Chapter 103

103. Back in Place

“I’m getting sick of this.”

Instant Consumable Combat Food Type II.

He wondered what would be left if he took out the salty taste. He thought he ate it quite deliciously during the North Korean expedition, but he realized it wasn’t that good after eating it again.

His tongue was dry, so he gulped down water. For a moment, his right arm seemed to blur and stabbed something, fast like lightning.

“Koohak!”

The Gruggle that looked like a sunfish split vertically. Ko Byeong-gap dropped his hand with food far away, fearing that dirt might splash.

“Ugh…”

“Ooh, ooh…”

“Why? Do you want to eat?”

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Two more scrambled with arms, legs, and other bodily organs that were difficult to name. They seemed to be more interested in Ko Byeong-gap’s body than the preservative food he held.

“You things make me sick. I can’t even eat.”

He moved like the wind. He performed two cuts almost simultaneously. The Gruggles running side by side split in half and died.

He poured the rest of the rice into his mouth. Although he had no appetite, he forced himself to eat.

He threw away the empty paper plate and immediately climbed the broken spire, and scanned his surroundings. He spent the first three days in mountainous and humid terrain, but he had now entered a wide plain.

He watched the sunset with a cigarette in his mouth. He was going to run all night again that day. According to the stone tablets he brought from Kim Hana’s house, his destination wasn’t far away and would take a week at the latest to be there.

The closer he got to Valtadren, the more he remembered his men.

“Are they thinking of me too?”

He didn’t know, but he hoped so.

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He got back into the car after a short break. He drove as fast as 150 to 160 kilometers per hour. The speedometer’s needle bent sharply.

Ko Byeong-gap was in a hurry. He couldn’t wait to get back on track.

***

“Stop working and gather around!”

Patra shouted in a sharp voice. The Goblins in the cave paused and looked back at the sound.

“Hurry up and rally. We need to figure out the number of people.”

He turned around, leaving only that. The Goblins were absentminded for some time before they arranged their equipment. Some ran to alert the rest deep in the cave to the order of gathering.

Among them was Gobung, who went through several tunnels and entered a small cave. Six or seven Goblins were pickaxing with bewildered faces.

One of them looked different from the other Goblins. She turned around and asked.

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“Hey, idiot. What’s going on?”

“They called the end of the work. Gather up.”

“Sheesh! That was quick. Let’s go, idiots.”

It was Doran. She walked out of the shaft with the people working with her. The number of Goblins heading to the exit was enormous. It was almost like a flea market.

The old Somnium wasn’t like this. The population of Somnium was about 500. Only 350 of them worked in caves, while the other 150 worked on other things.

However, since the advent of the new Lord, Somnium suffered from overpopulation. Currently, more than 800 people worked in the caves.

“Ugh…”

On the way out, an ally came to Gobung’s vision. It was a Normal Goblin, crouching in the corner of the cave. Gobung was startled and ran his way.

“What’s wrong?”

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“Oh, my head hurts so much…”

“Head?”

Gobung examined the Normal Goblin’s head. There was no special trauma. He agonized for a moment and carried the little one on his back.

“I think it’s because you’ve inhaled a lot of dust. You’ll feel better if you get some fresh air outside.”

Doran, who was watching the sight, gritted her teeth.

“Damn! As soon as the sun rises, we’re thrown into the cave to work until the moon rises, so of course, his head hurts!”

In the past, the Goblins who worked in the caves took regular breaks. They made sure to come outside every certain time and get some fresh air and sunshine because Ko Byeong-gap requested them to do so.

But now, there was no such thing as breaks. They spent more than 15 hours a day in the caves.

“Doran, don’t be angry…”

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“Aren’t you guys angry? That’s why you’re idiots!”

She shook her fist. The tremor of anger soon turned into a tremor of sadness. She muttered in a sad tone.

“I miss Lord…”

“Shh, shh!”

Gobung hurriedly looked around. Fortunately, none of the ‘supervisors’ were seen near them.

“Do… Doran. Don’t talk about the Lord. Like last time, you’ll get hit again. And Lord…”

“Shut up! Say one more word!”

“I’m sorry. I miss him, too. But didn’t Dorma tell you?”

“Don’t even mention that son of a bitch’s name in front of me.”

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“What are you doing? Hurry up and come out!”

A sharp shout broke out at the cave’s entrance. Gobung answered hastily.

