Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Those Hobgoblins #12
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Sharan could finally speak.
I was already weeping from the overwhelming emotion. Fuck, all this time. Sure, having Buril, Imsoong, and Sharan around made things fun, but I'd never had a proper conversation with any of them.
Even Buril could only croak. He'd never once said something warm like, "Demon King, shall we go get some ice cream?"
"Shaa? Maangnim?"
But now, we could really talk!
"Sharan!"
I spread my arms wide to hug her, but Sharan moved first and embraced me.
My nose plunged straight into the cleavage of her breasts.
"Kkhuk...! Sharan!"
"Shaa shaa."
She was still going "shaa" even while speaking.
"Thank you! Thank you for speaking! Say it again! I want to hear more! I'm Maangnim! You're Sharan!"
"Maangnim... Sharan."
"Yes! That's it! That one! And that's Buril!"
I pointed at Buril as I spoke.
"Buriri?"
That's how Sharan replied!
"Keruk?"
Buril seemed amazed too.
"Alright, Sharan! That one! That dark little bastard is Imsoong!"
"Imsoomi."
Who the hell was Imsoomi?
"Hey, Soomi. She's calling you Soomi."
"Keuruk?"
Imsoong was just being an idiot. But who cared? Sharan could finally speak.
"Hold hands."
"Shaa?"
"Time for an outing!"
"Shaaaa!"
—Spin spin.
I grabbed Sharan's hand and twirled around. She laughed "shaa shaa" happily, matching my movements. We danced and spun together like that.
Good.
Now I had to teach Sharan more words. I'd add that to my daily routine. From now on, I'd make a proper schedule and stick to it. Train the soldiers, give them mental conditioning, teach Sharan to speak. So much to do.
But really.
Had she gained power by absorbing my semen? Some kind of essence drain? Was that how she got stronger? And how did she even do essence drain in the first place? Because she was a dryad?
So many questions, but one thing was clear. Just as demonic power strengthened demons, it strengthened monsters too. From now on, I'd steadily give Sharan my power.
—Screech.
I stopped spinning around then.
"..."
A certain thought had struck me.
If Sharan could speak now.
Wasn't it finally okay?
"Sharan. Repeat after me."
"Shaa?"
"Se... sex."
"Ses?"
Cute pronunciation.
"Not ses. Sex."
"Sex."
—Twitch.
My dick reacted.
"Kuh...!"
I'd teach her that one later, when it was quiet.
And the sumata from last night, stuff about semen—everything. Full sex ed was necessary.
Anyway, I spent a bit of time chatting with Sharan, teaching her basic conversation. She picked it up faster than expected. She'd heard a lot before, and since our minds connected somehow, that helped too.
Good.
"Alright, kids. Bring one hobgoblin corpse. Time to prep food."
"Keruk!"
"Sharan, go sit too. Gotta eat."
"Shaa."
Sharan nodded. With that, meal prep began under Buril's direction.
Now, to use this time.
—Rustle.
I took off my top and examined my body.
"Hm."
Was my body improving? I knew demonic power affected it. I struck a pose right away.
—Whoosh whoosh.
—Whoosh whoosh.
I punched like a boxer, feeling it out. Definitely lighter. My arms felt strong.
"That chieftain bastard."
He wasn't strong enough to give me this much power... Objectively, I wasn't ridiculously strong. He was just so weak compared to me that even this felt like growth.
Still, the power absorbed from the chieftain was decent. Guessing here, he was probably a capable leader. He trained his hobgoblins in formations, after all. Maybe I absorbed that ability.
"Chieftains. Commanders. Gotta absorb those types for sure."
I kept moving, checking my strength and body.
"Keruk!"
Then Buril approached, clutching a piece of roasted meat. He was bringing food for me.
"Heh heh heh, for me? You cute little shit. Thanks."
I went to take it from him.
—Whoosh!
"Keruk?"
Suddenly, Sharan snatched the meat from Buril!
And then!
"Maangnim!"
She beamed and offered it to me.
"Sharan? You wanted to give it to me yourself?"
"Shaa!"
Sharan nodded.
"Kkhuk...! Thank you!"
I took the meat and ate it.
"Kerurruk...!"
Buril collapsed, sobbing, shoving his fist in his mouth. Poor soft-hearted guy, sad that his gift got snatched.
"Hey, hey, don't cry. Think I don't get it? Thanks, Buril."
"Keruk!"
Time to eat.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Lots to do, but the most urgent was wiping out the hobgoblin remnants.
I knew their village location.
I'd massacred their army, but coexistence wasn't an option. Once enemies, they had to be eliminated thoroughly. Can't share territory with hostiles.
