Chapter 46

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Translator: penny

Chapter: 46

Chapter Title: The Reason Gob Got Dumped. Because He's a Sucker.

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『Gob's Perspective』

"Are you saying we should kill Gob right now?"

Lucy blurted it out of nowhere.

...What? What did I just hear?

Did Sera say to kill me?

I immediately checked Sera's expression.

Sera was staring at me, her body rigid like a thief caught red-handed.

What was that reaction? Did she really mean to kill me?

Was it a joke? Some otherworld hidden camera prank?

Wow... this is hilarious. It's been fun enough, so let's stop now.

"How could you say that so loudly?"

Sera said, furrowing her brow.

"Oh, so you weren't supposed to say it that loud. My bad."

"I whispered it."

"Whispered conversations are supposed to be secret, huh. Got it for next time. Sorry."

Watching Sera and Lucy bicker cooled my head right down.

This wasn't a joke. Not playing around. They were seriously trying to kill me.

A sharp ache stabbed near my heart.

"Killing Gob right now is the worst option."

Lucy said with a blank face.

So Lucy was defending me after all? She seemed surprisingly sentimental.

Come to think of it, she always backed me up in situations like this. Was Lucy the only one I could count on?

"If we kill Gob now, the Demon King can just pick another monster and raise it."

Lucy continued matter-of-factly.

"True, but we could drain the Demon King's power right away."

"If you want to drain his power, it's more efficient to wait and kill him later."

"Why?"

"A goblin is still just a goblin, no matter how much it grows. Clear growth limits. We can one-shot it no matter how strong it gets."

"So, let him invest in something pointless, then kill him once he's bulked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up?"

"Exactly. Better to waste resources on Gob than on an ogre or dragon."

Lucy wasn't defending me out of emotion.

She just thought it was more efficient.

My head rang like I'd been fooled all along.

"But why invest in a goblin of all things? There are plenty of other monsters."

"Speculating it's not a serious investment—just an experiment."

"Any basis for that?"

"Three main points. First, shoving a human soul into a monster's body."

"Testing soul magic?"

"Probably. Second, Gob being a goblin. Unsuitable investment target."

"Fair. The monsters with status windows were all strong."

"All originally powerful specimens. Still weaker than me, though."

"Right. Either strong like ogres or dragons, or intelligent races like vampires or dark elves. What's the third?"

"Third, the granted abilities are pathetic."

"Do you know what abilities Gob has?"

"From observations so far, just a seductive scent for beastkin and cooking skills."

"Hmm... yeah, doesn't seem like a serious investment."

Their conversation flowed without me.

I let it go in one ear and out the other.

Demon King this, status window that, experiments and souls... none of it registered.

The moment I realized Sera plotted my death, my mind flew away somewhere.

I'd died countless times already.

Dying hurt and scared me every time, but death itself? Not scary at all. I'd just come back.

So it wasn't fear of dying now that shocked me.

It was Sera being the one to suggest it.

Without hesitation or qualms.

That fact left my mind numb.

I'd hoped Lucy might be different, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠but no.

They'd slice me down without blinking if it served their goals.

I thought we'd grown close living together. Was it all in my head?

"Gob might have hidden abilities. Needs investigation."

Lucy said, handing me a neat stack of paper.

"Write down everything in your status window here."

Lucy ordered, but I just stared blankly at the papers.

Did I really have to do this? Wouldn't dying and regressing now be the right call?

"Take it."

Since I kept staring, Lucy urged me on.

I limply extended my hand and took the papers.

"Write truthfully. Lie again, and I'll punish you hard."

Lucy laid down the law with a straight face.

Ooh, scary. Lie and get punished? Or just straight-up kill me?

If I could talk, I'd snark back.

Instead, I scribbled limply with my weak arm.

Done roughly. Didn't need a whole stack—one sheet was plenty.

"Finished. Questions."

I shoved the paper at Lucy, who was questioning me.

Lucy scanned it in seconds and passed it to Sera.

Sera took it, read it in under ten seconds, and set it down.

Fast readers. Not much to read anyway.

Short length, embarrassing content.

In vulgar terms, a total 'shit-tier goblin.'

"Just info we already knew. Anything hidden? Questions."

Lucy peered into my eyes. Meeting them felt like she'd see the truth.

-Shake shake.

I closed my eyes and shook my head.

Skipped 'Predator's Scent'—too annoying to explain.

'Death Regression'—better keep that secret.

We're not that close. No need to spill everything.

They could turn on me anytime. Being fully honest would be idiotic.

From now on, I'd be cold. A goblin of the icy forest.

"But Gob, why were you hiding the quest window?"

Sera asked.

Should I answer?

Fine, for Sera, I would.

Slumped over the desk, I scribbled weakly.

[Just because.]

"Ah, I see..."

I felt Sera's pitying gaze.

Did she notice my mood?

"Gob, you're not upset right now, are you?"

She noticed. Grateful, but it also irked me.

Normally I wouldn't vent at Sera, but now I wanted to act on impulse.

Scribbled with sulky vibes.

[Who wouldn't be upset hearing kill this, kill that right in front of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠them?]

"Ah, sorry. I lacked consideration."

Sera looked genuinely apologetic, brows furrowed.

[It's fine. Don't worry. I'm a dumb monster anyway, so it doesn't faze me.]

I shoved the paper at her, then buried my face in the desk.

Couldn't get more passive-aggressive than that.

"I... I didn't really want to kill you either..."

Sera stammered, trying to soothe me.

I knew she held no grudge. She'd have killed me already if she did.

If Sera wanted, she'd snap my neck before I could resist.

"Sometimes sacrifices are necessary... Of course, hard to understand..."

I could see Sera's side.

Her life probably wasn't easy.

Forced into tough choices for sure.

Sacrificed a few to save many, plenty of times.

Being kind, she'd sacrificed herself often too.

Hardened over that grueling path.

Eventually, discarding middling cards without hesitation.

So the call to kill me came instantly.

Guilt without wavering judgment.

Thinking about it, that trait was kinda attractive.

Endless agonizing over choices is frustrating.

I got it all, but where did I rank to her?

A 'middling card' to toss if it went wrong?

That'd sting a bit. I like Sera, after all.

Was the kill talk sincere? If Lucy agreed, would they have done it right here?

How? Slashed my throat? At least make it quick and painless?

My throat stung. Fear? Sadness? Couldn't tell.

"Um... could I ask a favor? Would you grant it?"

Sera said.

Still slumped, I peeked out with just my eyes.

Sera held my stat paper in her left hand, pointing at the skill list with her right index finger.

"This 'Hug Pillow' skill means I don't have nightmares when sleeping with you, right?"

-Nod.

"Then, could you sleep with me tonight? Just to test if it really works."

What the sudden? Trying to make up with me?

Yeah, that fit. Sera wanted everyone to get along.

"If you don't want to, no pressure."

Sera smiled warmly.

I should refuse. Really planned to this time.

But think of it as repaying all her past kindness at once. Just this once.

Couldn't suicide and regress now anyway.

[Let's sleep together.]

I wrote it on the notepad and held it out to Sera.

...

And so, late into the night, I ended up knocking on Sera's door.