Help Us
The Goblin King halted at the spirits' words. Solve the food problem? A moment of silence fell.
He'd tried everything he could to fix this situation himself, but failed. The idea that some other being—not a goblin—could resolve it was...
'Possible?'
But even so, a flicker of interest stirred. If the spirits acknowledged it, it couldn't be ordinary.
Then maybe... that "friend" of theirs really had a way.
A tiny spark of hope began to well up. Once kindled, it snowballed into full-blown expectation.
Unable to ignore it, the Goblin King blurted out, "We'll talk."
His voice was low and quiet. In that instant, the spirits' eyes lit up.
-Really?!
-For real?!
-Yes! Great thinking!!
The spirits burst into delighted laughter. At the same time—
Kududuk! The roots binding him sank into the ground all at once.
"Kie..."
"Kiee."
The elite goblins murmured, questioning if he was really going to talk. The Goblin King replied softly, "If they say they can solve it, talking won't hurt."
Taking the Totori was just a stopgap anyway. The crops they could produce weren't nearly enough.
If there was another way, all the better.
"You lot wait here."
The elites lifted their heads.
"No one attacks until I order it."
They exchanged glances, then bowed silently. Their actions brimmed with respect for the Goblin King.
He swept his gaze over their eyes once, then turned.
-Follow us!
-This way!
-I'll take you to my friend!
The spirits fluttered ahead. The Goblin King followed wordlessly.
'...A friend of the spirits.'
How impressive must it be for the famously aloof spirits to get this excited and involved?
Maybe, just maybe...
'It could provide a real solution.'
With that thought, the Goblin King trailed the spirits.
Then the spirits cried out in excitement.
-Friend!
-Over here!
-Gonna introduce you!
Their friend. The being the Totori trusted and followed.
The Goblin King looked up slowly, expectant.
But...
'...A tree?'
There stood just a single tree. Its leaves shimmered oddly.
The Goblin King stared blankly.
'So those roots earlier came from this.'
It reeked of dense mana—not an ordinary tree, clearly. A sacred, warm aura even seeped into the surrounding soil.
In that case...
'This tree might really have a way.'
As the Goblin King pondered, one spirit chirped eagerly.
-If you need crops, it says ask the Totori—they can provide some!
So the Totori were the answer after all.
"But what they produce isn't enough to save our village."
The other spirits grinned.
-Don't worry!
-Crops grow way more here!
-They sprout like crazy!
-Uh... almost...
One spirit held up ten fingers.
-Ten times more?
The Goblin King's eyes widened.
"What?"
...Ten times? That would more than suffice.
Indeed, the crops he'd seen earlier looked far more abundant than in the Totori village they'd invaded.
'Because of that tree!'
The spirits chattered on.
-But it has one request!
-Totori make great crops but suck at fighting!
-So protect the Totori and this place!
-Then it'll provide crops!
The Goblin King's face hardened as he listened.
Provide crops in exchange for protection?
It didn't take long to grasp the implication.
"You want us to guard the village?"
Protect a village that wasn't even theirs?
The goblin let out a hollow laugh. "Ha."
Absurd. His eyes sharpened.
Did they not know what goblins of Pirel Forest were?
Ordinary goblins submitted to strength, obeyed the mighty.
But Pirel's goblins were different. Ever since the Goblin King gained intelligence.
They thought for themselves. Fought for themselves. Survived on their own.
That pride had forged them.
And now, to goblins with such pride... guard someone else's home?
"Goblins don't guard homes."
His voice was ice-cold. "We break them."
The hopes he'd built crumbled. Greater the expectation, greater the disappointment.
"Wasted our time."
As he turned to leave—
Shaaah. The tree's branches rustled softly, as if pleading earnestly.
The Goblin King paused, but soon whipped around.
One spirit flew up frantically.
-Come talk anytime if you wanna chat more!
He smirked. "Won't happen."
Then he ordered his elites. "We're leaving."
"Kiee?"
One elite asked if they were really going, eyes fixed on the lush crops.
The Goblin King spat, "That tree's holding strong anyway. Pointless."
He was confident of victory, but it'd cost all his elites.
With that, the Goblin King led them away from the Totori village.
