HI3: I Don't Want to Be a Valkyrie

While Liliya and Rozaliya dealt with the goblins, the others in the giant pit had also climbed out.

Only then did they realize that their enemies were actually "the weak goblins," who could set traps and even coordinate attacks—a far cry from the creatures they'd imagined.

However, they weren't mere decorations, so none of them remained frozen in shock for long. With Savage protecting Platinum and Skyfire, Cellinia gripped her Muramasa demon blade and charged towards the ranged goblins at the front.

"Multiple Fireballs!"

Empowered by her Protective Instincts, Skyfire, the cat-eared maiden, waved her wand, conjuring a row of fireballs, each about the size of her fist. With a flick of her wand, the incandescent orbs hurtled towards the approaching goblins.

Upon impact, the goblins disintegrated into ash.

At Skyfire's side, Platinum nocked an arrow and drew back his bow, sighting the goblin menacing Cellinia.

Noticing her comrade's peril, he was swift to her defense.

Platinum's arrows carried such force they could pierce through four or five goblins with a single shot.

As for Rozaliya and Liliya...

The four glanced at the way they were slaughtering— or rather, mowing down—the goblins. They tactfully decided not to disrupt their frenzy.

However, as Skyfire and her companions watched Rozaliya's fighting style, they found themselves with mixed feelings, hard to put into words.

Hundreds of goblins were swiftly dispatched by Liliya and her companions, leaving not a single one alive.

Blood stained the surroundings red, its coppery scent permeating the air and making it a disagreeable sensation to breathe.

"Battle over!" Liliya remarked casually, using her tail to grasp the great sword as she sheathed it. She promptly patted her hands, shaking off non-existent dirt, her expression relaxed.

"Ugh, these goblins are so gross." Rozaliya approached Liliya, directly throwing herself onto her sister and clasping Liliya's neck.

"Idiot Rozaliya, are you sure your head is okay?" Liliya asked, inspecting Rozaliya closely. Despite having smacked countless goblins, there wasn't a hint of blood on her head, nor was there a single tousle in her hair. It was almost as if some unseen force had shielded her.

"Of course I'm fine... Wait, no, you're the idiot, Liliya," Rozaliya responded nonchalantly at first. Realizing only then that Lilia had called her an idiot, she instinctively retorted. At the same time, she playfully bumped their heads together.

"Aiyo! You dimwit Rozaliya, do you think my head is made of iron like yours?" Liliya immediately cradled her head, wincing with mock pain.

"Don't be a drama queen. I barely even touched you! Besides, if you're hurt, how come I can't feel it?" Rozaliya wrapped her arm around Liliya once more, their tails intertwining behind them.

"R-Ro-R-Rozaliya has actually become clever! Incredible!" Liliya's voice shook with disbelief.

"Liiiliiiiiya, you'd better watch out!" Rozaliya's tone was clearly offended.

Liliya fell silent, waiting for her friend to cool down.

"Cellinia, Skyfire... Are you two alright?" Liliya decided to ignore Rozaliya and checked on her students.

"We're fine, thanks to your strength, Lady Liliya and Lady Rozaliya." Skyfire admiredly gazed at them, staff in hand.

"Absolutely," Platinum nodded in agreement.

"I wish I could've done more." Savage ran her fingers through her hair, accidentally flattening the rabbit ears perched atop her head.

"The weapon Lady Rozaliya gave me is too powerful; slaughtering those goblins was as easy as chopping through vegetables. However, its color seems to have become even more vibrant." Cellinia held the demon blade, examining the increasingly red-colored longsword with great satisfaction.

"I'm glad you like it. This Muramasa can only be considered an average beginner's weapon. After some time, I'll give you an even more powerful one—a single strike from it will summon a tornado."

Rozaliya glanced at the rows of Anemoi stored in her warehouse.

"A single strike summoning a tornado? Is there really a weapon that powerful? Wouldn't that make it practically a godly artifact?" Cellinia was astonished. Tornadoes were naturally occurring disasters; the idea of a weapon capable of unleashing such destructive force in one blow was mind-boggling.

"Of course. If you complete more tasks or acquire more originium, I could provide each of you with one." Rozaliya rested her head on Liliya's shoulder, addressing the other three as well.

"Thank you, Lady Rozaliya and Lady Liliya." Upon hearing this, they hastily expressed their gratitude.

"In any case, everyone, keep up the good work!"

"Yes, ma'am."

-

After clearing the goblin horde, occasional encounters with other demonic beasts and magical creatures persisted, but Cellinia's group handled them effortlessly.

However, the goblins' traps had served as a timely reminder, and the party proceeded with even greater caution.

-

At the heart of the demonic forest lay a goblin tribe.

"Quicker, faster... must go faster..."

A maiden with delicate features, long azure hair, and elongated ears—the very image of an elf—ran with all her might. In her hand, she carried a bow; from her quiver, she had already loosed all her arrows.

Behind her, seven or eight goblins mounted on worgs bore down on her. Each goblin was armed with bow and arrow at the ready, their spears lowered in pursuit of the fleeing elf.

Crrrk, crrrk...

The goblins atop their wargs gazed at the fleeing elves before them, their faces twisted into fiendish grins. Without warning, they drew arrows from their quivers and aimed for the elves' lower legs. Seven or eight shafts loosed in unison.

However...

...

The goblins grimaced—none had struck true.

They urged their wargs to accelerate, closing the gap once again. Another volley of arrows flew, and this time, by some twist of fate, one arrow found its mark in the elf maiden's calf.

Her pace instantly slowed. She glanced at the arrow protruding from her leg, then at the malevolent goblins closing in behind her.

Remembering her fallen companions, she gritted her teeth and tore out the arrow. Enduring the pain and the blood flowing from her wound, she pressed on, her speed now severely hampered.

With the bloodstained arrow in hand, she turned and loosed another shot, striking down the nearest goblin.

But now she had reached her limit. Already unable to outrun the wargs, the wound slowed her further. The goblin riders quickly caught up, and their spears and arrows pierced her legs and arms.

As the maiden dropped to the ground, the goblin riders dismounted their wargs and rushed toward her.

"No! Don't touch me!" The elf maiden shrieked, cowering before the half-meter-tall... monstrosities. Fear consumed her very soul!