“Ah, I’m on my way!”

“Pfft! It’s not even a fist away from you, and you’re already squealing like hell.”

“Doran, let’s go.”

Gobung grabbed Doran’s arm and went out of the cave. Outside, the Goblins mobilized for work were being inspected in a line.

They also quickly stood in line. Five supervisors checked their numbers. Among them, Niad, a woman with impressive red hair, shouted.

“Patient. Is there anyone in need of care? If there is, step forward!”

Some Goblins stepped forward as she snapped. The Normal Goblin, who Gobung carried, also went there. The supervisors took over one by one and examined their condition.

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“That’s enough. You can cry on your own. Next!”

“What? You have a headache? You’ll get better when you wake up. Next!”

“A rock crushed you? Let’s take a look. Hmm. Go over there.”

However, only two or three out of the ten people were given appropriate measures.

When the headcount was completed, the Goblins left for a late dinner under the supervisors’ leadership. The meal for them, who had been working all day, was boiled potatoes.

It was the same menu for two weeks. All the meat was transferred to Valtadren. The reason was that there wasn’t enough food to feed those who were training as soldiers.

The Goblins didn’t eat as loudly as they used to. They just chewed and swallowed the potatoes to fill their hungry stomachs. At least the amount was overflowing. They were always given enough rice to make their stomachs burst.

“Doran, there you are. Mr. Gobung too.”

A woman with a pale complexion came to Doran’s table. It was Ea. Doran glanced at Ea and sighed. She then took out the potatoes she had peeled.

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“Eat.”

“No, no, it’s okay. I can eat mine enough.”

“Just eat it.”

“… Thank you. Thank you for the food.”

Ea’s hands were a mess. She was mobilized all day in the fields and kitchen.

The problem was in the field. Due to the lack of farming equipment, they had to dig out the furrows with their bare hands. As a result, her nails were all peeled off.

Sadly, the Sarahons weren’t very considerate of the spirit Ea.

“How was work today?”

“It was nothing.”

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“What are you asking? Of course, I was like a beggar again.”

At the same time, Gobung and Doran answered. Ea smiled awkwardly at the conflicting opinions.

“How are you, Ea? You look very tired today.”

“I’m fine. Now that I’m used to it, it doesn’t feel that hard. Didn’t you know? I’m quite adaptable.”

“Phew, idiot, idiot.”

Doran clicked her tongue.

“Oh, you’re such a fool. You’re the most stupid fool I’ve ever seen.”

“Oh, why do you think so, Doran?”

“Don’t you know? If I were you, I’d run right away!”

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“Ah… Hehe.”

“Are you laughing now?”

Doran looked serious. Ea replied while chewing potatoes with a sad smile.

“There’s no place for me to go. If I ran away, I would be devoured by the Gruggles. Then why is Doran still here? You hate it so much.”

“I…”

She couldn’t answer easily because many of her reasons had mixed up. Among them, she wanted to deny it, but she was born to obey the king.

In other words, she was here because Landriol ordered, ‘Stay in the cave for four years and get crystals.’

Doran desperately denied it. She hypnotized herself into thinking that only the stupid Goblins were concerned.

“I… I’m waiting.”

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“What do you mean by waiting?”

“For Lord. I’m waiting for Lord Ko Byeong-gap to return.”

Ea blinked her big eyes. Gobung hurriedly looked at the supervisors. Ea spoke in a low voice.

“Don’t call him by his name. If you get caught again, they’ll beat you like last time.”

“That’s right, Doran. That green-haired woman can eat you. So be careful.”

“Tell her to do that. What’s there to fear?”

“Doran…”

In fact, Ea also wanted to see Ko Byeong-gap. She missed him, and so did the other Goblins.

… But he was dead. Dorma, who had left for the capital with him, testified so. She couldn’t believe it when some crazy guy showed up and robbed the position as Lord.

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‘Are you really dead?’

Ea’s eyes grew sad. She felt like she was going to cry after a long time.

***

Somnium’s day began at an early hour.

As soon as the Goblins opened their eyes, they ate some boiled potatoes and went into the caves, and then they wouldn’t see the blue sky until lunch.

Around noon, they gathered in the field in front of the cave and had a small lunch. If they just sat on the floor and ate potatoes, it would turn black due to the dust on their hands. But no Goblins complained.

