<p>The second floor of the Labyrinth, the Black Forest field.</p>

An Awakener trudged slowly through the woods, a heavy backpack slung over his shoulders.

His hair was a tangled mess, dark circles sagging all the way down to his cheekbones.

"Ah… I'm seriously going to die. Why won't the Hyeolma Guard accept any more members?"

The Hyeolma Gentleman brand had been all the rage lately, but he had already geared up ages ago and felt no interest in it now.

The Awakener, Lee Hyo-seong, had his sights set on one thing only: the Hyeolma Guard.

It had already been six days since he entered the Black Forest.

Sleeping in fits and barely eating, he had scoured the Labyrinth.

In truth, this was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the average experience for any ordinary Labyrinth exploration.

But whenever he read the glowing reviews of the Hyeolma Guard on the community boards, his stomach twisted with envy.

"Other people get goblins that stand watch, fight for them, and even carry their luggage…"

Only I don't have a membership card.

Only I don't have a goblin.

So Lee Hyo-seong had simply walked straight into the Black Forest.

This week's designated field for the Hyeolma Guard was the Underground Ruins.

Just seeing goblins made his stomach ache.

Damn it. Tch.

"I even offered four million won… Why am I the only one who can't join…?"

Grumbling, he dragged his heavy body along, searching for the escape gate.

Just then—

Kerk-rrk.

"…Huh?"

From somewhere nearby came the sound of a goblin.

What? I thought they were supposed to be at the Underground Ruins this week?

Did I get the schedule wrong?

"Tch, whatever. I just need to get out of here."

Lee Hyo-seong ignored the noise and headed toward the escape route he had already mapped out.

Yet the closer he drew to the gate, the louder the goblin voices became.

"Are the goblins escaping too?"

Without a second thought, he reached the area near the escape gate.

And then he witnessed something he never could have imagined.

Reflexively, he ducked behind cover.

What… what the hell is that?!

"Grrrrrr."

A High Kobold.

One and a half times the size of an ordinary kobold, its muscular body covered in thick black fur.

Why is a High Kobold here?

The High Kobold was the boss monster of the Black Forest.

When the Labyrinth first reset and opened, one appeared at the very center, guarding the path to the third floor.

Others spawned randomly throughout the field.

Because High Kobolds tended to appear near the Labyrinth's core, Awakeners who lacked confidence usually farmed along the outer edges before leaving.

Just like Lee Hyo-seong himself.

Their dense black fur blended perfectly with the leaves of the Black Forest, making them nearly invisible.

On top of that, their strength and speed far surpassed those of ordinary kobolds.

Countless Awakeners had lost their lives to High Kobolds.

And right now, that same High Kobold was—

"Kerk! Walk faster!"

Thud!

"Yip!"

…??

Three goblins were kicking it in the rear and herding it somewhere.

What… what is going on?

The three goblins were dragging the High Kobold away.

Too stunned to think, Lee Hyo-seong stepped backward and snapped a twig.

Crack.

"Uuuung?"

"What was that, kerk!"

"Eek… W-wait, are you guys from the Hyeolma Guard?!"

The only goblins that could speak were from the Hyeolma Guard, right?

As he stood frozen in confusion, the goblins marched straight toward him.

The moment they reached him—

"…Esteemed customer?"

"N-no, I'm not a member, I just—"

"Kerk! Ah! A prospective customer!"

"Huh?"

One goblin flashed a bright smile and rummaged through its own backpack.

"Here, take this, kerk."

"What is this?"

"Kerk! It's a red bean bun! Eat it and gather your strength to escape!"

"…?"

The goblin pressed a single red bean bun into Lee Hyo-seong's trembling hand, then turned around and kicked the High Kobold's rear again as the three continued on their way.

"……?"

Still dazed, Lee Hyo-seong watched as the goblins and the High Kobold stepped through the escape gate together.

What… what did I just see?

Kobolds that emerged from the Black Forest walked on two legs, which made them the next candidate species for Park Hyun-gi's familiars after goblins.

There was no problem turning them into familiars, but their intelligence was the biggest issue.

At least, there was no massive difference based on racial value alone.

The reason kobolds seemed stronger was simply because goblins were encountered at level 1, while kobolds appeared already at level 10.

Ultimately, once they reached the second floor's level cap of 30, their total stat values would be similar.

Compared to goblins, whose intelligence was relatively high, kobolds had their stats heavily skewed toward agility.

Thanks to that, their intelligence sat at 5 when they were level 10, and only reached 7 by level 30.

And intelligence of 7 meant—

"Hey, kobold."

"Woof woof! Woof woof!"

"Kik-kik! Kik-kik!"

"Wook! Wook!!"

"…You're not even wolves, so why are you howling? And aren't hyenas part of the cat family anyway?"

They couldn't speak human language.

Even when they tried to mimic speech, it was nothing more than babbling.

