NOVEL WEB Chapter 7
I killed them all.
No more Goblin Knights, henchmen, or those shooting crossbows and spells from afar. They are all dead.
In the Goblin Empire, there were no signs of life left.
It felt like an eerie silence, as if I was the only one left in the world.
Stretching my stiff back and shoulders sent crunch sounds through my bones, followed by a refreshing sensation.
“Haaah…”
I don’t know how many there were, but… maybe thousands? No, maybe tens of thousands?
Thanks to the Miracle – Great Healing that wiped out a random number of goblins at the start, I couldn’t estimate the exact count.
– Whoa, the streamer really did this!
– Seriously!
– From today, I’m loyal to the streamer!
– Loyalty, loyalty!
– If I mess with that noona, I’m really done for, lol.
– For real, haha.
– Is there really a Hunter who soloed the Goblin Empire?! boonsh boomsh
I found out later that the Goblin Empire was considered an impossible challenge for even an S-grade Hunter to conquer alone.
[‘KawaiiHorned’ donated 10,000,000 won!]
– Congrats on the Goblin Empire subjugation!
“Ah, thank you, KawaiiHorned~ But the Emperor Goblin hasn’t shown up yet, so calling it complete subjugation is a bit premature…”
– Oh right, there’s still a mission left?
– Can the streamer take down the Emperor?
– Don’t you know? I’ll take him down like a piece of gum, lol.
– But the Emperor is a boss monster, totally different from regular mobs.
– Still, I feel like the streamer will win.
– Yeah, true.
“CRAAAHHHHH!!!!!!”
Then, a massive scream echoed so loudly it shook the Underground City.
I turned my head toward the sound.
A tremendous presence filled the space with overwhelming pressure. It was undoubtedly the Emperor Goblin.
“My soup!”
○○○○
The Goblin Empire had already been defeated once by a team of four S-grade Hunters and several A-grade Hunters from the Hunter Association.
However, at that time, the expedition had almost no information about the Goblin Empire. Since the Empire was attempting to invade the real world, the Association had urgently declared an emergency and summoned Hunters.
In the end, during the battle to exterminate the Goblin Empire, two S-grade Hunters died, along with many casualties among the A-grade Hunters.
According to the information, the Goblin Empire was preparing for a massive invasion of the human world, so the Association hurriedly dispatched a strike team to prevent civilian casualties, regardless of the success of subjugating the Goblin Empire.
As we know, the expedition eventually repelled the Goblin Empire.
Of course, it wasn’t a complete victory for the humans and the Hunter Association.
Despite the deaths of two S-grade Hunters, the Emperor Goblin was not killed.
The S-grade Hunters, whose vision was stolen by the organized “Sight Steal” spell of the Goblin Empire, soon found themselves on the defensive.
In the end, though two S-grade Hunters died, they did not give up and continued to fight valiantly.
And the Hunters, not missing the Emperor Goblin’s moment of carelessness as it was certain of victory while stealing their sight, managed to inflict severe injuries on the Emperor. Severely injured, the Emperor Goblin had to close the gate and retreat.
If the Hunters had pursued the Emperor Goblin more vigorously then, the Empire might have collapsed forever, but given the significant losses on both sides at that time, it felt like they reached a compromise for a temporary truce.
Then, after recovering from its injuries, the Emperor Goblin showed a desire to rebuild its nation into the once-mighty Empire and invade the human world again.
They bred many more Goblin Knights than before.
They created various Shaman who could cast deadly spells on humans, and even blessed them to form a legion of Shamans.
They secretly opened gates to steal weapons and dangerous substances like bombs from human military bases in preparation for an invasion war.
Far more thoroughly than before, the Emperor Goblin held its breath, vowing to make the humans’ territory its own this time surely.
If it tried to invade openly like last time, there was a high chance of drawing the Hunter Association’s attention, so the Emperor Goblin hid its Empire as much as possible and disguised it as a Dungeon.
If it steadily laid the groundwork for the invasion from there, surely, opportunities would come.
Yes, surely opportunities would arise.
If it weren’t for that crazy Seongnyeo trying to make soup out of goblins, the Emperor Goblin’s plan would have succeeded without a doubt.
At first, the Emperor Goblin didn’t mind that some strange woman had invaded its kingdom alone.
The Emperor Goblin believed its strong and numerous Goblin Knights and Shamans would capture that arrogant woman before it even had to step in.
Especially, the Emperor Goblin had experienced firsthand the abilities of the S-grade Hunters from last time.
They were strong humans, but it was natural that someone alone couldn’t handle its army without assistance.
At most, a few dozen, or maybe a few hundred Goblin Knights might die, but if it had time, it could quickly recover that much force.
It could even bring breeding bodies from other dimensions. Because any Goblin favored by the Emperor Goblin could become strong at any time.
[Those despicable creatures…]
However, that monster-like woman who came to smash the heart of its Empire was enough to incite the Emperor Goblin’s fury.
