Silence. A perfect silence so deep even the sound of breathing vanished.

The goblins, who’d been torn between breaking up Eola and Doran’s fight or heading into the cave to work, stared as if they’d seen a ghost.

Doran gaped upward, mouth hanging open. Eola just scowled.

«A human? How?»

“I asked you a question. Why are you manhandling a child?”

«What are you babbling about? It sounds like an animal’s cry.»

Eola yanked at the scabbard locked in his grip. It didn’t budge a single millimeter. Brutal strength. She tensed.

«How long have you been… no, that’s irrelevant. To let your guard down like this.»

«Lord!»

«My Lord!»

Doran and Gobungi shouted at the same time.

My Lord. Even Byeonggap, stripped of his authority, understood those words. He’d heard them so often they might as well have grown calluses on his ears.

Eola’s brow furrowed at the word Lord.

She hastily let go of the scabbard and pulled back, then snatched up the sword that was still stuck in the ground.

«Lord? Don’t tell me you’re the human who ruled this place before the Emperor? I heard you were dead.»

“Put the sword down.”

Byeonggap said the words while making the same meaning with a gesture.

Eola understood the intent. But instead of letting go of her blade, she only grew more alert. She growled out a reply.

«I don’t know how you’re still alive, but nothing changes. The Emperor decreed that no demi-human except the Saraon has the right to set foot on this land. So I will carry out His will and pass judgment on you.»

Eola rolled her eyes. Of all times, my subordinates aren’t here. They’re managing other areas right now.

And I sent three to the wall—how did he slip through that surveillance net?

‘This man is strong. I can’t face him alone.’

After a brief hesitation, she suddenly shouted.

«All of you, assume battle positions! We’ll take him down together!»

Her shrill cry rang out clearly.

The goblins took her order and immediately assumed battle formations—like hell they did.

«Wha—what are you doing?! Why are you standing there like idiots?!»

«…»

«Surround that man! Grab a pickaxe if you have to!»

«…»

«You miserable—!»

“Doran. Gobungi. Long time no see. But why are your faces half gone?”

Go Byeonggap waved a hand and said it playfully. Doran looked like she was about to burst into tears.

‘A gap!’

Even in her shock, Eola seized on Go Byeonggap’s opening.

She shot in like a thunderbolt. A sharp slash aimed at his defenseless arm, dangling there—

“You ill-mannered bitch.”

«Crack!»

«Kkeok!»

His arm blurred—she never even saw it. The scabbard caught her across the face and sent her flying. Her cheek swelled a furious red.

«Uugh… Ugh.»

Eola crumpled like a frog hit by a stone.

«Lord! Hwaaang!»

Doran ran over and threw herself into Go Byeonggap’s arms. Her face was steeped in hurt. He gave a wry smile and patted her back.

«…»

The other goblins, though, held back. They couldn’t grasp what was happening.

Who the hell was this man? He looked like their Lord—but he wasn’t. The conflicting messages from instinct and memory pulled them apart, leaving them lost.

«Lo-Lord…? Are you truly our Lord?»

Gobungi barely managed the words. Go Byeonggap only caught ‘Lord.’

Never thought not speaking the same tongue could be this damn inconvenient.

He eased Doran from his arms.

“Ea.”

«Ne?»

“Ea. Where’s Ea? Ea.”

«Ea? You mean Ea?»

“Yeah, that’s right, Ea. Where is she?”

«Why do you need Ea?»

Doran tilted her head.

Go Byeonggap jabbed a finger at the air.

“Ea. Here. Bring Ea here. Call Ea.”

«Lord, what’s wrong? I can’t understand you.»

“E! A! Here! Ea! …Aish, fuck. This is driving me crazy.”

Just then, Gobungi seemed to catch on.

«Doran! I think he’s telling us to bring Ea.»

«Ah! Ea here? You want me to call Ea? Is that right?»

Doran copied Byeonggap’s gesture and asked. He nodded quickly.

“Yeah, right! Bring Ea here!”

«Ah, I get it! Wait just a moment!»

Doran dashed off. Go Byeonggap put a cigarette in his mouth and let out a sigh.

“Whew. Asking for one damn thing is a pain in the ass.”

