From Slave to King: My Rebate System Built Me a Kingdom With Beauties!-Chapter 234: Drekk And Murkfang’s Relationship.

The goblin settlement was being run with remarkable efficiency under Murkfang’s capable leadership, the goblin proving that experience and wisdom could accomplish what raw strength sometimes couldn’t. They had transformed into a genuinely self-sufficient society in ways that would have seemed impossible just months ago under Byung. The ore they mined from the expanded tunnel systems now had practical usage—they’d established proper forges, learned metalworking techniques, created tools and infrastructure that elevated their entire civilization.

The goblins were working constantly, the settlement buzzing with productive activity from dawn until well past dark. The sounds of hammers on anvils, of ore being processed, of construction filled the air with purposeful noise. But more impressively, they had produced significantly more weapons than there were goblins to wield them, creating surplus inventory that ensured they would never run out regardless of future conflicts.

Racks of spears, swords, axes, and daggers lined the armory building constructed specifically to house their military equipment. The quality varied—some pieces were crude but functional, others showed genuine craftsmanship. All of it represented capability that hadn’t existed before Byung’s transformative leadership.

Murkfang stood near the central area, observing daily operations with satisfaction, when his attention was drawn to how the female orcs had begun to mingle naturally with the goblin population. The initial awkwardness had faded, replaced by cautious friendliness and occasional cooperation. The orc women helped with heavy lifting, shared combat training techniques, participated in communal meals without segregation.

But Murkfang seriously doubted that any of the goblins had actually managed to lay with any of them despite the increasing familiarity. The size difference alone made such encounters challenging, but more importantly, there was a respectful distance being maintained.

He was genuinely impressed that the male goblins had controlled themselves so admirably given their typical lack of impulse control. One of his deepest fears when the female orcs first arrived had been that some foolish goblin would do something unforgivable—attempt assault, make unwanted advances, cross lines that would destroy the fragile alliance.

But Byung’s explicit warning before departing must have set them absolutely straight. The goblin king had made it crystal clear what the consequences would be, and that message had been internalized by even the dumbest members of their population.

Murkfang was deeply glad this restraint was holding, and he understood with some bitterness that this wouldn’t have been possible if he had tried to enforce the same standards. His authority had slipped long ago, eroded by years of being unable to protect the settlement.

The goblins respected him now, but they didn’t fear his displeasure the way they feared Byung’s.

Drekk had been conspicuously nowhere in sight for a few days, barely interacting with any other goblin and focusing solely on getting stronger. A goblin who had always loved war had experienced his first genuine glimpse of real battle, and that exposure had delivered a harsh realization: he was nowhere near ready to face the actual threats that existed.

His body had undergone visible transformation during this intense training. He was considerably more muscular now, carrying lean, functional strength. He had relentlessly honed his combat skills with Naruz serving as his primary instructor. Drekk had responded by showing as much raw potential as a goblin possibly could, his natural talent refined into something approaching true martial competence.

Then one afternoon, Drekk showed himself for the first time in quite a while, emerging from the training grounds and approaching Murkfang with purposeful strides that immediately drew attention from nearby goblins.

"Murkfang," Drekk greeted simply, his voice carrying none of the threatening edge it once held.

Murkfang returned the greeting warmly. "Drekk. Good to see you haven’t worked yourself to death."

Drekk noticed immediately that the fear this goblin had once held for him had completely disappeared. Murkfang met his eyes directly, spoke without the subtle deference that used to mark every interaction. The change spoke to fundamental shifts in their settlement’s power dynamics.

They had once considered Drekk an unstoppable force, the most dangerous goblin in their population. But Byung had decisively shown everyone that there was absolutely no one who couldn’t taste defeat no matter how strong they appeared. There was always someone stronger, always another level of power beyond your current peak. That lesson had fundamentally reshaped how the settlement viewed strength.

Still, Murkfang greeted Drekk with genuine respect, acknowledging his capabilities even while no longer fearing him. "What brings you out of your self-imposed exile?" 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Drekk took a breath before responding. "I wanted to... I need to apologize. For how I ruled before. For how I snapped when I thought there was no goblin king. I was cruel. Excessive. I let anger control me instead of using it productively."

Murkfang was genuinely shocked. Drekk apologizing? Admitting fault? These were behaviors so unlike the warrior’s character that hearing them felt surreal.

But after processing the surprise, Murkfang smiled warmly. "I accept your apology, Drekk. And I’m glad to see you trying to turn over this new leaf. Growth isn’t easy."

What surprised Murkfang even more was the complete absence of malice or resentment Drekk displayed regarding what Byung had done to his brother Vrognut. That public humiliation must have been incredibly hard to witness, much less for a sibling.

But Drekk had never once batted an eye at the punishment, had never questioned Byung’s judgment. It was almost like he believed in Byung’s decisions one hundred percent regardless of how harsh or seemingly inhumane they might appear. That level of trust was rare.

"My brother deserved what he got," Drekk said quietly. "I know that. He betrayed everything we’re trying to build. I have no complaints about the king’s judgment."

Drekk clearly wanted to ask about Gribnox specifically but was having visible difficulties forming the question. His jaw worked, words starting and stopping. The farmer goblin had been someone Drekk had particularly terrorized, and that guilt apparently weighed heavier than other regrets.

But Murkfang could easily tell what Drekk was struggling to ask. "Gribnox has forgiven you too. Long ago, actually. He told me himself that holding grudges against you served no purpose, that you were a product of desperate times and that those times are past."

For what might genuinely be the first time in his entire violent life, Drekk smiled. It was not a pretty smile by any conventional standard—his scarred face wasn’t designed for joy, his teeth were too sharp, his features too harsh to pull off genuine warmth gracefully. But it was absolutely, undeniably a genuine smile that reached his eyes and transformed his entire bearing from threatening to almost peaceful.

"Thank you," he said simply. Then after a pause: "For everything. For being better than I ever was."

Murkfang clapped him on the shoulder, the gesture carrying real affection. "We all have our roles to play, Drekk. Yours is becoming the warrior we need for what’s coming. Mine is keeping the daily operations running. Neither is more important than the other."

They stood together in companionable silence for a moment, two goblins who’d survived terrible times and were cautiously optimistic about potentially better futures. Around them, the settlement continued its busy work—hammers ringing, voices calling, life happening in all its productive glory. Female orcs laughed with goblin workers over some shared joke. The forges burned bright and hot.

The transformation from what they’d been to what they were becoming felt almost miraculous. Standing there with Drekk—once the embodiment of their worst impulses, now trying genuinely to become something better—Murkfang felt something he hadn’t experienced in years.

Hope. Real, tangible hope that they might actually survive whatever was coming. That they might build something worth protecting. That goblins could be more than scavengers and victims if given the chance.

"Come on," Murkfang said, breaking the silence. "Let me show you the new weapons. I think you’ll be impressed."

Drekk nodded, and together they walked toward the armory, two unlikely allies bound by shared history and uncertain futures, ready to face whatever came next.