Duo Leveling LITRPG | Post Apocalyptic | SYSTEM-Chapter 78 - The Three-Horned Goblin and the Shadow of the Merchant
Chapter 78: Chapter 78 - The Three-Horned Goblin and the Shadow of the Merchant
Chapter 78 - The Three-Horned Goblin and the Shadow of the Merchant
«We’re not discussing this anymore. The decision is final,» Walt said firmly, remembering the monster that had torn through the ceiling with drool dripping from its mouth.
«But Team Leader!»
The team couldn’t accept it. Going back while leaving behind teammates whose fates were still unknown felt impossible to swallow. It went against everything Walt had ever taught them—treat your comrade’s life as your own.
Only the man in the panda mask agreed.
«...We have to go back. We need to get out of this dungeon right now.»
«Finch... why are you saying this too!»
Frustrated, someone even called him by name. But the panda mask— Finch—turned to them calmly.
«You don’t understand. If we stay here, we’ll definitely die...»
«What did you even see?!»
Crack.
A sharp sound rang out from above. Dust began to fall as the ceiling cracked.
Walt and Finch both froze.
The other agents looked up, confused.
«...Everyone, run!» Walt shouted.
«What?»
«We have to get out of here now!»
No matter how fast they moved, they couldn’t beat the ceiling’s collapse.
Something dropped from above.
Before they could even process it, the shape hit the ground.
It was a man. He lay sprawled out, as if he’d been showered in blood.
And then—
A monster stood in front of him.
It was a goblin. It held a small club and growled, staring with sharp, cautious eyes. On its head were three horns.
«Don’t come any closer!» the goblin snapped. «No one else gets near him!»
Was it really a monster?
Then why was it protecting a person?
Who was the man?
What was this goblin?
Walt was too stunned to even recall what the three horns meant.
He swallowed hard.
At the very least, it wasn’t that monster.
That alone was a relief.
The goblin was shouting, but its voice wasn’t threatening at all.
«I said stay back! Humans!»
It was barely the size of a doll.
Zzt...
In one corner of the D-5 sector ceiling, which was slowly regenerating, something small and ghostly began to stir.
Zzzk.
It was just a speck of spirit dust at first. But it grew.
Before long, it took the shape of a man. He brushed the dust off his clothes and muttered under his breath.
«That was some monstrous power...»
The fake dungeon merchant—
Nickname: Isiah.
He looked up and saw the torn ceiling. He could even see into the storage room above. It seemed a C-rank intruder had simply ripped off the dungeon’s roof.
«If I’d been any slower, this whole sector would’ve collapsed... what a shame.»
Lykan must’ve headed for D-5 for a reason. A shock to the outer wall could affect the expanded space inside.
If the goblin had torn away a bit more of the ceiling, and added another attack—
The entire D-5 zone would’ve broken.
The four-story auction house inside would’ve vanished. The space would’ve collapsed into the original, narrow train carriage.
And if that happened, he thought, everyone inside would’ve been crushed together.
Easier to eat.
No running.
No hiding.
And Lykan wouldn’t have gone down so easily.
«...Whoever you are, I’ll remember this. I’ll kill you myself.»
Isiah’s eyes gleamed coldly.
He had lost everything in this dungeon. But he wasn’t discouraged.
He’d find it again.
Stronger than before.
Next time, he’d show them the true power of the Company.
And just as he made that vow—
«Really? Who says?»
A voice came from the air.
Isiah’s head turned quickly, but no one was there.
«...Who’s there?»
«Still don’t recognize me?»
The voice was close now. Right beside him.
Isaiah drew the dagger hidden in his coat and swung.
But he hit only air.
The voice returned, this time from above.
Boom.
«W-what is this...?»
Isiah suddenly realized—
His knees had buckled.
His dagger hit the ground.
He couldn’t move.
And in front of him, a man appeared.
«Nice to see you again, Slave No. 1.»
Isiah’s back bent forward. His forehead hit the floor.
He clenched his teeth, trying to move.
But his body refused.
«Don’t bother,» the man said. «Don’t worry. You won’t be dying that easily.»
«What...?»
«Not until you’ve paid off your debt.»
Isiah rolled his eyes upward.
Something fluttered above him.
A slip of paper.
He knew it instantly.
The contract.
The one he’d torn up.
«You...!»
It was that man. The one who had posed as Ark’s agent.
The one who had brought all those Specters.
Now Isiah understood.
«It was all you...! Everything!»
The goblin mask, the chain of events—
It all came back to him.
His rage flared.
He wanted to kill him.
Right now.
But he still couldn’t move.
«Tsk. That’s what you get for messing with contracts.»
«You bastard!»
«Give up. It’s easier that way.»
Isiah gritted his teeth and glared up.
His body wouldn’t move, but at least he could speak.
«Who are you?! What gives you the right to do this to me?!»
The man smiled.
«Me? Hmm...»
He chuckled.
«Let’s just say... I’m a far worse merchant than you.»
Jhin regained consciousness two full days later.
«Title acquired: Goblin King.»
«The goblins bow their heads before you.»
He sat up slowly, wincing at the pain that flared through his body. A sharp headache throbbed behind his eyes, followed closely by deep, full-body muscle aches.
«Ugh...»
Still, pain meant he was alive. He exhaled slowly, pushing the discomfort aside.
His last memory was of wandering souls losing their way and falling into chaos. He remembered the shrieks that echoed from all sides, and the energy bar that had started draining by the second. That’s when he’d made his final gamble.
And the result...
«Your Majesty! You’re awake!»
Right in front of him, a goblin was kneeling with a wet towel in hand, visibly thrilled.
Three horns on its head.
Its size was no larger than a child’s doll, and if it had been sitting still, it might have been mistaken for a toy.
Jhin blinked.
«...You’re Nuada?»