‘What is that female? How could she destroy my army alone?!’
After some time, the Emperor realized that the woman wielding those hideous tentacles had smashed its entire army solo.
How on earth did she do it? Instead of pondering that question, the Emperor Goblin shook with rage toward that female.
[CRAAAHHH!!!]
It held a massive great sword in one hand and a totem used by the head of the Goblin Shamans in the other, leaping from its Royal Palace.
“Oh, it’s the Emperor Goblin!”
– What’s that?
– Whoa, is that the Emperor?
– What the heck, is that even a Goblin????
– Wow, damn, haha.
– It’s freakishly big!!!!
The Emperor Goblin was the pinnacle and one-of-a-kind Origin creature among the numerous Goblins.
Standing nearly 3 meters tall, it had a body with muscles built tougher than an ogre, unlike the frail goblin bodies. Its appearance wasn’t abnormal; in fact, it was not strange to say it was handsome for a goblin.
– Damn, a Goblin is better looking than me.
– Hahahah!
– Hahahah!
– Hahahah!
– It’s no wonder it’s the Goblin Emperor, haha!
Its eyes shone with intelligence, proving great intellect, and no matter how furious it was, the Emperor Goblin did not impulsively attack the ‘woman’ who had destroyed its Empire.
That alone was enough for the Seongnyeo to lick her lips at the sight of the Emperor Goblin.
Thump!
[How dare you come here, despicable human?]
“Look everyone, the Emperor Goblin has proven today that it possesses intelligence sufficient to communicate with humans!”
[…Look at me, human. Your power is certainly great. Perhaps it’s similar to mine or even exceeds it.]
– That’s right?
– Come to think of it, the Association didn’t disclose much information on the Emperor Goblin.
– Other Goblins can’t talk!
– The Emperor must be special.
– But the Emperor has been talking to the streamer since a while ago?
– Not answering back, lol!
“Seems like you have no fur on your body unlike other Goblins… Good, your flesh also looks clean!”
[Ha! Do you dare to look down on me, human? I am the one chosen directly by the Mother of the Earth and my mission till today…]
“By the way, how about we cook some Goblin Head Soup?”
[What did you say?]
Soup? What is that?
The Emperor Goblin had no idea what soup was.
But, just the sound of it… Goblin Head Soup.
Just hearing it gave an unpleasant feeling and an extremely bad premonition.
– Wait, are you actually going to make that???
– What a lunatic!
– Why???
– Are you for real? Is it already a forgone conclusion that we will kill the Emperor Goblin?
– Hahaha, that darn soup, lol.
“No, just watch! Strong body more powerful than other Goblins! Great intelligence! Greater intelligence means a larger brain, so that also means a bigger head! It’s perfect for making Goblin Head Soup!”
– Noona, please stop with the nonsense.
– Hahaha!
– Nonsense is ON.
– As usual, going crazy…!
– Hahaha, I can’t.
– I won’t worry about that noona anymore, just lol.
– I was worried earlier that sight being blocked would get serious, but she’s still talking about soup, lol.
– But, the Emperor seems really pissed off right now?
– What if it’s angry?
The Emperor Goblin was beginning to feel a burgeoning fury beyond disbelief at the sight of that contemptible female who was ignoring it right before her eyes.
[Do you dare to ignore me?]
It thought highly of that female.
That white-haired female was certainly one of the strongest beings among humans.
That woman appeared much stronger than those S-grade Hunters who had attacked its Empire last time.
While the Emperor Goblin felt rage toward that female, it also felt respect.
Despite being a weaker female than a male, she had broken through its army and had slaughtered its Knights and Shamans alone even though her vision was blocked.
Aside from anger, the Emperor Goblin thought to treat her as a ‘warrior’ and bestow upon her a death that wouldn’t be shameful by meeting her sword to sword.
If this female were to yield to the power of the Emperor and enter into its Empire, the invasion of the human world would become much smoother, dreaming of a rosy future ahead.
[Ha… I-I cannot let this stand! Such a loathsome female…]
– Is the Emperor Goblin actually shaking???
– What? LOL!
– I would be pissed too if I was being ignored in my own home after having my entire place wrecked, haha!
– Hahaha!
– Hahaha!
– What will you do if you shake? Haha!
– Our noona only thinks about cooking, hahaha!
– LOL!
[No good! I had planned to treat you at least as a warrior, but my thoughts have changed! I will make you the breeding tool that gives birth to more troops than you killed!]
“How about this? The pot I brought is broken, but how about we eat straight from the pot? Doesn’t it look good to totally wipe out what’s in a huge pot and then go ‘phew yeah~’?”
– No way! The streamer really just keeps ignoring the Emperor!
– But I’m not worried!
– Eating soup and then going ‘phew yeah~’ is a rule!
However, the Emperor Goblin could no longer hold back.
