Chapter 161. Cave Fire (1)

Translator: Seven PR: LightBrin

1.

The cave was filled with cold air. The goblins sniffled every now and then, and the cold moisture settled on their skin, but they didn't say anything.

An estimated 1,000 goblins all stood there, silent.

-Today, a great warrior died in the colosseum.

Then, one of them spoke in a soft voice.

-The warrior's name was Gyari. She was the daughter of Orogan and Gorhe, warriors of the White Main Tribe, descendant of Gorgir, and a great warrior who inherited the white lion tattoos.

The one who spoke couldn't be seen. They were buried in the crowd. Leaning against the shadows of the cave and their people, the goblin spoke. It wasn't a speech, since they weren't talking from an elevated position.

-She was a cool person. Keruk.

-Since she was a youngling, she used to beat up others. And now, she died from being beaten up.

Since it wasn't a speech, the goblins spoke freely. Inside the dark cave, the goblins here and there all said a few words, not caring if they cut each other off. Through the fragments of their words, the life of a person could be seen.

-Gyari never remembered hitting me.

-She won't remember now that she's dead. Kerr.

-She was always a feisty child. I remember. When she was young, Gorhe tried to tattoo Gyari. However, Gyari shook her head, saying that she wanted to tattoo herself, and copied the tattoos of others.

-Ker. Gyari always shook her head.

A life was assembled from the fragments. From one thousand short stories. A thousand tales which made up the story of a goblin called 'Gyari'.

I realized.

'…it's a funeral.'

A goblin had died in the match in the colosseum today. The name of that goblin was Gyari. And those who had known Gyari, who had at least talked to Gyari once, had gathered in the depths of the mine.

-For Gyari, hitting something with her knife was her world.

-She'd thought that way even as a child. Kerk.

-That's why she became a gladiator.

The bonfire flickered.

The shadows stretched across the walls. In the shadows, the goblins were indistinguishable. They were a crowd. The twisting shadows opened their mouths and murmured.

-36 people were slain by Gyari's blade.

-A merciless child.

-When the snails branded people with the sword mark, Gyari smiled. Kerker. She thought it was a great tattoo.

-A terrifying child.

-She was a child who only found happiness in cutting things, but the only battlefield that would allow that was the colosseum. The only enemies Gyari could face were her own people. Gork. It was Gyari's own bad luck that she had no choice but to kill her own people with the knives that made her happy.

-Kerrrk.

-It's hard to talk about it.

-An unfortunate child.

The bonfire flickered.

-Is Gyari one of our kind?

The shadows responded.

-Gor.

-Gyari drew tattoos. She was a talented artist. She loved the mud and missed rainwater.

-Gyari is one of us.

Then, an old voice spoke.

-Gyari has returned to Guru.

Guru.

It was a word I knew well.

As I watched the goblins continue their funeral with bated breath, I heard the Tower's voice.

[You have witnessed the Guru Doctrine of the Goblin Race.]

Then words appeared before my eyes.

[Guru Doctrine]

Classification: Religion. White Lion Belief.

Origin: [Tribal Consciousness (C)]

Description: 'Guru' is the homeland of all Goblins. Guru was the first village to be established by the Goblins after the fall of the Golden Era. Guru is the land of the Goblins. Guru is the place where the warm streams flow, and where the soft mud enfolds you gently.

Guru.

It was the last place the White Lion stayed.

The Goblins do not separate life and death. They only distinguish between 'Guru' and 'Not Guru'. The things Goblins desire are rainwater, mud, a lot of meat, and comfortable beds, all of which can be found in the present world. For the Goblins, belief in the afterlife is unnecessary.

The homeland of their race.

They all want to return to Guru.

※However, as time passes, memories of Guru will fade.

※If left to continue on this trajectory, 'Guru' will transform into an fathomless abstract place! In that case, Guru will change to the concept of 'A place that exists somewhere else, not in this world'.

※It has been quite some time since the Goblins lost their Guru! There is a possibility that the Guru Doctrine will become the 'Underworld' Doctrine!

"……"

I stared blankly at the information window.

There were words written there that were difficult for me to understand.

But there was one thing that only I could understand.

"A name that I came up with without really thinking about it. Guru."

My heart shook.

"……it means a lot to these kids."

Something.

I felt an emotion I'd never felt before.

It was weird. I was proud that the goblins had grown up so much without me. But I was afraid that everything I said without thinking would have a great meaning for these kids, and that I would have to live with it.

I was nervous.

I was worried about these children.

"Children……."

I realised.

"This is what it feels like to look at your children."

Up to this point, I'd never thought about having kids. I'd never thought about myself becoming someone's parent. But now, intentionally or unintentionally, I ended up playing a role similar to a parent for the goblins.

-Really? I never had any brats so I wouldn't know.

"……"

My heart pounded.

-Kerk.

An old goblin stepped out of the group. The bonfire continued to burn in the middle of the cave. When the goblin stepped in front of the bonfire, the goblins, who had still been tossing around stories of Gyari, fell silent.

Silence.

The old goblin waited until it was completely silent.

"……huh?"

Then he put his hands into the fire.

"Hold on. If you want to commit suicide then……."

-He's not. Look carefully, Zombie. His hands aren't burning.

Bae Hu-ryeong, who was behind me, cut me off.

-That guy knows how to use aura.

"Huh?"

-That guy. Is an aura user. Both of his hands are covered with aura.

Bae Hu-ryeong was right.

I couldn't see it very well because of the fire, but the goblin's wrinkled hands were definitely covered in aura. The aura was red. The old goblin buried both of his hands into the bonfire.

Fwoosh!

Then the flames soared.

The bonfire, which had been burning normally before then, bent strangely. The old man calmly used his aura to manipulate the flames. With the old man's touch, the flames soared into the air like a dragon, spun like a whirlpool, and blossomed like a flower at full bloom.

-……

-……

The goblins silently watched the ever changing flames. Like an audience, they simply looked at the performance.

Fwoosh. Swoosh!

The cave was huge, and the space above them was pitch black. So the flames were the only color that caught the eyes of those watching.

'Ah.'

Then I realized.

'He's drawing.'

That's right.

The old goblin was using fire to draw.

The flames continued to burn.

But each time, it burned differently.

The fire broke into two separate parts like jaws opening up before flying to the ceiling of the cave.

.

There was anger.

The fire hit the ceiling and scattered. The sparks slowly drifted down like flower petals. In the dark cave, the sparks twinkled before eventually disappearing. Now, only darkness remained.

.

There was sadness.

Flames were constantly burning in the bonfire.

It split again. This time like five fingers, it split into five parts going in five different directions.

However, these flames could not reach the ceiling. They couldn't catch the falling sparks. Between the sparks falling from the ceiling and the flame fingers rising from the ground, there was a stretch of air that couldn't be filled.

.

That was Gyari's death and funeral.

The goblins wept silently.

Everyone who saw it could understand the meaning of the flames. It was their text. Their letters. Their drawings. Even the smallest spark had a clear meaning for the goblins.

The old man set the fire on fire.

[You have witnessed the Fire Painting of the Goblin Race.]

In the flickering flames, words appeared before me.

[Fire Painting]

Classification: Art.

