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Act 3-11.1: Prince and Goblin
Omiros dreamt of his past when he was walking with Regena in the forest at night. Overhead, through the branch crevices, the moonlight was beautifully yet eerily shining. The forest was a scary place to venture at night. It was filled with dangerous monsters who all preferred the darkness over the light that instilled fear in them. It was well known that as a rule of thumb, anyone who visited the forest at night should avoid the dark areas of the forest.
「I’m sorry… I’m so sorry… Omiros. If only I hadn’t said that I wanted to get that flower… We… we…」
Regena was relentlessly sobbing. Deep in Akeron Mountain, there existed a flower which could cure any illness. After knowing of its existence, Regina had decided to go and get it to save her mother, and had invited Omiros to join her. They had left in the morning since it was safer, however, had inadvertently traveled too deep within the forest until they lost their way. The sun had set and they were currently in the dangerous forest at night.
「It’s okay, Regena. You can rely on me at such times. This isn’t big deal.」
Omiros said so to reassure Regena. However, only he knew that he was in fact scared of the darkness as well; he just didn’t want to show his uncool side to Regena.
「It’s okay. They’ll definitely send people to come and rescue us. We’re definitely going back!!」
「Uhm, if you say so…」
Thus, they started walking again. A few minutes into their walk, they noticed that something was following them.
「Omiros… it seems… we’re being followed…」
Regena whispered anxiously.
「Yeah, I can feel their presence too…」
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Both of them should have explored the other side of Akeron Mountain. Algore Kingdom, their birthplace, was the closest country to Nargol. Crossing the boundary in the middle of the Akeron Mountain Range meant they were now in an extremely dangerous location not fit for humans. The creature following them now was most likely not human; it might be a Goblin.
Omiros grew up hearing stories about Goblins, he knew quite a lot because of his mother. Goblins were extremely terrifying creatures with green skin and tendency to hunt children. Who knew what would happen to them if they were ever captured.
「It might be… a Goblin…」
Omiros had the same thought as Regena.
「R-Regena! Sing a song! Goblins are afraid of songs!」
Omiros then remembered one of the things his mother had said. Goblins were afraid of songs, they would run away every time they heard a beautiful singing voice. The reason was a mystery, but it seems like beautiful human voices were their weakness.
「Sing… ?」
「Yes! Sing a song! I’m sure the Goblin won’t come closer since you have such a beautiful voice!!」
Omiros had heard Regena sing before. He remembered how angelic her voice sounded; it was extremely beautiful. He was sure that the Goblin would runaway ince he heard her sing.
「Okay, I understand Omiros. Which song should I sing?」
「The song you sang me before. It’s a really nice song.」
Regena nodded at his suggestion.
「Understood, I’ll sing it then…」
~In a corner in the depth of the forest.
A black bird is looking for love.
Crossing the mountains to search for his love.
Flying under the blue sky.
On top of the emerald green forest.
He met a white bird.
The black bird sang and yet,
The white bird didn’t sing.
The black bird cried,
As he flew towards the sunset.~
Regena kept on singing as they walked in the dark forest, her beautiful voice resounding all across. Omiros fell into a trance while listening to her, and his hands stopped trembling from fear.
Regena’s fear had also lessened as she started to sing. The presence that was approaching from behind had vanished too. Yet, just when Omiros thought that all the Goblins had left…
「Such a nice voice you got there…」
Suddenly, someone spoke from the darkness.
Omiros and Regena turned around towards the darkness, Regena halting her singing.
Someone was unexpectedly right there.
「W-Who’s there?!」
Omiros stepped forward to protect Regena as the creature before them came out of the darkness.
「Goblin…」
The creature that came out from the darkness and was now illuminated by the moonlight was a Goblin. Omiros felt that something was wrong with this situation since Regena’s singing voice should’ve chased away all the Goblins. He wondered if some Goblins had the power to resist songs?
「Ain’t a Goblin, I’m a human.」
The Goblin spoke with a vexed tone.
「LIES! I’VE SEEN A REAL GOBLIN BEFORE. YOUR FACE IS THAT OF A GOBLIN!!!」
Omiros shouted at the Goblin. Though he had to agree that the Goblin in front of him did look similar to a human… but only a little bit. It didn’t change the fact that he looked mostly like a Goblin. He believed that the Goblin before them was a human-goblin hybrid.
「TCH!!! Ain’t gonna believe me huh. Well, whatever.」
The human-goblin spoke without a care as he looked at Regena.
「My subordinates escaped after that woman sang. That’s why I’m the only one left.」
「They escaped because of her singing voice? So you really are a goblin huh!!」
The human-goblin shook his head upon hearing Omiros’ remark.
「My followers are Goblins but, I’m a human.」
Omiros couldn’t hide his surprise upon hearing his remark. Goblins were supposed to be monsters who attacked humans. At least, that was what his teacher taught him. Omiros wondered, if what this human-goblin said is true, then what was the reason they followed him as his subordinates?
「If you’re human then you have to help us get out of this place!!」
The human-goblin couldn’t hide his surprise when he heard Omiros’ exclamation.
「Why should I save you? Ain’t need a man.」
The human-goblin looked at Regena.
At that moment, Omiros felt something dangerous lurking in those eyes.
「REGENA, RUN!!」
「YES!!」
Omiros, who instinctively felt that the human-goblin was up-to no good, took Regena’s arm and tried to escape immediately.
「NOT SO FAST! PARALYZE!!」
Omiros’ body was paralyzed right after the human-goblin shouted those words. The same went for Regena, who fell on her knees.
「Regena!!!」
「Sorry… Omiros…」
The next moment, Regena apologized to Omiros.
Omiros could somewhat still move his body due to his daily training but the same couldn’t be said for Regena.
「Humph, so you can resist my magic huh.」
The human-goblin approached as he spoke.
「GET AWAY FROM REGENA!!」
Omiros stood in front of the human-goblin.
「Humph!!」
Yet, he was suddenly pushed aside as his feet tripped on the human-goblin’s foot, which couldn’t be seen at all.
「UWAAAAAAAAA!!」
「OMIROS!!」
Regena tried to stand in hurry upon hearing Omiros’ scream.
But, she failed since her body was still paralyzed.
「Whoopsie!!!」
The human-goblin caught Regena with his arm since she fell right in front of him.