Byeonggap let out a hollow laugh. The five goblins standing before him looked utterly clueless.

The weapons that had been aimed at him slowly lowered.

«Lo… Lord?»

One hob goblin barely managed to speak.

Byeonggap used his sword like a crutch to push himself up and answered.

«Good to meet you. First time seeing a Lord?»

«Uh, how?»

«Beats me. How do you think?»

The five hob goblins exchanged glances, just watching each other’s expressions.

«You guys, come here. No—I’ll come over.»

He trudged toward them. Whether from fear or awe, the goblins shuffled back a step. That was the usual reaction the first time they met.

Byeonggap slung an arm around one goblin’s shoulder and asked casually.

«Who’s the boss around here?»

«B-boss?»

«I mean, who’s the leader that commands you guys? A goblin? Or some other monster?»

«A g-goblin. Sir.»

«Haah. Should’ve bought a lottery ticket today.»

The goblin just blinked back a question mark.

«Alright, let’s go. Take me to your leader.»

«Uuuuh…»

Hesitation hung in the air. Byeonggap knew just the cure for that.

«Don’t you want to go to Asvillam?»

«A-Asvillam!»

«We… want to go!»

«I’ll send you there myself, so just hurry up and lead the way.»

«Yes, sir!»

The goblins’ attitude flipped like a switch. Excited, they took the lead.

As they pushed deeper into the hidden world, more goblins appeared.

‘Lucky. Running into a rift made up of a pure goblin colony.’

The crowd of goblins trailing Byeonggap kept growing. Most were hob goblins. Deeper inside the hidden world, giant goblins and new faces joined the ranks.

‘Beast goblins?’

Beast goblin. A D-rank registered monster.

Basic appearance was similar to a hob goblin, but with thick body hair and wolf-like features. They could mutate—when they did, they turned into a beastly form, just like the name said.

‘Not bad. More types of goblins means more ways to use them.’

«Are we there yet?»

«Almost. There, sir.»

By the time he’d slipped out of the fields and come down near the village houses, the boss he’d been waiting and hoping for finally showed itself.

A shaman goblin, decked out in all sorts of ornaments.

That’s right. It was a goblin shaman.

The creature appeared before Go Byeonggap leading a bodyguard squad of giant goblins. It seemed to have sensed that something unusual was happening.

The moment it laid eyes on Go Byeonggap, its face twisted in shock. Its eyes looked about to pop out of their sockets.

«Wh-what in the world is this…»

«Looks like you’re the boss around here. Good. What’s your name?»

«…Dorma.»

«Nice to meet you, Dorma. I’m Go Byeonggap, the Goblin Lord.»

Go Byeonggap puffed out his chest as he spoke. Dorma pressed a hand to his forehead.

«Hah… My god. The real Goblin Lord. How can such a thing be possible?»

«Hm?»

Dorma’s reaction was different from the other goblins. There was more confusion than joy in it.

Go Byeonggap blinked. He’d expected them to drop to their knees on the spot.

«What’s the matter? Something wrong?»

«Of course there’s a problem!»

«What?»

This was definitely different from before.

Dorma drew a long breath before continuing.

«You are not of our kind, are you!»

Go Byeonggap shrugged.

«As you can see, I’m not.»

«Then how in the world do you possess the essence of a Lord?»

«There’s a story behind that. But more than that—what does it matter that I’m a different species?»

«You think it doesn’t matter?»

«No, I’m saying—fucking—ah. Sorry for the swearing. Anyway, just explain it to me.»

«Oh dear. Oh dear.»

Dorma slumped to the ground.

He looked like a freedom fighter who’d lost his country. In a hollow voice, he spoke.

«So you’re telling me to smile and be happy when our kind’s fate rests in the hands of another species?»

«…»

Go Byeonggap could understand what Dorma was saying.

Put yourself in his shoes, and it’s easy to see. If humanity’s only leader was a goblin, wouldn’t the answer be obvious?

Byeonggap understood Dorma’s feelings, even sympathized with them, but it didn’t sit well. Because it felt like being dismissed.

Go Byeonggap thought himself above this—better than any ordinary goblin.

«Yanma! So what if I’m not a goblin? As long as I get the job done, who cares if I’m human or goblin?»

«Why would it matter not…? It matters…»

«Hey! If you’ve got a problem, say it! Don’t just sit there whining with that damned look on your face!»

Byeonggap’s voice boomed, heat flooding his gut. He hated this—sitting and sniveling more than anything.