Origin: [Primitive Fashionista (E)]

Description: Fire Painting is an artform unique to the Goblin Race. After being conquered by the Snail Race and brought to Rimepolis, the Goblins found it difficult to acquire mud. And it became difficult for them to create paintings.

'We have to draw.'

However, the aesthetic mindset of the Goblin Race didn't disappear.

'And we want to.'

Instead, it was set ablaze.

The Goblins decided to choose fire as a substitute for mud.

It was hard to see drawings in the dark caves. But with fire, the darkness of the cave became a huge drawing board. The Goblins accepted and made use of their cave life.

'Beautiful.'

They became fascinated with using fire for art.

'Gor.'

Cave fire.

The Goblins called it Fire Painting. Sometimes they painted in the caves so it was called 'Hole Fire'. Sometimes the flames looked like blood so they called it 'Blood Fire'. And sometimes they called it Blood Painting.(1)

The fire burns, then disappears, leaving no trace behind. Therefore it was easier to avoid getting caught by the Snail Race.

It was considered polite to remain silent while watching Fire Painting. This was also done to prevent getting caught by the Snails.

Good luck came from the tranquil fire.

※However, only aura users could demonstrate Fire Painting.

※Very few Goblins know how to use aura! Among them, only the 'priest' can use red aura. If the priest dies without leaving a successor, the art of Fire Painting will decline.

The old goblin waved his hands in the flames.

Fwoo… oo… sh

The fire, which once burned strongly, gradually died down. There were no longer any flames hitting the ceiling and becoming sparks. No longer any flames rising up to catch them. The fire dissipated quietly without leaving a trace.

The flames went out.

.

Darkness fell.

-……

When the fire went out, the cave was immediately plunged into extreme darkness.

There wasn't even the slightest hint of light.

By extinguishing the flames, the old goblin ensured that the impact of the Fire Painting would linger. The darkness of the cave was no longer empty. It was filled with the memories of the old goblin's Fire Painting.

-……

The goblins looked at the darkness and wept quietly in the middle of the night.

-……gor……

No one lit a torch. It was now . The goblins accepted . No one told or ordered them to go back, but the goblins turned away on their own.

They were going to sleep.

The goblins walked along the path they took not so long ago. They couldn't see anything in .

However, their body odor remained.

By sniffing the scent of their race, the goblins were able to return home in groups. Those with the best noses took the lead. The other goblins followed them while holding each others' hands or shoulders.

And so, the goblins left the cave, their own little temple.

"……"

In the temple that they'd created underground, there was just me and Bae Hu-ryeong.

And the old goblin priest.

-Ker… Kerr….

The old goblin sat on the ground of the cave as though he had been sapped of his energy. It seemed that this was his home. The goblins left some fish behind when they left the temple, and the old man ate that fish as he sat.

"……"

I silently looked at the temple my race had created.

Here, the children of mud had held a funeral. They had commemorated the death of their kin.

I never taught them to hold funerals. I never taught them how to accept death. All I taught them was how to use tattoos to cover their stench, and drawings to express six words.

That was all.

With that alone, the goblins had created a temple. And they had found a way to use fire on their own.

"I may be the parent of these children, but…"

I opened my mouth.

"These children are not mine."

They hadn't grown in the way I had expected them to. These children had grown in their own way.

They learned how to accept death.

I was proud of them.

-Kerr…

Leaving the old priest behind, I headed up to the underground city once again.

'I know what I want to do for these kids now.'

Support, not salvation.

Encouragement, not concern.

'Supporting and encouraging these kids. That's what I need to do.'

The place where the huge pillar the Snails had created was located.

Our group, which had separated yesterday, were all gathered again. I wondered if everyone went to look at their races like I did. The Black Dragon Master was looking down at the ground silently, and Venomous Snake was frowning with his arms crossed.

"Ah. You're here, Death Lord!"

The Heretic Questioner waved his hand.

"The Death King was the last one! Now then. Have you made up your mind?"

"Yes."

I nodded.

"I can't surrender to you. I won't let the children I took care of lose themselves and forget their homeland."

"Ahh. Then?"

"I will help the goblins get out of your empire. Heretic Questioner."

I continued.

"And I will knock you out of the 32nd floor."

"Ahaha."

The Heretic Question smiled brightly.

"I thought you would make that choice, Death King. It's just as I expected! Alright then. I'll bet the snails, and you'll bet the goblins. Let's wage war on each other's races!"

That was the declaration of war between the two of us.