As Demon King, I wouldn't leave loose ends. A scrap of mercy could doom my minions.
"Buril, lead them."
"Keruk!"
—Snap!
Buril saluted and shouted at the goblins.
"Keruk! Keruk keruk!"
The goblins gripped their gear tightly and formed ranks.
"Hm, good. Satisfactory."
After the war victory, my army looked different. The shieldbearers now had weapons too. Left hand shield, right hand stone axe. And all eight wore leather armor.
"Yeah. Gotta dress sharp to look cool."
We'd taken gear from hobgoblins to finish off the rest. Despair for them, but no sympathy needed.
"Maangnim. G-go? Shaa? G-going?"
"Heh heh heh, yeah. Going. We're going."
"Going."
Sharan's voice was so pretty. Hearing her speak made it pierce my heart. Anyway, we set off toward the hobgoblin village.
"Maangnim. This."
"Fruit? Say fruit. Fruit."
"Shaa... fruit?"
"Yeah. Right. Fruit."
While marching, Sharan pointed at everything, asking names. I'd tell her, and she'd repeat perfectly. Her language skills were top-tier.
Probably because we synced mentally. She absorbed words like a sponge. A bit more, and she'd handle daily talk.
"Keruk, keruk keruk. Keruring."
Buril was mimicking speech too, maybe inspired.
"Heh heh heh, kid. What? Wanna talk too?"
"Keruk."
"Yeah. I'll inject more demonic power often."
Being stronger let me give more than before. Wonder how Buril would grow? Exciting to imagine.
We marched like that.
And reached the hobgoblin village outskirts.
"Scout from high ground first. Hide here."
"Keruk!"
"Sharan. Come with."
"Shaa."
I headed to the high ground with Sharan.
And looked down.
—...
The hobgoblin village came into view.
Everyone going about daily life. Working, crafting, prepping food. Females teaching young, axe-wielders on guard.
But overall, gloomy.
Probably because the army hadn't returned. Watching them... almost felt human.
"..."
But no time for that. They were enemies. Exterminate, hunt, eat. No mercy, no pity. Survival.
Yeah. Just survival.
"Can we dominate them?"
Not sure if it'd work. But worth capturing some. That one fiddling with water tubs and hides—tanner. Definitely capture him.
After scouting, I went back down.
"Buril, kids. We're attacking that hobgoblin village now."
"Keruk."
"I'll sow chaos first. Then group up and hit hobgoblins on my signal."
"Keruk!"
Strong response.
Good. No need for phalanx now. That's defensive. They had no army. Spears and shields would crush them.
So.
We moved slowly toward the village.
Then.
—Sneak sneak.
I slipped alone toward their huts stealthily.
"Demon Breath!!!"
—Roar!
Flames erupted as I blasted a hut!
Hobgoblins turned toward me!
"Grak?"
"Grarak!"
Shocked bastards!
As they did!
"Attackaaaaaaa!!!"
—Kraaaaa!
I roared!
"Kerurruk!"
"Keruk!"
"Kerakkk!"
My minions bellowed savagely and charged. Not a wild rush. Spearmen and shieldbearers in pairs, advancing at good speed! This was a trained army!
Hobgoblins would be trampled!
"Imsoong, fire at that spot!"
"Keuruk!"
"Kraaaaa!"
I yelled too, gripping my spear, following the goblins!
"Grarararak!"
"Die!"
—Thud!
Spear thrust—small hobgoblins dropped. And! "Keruk!" My advancing minions attacked!
—Stab!
—Thud!
Village in chaos!
Without an army, they couldn't beat grouped spearmen! Physically even, but this was combat! Weapons win!
"Shaa!"
—Slash!
Sharan tore hobgoblins apart too.
"That side! Buril! Take three more and hit there! Sharan! Stick here!"
I commanded, thrusting my spear at hobgoblins! Spotting my chance!
"You!"
The marked prisoner!
Tanner!
I kicked off the ground the moment I spotted him!
"Get over here!"
"Grak?!"
He paled and fled. Too late.
—Leap!
Already mid-jump roundhouse.
—Thud!
"Grak!"
Tanner flew. Not done. I chased, grappled, subdued.
"You bastard!"
"Grararak!"
"Die!"
—Flash!
Lifted and slammed!
—Boom!
Down again. No mercy. Tied his limbs quick.
"Kids! Here! No need to chase runners!"
"Keruk!"
Battle nearly over.
We took the village in a flash. Army-less, they couldn't resist. Killed a few at start, half fled.
"Clean corpses! Guard this prisoner! Gyuil! Bring brothers!"
Drop farming time!
One village looted—decent haul for sure!