Monster nest

 
 
 ☆
 
 
 The third day on Ainsworth territory inspections.
 
 The day before, I was hit with the shocking fact that 『my own territory has not a single magic tool workshop』.
 
 I was dazed for a while, but lamenting won’t change the current situation.
 
 “If there isn’t an existing magic tool workshop, then fine, I’ll just do what I want!”
 
 ——— I put up some bravado, and somehow pulled myself together.
 
 Things like 『Where do I set up the workshop』.
 
 Or 『How will I recruit people when the Owleyes Workshop^[1] is already short-staffed as it is』.
 
 There were various things, but I put off thinking about them for now.
 
 
 
 “Otou-sama, how far are the preparations?”
 
 Hearing my question, Otou-sama raised his head, having finished putting on the mass-production prototype flying boots.
 
 “Sorry for the wait. I’m ready any time.”
 
 Saying so, he put the model 2 prototype magic rifle sitting on the carriage seat on his back.
 
 Today, we’ll be going to the small villages not far off from Prigracim town.
 
 Our goal was to inspect the settlements apart from the territory capital.
 
 And then, yet another goal of ours was ———
 
 “Well then, let’s head out to the rumoured monster den.”
 
 ——— to scout the power of my territory’s greatest 『enemy』.
 
 “Is there no problem going with the battle formation we discussed?”
 
 “Yes. Otou-sama takes the lead. Myself and Anna will be in the back, and when escaping we’ll use the reverse battle formation, right?”
 
 Hearing my words, my father nodded 『Yep』, and Anna replied with an 『Agreed』.
 
 By the way, slung on Anna’s shoulder is the model 3 extended magazine prototype rifle.
 
 Naturally, I too am carrying a remodelled model 1 prototype.
 
 As we’re heading out to scout the monster den’s power, the three of us are wearing flying boots and have rifles slung on our backs.
 
 However, we each actually have slight differences in our equipment.
 
 The reason for that is ———
 
 
 
 Needless to say, I am a magic power monster.
 
 And then, although not as much as I have, Otou-sama, who is of Ainsworth lineage, also possesses considerable amounts of magic power.
 
 On the other hand, although Anna, being of new noble descent, has more magic power than the average person, it’s not enough to maintain the flying boots with her own magic power for a long time or use magic convergence bullets.
 
 And so I thought.
 
 『If Anna doesn’t have enough magic power, then won’t it be fine if I just improve it!』
 
 In short, that’s what I was thinking.
 
 Being the magic power monster that I am, the prototypes, 『Model 1 Revised Prototype』 that had the original magic power convergence bullet multi-acceleration mode and the flying boots, needed some tweaking.
 
 For Otou-sama, who has less magic power than I do, I gave him the 『Model 2 Prototype』 with reduced bore and output, as well as the mass-production flying boots.
 
 For Anna, who can’t use magic convergence bullets with her own magic power, I handed her the 『Model 3 Prototype』 which also uses physical bullets, assuming that I’d supply Anna with magic power when the time comes.
 Furthermore, the flying shoes I had given her for testing have already had their safety equipment vigorously remodelled, so it can be used as is.
 
 It’s precisely the right person in the right place. (?)^[2]
 
 Thus, three prototype rifles and three pairs of prototype flying boots were put to good use.
 
 “Yep, it’s perfect.”
 
 ““???””
 
 The two of them looked at me strangely as I praised myself in my head with a smug look on my face.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 “Well then, let’s go.”
 
 Otou-sama said this as he passed magic power into his flying boots.
 
 ““Ok!””
 
 Anna and I followed suit and also activated our flying boots, and three magic circles appeared underfoot the three pairs of feet.
 
 Having confirmed that, Otou-sama then ———
 
 “Head out!”
 
 ——— and with a shout, we soared into the sky.
 
 
 
 From the village we took off from, Ootu-sama lead the way and headed to the forest spreading on the west side.
 
 “Anna, you ok?”
 
 When I called out to her beside me,
 “Yes, I’m fine!”
 my attendant replied with a pumped fist while flying.
 Apparently, it seems she’s got some leeway.
 
 “If you get too far from me, the magic power supply will cut off, so try as much as you can to not separate from me, ok?”
 
 “Anna will always remain by Ojou-sama’s side.”
 
 “…”
 
 I smiled wryly at Anna’s smiling face.
 
 I didn’t mean it like that.
 ——— was this perhaps a premeditated crime?
 
 Flying as I thought of that, Otou-sama, who was in the lead, dropped his speed.
 
 “What’s wrong?”
 
 Hearing me, Otou-sama went 『Shhh』 with his index finger on his lips, and then pointed ahead.
 
 I looked at what lay ahead of where he pointed.
 
 “!”
 
 I unconsciously came to a halt right on the spot.
 
 
 ☆
 
 
 There, a spot in the forest had opened up a bit.
 
 Small heap-like mounds^[3] were arranged irregularly.
 
 Each mound had a tunnel-like hole in one spot, and from there, green bipedal things went in and out, strutting about the place.
 
 ——— Goblins.
 
 Even though it was the first time for me seeing the real thing, I immediately recognised it.
 
 The ugly appearance.
 Wearing no clothes, they’re a squirming monstrosity that uses primitive tools.
 
 I felt a physiological disgust at its appearance.
 Otou-sama’s lecture was brought back to mind.
 
 
 Goblins do not have females.
 So they kidnap females of other species and breed with them.
 Included in that is, of course, humans as well.
 
 Goblins eat anything living.
 Be it livestock, or people.
 
 Without doubt, they are vermin.
 Our 『enemy』 was squirming down there.
 
 
 
 (“What’ll we do, Otou-sama?”)
 
 Speaking in a whisper, Otou-sama replied without taking his eyes off the enemy.
 
 (“You’ll crush that 『heap』 from over here, please. Anna will guard the surroundings. I’ll fly over them, and then hunt those that flee from the other side. ——— Got it?”)
 
 (““Yes.””)
 
 It happened just as we both nodded.
 
 
 ——— Hyyyuun
 
 
 Something flew past by Otou-sama’s side.
 
 
 Gya gyah!
 Gya gya gya gyah!!
 
 
 The goblin nest became noisy all at once.
 
 Otou-sama then shouted.
 
 “They’ve noticed us! Gain altitude!!”
 
 ““O- ok!!””
 
 I took Anna with me, and we ascending in a hurry.
 
 
 Hyyun hyuun hyun hyyun hyyuun!!
 
 
 Innumerable arrows rushed in where we had been just a few seconds ago.
 
 The goblins held crude bows.^[4]
 But it had a longer range than I thought.
 
 We gained altitude till a place where their arrows couldn’t reach us, then once again took a look at the monster nest.
 
 
 Gya gya gyah! Gya gya gya gyah!!
 
 
 Right now, the nest was full of goblins.
 And they were endlessly gushing forth from the 『mound』.
 
 
 ——— Vhoom
 
 
 In one part of the nest, there was a red glow.
 
 “There’s a goblin mage! Magic incoming!!”
 
 Boof!!
 
 Soon after Otou-sama’s shout ended, a 『Fireball』 came flying in.
 
 “-!!”
 
 Transmitted from the magic aimed at us was clear malice.
 
 A feeling that sends chills down your spine, and caused me to unconsciously harden.
 
 
 ——— it happened then.
 
 
 『Letty!!』
 
 『Pull yourself together!』
 
 
 Along with those two voices, my bag opened with a snap, and the teddies flew out from within.
 
 
 “『Auto Defense』!!”
 
 A magic circle formed in the teddies’ hands.
 
 The next instant.
 
 Right before me, a fireball violently exploded.