(TL: I never thought I'd have to write somewhat of a eulogy for a goblin.)

~~~

(Note:

1. 'Fire Painting', 'Hole Fire', 'Blood Fire', and 'Blood Painting' are all homonyms.) T~T

Chapter 162. Cave Fire (2)

Translator: Seven PR: LightBrin

"I would like to hear the others' opinions as well."

The Heretic Questioner turned to our companions.

"Will you surrender to me? Or will you follow the Death King and compete with me? Ahh. I don't mind either way."

"……isn't this an act of betrayal?"

The Black Dragon Master put her hand to her forehead. I wondered if she was having a headache. She looked at the psychopath that she'd known for a long time.

"We swore to not be hostile to each other. That night. When we cleared the 28th floor with the Death King. I thought that oath would have had more weight…."

"This time it's fine! Regardless of if I win or you win, this stage will be cleared. In other words, we win either way. The only difference is how we win!"

"Hah……."

"I will stand with the Death King."

The Sword Saint spoke.

"I came to the tower because I was tired of a life of chasing quick results. I don't want to go back to such a life after coming so far. Ten Thousand Temple Master. You politely requested we surrender to you, but I will politely refuse."

My companions began moving one by one. Thump, thump. The Heretic Questioner smiled as he saw the destination of their footsteps.

"Aha."

Five people were standing behind me.

"Indeed! I am hopelessly untrustable!"

No one was standing behind the Heretic Questioner.

Just yesterday, there were several people who agreed with the Heretic Questioner. The Count was one of them. However, after seeing the situation of our various races for a day, no one sided with the Heretic Questioner anymore.

"You're not untrustable."

The Crusader spoke.

"We all know that you are an amazing guild leader. But we also know that you would be the [worst parent]. Children take after their parents. Leaving our children with you… It would probably be better to leave them with Venomous Snake."

"Huh? Why are you picking on me when I haven't done anything?"

"It was a compliment. I said that you would be a better parent than Heretic Questioner."

"Oi oi… What kind of compliment is that? I'd rather you said I was a better leader than Hitler."

6 to 1.

Despite the overwhelming disadvantage, the Heretic Questioner remained smiling.

"What are you going to do now, Death King? The city I built is strong. The slaves have already forgotten the wildness of their past and obey the Snail Race's rule!"

The Heretic Questioner seemed confident.

"You probably got a glimpse of the secret assembly the goblins created. But even there, you wouldn't have found any voices condemning or slandering the snails! They would have just performed a few rituals. This proves just how much they have accepted the Snail Race's rule!"

'As expected.'

He knew about the goblins' secret meeting but he didn't do anything about it.

Like me, the Heretic Questioner could make himself invisible and move around. And he'd ruled over this place for 200 years. There was no way he didn't know about the secret assembly.

[It doesn't matter. They're not a big threat anyway.]

That is the judgment the Heretic Questioner would have reached, and also the reason why he left it alone.

"I'm sorry, but your people have already given up hope. They are just mourning and remembering the past. My work over 200 years is what made that possible. Death King! Do you have a way to pick up those who are on their knees?"

"……"

I quietly looked around the underworld city.

Dawn had already arrived.

A ray of sunlight flowed into the city from the large hole in the ceiling. Blinking their heavy eyelids, the goblins crawled out of their pits. The slaves were always the last to sleep, and the first to wake.

"I'm not going to pick them up."

I opened the [Civilization Store].

The items in the store appeared in front of me.

[Oracle Message] – 20 points

[Animal Possession] – 40 points

[Dream Appearance] – 100 points

[Prey Search] – 5 points

[Search for a Bronze Ranked Settlement] – 80 points

[Clan Rank General (Draw)] – 100 points

[Invention of Bronze Rank Technology (Draw)] – 1,000 points

I touched one of them with my hand.

"Instead, I'll give those kids a chance to stand up for themselves."

Soon after, the Tower's voice appeared in my head.

[Purchased 'Oracle Message'.]

[20 Race Points have been deducted!]

[You currently have 995 race points.]

It didn't stop there.

[Purchased 'Oracle Message'.]

[20 Race Points have been deducted!]

[You currently have 975 race points.]

I used up almost all of my points.

[Purchased 'Oracle Message'.]

[Purchased 'Oracle Message'.]

[Purchased 'Oracle Message'.]

I remember that time when I was standing on my own. 4000 days of regression. When I had to endure 4000 deaths on my own. It was none other than that voice that helped me.

The Tower's voice saying 'You have died'.

Every time I died, the Tower notified me of it. And every time I returned to the Tower, I knew.

That someone was watching over me. That someone remembered me.

When I was really struggling, that fact comforted me.

[Purchased 'Oracle Message'.]

And now it was my turn to comfort others.

[20 Race Points have been deducted!]

[You currently have 215 race points.]

I bought 40 Oracle Messages.

Nevertheless, the Heretic Questioner continued smiling. It was impossible to tell what other people had bought.

In the meantime, I picked 40 individuals to send my oracles to, including the goblin priest, the supervisors in charge of each pit, and the sword fighters resting in their quarters in the colosseum.

'…I wonder what I should say to them.'

I was worried.

'I don't want to tell them to rebel against the Snail Race. Rebellion or obedience is for the goblins to decide on their own. What I have to do isn't to present those kids with a choice. Instead, I should help them make their own choices.'

Only one sentence could be sent with an Oracle Message.

After thinking for a while, I finally thought of the words I wanted to send through the oracle.

[The White Lion is by your side.]

The older female that was rubbing water on a child's face, froze.

[The White Lion is by your side.]

The supervisor, who had just exited the pit and picked up a stone ax, was startled.

[The White Lion is by your side.]

The gladiator who was fiddling with his sword in his cramped quarters, jumped up.

The stone he had been using to sharpen his sword fell to the side.

[The White Lion is by your side.]

The person that you worshipped as God was powerless.

I didn't have the power to overturn the earth or shake the sky.

All I could do was send them a sentence.

[The White Lion is by your side.]

That was my first oracle.

-……

The old goblin priest, who had been laying on the floor tossed and turned. Using a piece of firewood as a cane, he hurriedly got to his feet. Crack. Unable to withstand his weight, the stick broke, but the priest had already risen to his feet.

-Gorr…

Struggling, the old man walked through the maze-like underground cave. The more he walked, the faster he got. From the bottom of the mine to the top, the old goblin crawled up using not only his feet, but also his hands.

-The White Lion has spoken to us…

The priest grabbed a hold of a rock and pulled himself out of the cave. Red aura erupted from his old body. The aura which resembled flames echoed in the cave together with his voice.

-The White Lion has spoken to us!

An echo rebounded.

-The White Lion has spoken to us!

The goblin's underground cave had dozens of paths. Augmented by his aura, the priest's voice echoed along dozens of paths. Before long, the sound escaped from the cave and spread to the salt mines where the morning work had already begun.

-Spoken… To us……

-The White Lion has spoken to us!

The echo finally reached the entrance of the mines. The goblins, who were drinking water before they started working, pricked their ears

-The White Lion… to us……

Then the old man collapsed in exhaustion.

He'd poured out the last of his aura and risked his life to deliver the message.

-Spoken……

The old priest lay on the ground without the strength to stand up again. His screams had not yet subsided. Hearing his voice return as an echo, the old priest closed his eyes.

-Ker.

-Kekerkerk…?

A buzz rose among the goblins. They all poked their heads from their pits and looked towards the entrance of the mine. Echoes continued to flow from the dark entrance.

-Kerk.

A supervisor put down her child and stood up.

She was one of the 40 who had received the oracle.

-The White Lion has spoken to us!

