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While he had long since completed the original three tasks, the lack of manpower meant Ian hadn’t been able to return. Instead, he had been assigned additional missions, which he was currently carrying out.

The target was in sight below.

The distance was about 150 meters.

A group of ugly creatures with green skin had gathered.

Goblins, as they were commonly called. Though they were one of the most common monsters, they had a certain level of intelligence, often establishing primitive civilizations and systems.

As with most low-grade monsters, their exceptional reproductive abilities allowed them to multiply rapidly given enough time, forming large groups.

The fact that they had settled and built shoddy huts to create a village indicated that they had been in the area for quite some time.

‘Lucky bastards.’

Despite the numerous dangerous predators surrounding them, they had managed to carve out a territory.

It was unusual, considering goblins typically lived in caves or dug out burrows.

‘Or maybe they’ve just grown overconfident?’

Not that it mattered.

Ian glanced up at the sky. The sun was setting. It was the perfect time to launch a surprise attack.

It looked like all the goblins that had left to hunt had returned. The wind was blowing from behind, so there was no need to worry about their scent being detected.

However, the position wasn’t ideal. They were on a hill, which meant they could easily be spotted. Ian would need to act quickly.

He exhaled slowly and summoned his magical power.

Whoosh!

The flames that had been crawling up his arm converged in his hand and transformed into a spear in the blink of an eye.

Holding the blazing spear in a reverse grip, he gave the command.

“Prepare to throw.”

Mael and Mari, standing a step behind him, repeated the command in a low voice. Immediately, the sixteen Red Spear Knights, lined up on either side, readied their spears, preparing to use Meteor Spear, the basic technique of Bane of Evil.

There was no loud noise, only the faint sound of metal armor clinking. They assumed their positions, gripping their flaming spears.

Screeeech!

A goblin standing beyond a flimsy fence that could hardly be called a barricade let out a piercing screech. It had spotted them.

“Click.”

Ian clicked his tongue and gazed at the goblin with a complicated expression.

It was pure coincidence. The goblin had been yawning and shaking its head when it happened to glance in their direction.

The goblins wandering the village aimlessly suddenly panicked, rushing toward the disturbance, while those inside the huts spilled out in a hurry. They moved with surprising speed.

‘It’ll be a problem if they try to flee.’

However, contrary to Ian’s concerns, the goblins, oblivious to the threat of the knights, seemed to think they were dealing with prey. They clumsily grabbed their crude weapons and began gathering.

“Hah.”

Ian couldn’t help but laugh at their pathetic display.

He waited for a moment. If they gathered in one place on their own, that would be convenient.

Once he was satisfied that enough of them had gathered, Ian hurled his spear with all his strength.

As the fiery spear, now imbued with weight, left his hand, Mael shouted.

“Throw!”

Mael’s booming voice had a commanding force that drew attention. The goblins looked up.

From the hill, they must have seen the fiery spears of the knights streaking toward them.

Had it been nighttime, the sight would have been visually intimidating, but with the sun still up, it lacked grandeur.

Nineteen spears flew through the air, closing the distance and crashing into the goblins.

The accuracy was excellent. None missed. However, the damage was not as significant as one might have hoped.

The goblin numbers easily exceeded a hundred. Some goblins continued to pour out from deep pits they had dug inside their huts.

But the Meteor Spear technique did not stop at merely striking.

If that were all, it would not be the symbol of the Red Spear Knights.

Whoosh!

The compressed flames forming the spear erupted violently. Goblins had no way to dodge or endure this.

Those few goblins who had survived with spears lodged in their limbs were immediately engulfed in the flames.

Before they could even scream, they were reduced to blackened charcoal. The remaining goblins’ morale plummeted.

Without needing additional commands, the sixteen Red Spear Knights, led by Mari, unsheathed their swords and descended the sloped hill.

Step by step, their pace quickened, and by the time they neared the bottom of the hill, they were running.

Their reddish-brown cloaks fluttered vigorously as they moved. The Red Spear Knights entered the goblin territory in an instant.

They easily leaped over the flimsy fence and, upon landing, began cutting down goblins.

It was truly a slaughter. Goblins fell, spewing red blood, unable to fight back, while the Red Spear Knights swung their swords as if they were automatons.

Some goblins did try to resist, but their weapons could not inflict any injuries on the Red Spear Knights.

The full-body armor made of mixed metal and leather, enhanced with various enchantments, boasted high defense and convenience.

To defeat them, one would need to use magic as well, but the knights made it difficult to strike from behind.

Seeing more than half of the goblins being slaughtered in an instant, the remaining goblins began to sweat and flee, but Ian did not let them escape.

Arming himself with a bow, he notched an arrow. As the flames condensed on the arrowhead, he released it.

Twang!

The arrow, arcing through the air, fell beyond the goblins.

Upon hitting the ground, the fire from the arrow erupted into a barrier, blocking the goblins’ escape route.

Fearing they might retreat, Ian fired a few more arrows. The confused goblins became easy prey for the knights.

As if that wasn’t enough, the knights set fire to the huts and searched the ash-covered ruins for any surviving goblins.

“Wow, they’re doing well even without being told.”

Watching from the hill, Ian admired the knights and nodded approvingly.

It was clean. Despite being at Level 3, the knights demonstrated exceptional skill.

After all, they had only lacked practical experience. Since Ian had provided that, it was only natural for them to produce results.

“Mael.”

“Yes, young master.”

“Today marks the 93rd day since we left Luth, right?”

“Yes.”

Mael, wearing his helmet, nodded.

Ian smiled wryly. It felt like just yesterday that they started the mission with the Red Spear Knights, yet seasons had changed in the meantime.

