Chapter 30

Goblin Name Cheat Sheet:

The [Goblin] is to make it easier to CTRL+F .

[Goblin] Gi Ga

The goblin in that estranged group that was with the protagonist when he defeated an orc . He is currently a noble class, the highest amongst the protagonist’s subordinates . He prefers to use the spear .

[Goblin] Gi Gu

The former leader of the village . He was pressured by the protagonist in his goblin noble form, and was added to his subordinates . He uses the long sword, and is relatively smart for a goblin rare .

[Goblin] Gi Gi

Known as a beast warrior, a goblin with the ability to tame beasts .

He evolved while hunting spear deer with the protagonist .

He prefers to use the axe . His goblin class is rare .

[Goblin] Gi Go

A goblin with many wounds on his body . The food of his horde was stolen by the gray wolves, so he made a decision to follow the protagonist . He is the most experienced amongst the goblin rares . His weapon is a curved katana .

[Goblin] Gi Za

The druid goblin rare that recently joined them .

Chapter 30: Fortress of the Abyss

[Race] Goblin

[Level] 60

[Class] Duke; Horde Chief

[Possessed Skills] > > > > > > > > > > > > >

[Divine Protection] Goddess of the Underworld (Altesia)

[Attributes] Darkness; Death

[Subordinate Beasts] Kobold (Lv9) Gray Wolf (Lv1) x2

[Abnormal Status] >

Having wanted to move her body, Lili became the sparring partner of the goblins . It’s been five days since then .

As expected, the first one to defeat her was Gi Za’s faction .

Magic was prohibited, but the druids were originally a class that’s used to using their heads . And after continuous research through trial and error, they eventually found Lili’s weakness .

The other factions tried to emulate what Gi Za’s faction did, but in the end they couldn’t defeat Lili .

Perhaps it might be for the best after all to form teams with the druids as the center . However, the druids aren’t without fault . Their personalities for one are far too dry, and they have a tendency to look at their fellow goblins as chess pieces even more than I do . It’s good that they’re passionate about researching and studying, but I’ve gone to great trouble to bring together this army I have today . Having that army weakened because of their whims would be a shame .

In the end, thinking by myself just ends with me running around in circles like this, leaving me at a loss .

Then with the end of the afternoon training, I called out to Lili,

“Lili,” I said .

Thinking it’d be interesting to hear what she thought of her sparring partners, I asked her for her thoughts . And she replied,

“Which group was the hardest to beat… you say . ”

A questioning look appeared on her face .

“You don’t mind trusting me?” she asked .

“I’m just asking for your opinion,” I replied . “Come on, don’t hold back . Let me hear what you think . ”

Seeing a deep crevice appear in between her eyebrows, I quietly thought to myself, what a serious woman .

“As you’d expect, it’s Gi Za’s group,” she answered .

Well that’s about right .

“And next would be Gi Gi’s group,” she continued .

Oh? That’s slightly unexpected . It’s not Gi Ga’s faction who has a high level, but rather the beast warrior, Gi Gi’s faction, that she found second strongest .

Gi Gi’s faction is currently serving as the vanguard in the group when moving out, responsible for detecting the enemies ahead . I’ve been having the beasts work in one big group, but it might be a good idea to start having them as a part of the three-man cells .

Then while I was lost in my thought, I noticed Lili sneak a glance at me .

“What?” I asked .

Lili being quite tall, our heights were nearly the same .

“It’s nothing,” she curtly replied, averting her eyes as she did .

I wanted to ask her what it was, but without enough material, I couldn’t pursue the matter . Well, it doesn’t really matter . If she’s scheming something, then I’ll just have to appropriately punish her .

Then suddenly, a voice called out to me .

“King!” it said .

And using that opportunity, I left Lili .

◇◆◆

“Do you know of the Fortress of the Abyss?” asked Gi Za .

“What is that?” I asked back as I knitted my brows .

“It’s only natural that you don’t know about it, but it’s a stronghold with many influential goblin clans,” he answered .

The sudden jump from fortresses to goblin clans baffled me .

“Gordob, Gaidga, Baradua, Ganra . Starting from these four clans along with all the goblins in the world, save for the humans, the goblins are probably the most numerous,” he said .

Gordob? Gaidga? What is he talking about?

“But these four clans aren’t united . Of course, they don’t like the humans, but they also carry ill will for their fellow goblins,” he continued .

As Gi Za began to prattle, I decided to keep quiet, and listen . As for why? It’s because Gi Za’s eyes carried with it the same will, the same resolve when fighting .

“But there is one thing that they have in common,” he said

In other words, if I want to unify the goblins, I have to aim for that fortress… is what he’s saying .