Before the last of the old goblin's echoes subsided, she also started shouting. She wasn't the only one. Dozens of goblins who had received the oracle raised their heads one after the other.

-The White Lion has finally returned!

-I heard it! Kerk, I heard it too!

-He said that he is with us!

That was all. The children who had received my oracle began to shout urgently as they let the others know about it. That alone was enough to shock the snail overseers.

-What's going on? Rime. All of a sudden, they are…

-Quiet! Everyone be quiet!

-Control the loud mouthed molds with your whips!

The snails crawled out of the watchtower and began swinging their tentacles. Smack! When they heard the sound of the whips, several goblins flinched. Nevertheless, the goblins didn't stop shouting, and the snails began whipping the instigators without hesitation.

"……"

The Heretic Questioner stroked his chin.

"I see. Did you use an Oracle Message to trigger them? Simple and effective. However, Death King, your points are limited. You can't possibly send an oracle to a thousand people let alone ten thousand! This level of turmoil is not difficult for the snails to—."

I didn't wait to hear what the Heretic Questioner had to say.

I immediately purchased the next item.

[Purchased 'Prey Search'.]

[5 points have been deducted!]

[You currently have 210 race points.]

It was an item I purchased once before.

I quickly used the item.

'Please search for the nearest Lion.'

A map appeared in my mind.

It was the colosseum. There, in a cage right beside the arena, as many as five lions were trapped together. I looked at one of the lions that was nibbling on some kind of bone.

'Okay.'

I bought the third and final item from the store.

'I'd like to buy Animal Possession.'

The Tower responded.

[Purchased 'Animal Possession'.]

[40 points have been deducted!]

[You currently have 170 race points.]

Before the Heretic Questioner could even finish speaking, I was already possessing a lion in the colosseum. Fwoosh! My perspective twisted. My mind went dark like a room that had lost its light.

In the next instant, I found myself in the body of the lion.

"Krr…"

Unlike the last time, this lion didn't have white fur. Its mane was also plain brown.

But that didn't matter

"Krrng. Gor."

Regardless of its color, a lion's voice was a lion's voice.

I raised the aura of this body. A bloody red aura flowed out as my heart shook. Babump. I focused on the beating of my heart before letting out a roar.

"Krrrrk!"

The other beasts in the cages were startled.

"Krrrr!"

My roars slid through the bars of the cage and reached the square where the colosseum was located, the street where snails walked back and forth, and even the ceiling of the cavern. It also spread to the pits that had been dug by the goblins.

'I am here.'

Even if they didn't see me with their eyes, they would know it was the voice of a lion.

The goblins must have heard my cry.

They were listening to my voice.

"Krrr……"

I took a deep breath.

"Guru-!"

I let out a lion's roar.

And with it, I said the name of the place that could be called the homeland of the goblins. The name I had given them. The first word that I'd given to them, and the name that had become their faith.

"Guru!"

It didn't take long for me to receive an answer.

-Guru……

Shouts came from the other end of the large cavern. The shout was infinitely weaker than my own voice which contained aura. But my ears would never miss the sound of the goblins' shouts.

"Guru!"

And.

They didn't miss it either.

[A rebellion has erupted in Rimepolis!]

[The Goblins have risen up against the Snails!]

Chapter 163. Cave Fire (3)

Translator: Seven Editor: Sasha PR: LightBrin

The disturbance in the early morning woke the snails up.

-What's with all the fuss?!

-A lion suddenly started roaring. Rime.

-Ominous sounds are coming from the mines…

From the buildings that rose like mushrooms in the underground cavern, snails crawled out of their windows. Hundreds. Thousands. Tens of thousands. From the snail who slept the lightest to the one who slept the deepest. The snails' mucus covered the walls.

-What's with the commotion? A rebellion?

-It's a rebellion!

-Blow the horn!

-Rime! Let's awaken the spirits of our ancestors!

The snails climbed up the wall. Slap! They slapped themselves with the antennae on top of their heads. That was how they woke themselves up.

Buuuu-…

The snails who climbed to the top of the wall first, blew their horns. They weren't actually horns or trumpets. They were the shells of snails who had already died. The snails used the shells left behind by those who died as a kind of coffin, and they also blew them to let out a long, disturbing trumpet sound.

Buuuuu-

Following the first horn being blown, the other snails also climbed the wall, lifted the shells of their kind and blew into them. The numerous buildings in the underground city began to tremble.

Organ.

Each building was like a pipe that rang out in the large cavern. Buuu. Buuu. The harmony of the organ blown by the snails shook the dark space. The sounds of the goblins coming from afar were buried by the harmony.

Bark! Bark!

The dogs raised by the snails also began barking. The snail race considered dogs to be sacred because they resembled god. The dogs raised in the cavern had wet noses and gloomy cries. The snail's horns muffled even the fierce cries of the dogs.

"Krr."

I broke the iron bars of the cage. Crack! The iron bars were like tofu for my paws that were reinforced with aura. The keepers noticed late and crawled over, but I had already escaped and was running into the streets of Rimepolis.

-The lion!

-The gladiator lion has escaped!

The snails that were climbing the walls were startled to see me, and they hurried, even more, to get to a high place. I kicked off from the ground with my hind legs and leaped onto the same pillar the snails had carved their history into.

"Krr!"

My front paws dug into the pillar. My feet were overflowing with red aura. I climbed the pillar one step at a time like a mountain climber scaling a rock wall.

-Rime!

-L-, look over there!

My ascent frightened the snails. The snails, who were climbing the walls of other buildings, scattered in trails of mucus. Some of them even lost their grip and fell.

I climbed to the top of the pillar and looked down at the city.

Buuuu…

The cavern was filled with the sounds of the horns. It was a sound that came from dead bodies. And when they heard the sound, the snails all armed themselves and assembled. The snail troops began moving all over the city, and before long, they would subdue the goblins.

'I won't let that happen.'

I lifted my chest. None of the buildings were higher than the pillar I had climbed on. I inhaled a breath of air at the highest point in the city and slowly opened my mouth.

Goooooo-

A loud roar erupted from it.

Like ripples spreading through a pond, the lion's voice swept away the sound of the snails' horns. The more it spread, the more it pushed. My lungs were deeper than the empty shells of dead snails, and my voice was louder than their notes.

-Gor!

Finally, the goblins appeared. They were gathered at the entrance of the mine with stone hammers in their hands.

When I saw them, the children also saw me.

The goblins shouted.

-Kekerkker!

That was my name.

When their language had still been closer to the cries of a beast, the goblins called me Kekerkker.

'Ke' meaning water. Everything that was transparent and pure in the world was called 'ke' by the goblins.

'Kerk' meaning the sky. The goblins called the highest and most sacred thing in the world 'kerk'.

'Ker' meaning meat. It also meant animal or beast.

That's what my name was.

-Kekerkker!

A white beast that came down from the sky.

A white lion.

I stood tall on the pillar in the middle of the underground city and roared.

"Guru!"

Seeing me on the pillar, the snails froze, but the goblins kept moving. The goblins began to line up. They took the hunting formation that I had taught them while catching bison.

The goblins still remembered the things I'd taught them 200 years ago. Just like words that were randomly thrown out by parents unintentionally leaving a lifelong mark on their children.

I felt a sense of responsibility when I saw the goblins' formation.

-Guru!

Fine.

My young strangers.

I will take you to the home you longed for.

"Korrk."

I pressed down with my front paws. Aura rushed out from my heart and down the lion's forelimbs and claws.

Crackle.

A crack appeared where my claw had sunk into the stone. In an instant, the red aura stretched across the entire pillar like a spider web.

Infernal Heavens Demonic Art

First form.

