Chapter 71
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 71
Chapter Title: The World's Strongest Goblin (1)
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- The next banquet will be in three days. We will see you then, this coming Saturday, at the same time as today.
With those words, Jeong Sowon departed.
[The Sage informs you that proper rest is required.]
The Sage watched me with a concerned gaze.
And I was, in fact, utterly exhausted.
Far more than I'd ever been on a dungeon expedition.
“Meow.”
The moment I opened the front door, San-gun rushed over and rubbed against my leg.
“Did you keep a good watch on the house?”
As I stroked his head, my hand froze once more.
The creatures that had died in the arena were monsters, no different from San-gun.
Creatures that would willingly lay down their lives for their masters.
- Tamed monsters are still monsters, after all. They're beasts that would normally devour people. It's absurd to treat them with respect as individuals just because a skill forces them to obey!
Such opinions were common.
Especially in the early days of the Great Cataclysm, the perception of taming was extremely negative.
However, that atmosphere of ostracism slowly faded.
This happened right after a flood of research reports confirmed that only creatures not inherently hostile to humans could be tamed as companions.
- Regarding the wyvern ‘Ace,’ who saved countless lives and sacrificed itself at the recent New York Gate, the British government has announced…
- The government has announced it will posthumously award the nation’s first medal of honor for a monster to the Whitefang, ‘Jindori,’ who died shielding ten members of the Jeongseon Guild from an explosion.
These monsters devoted everything to follow their masters, save humans, and sometimes, they became heroes.
And yet, within this very city.
There was a place where creatures just like them were dying like moths drawn to a brilliant flame.
* * *
Three days passed.
“Welcome, Mr. Woohyun. Have you made up your mind to participate in the banquet?”
“Yes. As you can see.”
Yu Wolha's office.
He was in the middle of a conversation with a man I hadn't seen before, but upon noticing me, he raised his hand in greeting.
“Ah, so this is the monster you tamed, Mr. Woohyun?”
“That’s right.”
Gono stood beside me.
He wore no equipment, only a pair of children's overalls I had bought for him.
It made him look all the more ridiculous.
“A goblin, is it? Judging by its size, it looks like a goblin slave or a goblin whelp.”
“Correct. I tamed one that escaped from a gate a while back. It’s surprisingly obedient.”
“Ah, how amusing. People usually kill goblins even if they’re tamable, don’t they? They’re ugly and pathetically weak. Still, your goblin looks a little different, Mr. Woohyun. I suppose it’s because its master has a certain class.”
Yu Wolha spoke, a smile still gracing his lips.
But a clear hint of derision flashed through his narrow eyes.
I pretended not to notice and patted Gono on the head.
“He’s decent enough for watching perform little tricks. But I’m getting tired of seeing the same old antics.”
“Ah, I know exactly what you mean. You get bored of a toy if it’s the only one you play with.”
Yu Wolha continued with a laugh.
“In that case, let’s head right up. I’ve already spoken to the registrar. Just fill out a simple application, and then you can relax and wait like last time.”
“Sounds good. You go on ahead.”
“Kireuk.”
Gono quickly made his way to the elevator.
And before I turned to leave.
I asked Yu Wolha in a low voice.
“There’s one thing I’m curious about. May I ask you something?”
“Ah, of course. Anything I can answer.”
“Is this business worthwhile?”
“Worthwhile… what do you mean by that?”
For a moment, Yu Wolha’s eyes sharpened.
“This business of making monsters fight. It seems to be quite profitable.”
“Ah, are you thinking of starting a similar business in England?”
“Just a thought.”
“Hahaha, well. It’s certainly not running at a loss. The betting pool is huge, so the commission fees are substantial. Plus, we’re also broadcasting it separately on the dark web. It’s proven to be quite popular with foreign audiences.”
“I see.”
“The Chinese, in particular, absolutely love it. The gentleman standing over there now is a Hunter from the Jeokryongdan.”
