<h4>Volume 2, Chapter 96: The King’s Guests</h4>


    “…And? Why are you here?”


    Standing before me was the human girl I saved before. Beside her was that elven maiden, listlessly looking around her, and her younger brother.


    “Boss, you’re so manly I fell in love!”


    Scratching my head with the butt of the spear in my hand, I thought, this is her alright.


    “Don’t lie.”


    I bitterly smiled at her, and she bitterly smiled back.


    “Well, alright. Actually, we don’t have anywhere to go, so I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind having us for a while.”


    I say… This girl really has nerves of steel. Those two behind her… The elven maiden is Selena, I think, and the male human should be her younger brother, Yoshu. The reactions they showed when I looked at them was still normal, but this girl, Shumea, is just…


    “You are humans. You should live with other humans in a human vige.”


    The goblins aren’t very happy with the humans right now, and there are even those who possess the Man-Eating Snake skill. I might be able to keep an eye out for them, but it’s still dangerous. And while I certainly intend to one day rule over the humans, I don’t enjoy needless killing.


    “Actually, we’re ves. Our former master died, and… I don’t know if you know about this, being a goblin and all, but when a ve loses his master, whoever catches him will be his new master. It’s an unwrittenw, so it would be really dangerous for us to go back.” Shumea nonchntly said.


    The things I’ve heard from Reshia are well and good, but this woman, Shumea… The perspective she offers is that of someone who’s lived through the worst of society. And from the looks of things, it seems that living in a human vige is so difficult for people like her that she would literally rather live with monsters.


    Bitterly smiling, I asked her, “I can see why you would prefer living with monsters, but you do realize that there are those among the goblins who kidnap the females of other species for the purpose of reproduction, yes? Are you not afraid of that?”


    I smiled as I said that. It wasn’t my intention, but the result was an utterly horrifying face, such that it looked like the devil himself was smiling.


    “I’m sure I’ll be fine as long I’m around you, Boss.” Shumea smiled.


    That innocent smile of hers made me knit my brows.


    “Sis!” Youshu screamed.


    It was such an odd situation that I was actually stupefied.


    “Well, alright. You do what you want. In the name of the king, I promise you safety in thesends,” I said.


    “Hear that, Yoshu, Selena! Thank you so much, Boss!” Shumea said.


    “Understood, I’ll inform the others,” Gi Za said, havinge out of nowhere, as he looked carefully at the elf and the humans. He looked especially taken in by the elf.


    “Eek… A druid!?” Selena said in surprise.


    Gi Za knitted his brows.


    “You should be more careful with your tongue, little girl. I am not a druid, but a shaman,” Gi Za said as he grabbed Selena’s hand.


    “L-Let go! What are you nning!?” Selena cried.


    “What, you say? I want you to teach me a couple of things. Now, hurry! We have much to do!” Gi Za said.


    “W-Wait a moment! Boss!” Shumea cried out to me.


    The way he talks is really just begging for misunderstandings.


    I continued to watch them for a bit, but once things looked like they were about to escte, I stepped in.


    “Gi Za, Selena thinks she’s about to be raped,” I said.


    “What!?” Gi Za said in surprise as he red sharply. He first turned to the frightened elven maiden, then to the humans, and then back


    to me. I nodded to the unbelieving goblin while holding back myughter, and Gi Za finally let Selena go.


    Immediately, the frightened elf ran behind Shumea. Seeing all this happen brought a huge grin on my face.


    “To rid ourselves of this misunderstanding, what Gi Za wants you to teach him is the elven knowledge on magic.”


    Gi Za nodded pitifully as I said that, while the frightened Selena looked alternately between me, Gi Za, and Shumea.


    “I think you’ll have to give up for today, Gi Za,” I said.


    “Sigh… I suppose it can’t be helped. I don’t enjoy forcing others either,” he said resignedly.


    When Selena saw that, she finally heaved a sigh of relief.


    “Gi Za, let the others know they’re my guest.”


    “Guest? Not your treasure?”


    “Yes, is there a problem?”


    “No, I misspoke.”


    “Inform the newly evolved nobles to gather too. I have yet to give them their family names.”


    After Gi Za nodded, he vanished like the wind.


    It seems his wounds are alright now.


    ◇◆◇


    Kneeling before me were the newly evolved nobles. Namely…


    The ancient beast warrior, Gi Gi, the assassin, Gi Ji, the mad shishi, Gi Zu, Ra Gilmi of Ganra, and the shaman, Gi Za.


    I started off with Gi Gi, who evolved during the trip back to the fortress. He would be one of the more senior one among them.


    “I name you Orudo. Hence forth you shall be known as Gi Gi Orudo. With this name I give you the right to raise your own household.”