The Burning Young Sword.

The huge pillar shattered like glass. The snails screamed. Many things had been carved on the pillar. The stone fragments containing the myths of the snail race shattered.

I stepped from one fragment to the other with a 'ta, ta, ta' and went down to the ground. As I landed, the pillar collapsed around me, creating an enormous cloud of dust.

'With this, the snail race's momentum will be destroyed.'

The people of this era lived on myths and legends. The collapse of the pillar was different from the collapse of a simple building. For on the pillar, was the recorded history and religion of the snail race. That's why the collapse of the pillar meant disaster.

God had descended.

'On the other hand, the goblins' momentum will increase'

However, I wasn't the only god present in this underground city.

I heard a message that I had never gotten before.

[The Heretic Questioner admires your swift plan.]

Suddenly, a hound jumped through the cloud of dust.

"Kaaah!"

With a howl, the hound clawed at my back. It was a surprise attack. I roared and swung my paws back. Whoosh! But instead of the hound's head, my paws only met the air. The hound had disappeared suddenly.

'Sacred Transformation Technique!'

I immediately realized the hound's identity.

'The Heretic Questioner was also possessing a beast!'

The Heretic Questioner had immediately noticed what I was aiming for. Destroying the pillar that symbolized the snail race's religion. To make the snails panic.

I tried to win quickly by creating this kind of mythical scene. When the snail race was confused, it would be easier for the goblins to escape. But the Heretic Questioner had possessed the divine beast to confront me.

'Where are you?'

My back ached. Blood flowed from the wound left behind by the Heretic Questioner. I was wary of my surroundings, but I couldn't see any signs of the Heretic Questioner. My surroundings were still covered by the dust cloud, which affected my vision.

'Where are you going to show up next? Heretic Questioner!'

It was at that moment that the scent of oil filled my nose.

"Kor!"

As soon as I smelled the oil, I rolled to the side. Thud! The hound leaped through the air and landed in the spot I had just vacated. The hound stuck out its tongue as if in regret.

It was a hound with golden fur.

It was clear that the snails regularly took care of this beast. The hound's teeth had small jewels embedded in them. And its short fur had been trimmed in a wave-like pattern.

Most importantly, its entire body carried the scent of perfumed oil similar to olive oil.

'I'm sure he chose the divine beast to fight against the myth.'

I let out a soft growl.

'You messed up. Heretic Questioner. Your entire body smells like perfume. You managed to sneak attack me once, but don't think it'll happen a second time!'

I could only make the sounds of a lion in this body. However, the Heretic Questioner still seemed to understand my noises. Since he knew that it was meaningless, he stopped trying to sneak attack.

We looked at each before each taking a step forward.

"Karr."

"Gor…"

The sounds of a lion and a hound mixed in the dust.

I slowly circled around.

'He can't beat me in a one on one fight, and I doubt this will become a group battle. His sacred transformation technique is formidable, but it's closer to a support skill. Without teammates to help him fight he's only half as strong.'

The golden hound let out a soft 'karr'.

To me, it sounded like the Heretic Questioner was laughing.

[The Heretic Questioner says he's happy to fight you.]

'Happy?'

[The Heretic Questioner wants you to prove that you are more capable than him.]

I couldn't understand the meaning of the message at first.

As if reading my expression, the hound moved its front paws slowly.

[The Heretic Questioner says.]

[He only aims to get the best result.]

The cloud of dust slowly settled.

[Each person has different abilities.]

[The best of the capable is better than the best of the incapable.]

[The Heretic Questioner is willing to obey you if you prove that you are more capable than he is.]

Through the dust that settled, the snails and goblins were revealed.

The two races were facing off against each other.

[He has shown his best over the past 200 years.]

[The Heretic Questioner asks that now you show your best.]

The hound rushed forward.

I also raised my claws with a roar.

At the same time as the two of us collided, the citizens rushed towards the slaves, and the slaves rushed towards the citizens.

-Rime!

-Kekerkker!

The snails wore leather armor and swung swords held in their tentacles. The goblins didn't have any proper clothes, so they just swung their stone hammers with their bare bodies. The citizens' armor was overwhelmingly better. However, the snails had been shaken by the collapse of the pillar which allowed the slaves, who had higher morale, to push them back.

"Gork!"

My claws tore into the Heretic Questioner's hind leg. Kaah! The hound twisted its neck and cried out. But my attack wasn't fatal.

Every time I tried to land a decisive blow, the Heretic Questioner cleverly avoided it with his sacred transformation technique. The sacred transformation technique might be useless for surprise attacks now, but it was still effective for evasion.

It was clear what the Heretic Questioner's tactics meant.

'He's buying time.'

The hound let out a soft cry. I couldn't understand the hound, but I had an idea of what the Heretic Questioner was trying to say.

The Heretic Questioner was saying this.

'The snails might be confused right now, but they will gradually regain their senses. And more troops will gather here. As long as I continue to buy time, I will eventually win.'

Delaying.

That was the tactic the Heretic Questioner had chosen.

"Krrr."

I stared at the hound as the wound on my back bled. The hound limped slightly and made eye contact with me. We were both wounded beasts.

'It's not a bad tactic.'

I growled.

'It's a valid tactic that he could handle on his own. In this situation, it's a smart choice.'

Unfortunately, time was never on the Heretic Questioner's side.

To be precise, it was never on the snail race's side.

The time the snail race had dominated was slowly coming to an end.

[A rebellion has erupted in Rimepolis!]

Paht. Something appeared in the air.

It was a black swan.

The black swan spread its wings and let out a long cry.

[The Vampires have risen up against the Snails!]

The beast that the Black Dragon Master had possessed arrived through space transfer.

The bats hanging from the ceiling flapped their wings. They descended upon the snails slowly moving over to the mines. The snails cried out and swung their tentacles, but the vampires showed that their teeth were more fierce.

'It wasn't you who was buying time, Heretic Questioner. It was me.'

The cries of beasts in the underground city didn't end there. Four roars erupted from the pier, where the river flowed, the port where the salt was stored, and from the east and west sides of the large cavern.

[The Mermaids have risen up against the Snails!]

[The Sprites have risen up against the Snails!]

[The Elves have risen up against the Snails!]

[The Humans have risen up against the Snails!]

It was the sound of an empire collapsing.

Chapter 164. Rain, Mud, and Fire (1)

Translator: Seven PR: LightBrin

1.

The young goblins didn't know what 'rain' meant.

Those who did know what 'rain' was were already old. It was the grandmothers, mostly. Occasionally, these older goblins would sit around the bonfire and chatter.

-Rain is water that falls from the dark sky.

The old goblins used charcoal on their nails to draw.

. It meant night. But it also meant darkness. It was the most familiar character for the goblins who had become slaves of the snail race and lived here in the great cavern.

-When it 'rains', the entire world is filled with water. You can get water anywhere without needing to go to the stream or well.

-All the dry land becomes wet in an instant. It becomes soft and muddy. When it 'rains', just walking on the ground causes a pleasant feeling to wrap around your toes.

The older ones talked while drawing '~' on the ground.

Rain falling from the dark, night sky.

-Gork.

It was like a fairytale.

Water that poured from the sky, mud that covered the ground.

Water and mud were difficult to obtain in the great cavern. They were only allowed to collect water twice a day. The ground in the great cavern was made of sand and gravel, so no matter how much water they mixed, it could never become mud.

-Sometimes, water falls from the ceiling.

The old goblins whispered.

-That is rain.