“Potatoes, potatoes! Why are you only giving me potatoes to eat?”

Doran almost threw away the potatoes. She then heard a calling from behind.

“Doran.”

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“… What?”

It was Eola, the most senior supervisor. She was also the woman Gobung mentioned as the ‘Woman Who Can Eat Doran’.

“The king sent a message. He told me to bring you back to Valtadren.”

“You want me to go back to Valtadren?”

“Yes, be ready to go back as soon as you finish your meal—”

“No, I’m not going.”

Doran said so and then turned her head. Veins rose on Eola’s forehead because of her blatant disregard.

“It’s not up to you to decide. The king ordered it.”

“Even if I don’t like it, what would I do when I’m there?”

“Are you going against the command?”

“Oh, I don’t know about that. Anyway, I’m not going, so tell him that.”

“Huh! You’re really crazy.”

“I don’t care if I’m crazy.”

She groaned and picked up the potatoes. The next moment, Eola’s knife pierced her potato, and Doran’s eyes opened fiercely.

“Did you just… draw a knife on me?”

“If you are the king’s people, act accordingly. As his servant, I can no longer tolerate your filthy attitude.”

“Huh! This is why I hate you guys. You just open your mouth and say, Lord, and king!”

Doran picked up a new potato. Afterward, she laughed.

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“On the subject of brainwashed dolls…”

“What? How dare you say that!”

Eola grabbed Doran by the collar. Doran’s eyebrows twitched.

“Didn’t you start it first?”

She snapped Eola’s arm and smashed it to the floor as if she had been waiting for the opportunity. After climbing on her, she started slapping her face hard.

“Scream!”

“Don’t mess with me! Do you think I’m scared of you guys? Even if five of you attack me at once, you can’t even touch a single hair of mine!”

“Hey…!”

Eola looked at Doran. Unfortunately, she was speaking the truth.

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It hadn’t been long since they came out into the worl; theyy were still weak. Thanks to Landriol’s power, they regained their memory, but they didn’t regain their abilities.

However, if it was a battle of tongue and authority, the story was different.

“End of the meal!”

Eola shouted out of the blue. The Goblins eating potatoes hesitated.

“Lunch is over! Everyone, go back to the caves!”

“What, what?”

“There is no lunch or dinner today!”

“Don’t talk nonsense! What right do you have to control our meals? You’re not above authority!”

“Authority?”

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Eola snorted as she climbed away.

“The king transferred the management of the mines to me. Here, my words are the words of the king! What are you doing? Why don’t you go back to the caves? Are you defying the king’s orders?”

When she shouted, the Goblins stood up with their fists clenched. Doran freaked out and stopped, but it didn’t work.

“You fools! Just eat! Eat!”

“Ugh…”

“Doran, we must listen to that… I’m sorry.”

“Hey! Take that back right now! You have to feed the kids before making them work!”

“Well, I’d love to, but the king told me to speed up the crystal mining. I can’t help it.”

Eola replied in a teasing manner.

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Doran looked at her and the others alternatively with empty eyes. Her eyes trembled pitifully.

“Oh… I see. I’ll go to Valtadren. I’m leaving. I’m leaving!”

“Well, that’s natural.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Kneel.”

“What?”

“You have offended me so much that you should kneel and apologize.”

Shame shone on Doran’s face for a while, but eventually, she knelt as she was told.

“It’s my fault. So let them eat their food. They have to eat.”

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Eola brushed the dust off her clothes. She then suddenly slapped Doran on the cheek and threw up her anger.

“How dare you think we’re brainwashed? You stupid bitch, you’ve got your hair all messed up. Your memory is gone, and you’re talking like that!”

“Shut up…”

“Do you think I’ve left you all this time because I’m scared of you? If it weren’t for me, you’d have lost your voice!”

Eola kicked Doran, who swallowed her anger and chewed her lips.

She could beat her back if she wanted to, but she couldn’t stand the fact that the Goblins wouldn’t be able to eat because of her.

“No, I’m gonna have to renovate your rotten thoughts before I send you back to Valtadren.”

Standing up, she pulled out her sheath and held it in her hand. She held it over her head, and then she swung it hard. However, it didn’t hit Doran because someone grabbed the knife and stopped it.

“…?”

Somnium’s air froze in an instant.

A man’s overbearing presence was the cause.

“I’ve never seen you before. Why the fuck would you do that to her?”