<h4>Volume 1, Chapter 43: The Goddess, Again</h4>
[Race] Goblin [Level] 62
[ss] Duke; Horde Chief
[Possessed Skills] > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
[Divine Protection] Goddess of the Underworld (Altesia) [Attributes] Darkness; Death
[Subordinate Beasts] High Kobold (Lv1) Gastra (Lv1) Cynthia (Lv1) [Abnormal Status] >
What spread before me was a familiar scenery I’d once seen before.
“How are you feeling, boy?”
There isn’t anyone but that woman (Altesia) who would call me that.
“As of now, the worst, actually.”
I need to keep up an abusive tone when dealing with this one.
“You’ve gotten quite handsome, haven’t you?”
Sarcasm?
The goddess of the underworld who narrowed her eyes was being patient.
“And? Are things going well?”
What things?
“That conquest and domination of yours.”
You are making progress, right? Or so her smile seemed to say.
On top of the goddess’ seductive charm, she also released a contrasting innocent charm. In response, I activated >
“Yeah, it’s going well.”
As usual, the goddess had snakes serving her by her feet. She also wore the same pure white toga over her body. And even the demonic statues lined up in the surroundings were exactly as they were before. If this ce really is the underworld, well… I have to say it’s a lot easier to go in and out than I thought.
The goddess who sat in her throne, emanated a dignified and coercing aura befitting that of the ruler of the underworld.
Was she satisfied with my answer? Or was she not?
Her two golden eyes narrowed themselves into a slit like a snake’s. While her white porcin skin was as usual, beautiful beyond perfection as if a sculptor had, to his soul’s exhaustion, carved her body. And she folded her hands together, resting her perfectly sculpted chin over it as she stared at me.
“Hmm~ Then I guess that means it wasn’t a bad idea to go easy on you after all.”
Go easy?
“What are you talking about?”
As if satisfied with herself, the goddess of the underworld (Altesia)’s face twisted into a smile just like a little girl who’s enjoying herself in her own deviltry.
“I’m talking about the divine protection. The interference has gotten weaker recently, right?”
So she was talking about the goddess of healing (Zenobia).
“So you say, yet your mood remains foul.”
I purposely provoked her. If she were to keep up this fa?ade of hers as a seductive goddess, I’ll eventually fall prey to her charms.
Talking will be easier on me when she’s mad.
“You really are smart. You purposely choose to provoke me to weaken the effect of the charm you receive from the divine protection, but unfortunately, I have no intention of falling for that anymore.”
Seeing her smile like that, I can’t help but think she finds this haggling amusing. But contrast to her, her happy demeanor’s no different from binding me in chains.
“What are you scheming?”
Gradually, I’ve began to breathe harder. But even then, I continued to resist against that as I kept my temper in check.
“Nothing in particr… as of now,” she chuckled. “Just that, it’s been a while, so I kind of wanted to talk to you.”
Don’t lie!
“Oh dear. How vexing. I was telling the truth too.”
She looked at me with thecency of a mother looking down her child, no, I suppose this is more the strong looking down the weak instead. The high-pitchedughter of the goddess of the underworld (Altesia) resounded within the piths of my mind.
“Also, it seems you’ve taken good care of it. That thing I gave you.”
*Thump
Suddenly, the coiled ck-me snake on my right arm pulsated in response to its master’s voice.
“Even Pitch ck (Verid) seems to have taken a liking to you. Looks like I was right in lending him to you.
Pitch ck (Verid)… is that the name of the snake coiled in my arm?
“Yep. A cute Hell Snake (Altea) I gave birth to. I suppose you could refer to him as your elder brother for the time being.”
Stop joking. I don’t recall you giving birth to me.
“Ha ha ha… Well it’d be great if you could recall that sort of stuff.”
While we were talking, it suddenly urred to me. I’m not feeling the same pressure I felt when we metst time. Why?
She couldn’t possibly seriously just want to talk to me, could she?
“Come to think of it, I still haven’t heard the reason why you fight. Is Zenobia’s daughter (Reshia) the reason why you picked up your sword?”
Now what?
“Don’t make meugh. Didn’t I tell you? There is only one reason I fight, and that’s for conquest and domination!”
“…Then you wouldn’t mind if you lost that girl, right? No tears, no sorrow, yes?”
Her gaze was sharp, piercing through me into my very core.
“…Of course.”
C-Could it be? Did I not make it in time? Have the orc overrun everything already, and set it all on fire?
Keeping up a front, I tried to act tough, but in the end, I couldn’t fool myself of my own feelings.
I am, after all, horrible at lying.
“Ahahaha, calm down, calm down. Zenobia’s daughter (Reshia), as of now, is still safe.”
When those words entered my ears, I couldn’t help but feel relieved. Annoyed, I grit my teeth.
To think I would actually unconditionally believe the underworld goddesses’ (Altesia’s) words on my own!
The more I want to believe her, the more she’ll lead me astray.
That fact tugged at my heartstrings, pulling both shock and anger.
“It’s up to you whether to believe it or not. But… danger is approaching.”
Dered the goddess with an expressionless face.
“The goddess of destiny (Liuryuna) has already found someone to her liking. Do you know what this means?”
Liuryuna, the third daughter who maniptes destiny, and guides heroes to fight against the forces of the underworld.
“You mean to say a hero has been born?”
The goddess smiled.
“Quick as ever I see. That’s right, it’s your natural enemy.”
