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Goblin Chapter 115: Ratmen
🕑 Added 2025-08-04 19:09:12 +0000 UTC“That’s a fat rat—wouldn’t it be better dried as jerky?”
“Shh, just take it outside the manor and burn it. The steward gave strict orders. These rats might be carrying diseases—definitely not safe to eat.”
As Gauss and Alia arrived near the estate, they happened to overhear two servants walking by, carrying a sack and chatting as they passed.
Gauss withdrew his gaze, thoughtful.
He followed the merchant caravan further into the estate.
The manor was surrounded by tall stone walls. Outside, golden waves of wheat stretched into the distance. Inside, neatly paved roads and pristine landscaping spoke of wealth and order.
They were greeted by an older steward in a crisp butler's uniform.
“Welcome to Wheatvale Manor, honored adventurers. This estate belongs to the esteemed Baron Hayden Walker of Grayrock. I am Howen, the steward of this estate,” the man said with calm clarity and well-measured courtesy.
Gauss showed him the quest commission, glancing sideways to see the caravan negotiating purchases with a junior steward nearby.
Howen, however, didn’t move. Perhaps to him, the bronze-tier adventurers addressing the rat infestation were far more important than a simple trade deal. Or maybe he just wanted the matter resolved quickly.
As for Baron Hayden, the local lord of Grayrock Town, all the town’s taxes eventually flowed into his coffers. No wonder the estate appeared so grand and refined—this was a noble’s private property.
From Gauss’s intel, the baron’s family mostly resided in the bustling Barry City, only occasionally returning to inspect their lands.
“Please, follow me,” said Howen, leading them deeper into the manor.
“The baron always treats adventurers with respect and made sure to instruct us to offer you our hospitality. The kitchen has prepared lunch—please enjoy your meal first. There’s no rush to begin the assignment.”
“We appreciate it.”
Gauss and Alia exchanged a glance.
They both knew full well that “adventurer” here meant only professionals like them. The guards at the gate—stern, armored, long spears in hand—made it clear that your average adventurer wouldn’t even get past the door.
As they walked, Gauss took in the carefully trimmed gardens, flowing stone aqueducts, towering windmill, and fortified stone structures.
For such a wealthy estate, they likely had professionals among their guards. So why outsource the extermination? Gauss wondered, but said nothing. Perhaps it was part of some agreement between nobles and the guild—or maybe it was just cheaper to pay others than send their own people.
They arrived at the manor’s central villa.
The two were shown to a side dining hall. Despite being called a side room, the opulence surpassed anything Gauss had seen in this world. Intricate carvings, mounted deer heads, and a long walnut dining table—accompanied by silent, waiting servants.
Even though the noble family rarely visited, the estate’s grandeur remained undiminished.
Unfortunately, when the food arrived, Gauss was a bit disappointed.
Not that it tasted bad—it was actually quite good—but the ingredients were ordinary. It didn’t match the surprise he’d had at Firefly Kitchen the first time. Of course, no noble would waste fine ingredients on outsiders like them.
Pity.
They made some polite small talk before focusing on the meal.
Gauss, with his [Energy Storage Gland] trait, ate more than Alia. His appetite was far beyond that of a normal person.
After the meal, Gauss got to the point. “The cellar is about four kilometers from the estate, beneath an abandoned chapel,” Howen explained, marking it clearly on a map.
“No idea when the ratmen took over, but the rat population here has surged lately. Must be related.”
Though the quest file already had exact coordinates, in-person confirmation helped—and it had just earned them a hot meal.
After confirming a few details, the two boarded a carriage supplied by the estate, heading toward the chapel.
“Straight down this dirt path and you’ll reach the chapel,” the driver said, halting the carriage some distance from their destination with a guilty tone. “I can’t go any closer. If you need a ride back, I’ll be waiting under that big oak tree.”
The two nodded, understanding his fear.
Ratmen might not be deadly to them, but to an ordinary person, especially in groups of 70+, they were a nightmare.
The air felt gloomy despite the bright afternoon sun.
Around them, trees were withered and dead. Out-of-season brown leaves blanketed the ground.
Gauss activated [Keen Insight], and his senses heightened. Details rushed into his awareness.
Tracks in the mud—rat-sized. Bark gnawed off trees. Tiny black droppings near the roots.
“Large activity range,” he murmured. “Still about 200 meters from the chapel.”
“They consume everything nearby to feed their breeding,” Alia said through her gas mask.
They were both fully geared.
Alia wore her protective suit, and Gauss had cast [Omni-Armor] on her. Her wolf companion had been stationed at a distance to avoid alerting the enemy.
