouches. I was stunned to hear they were actually betting, they were given some good odds and if I had had the means I might have been tempted myself. On the other side our lot were quietly waiting patiently for the match to begin. The two Hobgoblins were standing near the trophy women, while Gobumi was holding Goburou’s weapons.

Gobujii, who was refereeing, signalled a start and now sooner than he did so was it over.

Even before the other leader could start his charge, Goburous mouth opened and an ear splitting howl erupted for it. I felt the air quiver around me. That and the fierce glare in his eyes stopped Hobuken, the new leaders name going by the cheers of support from his goblins, in his tracks.

He was quickly ensnared by some strange white fibre that poured from Goburou’s fingertips before being trussed upside down from the nearest tree.

“Well then, care to give up?”

Hobukens defiance was quickly silenced by another string shot before he became the Colonels personal punching bag and he wasn’t pulling punches. We all watched on in stunned silence.

Only after the body bag went limp and stopped moaning did he stop.

Unfortunately that only happened after several large cracking sounds emerged from the cocoon. Everyone’s a little shaken by the scene especially by the devilish grin he was sporting while pummelling the clearly defenceless victim.

What a scary boss we’ve got. Crap he looked this way! Of course I don’t want to challenge you!!

Satisfied he took the head of the challenger and forced a strange liquid into his mouth, Hobuken gagged because he was still upside down.

After declaring the women off limits he left with them in tow for the deepest part of the cave.

We cut down the ex-leader and set about rubbing a salve of [Healing Grass] into his wounds. It works better like this then as infused cloth wraps just because of the type of injury.

That didn’t take all of us so while some patched him up most everyone else returned to training and our three Hobgoblins showed the new guys around. It took several of his underlings to carry Hobuken into the cave.

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That evening in the low flickering of torchlight I fell asleep to the sounds of women sobbing whole heartedly.

Day 28:

It seems after a long chat Goburou has some plans for the five captured woman but he hasn’t told us yet and watching some of the older generation loitering around the treasure room is getting pathetic.

When he did return we were told to gather up everything we could and prepare to travel

A few goblins grabbed their weapons eagerly but he said today we’re just moving house to accommodate the returners and their treasures.

He chose ten suitable goblins and assigned them under Gobukichi. The advanced party were to travel ahead and secure the Orc mine for us to use as our new home base. I’m not sure if I’m happy or sad about not being picked as part of the vanguard.

Those that were left weren’t just waiting idly.

Oh, no as soon as the vanguard set off me a few other lower rankers like me were fitted with backpacks and loaded up by the other goblins. When we were full the group at the next stage up from us were loaded in a similar fashion.

In this production line like method everything in the cave was stowed away and ready to carry within the hour. My pack was cramped full of hide pelts, dried meats and herbs. Still dressed in just my dirty lion cloth but I have my ragged blanket slung over my shoulder and draped around my body.

My new short sword is snuggly strapped to me waist and I’ve been given an old shell shield and horn spear to carry, as much for convenience as practicality.

It’s a more spirited march then when we made the trip the first time.

The five girls are huddled together in the centre of the convoy with the Hobgoblin girls guarding four points around them.

Their hands aren’t bound and they don’t look submissive but still they’re following us obediently.

The small Red headed warrior looking one keeps glancing around inquisitively. Definitely not the look you’d expect from someone who will be ending their days as a baby making machine.

When we make it to the mine site we are greeted by Gobukichi, the rest of the advanced party are busy striping the bodies of several orcs, seems there was some trouble at the mine. After accepting the hearts Goburou allows the members of the advance to claim an orc each.

To the victor goes the spoils.

The grumbles I hear at unfairness of not being picked show just how well established this meritocratic culture is becoming. Just do your best in the future.

Goburou left Gobujii in charge with establishing our new home and led the five girls deeper into the mine.

While most of the others are sorting out the weaponry and sleeping arrangements, Hobgoblins and Goblins were in different places and even the Goblins were split between two rooms, Gobujii sent me to the back of the mine. I was joined by several other Goblins who were carrying the same type of supplies as me.

I was just in time to see Goburou alter the layout of the cave with nothing more than a wave of his hand.

Add earth magic or earth control to his list of powers. Seriously!!?

What he’s built here is the domain of the captured women. This area is the smithy, this areas the kitchen and over there is going to be an alchemy station. Further back will be there sleeping quarters but he shooed us away quickly after we dropped off our packs.

I moved my things around till this place felt like home.

Compared to our old one this one has quite the modern innovations. Small glowing red rocks are set into the walls to provide adequate lighting in the girl’s area and some blue rocks can mysteriously produce water. The fabled magic stones.

A larger collection of red rocks are brought together in both the kitchen and the forge sections.

We now even have toilets, a simple pit toilet but it’s still better than before. Go in a corner and cover it with sand or dig a hole outside.

Also while being served a very tasty stew like dish, under Goburou’s watchful gaze, I snuck a peek at the girls living quarters. They had simple beds; wooden framed and what looked like a mattress. Is this discrimination!

I thought it would be difficult to sleep somewhere new but I was out before I knew it.

Day 29:

Training this morning was tough as usual

I shiver ran down my spine when I heard the older generation being told they would be joining in from now on. Too bad the smile of Goburou’s face didn’t match his tone.

We ran circuits to improve endurance and practiced simple drills.

He took special joy in fixing any rebellious behaviour.

Those that fell behind got an extra helping of push-ups while being berated. It pains me to admit it but some of them are better than I am and I got my share of added exercises.

It didn’t stop there though because that demon drill sergeant made sure to thoroughly spar with each and every one of us, most of the old generation are passed out at his feet while those of the same generation are just worn out. There are even some gazing at them with pitying looks.

It didn’t take long for them all to get back on their feet though so he got them straight back to training, there was some grumbling but they just did it anyway.

Somehow I’ve got myself running behind a lightly dressed Hobusei so it’s not all bad, is it.

No one went hunting but there was a decent meal prepared when we got back. Seems the captured twins have the [Cook] job.

I don’t quite understand but it makes me curious to know what the other have.