-However, the water that drips isn't enough to fill the cavern, is it?

-That's because there is only a small hole in the ceiling of the cave. Ker. The outside world is different.

-Is there really a world outside?

-This is a cave. It's just a small cavern. When you leave this cave, you will see that the world outside is so vast and that there are many such caverns around.

-Kerr. That sounds like a lie.

For the young goblins, the great cavern was their world. The ceiling was high and the underground was deep. No matter how much they dug, it seemed endless. And yet the great cavern was small?

Naturally, they found this hard to believe.

-One day, the white lion will return. Gor.

-In the beginning, the world was covered in trees. We lived in the forest world. However, because of god's wrath, the forest world burned. The fire was never-ending. The fire grew for 10 days and burned for 100 days. And in that time, the white lion guided us to safety.

-The white lion will return and save us from this cavern.

-Kekerkker.

As time passed, the older goblins died.

Everyone who remembered 'Guru' slowly perished.

And now, even the oldest didn't know about 'rain'. Occasionally, there were goblins who managed to enjoy the feeling of mud, but that was a luxury that was given in exchange for risking their lives in the colosseum. It was never because of 'rain' that overturned the sky.

-Kerke.

Rain.

-Kerrk.

Mud.

As they looked at the two water jars floating in the stream, the goblins wished for rain.

As they applied sand mixed with water to their skin, they wished for mud.

Somewhere other than here.

A life other than this one.

-Guru.

Our homeland.

2.

Rimepolis.

Cries erupted all over the city where the snails had created their civilization.

[The Vampires have risen up against the Snails!]

[The Mermaids have risen up against the Snails!]

[The Sprites have risen up against the Snails!]

[The Elves have risen up against the Snails!]

[The Humans have risen up against the Snails!]

Individually, each cry was so weak that they couldn't overpower the horns blown by the snails. But it was only a matter of time. The five cries heralded five large fires that burned in five different parts of the city.

"Kiiuu."

The Black Dragon Master's divine beast, the black swan, spread its wings. I had no talent when it came to understanding the cries of birds, but I was somehow able to understand what she was saying.

'I'm here to help, Death King.'

I nodded.

'If the Black Dragon Master helps, then this fight will be much easier.'

I had worked with the Black Dragon Master several times before.

The Black Dragon Master herself might not remember, but I had grown accustomed to her fighting style after fighting together hundreds of times while subjugating the [Devil King of Fall Rain].

There was no hunter who could overcome the combination of us two.

"Grrrk!"

I growled at the hound and charged forward. Fwoosh! The surroundings were set ablaze as the Infernal Heavens Demonic Art unfolded. When the flames swept in from all directions, the hound used his sacred transformation technique to evade.

'Now!'

But the Heretic Questioner wasn't the only one capable of using space transfer.

Paht!

The Black Dragon Master immediately followed the Heretic Questioner to the place he had fled to. The Heretic Questioner, who had just escaped from my attack, wasn't paying attention to his back, and the Black Dragon Master wouldn't miss such an opening.

Crack!

The black swan's sharp claws scratched the golden hound's back.

"Kar-!"

The hound cried out as its blood was spilt. It twisted its head around and bit at the swan's wings. The black swan and the hound rolled around in the mud.

This time, I was the one who saw the opening.

'Shift the attack.'

I immediately charged forward and bit into the hound's back. My sharp fangs sank deeply into the golden hound's flesh. Blood flowed into my mouth, and at the same time, a loud scream erupted from the hound's mouth.

One-sided abuse.

The goblins cheered at the sight of the hound being hurt.

-Kekerkker!

-The white lion will defeat the golden hound!

-To Guru! Let's return to our homeland!

As the number of wounds on the hound increased, the goblins became more confident. On the other hand, the snails were shocked. They responded quickly to the massive rebellion, but they became confused when they saw their deity being injured.

[The Rimepolis mines have been liberated.]

The goblins gradually drove the snails back.

-Where are the reinforcements?! Rime!

-Th-, the slaves are causing commotions in other places too….

-The horns are rioting! Rime! Requesting immediate support!

-The fish are rioting at the port!

-Support is impossible. We need help here too!

-As for reinforcements from the other cities…

-How can we ask for reinforcements when the waterway is blocked?! Even those bat bastards have gone crazy!

The snails fought back desperately.

However, the slaves directly pushed the snails into a corner. The goblins on the ground, the mermaids in the water, the vampires in the air. And the sprites, elves and humans in the streets.

Flames erupted everywhere the snails used slaves.

[The Rimepolis red light district has been liberated.]

[The Rimepolis temple has been liberated.]

The tribes captured as slaves couldn't communicate with each other. Each of the six races spoke a different language. This was probably why the slaves had never united and instead continued to serve the snail race.

"Gork!"

"Kiuuu!"

However, it was the same way that the gods and their respective races couldn't communicate. In any case, revelation was many times more powerful than words. The divine beasts were the ones that guided each race. While the Black Dragon Master and I pushed the Heretic Questioner around, our other companions stirred up Rimepolis to their heart's content.

The snails had lost control of the city.

[The Rimepolis gate has been liberated.]

[The Rimepolis barracks has been liberated.]

The scales had been tipped.

The rebels, who had started at the mines, finally reached the port.

Mermaids swam in the river that connected the inside of the great cavern to the outside. Receiving an oracle from their god, they cut off the ropes that were wrapped around their necks and charged towards the ships.

-Y-, you! Low-class fish!

The snail overseers raised their tentacles high and struck them. Slap! The mermaids, who were struck, screamed and fell below the surface of the water. However, that didn't stop them. Dozens of mermaids grabbed the bottom of the ships and rocked them back and forth.

-Aaack!

The snails slipped off the decks of the ships and with a 'splash', and fell into the river. The mermaids then surrounded them.

-Get back! Get back! Evil fish! Aack!

The mermaids ate the snails one by one. It was like a herd of sharks hunting penguins. The snails swung their tentacles, but they were no match for the mermaids in the water. After a while, only empty shells remained floating on the surface of the river.

[The Rimepolis port has been liberated.]

Gurgle!

The large ships that sat at the port all sank to the bottom of the river. The salt cargo that they had, sank along with them. The rock salt that the goblins had worked all night to crush into small pieces melted without a trace after falling into the river.

The hound watched this scene with narrowed eyes.

"……"

Dozens of ships sank. A pink dolphin leaped into the air among the wreckage. It was the divine beast that had been possessed by the Crusader.

Whoosh!

The dolphin dived below the surface in a beautiful curve.

The mermaids cheered loudly and slapped their tails against the water.

[Rimepolis has been captured by the rebels.]

The hound opened its mouth.

"Karr."

Maybe the Heretic Questioner was laughing.

The city he had spent 200 years to create was collapsing.

"Karrk, kar."

The hound took a step back. Every time he took a step, sticky blood flowed out. Its beautiful golden fur had been torn apart by the lion's fangs and the black swan's claws.

The same was true for the snails.

-Rime…

-Rime…

Terrified, the snails hid behind the hound. The snails' shells had been cracked by the goblins' hammers. There were also snails whose antennae or tentacles had been cut off.

The snails from all over the city were driven to stand around the hound.

-Kgr.

Naturally, the tribes that drove the snails over also gathered.

The blood-stained sprites roared fiercely.

-Kill those bastards!

-Make them repay for what they did to us!

The sprites had a single horn in the middle of their forehead. These horns, which should have grown long and proud like unicorns', were broken in half.

This was proof of their enslavement.

