«Lord! Are you coming to?»

The first voice to reach him was Doran’s. His vision was blurry. Go Byeonggap squinted, focusing the three or four overlapping images into one.

He saw several goblins. Their formation, surrounding him in a circle, almost looked like a mobile.

«Ugh…»

«Just lie still.»

Bamond said. Go Byeonggap decided to follow his advice. Lying fully back on the soft bed, he asked in a hoarse voice.

«Where… is this?»

«A sickbed in the infirmary.»

«How long was I out?»

«About two hours.»

«Damn it.»

Go Byeonggap pushed himself upright. Doran, who was right there, scrambled to help him.

His body felt a little better, but his head still swam. He took a few deep breaths, steadying himself.

«My Lord, what in the world happened to you?»

Dorma asked, his voice thick with concern. Go Byeonggap stared at him for a moment, then hedged.

«There was a fight…»

«Bamond said it was a close call. My Lord, if things were that dire, why didn’t you summon us?»

«That’s right! Why does the Lord always fight alone and come back all beat up? Do you have any idea how my heart dropped when I heard you were in danger!»

Go Byeonggap managed a bitter smile, then suddenly asked,

«Did you tell everyone I was hurt? My mother too?»

«Don’t worry.»

Bamond answered right away.

«Only a few officers know. We didn’t inform the Queen Dowager. She’s likely asleep now.»

«Hah… good.»

«Lord, don’t change the subject. Answer us. What were you doing this time to end up so injured?»

Go Byeonggap paused for a few seconds before answering.

«There was a fight. I fought the Divine Army.»

«Th-the Divine Army!?»

«You mean Madmut’s soldiers?»

The goblins no longer lost control at talk of the gods anymore.

After the clash with Landriol, they’d learned that the goblins’ memories of the gods had been sealed—to prevent them from being consumed by divine terror.

Anyway, that restraint was gone now.

«You fought alone? And that’s how you got so banged up?»

The goblins’ voices were full of reproach. Knowing it came from concern, Go Byeonggap felt a pang of sympathy.

«No, I was with some humans. That’s why I couldn’t call you, and those bastards were too strong…»

He stopped mid-sentence.

He’d been about to say, ‘The Divine Army was too strong, I was worried you’d get hurt.’ But then Landriol’s words flashed through his mind.

—What do you think a king is? What about a subject?

Go Byeonggap’s mouth opened and closed like a carp’s, then he rubbed his face roughly. When he closed his eyes, the moment alone with Landriol flickered in the darkness.

«My Lord, what happened then? Did you capture all of the Divine Army?»

«Dorma…»

Go Byeonggap shook his head.

«No. I got crushed.»

«Y-you mean you lost?»

«Yeah. All my comrades were captured, and I barely escaped. I was out for two hours—some of them might already be dead. Damn it!»

He slammed his fist into the bed. The mattress groaned.

Then Turka stepped forward and shouted.

«If they are our Lord’s comrades, they are honored guests to us as well. Send our warriors at once and bring them back!»

«No, no… it’s not a decision to make so lightly……»

Go Byeonggap swallowed his words again.

He slowly turned his head, surveying his goblins. Their emotions pressed into him, raw and unmistakable.

He let out a hollow laugh before speaking.

«What the hell is a king, anyway?»

Though he hadn’t intended it, his gaze had fallen on Doran. She took it as a question meant for her.

«Huh? A king? …W-well, that would be our Lord.»

«No, that’s not what I meant. Dorma.»

«Yes, my Lord.»

«What is a king?»

Dorma’s face turned deeply serious. The goblin closed his eyes, gathering his thoughts. A hush fell over the room; everyone waited for him to speak.

After a long moment, Dorma opened his mouth.

«A king is the one who stands at the very front of the path. Therefore a king is a lighthouse and a constellation. A lighthouse shows the boatman the way in the dark. A constellation gives the traveler lost in the night forest a direction to move in. Lighthouses and constellations always stand in the same place, unchangingly guiding people. So too does a king. A king is one who always stands at the vanguard, leading those who follow so they do not stray. And you, my Lord, are a great king.»

Go Byeonggap snorted a laugh. This time he looked to Kiriyan. Kiriyan spoke as if he had been waiting.

«A king is the most beautiful being, one that can always be looked up to. Just watching him makes one happy, and in any situation, one can follow him without a shred of doubt.»

One by one, following Kiriyan’s lead, the goblins each offered their own thoughts.

The circle went around until it was Turka’s turn.

«I am stupid, so I don’t really understand the question my Lord asked. But a king is someone I would protect even if I had to give my life!»

«…I see.»

«My Lord! My Lord! I want to speak again!»

«Go ahead.»

«Ahem!»

Doran cleared her throat. Then, as if addressing an assembly, she spoke in a clear, ringing voice.

«My Lord is light. The light that shines on us. I can’t imagine a tomorrow where the sun doesn’t rise in the eastern sky. Likewise, I can’t imagine a Lord who has lost his light. No — I don’t want to imagine it.»

Go Byeonggap felt a corner of his heart grow hot. It was a tightness, a surge rising in his throat.

«Even if you suffer, and bleed, and die because of me… could you truly not resent me?»

«My Lord, I know well that you treasure us. Because I know that, if I could bleed and suffer in your stead, I would gladly die a thousand times over and never find it painful.»

«The same goes for me!»

«I live only waiting for the day I can die for my Lord.»

«If there’s ever a day when pain or wounds come for you, I’ll handle them before they even get close! I—no, we are going to live happily with the Lord forever!»

