Blood tax

Chapter 48 Winter Camping ([-])

Wait, there's no direct evidence that he's driving Isis and Rudias.I have to think about it carefully, is there any omission.

Griffith stood up and walked along the edge of the castle, soothing his tense nerves and adjusting his thoughts.

Having lived at the Magic Academy for some time, he was used to comfortable uniforms and robes.This time, the camping school agreed to let Shutoral wear the armor, so Griffith wore the double-layer heavy armor of the chain and plate armor issued by the school for a long time, wearing a long sword and a dagger around his waist, and then covering the outside. A thick cape that is both warm and reassuring.

While thinking about the problem, he skillfully turned over the bushes to check if there was any outsider's whereabouts.Similar actions have been done countless times over the years, from several camps on the eastern front to under the Homonwarts city wall, where the soil is softer and where the stone wall is about to collapse.

Although most of the time nothing is gained, but for Griffith no gain is the biggest gain.

The rocky slopes on the southwest side of Watch Fort are relatively gentle, and the builders built a section of low wall under the city wall.As the years passed, this low wall also collapsed a lot.The slope under the low wall is very secluded, and the entwined vines have not yet withered in the heavy snow, which makes it look unique.Griffith inexplicably began to fantasize about the night walking with Galadia, and his mind couldn't help but live up to it.

Concentrate, concentrate!Why am I so easily distracted now?
The trainee knight came to a low stone wall along the outer low wall that was about to disappear.The bottom of the stone wall was originally a slope that was deliberately cleared from the huge rock, but in the comfortable era, a large area of ​​wild grape vines has grown here.From here he could see the endless whispering forest, between the dark treetops and the sky, there seemed to be some illusory shadows wandering.

The snow cover from the Whispering Forest to the Fort Watcher was very flat, and there were no traces of creatures walking through it under the moonlight... Griffith looked at the route during the day, and the footprints from when he came there were no longer recognizable due to the snow.

Griffith took a breath of the cool night air.Today's wind is a little different, a little familiar, um.

He had surveyed the terrain in the evening and knew that it was a slope of bushes and grass.As is customary, he pushed aside the vines under his feet with the scabbard in his hand, and looked down the slope...

The dense small footprints on the soft soil extended one after another from the slope below, and even stepped on several shrubs.

Griffith's mind suddenly went blank.

It's not that he hasn't considered this situation.Even night patrols are based on certain assumptions.

However, when the dense footprints appeared in front of him, he could not believe for a while that he would see the scene in front of him in the center of the civilized world——

Footprints of a large group of goblins.

They obviously have a well-organized organization, somehow avoiding the warning circle below, climbing up from the hidden path by the cliff, and jumping here with the help of the vision obscured by the bushes.

How did they get past the outer guard circle and the familiars without being discovered! ?

Griffith's heart trembled for a while, and there was even a brief blank in his brain.He noticed that under the stone wall he was standing on, the soil had sunk deeply, and the enemy had climbed up from where he was.

Warning!Be warned!Galadia and Sonia, and their classmates are scattered in the tent unsuspecting!The professors are also doing their own thing in the tent on the other side of the Rock Castle!
Griffith stepped back in a hurry, turned and was about to rush back.

"Dear sir, is there anything we can help?" A voice sounded around the corner, and Griffith turned around like lightning.

A dozen brownie elves in cloaks are pushing the cart around the corner and pushing towards this side with difficulty.These weak and obedient creatures are responsible for taking care of the manor and flower fields near the castle on a daily basis, and they are also responsible for luggage, food, accommodation and various chores when they go camping today.

"What are you doing here?" Griffith asked cautiously, putting his hand on the hilt of the sword.

"Sir, we have been instructed by the kitchen to send a batch of ingredients for tomorrow's breakfast," replied Brownie, who was at the front.

"Your number?"

"Number 2887, sir."

The answering Brownie, wearing a brown Homonwarts uniform, looked up at Griffith, and spoke clearly and smoothly.Brownie behind it pushed the cart with great effort and followed behind him without saying a word.

Probably because of the cold weather, the brownies all wrapped themselves in thick cloaks and scarves, and quietly walked towards the trainee knights.

Something is wrong!Griffith was in a cold sweat when facing these small creatures, and even the operation of his brain was a little jerky.

"Wait," Griffith pressed his hand on the hilt of his sword, "Stop! Leave the things where they are, I want to check."

