The Golden Goblin's Ether Harvest

"H-Huh, a Golden Goblin?"

A Golden Goblin.

A mythical creature that usually only appeared in games.

Anyone who played games as a kid had probably experienced hunting a Golden Goblin and scooping up the items that rained down from it at least once.

I was no exception.

"No way this actually dropped? And it's SS-rank??"

When people first saw my goblins, they'd called them Golden Goblins because they carried backpacks stuffed full of items.

Yet the reward for dominating ten thousand goblins had been an actual Golden Goblin.

I immediately checked the skill.

Typical of an SS-rank skill, the activation conditions were quite strict.

"So I need ten thousand goblins just to summon it?"

What the hell.

But it was still an SS-rank skill.

SS-rank skills could flip the world upside down just by appearing.

That was exactly why SS-rank Awakeners drew global attention.

Thanks to my rank, this was already my second SS-rank skill after Blood Drain.

I still hadn't used Blood Drain because of the psychological resistance.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Might as well try it. Summon Golden Goblin."

[Please drip blood.]

That damn blood requirement again.

I was seriously going to get anemia at this rate.

I grabbed a dagger from the storage and pricked my fingertip.

Tap.

A single drop of blood fell to the floor.

Shhhhhhh.

The blood spread and transformed into a pool of blood.

Then it gradually turned golden.

Something felt off.

The entrance alone was overwhelming…!

From within the rippling golden pool of blood, a single goblin slowly rose.

Unlike ordinary goblins with green skin, this one had a golden body, living up to its name.

The Golden Goblin appeared, carrying a single gleaming sack on its back.

"…Whoa."

It really was gold.

Its body and the sack it held were both pure ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠gold.

It was blinding.

The Golden Goblin opened its eyes, looked around, and grinned.

"Heehee?!"

"Uh… hello?"

"Heehee! Ehehehehee!!!"

Could it not speak?

I checked the Golden Goblin's status window.

"M-Mad, 777 agility?"

The Golden Goblin possessed grotesquely high agility in exchange for bottom-tier strength and intelligence.

As expected, its intelligence was far too low.

Did the Golden Goblin not receive titles or racial traits?

"Ehehe! Uhehehehe!!!"

Swish.

The Golden Goblin left an afterimage and vanished right in front of me.

"What? Where'd it go?"

The moment the Golden Goblin disappeared from sight, I could feel through the Blood Scent skill that one of my familiars was racing outside the base at an incredible speed.

Was that speed even possible for a living creature?

I hurriedly activated third-person perspective on the familiar.

Target: Golden Goblin.

-Uhehe! Heehee! Uhehehehe!!

The Golden Goblin was sprinting across the first floor of the Labyrinth at an absurd speed.

The surrounding scenery stretched like taffy and became impossible to see clearly.

Even with my enhanced dynamic vision from Domination Power, it was hard to follow.

-Uhehehehe!!!

The Golden Goblin that had been dashing through the Labyrinth began farming.

"M-Mad, why is it so fast?"

I quickly turned off the flood of farming logs pouring in and looked at the Golden Goblin.

It held a golden bundle in one hand.

Items far larger than the bundle kept disappearing into it.

Don't tell me… was that a subspace pouch?

"Just how big is that subspace?"

While I was thinking, dozens of items had already entered the pouch.

The Golden Goblin, which had been vacuuming items into the pouch like a vacuum cleaner, suddenly stopped.

"Is the bundle full now?"

Would it return to the base now?

Even with only 5 intelligence, it should at least be able to find its way home, right?

But I had severely underestimated the Golden Goblin.

It tilted its head, then shook the bundle vigorously.

Crash crash crash crash!!

"Wh-What?!"

I turned around at the sudden loud noise.

"Wh-What is this, kerk!"

The goblin warehouse keeper was buried under a mountain of items.

Don't tell me those ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠items were what the Golden Goblin had just farmed?

"…Remote item transmission into the subspace pouch?"

This thing was literally a vacuum cleaner that sucked up items.

It matched the farming speed of ten thousand goblins all by itself.

I swallowed hard and observed the Golden Goblin through third-person perspective.

At that speed, no one except rankers would even be able to touch it.

Then…

"The second-floor Ether… it might actually find it."

A new chapter in Labyrinth farming had opened.

***

The Association lobby, which had grown quiet after the Hyeolma Guard established its office building.

The Awakener Association had returned to its former state.

There were people coming to register as Awakeners, Awakeners selling magic stones, and occasionally reporters waiting to photograph rising star Awakeners.

Recently the trend was all about Hyeolma Guard and Hyeolma Gentleman, so the number of reporters permanently stationed at the Association had decreased significantly.

Click clack.

Along with the sound of heels, a woman entered the Association lobby.

The eyes of a reporter who had been yawning on the lobby sofa widened.

"H-Han Seol-ah?!"

At that single murmur, everyone's gaze focused on the center of the lobby.

Han Seol-ah.

Rank 2 Awakener in South Korea.

The undisputed top S-rank Awakener who regularly received four Ethers per month.

