Goblin Knight - Chapter 302



Only Noblemtl

EP.302 Time Problem (10)

“I’m so happy to see you that I wish I could relieve some of my worries… but it looks like you’re in trouble. I hope my help wasn’t in vain.”

“… … No, thank you. It was a life or death situation. If you hadn’t helped me, I would have been killed by that tin man.”

“Well, that’s good. By the way, that’s an interesting name, Tin Man… … .”

Ella, who joined late, looked at Blanc with eyes that seemed to be confused.

Of course, Blanc couldn’t say anything. He didn’t even know how to react to this situation.

Is it a coincidence that I met this so-called pioneer of the rippling lands here and now? How is he manipulating that unidentified tin man like an arm and a leg? Why doesn’t the exploding metal ball react to Gilan?

As if he understood the confusion of Blanc and his party, Gilan smiled suspiciously and said.

“I think it would be a good idea to move first. I can see some uninvited guests over there.”

“Those guys-”

“I know. I’m part of the Federation. Honestly, I’m dying to know why they were chasing Sir Blanc. But let’s talk about that later. There’s no need to buy them time to catch up.”

It was just as Gilan said.

They too seemed to be struggling under the onslaught of metal balls and invisible tin dolls, but it seemed as though their powers would not be insurmountable.

As Blanc glared at the Federation’s pursuers with fierce eyes, Gilan took something small out of his bosom.

It was something like a white card with a blue border.

“Security number OZ-1900, Gilan Gale. Request that all sentient entities within five meters be designated as companions.”

– Your request has been completed. Have a nice day.

“What is that? What does intellectual… mean?”

“It’s a kind of artifact. It allows you to freely roam the rippling grounds around here. Don’t worry about what I say afterward. It’s like a magic phrase.”

Gilan, who had gone a few steps ahead, gently extended his hand to Blanc, as if to tell him to follow him.

Blanc hesitated for a moment at the power of the metal ball underground, then carefully stepped onto the ground.

Indeed, nothing happened.

While Blanc was bewildered by the drastic change in circumstances, he heard the tin man standing quietly next to him creaking his shoulder.

“You’re more fearful than I thought.”

“Can you not hesitate? You suffered so much from that crazy explosion just a moment ago, how can you… Wait, what?”

Blanc and his party looked at the tin man with wide eyes.

“Were you able to tell!?”

“Then can’t you do it? What do you see people as?”

“No matter how I look at it, it doesn’t look like a human! It doesn’t look like it’s wearing any special armor, so how on earth-”

“Excuse me. Don’t you know that judging people by their appearance is not a very good habit?”

“Wow. This is a very insightful answer in many ways… … .”

Ella, who knew the true nature of Blanc’s party, which had an exceptionally high level of racial diversity, muttered softly.

Gilan, who was walking ahead, said with a hahaha laugh, wondering how he understood what she was saying.

“You don’t have to blame yourself too much. It’s just a habit that my friend has had for a long time. I was also a victim of it at first.”

“then?”

“As you can see… Well, it might be rude of me to even talk. Would you like me to introduce myself?”

“Okay.”

The tin man said with a creaky mouth.

“My name is Nicola Tincanheart. The Tin Man, as you call him.”

“I guess that call was quite impressive?”

“It’s much better than what you used to sing.”

Gilan and the Tin Man… Blanc thought as he watched Nicola having a light conversation.

Tin Can Heart, something is… that… … .

“Tin Heart? That’s a really explicit name.”

“Ella. Isn’t that rude?”

“Don’t be rude, it’s true.”

Nicola said sarcastically, with a snort, no, a snicker.

“That’s the name I gave myself. As you can see, I don’t have a human heart. My heart is made of tin.”

“It’s very difficult to understand… … .”

“Why? Is it because I teased you? Unfortunately, that is just an illusion I created artificially. It is the result of learning that when you react in this way to certain situations, people will lose their minds.”

“uh…….”

“And I enjoy the intellectual superiority I feel when my perfectly calculated humor-dialogue works as expected. I have a repertoire of 3,178 of these.”

“… … .”

“You’re speechless. Are you frustrated by the fact that all your reactions were already anticipated? Or are you in awe of something superior to you?”

No matter how much I think about it, my heart seems to have overflowed and rotted away.

Gilan shrugged as Ella whispered next to him, “Sir, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen such an ego-heavy author.”

“We are such good friends. We are quite pleasant to be together.”

“Yes… I understand. But, uh… why is Sir Nicola with you?”

“Let’s refrain from that here. It’s going to be a long story… I’m sure Sir Blanc has a lot to tell me anyway.”

Gilan said that and glanced back.

His eyes were fixed on Annelie, who was breathing heavily in Blanc’s arms.

“I understand that you have many questions and requests for me. There is a place where we can have such conversations. It is not too far from here, so don’t worry.”

“If it’s not too far… wouldn’t it be no problem for the Federation pursuers to catch up?”

“You seem unfamiliar with the undulating ground.”

Gilan said with a grin.

“In this land, a close distance does not mean a distance that can be reached. If you can understand the reason for the ‘scars’ left here and use them appropriately, it will not be a problem to stop that kind of force.”

“Scars? You mean those metal balls and tin men?”

“Yes. The scars left on this world by our ancestors who had advanced to a level we cannot even understand in the distant past… In this case, they were called reactive landmines and combat dolls, respectively.”

Gilan continued, spinning the card deftly on his fingers.

“This time, we were lucky because they were relatively easy to understand. The place we’re headed to now is a forward base that has been fortified with such scars. You’re trying to approach it without my permission? Well… … .”

“Is it impossible even for such powerful pursuers?”

“I wouldn’t say it’s impossible. However, if we try to force our way through, there will be enormous sacrifices, and the current Federation is not in a position to take such damage.”

“Hmm.”

“If the leader of the Federation were to come in person, that would be another matter, but according to my information, she is preoccupied with other important tasks. Surely chasing Sir Blanc would be more important than that? Haha!”

“… … .”

“So don’t worry, you are safe!”

What could it be?

I should feel reassured seeing him smiling so confidently, as he was fully prepared and had clear evidence, but why do I feel more and more anxious as he continues talking?

Is this also the PTSD that Anneli was talking about…?

“Anyway, I think that concludes the brief introduction… How about we pick up the pace a little?”

“Okay. But what are you going to do? Didn’t you say you’re not a wizard?”

“I came here riding on Nicola’s shoulders. The ride is not very comfortable, so if you will permit me, I would like to ride in the honorary carriage with Nicola. It will be much faster that way.”

“There is nothing I can’t do.”

As Blanc nodded, Nicolas, who had been glancing at the pumpkin carriage, quickly climbed on.

What a heartless tin man, that’s what it is…

I was thrilled to see Nicola looking around the inside of the carriage excitedly, but I felt my heart pounding as I saw the heat in my hand squirm painfully.

‘… …Annelli.’

If it was Blanc about half a year ago.

If he had not yet fully understood how the world works, he might have simply considered this situation as luck.

They say that good luck comes to good people.

But as I travel with Anneli, I realize that the world is not that easy.

Neither luck nor kindness comes without a reason. Everyone in the world moves according to their own rationality and calculation.

Sometimes, the good that transcends all else works irrational miracles… but it didn’t seem like the merchant would follow such logic.

So, guess what?

Gilan has already saved them and willingly provided them with all kinds of valuable information.

He’ll show you a safe haven from Federation pursuers (if anything), and he’ll probably do his best to keep an eye on Anneli’s condition.

It must be because there is a price to be paid by Blanc.