As if they were branding them, the snails broke the horns of their sprite slaves. Along with the horns, they also broke their slaves' pride. This was the price. In the place of the broken pride grew poisonous resentment.

-Dog-like scum…

The situation wasn't any different for the other races.

-They laughed as they fed us dirt.

-Throw them in a hole and pour salt over them!

The humans growled.

-Catch one of their young and put it in a well, then treat it like a 'fishbowl'.

-Let's throw those bastards in the colosseum and make them fight each other!

The mermaids cried out from the water. Their curses seemed to flutter on the water's dark surface.

-They pulled on our ears because they were long.

-Cut off their antennae and feed it to them.

Said the elves.

-Blood……

-……

The vampires hung from the nearby buildings as they quietly looked at the snails. The vampires weren't very vocal. However, they brought the corpses of beasts that they had brought from somewhere else and dropped them at their feet. They were the dogs that the snails regarded as sacred.

Each of the six races spoke a different language, so they could not share each other's anger. However, there were a few common words in the snail race's language that they all learned. The slaves were forced to learn their masters' language.

-Kill them.

Someone whispered in the snail language.

-Kill them.

That one phrase was something every race knew. It was something that the snails always said to other races. The words that came from the sprites gradually became a universal cry that filled the entire cave.

-Kill them!

The snails were terrified.

Finally, for the first time since becoming slaves, the six tribes shared the same feeling. The name of that feeling was rage.

Everyone was covered in blood.

And they wanted even more blood.

"……"

I looked around at the snails that had been gathered together.

'It would be easy to order them to slaughter them all.'

It would also be easy to prevent them from doing so.

Now, I was like a god to the goblins. And a god's commands were absolute. The goblins would obey regardless of whether I told them to slaughter or to forgive.

'However, that's not an order I'll give.'

I turned around.

'You all can choose.'

And I slowly walked towards the exit of the great cavern.

-Ker?

-Kekerkker…?

Behind me, I heard the goblins' confused exclamations.

But I didn't stop walking. I was walking slow enough that they could follow me, but fast enough that I would disappear if they hesitated too long. The sprites, who were blocking my path, stumbled to move out of my way.

-……

-……

I could feel the goblins' silence. The goblins looked at each other like believers who had received an esoteric oracle. As I grew further and further from them, someone finally stepped forward.

-Gork.

Their footsteps were headed towards me, not towards the port where the snails were gathered.

The dozens of goblins who had received my oracle message were the first to follow me.

They were followed by the young goblins. The young goblins decided to follow the god they had met for the first time instead of getting revenge on their oppressors.

-Kerr……

-Kekerkker.

After the children followed, so did their mothers.

And when the mothers began moving, the other goblins joined one after the other.

The sounds of stone hammers falling echoed across the city. Following the lion the goblins worshipped as their god, they threw the evidence of their anger to the ground.

'Right.'

In the dark underground city.

Thousands began to follow behind me.

'Follow me, children. Follow me.'

Like that, we walked towards the only entrance to the underground city.

No one blocked our way forward.

The moment I stepped through the bright entrance, the voice of the Tower sounded in my head.

[The Goblin Race has begun their escape from Rimepolis.]

Now then, let's go home.

Chapter 165. Rain, Mud, and Fire (2)

Translator: Seven Editor: Sasha PR: LightBrin

3.

As I took a step forward, I couldn't help but close my eyes.

"Gorrk."

The darkness in the cave was heavy. And because of this, the scene was even more dramatic as we stepped out of it. It created the illusion that a ray of light was being produced with every step we took.

-Ke-, ker!

The goblins quickly lowered their heads. The long period in the caves had changed the goblins' physiology. Their eyelids had become thinner, and their eyeballs had become larger. This caused the goblins to be affected by the light.

For a while, they walked while looking down at their feet.

-……

The wind blew.

And before long, sunset had arrived.

-Sky……

The goblins muttered to themselves.

It was now evening in the outside world.

The light from the sunset painted the sky red.

-The sky is red.

For the first time in their lives, the slaves looked up at the neverending sky. It was natural for someone to look at the sky not long after being born, but for these slaves who grew up in caves, this was the first time that they were afforded this luxury.

-The elders were telling the truth. This is the sky.

-Why is the sky red? Gork. It looks like it's bleeding.

-Red…

-The world is on fire.

Whether they felt astonishment, fear, or other unknown emotions, the goblins whispered among themselves. They looked around at the world that they were seeing for the first time.

[The Goblin Race has been freed from slavery.]

[The status of the Goblin Race has changed!]

Words appeared before my eyes.

[Goblin Race]

Extinction Grade: B (Beware of Danger)

Proverb: 'We are Fire.'

Description: A race with only low ranking abilities. The individual abilities of the Goblin Race are negligible at best. Therefore, they have united together to form a group.

The Goblin Race only developed a very small collection of characters. All of these characters are known by every Goblin, from the ones with the lowest births to the noblest. Minimal language. Minimal characters. Knowledge does not divide the Goblins.

'We are fire.'

Fire may burn in many different directions, but it always burns as one. Despite their many cultures, the Goblins are all 'one'.

They hold 'meetings' at night rather than during the day. The appearances of the various goblins are hidden in the darkness, and not one Goblin is distinguishable from another. Therefore all the Goblins who participate and speak in the meetings are 'anonymous'.

Let the fire of the Goblin Race continue to burn!

Traits: [Fire Painting(※), [Guru Doctrine, [Legacy of Records, [Greed(※)]

Evolutions: Unknown. There are two potential evolutions.

※Caution! Several traits are at risk of disappearing.

'Ahh. As expected.'

I furrowed my eyebrows.

'Since the priest died, [Fire Painting] is at risk of disappearing.'

Bae Hu-ryeong shrugged behind me.

-Well, in addition to knowing how to use aura, they need to have a red aura. That's the tricky part.

'Right… Mmm. For this stage, I need to figure out what to do first.'

-Do you have a way? If you buy it from the Civilization Store, it'll basically rip you off.

'Yeah, you're right. That's why I'm going to buy something else.'

I thought.

'Open Civilization Store.'

Jurk.

The items in the store appeared in front of me.

[Oracle Message] – 20 points

[Animal Possession] – 40 points

[Dream Appearance] – 100 points

[Prey Search] – 5 points

[Search for a Bronze Ranked Settlement] – 80 points

[Clan Rank General (Draw)] – 100 points

[Invention of Bronze Rank Technology (Draw)] – 1,000 points

I bought an item I'd never used before.

'Purchase [Dream Appearance].'

Clang, the sound of falling coins appeared in my ear.

[Purchased 'Dream Appearance'.]

[100 points have been deducted!]

[You currently have 70 race points.]

'Okay.'

I also thought about the goblin that I'd use this item on.

I turned to look at a young goblin.

This goblin's name was Gorke, and he was currently sleeping while using another goblin's butt as a pillow.

'It means clear water.'

Gorke, the goblin who was given the name clear water, muttered in his sleep.

-Kerke.

Rain.

-Kerrk.

Mud.

-Guru.

I stared at Gorke, who was dreaming about a different place.

I used the item.

'[Dream Appearance].'

Paaaht!

My vision blurred and my surroundings became white.

4.

After a while, I found myself standing in a field.

"Hoh?"

The field appeared to be endless. It was raining in the endless field. And the ground was thick and soft because of the rain.

In the middle of the field lay Gorke with his mouth open.

The falling rain water landed wet Gorke's mouth.

-Gorr. gorrr.

Gorke happily drank the rain water.

The expression on his face was one of extreme contentment.

This must be this young goblin's dream of his homeland.

