Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Hobgoblin Bastards #3
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"Catch it! Don't let that bastard get away!"
"Keruk!"
"Keruk keruk!"
At my command, Buril and Shinping kicked off the ground and charged at full speed. Impressive velocity. They caught up to the hobgoblin in an instant.
"Kruk!"
The fleeing hobgoblin turned to look at us and let out a wail of despair.
And right at that moment!
"Come out! Imsung!"
—Pshht!
"Krrruk!"
"Gwisaat!"
A pack of Imsung and Gwii suddenly burst from the bushes ahead!
"Keeek?!"
It was a textbook herding hunt. The hobgoblin, caught off guard by my minions popping out of the bushes, panicked mid-turn and tripped over itself.
"It's over!"
I timed my leap perfectly, kicking off the ground and soaring high into the air.
—Paht!
Up there, I stretched out my limbs wide, dropping down like a paratrooper.
"Keruuuk?!"
I slammed onto the fallen hobgoblin.
"Hahaha! Hold still!"
"Keruk! Keruuuk!"
I immediately wrapped it in a bear hug, squeezing with all my strength. The size difference alone was overwhelming—the hobgoblin flailed but couldn't budge an inch. It just thrashed its head side to side, screeching in terror.
In that position, I shouted!
"Guys! Hurry over and scare the shit out of it!"
And at the same time.
—Uru ru!
My minions and Sharan all rushed in, kicking up a huge ruckus.
"Keruk! Keruk keruk!"
"Krrruk!"
"Gwisaaaat!"
Buril and Shinping snarled in fury, stomping around like they were tap-dancing up a storm. Imsung circled them, bouncing wildly. The kobolds howled like they were singing a battle anthem.
"Shaaa!"
Sharan joined in, bellowing threats.
"Kek!"
The hobgoblin passed out.
"Monster Domination!"
I unleashed my black magic right away!
"Obey meee!"
—Tszzt!
My demonic power flowed perfectly into the hobgoblin's body.
And with that.
"Keruk...?"
The hobgoblin.
Became my minion.
"Whew! Perfect! You all did great! Victoryyy!"
"Shaaa!"
"Keruk!"
I jumped up cheering, and Sharan and my minions mimicked me. They were getting used to her now—no one was terrified anymore. Hell, we were almost at high-fives.
"Keruk?"
The newly subdued hobgoblin blinked around in a daze.
"Damn! This shit really works like a charm!"
Thanks to daily practice channeling and using my demonic power, I'd grown leaps and bounds since arriving here.
Faster casting for Domination, bigger mana pool, smoother control overall.
Smooth sailing.
"Alright, Samho? Get up."
"Keruk..."
"Buril. Check this guy's condition."
"Keruk!"
—Snap!
Buril saluted sharply, marched over to Samho, barked something, and made a poking gesture. Reliable as ever. I loved that he went for the punch first. That's how you run a monster army.
With a violent enforcer like Buril, controlling hobgoblins would be a breeze.
"Time to hunt for food."
"Sha."
And so.
I set out to expand my crew. Domination works? Minion. Doesn't? Dinner.
Thinking about it seriously, it felt kinda brutal—like some evil horde straight out of a dark fantasy. But building power meant tough choices.
Monsters everywhere were potential minions and potential chow. The line? Whether Domination stuck. That's it. Man, I really was a demon now. Back in Korea, who would've thought?
—Flutter!
Anyway, rolling deep made hunting trivial. Swarm anything, smash it done. Meal over, on to productive shit.
"Ahh, food's got me powered up. Anyway, guys. One hobgoblin means a nest nearby. Let's sniff that out."
Our current lineup: three hobgoblins, three kobolds, one imp, me the demon, and Sharan the dryad. Nine strong.
Solid squad. Clearing a hobgoblin nest? Piece of cake. First time, but today we pop that cherry.
"Alright, team. Sniff out hobgoblin nests."
"Keruk!"
"Gwisaat!"
Hobgoblins and kobolds shoved their noses to the ground on command.
"Sha. Shasha."
"Hm? What're you saying, Sharan?"
"Sha."
Sharan hugged my arm and mumbled, but no clue. Kinda inconvenient, honestly.
"Yeah, yeah. You're cute, Sharan."
"Sha."
Pet her ears, she loves it.
Then.
"Keruk. Keruk keruk."
Buril reported in.
"Keruk."
"Huh... that way?"
"Keruk keruk."
Buril nodded, pointing.
Off we go.
"Team! Follow Buril!"
"Kruk!"
We trailed him like kids chasing an ice cream truck. Buril sniffed nonstop. After a few dozen minutes.