* * *
The Goblin King returned as the sun dipped low.
He stopped, surveying the village slowly. More precisely, the mana-corrupted wasteland where nothing grew.
"Kie..."
Goblins lay collapsed on the ground. Starvation was obvious at a glance—emaciated bodies, sunken eyes, lifeless faces.
"Kieee..!!!"
"Kieek!!"
Sobs echoed from a corner. A goblin mother clutched her withered child, unable to let go of the one who'd starved yesterday.
"Kieek!"
"Kieeee!"
Nearby, several fought over a single weed. In another corner, tiny goblins huddled, stunted from malnutrition.
The Goblin King closed his eyes.
This village had been abundant until recently. Nestled in the forest heart, they'd picked fruits, hunted beasts—never short on food.
Then Ma Energy invaded, changing everything.
Animals corrupted first. Goblins didn't fret; food was plentiful.
But then the beasts that ate those turned toxic too. Worse, Ma Energy left barren soil in its wake.
The goblin village was no exception. Now they teetered on extinction.
'Couldn't bring the Totori after all.'
Totori could grow crops even here. Small yield, but something.
Yet with that tree standing guard, taking them was impossible.
'Extinction it is...'
As he sighed softly—
"Kieeeeek—!"
A scream pierced the air. The Goblin King whipped toward it.
Black smoke rose from deeper in the village.
'That!'
Ma Energy. His foot slammed the ground.
Tadat! He charged.
A corrupted goblin lunged at an elite, foam at its mouth, eyes unfocused.
"Kieeee—!"
Fast. But—
Kududuk! The Goblin King was faster.
As the corrupted one reached out—
Taat! He intercepted.
It turned on him instead, claws slashing air. He ducked, deflecting the arm's path.
"Kieet—!"
His elbow jabbed its solar plexus.
Thud. Momentum broke, back arching.
He seized the opening. As it toppled forward, off-balance—
His hand struck the nape. Precisely. Once.
Kuduk! It collapsed unconscious.
"..."
The Goblin King rose slowly. Blood trickled from the fainted goblin's mouth.
Poisoned from eating corrupted beasts. No choice in such hunger.
"Kiee!"
"Kie!"
Onlookers rushed over, bowing deeply. The king, as expected. Thank you. Eyes full of awe.
Under that gaze, the Goblin King froze.
'What was I thinking?'
They followed this flawed king loyally.
And I'd planned to abandon them first?
For my pride? My stubbornness?
His face hardened. No. He'd sworn upon becoming king: anything for the tribe.
'Right.'
If ditching pride saved them...
'I'll do anything.'
Decision made, he spun on his heel.
* * *
'Haa...'
I let out a long sigh.
'What a shame.'
Talks with the Goblin King fell through. Could've been a win-win...
Plus,
'I could understand his words, so it'd be convenient.'
I mulled glumly. Still bummed...
The spirits puffed their cheeks at me.
-Ignored my friend!
-Yeah! Should've just said thanks!
-Jerk! Just ditch 'em!!
The Totori grumbled too. "Kku-wung! Kku-wung!"
Roughly: How dare they to our benefactor! Bad guys!
Tori had even made a target, practicing tomato tosses. Swinging hard—
Whoosh. Nowhere near; wrong direction entirely.
Splat.
'...Thanks for the thought, Tori.'
I rustled my leaves. What could I do?
'Eh... safety from elsewhere.'
As I consoled myself—
'..Huh?'
Something approached. Vibrations said one.
Spirits narrowed their eyes.
-It's back?
-What?!
Tori grabbed a tomato, ready to hurl on command.
"Kku-wung!"
'I'll take the sentiment... Tori.'
Footsteps neared. A lone goblin emerged, heading straight for me.
'You...!'
The Goblin King. Alone. No escorts.
'...He really came back?'
As I stared puzzled, he knelt slowly.
'Whoa?'
The unyielding one was bowing.
While I reeled, he lowered his head and spoke.
"I'll do anything."
Low and quiet. "Anything. So..."
He looked up. Clear eyes met mine, then continued. A voice and demeanor utterly changed.
"Help us."
He looked more desperate than anyone.