"Indeed…."

I was convinced.

"Whether they're goblin or human, their desires are the same."

-Gork?

It seemed he heard my voice.

Gorke relaxed his arm pillow and raised up.

-Who are you?!

"It seems you can hear and see me. Gorke."

-Gor…? Human?

Gorke tilted his head to the side with a blank expression on his face.

I tried to be as solemn and serious as possible.

"I'm not a human. Pitiful child. I am Kekerkker. The sacred white lion you worship, and the one who promised to lead you back to Guru."

-Kerk…? Kekerkker? That's impossible!

Gorke snorted. Kufum! Goblins had big noses, so when he snorted, the sound that came out was as grand as a fart.

-Kekerkker is a lion. He has thick, strong skin and a beautiful mane. What about you? You have thin, dry skin and messy black hair. Kekerkker isn't as ugly as you!

"No, should I punish you?"

-Punish? Kerk? What does that mean?

"It means to dig a hole in the ground and stick a little bastard upside down in it."

-Th-, this human is so foul-mouthed. Ker. There is no way someone vulgar like you is the white lion!

"Gorke. I taught you how to write. I taught you how to hunt. I am Kekerkker and Kekerkker is me. You shouldn't doubt me."

-Prove it!

"Fine."

I dug a hole in the mud.

Then I grabbed Gorke by the ankle and stuck him into the hold head first.

"Now can you see the proof?"

-Kerrr?! Kerr! A Demon! A demon has appeared!

"What's wrong? Can't you see it? I guess it can't be helped. I like you so I'll show you some more proof."

I scooped a handful of mud and put it into the hole.

It was still raining. The mud and the main mixed together, and soon Gorke was covered in mud armor.

He screamed.

-Believe! Kerk, I believe! You are definitely Kekerkker!

"Mm. It's good that you were finally able to realize it."

I pulled Gorke out of the hole.

The goblin trembled with mud covering his face.

"Gorke. Everything that appears in your dreams has a precious meaning."

I wiped the mud off the goblin's head before continuing.

"I'm here because Kekerkker wants to teach Gorke how to use aura."

-Aura?

"Do you remember the priest's fire painting? His hands were covered in red energy, weren't they? That is aura."

-Ah. You mean the [Sacred Blood].

"Sacred Blood?"

-We have a body and a soul. Everyone has a body, but we all share one soul. Gork. Those who manage to overcome the limits of their body and reach the soul will bleed not only from their body, but also from their soul… By the way…

Gorke frowned.

-This is weird. These are the teachings of Kekerkker. If you are really Kekerkker, then how do you not know what you taught us?

"Child. I never taught you anything like that. All I taught you was how to write characters, count to three, and hunt."

-Ker? Are there any idiots who can't count to three?

This child.

I had forgotten that 200 years had already passed.

"Enough. If you still doubt me, then when you wake up in the morning, go to the lion Kekerkker! You will know that I am the lion and that the lion is the one who appeared in your dream. So shut up and learn what I'm about to teach you."

-You mean the Sacred Blood?

"That's right. Now then, let's begin class right away."

I raised my hand and started beating the goblin.

-Kerk?! It hurts! Kerr! What are you doing? Why are you hitting me all of a sudden!?

"The fastest way to learn aura is to learn it while getting hit."

This was the method that Bae Huryeong had told me in the past.

In fact, it was the only method I knew. If there was a method to learn it while sitting cross legged or whatever then I'd love to learn it. But for now, this was all I knew…

"From now on, I will beat you till you're an inch away from death. Pay attention to the aura flowing into your body as you're being hit. Feel it and capture it. Find the blood vessels that spread throughout your entire body."

-Kerr! It hurts! It hurts! Kerrk?!

"Huh."

Gorke crouched down. I lightly grabbed his wrist and raised him back up. Then, with my other hand, I hit his palm, wrist, shoulder and chest. Puk! Puk! My aura flowed through my fist into Gorke's body.

-Kerr?!

"This is the teaching of blood and flesh. Pay attention."

-All that will be left is flesh and blood!

"That's what I meant. Didn't you call it Sacred Blood? In order to bring forth Sacred Blood, your soul must be injured and bleed"

Even after hearing my logical words, Gorke kept shaking his head.

-This is going to kill me!

"No. This isn't real, it's a dream. So no matter how much you're hit, and no matter how much it hurts like you're going to die, you won't actually die. This is the perfect environment to learn aura."

-Kerp!

The landscape of the dream changed. It changed from the muddy field to Rimepolis. From Gorke's perspective, this was probably no different from fighting in the colosseum.

"Oho. That's more like it!"

I was delighted.

"Now then, Gorke. The gladiators are all staring at you. The scary glow in your eyes shows the determination to do whatever it takes. Since this is a dream, you'll be fine no matter how much it hurts. So work hard!"

-Th-, this a nightmare. Ker. A terrible nightmare!

Gorke wept.

-Kekerkker! You have saved us from hell, where are you now? A demon is tormenting your humble servant! Save me, ker! Save me!

"Uhh. I already told you that I'm Kekerkker."

Time slowly passed in the dream.

It felt like a lot of time had passed, but Gorke's dream had still not ended. Thanks to this, the young goblin suffered the pain of being driven almost to death countless times. I calmly led Gorke along.

I couldn't help but wonder how long it had been.

"Ohh!"

Flames erupted from Gorke's palm.

Even though it was faint, this was still a sign of aura.

"Look, Gorke! It's aura. You have gained Sacred Blood!"

-Kerr…

The young goblin looked down at his palm, but his eyes were blank, as if he'd lost something precious.

-Just kill me… Stop sparing me, demon. I can't take it anymore…

"From the start, if you don't have to worry about dying, then learning while risking your life is the fastest way. The universe is filled with people who cannot learn aura even after learning martial arts for their entire lives. You, on the other hand, learned it in a single night. Do you think that is a coincidence?"

-Please kill me…!

"From now on, you will have to work hard for the Goblin Race."

I smiled happily and put my hand on Gorke's shoulder.

He flinched.

-Wo-, work hard?

"The last priest died and there is no longer anyone to demonstrate [Fire Painting]. So you will have to take his place. I think your culture is beautiful. You should try to not lose that beauty."

-Kerr. However, I'm not talented enough to become the priest…

"Well your aura is still in its infant stages. How about it, Gorke? Are you willing to work for the next ten days in order to perfect your aura"

-I'm willing. Gorke! Priest! I'll do it!

"Great."

I nodded in satisfaction.

"Then I will leave your dream now. Come to me when you wake up and check for yourself. If I am really Kekerkker, I will pat you on the shoulder."

Then I woke up from the dream.

The dawn was quiet.

The goblins had already woken up and were preparing to continue the journey home. The mothers caught fish in the river, and the children grilled the fish nearby. Many of the goblins were silently looking at the rising sun.

-Kerk…!

Not long after, a young goblin jumped up not far from me. It was Gorke. His little green head was wrinkled and covered in cold sweat.

-Kerr… I, I survived? I survived, ker?

Gorke took a deep breath. He slapped himself six times to check if he was still dreaming or not. Finally, after realizing that his nightmare was finally over, Gorke sighed heavily in relief.

-……

He sat in that state for a while.

The Gorke hesitantly got up and came to me.

-Kekerkker…

The young goblin looked at me with eyes filled with desperation.

-Last night, a demon came to me in my dream and toyed with me. Ker. The demon dared to tease me by pretending to be Kekerkker. I thought I was going to die. I want you to prove to me that Kekerkker isn't that demon…

"Krrng."

Tuk.

I slowly lifted my paw and tapped Gorke on the shoulder with it.

-……

Gorke's face immediately became stained with despair.

"Krr. Gor, krrk. Grrrm."

'Do well and don't forget what I said. Child.'

There was no way he could understand the lion's words, but Gorke trembled nonetheless.

[A new heir of Fire Painting has appeared.]

[The race is no longer at risk of losing the trait Fire Painting!]

That's good. That's good.

-This bastard…

Bae Hu-ryeong muttered. He'd watched me pass aura on to Gorke from start to finish.

-Why are you teaching him like that… Don't do that… you should treat him bet-…

:)