833 Bear, watches the battle between the Big Monkey and the Goblin King - Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear

...A magic circle that lures monsters. Mane takes out a sheet of paper and begins to jot down parts of the magic circle she saw earlier. It's impressive how much she remembers from just a brief glance. "This part seems like a magic amplification... I think I've seen this somewhere too; could it be for extending range? I couldn't see this section because of its position, but it must mean something." As she examines the partially recreated magic circle, Mane murmurs to herself. "...No good. It's a combination of various magic circles, and I can't decipher it. Whoever created this is a genius." I recall hearing about a magician who was banished from the castle. Perhaps Mane isn't aware of this? It's likely she's unaware due to the imposed confidentiality. "Of all places, I'd prefer if they hadn't constructed it here." Mane certainly has bad luck, having this magic circle so close to her destination. "But months have passed since then, right? With the magician absent, do such magic circles keep activating continuously?" "I don't know the activation conditions. If it's powered by magic, it could be that the red monkeys' magic, along with the mana stones from the monsters they killed, are sustaining its activation." One would hope they'd clean up after using such things and leave properly. It's as though I'm haunted, getting involved with a magician I've never met three times already. The first was the monster assault on the capital. The second was indirectly related to the stalker incident in Seireyu. And now, the third. Did I offend this magician somehow? I feel like voicing a complaint. As I ponder the significant trouble left behind, Kumayuru and Kumakyu whimper in unison. What now? When I triggered my detection skill, a marker moved at incredible speed. The signal indicated goblins. Yet they were moving swiftly. I shifted my gaze from my detection skill to beneath the waterfall. In that moment, a large, towering goblin burst forth from the forest, lunging at the red ape devouring a wolf. "Is that a goblin?" "It's far too large." I recognized it. "...Goblin King." "Wait, are you saying it's a Goblin King?" Zect couldn't believe his eyes as he looked at the Goblin King. But I knew it was true from past experience. "The Goblin King is like a king among goblins. It's a very strong monster, right?" "Yes, it's an extraordinary mutation of goblins and is considered a rare creature. It appears amongst goblin hordes only very rarely. Upon sighting, you're advised to flee. It's classified as an emergency-level threat." I recall Helena’s alarmed reaction when I reported taking down a Goblin King to the Adventurers' Guild. It was a nostalgic memory. That Goblin King swung a sword at the red ape feeding on a wolf. It attacked the red apes one by one, forcing them to climb trees to escape, jumping down from above to latch onto the King's back and bite. The Goblin King grabbed the clinging red ape and slammed it to the ground. It swung its sword at the apes attacking from above, felling them one by one. Could it be that after the Goblin King defeats the red apes, I just need to defeat the exhausted Goblin King? Just like last time, I can create a deep pit and defeat it with Kuma's magic. "With the Goblin King taking down the red apes, it's a lucky break. I just need to defeat the tired Goblin King afterwards." In other words, it's a classic case of reaping where one has not sown. When I pointed this out, everyone looked at me as if I were a fool. "Yuna, do you understand? It's a Goblin King." "I do, but..." "If given the choice, most adventurers would rather fight a pack of red apes than a Goblin King. Of course, the red apes are dangerous too. But if you handle them one by one properly, they're not unbeatable. But the Goblin King is different. Magic that can defeat red apes won't work on the Goblin King. While a steel sword might take down a red ape, it won't be enough for a Goblin King. You need powerful magic and weapons to take it down." Indeed, I remember needing to unleash multiple blasts of Kuma's wind magic to defeat it. An ordinary monster would go down with a single blow. "Well, it's okay. I've fought and defeated one before." Since information on the Goblin King can be found with a bit of research, I explain. Knowing I've taken down a Goblin King might reassure Mane and the others a bit. "You... defeated a Goblin King?" "Yes, that's why it's fine." "Oh, right. You've also defeated a Cockatrice and a Wyvern. I heard from Ellelaura and Sanya about your strength, but you truly are exceptional," Mane remarked, leaving Lydia and Zect stunned. Just when I thought the Goblin King would decisively defeat the red apes, Kumayuru and Kumakyu whimpered. At the same time, the forest began to shake. More precisely, the distant trees started to sway. "What?" "Something's coming." The swaying trees, like falling dominoes, approached the Goblin King's location. Soon, the cause became apparent. A gigantic ape appeared. "What on earth is that huge ape?" The enormous ape charged towards the Goblin King. It was fast. The giant ape leaped forward. The Goblin King, engaged with the red apes, reacted too late. As the Goblin King turned, the giant ape delivered a flying kick. The