"They got away again!?"
Gi Gu Verbena cried out in shock, while Gu Tough lowered his head.
The army of Gi Gu Verbena that carried the flag of Felduk have been failing to catch the Blue Knights of Pena despite their continuing expansion. This time around, Gu Tough was on the receiving end of a powerful assault on his way to rendezvous with the main force.
They didn't suffer many casualties, but Gi Gu was already at the end of his patience from the enemy's repeated attacks.
"If we can't catch them, then that means we're not mobile enough."
Gi Za's analysis caused Gi Gu to frown. Gi Gu may have had beast tamers and druids in his army, but he didn't have rider-beasts. Rider-beasts were unique to one tribe and the cavalry of the king required special training. Because of that his army was lacking in mobility.
And the enemy took full advantage of it.
"...Gi Za-dono, what do you think? I believe we should set a trap, but..."
There were fast monsters within the forest. Like the double-headed ostrich or the small but fast wild dogs. These monsters weren't very strong, but they were quick on their feet and nigh impossible for the goblins to catch.
"Hmm..."
Gi Za's eyes narrowed as he looked at the goblin called Gi Gu a little better than before. Until now, he thought this goblin was only good for moving large armies, but it seems that's not all he was good for. He might actually be trying to think of a way on his own just as Gi Za advised him before.
"What do you think?"
Gi Za was only here to observe, and the commander was Gi Gu. As such, Gi Za asked him that question out of respect.
"I don't know how they're doing it, but it seems they're intentionally aiming for our small platoons."
One option Gi Gu had was to prepare an escape route, and then send out a platoon as bait and attack the settlements. Of course, the bait would be at high risk, but it's a lot better than the whole army just sitting around doing nothing.
"There's not much time."
"What?"
Gi Gu was shocked to hear Gi Za say that. Gi Gu never once thought he would have to rush the final confrontation so soon.
Moving a large army cost food.
Especially, considering the area around Pena didn't have many monster beasts. It was a region ruled by humans, so naturally, the monsters in it have mosly been run thin. Any monster that could harm humans would appear less and less likely the closer one neared a human settlement. Which goes to mean that the goblins will also be unable to sustain themselves.
It was a lot faster to procure food from a nearby city than to run somewhere far away and hunt. But if they did that, they would cause displeasure among the cities they'd given autonomy to.
If the people can't eat, the people will grumble. That was true even for the goblins.
"Certainly... The people being unhappy with the king's leadership is not something that can be ignored."
Gi Gu Verbena was a proponent of goblin supremacy. But that didn't have much to do with the atrocities he's committed.
Gi Gu was originally a goblin who led a horde himself, so while his thoughts on ruling were a bit vague, he still understood it more than the other goblins.
For a horde to be led, those ruled over must tremble before the rulers. Yes. Just like how the goblins fear and respect the Goblin King. It was because of that that Gi Gu Verbena intentionally struck fear into the hearts of the humans.