When she appeared with her striking looks and her usual cold expression that earned her the nickname Ice Flower, people swarmed around her.

As the reporters moved, the Association's security personnel surrounded her.

"H-Han Seol-ah! Please look this way!"

"You got four Ethers again this time! What's your secret?!"

"Kyaa! Unnie! You're so pretty!"

When Han Seol-ah slightly furrowed her brows at the continuous flash photography, another commotion erupted.

"Aaaagh! Can't you see our noona is getting blinded?!"

"Oh my god, how does she make that expression without a single wrinkle on her forehead?!"

"Aaaah I'm dying!"

Fans got angry while reporters kept flashing their cameras as if they'd hit the jackpot.

It was chaos reminiscent of the Hyeolma Guard incident.

The security personnel escorted her with all their strength to the inner part of the Association.

Only after boarding the elevator did the area around her become quiet.

Just as she was about to say something, the elevator dinged and the doors opened.

"We've arrived, Ms. Han Seol-ah."

Han Seol-ah nodded and stepped out of the elevator.

Then she slightly bowed her head.

The security personnel forgot about headquarters and grinned foolishly at the graceful motion that even carried a hint of dignity.

When the elevator doors closed, Kim Hyun-ah, the Association President's chief secretary, approached from the side.

"This way."

Han Seol-ah nodded and followed Kim Hyun-ah toward the President's office.

Knock knock.

The door opened and she entered. Kim Min-woo stood up from his seat and greeted her with a smile.

"Ah, you've worked hard. Please have a seat."

"It's been a while, Association President."

When the two sat down, Kim Hyun-ah brought drinks.

As always, black coffee for Kim Min-woo and warm milk for Han Seol-ah.

After taking a sip of milk, Han Seol-ah picked up a prepared bottle on the table.

When she touched it with her finger, light gathered.

Trickle.

One Ether fell into the bottle.

"Yes, I've received one Ether. I'll deposit the payment immediately."

Kim Min-woo nodded with a wide smile, and Kim Hyun-ah quietly left the room.

"By any chance… magic stones?"

"I'm sorry… that's a bit difficult."

"Ah, no. Even just the Ether is more than enough!"

Kim Min-woo laughed awkwardly.

In truth, magic stones were just as important as Ether.

They were a means to maintain the barrier stones and a next-generation energy source that was newly in the spotlight.

Safer than nuclear power and completely pollution-free.

However, since most of them went into barrier stones, there was always a shortage of magic stones available for power generation.

South Korea was barely managing even with the barrier stones.

Moreover, Han Seol-ah's ability was that of a Magic Stone Mage (S), which everyone who needed to know already knew.

The magic stones she could use were also severely insufficient.

After drinking a glass of milk to ease the awkwardness, Han Seol-ah hesitated before speaking.

"Um… about that shut-in blood demon person."

"Ah, yes."

Kim Min-woo's face slightly stiffened at the mention of the name Shut-in Blood Demon.

As expected, even she couldn't help but be concerned about the rising star who had caught up right behind her.

"Do you… know what his ability is?"

"I'm sorry. An Awakener's ability is personal privacy, so no matter how much it's you, Ms. Han Seol-ah…"

"No, I was just curious and asked on a whim."

Han Seol-ah hesitated, looking troubled.

Then she casually dropped a single line as if it meant nothing.

"Hyeolma Guard, Hyeolma Gentleman, Shut-in Blood Demon."

"…"

"Honestly, it's not hard to guess at this point. The community has already accepted it as fact."

"H-Haha. I wouldn't know anything about that."

"Does he perhaps have extra magic stones?"

"…Excuse me?"

"If he has that many items, he must have accumulated quite a lot of community points…"

"I wouldn't know. I'm sorry, but regarding your magic stones, Ms. Han Seol-ah…"

"Yes, I know. Since we need to maintain the barrier stones, we'll have to sell them to the Association whenever possible. I was just saying it because I was frustrated."

"I'm sorry."

Han Seol-ah gritted her teeth slightly and stood up.

"If you need anything besides Ether and magic stones, I'll help with anything."

"It's fine. The reset day is coming soon, so I should go prepare as well. What about Choi Kang-hyuk…?"

"Yes, as always, the red-yellow-blue-green order."

"Got it."

It was the period when all Labyrinth resets overlapped.

The rule Choi Kang-hyuk and Han Seol-ah had established with the Association to ensure smooth Ether supply was the "red-yellow-blue-green rotation."

They had set the order so they wouldn't overlap in fields when entering to secure second-floor boss Ether.

If Choi Kang-hyuk entered the red gate, she would enter whichever gate appeared in the next order.

Just as Han Seol-ah was about to leave, she stopped and turned around.

"Does the Shut-in Blood Demon not need to follow the pattern? If he's supplying four per month, then second-floor boss Ether is obviously…"

At her words, Kim Min-woo smiled and shook his head.

"No. The Shut-in Blood Demon isn't thinking about second-floor Ether yet, so don't worry."

At the Association President's words, Han Seol-ah nodded and left the office.

"…Wait. He isn't considering second-floor Ether?"