Goblins only began to speak once their intelligence exceeded 10, and they needed over 20 before they could think at an elementary-school level.

In other words, kobolds were currently nothing more than beasts.

They were slightly smarter hyenas that could understand commands—nothing more, nothing less.

Their main duty these days was pulling carts on the first floor.

Still, Park Hyun-gi held onto a small hope as he dispatched the goblins.

The rewards for 500 and 1,000 goblin familiars had been titles.

Titles could have any effect.

Maybe… just maybe… kobolds would gain intelligence?

At 50, the Kobold Warrior class was unlocked.

"Well, 50 was about what I expected."

Even with goblins, classes had only been unlocked up to 100.

At 100, the Kobold Ambusher class was unlocked.

"…These guys have fewer classes."

At a glance, later classes looked better, but that wasn't necessarily true.

They simply specialized in different areas.

For example, regular goblins had well-balanced stats overall.

Warrior goblins had higher strength, while rogue goblins gained more agility.

As for Goblin Shamans and Goblin Poisoners?

Shamans waved around mysterious totems to cast curses that barely showed any effect, while Poisoners crafted and fired poisoned needles.

In the end, none of it mattered. Park Hyun-gi wasn't planning on waging war, and staying safe on his own was the best policy.

Most of the goblins currently exploring the Labyrinth were either warriors or rogues.

So the 100-kobold achievement was also a dud.

"Still, 500 should be different, right?"

With goblins, a title had been granted at 500.

Please, intelligence… Please, intelligence!

Please, intelligence!

"Aaaagh! It's exactly the same as the goblin one!!"

Did they just copy-paste it? Was it literally copy-pasted?

Why? At 500 lightning goats, would it have said it instills tremendous intimidation toward goat-types?

Would goats run away screaming "Humans are scary!"?

"Please, at least let them understand speech!!"

All that remained was the final 1,000-kobold achievement.

While Park Hyun-gi paced anxiously inside his territory—

"Please, intelligence! Please, kobold intelligence!!!"

When he had reached 1,000 goblins, the title ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠had raised average stats by 5 and granted the ability for goblins to understand speech more clearly.

So just copy-paste that too! Give kobolds the same average stat boost and speech comprehension option!!

"Aaaagh!!! Why is it agility for kobolds?!"

Instead of an average stat boost, only agility received a single increase.

Still, there was one last option left. The final line had to be the same as the goblin title—'they will understand speech much better'!

—Kobolds' sense of smell has greatly improved.

"……"

Park Hyun-gi stood frozen in place. Park Gob, who happened to be passing by, tilted his head and approached.

"What's wrong, boss? Kerk?"

"…What the hell am I supposed to do with these damn mutts—no, these hyena brats?"

"…Boss?"

"Ah, forget 10,000 kobolds. Maybe I should just hunt lightning goats instead. Gob, is there any doenjang left in the territory?"

"…B-boss, your expression is terrifying, kerk."

The kobold and Park Gob trembled before him.

"Sigh… Maybe I really should just have them pull carts on the first floor?"

In the end, even the 1,000-kobold title was a dud.

All that remained were the 5,000-kobold S-rank racial trait and the 10,000-kobold SS-rank reward.

"Wow… Ten thousand vampire hyenas. They really are useless, aren't they?"

"Kik-kik-kik-kik."

"Don't laugh, you little punk!"

"Woo-woo-woo…"

"Agh, my head…"

Even the way they cried was strange.

They made noises that sounded halfway between a dog and a cat, then giggled in an unsettling way.

It didn't even seem like laughter, so why did they make those sounds?

While rubbing his forehead, Park Hyun-gi noticed a group of goblins returning to the territory, along with a single kobold.

It was larger and more solidly built than an ordinary kobold.

"So that's a High Kobold, huh?"

The second-floor boss monster, the High Kobold.

Perhaps because it was a boss, even at level 25 it completely overwhelmed a level-30 kobold.

And now the agility +10 title effect was also in play.

"…Still, your intelligence is a bit higher."

"Huff huff?!"

The High Kobold spotted him, wagged its tail furiously, and sprinted over at incredible speed.

"Huff!"

"……"

It flopped onto its back right in front of him, belly exposed.

"…Yeah. Hey."

"Wook!"

"You're Bolt from now on."

"Wook?!"

Since none of the kobolds had shown any outstanding talent like Park Gob, he decided to make the High Kobold their leader.

"Gob, take him and raise him to level 30."

"Understood, boss! Kerk. Follow me, Bolt!"

"Wook!"

Park Gob grabbed the new family member Bolt by the scruff of his neck and dragged him away.

"Kiiing, kik-kik, wook! Wook!"

"……"

Since he was a High Kobold, once he hit level 30 his intelligence should at least reach 10, right?

Shhhk.

A luxurious apartment in Gangnam overlooking the night view of Seoul.

