Episode 8: The Civilization of GoblinsThe basket shook.
It felt like crossing the ocean on a ship.
I grew dizzy, feeling like I might get seasick.
I clung to the basket.
It felt slightly better.
I checked inside the basket.
Withered vegetables filled it to the brim.
I tentatively ate some vegetables.
Gained minimal energy. Acquired no Traits.
'Shouldn't eat these.'
Since I couldn't gain Traits, there was no need to force myself.
I decided plants were only for near-starvation situations.
"Halt!"
The basket stopped. I extended my core outside.
'A castle? Goblins built a castle?'
A massive wooden fortress stood five stories tall.
The goblins' underground city was far more advanced than I'd anticipated.
"State your business?"
"The Kirki family brings tribute."
"We'll inspect it."
Footsteps approached. I quickly hid beneath the vegetable pile.
The basket opened. Red torchlight illuminated its contents.
A goblin's face peered through the vegetables.
"Hmm... Vegetables confirmed. Proceed!"
The basket shook again. I emerged from the vegetable mound.
"I'll meet with the Chieftain-nim. The rest of you wait here."
Clatter.
The basket touched ground. I discreetly observed outside.
A vast clearing. Goblins huddled in one corner.
Faint sobbing suggested they were sharing stories.
Too distant to discern words.
My basket sat far from the goblin crowd.
'Infiltrate the castle.'
First came reconnaissance. Information was the ultimate weapon-might reveal dungeon-clearing clues.
I avoided torchlight.
Leaping between shadows, I infiltrated the fortress.
"Food-how much is prepared?"
"Nearly complete, sir."
"Hurry! The family heads are waiting!"
Chaos reigned inside. Goblins shouted while preparing a feast.
Too distracted to notice the floor.
'Still, upper levels offer better concealment.'
I scaled the wall. Perched on ceiling beams.
Upper sightlines were narrower but better for stealth.
"All ready."
"Then deliver the food!"
Servants lifted trays. Formed orderly lines down corridors.
I followed them.
Reached corridor's end. Ascended stairs-flight after flight.
Arrived at the rooftop.
Cave ceiling loomed beyond the balcony.
"We bring the meal."
Goblins opened doors. I swiftly crossed the threshold-ceiling beams connected hallway to chamber.
'Must be cold in winter. Wait-do goblins even experience winter?'
Their original habitat likely lacked winters.
Revealing attire suggested no cold climate.
Servants finished setting the feast.
A massive rectangular table overflowed with dishes.
After setup, servants departed.
Rumble.
Doors closed.
"Eat while we discuss-you must be hungry."
At the table's head, a goblin spoke.
'Ah-that's the Chieftain mentioned earlier.'
Likely the same Chieftain the Captain Goblin referenced.
The Chieftain lifted utensils. Surprisingly, the meal wasn't goblins or rats-
-but a roasted bird-like creature.
The Chieftain began eating.
Nobody else touched their food.
A tense standoff ensued.
The Chieftain's face twisted.
"You'd fight even here?!"
"Now isn't the time for leisurely meals, Chieftain-nim! Starvation deaths multiply daily! Talented individuals hang themselves from hunger! Others break orders seeking food-executed for disobedience! We cannot waste talent! Lift the prohibition!"
The right-seated goblin spoke.
Unusually sturdy for his kind-
-nearly 150cm tall.
'A Hobgoblin.'
A rare elite variant.
"Unacceptable! Cannibalism is self-destruction! The ban stays!"
A goblin countered the Hobgoblin-
-wooden wand in hand.
'Goblin Mage? What is this dungeon-some lost goblin civilization?'
Multiple elite variants gathered-
-not just one or two.
And this underground city in caverns-
-truly resembled a forgotten civilization's foundation.
"Why?! Why forbid eating them?! You never objected before!"
"Because of this! This tiny stone contains immense mana! With it, our alliance's power will double!"
The Goblin Mage raised a small stone.