The goblins beside him flinched, shrinking back with fear-struck faces.

The goblin shaman, Dorma, had been staring at the ground for a long moment, then slowly lifted his head.

«This humble one dares speak a word to my Lord. Do you hold affection for our kind?»

«…What?»

«Can you truly love us goblins? Will you stand as our steadfast pillar through hardship and adversity? Can you promise never to abandon us?»

«Hey, hold on—»

«If your kind and we goblins come to conflict, would you side with us without hesitation?»

Go Byeonggap didn’t answer right away. The question demanded heavy thought.

But he couldn’t bring himself to say ‘yes’ as empty words. That would be nothing short of trash behavior.

When Go Byeonggap failed to reply at once, Dorma gave a rueful smile and nodded.

«See? That’s the difference between you and us—»

«Quiet!»

Go Byeonggap bellowed. His voice rang so loud it felt like the whole hidden world shook with it.

He pulled a cigarette from his inner pocket and put it between his lips. Lit it in one move and dragged deep on the filter.

Ssss— Haah—

«Goddammit! Why’s your speech gotta be so damn long! Just hear me out, all of you!»

He turned, drawing every goblin’s gaze onto himself.

«I don’t know about love or any of that nonsense. I’ll promise you just two things: the reconstruction of Asvillam, and the prosperity of the goblin race!»

Whether he could truly love the goblins,

whether he could be their pillar through every hardship and trial,

whether he could never abandon the goblins,

and whether he could always take the goblins’ side over humans’. —

Honestly, Go Byeonggap couldn’t be sure.

But there was one immutable truth.

The prosperity of the goblins and the reconstruction of Asvillam were directly tied to his own interests.

And Go Byeonggap had not a single speck of intention to let those interests slip away.

Go Byeonggap crouched down in front of Dorma. He shoved his face close enough to touch, then roared the words out like a war cry.

«I will rebuild this fallen kingdom, no matter what it takes! Any of you who agree—stand with me! Those who don’t trust me can rot here scratching their bellies and wasting time, for all I care!»

«A-are you serious, My Lord? Do you truly mean to restore Asvillam?»

«You bastard! What’s with the long tongue? I won’t tolerate any more questions. Those who will follow me—bow your heads and swear your loyalty!»

After the roar that seemed to pierce the sky, only a magic-like silence remained.

And one second later.

«My Lord!»

«My Lord!»

«I pledge my loyalty!»

Every goblin in the hidden world bowed their heads.

[Hob Goblin(81), Giant Goblin(29), Beast Goblin(23), and Goblin Shaman(1) have been annexed to Asvillam.]

«I truly welcome you to the family, you bastards.»

* * *

«Then, Gobung. I trust you.»

«Yep! Don’t you worry!»

Gobungi dipped his head in a bow, then barked out.

«Everyone. Follow. Me!»

Gobungi led the hundred thirty-four newly acquired goblins back into Asvillam.

Go Byeonggap stepped out of the rift empty-handed.

The moment he emerged, the rift began closing fast. Without living things inside, a rift collapses almost instantly.

As the rift vanished, the vineyard owner came running up, breathless and beaming with joy.

“Oh my goodness! You finished it in under thirty minutes?”

Byeonggap quietly hid the cigarette he’d been holding in his mouth.

“Yes. It’s over. You can rest easy now.”

“Aigo, young man, thank you! Aigo!”

The vineyard auntie latched onto Byeonggap’s arm and hopped up and down. He stood there like a statue for a moment, letting her.

“You’re a real lifesaver! Just wait a bit!”

The middle-aged woman made a call somewhere.

A moment later, a man who seemed to be her husband drove up. The truck bed carried three boxes of grape juice.

“We don’t have much to give, so take this at least and eat it.”

“Yes. I’ll enjoy it.”

“Take care now! Thank you!”

Go Byeonggap climbed into his truck and drove out of the vineyard.

He smoked the whole way through Simok-ri village. He knew he’d been lighting up too much lately, but he couldn’t seem to shake the habit.

-Do you feel affection for our kind?

Dorma’s words circled his ears.

Like a mosquito on a summer night.

“Damn it all. Now love too, out of everything?” he muttered.

It wasn’t such an absurd question.

Even a single dog deserves to be cared for with love. A ‘Lord’ who must lead hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands—perhaps love is an essential virtue.

Byeonggap wondered if he could truly love the goblins.

He still wasn’t sure. It wasn’t just because of their ugly appearance, or that they were a different species.