Han Seol-ah's poker face crumbled for an instant.

Then that meant he was farming four first-floor Ethers per month?

***

The period when the monthly Ether ranking reset and all floor resets overlapped.

Whenever this time came, the community was always bustling.

It was because of people trying to gamble on the Ether rankings.

The so-called Labyrinth Toto.

And everyone's attention was focused on the monthly ranking, which had the highest payout.

Until recently, it had been fixed on Choi Kang-hyuk in first and Han Seol-ah in second, with betting on the lower ranks.

-Hey, who should we bet on this time?

Recently the Toto had changed a little.

It was because of the newly appeared "Shut-in Blood Demon" who was breaking through the rankings at breakneck speed.

The new unwritten rule of Labyrinth Toto.

Unlike before, people fixed first place on Choi Kang-hyuk and bet on either Han Seol-ah or Shut-in Blood Demon for the rest.

-Hey hey it reset.

And finally, on reset day.

-Lol look, 2nd place is Han Seol-ah after all.

-Aww!! Shut-in Blood Demon you bastard! Betraying me like this!

-Even if she's the eternal 2nd, does 2nd place look like shit to you lol

-That's right! Seol-ah noona nice!

As expected, there was no upset.

But the next day.

***

"So… you understand? This is the best one."

I took out one Ether and showed it to the Golden Goblin.

"Heehee ehehehehee!!!"

"The first floor is for the others to search, so you only do the second floor! You can enter anywhere on the second floor. Got it?"

"Uhehehehehee!!!"

"Sigh… I don't know if you understood. Anyway, go!"

Swish.

The Golden Goblin left an afterimage and vanished from sight.

The day after all the rankers had moved to higher floors.

Along with the start of Hyeolma Guard's business, I sent the Golden Goblin to the second floor.

If it brought back Ether, great. If not, whatever.

Even just its farming speed was incredible, so sending it to the second floor was definitely the right move.

"Gob, lead the kids well. You know about Hyeolma Guard too, right?"

"Kerk! Of course! Perfect escort! Flawless service!!"

"Good. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Then I'm going to take a nap."

"Understood kerk!"

I left the command of the fully established Hyeolma Guard to Gob and returned to my room.

Even as a vampire, I still slept.

Rather, I felt like I was sleeping more these days.

Was it because the bed was so comfortable?

When I returned to the room, I saw Mongmo diligently tapping away on his tablet.

"Mongmo, what are you doing?"

"I'm planning a new business, Master! It's too wasteful to just leave the Hobgoblins alone!"

"…What are you trying to do with those seven? Excluding Gob, that is."

"Extreme efficiency! No matter how much money you make, it's never enough, Master!!"

"…Right. Do you need anything?"

"We're short on the world nut assortment!"

"Yeah… I'll order it when I wake up tomorrow."

Our vampire legion that earned hundreds of billions just by being fed meat and peanuts.

My life really had become easy.

Money came in even while I was just sleeping…

"I'm going to sleep. Don't overdo it and get some rest too, Mongmo."

"Good night, Master."

"You too, Mongmo."

I buried myself in bed and closed my eyes.

***

And the next morning.

"Mmm…"

I woke up to an inexplicable chill.

What? Why did I feel so creeped out?

For some reason, I felt like I was being watched.

I got up from bed and slightly pulled back the blackout curtains to look outside.

"…What the?"

Beyond the harsh sunlight, people in suits were busily running around on the opposite rooftop.

The bodyguards kept glancing this way while scurrying about.

I hadn't thought much of it since we were under 24-hour special protection anyway, but for some reason the bodyguards' expressions looked bad.

Why were they sweating so much? Was it hot?

I stood up.

I gently picked up Mongmo who had fallen asleep at the desk and laid him on the bed, then headed to the living room.

I grabbed a cold can of juice from the fridge and turned on the TV.

Breaking news was playing on the screen.

Did something happen?

-At this very moment that the entire world is watching!! The Association is still maintaining its silence!

"…Did something happen at the Association?"

-Association President, please say a word!!!

-Who is that person!! You must know, Association President!!

-Please don't deprive the public of their right to know!!!

The screen showed footage from about an hour ago of the Association President arriving at work.

Association President Kim Min-woo was walking into the Association with his head bowed low, pushing through the reporters.

What? Did the Association President commit a crime?

"Is he okay?"

-Last night! Amidst the identity of the newly emerged high-ranker 'Shut-in Blood Demon' in South Korea — no, the world — still remaining unknown!

"…Huh?"

Me?

Didn't they just say Shut-in Blood Demon?

At that moment, the monthly Ether ranking appeared on the news screen.

"……Huh? Uh? What?"

-Who is this Shut-in Blood Demon who farmed seven Ethers in just two days since the reset?! Why won't the Association President reveal him?! This was reporter Kim Young-hee from National Broadcasting!

I reflexively grabbed my phone.

When I pressed the button and opened the screen.

[Missed calls: Association President Kim Min-woo 99+]

"…I'm screwed."

The Golden Goblin had done far better than I expected.

ⓒ D-Walls #1mxtx