Only then did Yu Wolha turn his gaze to the man who had been watching us from the side.
“…”
A slender man in a red suit.
He, too, wore a mask fit for a masquerade ball, so I couldn't make out his face.
He looked at me and gave a single, slight nod.
“If you wish, Mr. Woohyun, I can arrange a private meeting for you.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Yes. Please wait a moment.”
At Yu Wolha’s gesture, the man nodded and averted his gaze.
He showed no particular concern, even though his affiliation had just been revealed.
‘So, by participating in this banquet, I’m already an accomplice in his eyes.’
I stared at the Chinese Hunter from behind my mask.
Jeokryongdan.
One of China’s top state-affiliated guilds.
So those are the kinds of people funding this from behind the scenes.
Just then, Yu Wolha spoke again.
“Well, anyway, to return to your earlier question. Of course, it’s not in my nature to run a losing business. But I didn’t start this for the money in the first place. It’s not as if I’m short on cash.”
“Then why?”
“Well. If I had to put it into words.”
Yu Wolha’s lips curled into a smirk as he continued.
“It’s just for fun. Isn’t watching the lowlifes fight like dogs the most amusing thing in the world?”
“The lowlifes being the tamed monsters?”
“That, and more. The tamers struggling to earn a few pennies, for example. On a grander scale, the Hunters cheering them on, too. Ah, but of course, special cases like yourself are an exception, Mr. Woohyun.”
“I see.”
It was a perfectly satisfying answer.
I gave Yu Wolha a nod as he saw me off, then turned and chuckled to myself.
I had confirmed the arrogance that lay at the very core of his being.
And if I could just prod at it.
Things would unfold much more easily.
* * *
As I ascended to the banquet hall, the distinctively hot, sweet air and loud EDM greeted me.
‘It feels like there are even more Hunters here than a few days ago.’
I made my way through the crowd with Gono and Jeong Sowon in tow.
Just like the other day, all eyes were on me.
A few Hunters tried to greet me, but I paid them no mind.
“I will bring the registrar.”
The moment I sat at our designated table, Jeong Sowon turned to leave.
“Shouldn’t I be the one to go?”
“There is no need for you to move, Mr. Woohyun.”
After that cool remark, she returned with the registrar in less than five minutes.
He was a man with a sparse mustache and protruding buck teeth.
“Uh, ah, hello, Young Master. I heard from the manager. You’re participating in the banquet? Is it… this goblin?”
When I nodded, he began tapping on the tablet he was holding.
However, he seemed incredibly nervous.
His fingers trembled, and his protruding mouth was clenched unnaturally tight.
“Do you have something to say?”
“Huh? Ah, no. Something to say? I was just a bit taken aback, since this is the first time I’ve had to add something like a goblin slave to the tournament bracket. Yes, uh, anyway, I’ll register it right now. Please just, just wait a moment.”
No matter how I looked at him, his anxiety didn't seem to stem from mere surprise.
I gave Jeong Sowon a look, and she produced a wad of cash from her suit jacket, placing it on the table.
The man’s pupils contracted rapidly as he stared at the stack of bills.
“You look like you’re desperate for cash.”
“…W-What are you talking about?”
I had the man sit down, glanced around, and then whispered.
I slid the stack of bills toward him.
“If you’re hiding something, spit it out.”
The man’s body trembled.
“I… I’ll be killed. I still haven’t paid back my gambling debts…”
Thud.
Jeong Sowon placed another stack of bills on the table.
…That was a bit too cool of her.
Even if it was the Sanarae Guild’s money, wasn’t she being a little too generous?
Regardless, the effect was immediate.
The man’s jaw went slack as he stared at the pile of money.
“I think this should be enough to pay it off.”
“…Y-You have to promise to keep this a secret. I’m just mentioning this in passing. Seriously.”
The man swallowed hard and spoke in a barely audible whisper.
“The, uh, the manager… he told me to rig the bracket so that you, Young Master, would be eliminated in the very first match of the first round.”