Although it was angry, it wanted…
As an Emperor. As an Origin creature of Goblin Emperor, it wanted to have at least a little respect in a duel with the intruder who had overcome its military alone, but the human before it was completely disregarding it while talking to someone else somewhere.
No, it was paying some attention.
While threatening to make some soup, it was clearly insulting it right in front of its face.
Then, the Emperor Goblin placed a buff on its body using the totem in its left hand.
Boosting speed, enhancing skin defense, strengthening power, and even the totem reinforced the sword it held.
This totem was like a gem containing the spirits of countless Goblin Shamans, which meant it could cast various buffs.
In a brief moment, the Emperor Goblin stacked numerous buffs on its physique and sword. As soon as the buff was fully completed, it looked at the insufferable female with a face full of rage.
One second.
That was the time it took for the Emperor Goblin to complete the buff on its physique and charge at the cocky female before it.
CRASH!!!
And the Emperor Goblin’s great sword struck the Seongnyeo’s neck.
The Seongnyeo’s skin had a tremendous toughness.
But that didn’t mean it was invincible.
While it was certainly tough enough that ordinary swords, arrows, and bullets could not penetrate, the Emperor Goblin’s strength was on a completely different level fitting for the master of an S-grade Dungeon.
Moreover, the Emperor Goblin was in a reinforced state due to numerous buffs cast by the totem.
Even if it couldn’t sever the female’s head with its great sword, the sheer power of the Emperor Goblin was a lethal weapon in itself. The great sword would smash down on the arrogant female’s neck instead.
CRACK!!!
– ???
– Whoa, what the?!
– Crap.
– ?
– No, noona!
– What???
– No way!
– Is she insane???
– What’s happening?
– What the f*ck?
And the neck of the struck female was bent at a bizarre angle.
The great sword didn’t penetrate, of course.
But the terrifying strength of the Emperor Goblin had twisted the female’s neck into an impossible angle.
[Hahaha! You ignored me, and look where it got you!]
The Emperor Goblin knew that if a creature’s neck bent at that angle, it would be fatal.
The female’s neck was not even just in a circle; it twisted at least 2 to 3 turns, hanging loosely and appearing half broken.
Her cervical and vertebral bones must have surely shattered and killed her.
Snap!
[Ugh?!]
Yet the moment it thought victory was assured, one of the female’s arms suddenly grabbed the Emperor Goblin’s great sword.
Post-mortem rigidity? No, does post-mortem rigidity show up like that?
The Emperor Goblin was flustered but soon attempted to pull its great sword away from the female’s grasp.
[Ugh, huh?!]
Then, realizing that her grip didn’t budge, the Emperor Goblin began to break out in a cold sweat, sensing something was off.
Really, even with a neck bent like that, why hasn’t that woman fallen down yet???
“Ouch, ouch…”
– What? How is she alive???
– Haha, look at those newbies gasping!
– Hahaha!
– What’s happening? How is the streamer still alive???
– Oh, there are a lot of newbies here, haha.
– Smells like a total noob!
[‘KawaiiHorned’ donated 100,000 won!]
– Our streamer’s noona… is the Mangja Seongnyeo. Not just a ‘Seongnyeo of the dead’, but a Mangja Seongnyeo.
– That means she doesn’t die, lol!
– Now let us begin the worship of Seongnyeo of the dead!
– 1111
– I remember when she was swallowed whole by the Sandworm and popped out through its belly!
– Ah, that one, haha!
– ???
– How in the world is she still alive???
Mangja Seongnyeo
She is not a virtuous Seongnyeo who leads the dead or lost souls.
She is a Seongnyeo who has ‘become’ dead.
Zombies, undead, ghouls, various names refer to the dead. And Seongnyeo.
An impossible combination, an unbalanced holder of twisted miracles.
And the fundamental reason why she wields ridiculously strong and inhuman power.
Crack! Crack!
– Whoa, what the heck?
– Hahaha!
[Miracle – Great Healing]
Crack! Crack!
The shattered neck bones started returning to their original state.
The crushed skin and cracked jawbone all returned to their original form.
“Wow, the Emperor Goblin really is strong. The neck turned three times.”
You think I’m strong?
The Emperor Goblin began to feel fear toward the female who wasn’t letting go of its great sword, still captured in her grip.
“Now, it’s soup time.”
And the Emperor Goblin opened its eyes wide as it looked at the shadow of the tentacles spreading like flowers from behind the female.
It resembled a hideous creature like a carnivorous plant wanting to swallow an insect.
Rumble!
“I’ll eat well.”
[‘KawaiiHorned’ donated 10,000,000 won!]
– The Emperor is really done for, congrats congrats congrats!
[‘Hershey Citrus Cookie’ successfully registered a mission of 5,000,000 won!]
– Successfully defeated the Emperor Goblin, congrats congrats congrats!
[‘Boss Hair Assistant’ donated 10,000 won!]
– Whoa, they really did it.
The only sound the electronic noise of the donation music ringing in was the last thing the Emperor Goblin ever heard.