“Yeah, looks like they’ve been here a while,” Gauss nodded.
Thanks to his 7-point Perception and the [Keen Insight], he could even gauge the rats' sizes by their footprints.
Some were massive—half a meter long, excluding tails—comparable to small dogs.
According to the monster manual, the ratmen must’ve released their trained rats due to food shortages.
Which explained why the estate, kilometers away, was also affected.
Just then, a large rat—over 30 centimeters long—burst from the leaves, carrying a stiff bird corpse in its mouth.
It froze upon seeing the intruders, eyes locked in confusion.
“Chii-chii!”
A high-pitched squeak echoed—but not from the rat. It came from Alia.
Gauss knew she was using [Speak with Animals] to gather intel and kept quiet.
“Chii-chii, eh?”
“Eh? Chii-chii!”
She tried again.
But the rat bolted.
“Failed.”
Gauss raised his crossbow and fired.
Thunk!
The bolt nailed it to the ground.
Turning to Alia, he asked, “You can’t talk to rats?”
“No, normally I can. It depends on intelligence. But this one... it was like a block of wood. No response. Probably modified by the ratmen,” she said grimly.
“Then we’ll have to be extra careful.” Gauss nodded. “If your barrier breaks, get to me—I’ve got plenty of mana to recast.”
“...Got it.” Alia met his gaze.
He really was different from the other mages she’d met.
They continued onward.
The closer they got, the more signs of rat activity they saw. A foul stench filled the air, and dead plants abounded.
“Are they killing roots intentionally, or is this poison?” Gauss wondered.
Ratmen weren’t as strong as goblins, but they were smarter.
Such reckless destruction usually exposed their den—unusual behavior.
At last, the chapel came into view.
Its spire was crumbling, walls mottled and cracked—time had taken its toll.
Signs of infestation were everywhere: burrows, scattered bones, and strange green slime oozing from the earth.
But the worst was the blackened clearing before the church.
It wasn’t a clearing at all—it was a writhing carpet of rats.
Hundreds, maybe thousands, packed tightly together in a nightmarish wave of gray fur.
Some were especially large, nearly 70 centimeters long, with blood-red eyes. They sat like generals among the horde.
Suddenly, Gauss felt a chill run down his spine—someone was watching.
His gaze snapped upward to a shattered stained-glass window.
A flash of crimson light vanished into the darkness.
They’d been spotted.
“We’ve been seen,” Alia said, confirming his suspicion.
“Of course.” Gauss gripped his bone staff. “With this many eyes, stealth is impossible.”
“Prepare for combat!”
Since sneaking in was off the table, there was only one option: a frontal assault!
He raised his staff, aiming for the densest part of the swarm.
“Firebolt!”
The air at the tip shimmered, orange-red energy condensed into a flaming projectile the size of a forearm.
It glowed white-hot in the center, red tongues of fire licking its edges.
A spell he’d only just mastered—yet now, it would shine.
Whizz!
The arrow flew, trailing blazing light, and struck a giant rat dead-on.
Boom!
It exploded, fire and sparks engulfing the nearby rats. Their dry fur ignited instantly, spreading the flames like wildfire.
“Eeeek! Screeeee!!”
The silence of the chapel shattered into a hellish symphony of shrieks and burning flesh.
[Giant Rat Slain x1]
[Total Monster Kills: 369]
Another entry unlocked in the monster compendium.
As expected, Giant Rats were considered a separate species.
Judging from their numbers, this mission might involve close to a hundred creatures.
A big job indeed.
Gauss watched the flames devour the horde, the rats squealing and writhing.
Firebolt had proven its worth.
While it lacked the raw power of a Level 1 spell like Magic Missile, it was perfect against weak swarming enemies.
Fur + fire = classic synergy.
Without pause, Gauss unleashed more arrows.
Each one soared into the sea of black fur, detonating and igniting more rodents.
The kill notifications kept popping up.
He had no intention of stopping until every underling was burned away.
Beside him, Alia threw firebombs.
Her strong arms hurled bottles in high arcs, smashing into unburned areas and spreading fire further.
The rats had already ruined the land—it was a scorched wasteland. Alia had no reservations about burning it all down.
The ruins turned into a blazing battlefield.
Countless rats were swallowed by the flames.
Only the toughest—giant rats with thick hides—survived long enough to roll in the dirt and extinguish the fire.
Red eyes full of rage fixed on Gauss—their tormentor.
Meanwhile, from the depths of the chapel, a dark entrance leading to the underground cellar—
Ten or more larger ratmen emerged.
Armored, armed with rusted but deadly blades, they mounted giant rats like cavalry.