Go Byeonggap tilted his head up, fighting the pathetic urge to let tears spill. A grin spread across his lips.

He spoke.

«Thank you, all of you. I’ll be back soon. Don’t make a fuss.»

He closed his eyes. Then he sank into his inner world.

As thick darkness wrapped the space, Landriol revealed himself as if he’d been waiting.

<From that face, it seems your mind is settled.>

«Yeah.»

<Then I ask again: will you be a caretaker, or will you be an Emperor?>

«I’ll be the King who raises Asvillam. For the little ones who lean on me, I have to become the greatest being on the surface.»

<The greatest being on the surface. That is to say, you intend to become a god of the earth?>

«If I have to, then yes, even a god.»

«Hahahaha! Splendid, splendid resolve!»

Landriol laughed heartily. He strode over and stood face-to-face with Byeonggap.

<But you must remember: a god is not something you can claim to be.>

«Coming from a man once called a god of the surface, I’ll take that to heart.»

<You’re not bad at flattery yourself.>

Byeonggap rummaged through his inner pocket. This time there was a cigarette, so he put one between his lips.

«As a latecomer, I’d like to hear some advice from a senior. So how do I handle that Divine Army rabble?»

<As I’ve said before: catch the soldiers with soldiers, the generals with generals. No matter how strong an individual is, one man alone cannot stand against an army.>

«But realistically, we’re outmatched in combat power. The goblins as they are now can’t fight the Divine Army. It’s like throwing an egg at a rock.»

<Foolish! An egg, you say?>

«Huh?»

Landriol looked into the distance. This place was nothing but darkness, yet he truly seemed to see a far-off mountain.

<Asvillam has produced great generals generation after generation. Especially the twelve who lived in my time—they were praised as heroes. Together they swept countless battlefields with me, writing a myth of a hundred victories without defeat. To call such beings eggs is an excessive slander.>

Landriol turned his gaze back.

<It was Hashumblant who brought down Alsharon. I miss him.>

«…I think I get it.»

Go Byeonggap started to turn away. Landriol hurriedly grabbed him.

<Hah, did you hear my words through one ear and out the other? That is not something for you to use.>

«…Can you read minds too?»

<Is this not your inner world? I can see clearly what you’re thinking.>

Go Byeonggap hesitated for a moment, considering how to react, then simply nodded.

Before he left, Landriol added one last word.

«Remember this. Even something as humble as an egg — depending on whose hand holds it — can become a rotten one, or a hidden blade that pierces your enemy’s heart.»

«I’ll remember.»

Go Byeonggap opened his eyes again.

* * *

A quiet night in Baltadren.

About five hundred goblins gathered in the square. The cream of the crop, picked and picked again. A sizable crowd, yet they didn’t break the night’s stillness.

Only their eyes, burning with fighting spirit, pushed back a sliver of the darkness.

Go Byeonggap stood at the front. Before him stood five goblins.

Doran, Dorma, Kiriyan, Turka, and Bamond.

Five luminous orbs floated around Go Byeonggap. Like will-o’-the-wisps, they radiated a shimmering light.

«Dorma.»

«Yes, Lord.»

«Don’t be afraid. I’ll take responsibility and lead you.»

«With the Lord by my side, what is there to fear? If you command, I will obey.»

«Good.»

Go Byeonggap pressed one of the luminous orbs into Dorma’s chest. The goblin’s body jolted instantly.

He trembled for a while, then let his arms hang limp. The next moment, he looked around wildly like a madman.

Then Go Byeonggap spoke.

«Descend.»

«…And you?»

«This place is no longer for you. So descend and enter your eternal slumber in peace, Hashumblant.»

Dorma.

No — Hashumblant wore a blank expression for a moment, then spoke to Go Byeonggap’s chest.

«Your Majesty is within there. Your Majesty, can you hear my voice?»

Hashumblant bowed his head. At that, Go Byeonggap’s mouth moved on its own.

«Hashumblant, my master of sorcery. This reunion isn’t so bad, is it?»

«I am relieved to see you at peace.»

«Indeed. It feels quite decent.»

«The new king commands me to descend. Am I to follow you, then?»

«So let it be. Let us rest now.»

«Understood.»

Hashumblant glanced at Go Byeonggap once and gave a polite bow.

Immediately after, Dorma resurfaced.

«Hah! Hah, hah….»

«Dorma?»

«Yes… that’s right. Was the one I saw down there really him?»

«That’s right. A strange fellow. Anyway, how do you feel? Notice anything different?»

Dorma looked down at his own hands, lost in contemplation. After a moment, he answered.

«Unbelievable. This power, this knowledge. It feels like I’ve been reborn.»

«Good.»

Go Byeonggap then infused the souls into the others one by one.

To Doran, the soul of Arhi the Sword God.

To Kiriyan, the soul of Gaianne the Thunder Emperor.

To Turka, the soul of Trobatin, the Heart of the Legion.

To Bamond, the soul of Mihail, the Wings of the Legion.

‘I never expected Landriol to help… I’ll have to thank him later.’

Thanks to Landriol’s cooperation, Byeonggap had easily persuaded the souls’ original owners. At a single word from Landriol, they had submitted and sunk back to the depths of the rite.

When the work was done, Go Byeonggap called out quietly to his goblins.

«The five heroes of New Asvillam are born today.»

The goblins burned in silence, their war cries voiceless fire.

Then Go Byeonggap threw open the great gate that led beyond — and called out once more.

«Follow me. Today, we hunt a god.»

The king’s army marched out.