Chapitre 44: Hobgoblins (5)
ㅡStep!
"One! Two! One! Two!"
"Keurek! Kek! Keurek! Kek!"
The goblins were marching as per my command.
ㅡTap tap tap tap.
Of course, it was a complete mess.
Buril, who didn't understand the concept of marching, had his left foot and left hand moving in sync. Other goblins either stumbled or hopped. It was common for them to trip over their feet, or they were just confused about which foot to start with, leading them to bump into the goblin behind them.
"Keurek! Kek! Keurek! Kek!"
But in the midst of this chaos, only the commander was doing well.
"Whew. Stop."
"Keurek."
I commanded to halt once again.
Despite an hour-long training session about marching, unsurprisingly, the goblins couldn't get it.
Proper marching was genuinely crucial.
When I was in the military, I believed marching was just a bloody annoying, slow-moving, and tiring waste of time. Honestly, that was true.
When would the Korean army ever march in real combat? They would be busy fighting with their guns, not marching in a war.
The modern military's emphasis on marching was merely indoctrination, nothing more or less. It was pointless in real combat, neither fun nor meaningful.
However, it was different here.
"Formation."
Maintaining a formation and fighting in a dungeon required swift and precise movement. The phalanx relied on keeping this formation.
If the formation broke?
Morale would crumble.
The point of the formation was to leverage its advantage. If it failed, it was just chaos. And a chaotic fight? Looking at the difference in strength between hobgoblins and regular goblins, they'd never win in chaos. Hence, a strategy was essential.
Here, marching wasn't a joke; it was a practical tactic.
"Keurek! Keurek-Keurek!"
Lieutenant Buril waved his arms, trying to align the troops. Well, they seemed to be good at standing still, at least.
"Well, how can you expect them to be good in just one day?"
Now that I thought about it, it was the same.
Even during my training days, despite rigorous marching training, some still couldn't march properly until the very end. Some might've done it on purpose, but there were also many who couldn't control their bodies well.
Some even went to receive awards, moving their right foot and right hand in sync. Humans struggled, too, so what could we expect from goblins?
Typically, marching training lasted what 5 days? 3 days? My memory was fuzzy, but it felt long. Considering humans took that long, goblins would need even more training.
"Alright! The Demon King will demonstrate how to march once again! Like this. Left foot!"
ㅡStep!
First, step forward with the left foot. The right hand remained still since it was holding a spear or shield.
"Then, right foot!"
ㅡStep!
Step with the right foot while lifting the left hand, just like that.
"Left foot! Left foot! Left foot! One! Two! One! Two!"
I passionately demonstrated the marching. Observing Buril, it seemed like he somewhat understood, but he was struggling to imitate. He seemed to have difficulty controlling his body.
"Shaah! Sha! Shaah!"
Then, Sharan mimicked my marching beside me.
"Oh, my."
"Shaah!"
Sharan, with a joyous expression, was marching beautifully with her long and gorgeous legs. But oh my, she was only wearing leafy underwear, so her backside was… well, pretty distracting…
It was quite a task to control myself when I saw that beautiful figure every day.
Now, imagine putting a beret-like thing on Sharan, who was currently dressed only in her underwear and was a tall and slender beauty, and then putting her through formal training.
Just the thought of it was enough to make one's heart race.
Hweaek!
I quickly shook my head to clear those thoughts. Sharan's mere presence was too stimulating!
"Great job, Sharan! One! Two! One! Two!"
"Sha! Sha! Shaa! Sha!"
Anyway, Sharan got the hang of the drill instantly.
"Kyu-satsat!"
"Kkeurururuk!"
Soon, Imsoong and Gyuil's gang started to come over and imitate me. Of course, they were nowhere close. Imsoong walked sideways like some sort of crab, and all of Gyuil's guys tried to walk on all fours.
It was like a chaotic zoo.
"Hey, hey, get a grip and stop that, Imsoong."
"Kkeureuk?"
"Stop playing and go gather some fruits. Take Gyuil's gang with you. Gyuil! Go with Imsoong and collect some fruits!"
"Kyusat!"
The guys formed a group and headed out immediately.
"Hehe, cute fellows."
Sending them alone might be risky, but it felt alright now.
Why? Because of the territory. After we claimed this place and roamed around so much, it seems we had established a 'territory' concept, and there were no predators around.
In other words, this dungeon's vicinity was our territory. Hence, a simple errand like gathering fruits was easy and safe.
"Let's resume the formal training. Everyone, to your positions!"
"Kerek!"
"Now, we'll start the formal movement drill. Forward march! One! Two! One! Two!"
"Kerek! Kek! Kerek! Kek!"
"Hmm."
It looked a bit better than before, but these guys really couldn't keep still.
The shield-bearing soldiers even swung their shields as they moved.
"No, no, this won't work. Let's stop for today and start combat training."
"Kerek?"
"Everyone, to your positions. Shield-bearers, raise your shields."
At my command, the shield-bearers slightly lifted their shields to protect themselves. They still didn't know how to use shields properly. Well, I would have to teach them.
Thud.
I tore off a branch from a nearby tree and broke it down to a size convenient for throwing.
"Shaa?"
"Huh, Sharan, what?"
"Shaa-shaa."
At that moment, Sharan grabbed the branch and, thud, she broke it herself. This kid! She wanted to help me out!
"Hehe, Sharan is truly adorable."
"Shaa."
She tilted her head as if she wanted a compliment. I immediately patted her head. At this rate, I might just get a natural chance to touch her chest.
Anyway.
