The Doctor Cured the Villainess and Ran Away

16 – 16. Examination of the Healers (2)

Even in broad daylight, the forest was dimly lit by lush leaves, creating an evening-like atmosphere.

“Oh dear!”

The knight walking beside me stumbled and let out a short scream. That was already the fourth time.

“Can’t you be a bit more careful? Are we advertising to the demons that we’re here?”

One impatient knight warned the stumbling one.

He was the guard who stood as a lookout when I first visited the knight order camp. I distinctly remembered his name being Boris.

“If you can’t see where you’re stepping, what should you do? Shouldn’t you at least hold a torch? We’re not savages, you know.”

A wry laugh escaped at the knight’s complaint.

“What did you just hear? Perhaps we should distribute flyers to the demons too. ‘Fresh human flesh provided free of charge, booming business in progress.'”

My words made a few knights chuckle. Kis looked unimpressed.

“If you think scaring me will lower my performance, it’s pointless. I know very well that goblins are low-level creatures.”

“Seeing them gather as a group means they’re probably Hop Goblins. Don’t underestimate them.”

“I’m not fooled. I’m just trying to prove my healing abilities and become the princess’ chief physician. That’s all there is to it!”

Kise exclaimed, full of himself.

But confidence was not much help in subjugating demons.

“Shh.”

Tanya, who had been leading the way, put her index finger to her lips.

Five knights formed a large group, each holding a sword tightly, exchanging signals.

“Charge!”

Following Tanya’s command, the knights ran behind the bushes.

“Hyup!”

“Ki-a-ek!”

With a dull sound of swords clashing and screams echoing through the trees.

After everything quieted down, they looked beyond the bushes and saw three goblin corpses rolling on the ground.

They had demonstrated their considerable skills more to authenticate their title as Sword Experts.

“From here on is the goblin’s territory. Don’t get sloppy with your senses and kill them immediately before calling for reinforcements.”

Tanya ordered. The other squad who had been following us understood the situation and moved quickly.

“Is it really a group of them? Do we have to hunt them down this carefully?”

Kise said, looking at the goblin corpses, shaking his head.

He still doesn’t seem to have fully grasped the reality.

I kicked a pile of logs that had been among them and said:

“Look at this. These are traces of them trying to start a fire. They were probably camping here or trying to signal us and call for reinforcements. These guys aren’t intelligent enough to do anything more. “

I turned my head to Kise and declared firmly:

“This is solid evidence that there is a leader. Stop complaining.”

“When did I complain…? And how do you know about those demons, sir?”

“That’s an accurate judgment. You’ve been studying hard. Keep it up.”

Tanya affirmed my statement. Only then did Kise finally shut up.

We continued on through the grassy woods, following the traces of goblins. Any creatures we came across were immediately dealt with by the knights.

“Goblins living in caves? How rare.”

“Sir, from here on we’ll have to use torches, which could make the subjugation more dangerous. Shall we continue?”

Father seemed to hesitate a little at Tanya’s question. He discussed it with the senior healers.

While they were deliberating, I searched around the entrance to the cave.

“I found it.”

I found an animal skull and showed it to my father.

“Take a look at this.”

“Is it the remains of something eaten?”

“It’s not rotten; it’s a tool that’s been torn apart. It’s for rituals, not for eating.”

“For rituals, you say?”

“There’s a possibility that Hop isn’t the leader but that a shaman is controlling them.”

My statement caused a stir among the knights. On the other hand, the healers didn’t seem to grasp the severity of the situation.

Gis asked a question.

“If it’s a shaman, then are they goblins who use magic? What’s the difference?”

“Quite different, even though they’re both goblins! The ones inside are a goblin army enhanced with magic. If we send a request to the guild, they said there’s a considerable gap between Hop and the shaman, around D and C ranks!”

Boris retorted to Gis.

Tanya expressed her opinion.

“It’s not confirmed, but if there really is a goblin shaman inside, we may have to endure some damage here. Of course, our knights have the ability to subjugate them as much as needed. However, we can’t guarantee the lives of the healers.”

The healers cowered in fear, hunching their shoulders. Father nodded.

“The Royal Physician must heal the lord no matter the circumstances. We should consider such situations, but we can’t expose ourselves to danger even during the examination.”

Father made an immediate decision.

“We will commission the guild for the goblin shaman’s subjugation. We will resume the examination after that, with the clearing of nearby monsters.”

It was the right choice to bring healers instead of professional adventurers.

But because I discovered traces that worried me, I asked my father one question.

“When will the subjugation take place then?”

“Since the guild needs to issue a contract to the adventurers, it’ll probably be in a few days.”

“But by then, the captured residents should still be alive.”

“What did you say?”

I skimmed my finger across the cave wall.

Sticky blood appeared.

“I can tell from the state of blood coagulation that it hasn’t been more than six hours. It looks like the goblins kidnapped and brought them inside.”

“Hmm…!”

My father’s expression became serious.

Kise countered my statement.

“But couldn’t it be something other than human blood? Maybe they took animals for food.”

He had now entered a cycle of opposing just for the sake of opposition.

Just let my words be wrong at least once, I pleaded while going through an Indian powwow.