If I, who is a monster, will try to subjugate the world, then there will definitely be an existence who will stand before me.
If he who leads the monsters to conquer the world is called the demon king, then the one who stands before that existence is the hero.
If I am to be the high king of the world, then the hero who possesses overwhelming power shall undoubtedly appear to stand in my way.
“As of now that hero’s but an innocent child that knows nothing. But it’s only a matter of time before he gains power, and bes a hero.”
A voice that dered the absolute truth.
“And the one who shall stand beside the hero is no other than the saint.”
Forcibly, she slipped into the gaps in my thoughts, and she forcefully dragged out my innermost concern with the uttering of that one word.
“And that saint is Reshia?” I asked.
“You will lose her, you know?” she confirmed.
I couldn’t say anything back. Or rather you could say my mind had gonepletely nk as words of denial continuously surfaced within my heart.
“Shall I lend you my strength?” Altesia proposed.
“What?”
The goddess smiled with the smile of a loving mother. Gently embracing everything, that motherly love of hers filled my chest.
“I’ve also been troubled much by those so-called heroes in the past. Besides, seeing a cute boy beaten ck and blue is, right?”
Spontaneously, I ended up wanting to nod.
I want power more than anything else.
The fight with the Orc King made it clear to me just how weak the goblins are.
But… the sliver of will left within me activated >.
“…What will you do? Do you want to try clinging onto me?”
Ahh, I would, I would… if I weren’t a king that is.
“I refuse.”
The fog in my head cleared up.
“Oh my, that’s rather unexpected. Why refuse?”
“I will fight on my own volition,” I said. “I will be the one to choose where my men die. I will be the one to send them to war. And it shall be for my sake that they will shed blood. And in so doing… should the day of defeate, it shall be mine, all mine.”
The goddess of the underworld (Altesia) quietly looked at me. As usual, I had no idea what she was thinking.
“I am fighting my own battle. To cling to you is to ept my own defeat.”
That’s why I have no intention of clinging to a goddess.
“…Obstinate, huh?”
The goddess wryly smiled, and I smiled a bold smile in return.
“You gambled on me, so just shut up and watch! I won’t lose.”
When I mouthed those words, the goddess’ face went nk. Then she burst out into a guffaw.
“Ahahaha, buhahahaha.”
She held her tummy as sheughed out loud in front of me. She’sughing again, but as usual, I don’t see what’s so funny.
“Interesting… as expected, you’re really interesting,” smiled the goddess as she wiped the tears off her eyes.
As she finally contained herughter to some extent, she pped her hands.
At that, a gate appeared behind me.
“If you pass through that door, you’ll be able to return to your own body.”
Happily, I turned my back to theughing goddess.
“…Hey…” she said. “At times like this, what do you guys say?” My back remained facing toward her as I replied.
“The old you… the goddess of valor (the old you), what would she say?”
Just for a little, I heard her gulp. “…Show your courage,” she said. Nodding, I passed through the gate.
The voice I heard… although just a little, might’ve been shaking.
◇◇◆
“Are you alright!?”
When I opened my eyes, what first entered my ears was Gi Za’s voice, who was unusually panicked.
“What’s the matter?” I asked. “Where’d your usualposure go?”
When Gi Za saw me reply like that, grinning, he couldn’t help but nod back, dumbfounded.
“Damn it, seriously. You’re way too reckless I say. I think my life just got shorter just now… Well thanks to you, the casualties have been minimized though.”
I wanted to ask him whether he was always this sort of character or not, but I decided it was wiser not to.
“What happened to the orcs?” I asked as I raised my body.
“They withdrew as soon as you defeated the Orc King. Although it’s also because Gi Gi sessfully lured the spear deer.”
Last night, I ordered Gi Gi to take 15 goblins under him to go look for herds of speer deer to lure and crash against the horde of orcs. He took a lot more time than expected, but that can’t be helped. After all, the only way he had to control the course of the herds was through the goblins’ Overpowering Howl.
It should be the first time for Gi Gi to use beasts too.
But still he managed to aplish his task well.
“The damages?” I asked.
“The holes we’ve dug around the vige are mostly no longer useable. The fences have also been pulled down. As for the damages to the troops: 20 goblins have been killed. But considering we managed to repulse that orc horde, it’s actually quite small.”
As Gi Za matter-of-factly reported the situation, I nodded.
The damages we incurred were much, true. But in the end, the damage incurred wasn’t fatal.
“I got it. I’ll take care of the rest. Go rest.” “Also, speaking of Gi Ga“
I began to stand when Gi Za began to speak again. But then at that moment, I felt the sensation of something eating at my guts.
“Oi!”
“It’s nothing.”
The snake, Pitch ck (Verid), coiled around my right arm, throbbed.
What I heard was the deep voice of a man.
Show your courage, was it? ----What nostalgic words, huh, little brother?
The voice came and left, leaving only those words.
◆◇◇◆◆◇◇◆
As you have broken through level 100, your [ss] will now change.
Your [ss] will change from Duke to Lord.
[Skill] > has risen to > [Skill] > has changed into >
[Skill] > acquired.
[Skill] > has levelled up.
◆◇◇◆◆◇◇◆
Author’s Note:
The goddess that has changed her approach from brute force to a more roundabout way.
The protagonist that’s aware, but can’t do anything about it. And the red snake that grows in power with each evolution Now, what will happen?