"Shield-bearers! I'm going to throw this, and you have to block it with your shields!"
"Kerek?"
"Let's start!"
Paaat!
As I threw the wooden piece.
Paaak!
"Kek?!"
It hit Sahogi right on the forehead! He screamed while holding onto his forehead.
"Hey, damn it! You need to block it with your shield! That's why I said block it!"
"Kek!"
"Let's start again!"
And so, I kept throwing the wooden pieces.
Paaak!
Paaak!
Paaak!
"Kek!"
"Kek!"
"Kereuk!"
"Seriously, these guys are so bad with shields! Even if it's their first time knowing the concept of a shield, I didn't think they'd be this clueless!"
"If you don't know, you should get hit, damn it! Hey! Keep going!"
Thus, I kept throwing branches for quite some time.
"Kereuk, Kereuk!"
Could it be due to the shock therapy?
Thunk!
Finally, they blocked an attack with the shield!
"Good job! You guys really are adaptive creatures!"
After continually being hit on their heads, they started to adapt and block with the shields.
"Hehehe, see? It's more efficient to learn while getting hit, right?"
They realized how to use the shield because they didn't want to get hit. Goblins lived in the wild. They truly learned by experiencing.
I threw a few more pieces of wood.
Smack!
They skillfully raised their shields and blocked all the incoming wood.
"Well done! These little ones have talent!"
"Kereuk…?"
I immediately went to them and patted their heads, praising them. My goblins were like sponges that grew with praise.
"Kereuk Kereuk!"
Look at that. They loved it. Buril's gaze from behind was strange, but for now, the praise was for these guys.
"Now, let's get started with the actual training!"
I brought a long branch, which can be used as a spear.
"I'm gonna stab you with this now, so block it well."
"Kereuk?"
"Yes, sir!"
Thud!
I immediately thrust the stick towards their shield formation.
"Kereuk, Kereuk?!"
The noticeably flustered goblins shuffled with their shields. Good. They instinctively knew. They must maintain the formation.
"Ha!"
I kept thrusting the stick at them!
Thud!
Thud!
Thud!
"Kereuk!"
Excellent defense by the shield-bearers! Damn! It was really fun when they followed the training so well! Who knew it would be this fun!
"Hahahaha! Haha! Haha!"
And as I happily thrust the stick.
"Kereuk, Kereuk Kereuk!"
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, the contemplative Buril rushed out, knelt in front of me, and rubbed his hands together like he was begging.
"Kereuk Kereuk! Kereuk! Kereuk Kereuk!"
"What, what? What are you doing now, Buril?"
"Kereuk Kereuk Kereuk!"
The begging look on Buril's face… What on earth?
"Huh?"
Could it be?
Was he thinking I was beating the hell out of the young ones? Thinking I was angrily beating the shield-bearers? And that was why he's begging?
No!
"Hey! This is a misunderstanding, dude! Would I do that? It's training! Training!"
I immediately explained, but…
"Kereuk…?"
He didn't seem to understand!
"Hey! Practice means practice! Combat training! Do you think I am the type to beat everyone up just because I'm upset? Huh? I wouldn't do that!"
"Kae-ru-rung?"
Damn! I wish he would understand! I didn't want my loyal servant Bureel to misunderstand me!
"Hey! I said it's not like that! It isn't!"
"Ke, Ke-ruruk!"
"Ke-rururuk!"
And as I was saying that, the shield bearers put down their shields and rushed over to me, desperately pleading.
"Sha, Sha-a. Sha-a-sha-a."
Even Sharan seemed worried, gently patting my shoulder.
"Oh my! Guys, I'm not angry!"
How should I clear up this misunderstanding?!
And so, days of training went by.
Sharan made more wooden equipment as time passed, and even the goblins we had taken prisoner had become completely mine.
With that, I managed to complete a goblin phalanx squad armed with spears and shields.
The number?
Eight.
That should be enough to call it a squad.
"Good. For now, let's stop increasing the troops… Let's see. Set a schedule. Train. Hunt. And as it gets dark, have individual training."
I also needed to study dark magic soon.
And I needed to train myself.
Looking at the book, there were various spells, like shooting fire with my hands and raising the undead.
"Mana Extraction?"
I should use that more, but I had not been turning corpses into mana crystals due to a lack of food.
Anyway.
"Sharan, let's go on a morning patrol."
"Sha-a."
Now that I was up, I had to go on a morning patrol with Sharan. It seemed that Sharan really enjoyed walking through the forest paths.
So I should accompany her.
Apart from that, I should thoroughly manage my territory.
"Sha-a-sha-a."
As we walked, Sharan wrapped her arms around mine.
"It's like a proper date."
"Sha-a."
At this rate… I kind of wanted to take Sharan to a quiet place and just hang out together.
"Sha-a?"
But Sharan's expression was too innocent…! Despite her alluring body, she exuded extreme cuteness and purity! The thought of doing anything to such an innocent Sharan felt wrong… Anyway, these were the thoughts crossing my mind as I was on a morning stroll and patrol with Sharan.
-Pa-at.
Suddenly, my ears twitched… What was that? My ears twitched? Focusing on this new sensation, I could hear a faint sound.
"…Ra-rak."
"…Rak."
A faint noise.
-Pa-at!
I made an instant decision.
I immediately took cover and moved toward the source of the sound.
"Gu-ra-rak."
"Gu-rak."
I was able to spot some hobgoblins.
Two of them.
They were armed.
…Scouts, maybe?
Wasn't this a bit too close to our home?
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone