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 protagonistās 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.
[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. Itās been five days since then.
As expected, the first one to defeat her was Gi Zaās faction.
Magic was prohibited, but the druids were originally a class thatās used to using their heads. And after continuous research through trial and error, they eventually found Liliās weakness.
The other factions tried to emulate what Gi Zaās faction did, but in the end they couldnāt defeat Lili.
Perhaps it might be for the best after all to form teams with the druids as the center. However, the druids arenāt 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. Itās good that theyāre passionate about researching and studying, but Iāve 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,
āLili,ā I said.
Thinking itād be interesting to hear what she thought of her sparring partners, I asked her for her thoughts. And she replied,
āWhich group was the hardest to beatā¦ you say.ā
A questioning look appeared on her face.
āYou donāt mind trusting me?ā she asked.
āIām just asking for your opinion,ā I replied. āCome on, donāt hold back. Let me hear what you think.ā
Seeing a deep crevice appear in between her eyebrows, I quietly thought to myself, what a serious woman.
āAs youād expect, itās Gi Zaās group,ā she answered.
Well thatās about right.
āAnd next would be Gi Giās group,ā she continued.
Oh? Thatās slightly unexpected. Itās not Gi Gaās faction who has a high level, but rather the beast warrior, Gi Giās faction, that she found second strongest.
Gi Giās faction is currently serving as the vanguard in the group when moving out, responsible for detecting the enemies ahead. Iāve 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.
āWhat?ā I asked.
Lili being quite tall, our heights were nearly the same.
āItās nothing,ā she curtly replied, averting her eyes as she did.
I wanted to ask her what it was, but without enough material, I couldnāt pursue the matter. Well, it doesnāt really matter. If sheās scheming something, then Iāll just have to appropriately punish her.
Then suddenly, a voice called out to me.
āKing!ā it said.
And using that opportunity, I left Lili.
āāā
āDo you know of the Fortress of the Abyss?ā asked Gi Za.
āWhat is that?ā I asked back as I knitted my brows.
āItās only natural that you donāt know about it, but itās a stronghold with many influential goblin clans,ā he answered.
The sudden jump from fortresses to goblin clans baffled me.
āGordob, 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,ā he said.
Gordob? Gaidga? What is he talking about?
āBut these four clans arenāt united. Of course, they donāt like the humans, but they also carry ill will for their fellow goblins,ā he continued.
As Gi Za began to prattle, I decided to keep quiet, and listen. As for why? Itās because Gi Zaās eyes carried with it the same will, the same resolve when fighting.
āBut there is one thing that they have in common,ā he said
In other words, if I want to unify the goblins, I have to aim for that fortressā¦ is what heās saying.
āThe Fortress of the Abyss,ā he declared.
Why is a fortress a common point, I wondered.
āIf you go, youāll know,ā said Gi Za.
His eyes remained unchanging, carrying with it the same resolve it did throughout his entire story.
āYou want me to put my trust in that?ā I asked him.
Then as if carrying the dignity of a prophet, Gi Zaās words brimmed with madness in his fervor as he answered me, saying,
āKing, if you are to lead us (goblins), thenā¦ā
So this is what means to be speechless? I thought.
āThat place is our home. It is the home to which every goblin must return to.ā
And as such, if I wish to rule over the goblins, then I need to aim for that, huh?
āāāThe home of goblins. The Fortress of the Abyss.
Those words carried with it a mysterious sound, resounding within me. Itās certainly something to stir one up. Even Gi Za whoās 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 thenā¦
āWhy now?ā I asked.
āAs thanks for before,ā he replied.
Thanks?
āItās thanks for showing me something interesting,ā grinned Gi Za.
If heās talking about the gray wolves, then heās mistaken.
That wasnāt something like that.
Butā¦
āAnd? Where is that fortress?ā I asked.
I donāt 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 itās not a bad move.
Whether I make that fortress mine, whether I use it, or crush itā¦ Iāll do whatever it takes to build my kingdom.
āDeep in the forest, to the westā¦ A distance of 10 days from here,ā answered Gi Za.
West.
The orcs should be there.
āWest, huh?ā I muttered.
Gi Za nodded at my muttering. It seems he understands what Iām thinking.
āThe orcs must be dealt with. The fortress is the first gate they need to pass,ā said Gi Za.
The orcsā¦ Thereās a debt that needs to be paid.
āI guess Iāll have you pay up, orcs.ā
Iāll 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.
āāā
āWhat are you planning?ā I asked.
And the king answered me without even so much as looking back, saying,
āIām saving them.ā
The children of the same gray wolves who tried to kill you?
āEven though these might grow to become stronger than you one day?ā I inquired.
As the king embraced the gray wolves in his chest, his eyes narrowed, and he answered back, saying,
āIf so, then I shall respond in kind with all of my power. Be it vengeance, be it treasonā¦ I mind neither. If there is someone that wishes to stand before me, then I shall receive him as king.ā
Why? Why are you going so far? Going so far as to even raise the child of someone who might become your enemy.
āThe same goes for you Gi Za,ā continued the king, shooting a sharp glance at me that caused my body to quiver at the coldness of those eyes.
āIf you wish to defeat me,ā he declared. āThen come. Iāll gladly welcome you anytime.ā
When I heard those words, I couldnāt help but let out a laugh.
āWhat is it?ā asked the king.
āNah, itās nothing. Iām coming with you,ā I replied.
As I followed the kingās 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 couldnāt forget the hate I bore. And I asked him,
āWhy now!?ā I asked. āWhy do you have to appear before me now!?ā
And he replied, āThe king has come.ā
I couldnāt believe my ears. The kingā¦ that fabled figure spoken of only in the bed time tales. Heās saying that such a being has appeared?
He who will unify the goblins. The deliverer who shall deliver us into a land of peace.
āImpossible,ā I scornfully laughed.
But the old manās gaze was earnest.
āā¦Then in that case, let me test him,ā I said.
Holding my favorite staff in my hand, I laughed, fully aware that Iām merely bluffing as I said,
āIf he is a king, a true king, then!ā
As I hid a magic gem in my chest for my trump card, a whirlpool of wind blew at the tip of my staff.
āDefeat me!ā
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.
Authorās Note: New information and Gi Zaās recollection in other words.
TL Note: As I mentioned before the author switches to different characters to indicate when his characters are becoming more ābeastlyā. 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 authorās different style of quotation marks for those lines. It doesnāt really mean anything much. Just a stylistic choice in response to the authorās change of style for those lines.