Chapter 17 : Facing Your Fears

We walked to the site where it was said someone found a group of goblins roaming around the area. It has been investigated and so the quest was formed to exterminate them. However, it's not just me who's going.

I looked at my right side where Eina was, walking by my side. After I accepted the quest, Eina didn't go back home but instead was pleading to let her go with me. At first, I didn't accept because of the dangers and also her previous encounters with one. Even Mom said she shouldn't go for now, but I saw her eyes which contains mix emotions of fear, worry, and courage.

Because of that, I tried to know what her intentions were by activating 'Intention Seeker', and I found what does she wants.

[ I want to be stronger. Father was supposed to teach me, but... No, I shouldn't dwell on that any longer. I don't want to lose anything anymore. Just like that adventurer said... ]

Huh...? 'That adventurer'? I don't know about that, but I guess it's better not to ask, was my though that time. But seeing her resolve made me think of her as a strong girl, and because of that I respected her decision.

Now going back, seeing me intently staring at her, Eina tilted her head asking what's wrong, which I just replied, "It's nothing."

The place we're going now is at the south-east part of Negissa, which I have also visited many times to clear monsters as a part of my quests. This place was a forest extending until the southwest part of Negissa.

You could see a really thick vegetation of this place and the tall trees which blocks the sunlight here. Goblins like dark places, and usually they build their bases on the caves in the forest.

Then, suddenly, Eina's ears twitched, and alertness could be seen from her face. I determined there was something nearby from her reaction. I still haven't sensed anything; beastkins are really amazing. It wasn't long until I also sensed the presence.

I then tried sign Eina to be quiet, but then I saw Eina's face contorting with fear. The presence gets more near at us as her face changes more. I can't let it go more.

"「Manifest, 'Camouflage'!」"

I walked to her in a quiet steps then lifted her in a princess carry then jumped out until we're more than a hundred meters away from our location. Eina, who had now recovered slightly, was trembling when I asked her.

"Are you okay?! Why did you froze?"

After calming a little bit, she spoke.

"M-monsters... Mom... Dad..."

I take it back. She's still not calm. I casted a more calming spell to her, and then I got near her to talked to her again.

"Eina, don't push yourself. I'll take you back now to the house."

"No... I don't want to go back..."

She still won't back down, I see. I know why, but let's still ask her. If she wants to be strong, she'll need to face the fear of the monsters.

"...Why don't you want to go back? You're already at this state..."

As I stated that, Eina clung into me, and said her wish I heard in her thoughts earlier.

"I can't go back... because... because I want to be stronger. Stronger to fight... so that I can protect everything I have. I... don't want to lose anything anymore."

"...I see."

I need to pretend I didn't know it, or my reaction might discourage her. But should I really take her back there? It might make her more unstable... but I also can't ignore that wish.

"...Alright, we'll go back there. However, if you were still frightened, we'll continue in the next days."

"...Okay."

Getting my permission, she tried to stood up with her trembling legs, but she can't stand. I tried to help her, only for my hands to be slapped away. Guess she wants to do it herself.

After that, we continued to our way, but now I have different purpose than when I entered this forest with her. Getting near the monster we found earlier, who was a goblin that's unaware of us, we moved into the location most suitable for her to face it.

Of course, I'm not so wicked to make her fight it. I readied to sheath my sword as I undid the 'Camouflage'. Immediately the goblin, who seemed to be alone sensed us. It looked at us.

Eina, now seeing the goblin eye-to-eye, was trembling really hard, her face as white as a sheet of paper. Can she really do this..?

Then the goblin raised a roar, charging to us with a thick stick.

One step.

Eina, stepped backwards too.

Two steps.

Her face paled more, now with tears coming out of her eyes.

Three steps.

"You can do it, Eina," I tried to encourage her as I readied my weapon, focusing on the goblins movements as well as Eina's.

My word seemed to have reached Eina's as she stared at my back. I don't know, but somehow I was beginning to get embarrased.

The goblin then raised another roar with his fourth steps, which Eina almost tripped stepping back. Then she takes another step... forward.

Five steps.

The goblin was now 3 meters near me, but it isn't even paying attention to me. Well, it was because goblins were jnown for preting on the weak. And like those in the manga, they really do attack women first, and they also rape them before killing them.

Time slowed. Not just for me, but also Eina's. I was using 'Intention Seeker' to see what she's thinking, but it sped up as the goblin gets near.

And suddenly, Eina shouts.

"I am not afraid of you! No more! I will kill you!"

A step forward. I became shocked even if I was probing on her thoughts. It was a mix of something just before, but then it straightened into one goal.

Another step. She began getting near me. Then she snatched the thing that was in my right side. It was my revolver. Yes, the one my Dad also gifted me with this sword.

I was holding it earlier, playing with it as I spun it around before we entered the forest. When she asked what was it, I told her about it and how to use it. But I never thought she would use it here.

I let her snatch it, but still I was ready for anything that might go wrong. The goblin was now much nearer, at one meter. I stepped back to ready my sword stance, ready to swing it to lop its head off.

Eina aimed at the goblin, with her hands trembling holding the revolver.

"Die!!" She shouted with tears in her eyes, and her thoughts flowed outside, you could sense her emotions, and it affected me too.

And with that, Eina clicked the trigger. With a *Bang!*, the bullet flew and hit the goblin's head. The goblin then tripped as the shot pierced it's head, plopping down.

But it didn't end there. Eina, now lost to her emotions, shouted more.

"Die! Die! Die!!"

She shooted the goblin over and over, until the rounds were over. She cried again, the thing she swore not to do again. I understood her feelings now.

But she won't be calm with this and might spend more time crying, so I made her slept with my spell. After that, I looked at the direction of where I found the goblin earlier. After laying her down,I readied my sword and the revolver, because I know this was far from over.