He looked at the goblin crowd. They watched him from a distance, neither closing in nor backing away further.

In the old days, they’d have come running. Go Byeonggap gave a bitter smile. He crooked a finger.

“Hey, Gobun! Get over here.”

«E-eh…»

“I said come here, you little shit.”

Words didn’t carry, but intent did. Gobungi shuffled closer, hesitant. A wary aura radiated off him—like a frightened pup ready to bolt.

Go Byeonggap wore a wistful expression as he roughly ruffled Gobungi’s head. The creature flinched slightly but didn’t pull away from the touch.

After a moment, Doran returned with Ea on her back.

Spotting Go Byeonggap, Ea’s already large eyes widened further. Once set down, she grabbed his hand and greeted him warmly.

She unleashed a torrent of words for a while. Of course, Go Byeonggap didn’t understand a single one, but he nodded along anyway.

Then he cut in at an opportune moment.

“Ea.”

«Ah, yes, yes!»

“Me. Talking. Aaah. Uh-uh. Talking. Need your help.”

«…Huh? What do you mean? What’s wrong with you?»

«Ea. I think the Lord can’t understand our speech.»

«Can’t speak?»

She groaned, then suddenly snapped her fingers.

«Ah! So that’s why you asked for my help?»

Go Byeonggap flailed with every gesture, trying to convey his meaning. In a flash, Ea grabbed both his arms and slowly nodded.

«I understand what you mean. I’ll help you. Fortunately, I have a knack for this sort of thing. It’ll cost some lifespan, but… just wait a little.»

Ea’s body began to emit a faint glow. The light slowly transferred to Go Byeonggap. The ritual didn’t take long.

As the two glimmering figures regained their natural colors, and Ea’s legs gave way, making her slump down, Go Byeonggap felt as though his clogged ears had suddenly opened.

He quickly caught her.

«Hehe… Can you understand me now?»

Go Byeonggap answered with a sad smile.

«Yeah. I can hear you clearly. Thanks, Ea.»

«Heh. Don’t mention it.»

«How did you do that?»

«I tore down the language barrier. It’s not a very grand law, but it still drained me a bit. Can you let me go? I want to lie down.»

Go Byeonggap did as she wished.

He stood up and looked around at the goblins. They remained the same, keeping their line drawn and not crossing it.

There was so much to say. He wanted to gather them all and chatter about old gossip, or hold a meeting on pressing matters.

Go Byeonggap condensed all those feelings into a single question.

«What do you see me as? Do you no longer see me as your Lord?»

«……»

«Gobungi.»

«Ah, yes, sir!»

«What about you? Are you scared of me? Do I feel like an enemy?»

«W-Well…»

«Hey, you brainless idiots!»

Doran suddenly shouted, stepping forward.

«What are you mumbling about! He’s the Lord! Our Lord! Have you stupid idiots already forgotten?»

«Doran. Do you see me as the Lord?»

«Of course!»

She answered without a hint of hesitation. He was grateful, but on the other hand, doubt crept in.

«Even though I no longer have the Lord’s Essence?»

«What does that matter? …Honestly, you’re not the same Lord as before. But that means nothing. I just like Byeonggap the Lord!»

Go Byeonggap smiled faintly and stroked Doran’s head. Then he slowly walked toward the goblin crowd.

They stepped back, just barely.

He didn’t rush. He simply picked up a potato from a pile in the corner. In a resigned tone, he muttered.

«So this is what you’ve been eating. You poor things…»

«You traitors! Don’t move!»

«Keeek!»

That was when it happened. A sudden shout rang out. Everyone turned, startled, toward the sound. Eola, whom they’d thought was unconscious, had a blade pressed to Tiny’s throat.

Her cheek was swollen blue and purple, a sight so absurd Go Byeonggap couldn’t help but laugh a little.

«How dare you… disobey my orders, given by the authority of the Emperor himself? This is treason against the Emperor! When I report this, you’re all as good as dead!»

She snarled, driven by malice. The goblins trembled in fear.

«I’ll give you one last chance. Kill that human. Do that, and I’ll overlook this incident.»

«Ah, ah…»

«What are you hesitating for! Kill him now!»

