20. Between life and death

Oh no!

A wolf lunged straight at her!

But the taller goblin heard his little sister’s terrified scream. He spun around without a moment’s hesitation and charged back with a raw, primal roar. He swung his crude wooden club with everything he had left in his battered body!

BAM!

The wood smashed violently into the wolf’s snout! The massive beast yelped and staggered sideways, letting out a sharp, pained whimper.

But of course, it was nowhere near enough!

The wolf shook its head violently, rain spraying from its thick fur. The fury in its glowing eyes burned even brighter than before.

Then, another wolf lunged from the side, claws flashing as it tore through the pouring rain, aiming straight for the siblings!

But the goblin brother acted just in time. In a desperate heroic save, he grabbed his sister and took the slashing claws across his own back!

SLASH!

Blood sprayed from the deep wound, mixing with the rain.

(Damn, that’s brutal!)

At that point, I thought it was over — that the goblin had fallen and would become nothing more than a fresh meal for the hungry pack.

However, to my surprise, the brother was still able to get up. He screamed and forced himself upright!

Despite the grievous wound, adrenaline seemed to flood his system, screaming at him to keep moving.

He hoisted his sister onto his back with trembling arms.

Another wolf lunged.

But he ducked at the very last moment, twisted his body in a desperate, almost beautiful spin —

And ran.

Straight toward me!

He screamed as he ran, legs pumping like pistons, splashing wildly through the mud without slowing down even for a second.

Seeing that, something unexpected ignited within me.

(What the hell?)

(Is this guy an anime MC or something?!)

(This is ridiculous!)

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I knew I had killed countless goblins before. I had never felt bad for those guys. They were just stupid, greedy monsters to me — nothing more than walking bags of Points.

But this time… I suddenly found myself cheering them on.

(COME ON,) I urged silently. (COME ON! YOU’VE GOT THIS!)

I raised my gate.

(Get in. Hurry!)

But then, the goblin skidded to a sudden halt.

Because there it was. That damned skull-marked stick! The danger sign the elder goblin had placed in front of me. And now, it was blocking the only path to safety.

(Oh GOD DAMN IT!) I swore internally. (JUST FUCKING GET IN!)

Still, the goblin brother hesitated, rain pouring down his face in rivulets, his eyes darting frantically between the ominous warning sign and the snarling monsters closing in behind him. His sister cried out, clinging tightly to his neck, her small arms locked around him, trembling like a leaf in the storm.

Behind them, the wolves closed in fast.

The goblin brother stood frozen at a terrible crossroads.

Death behind him.

Fear in front of him.