“The Fortress of the Abyss,” he declared .

Why is a fortress a common point, I wondered .

“If you go, you’ll know,” said Gi Za .

His eyes remained unchanging, carrying with it the same resolve it did throughout his entire story .

“You want me to put my trust in that?” I asked him .

Then as if carrying the dignity of a prophet, Gi Za’s words brimmed with madness in his fervor as he answered me, saying,

“King, if you are to lead us (goblins), then . . . ”

So this is what means to be speechless? I thought .

“That place is our home . It is the home to which every goblin must return to . ”

And as such, if I wish to rule over the goblins, then I need to aim for that, huh?

–––The home of goblins . The Fortress of the Abyss .

Those words carried with it a mysterious sound, resounding within me . It’s certainly something to stir one up . Even Gi Za who’s normally so calm has gotten this passionate over it .

Or does that place actually have a big impact to everyone else except for me?

But even then…

“Why now?” I asked .

“As thanks for before,” he replied .

Thanks?

“It’s thanks for showing me something interesting,” grinned Gi Za .

If he’s talking about the gray wolves, then he’s mistaken .

That wasn’t something like that .

But…

“And? Where is that fortress?” I asked .

I don’t know how much effect that fortress has on the goblin clans and the scattered goblins, but if I can use that to gather them, then it’s not a bad move .

Whether I make that fortress mine, whether I use it, or crush it… I’ll do whatever it takes to build my kingdom .

“Deep in the forest, to the west… A distance of 10 days from here,” answered Gi Za .

West .

The orcs should be there .

“West, huh?” I muttered .

Gi Za nodded at my muttering . It seems he understands what I’m thinking .

“The orcs must be dealt with . The fortress is the first gate they need to pass,” said Gi Za .

The orcs… There’s a debt that needs to be paid .

“I guess I’ll have you pay up, orcs . ”

I’ll have you pay for attacking my village before .

But first, I need to train my goblins . They need to become strong enough to defeat the orcs as three-man cells .

◆◆◇

“What are you planning?” I asked .

And the king answered me without even so much as looking back, saying,

“I’m saving them . ”

The children of the same gray wolves who tried to kill you?

“Even though these might grow to become stronger than you one day?” I inquired .

As the king embraced the gray wolves in his chest, his eyes narrowed, and he answered back, saying,

“If so, then I shall respond in kind with all of my power . Be it vengeance, be it treason… I mind neither . If there is someone that wishes to stand before me, then I shall receive him as king . ”

Why? Why are you going so far? Going so far as to even raise the child of someone who might become your enemy .

“The same goes for you Gi Za,” continued the king, shooting a sharp glance at me that caused my body to quiver at the coldness of those eyes .

“If you wish to defeat me,” he declared . “Then come . I'll gladly welcome you anytime . ”

When I heard those words, I couldn’t help but let out a laugh .

“What is it?” asked the king .

“Nah, it’s nothing . I’m coming with you,” I replied .

As I followed the king’s back, I recalled the time when I was banished from the village that would later become the village of the goblin druids . When the boss of the horde then found out that I was a druid, he rallied all of the goblins, and he banished me from the village .

The only one who protected me then was my old man . But in the end, even he could not go against the boss .

Chased by the horde, I barely escaped with my life . But I toiled, founded a new horde, and in the end I was able to reclaim the place I once lost . But then my old man appeared before me again .

He was the one who taught me words . The benefactor responsible for my evolution into a druid . But at the same time, I also couldn’t forget the hate I bore . And I asked him,

“Why now!?” I asked . “Why do you have to appear before me now!?”

And he replied, “The king has come . ”

I couldn’t believe my ears . The king… that fabled figure spoken of only in the bed time tales . He’s saying that such a being has appeared?

He who will unify the goblins . The deliverer who shall deliver us into a land of peace .

“Impossible,” I scornfully laughed .

But the old man’s gaze was earnest .

“…Then in that case, let me test him,” I said .

Holding my favorite staff in my hand, I laughed, fully aware that I’m merely bluffing as I said,

“If he is a king, a true king, then!”

As I hid a magic gem in my chest for my trump card, a whirlpool of wind blew at the tip of my staff .

“Defeat me!”

But should I win, then I shall lead the horde and take the Fortress of the Abyss for myself .

For I, who have gathered the druids, am also fitting to be king .

Author's Note: New information and Gi Za's recollection in other words .

TL Note: As I mentioned before the author switches to different characters to indicate when his characters are becoming more "beastly" . The first italic is to show that the protagonist spoke in katakana for a moment .

The second set of italics is just my version of the author's different style of quotation marks for those lines . It doesn't really mean anything much . Just a stylistic choice in response to the author's change of style for those lines .