Right now he had too much on his mind. The thought of loving someone was out of the question—just worrying about his mom and money was enough to drain every last drop of emotional bandwidth.

Mother Teresa would lose her mind hearing that, but love is a luxury for the wealthy at the end of the day. At least, that’s what Go Byeonggap thought.

“A day that makes you want to swing a blade clean through things.”

He’d accomplished the purpose of his outing, but his mood was unsettled and restless.

He felt a sudden urge to move his body mindlessly, hacking through monsters.

That’s when his phone started ringing.

-Beeeeep! Beeeeep!

“Huh?”

That was the signal for a disaster alert text. Go Byeonggap pulled his car to the shoulder and checked the message.

[Emergency Disaster Alert]

-A rift has occurred at Yeongjeon-dong, Dong-gu, Daejeon, near the crosswalk of Yeongjeon Daehan Apartments. Residents of Yeongjeon-dong are advised to avoid the area and be cautious of secondary damage.

He must have already entered Daejeon’s jurisdiction without realizing it.

Go Byeonggap hurriedly pulled up HunterNet. There it was—a red pinprick on the pristine map, a flaw in the jade.

A rift had opened, right at the crosswalk in front of the apartment complex. Thankfully, it was only D-rank.

‘Daejeon—that’s Pros territory, isn’t it?’

Every metropolitan city, and broadly every province, had a big guild that ran the show.

In Seoul, the so-called Seven Great Guilds divvied up the districts and managed them.

Felix, Initium, Chakra, Somniom…

Anyway, those guilds kept the rifts that popped up in the city center under twenty-four-hour surveillance and control.

‘How do I wedge my way into this?’

If he played it right, he could just dip a toe in and walk away with a million won. Besides, he was in the mood to slice up some monsters.

Go Byeonggap twisted the steering wheel.

The rift’s location was a quick drive.

When he arrived, the cordon was already up, and the place was swarming with Association personnel.

And in front of the rift, four figures who looked like hunters were standing.

Byeonggap grabbed his gear and walked over.

“How can I help you?”

An Association employee recognized him and spoke up.

“I’m a hunter. I’m here to join the emergency subjugation.”

“May I see your hunter ID?”

Byeonggap handed it over without hesitation.

The employee, Kim Taeyong, looked at the ID for a moment and said,

“You’re D-rank, correct?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Hmm. Please wait a moment.”

Kim Taeyong went over to his supervisor handling paperwork and whispered.

“Section Chief Park, a new person showed up wanting to join the subjugation. What should we do? Let them in?”

“Why are you asking me that kind of crap? Let them in.”

“Well, it’s just…”

“What now? What’s the problem?”

“The person who wants to join is D-rank.”

“So?”

“Take a look over there.”

Kim Taeyong pointed at Byeonggap.

“He just showed up carrying a single sword.”

“Ah, shit. A leech?”

Section Chief Park spat out a curse.

Leech. Or mosquito.

It was the term for the sly bastards who let others do the monster hunting during emergency subjugations and just collected the money.

Park thought for a second, then said in a dismissive tone,

“Just take him in anyway. It’s not coming out of our pocket.”

“Ah, yes. I’ll do that.”

“Bastards like that need to get an arm or a leg wrecked doing their leeching. That’s the only way they learn. Tch!”

Kim Taeyong returned to Byeonggap and handled the paperwork by the book.

Byeonggap finished signing the documents and walked toward the rift.

Four hunters were already prepping to enter. A manager was beside them.

From the look of it, they were all guild-affiliated.

Three of them had guns as their primary weapons; the other one carried a long, curved sword.

They gave Byeonggap a glance, but didn’t pay him much mind.

“No issues here.”

“I’m good too.”

“Same here.”

The hunters said in a line. The woman who looked like the manager noted something down and nodded.

“Alright, then. Please take care.”

“Take care for a damn D-ranker.”

The hunters stepped into the rift.

Go Byeonggap found himself following along as if swept up in the moment.

‘Might as well go in.’

He slipped one leg into the rift. That was the exact moment.

Byeonggap felt an eerie, unnatural dissonance.

It was like plunging his body into a massive sinkhole.

‘The rift is pulling me in!’

Byeonggap sensed the danger and tried to yank himself out. But it was beyond his power.

Like an antlion pit—once you set foot in it, escape was impossible.

Fucked.

That was the single most fitting word for how he felt right now.

Before he was completely sucked into the rift, he screamed desperately.

“Fuck! This dun——!”

His shout ended there.