“Is that so?”
Well, I’d already expected as much, so it wasn’t surprising.
He must have been thoroughly annoyed with me, the rich kid who thinks he can get away with anything.
‘Or maybe he just couldn’t stand that I was under Sanarae’s protection. There were plenty of reasons for him to dislike me.’
So, he probably intended to make a good spectacle out of me.
He must have been cheering inwardly when I brought Gono.
It meant he wouldn’t have to make the rigging too obvious.
“So you were going to rig it?”
“If… if I don’t do as the manager says, I’m a dead man. I mean, it’s a goblin, so it’s the weakest contestant anyway. But he told me to pit it against the strongest monster in the tournament…”
The strongest monster, he says.
“Was I the last one to register?”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“Let me see the list.”
I snatched the tablet from the man’s hands.
I scanned the list of registered monsters.
The strongest one here would be…
I nodded and tossed the tablet back to him.
“Here.”
“H-Heek!”
The man who caught the tablet cowered pathetically.
“Do it.”
“Huh?”
“Rig it. Put me up against the strongest one.”
“W-Wha? Really?”
The man’s eyes widened in disbelief.
I nodded and asked.
“Are there thirty-two tamers registered to compete today?”
“Yes. Th-that’s right.”
“Then, assuming no one forfeits, a winning streak would mean a total of five victories.”
The man nodded, his expression clearly asking why someone like me would even bother with such calculations.
“Get going.”
“S-So, you really want me to do it?”
“You said you’d die if you didn’t.”
The man’s eyes darted around as he hastily scooped up the money from the table.
But he didn’t leave immediately. He opened his mouth, his eyes filled with a look of lingering desire.
“P-Perhaps you might be in need of a cocktail? If you give it one, even that goblin might last for a minute or so. I have some good stuff on me, so if you just give me a little cash…”
Slam!
“Aaargh!”
The man’s scream was swallowed by the loud EDM.
I had lifted my foot and stomped down on the man’s hand as it reached for the money.
I snatched the cash from under the hand of the man, who was now stifling a scream.
Then I pulled out a single ten-thousand-won bill and tossed it at him.
“On second thought, since the outcome won’t change anyway, there’s no reason for me to be handing out cash. This should be more than enough for a tip.”
“H-How could you…”
“Do you want to disappear without a trace? Yu Wolha isn’t the only one who’s good at making people disappear.”
At my menacing tone, the man snatched the ten-thousand-won bill with a terrified expression and fled.
“Mr. Woohyun.”
“Hm? Oh, what is it?”
Jeong Sowon, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke my name.
What is it? Is she going to tell me off for going too far?
I admit I got a little emotional. The nearby Hunters were looking at me with considerable surprise.
However, Jeong Sowon, her face expressionless, said something else entirely.
“You were more lenient than usual.”
…Was I?
Jeong Sowon tucked a stray strand of her bobbed hair back into place and gathered the money from the table.
I spoke to her.
“That money is technically mine for now, right?”
“That is correct.”
“Can you place a bet with it?”
“Shall I bet on you achieving a five-win streak, Mr. Woohyun?”
I nodded and asked.
“Based on the odds, what would the approximate payout be for a five-win streak?”
“Betting on your five-win streak would likely yield a payout of roughly one hundred times the current amount. That’s an estimate based on projected odds, so it’s not exact.”
A hundred times. Not bad.
“Then I shall be on my way.”
I nodded.
But just as she was about to turn, Jeong Sowon paused.
She turned back and spoke in a low voice.
“May I place a bet on you with my own money, Mr. Woohyun?”
“Huh? Well… I don’t see why not.”
“Thank you. An opportunity like this is rare.”
I watched silently as Jeong Sowon walked away, her steps noticeably more cheerful than usual.
…I almost lost my poker face.
* * *
An hour later, in the waiting room.
Just as the man had said, I was slated for the first match of the first round.