Brownie, headed by him, said lightly:
"Do it."

……

Before he finished speaking, the dozen or so Brownies in the cart tore off the cloaks that covered their heads and faces, took out a handful of shiny sharp knives from their arms, and rushed towards Griffith with a hideous face.

They are covered in dark green wrinkled skin, black and yellow fangs growing crookedly in their mouths, and round eyes full of greed and madness.

Goblin!
Griffith slashed one down with his sword, then grabbed the other, snapped its neck, and reached for the sentinel around its neck.

The whistle was stuck in the gap of the cold iron armor and could not be pulled out.Heck!
Griffith's cold sweat suddenly dripped down, and he let go of his voice and shouted.

"Enemy attack!"

Almost at the same time, four or five goblins had silently surrounded him from the left and right sides, holding up sharp knives and stabbing at his waist, kidneys and knees.Several other goblins had already circled behind him with swords in hand, blocking the road leading to the inner circle of the castle.

The order of their positions is sequential, but they are activated as tightly as a precise clockwork.

What a skillful cooperation, the goblins have such elite soldiers!Griffith was taken aback and hurried back, but was still stabbed several times in the waist and leg.

The apprentice knight turned and jumped towards the bush slope below. With a roll, he fell into the bushes and grass and rolled down the slope.

"Fleeing really fast," the only Brownie watched Griffith's tall figure disappearing into the vines, and waved his hand indifferently, "The whole army is on the offensive, the target is those noble ladies, don't fight, don't enjoy the spoils ."

The speechless goblins let out a roar of "giggle" and rushed over immediately.At this time, a large group of goblins also poured out from behind the corner. Their bodies were smeared with thick ointment, and they followed closely behind with sharp blades and short spears.

"Captain, you take a team to kill that human warrior," Brownie No. 2887 stopped a strong goblin and said, "He has been stabbed a few times, and he can't run very far."

"Jie Jie Jie Jie!" The stronger goblin let out a strange cry and jumped into the vineyard with a dagger in hand.Eleven goblins followed, chasing in the direction Griffith had fled.

……

It hurts, but fortunately there is a double armor.

Griffith's heavy armor blocked the attack just now, allowing him to keep his kidneys and thighs.

However, he did not carry a short spear or shield, and even only two daggers.

Too lax. If he was patrolling the eastern battlefield, Griffith would definitely be fully armed.But the short peaceful life actually made him relax. After coming to Homonwatts, he only carried a long sword and a few daggers with him on night patrols.

Of course, there are rules and regulations of the school, but if Griffith is willing, he can still find a way to bring more weapons.

Now is not the time to regret, we must destroy the pursuers as soon as possible and return to the library!Griffith, sword in hand, walked through the thick bushes.The footsteps of a dozen goblins were not far from him.

"Jie Jie Jie!" The first goblin jumped out of the bush and stabbed at Griffith with a dagger in his hand.

The trainee knight stabbed with his sword, taking advantage of his length to kill the goblin first.At the same time, two goblins appeared on either side of him, one on the left and one on the right.

The old one... Griffith slashed the head of the enemy on his right side with his sword, raised his left hand with a gauntlet to block the goblin's slash, twisted its arm with a backhand and fell to the ground, and then kicked into flesh with one foot. mud.

The fourth, fifth, and sixth enemies followed.Griffith grabbed the dagger left by the goblin in his left hand, threw it at the enemy in the middle, and stabbed the enemy at the front.

The sixth goblin, who had lost the cover of his companions, was stunned on the spot, and Griffith drew his sword and swung it down at its head, slashing its head and the short spear in his hand.

"Killed 6, how many more?" Griffith picked up two short knives and a short spear, and continued to rush towards the other side.

……

Sonia closed the thick book, pinched her forehead, and asked Galadia, who was looking at the window, "I seem to hear something."

The elf was looking at the dark night sky outside the tent with a puzzled face, and turned to look at the blonde girl: "Sonia, have you heard Brownie's cry?"

"Ok?"

"Pfft~" Fiona, who was sitting at the other end of the long table, smiled, "Would you like to give it a try?"

Lana quickly grabbed Brownie No. 1412 who was about to push the trolley away, and looked at the ladies present: "What kind of cry do you want to hear?"

"Hey~ don't bully people, I'll just talk about it!" Fiona patted Lana's head lightly.