A man suddenly appeared in the living room.

His entire body was covered in dust and blood.

Thud.

He tossed down a backpack that gave off an otherworldly, mystical aura, then stripped off his clothes one by one as he headed into the bathroom.

Shhhhhh.

Warm water washed away the dust and blood clinging to his body.

After finishing his shower, the man changed into fresh clothes.

Grabbing his phone and car keys, he stepped out the door.

"Good work today."

Two men in suits bowed their heads, standing guard at the entrance.

"Yeah. I'm going out for a drink. You coming?"

"……"

"You'll follow anyway. That's your job. Just stay back and don't get in my way."

"…Yes, Choi Kang-hyuk-nim."

Choi Kang-hyuk ignored the special bodyguards sent by the Association and left the building.

They kept their distance while following him, but since this was routine, he paid them no mind.

He rode the high-speed elevator down to the first floor and exited the apartment complex.

After walking a short distance, the dazzling night view of Gangnam unfolded before him.

He pulled out his phone, intending to call some women he knew—

"…?"

A strange sense of dissonance made him glance around.

By now, people should have been swarming him asking for autographs.

And on the electronic billboards…

—I intend to do my best until the day no one dies ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠inside my country's Labyrinth.

"?"

Who was that?

It wasn't him.

This was the same street he always walked, yet the atmosphere felt completely unfamiliar, leaving Choi Kang-hyuk confused.

On billboards, on street TVs, on car radios—nowhere could he hear his own name.

"What the…"

Just then, he overheard passersby talking.

"The Shut-In Blood Demon is seriously amazing, isn't he?"

"How could anyone give that up? At that point, isn't he basically a patriot?"

…Shut-In Blood Demon?

"…The rank 3 guy who supposedly runs a business?"

A person who had suddenly appeared and taken third place in the rankings just before Choi Kang-hyuk entered the Labyrinth.

He hadn't paid any attention at the time.

After all, even four of them combined couldn't compare to Han Seol-ah, let alone himself.

Yet now—

—Recently, America has been focusing on Korea's Awakener, the 'Shut-In Blood Demon'…

—Just what kind of ability does this 'Shut-In Blood Demon' possess…

—The new pillar of Korea! Who exactly is the 'Shut-In Blood Demon'…

Everywhere he looked, the only topic of conversation was that person.

Not him?

Even though he was standing right here? Even though he had brought back eight pieces of Ether this time?

Flustered, Choi Kang-hyuk checked his own ranking.

"…S-seventeen?!?!"

In just six weeks.

In the short time he had spent on the fifth floor—

"Ah, I want to join the Hyeolma Guard too."

"Want to check out the Hyeolma Gentleman? I need new gear."

"Did you join the Shut-In Blood Demon fan café too?"

"The Blood Demon Cult sounds too scary, so…"

"I'm supposed to be rank 2?!"

The world had changed.

Park Hyun-gi sat in the audience chamber.

It was a place he rarely visited, but there were things that could only be done here.

"…Bolt, come here."

"Wook!"

"……"

After being dragged around by Park Gob and finally reaching level 30, their Bolt had returned.

"…Level 30 and his intelligence is only just now reaching 10?"

We're doomed.

The future of the kobolds looked bleak.

"Wook!"

"Can you speak?"

"Woo… wook? M… mwah?"

"Never mind. Forget it."

Park Hyun-gi sighed and adjusted Bolt's permissions.

"Bolt, from now on you're a noble."

"Wook!"

The moment he answered, Bolt stepped onto the red carpet and prostrated himself flat.

"You can just take a surname from somewhere in Europe…"

"Kiiing-kiiing…"

"…? Or maybe from America."

"Kiiing-kiiing."

"Then in Latin…"

"Kiiing."

"You can speak, right?"

"Wook?"

"……"

Why did every single one of them want to become his child?

"Sigh… Park Bolt it is. From now on, you're Baron Park Bolt."

"Wook!"

Following Park Gob and Mongmo, the third member to join the Park family was Baron Park Bolt.

Once the authority was granted, his hand moved on its own, reaching toward Bolt.

Without even pricking him with a dagger, a single drop of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blood automatically gathered at his fingertip and shot into Bolt's body.

Shhhhhk.

The fur of the High Kobold who had absorbed Park Hyun-gi's blood began to change.

The deep black mane took on a faint crimson hue, and his body grew slightly larger.

In an instant, he radiated an overwhelming presence that made it impossible to think of him as the previous Bolt.

And most importantly—

His intelligence had increased.

"That's it!! Bolt, with that much you should be able to speak, right? Say something! Speak!"

Bolt looked at him and opened his mouth.

"Ma… ah…"

"Yes, speak!!"

"Ah…"

"That's it, hurry!"

"Ah… ppa?"

"……"

Why the hell am I your dad, you damn hyena?

—The End—