Beyond, under the bright lights, lay a vast, hexagonal arena.
- Yes, ladies and gentlemen! Thank you for your patience. Let’s begin the first match!
The announcer’s voice boomed through the hall.
As a thunderous roar erupted from the crowd, I glanced at the goblin standing beside me.
“Gono, you ready?”
“Kireuk.”
Gono wore no equipment.
The weapon in his hand was just a simple club with no special properties.
- Our first challenger for this first round is the third-generation chaebol who flew in from England, Mr. Kim Woohyun! And his partner is… in a way, the most blessed goblin in the world. The goblin slave, Gono! This shockingly mismatched duo is now making their entrance!
As I stepped onto the stage with Gono, I could feel the intense gazes and the heated atmosphere.
“Waaaaah!”
Thunderous shouts and cheers echoed from all sides.
“His name’s Gono. Sounds like ‘Go-nowhere’! Hehehehe.”
“That guy’s a real piece of work. What’s he think he can do with a goblin? Think it’ll last a minute?”
“Hey, look at the opponent. A minute? It’ll be a bloody pulp in less than ten seconds.”
But mixed in with the noise was a healthy dose of ridicule and scorn.
- Now, let’s meet his opponent! Currently on a nine-win streak! One more victory will earn him a spot in the Hall of Fame and a match against the management! From the Bone Breaker Guild, Hunter Kim Taeha! And… the monster who wandered the labyrinth to be reborn a warrior, the Minotaur, ‘Minos’!
Kim Taeha emerged from the opposite side, waving with a wide grin.
A Minotaur.
The half-man, half-bull monster was covered in thick black fur and stood over three meters tall.
It was nearly three times Gono’s size.
- Alright, let’s get this match started! Mr. Woohyun, please move to the safe field! It’s dangerous over there!
The announcer, who had already retreated to the safe field in the corner, shouted.
But I shook my head.
“I’ll just stay here. This should be over quickly anyway.”
- ?
My voice echoed through the microphone clipped to my clothes.
The reaction was immediate.
Most of the spectators looked bewildered, some swore under their breath, and others just sneered.
Yu Wolha, looking down from the highest viewing box, was among those who sneered.
“Ha, so it’s true what they say about him being a clueless young master. Hey, don’t blame me if you get yourself killed, you hear?”
On the other hand, Kim Taeha looked quite offended.
And for good reason.
A Minotaur was a monster at least on par with an ogre, and this one was clearly doped up on all sorts of potions. Its threat level had to be B-rank or higher.
“Start the match.”
That was all I said.
There was no point in talking.
- Uh, uhm. Th-then, shall we begin? H-Hunter Kim Taeha, please try to control your monster so that no harm comes to Mr. Woohyun. Alright then.
After a brief pause, the announcer screamed at the top of his lungs.
- Begin!
“Mooooooooo!”
Wielding a giant axe, the Minotaur began to charge with mad fury.
Thump, thump, thump, thump!
Unable to withstand its massive weight, the arena floor cracked with every footstep.
Its bloodshot eyes blazed, and the very air in the arena seemed to vibrate.
Facing this destructive force that charged like a freight train.
I remained still.
And Gono simply watched it approach.
And then.
“Mooo—!”
In the blink of an eye, the Minotaur was upon us, raising its axe with bulging, muscular arms.
The goblin leaped.
Whoosh.
A single sound of something slicing through the air tore through the space.
Crack!
Followed by the sickening crunch of a shattering skull.
That was it.
In the next instant, silence descended.
-… ?
The massive colosseum was as quiet as if it had been frozen solid.
Not even the sound of breathing could be heard.
The tiny goblin rested the club it had just swung upon its shoulder.
Thud.
And the corpse of the Minotaur, its neck twisted a full 180 degrees, collapsed to the floor.
The silence was so absolute that the sound of the body hitting the ground echoed with startling clarity.
And so, I uttered a single word in a low voice.
“Next.”