Go Byeonggap’s eyes turned cold. He shot a sharp, honed killing intent at Eola. Her face paled even further.

But she wasn’t cowed by mere intimidation. She shrieked like a cornered beast.

Go Byeonggap sighed and murmured.

«Goblins may be foolish, but they treasure their kin. I liked that about you. But you… you’re bargaining with your kin’s life. Or do you not even consider them kin?»

«Shut up! What would a filthy human like you know!»

«Everyone. Attack me.»

He said it plainly. The goblins stared up at him, dazed.

When they dawdled, Go Byeonggap barked, irritated.

«Why are you standing there like idiots? I said attack me!»

«B-but, My Lord…»

«Hey. Gobungi.»

«Yes…»

«Come here and attack me. Bite me, stab me, scratch me—do whatever you want. Hurry up!»

Gobungi looked like he was about to cry. He shuffled over, grabbed Go Byeonggap’s arm, and brought his mouth to it.

«Hnngh… Hngh… I-I’m sorry.»

Gobungi clamped his mouth shut. A sharp, tingling pain raced up his arm.

Go Byeonggap then pointed at several other goblins, ordering them to attack him. Those singled out also attacked, nearly weeping.

Cuts and gashes bloomed across his body. But only for a moment.

«Bwuh-huh-huh! I can’t! I can’t do it, My Lord!»

«Please, revoke the order, My Lord!»

The goblins fell back, sobbing. Go Byeonggap smiled in satisfaction.

«You’ve all worked hard. Now, watch carefully.»

«Y-you lot! Don’t fall back! Keep attacking! Kill him!»

«If putting a blade to a kinsman’s throat when things get tough is the true nature of you Saraon.»

«Don’t come nea—Eek!»

In the blink of an eye.

No. In a span less than half of that, events unfolded.

Go Byeonggap hurled the potato in his hand. It struck Eola square in the eye.

Eola toppled over backward. Before she could even rub her eyes and rise, he had seized her by the throat. She thrashed in terror.

«Kke… Kkek!»

«If that’s how it is, then I won’t let these kids turn into Saraon.»

«Kkuhk… W-what nonsense are you…»

«Everyone, listen!»

He roared. The world froze once more.

«Are you Saraon, who sees kin as dog meat and stabs your Lord in the back, or are you goblins, bound by kinship?»

«A goblin! I’m a goblin!»

Doran answered immediately.

As she broke the silence, the other goblins chimed in.

«A goblin!»

«That’s right! We’re goblins!»

«I am a goblin!»

«Good! Then will you follow the king of the Saraon, or the king of the goblins?»

«We’ll follow the goblin king!»

«We’ll follow the Lord!»

«Excellent! From now on, I am the goblin king. Any objections?»

«None!!!»

The goblins’ roar was enough to shake the rocky mountain.

A moment later, a change came over the goblins. Small orbs of light were drawn from their chests, then all at once, they seeped into Go Byeonggap.

A familiar yet new hologram flickered before his eyes.

[You have become the Goblin Lord.]

[The Fate of the Goblin Lord… Fat… F@#^&@#@#^&!]

The hologram crackled with static. Then, it changed its text.

[You have been freed from the Fate imposed by the previous Lord.]

[The fallen goblin kingdom ‘Asvillam’ has been opened.]

[As Emperor, oversee all your people.]

«P-please… spare me.»

Eola wept a stream of tears as she begged. But Go Byeonggap held not a shred of mercy.

He asked in a flat, emotionless tone.

«Are you a Saraon, or a goblin?»

«I… I…»

«I’m sorry, but there’s no ground in my Asvillam for a Saraon to tread.»

Crack!

Without hesitation, Go Byeonggap crushed Eola’s neck. She went limp with a last gasp of agony.

«What’s all this commotion—»

«Hack!»

Patra and Naiad, alarmed by the chaos, rushed in — then choked on the sight before them, as if the murderous aura filling the room had squeezed the breath from their lungs.

Slowly, Go Byeonggap turned his head to look at them.

«Are you Saraon, or goblin?»

«What? We’re obviously Sara—»

«Kill them.»

«Gurgle!»

Scream!

Shriek!

That day, not a single one of the five Saraon in Somnium survived.