[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-am-not-goblin-slayer":3,"chapter-i-am-not-goblin-slayer-i-am-not-goblin-slayer-chapter-31":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","I Am Not Goblin Slayer",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},1030621,1343,"Chapter 31: Ambush","i-am-not-goblin-slayer-chapter-31",31,"\u003Cp>Meva, shrouded in her cloak, emerged from the tree shadows and returned with light footsteps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire process was nearly silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"How's the scouting situation?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The members of the Night Owl Squad turned their gaze toward her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Here.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meva retrieved a yellowish-brown piece of parchment from her chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She spread it flat on a rock surrounded by the group.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The paper was covered with simple symbols, markings, and handwritten notes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the advantage of having a Rogue apprentice in the team—she served as both an assassin and a scout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For instance, they mastered various concealment and stealth techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In special terrains, their light build and athletic abilities allowed them to climb, search, scout enemies, disarm and set traps, pick locks, and more with ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In combat, rather than relying on brute strength, they preferred devising plans to deliver precise strikes at an enemy's weak points.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could be said this was a profession with very distinct characteristics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though Meva was merely a Rogue apprentice, her stealth skills remained indispensable for the team at present.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Returning to the map.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meva began briefing the team on the intelligence she had just gathered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The paper was roughly divided into about a dozen squares.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each square represented a building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their mission location was the ruins of an abandoned village.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dilapidated walls and rubble had somehow become home to a small group of Goblins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since these ruins were relatively close to the nearby Mill Village, the villagers had posted a request at the Adventurers Guild—even though the green-skinned creatures hadn't yet threatened the settlement—to eliminate the potential danger before it escalated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Goblin numbers range between 15 to 22. Some are hiding inside buildings, so I couldn't get a clear count.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"They're scattered. The exact numbers are marked on each building.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Most are armed with stone spears, wooden clubs, wooden shields, and steel blades. There are four Goblins using bows.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meva concisely relayed her intel while referencing the simple map.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Any special leader types?\" Levin nodded and added another question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"None.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Good. We'll proceed with the previously devised plan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone, prepare for combat. We'll ambush the enemies here on the map. Meva, see if you can lure out a portion of the Goblins without alerting the entire group. That way, we can conserve some energy,\" Levin outlined the strategy to the team.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if it fails, it doesn't matter. We have enough combat strength to wipe out this Goblin group head-on.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Watch out for the archers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Understood.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one had any additional input regarding his commands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One by one, they silently helped each other don their armor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the newcomer temporarily joining the team, Gauss naturally had little to contribute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The team members coordinated seamlessly, and this mission wasn't particularly challenging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He mostly observed and absorbed the experience of being an adventurer from the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had arrived late last night, selected a suitable spot to camp, and rested until dawn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, fully rested, they were brimming with energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gauss fastened his leather armor, arm guards, and shin guards before thrusting his rapier a few times to warm up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lately, he had been practicing some basic sword techniques.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the results couldn't compare to professional swordsmanship training, diligent practice of foundational moves always yielded some improvement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the very least, his thrusts now looked far more polished than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, a rapier could also be used for slashing and parrying, but those were supplementary—the primary attack method remained thrusting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The rapier demanded quick movements and agile handling from its wielder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While Gauss normally lacked in this aspect, he had his cheat. By activating that brain overload state and leveraging the immense advantage of his 7-point Spirit stat, he could enter a budget version of bullet time—perfectly aligning with the rapier's specialization.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Doyle, after getting help from his teammates to don his scale armor, finally had time to observe the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, his gaze caught Gauss practicing thrusts with short, quick steps in the distance, and a big question mark popped up in his mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was he doing?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had noticed Gauss carrying a rapier before but hadn't paid it much mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, many professions kept a melee weapon handy for emergencies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But seeing Gauss warming up so intently...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was he actually planning to engage in close combat? Was this guy really a Mage?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Doyle had no time to dwell on Gauss—he needed to warm up himself before battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once everyone was ready, they headed toward the designated ambush point.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the difference between seasoned low-tier adventurer teams and rookie squads. Even when facing Goblins weaker than them in direct combat, these veterans still set up an ambush to divide and conquer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Levin had said, even if they could defeat the Goblins head-on, recklessness would only waste more energy and stamina.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the boundless wilderness, you could never predict what enemies you might encounter next.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even near human-traveled roads, though the probability was low, groups of blade-wielding monsters could still emerge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, rational stamina management was essential.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every bit of conserved stamina meant an extra layer of survival security.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, after signaling the team, Meva vanished into the shadows, sneaking toward the ruins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her movements were as nimble as an old cat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others hid in their positions, quietly awaiting Meva's return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, faint footsteps echoed from the ruins' direction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn't belong to Meva but to a few green-skinned creatures standing chest-high to an adult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These Goblins had been lured out by Meva's distractions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, one leading Goblin seemed to spot something valuable and turned to its companions, chattering excitedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under a tree in the clearing ahead lay a bleeding gray rabbit, kicking its legs in a futile struggle against death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grah grah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Grah grah grah!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After an excited exchange, the Goblins cautiously huddled together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While warily scanning their surroundings, they inched toward the rabbit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Goblins weren't intelligent, but they were cunning by nature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with fresh prey right before them, they didn't charge forward recklessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was what made Goblins dangerous—even as monsters, they maintained decent discipline as long as their group remained unbroken.\u003C\u002Fp>",1020,"2026-06-03T09:23:13.161Z","2026-06-03T09:23:16.283Z",1,"novelbin.me","d58e6266ab0b727f1eedffc6ae3baeeb6e46d2e892c165be88672d096533679d","i-am-not-goblin-slayer-chapter-32","i-am-not-goblin-slayer-chapter-30",414,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-am-not-goblin-slayer-cover.jpg"]