Of course, having completed the three initial missions from Verdan long ago and taken on more than seven additional tasks, it wasn’t surprising.

Ian began to recall the events of the past 93 days, thinking back to when he first met the Red Spear Knights to carry out the mission.

There were no conflicts as feared. As Verdan had assured, the discipline among the knights was impressive, and their loyalty to the house was exceptionally high.

There was no sign of neglect or rebellion, and with Mael and Mari around, controlling them was straightforward.

Of course, there were signs of dissatisfaction. This was particularly evident when they had to venture into the wilderness to find a group of monsters.

It was understandable. Apart from the lack of supplies, getting lost in such a place would have serious consequences, not just physical but potentially life-threatening.

Mael had suggested hiring a guide, but Ian had firmly declined.

There was no need to waste money on a guide when there was already an expert in their midst.

‘All those hard days were worth it.’

To become a treasure hunter, one needed to master a range of skills, including navigation, exploration, tracking, cooking, and first aid.

Of course, it would be different with companions. Roles could be divided among them, which was common practice.

But before meeting the hero from the previous timeline, Ian had been alone.

Having been betrayed and used several times, he found it hard to trust others. It was dirty and degrading, so he had no choice but to learn these skills himself.

Becoming an expert in a single field was difficult enough, and studying multiple fields deeply was no simple task. It required considerable time and money.

However, thanks to those arduous days, Ian had proven his abilities and earned the trust of the Red Spear Knights.

Of course, the process was not just about navigation. He had faced and fought against formidable enemies, such as the Blade Bear and the Rock Spider, making dealing with goblins and Hyolangs seem minor in comparison.

As a result, he had built a rapport with the knights, exchanging light banter and becoming more familiar with them.

Despite this, they had not shown any dissatisfaction or signs of exhaustion. The schedule must have been incredibly harsh.

‘Is it not that they didn’t want to speak, but that they couldn’t?’

That could be the case.

“…You must be quite tired.”

Thinking this, Ian noticed the knights’ movements seemed a bit sluggish.

“It looks like the cleanup is almost done.”

“Indeed. Let’s head down for now.”

Ian began to move. As they got closer to the goblin village, the stench carried by the wind reached his nose.

His stomach churned. However, the Red Spear Knights seemed unaffected.

Their helmets filtered the polluted air, keeping it clean.

‘That’s why knights are so formidable.’

Their physical abilities and strength were formidable, but their equipment was even more superior, making them unbeatable against both mercenaries and monsters.

But since they were allies, it was reassuring.

As the knights gathered after wiping the blood from their swords, Mari stepped forward and reported.

“Total number: 20, casualties: 3. Casualty details: 1 on escort duty, 2 on base protection. Current number, including the reporter: 17. No other issues.”

If this were a private setting, Mari might have dropped the formalities, but given the mission, she maintained her respectful tone.

“Good work. Is there anyone injured or unwell?”

The Red Spear Knights looked around, but no one raised their hand.

Their armor was stained with blood, but there were no damaged parts. In reality, since it was a one-sided slaughter, very few had been attacked.

Ian nodded and began to use his magical power to survey the area.

‘If it were Hyolangs, confirming their death would be essential due to their condition, but with goblins… It shouldn’t be necessary.’

In fact, if he extracted the magic stones, confirmation of death wouldn’t be necessary. Extracting the magic stones required slicing open the bodies.

The goblins, aware of their impending death, would resist. However, unlike Hyolangs, goblins could not perfectly feign death, so signs of their status would be apparent.

However, none of the knights took the goblin’s magic stones. The goblin’s magic stones are too cheap for the effort required to collect them.

The salary for a Red Spear Knight is quite substantial, so unless someone is extremely frugal or in urgent need of money, they might not bother with it.

Ian looked at the knights with a satisfied expression.

“Let’s head back to the base. Now that our task is done, we’ll withdraw at dawn tomorrow.”

He could see the knights’ shoulders momentarily straighten with renewed energy.

They didn’t shout or cheer, and their faces were completely covered by their helmets, so their expressions were hidden, but it was clear they were pleased.

Returning to the temporary base was smooth. They encountered some monsters on the way, but fully armored knights are not easily challenged, and aside from the slightly hot weather, there were no significant problems.

The base was also safe with no issues.

The Red Spear Knights, except for those on guard duty, sat down on the ground covered with cloth and rested.

Among them, only a few took off their armor and focused on preparing the meal.

Since no attendants or porters had been brought along, everything had to be done personally.

Ian was no exception.

Though he could have rested on his laurels as the third son of Berger, the knights’ cooking was dreadful, except for grilling meat.

They were simply throwing ingredients and spices into the pot and boiling it, so Ian had taken it upon himself to prepare at least the stew.

“Master!”

“I can hear you even if you speak softly. What is it?”

Ian, frowning as he stirred a large pot with a ladle, spoke, but Mael seemed unbothered and grinned.

“The remaining meat. How about finishing it today? It will spoil quickly in this humid weather, so it won’t be worth taking.”

Ian nodded in agreement.

“Do that. Just leave the preserved food and salt, and use the rest as you wish.”

This wasn’t something that needed formal permission. It seems like he’s naturally taken on the role of leader of this group since guiding them.

He continued to cook the meat, which was a time-consuming task given that everyone was a hearty eater. Preparing and eating the meal took quite a while.

‘It would be perfect if we had some alcohol at times like this.’

As Ian savored a well-cooked venison thigh, he suddenly noticed a flickering light in the distance.

‘It can’t be will-o’-the-wisps here. It must be a torch.’

The light was getting closer.

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