The Bird-Catching Festival.

“Ho ho! Here they come in droves!”

“It seems things have turned out exactly as Sir Nino feared…”

Atop the watchtower of the Goblin settlement, two men who had climbed the ladder upon receiving the news muttered as they confirmed the anomaly beyond the fence. Even from a distance, the dust clouds billowing into the air were clear—the work of a monster horde charging across the earth.

They stood at a height that could easily reach the middle of the watchtower. They had long, extended necks and thick, powerful legs. Their massive beaks, which made up more than half of their faces, were large enough to tear off a human head in a single bite.

It was a raid by the vicious Assault Birds.

“I count roughly forty of ’em.”

“…In terms of numbers, we have the upper hand.”

Though, that was including those who wouldn’t be much help in a fight. The dependable Nino and his group were currently exploring near the eighth floor and likely wouldn’t be back immediately. Those remaining in the settlement were forty Goblins and seven women from the sewing circle, including Chief Dirk’s wife, Carina, and Dirk himself. Added to that were Heimo, his three Goblin apprentices, Yo the Fairy, and four Great Caterpillars that did nothing but spit thread. It was a lineup that seemed rather precarious against a swarm of large-scale monsters.

Facing the threat that drew closer by the second, the Chief and the blacksmith locked eyes for a moment. Then, with the corners of their mouths curling into grins, they gave a heavy nod to one another.

“This is a perfect opportunity to show what we’re made of.”

“Hah! Nothing left but to go wild!”

Reports had already come in thirty minutes prior from the two Goblins who scouted while riding their own Assault Birds. The preparations for the interception had long been completed. Jumping down the ladder, the Chief called out loudly to his wife, who stood on the fence scaffolding.

“Can I leave that side to you?”

“Yes, please don’t worry.”

At her reliable response, Dirk smiled and raised his favorite black blade. Beside him, as if unable to wait any longer, the blacksmith swung his black iron mace around with a whoosh. Both were clad in black wolf pelts and equipped with breastplates made of crab shells. Behind them stood three Goblins wearing crab-shell helmets, gripping long-handled iron hammers—the weapons Heimo had first made for the trio who had apprenticed under him.

“…They’re in sight. Now, to the musicians: give us something loud to get the blood pumping!”

At the signal from Carina, who held the center of the fence, the Goblins waiting in the central plaza raised their hands in unison. Moving as one, they struck the drums held between their feet. A powerful resonance boomed throughout the settlement, immediately carving out a fierce rhythm. Bathed in the explosive sound from behind, the Goblins let out loud laughs.

Right there before them was a horde of giant birds closing in to trample them. They were terrifying natural enemies that had ravaged them time and again in the past. Yet, looking at the scaffolding atop the fence, not a single soul showed a hint of fear. They had been told they could win.

As the Goblins took aim with their bows, the vanguard of ten Assault Birds dove into firing range—and promptly fell into pitfalls.

“Gehehehe!”

“Gyahahaha!”

The Great Worms had been tasked with digging them beforehand. Furthermore, the bottoms were bristling with sharpened dog bones. Blinded by their prey, the birds fell helplessly into the traps and were immobilized. Their kin, surging from behind, ruthlessly trampled over their heads.

Using their fallen comrades as scaffolding, the second wave of ten birds closed the distance to the fence.

“Guhehe!”

At a signal from Gob-tchi, who had been watching for the right moment, arrows were rained down on the birds one by one in concentrated fire. Naturally, the hard scales and feathers blocked them, and most arrows were deflected—but all they needed was a scratch. The poison laced on the arrowheads numbed their bodies, and the birds’ movements slowed in an instant. They managed to reach the fence, but their speed had already dropped significantly.

Furthermore, the fence they were supposed to crash into had undergone major improvements. It was lined with sturdy sea turtle shells with no gaps, and they had even been set at a slight incline. This caused the momentum to deflect further, rendering the giant birds’ a total failure.

With the Assault Birds nearly halted, Yo the Fairy, perched atop “Imo-tchi,” let out her familiar laugh.

“Kee-hee-hee!”

At that signal, the Great Caterpillars lined up on the fence spat out sticky thread in succession. In no time, the Assault Birds were covered in white silk and unable to move. Without missing a beat, the Chief leaped out and slammed his black sword into them. With a few strikes, the silk turned crimson, and the monsters stopped struggling. Beside him, Heimo and his three disciples took turns swinging their weapons, flattening the heads of the immobile birds. It was truly the synchronized technique of a master and his students.

“Carina-san, may I fire at that one?”

“Yes, please, feel free.”

“Then—then me too!”

Two members of the sewing circle who were also mages unleashed their mana at the third wave of approaching Assault Birds. One leading bird had its leg pierced by a stone needle erupting from the ground and tumbled over with a squawk. Beside it, another bird whose face had been scorched swung its neck around in agony.

Furthermore, Assault Birds carrying Goblins attacked from the flanks. In addition to the one holding the reins on the saddle, two Goblins carrying spears were also on board, thrusting their points at the faces of the giant birds that were finally within reach. Stunned by the unexpected attack, several birds stopped moving, becoming sitting ducks for the archers.

The giant birds, their momentum halted, had their mobility killed by pitfalls, inclined fences, paralytic arrows, and the thread of the caterpillars, and were systematically taken down one by one. Under the ceaseless thrumming of the drums, it was the Assault Birds who had become the prey.

“Ora ora ora! How’s that!”

“Hah! A wound of that level will be healed in an instant!”

The blacksmith and the Chief fought the final remaining birds with relish. Watching their rampage from atop the fence, the village women muttered to each other in exasperation.

“Good grief, they’re just doing whatever they want.”

“Honestly, men are so simple…”

“Fufu, look at him go. Now then, shall we begin preparations for the cleanup? Everyone, I’m counting on you.”

Since Nino was absent, they couldn’t simply collect everything into a mysterious pocket dimension. They needed to dismantle the giant bird carcasses one by one. However, that was the undisputed domain of the ladies who had managed kitchens for many years.

“Goblins, please hang them on the fence and begin the bleeding. We shall boil the water and prepare to pluck the feathers.”

“Gihihihi!”

Hanging things up to dry was something the Goblins were also very good at. Rolling up their sleeves, the women looked over the battlefield—which was in a terrible state—and curled the corners of their mouths.

“Right, let’s get to work. It’s a feast today, boys!”

“Gyahahahaha!”

Thus, the harvest festival concluded successfully. Following that, it was time for the second act: the “Bird-Eating Festival.”