Goblins: Fungi in Beast's Clothing
Among goblins, those satisfying specific conditions undergo even more extraordinary transformations, their very bodies changing. Unlike typical goblins, which reach only the size of children upon maturity, these grow nearly as large as adult humans. These physically evolved goblins, commonly called hobgoblins, were once mistaken for fully grown goblin adults when first discovered. However, extensive research proved otherwise.
Dissections and comparisons of captured hobgoblins revealed stark differences in skeletal structure, muscle placement, and bodily composition from standard goblins. Strictly speaking, the relationship between hobgoblins and goblins resembles that of a monstrous wolf mutated from a normal one.
Just as animals absorb excessive mana and warp into monsters, goblins appear to mutate into hobgoblins due to mana overload. Various hypotheses explain this, but studies of goblin ecology confirmed that hobgoblins emerge only in food-abundant environments with groups of at least twenty goblins. Without ample food, tribes expel newly matured goblins before growing large; even with plenty, small groups produce no hobgoblins.
When a group maintains a certain size for a period, one goblin abruptly mutates into a hobgoblin. Why? The cause eluded us until a mage assisting my research suggested encircling a goblin tribe with a massive magic circle to visualize mana flows. Accepting this plausible idea—that goblin-to-hobgoblin mutation stems from mana excess, like other beast-to-monster changes—I invested heavily in the setup.
The results were astonishing: faint mana connections linked the goblins, as if they were one organism despite separate bodies. Though dilute compared to internal mana, these links enabled mana sharing. As tribes grew, shared mana accumulated until it triggered one goblin's evolution into a hobgoblin—a meticulously designed mechanism ensuring emergence in prosperous conditions.
If goblins were created by some being, that creator was no ordinary entity...
Understanding hobgoblin evolution shed light on further stages. Larger tribes naturally produce stronger goblin variants. In groups with dozens of hobgoblins, even more advanced subspecies appear.
This raised a question: if dozens of goblins yield a hobgoblin, how vast a horde birthed the legendary greenskin said to rival the Knight King?
To humans, the sudden emergence of goblins as a new monster was merely a minor nuisance. They popped up everywhere causing mischief, but their tiny size meant no real harm—crops ruined here, a livestock animal missing there.
Hobgoblins posed a problem, sure... but a couple could be handled by village guards or adventurers.
They adapted quickly, multiplying fast—a bit annoying, but...
Hm... this feels familiar...
Small, quick, sneaky, breeding like crazy... Spot one, and you know there are at least ten more lurking...
Cockroaches?
Yeah, that hit too close. Nasty little things—exterminate them all, and more crawl out from somewhere to ruin your day. Black, repulsive bugs...
Ugh, hate 'em. And goblins look even worse: big heads, stick-thin limbs, bloated bellies protruding out.
Tch. Anyway, these pests infested the world, stirring up petty trouble and getting exterminated by countless folks.
But goblin parts? Useless for livelihood. Skin too flimsy and oily, meat utterly inedible—no one would touch it.
Grinding bones and meat into fertilizer was possible, but the effort outweighed the benefits. Better alternatives existed.
Thus, shunned by adventurers as poor game and loathed by villagers as crop-wreckers, goblins were just an irritating pest to most—even with hobgoblins, two or three people could dispatch them easily.
So humans grew complacent, blind to what swelling goblin numbers might birth from these mold-like outbreaks everywhere.
If goblins were mold, was their monster form a mushroom? Ecologically similar enough.
Goblins were animals. Yet they also possessed plant-like traits.
Their basic green skin enabled photosynthesis—less efficient than true plants, but enough to sustain minimal life with water and light. This allowed survival in foodless extremes.
Resistant to heat and cold, they endured starvation... optimized for survival. And instinctively gregarious.
I captured one, isolating it in a sealed terrarium mimicking a self-sustaining ecosystem: tree fruits, insects, herbivores.
What life would a lone goblin lead there? No kin, no predators—a peaceful haven. Could it suppress its monstrous instincts?
Like the bee-like familiar tamed by Arcadia's king, or Killer Queen with her high intelligence overriding monster nature. Might an intelligent goblin do the same?
That hope shattered absurdly.
Alone in the terrarium—yet suddenly, a tiny goblin fledgling trailed the original, as if sprouting from the earth.
How? Spontaneous generation?
Tracking back via time reversal revealed the truth: the fledgling emerged quietly from a cave corner where the adult dwelled—like mold blooming in ideal conditions, spores clumping into a mushroom cap. An exact replica.
I stared, speechless at the impossibility.
Were goblins... mycelium? Photosynthesizing? Intelligent? Producing offspring??
Are you kidding me?! What kind of ridiculous creature is this?! Like some kid's wild fantasy mashup!!!
Suppressing my rage, I inspected the birth site closely—enhanced vision magnifying every detail.
Mold-like specks scattered where the goblin roamed, sustained by its shed mana. Clumps of them formed... goblins, apparently.
In other words, goblins were mycelial entities blending animal and plant traits.
What the hell... Board game orcs might be mushroom-based, but they don't birth young!!! These reproduce sexually, even adjusting sex ratios?!
Even more absurd: the fledgling, initially identical to the parent... soon transformed. Appearance similar, but its... key anatomy shifted female.
Somehow balancing sexes despite starting solo.
What is this goblin species?!
Photosynthesis for bare survival! Hyper-adaptive! Given time, they'd overrun the surface!!!
Unless we eradicate their originating mold completely... goblins could spawn anywhere!
Thank goodness individuals are weak. If they matched or exceeded adult humans...
The land might be goblin territory by now. Truly.
Ah! Hobgoblin!! Hehe. Smashed!
