Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Solidifying the Foundation #6
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"Buril! Bro's here!"
The moment we arrived in the front yard of our home, I called out for Buril.
"Keruk!"
Buril, who had been inside the dungeon, came bounding out.
This green, grotesque—no, cute creature named Buril. How could something so ridiculously adorable even exist? I felt an overwhelming urge to smack him, hug him tight, and nibble on him.
—Hop!
Buril, who had been running toward me, leaped right into my arms.
"Kerurung!"
Buril purred like a cat in my embrace, thrilled.
"Damn, you cute little bastard. Good job holding down the fort. Everything going smooth?"
"Keruk keruk!"
I could see piles of excavated dirt stacked everywhere. Sure enough, as we headed into the dungeon together...
"Ooh!"
The main room construction was progressing nicely!
It was dug out pretty well already. Just a few more days of hard work, and we'd have something resembling a proper bedroom.
Buril really knows how to get shit done.
—Thwack!
—Thwack!
—Thwack!
Not only that, but the goblins stopped their work to salute me.
"At ease! Relax! Sit, sit!"
"Keruk!"
"Heh heh heh, good job. You're one hell of a goblin, Buril."
I immediately started petting Buril's head. This little guy works better than any damn enlisted soldier.
"Enlisted soldier trait: Excellent workmanship, but they slack off."
But.
"Buril trait: Excellent workmanship, and he works his ass off. No wonder I love you so much, Buril!"
"Kerung!"
As I showered him with praise, Buril started shaking his limbs and performing his signature Buril dance.
—Shake shake!
"Keruk!"
"Keruk!"
All the goblin squad members followed suit, erupting into a frenzy of over-the-top antics...
"Kya! Performance on point too! You guys are the champions!"
"Boss. Should I dance too?"
"Hell yeah!"
"Shaa!"
—Jiggle jiggle!
Sharan shook her breasts as she danced!
"Hahaha!"
A fun time.
And so.
After enjoying it for a bit.
"Whew, anyway, break time. Let's call it a day on work."
I granted them some rest.
"Tomorrow, we're raiding for kobolds. Gwiil. You're getting some rookies."
"Gwirat?"
"Yeah. Pups. They're a bit bigger now?"
They'd grown well after receiving my demonic power and plenty of food. At this size, I could probably handle bringing in more kobolds.
"Gwiil. Tomorrow we're farming rookies for you punks. Imsoong, stand by for now."
"Kruk."
Imsoong was a founding member too, but he hadn't done much lately. Of course, more imps would mean more work for him.
"Okay. Message relayed. Everyone, take a break. Buril, come with bro for a sec."
"Keruk?"
At my command, they all lay down to rest. Buril followed me right away.
"Time for some demonic power, Buril."
"Keruk!"
I infused him immediately.
"Keruk...!"
Sure enough, Buril shivered in delight. Soon, his energy skyrocketed, and he started bouncing around wildly.
"Heh heh heh, what a guy."
Truly competent.
Now then.
"Boss. Sharan has something to do with you."
"What we gotta do?"
"The fun Boss likes!"
"Heh heh heh! Let's do it!"
First, some fun with Sharan.
Then eat, sleep, and head out tomorrow.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The next day.
"Alright, boys. Today we're hitting the kobold den. It won't be too tough, so no freaking out. Just like always, trust in me. Okay?"
I stood on the makeshift podium and relayed the orders.
"Keruk!"
"Keruk!"
"Keruk!"
The highly disciplined goblins roared their response.
"Heh heh heh, good! Loud voices make good soldiers! Before battle, let's smash through some training!"
Just run through a quick drill.
"Alright... Huh? Buril?"
"Keruk?"
Hold up.
"Buril, you little shit?"
Looking closer, had this guy... gotten taller?
"Hey. Come here."
"Kerurung."
Up close, it was clear. He seemed bigger than yesterday. And way larger than the other goblins. He looked healthier overall too.
"Muturi. Stand next to Buril."
"...Grak."
I called Muturi over, and their heights were almost the same.
"Hoo... A little more growth, and he'll be hobgoblin-sized."
"Keruk?"
"As expected."
Not all that surprising.
Constant demonic power infusions had opened Sharan up like a book, and now Buril was growing too. Why? Demonic power makes monsters evolve.
Buril's size increase proved my theory.
"He might even start talking someday. Anyway! We'll talk Buril's growth later! Into the dungeon! Quick drill time!"
"Keruk!"
We headed in and ran a simple training session. The kobold den had narrow passages like ours. Just advance in formation, and we'd win.
How could primitive kobolds stand against an army?
"Advance!"
"Keruk!"
—Thwack!
The phalanx squad moved in perfect unison at my command.
"Good."
We'd crushed hobgoblins before and taken it easy since, but our edge hadn't dulled. Perfect.
