Chapter 15
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Gob on the Brink of Death: The Truth Revealed (3)
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Gob's hut stood before them.
"Not bad. Definitely not your average goblin shack."
Lucy remarked as she inspected the exterior.
"Let's head inside."
Sera bent slightly at the waist and strode into the hut.
A choking stench filled the cramped space inside.
The reek of rotting flesh mingled with the goblin's musky monster odor, creating a nauseating miasma.
"Tch. Rotten stink."
Sera clicked her tongue and wrinkled her nose in disgust.
"The interior's surprisingly tidy. Low ceiling's a drawback, though."
Lucy followed, hunching over considerably.
Her towering height meant she'd bump her head if she stood straight.
"The smell here's brutal. Doesn't bother you at all?"
Sera glanced at Lucy.
"It is pretty foul, I suppose. Anyone sensitive to odors would hate it."
Lucy seemed unfazed as she trudged toward a corner of the hut.
"This must be him."
Lucy peered down at the goblin sprawled on the bed.
Sera stepped up beside her and looked down as well.
The creature hadn't stirred despite two intruders.
Krrrng... Koo... Krrrng... Koo...
Its breathing was steady and rhythmic.
"What a carefree bastard. Time to end him."
"We'll wake him first. No fun killing him in his sleep—he wouldn't feel a thing."
Sera gripped the goblin's shoulder and shook it.
Shake, shake. After a few shakes, the goblin slowly opened its eyes.
Its slit yellow pupils drifted vacantly before settling on Sera.
The goblin alternated glances between Sera and Lucy, as if sizing up the situation.
"Kerrk..."
It weakly cleared its throat and raised its right arm.
Extending it, it grasped Sera's hand.
The green hand felt small and fragile, like a child's.
"Kerrrr..."
The goblin smiled.
A normal person might not recognize it, but Sera did.
A smile that seemed to say I've been waiting, thank you for coming.
In that instant, for some reason, a sharp pain stabbed at Sera's chest.
Does he recognize me?
The goblin seemed to see through her altered appearance.
She suddenly recalled telling it she'd be back soon, so wait here.
Is that why he's happy to see me now?
Sera's eyes twitched.
She reached out and clamped her hand around the goblin's throat.
"Kek!"
The goblin's face contorted.
It grabbed her hand with its right arm, trying to pry it off.
But it was futile—like a child wrestling an ant.
Sera pressed her thumb into its windpipe.
"Kuwek... Ugh..."
The goblin stuck out its tongue, groaning.
Sera stared straight into its eyes.
Tears welled up in them, as if pleading why are you doing this to me?
Crunch! Sera tightened her grip.
Tears brimmed in the slitted eyes, then streamed down its cheeks.
Throb! A spike of pain like a steel rod piercing her skull surged through Sera's head.
"Urgh!"
Sera clutched her head with both hands.
"Kehuk... Kyak..."
Freed from her grasp, the goblin gasped for air.
"Ughhh..."
Sera cradled her head and sank to the floor.
"You okay?"
Lucy crouched down beside her.
"Hoo... Hoo... Yeah... I'm fine..."
She said she was fine, but the throbbing lingered.
"Side effect?"
"Seems like it."
One side effect of the oblivion spell: dissociation of self.
Whenever her past self and emotions clashed, headaches inevitably followed.
Two people fighting inside one head—it made her skull quake like an arena.
"Looks like you don't want to kill the goblin after all."
"..."
Sera gritted her teeth in silence at Lucy's words.
"Want me to do it for you?"
"No. I'll kill him myself."
No more slow strangling. She'd snap his neck in one go.
Sera rose and seized the goblin's throat again.
A quick twist would break it easily.
Just snap it—like a toothpick.
But her fingers trembled without moving.
"Hold on."
Lucy grabbed Sera's arm.
"Don't stop me. I can do it."
"No, wait a second."
Lucy's blue eyes gleamed.
Meeting those deep, ocean-like depths somehow calmed Sera's mind.
"What is it?"
"This goblin might help with my research."
Lucy was studying ways to lift Sera's curse.
"Why not take him alive and use him for experiments?"
"..."
Sera felt an odd unease.
It made sense, but it felt like an excuse to hold her back.
