I Will Be the Greatest Knight

Any experienced knight noticed that the number of monsters appearing in those days was higher than ever before.

Knights of ancient times would track monster movement by where the dragons migrated. Monsters always ran away from larger threats. Unfortunately, since dragons were a thing of the past and hadn't been seen for nearly a century, all they knew to do was cull the monsters. 

As long as they kept culling them, they could guarantee fewer accidents. With fewer accidents, the people could continue to trust that the knights would protect them.

That's why, each time there was another monster sighting so close to a township, especially the ones so far from the mountains, people began to question what the knights were doing. What steps was the Duke taking to ensure the borders were protected? 

Were there enough men willing to be knights anymore?

What many didn't see was Duke Arlin sending knights out in pairs across the entire duchy. Tenetium was never unprotected. However, it was suggested that he might need to try a different approach to manage the monster issue. Something was changing that the older knights couldn't quite put their finger on.

Sure enough, the apprentices and knights visiting the blacksmith ran to the outskirts of town. They went towards where people were running away from with their weapons ready.

Without a doubt, there were goblins disturbing farmlands on the outskirts of the township.

The wiry-haired monsters with their faintly green skin and drooling mouths ran through the fields clumsily, taking advantage of the harvest season that was merely a few short weeks away. However, for the people of the township, they needed every bit of food they could get. A town ill prepared for a harsh Chemoian winter was a town that would be wiped off the face of the map. 

While the outside went dormant as snow blanketed the ground, things inside remained mostly lively. Even if they weren't doing physical tasks, people still needed to eat.

Sir Phillip was the first to run directly into trouble after briefly assessing the situation. There were no signs in the treeline of more than the three goblins they saw. It should be no trouble for them to kill all the monsters. 

Lief, Felix, Erik, and Louis all spread out along the edges of the township. Since goblins were smaller and easier to deal with, their move was practiced to ensure more certainty that the town wouldn't be invaded by stray monsters escaping the knight. 

Sir Phillip had no issue with the first monster but the second and third who were much smaller were faster. They dodged the knight's blade and sprinted towards the storehouse at the edge of town. 

While there were pros and cons to having such a storehouse on the outskirts, it was better for the convenience of farmers who filled the storehouse and were normally well-watched by knights in the area or a good Samaritan who had taken it upon themselves. 

Being able to use a sword for self-defense was commonplace, after all.

Felix and Leif both took off towards the other goblins. Their expressions were focused and swords were firmly held in front of them. 

Even though one of the goblins had already started tearing into the wood with the sharp lance it had most certainly stolen from a knight or unsuspecting person, to stop it at some point was better than not at all. 

The easygoing Felix was a thing of the past as he sprinted forward and raised his arming sword at the monster. As he lowered the sharp blade and it hit the goblin between its neck and shoulder, dark monster blood spewed into the air, and a blood curdling screech was heard throughout that side of the township.

It was times such as that when people believed Felix really did carry some of his tumultuous life inside of him. The burdens he had been receiving from such a young age were suddenly apparent as he wielded a sword and forced a living thing to pay for its sins tenfold. 

It was a blessing and a curse to be so led by emotion when there was a weapon in his hands. 

It was uncertain whether or not goblins truly felt pain or if they were simply acting entirely out of instinct because, even though his blade had slashed the monster deep and it would die of bloodloss eventually, it still managed to turn around and the lance that was once trying to open the storehouse was thrown messily at the apprentice. 

It then lunged forward and began bearing its fists as if that was enough against a sword. 

Lief, on the other hand, was having a more hand-to-hand situation with the other goblin. It ran to him and met him halfway, not concerned at all for the storehouse but the threat running towards it.

There were a couple of parries as his weapon bounced off of the mallet the goblin carried. 

However, the boy took another approach as he lunged forward with his body rather than a weapon and tackled the goblin to the ground. However, his time with a sword made him not get the weapon too far behind himself so he wouldn't be able to fight closer. 

Instead, the flat side of Leif's sword pinned the thrashing goblin by the neck into the ground. The monster gasped for air and swung its club, but the apprentice had the upper hand and kicked its arm to the ground. He then tore the club from the beast's hand and began mashing its head into the ground. 

It was rendered useless enough that he was able to then lift his sword and decapitate the monster entirely. 

Certainly, a knight would have done a better job incapacitating the monster in a much more clean manner, but knights often had height advantage and apprentices had to learn that the hard way. 

However, there was a cry from the township's edge.

"Behind you!"

Irene's voice rang out through the small farmlands and no one knew exactly what she was talking about until another goblin emerged from one of the overgrown cornfields. That one carried a sword too large for its frame but because it had the advantage of surprise, it raised it above its head and approached Felix who realized too late that he was being approached slowly.