    “My deepest sincerity to the king,” Gi Gi Orudo respectfully bowed.


    Next was the assassin, Gi Ji; a goblin who excels in reconnaissance missions thanks to that powerful nose of his. He will be a crucial member from here on out, especially once we leave the forest.


    “I name you Arsil. Hence forth you shall be known as Gi Ji Arsil. With this name I give you the right to raise your own household.”


    “I shall use my strength for the king.”


    Next was the mad shishi, Gi Zu.


    I really wish he’d get that ferocious tendencies of his under control. Thanks to it, he could be a good match against me, but because of it he’s never suffered defeat.


    “I name you Ruo. Hence forth you shall be known as Gi Zu Ruo. With this name I give you the right to raise your own household.”


    “I am forever your loyal retainer, my king!”


    He seems alright for now. Looks like he’s able to keep that madness of his in check.


    After Gi Zu Ruo left, the next one that came was Ra Gilmi. I’m not sure what to think about giving ast name to a hero of Ganra, but since he wants it himself, I suppose I’ll have to oblige.


    “I name you Fishiga. Use your power for the future you seek.”


    “I shall expend all of my strength to meet the king’s expectations.”


    But you actually fight for Princess Narsa, right? You really don’t have to give me lip service. After all, to aid me is to aid the princess, and thus, the rest of the tribes.


    Last but not the least was Gi Za.


    I think I’ll name him something with ‘za’.


    He seems to have picked up on my mischievous intentions, as he made a ‘へ’-shaped smile as if he’d eaten a bug or something.


    “Gi Za… I name you Za!”


    “Hey!”


    “It’s a joke. I name you Zakuend. I expect much of you.”


    “Hmph. I’ll take it.”


    With this I’ve finally concluded my business with the newly evolved.


    Then as if he was waiting for it, a goblin stepped up.


    ◆◆◇


    “King!”


    It was the newly evolved rare, Gi Ba, who came before me.


    “Why did you allow a human into the vige!? They bring us nothing but misfortune!”


    Gi Ba grit his teeth hard enough to be heard as he said that, but Gi Ji Arsil did not take kindly to his words, and he pinned him down.


    “You disagree with the king’s orders?” GI Ji Arsil said as he pointed his sword on Gi Ba’s neck. The moment Gi Ba showed the slightest act of resistance, that sword woulde cutting down to im his life.


    “Enough, Gi Ji Arsil.”


    “Ha!” Gi Ji kept his re on Gi Ba even as he sheathed his sword.


    When Gi Ba turned to me, our gazes met, and the goblin shook for a moment, but he endured my gaze.


    “Hear me, goblins! One day I shall rule the world. Humans, beasts, elves, and of course, you goblins as well. When the dayes, I will be king of all!”


    I was not speaking it, I was dering it.


    “Don’t you hate them king!?” Gi Ba asked.


    “I don’t hate all of them. Only those who stole my treasure,” I said, at which Gi Ba cast his eyes down. “I won’t tell you not to hate them. But should you reach a point where you cannot help yourself but want to kill my guests, thene to me. I will neither hide nor run.”


    Gi Ba grasped a lump of earth within his hands as he grit his teeth.


    It seems Verid’s influence has been progressing faster than expected. If they lose their minds, I will have no choice but to put them down myself. Executing one’s subordinates is not something a king could push onto his subordinates. Such an act would put to shame the title: king.


    Look! Because of what you did controlling them has gotten so difficult!


    —Hmph. The divine protection was too strong, it seems. A pity.


    I spat curses at that overly egocentric response.


    —If worsees to worse, you should put him down. You’ll be able to devour our strength too.


    This time the one to grit his teeth was me. I grit them so hard it seemed like my mrs would break. I can’t let that happen. I won’t let them end up as you wish.


    My subordinates are my blood and flesh. All of them.


    I have no intentions of shirking away from my duties of cutting off the useless parts, but as much as possible…


    “If you understand, withdraw,” I said, making my voice as calm as could be to admonish the goblin and help cool his head.


    Since you had the fortune of bing a rare ss, then so long as you have the strength, you should be able to ovee this ordeal.


    Be one who can bring together warriors to be a pir that will support this country. If you cannot do that, then I might have to dye my hands in the blood of an ally. It’s a terrifying thought, but it’s not something I must fear.


    I have made my resolve.


    I can’t turn back.


    I am already on the path of world domination.


    ◇◆◆◆◇◆◆◆


    Verid’s influence on Gi Ba has grown stronger.


    Verid’s influence on Gi Be has grown stronger.


    ◇◆◆◆◇◆◆◆