Go on, continue. Is there a single mistake in what I said?

————

Diagnosis D activated.

Injury status: Bleeding

Injury location: Left temple

————

Since the owner of the blood is a person, the diagnosis must have been triggered.

It’s quite convenient that the diagnosis is activated even by looking at only a part of the injury.

I spoke to Kise.

“If you’re a healer, shouldn’t you check whether it’s human or animal blood? Look, it’s human blood. And if we go back like this, we’ll miss the golden time. Will you take responsibility?”

“Tha-that’s…”

When I pushed Kise’s finger stained with blood, he stuttered in response.

I asked my father for his opinion.

“What do you plan to do? The cave is the goblins’ stronghold, so it’s risky to enter with this formation.”

“Hmm. Las, as the head healer, are you sure that blood belongs to a human?”

My father, who called me by a title since it was an official occasion.

I answered firmly.

“I’m certain.”

“Understood. Tanya, prepare for entry.”

“Yes. Everyone, form a defensive line and proceed. Arrange the healers inside so that they won’t be ambushed.”

The knights moved busily. They formed a protective circle around the healers. Some of them held torches.

“We’re entering. Don’t delay the formation.”

They took their steps forward.

As we passed through the entrance of the cave, my vision suddenly darkened, and I struggled to breathe due to the decreasing amount of oxygen.

The scout team at the forefront extended their long spears to inspect the structure of the walls and continued forward.

Tanya followed behind as the leader of the main unit.

…Tension filled the air.

No one had any intention of engaging in small talk.

Shadows reflected on the cave walls flickered here and there.

The torches swayed in the wind.

Air flowed from somewhere. The passage wasn’t blocked.

“Leader, we have reached a fork in the road.”

“Hmm.”

Tanya seemed to ponder which direction to take.

Should I offer some assistance?

From Noble mtl dot com

“Goblins living in caves always create multiple exits, just in case they need to escape.”

“Your Excellency.”

“But if they’ve kidnapped humans from outside, there’s no need to confine them where the exits are.”

I dipped my finger in saliva and pointed towards both directions of the cave.

The wind was blowing only from one side.

“There’s a high probability that the hostages are on the blocked side. I recommend exploring from the right.”

Tanya’s eyebrows peaked up.

“You have considerable knowledge. I’m impressed. Have you ever been an adventurer?”

“No?”

I got tired of hero parties.

It was an extreme occupation. I wouldn’t recommend it at all.

“Well then, I will head towards the right. Watch out for traps at the front.”

As the path narrowed, we proceeded slowly and cautiously.

Since it became difficult to maintain formation from this point onward, we changed back to a dispersed form by squads.

Not long after, Gis shouted urgently, pointing his finger towards the end of the cave.

“They’re over there!”

Gis rushed forward with his torch. In a corner of the cave, along with corpses of animals gathered by goblins, two people lay unconscious.

“Wait! Don’t break formation!”

Tanya urgently gave the order, but Kiseu rushed towards the fallen civilians.

Clearly, their condition seemed desperate. Their clothes were torn and their bodies were covered in bruises.

There was one man and one woman; the woman was bleeding from her head, indicating a clear diagnosis.

“I implore the compassionate goddess in the heavens! The lamb in need of mercy awaits an answer….”

Kiseu unfolded the scripture and began to cast a healing spell.

One could argue that it showed strong professionalism, but at the moment, it was a reckless action.

– Ki-iik!

– Ker-ack!

The echoes of goblins’ screams reverberated through the cave.

Goblins wielding crude clubs emerged from the darkness in large numbers.

Their bald heads and small, threatening bodies were repulsive no matter how many times you saw them.

“Ugh!”

Startled by their appearance, Kiseu stumbled and tore his buttocks. The goblins quickly swarmed over him like cockroaches.

“Suck!”

Tanya’s sword moved swiftly, decimating those goblins within an instant.

“It’s an ambush!”

“Everyone, assume combat positions!”

The knights took up their swords and engaged in battle. In an instant, the narrow cave transformed into a battlefield.

“Wh-where did they suddenly…!”

Kiseu trembled with wide-eyed bewilderment. I smacked him on the back of his head.

“Luring prey with traps for the sake of treasure is a basic tactic for those creatures. Due to their small stature, they often move through unseen tunnels or hide in crevices. Stay alert.”

“Ugh, yes, understood!”

Kiseu wiped his forehead sweat with the back of his hand and resumed casting healing spells.

Other healers also moved closer to treat the fallen civilians.

I surveyed the surroundings to assess the situation.

The Goteuberg Knights are formidable. It’s thanks to Tanya’s excellent training. Even if caught off guard, they can easily fend off goblins and defeat them.

The escort knights are diligently fulfilling their duty of protecting the father.

And there is Asella, serving as the head of security.

…Hmm.

Somehow, despite this situation, there is no sign of hesitation. It feels like I was standing in a position where I wouldn’t be caught off guard.

I just need to protect myself.

“Haap!”

There’s no need to endure, so I swung my sword with all my might.

―Kieak!!

A goblin that was rushing towards me was hit in the head and fell back.