—Snap.
A hobgoblin nest loomed ahead.
"Bingo."
Small cave. Typical nest holds about ten hobgoblins. Ten's risky, fewer? Doable.
"Good."
Today's target: that hole.
Clear it for minions, prisoners, rations. All hobgoblins, obviously.
"Buril. Take Shinping, scout it."
"Kerung."
Buril gripped his spear tight, yelled at Shinping. The spear-wielding duo crept toward the entrance.
"Sharan. You, the Gwiis, Imsung, and Samho—park over there. Beat the shit out of anyone coming your way."
"Shasha."
Sharan led them to the nest's right flank. Fresh minion Samho trailed her in sheer terror.
No need for a sledgehammer on a fly.
Real trouble? Call Sharan. Otherwise, hold position. She jumps in, hobgoblins get shredded. I want some kills for farming minions—full Sharan mode turns 'em all to kibble.
Anyway.
I gripped my spear and headed to Buril.
"Keruk... keruk keruk."
"Relax. Big bro's got your back. Just do what I say."
"Keruk."
We halted short of the nest.
"Buril. Spears up."
"Keruk!"
—Snap!
Buril and Shinping aimed at the entrance. I'd back them up.
Then.
—Kerurruk!
—Kerelerelererek!
Shouts echoed from inside.
"Incoming! Get ready!"
"Keruk...!"
And.
—Paht!
Hobgoblins poured out! Quick count: seven total!
"Kereeeek!"
"Kerurruk!"
Enraged at our gang, they charged mindlessly.
"Keruk...!"
"Ke, kerurung...!"
Buril and Shinping trembled but held spears steady, trained proper.
That's what counts!
"Kerelerelererek!"
—Paht!
They leaped at us, and I yelled.
"Thrust, you fucks!"
And!
—Puk!
"Keak!"
Lead hobgoblin's chest impaled! Buril's spear! Nailed it!
But!
"Keruk!"
Shinping missed!
"Kereek!"
"Kiyaak!"
Hobgoblins swarmed Shinping!
"Buril! Drop spear! Beat those fuckers off Shinping!"
"Kerurruk!"
One down, six left! We got this raw! Buril backed Shinping, I flipped my spear.
—Bwak!
"Gwaek?!"
Clubbed an incoming hobgoblin's skull. It faceplanted; I yanked my spear free.
Then.
"You hobgoblin shits dare fuck with this Demon King?!"
Stabbed the next one's forehead!
—Kung!
"Kwaek?!"
Its head snapped back. Subdued. Buril one, me two—three down total. One getting pummeled by Buril and Shinping.
Three remain!
"Everyone but Sharan! Crush these bastards!!"
"Ke, kerurruk!"
"Krrruk!"
"Gwisaaaat!"
Samho, Imsung, Gwiis sprinted in. Three left? Swarm and smash, easy!
"Ke, kaeruk?!"
"Kaerung!"
Survivors froze seeing allies drop.
Not letting that slide.
—Hop!
I leaped, spinning a side kick into the front one!
—Puk!
"Kkeak!"
It flew as my crew piled on the last two!
"Krrruk!"
"Kerurrurruk!"
"Gwisaat!"
"Perfect!"
Flawless fight! Whittle numbers fast, then overwhelm. Wild hobgoblins never stood a chance!
"Kereek! Kereek!"
"Gwisasaat!"
Hell unfolded in seconds.
My minions beat, bit, kicked, and berated the hobgoblins. I bludgeoned backs and legs with my spear butt.
—Bwak!
—Bwak!
"Kkeak!"
No surviving that onslaught. Five minutes of beatdown later—minus the first spear kill—the six were mangled wrecks.
"Keeek..."
"Kuak..."
—Shiver.
Beaten senseless, twitching on the ground.
"We won!"
Total victory!
Damage check.
Shinping took the brunt early; others fine.
"Fucking flawless!"
Praise later—clean up first.
—Swish.
I dashed to the bushes, grabbed my hidden sack, pulled out ropes.
"Hold 'em tight, guys."
"Keruk?"
Time to hogtie these bastards.
"Good work. I'll tie 'em. You watch."
Prisoner harvest.
"Keruk..."
I flipped the battered hobgoblins prone, bound wrists and ankles tight.
Prisoners first.
I could cast Domination three times a day now. Three. But six live ones.
Three subs, eat three?
Nah.
Hold 'em, recover mana, recast. Lock in dungeon, dominate slow.
"Heh heh, guess I need a prison in my dungeon."
And hey.
Prisoners double as emergency rations. Win-win. Fail domination? Chow time.
"This is the Aztec meta."