"Once the research is done or he's no longer useful, we can kill him then."
"...Fine."
Sera finally released the goblin's throat.
Thud. It flopped back onto the bed.
Panting raggedly, it made no attempt to flee despite nearly dying.
Its body was in no shape to run.
"If we're using him for experiments, he'll need to be sturdy."
Sera extended her hand toward the goblin.
"By the Goddess's mercy."
"By the Goddess's mercy."
⟨ Cure ⟩
A white glow emanated from her fingertips, enveloping the goblin's body.
With each sparkle of light, the purple infected areas returned to a healthy green.
His entire body was restored in less than ten seconds.
"Kerrk..."
Gob looked up at Sera.
Sera read a pitiable emotion in his gaze.
She clenched her fist, steadying her churning stomach.
"Don't get the wrong idea. Once the experiments are over, I'll kill you with my own hands."
To steel herself, Sera put on an even fiercer demeanor.
Not understanding, Gob's eyes quivered at the sharp threat.
『Gob's Perspective』
I followed behind Sera as she led the way through the forest path.
My wrists were bound in iron manacles, a leash attached to the collar around my neck.
The leash extended to the handle in Sera's grip.
"Hek... Hek..."
Exhausted breaths escaped my mouth.
My body had only just recovered, and keeping up with Sera's long strides drained my stamina fast.
Sera marched at a merciless pace.
It felt like she was doing it on purpose to torment me.
"You look worn out. Average physical stats, I guess."
A flat, monotone voice came from right beside me.
Some woman had been sticking close since earlier. I glanced sideways and our eyes met.
Deep blue eyes like the ocean depths—stare too long and you'd get sucked in.
Thud—something caught my toe.
Splat! I face-planted into the dirt.
My knee scraped and stung. Damn it, that woman's fault.
"Get up."
A low, calm command rang out.
Sera glared at me with sharp eyes.
"Kerrk kerrk."
I pointed at my scraped knee and gurgled from my throat.
"No whining. Keep up."
Clank. Sera yanked the leash roughly.
"Kek."
My throat compressed, forcing out a groan.
I was hauled to my feet and made to walk again.
The Sera I knew would've come over and applied some ointment.
Is she someone else? Did I mistake her?
She's taller, her hair's longer. Her already ample chest is even more so.
Honestly, at first glance, I thought she was Sera's sister or mom.
But she can't fool all my senses. It's 100% Sera.
"Hurry up."
As my weary legs slowed, Sera tugged the leash again.
From the moment she appeared in her changed form, she'd been nothing but cold toward me.
I waited like she told me to—what the hell happened?
It hurt so much I could cry. No joke, my eyes had welled up over ten times already.
Especially when she choked me right after I woke up—tears streamed down.
"Sera, what's this guy's name?"
The woman walking beside me asked abruptly.
"Name? Hmm... I called him 'Gob'."
"Gob. Gob, huh."
The horned woman turned to me.
Since I was already looking, our eyes met.
"Gob. I've got something to tell you."
Her blue eyes flashed.
"Cooperate smoothly with my experiments, and I won't torment you."
Her voice was so rigid, she seemed mechanical.
"But disobey, and I'll make you suffer terribly."
Didn't sound like a lie. Felt like she'd do exactly that.
Just a hunch, but anyone meeting her would feel the same.
"Your choice."
-Nod nod.
I'll cooperate fully, ma'am.
No choice but to play along here.
"Lucy, you're too close to the monster. It might attack—be careful."
Lucy. That's her name.
Got it memorized. Not that I can do anything about it.
"Unnecessary worry."
She dismissed it in her dry tone.
"As if a mere goblin could threaten me."
"True enough."
The 'mere goblin' listening along felt insulted.
Crunch, crunch. My legs went numb with every step through the grass.
Legs hurt, and Sera's changed attitude doubled the grievance.
Should I have just bitten my tongue and died? Then I'd regress before the illness worsened.
No. That's not it. I shook my head to dispel the gloomy thought.
Going back would erase all time with Sera.
That'd be like killing the Sera I know. She'd become a mere illusion in my memories.
I'll follow. Come hell or high water, no turning back now.
Sera's acting weird, but she'll come around soon.