After training, I swapped their gear. Spearmen got staves instead of spears, shieldmen swapped stone axes for clubs.
We'd subdue kobolds as subordinates. No killing. But the mother? Gotta kill her. Eating the chieftain grew me; she might do the same.
"Charge!"
"Keruk!"
We advanced right away.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Halt! Kobold den ahead! Form up in front!"
"Keruk!"
Buril echoed my command.
—Rumble!
The goblins rushed forward and formed ranks, completely blocking the passage.
"Imsoong. Release fireflies into the den."
"Kruk!"
Imsoong dashed in and let loose the fireflies. Dim lights flickered to life inside.
"Full advance! Forward! One! Two! One! Two!"
We charged.
—Thwack, thwack.
—Thwack, thwack.
—Thwack, thwack.
The phalanx advanced flawlessly.
"Sharan. Stick close behind me."
"Yes, Boss."
"Rest of you, follow."
As we pressed on, kobold cries echoed soon after.
"Enemies sighted!"
"Keruk!"
Not a single goblin panicked... Soon, their glowing eyes appeared.
"Gwargh!"
"Gwisaat!"
Toward the charging kobolds!
"Attack!"
"Keruk!"
The goblins thrust their staves!
—Thud!
—Thud!
The kobolds oncoming got smashed and screamed. Not just that—the front-line shieldmen bashed them with clubs, bellowing.
"Keruk!"
"Kerurruk!"
No need for me to step in. The seasoned phalanx countered their mindless charges effortlessly.
"Gwisaaat!"
The kobolds just got beaten like dogs on a hot day and collapsed.
"Boss. Kobolds all beaten up? Smacked good?"
"Heh heh heh! Yeah! All smacked down!"
Smooth sailing. We subdued the fallen ones with club beatings as we advanced.
—Kyuuusa!
"There we go!"
The kobold mother appeared. I'd fought her before. No threat now.
"Hold formation!"
I took position at the phalanx rear, spear ready. She just roared and charged.
"Kyusaaaa!"
"Come on!"
And!
As she lunged!
"Sharan! Grab her ankle!"
"Shaa!"
"Die!"
I ordered Sharan and thrust my spear!
—Thud!
That did it.
"Kyusa...!"
Her collarbone pierced clean through.
"Boys! Hold formation! Just make a wall! I'll finish her!"
"Keruk!"
"Die!"
The wall was solid. Trusting my minions, I yanked the spear free and stabbed again. Repeated, riddling her torso with holes.
"Kyuk...!"
—Stab!
—Stab!
—Stab!
Swift spearwork. I hadn't slacked either—drilled this shit endlessly. No dodging that. Fights are about numbers. With my horde and this wall, courage came easy. Bravery wins small skirmishes.
—Thud.
She finally dropped.
"It's over."
"Boss! We won!"
"Yeah! Victory!"
Time for extraction!
"Demonic Power Extraction!"
—Whoosh!
Even stronger effects than the chieftain's. Demonic flames erupted from my hand. I plunged it into her chest without hesitation.
—Crunch!
Pulled out the mana stone.
"Hm."
After the body melted, I checked the stone... It glowed, but not brilliantly. Inferior to the chieftain's? Whatever, down the hatch.
—Crunch.
Chewing in my mouth...
"Oh, ooh...!"
Power!
Strength surged! The crushed stone's energy flowed down my throat, spreading from my stomach. I felt my body absorbing it clearly...!
"Not quite chieftain level."
Still satisfying as expected. Gotta hunt named mobs like this whenever I see 'em.
"Alright, boys! We won! Woo!"
"Shaa!"
—Keruruk!
—Keruk!
—Kerurruk!
My minions cheered at the victory cry.
"Boys! Tie up all the downed kobolds! Separate the dead! Capture prisoners! Go!"
"Keruk!"
The goblins broke formation and started sorting kobolds.
"Heh heh heh, ah. Another win."
About nine new minions. But is there a limit? Doubt I can command unlimited.
"Boss. More minions now?"
"Yeah. More minions mean better life."
"Sharan wants to live well with Boss."
"Me too, with Sharan."
As we bantered and headed out...
"Huh?"
—Chill.
Sudden goosebumps all over. What? Wind? Instinctively, I aimed my spear forward.
「—Grrrrrrrrrr!!!」
A beast's roar exploded simultaneously.
"Wha...!"
And there...
Fierce, blazing red eyes of a savage beast.
—Flash!
A fucking massive wolf burst out from ahead!!!
"M-Motherfucker! What the hell is this!!! Boys, shit!!! Form up in the den!!! Sharan, get inside!!!"
Oh fuck, what the hell is that!!!!!!
What kinda wolf bigger than a lion even exists!!!!!