Goblin King, kicked away, rolled across the ground. The giant ape laughed as it bounded towards the tumbling Goblin King. The Goblin King quickly stood and let out a howl at the laughing ape. Thus, the battle between the Goblin King and the giant ape began. "What the hell is that? I’ve never seen an ape that massive." "This, and the Goblin King, it's abnormal." The detection skill labeled them as "goblins" and "red apes." I gave up pointing out the discrepancy. I would've preferred designations like King, Jumbo, or Emperor to appear instead. "Who will win?" I had information on the Goblin King, but none about the giant ape. "Mane-san, which one is stronger?" "I wouldn't know! There's no report of a Goblin King and a huge ape ever fighting, nor have I heard of such an encounter. Who would witness such a battle anyway?" She might be right, though I hoped Mane would give her opinion. Clenching the great sword in its hands, the Goblin King assaulted the giant ape. "With a weapon in hand, the Goblin King seems to have the upper hand." The giant ape grasped the outstretched wrist of the Goblin King. A contest of strength began. Standing side by side, it was clear the giant ape was larger. The Goblin King scowled at the giant ape, but the giant ape smirked. In a split-second, the ape sidestepped, causing the Goblin King to lose balance and tumble forward. Watching its fall, the giant ape clapped and laughed. "Is that big ape toying with the Goblin King?" Zect mused, matching my own thoughts. "Unlike the brute force tactics of the Goblin King, the giant ape is fighting strategically," Mane remarked. I had to agree with her. The difference in combat strategy was evident. The Goblin King charged forward, swinging its sword at the giant ape. The ape deftly dodged left and right, finally leaping towards the Goblin King. In mid-air, it spun once and delivered a swift kick to the Goblin King's head. The poor beast was completely outmatched. The Goblin King roared in fury. The sword it held began to glow a menacing red. Was it imbuing the sword with magic? The Goblin King dashed towards the giant ape, swinging its glowing sword. But speed without accuracy was useless. The giant ape dodged and counterattacked, sending the Goblin King flying with a punch. The sword spun through the air, detached from its owner, before embedding itself into the ground. The Goblin King quickly regained its footing, but the giant ape was even quicker, racing forward as it struck. The ape jumped and delivered a powerful kick, sending the Goblin King rolling across the ground. "That massive beast..." Mane and the others were stunned, barely able to comprehend the one-sided battle unfolding before them. I, too, hadn't expected it to be so completely lopsided. Despite its struggle, the Goblin King staggered back to its feet. One would think the ape would press its advantage, but instead, it turned its back to the Goblin King and began to walk away. "Is the fight over?" "No, look at its face," someone replied. The ape bore a grin. It was heading towards the sword embedded in the ground, previously wielded by the Goblin King. Yanking it free, the ape swung it vertically and horizontally with ease. Even from a distance, one could almost hear the sound of the air being sliced. Lydia, witnessing this display, was trembling. "A monkey... wielding a sword?" The giant ape turned back toward the Goblin King and started walking. The Goblin King, despite knowing it stood no chance, charged forward with the dignity of a king. Everyone understood that the ape was going to win. The ape brought its sword down on the Goblin King, the blade embedding in its shoulder. But rather than being cut down, the Goblin King's body stopped the sword. With a step forward, the Goblin King punched the ape in the face, causing it to drop the sword. In that brief moment, the Goblin King managed to fight back. It pulled the sword from its shoulder and stood ready to fight with one hand, its injured arm hanging down. The ape got back on its feet, its smile replaced with a furious glare. It moved swiftly, dodging the Goblin King's next swing. Its long arm extended straight toward the Goblin King’s face, and at the last moment, the Goblin King's eye erupted in a spray of blood. "Did it poke its eye out?" The Goblin King endured the pain, swinging its sword once more, but the ape moved behind it and began to choke it from behind. It was incredibly fast. The Goblin King struggled to break free but couldn't. Slowly, its movements ceased, and the ape released it. “Is it dead?” Lydia asked, but nobody answered. Usually, I would confirm with my detection skill, but I couldn't look away from the ape. The ape approached the still-standing Goblin King. I wondered what it would do next. It tried to take the sword still gripped firmly in the Goblin King's hand. Though the Goblin King clung on with all its strength, it was only a matter of time before the ape would prevail. The Goblin King had no means to resist in its lifeless state. The ape finally secured the sword, waving it around gleefully, like a child with a new toy. It turned to the upright Goblin King, grinning. "Could it really..." "You're kidding, right?" Everyone realized what the ape intended to do. It swung the sword at the Goblin King, severing its arms and ending with its head rolling to the ground.