A crimson-glowing Magic Stone.
Hssss.
Seeing it awakened primal hunger.
Maddening craving-even without energy depletion.
"Ha! How exactly will this 'magic rock' increase combat power? Make crops grow faster? Help Zipel lay more eggs? Even catch rats better?"
Zipel resembled chicken-like creatures. Lacking equivalent terms, the proper noun stayed.
"Yes-possible! Mana applications are limitless! Given time, I'll perfect the magic! Lift the ban then!"
The Mage spoke with conviction-truly believing he could create magic.
"Magic Stones form randomly in hearts-mine, servants', anyone's. To harvest more, we must maintain population! Further losses would require rebuilding numbers!"
I understood-he saw kin as livestock.
A Magic Stone factory requiring maximum goblins.
'If this dungeon opens, adventurer parties will get slaughtered.'
Cunning-unlike media-portrayed goblins.
They possessed intelligence and reasoning.
And overwhelming numbers-
-countless human casualties if dungeon opened.
Creating farming magic with Magic Stones-
-might even develop defensive Artifacts.
"Nonsense! No such magic exists!"
The debate raged on.
Stalemate persisted.
"Enough! Meeting adjourned! Settle this outside if you must!"
The Chieftain declared closure.
Respecting authority, Mage and Hobgoblin ceased arguing.
"Chieftain-nim. I implore wise judgment."
The Hobgoblin exited first, followers in tow.
"Chieftain-nim, reconsider my proposal. I leave this here."
The Mage placed a Magic Stone on the table. His faction departed. When footsteps faded, the Chieftain lifted the stone.
"Tch, we don't need this crap."
He hurled it against the wall. The stone clattered down, ignored.
'Fearing the Mage's influence?'
Plausible-if the Mage's claims held truth, the Chieftain's position weakened.
The Chieftain left. The chamber emptied.
"Then this is mine."
I dropped from the ceiling.
Swallowed the Magic Stone.
Euphoria overwhelmed me.
Mana flooded every cell.
[Mana:1(+10)]
Gained tenfold mana-albeit temporarily.
"Magic potency will increase dramatically."
Artifact power depended on invested mana.
Full investment meant tenfold destruction.
Rumble.
Doors opened-servants entered to clear dishes.
I hid beneath the table.
"Plenty left. Our turn might come."
"Hurry-I'm starving."
"Could sneak a bite before taking it?"
"Maybe... just one mouthful..."
Servants ate briefly but kept their word.
They left with dishes.
I crawled out, scaled the wall to the ceiling.
'How to clear this dungeon?'
The answer came swiftly-kingdoms collapse fastest when leaders die suddenly.
'Where's the Chieftain's chamber?'
I moved to locate it.
* * * *
"Ugh-maddening."
Late night. The Chieftain ate alone.
Favorite foods tasted bland-
-worry and stress dulling flavors.
"What is that barrier?"
The strange entrance barrier remained after a month.
'If this continues, my position crumbles.'
Being Chieftain didn't grant absolute power.
One could fall from grace-
-now was that time.
Public sentiment soured. Sanity frayed.
Continued crisis might make him a sacrificial offering to gods.
Supporting any faction changed nothing-
-they'd seize his position given chance.
"What to do... what can I do?"
He gnawed fingernails, deep in thought.
'Huh? Why's the room heating up?'
Temperature spiked. He stopped ruminating.
Looked up-a massive fireball forming on the ceiling.
"What's... that?"
As he rose-
-the fireball launched.
No time to dodge. Direct hit.
Boom.
"Gyaaaaah!"
"Chieftain-nim? Chieftain-nim!"
Flames engulfed him. Servants rushed in at his screams.
"Fetch water!"
"Chieftain-nim's burning!"
They extinguished it too late.
His body charred black-barely clinging to life.
"...Summon the medic!"
Deep night.
The goblin fortress erupted into chaos.
* * * *
"Hehehe-all according to plan."
I laughed while observing the pandemonium.
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