"Where did Griffith say he went?" Sonia inexplicably felt that she was not smiling. "I remember he said that the patrol route tonight is the outer low wall."

"Well," Galadia took off the long coat from the hanger, "I'll go outside and have a look, you guys..."

Before she could finish speaking, a panicked voice came from outside the tent. The owner of the voice seemed to be a familiar teacher, but he couldn't remember it again.

"Mountain monster!"

"There is a mountain monster running in!"

"Help!"

That day, the school brought back the corpse of the terrifying mountain monster and put it in the aisle. Everyone saw it when they returned to the dormitory after self-study.Huge, hideous bodies dripping with pus nearly blocked the door.Many girls have nightmares that last for days.

This terrifying exclamation echoed in the winter night, terrifying everyone scattered in the tents.

Sonia stood up in a "bass", grabbed her textbook in a daze, then put it down and took out her wand.Galadia jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and spun around twice to find herself unarmed except for her wand.The others screamed and fled in all directions.Some unlucky ones also tripped over tables, chairs and debris.

In this tent, Shutoral, including Rana, had only a small amount of armor and armor. They hurriedly drew their swords from under their robes and held them in their hands.

"Let's get out of here and go to the professor's camp." Sonia thought quickly and suggested.

The junior students gathered in the library immediately took their wands and swarmed out of the tent.

Although the building of the Watch Fort is dilapidated, it is still a large-scale rock fortress.From the tent to the main castle where the professor is, there is a path through the garden.There are several marble arches at intervals above the path, and snow-white vines and dead wood climb it, forming a quiet path.

"Come on, walk this way," Rana quickly looked around, but did not find the terrifyingly huge figure of the mountain monster, presumably not yet here.He only had a layer of chain armor on his body, and he had no long weapons except for a sword. If he fought against the sturdy mountain monsters one-on-one, Lana felt that he would definitely die.

The only way is to quickly go to the main castle to seek refuge.

Galadia left the panicked crowd, grabbed the vines on the stone pillar and jumped up deftly, and lightly jumped onto the top of the curved arch.

It's so quiet!Galadia scanned the quiet garden suspiciously.After the warning sound just now, there was no sound again, and the person who raised the alarm was not seen.

Did he go somewhere else after sounding the alarm?If so, it would be too quiet, as if only we had heard the siren.

Prank?Galadia calmed down and took a close look at the garden that everyone was passing through.

Suddenly she noticed a large group of child-sized figures jumping into the flowers, swooping in from the crowds that were running towards the main castle in all directions.

"Trap!" Galadia exclaimed, "Everyone, come back! This is a trap!"

Sonia heard Galadia's cry, and hurriedly stopped to look around.But the lush vegetation blocked her vision, and she couldn't see any danger nearby.Only the elf girl desperately waved and shouted to them from the high stone pillar.

The hurrying crowd was completely unheeded.Sonia was also knocked aside by a boy who ran away in a hurry and almost fell into the flowers.

She struggled hastily to get up.The dense vines and bushes caught her gorgeous robe, and it took a lot of effort to break free.Just as she was about to run in the direction of Galadia, a hand suddenly grabbed her shoulder.

Sonia turned her head to look, and saw a dead, slender hand clutching the robe on her left shoulder tightly.A hideous and ugly head with pointed ears emerged from behind Tengman, looking at himself with malicious eyes.

"Ah!" The unprepared Sonia screamed in shock, desperately trying to break free.Just here, several green hands reached out from the vines, grabbing her beautiful golden hair and robe.

"Expand Frost...

"Expand Frost Configuration 6; Shape, Spike; Stack, Throw!" Sonia, who was being pulled, chanted hastily, almost biting her own tongue, but finished it in confusion.An ice spike condensed from the tip of the wand, and pierced a goblin's throat with a "whoosh".

Did it work? !

Before Sonya was happy, several other goblins had already pinned her to the ground.

"Expand Frost Configuration 6..."

The girl whose mind was almost blank spoke hastily, but her psionic energy did not respond.Chanting was doomed to fail from the start.

what happened?Oh, by the way, there is a 15-second cooling interval between the spells of the main body!I'm so stupid.Sonia almost gritted her teeth in regret.

A goblin grabbed her wand and folded it hard.The connection between the spirit and the wand was instantly interrupted, and Sonia, who was suffering from the sudden mental shock, almost fainted.

The goblins grabbed her arms and legs and dragged them little by little into the dense vines.

(End of this chapter)