Human King

Dawn was back after clearing his territory for five days. To be exact, he came back when dawn was upon the sky.

There were many wounded in his group, but the deaths only number a few. In military terms, the hunt was successful, and it would speak for itself.

However, in Dawn's and the goblin's perspective, that wasn't a few but a lot. In Dawn's case, those were goblins who he had to protect and will protect, but he failed.

He knew how stupid it is, feeling bad over something that couldn't be called realistic. He thought that maybe it was his pride, but... to his surprise, it was he himself that was saddened by it.

Of course, he wouldn't mull over it as he knew that would disrespect them, the ones who followed his will.

With an unreadable face, he walked around the village that seemed to have grown closer to him. Without a doubt, he was feeling the village as a 'home' to him.

He could see goblins resting here and there and some goblins who were tasked with the guarding. Only a small group of goblins were guarding as they just went back from a hunt.

It wouldn't even be funny if the monsters roaming around still number the same after their expedition.

"Huh."

As he was taking in the sights of his home, he had a hollow chuckle, realizing that he was quite satisfied with the result.

For a goblin who was born with no one around him, lived with no one around him, then suddenly going in a village, what's more as the head, the feeling of satisfaction from 'protecting' his home was a new one.

A goblin is akin to a beast; if one lives in an environment for a time, one wouldn't be able to change its ways. Even though he spent a short time living in such an environment, it was still etched on his instincts.

"Gua?"

He was deep in thought when suddenly, a goblin approached him. It was a small and normal goblin that didn't know how to speak. His hands were full of small fruits, as he held it against his belly.

The eyes looking at Dawn was sparkling. He could see hints of respect and admiration, but the most important part is that he could see curiosity.

---Oh?

Thinking that it was the first time to experience something like this, he looked back at the goblin. He didn't know what kind of expression he was making at the moment, but he could guess from the crystal clear eyes of the young goblin.

"Guaa."

The young goblin clumsily pushed forward his hands, as if to say 'You want some?' as he stared blankly at Dawn's face.

If a human or some other intelligent species saw this, they would doubt their eyes. Hell, some of them may even destroy one eye to confirm it.

The goblin was just that sick and hideous of a race. At least, for outsiders, that was how it looked, and it will always be.

And in Dawn's eyes, in the King's eyes, the goblin was, for some reason, making him feel warm. The goblin's 'kindness' was being transmitted as warmness.

"Hmm."

He replied with a hum as he reached out to have a small bit of the fruit. He looked at its round and clear surface before gulping it down his throat. It was squishy, and juices flowed out from it, but it wasn't exceptionally delicious.

In fact, it was as if he was eating nothing, and as a result, his face muscles were about to form a frown naturally until...his eyes landed on the young goblin.

Although he looked quite the monster, his eyes were too honest for it to be one. And being at the receiving end of such a gaze, Dawn couldn't help but force a compliment about it.

"I-it's good. Hmm. Yeah."

Nodding his head while swallowing the bitter taste, Dawn looked at the young goblin.

The young goblin quickly had a smile plastered to his face. It wasn't the most beautiful one but to Dawn, that was the most meaningful one.

If he was the king, then that means that this goblin was his people. Because of some complicated pride, he always chose the best paths possible and always took decisions to befit a king.

Seeing this young goblin put on the biggest smile like an innocent child, Dawn was strangely satisfied. The young goblin then turned around and quickly left his line of sight.

After the young goblin's shadow left his view, he started walking once more. It was different this time, though. If before he was walking at a casual pace, now he was walking with an energetic one with light steps.

"Haha."

It seems he couldn't forget the young goblin's face as a rare laugh came out from him.

It was Dawn's first laugh at matters unrelated to battles.

****

Four goblins were standing across each other as they talked. No one was talking yet, so silence was prevalent.

They were in a forest glade, devoid of trees and monsters. As if fed-up by this unexpected silence, a goblin that was blessed spoke up.

Well, in fact, all of the goblins standing here were all blessed by the battlefield.

"So, when are you gonna talk?"

The one who talked was the goblin Womo, who was a Big Village chief and the father of the goblin brothers.

His tone was icy, and his eyes were sharp as if he was condemning his talking partner. The other two goblins were also looking at him with the same faces.

As if he couldn't stand it any longer, he let out a sigh. A hint of weakness evident in it, at that. Who would have guessed a high ranking goblin would let out a sigh like that?

Surely, not the other three goblins as they all flinched at the same time.

Taking none of their questioning gazes, the goblin in question spoke.

"I also don't know. The monsters are indeed coming from the south, but...when I sent my best feet, they also found out that it came out from other directions."

"..."

"North, east, and west. And most importantly, the south."

All of their expressions were grim. These goblins were the Big Villages' chiefs located near the area, and the one who spoke was a chief located further south.

"South...does that mean?"

"Sh! That's bullshit!"

When a goblin spoke with unclear words and unclear intentions, another stepped up to shush him out. After all, the south, for the Big Villages and some other villages, was the most important location.

The south signifies the Five Great Clans, and the bulk of the strength of the race 'goblins,' meaning monsters pouring out from the south is something that should not happen.

If a monster horde defeated the Five Great Clans, no one in the Big Villages expects to stop it. Of course, that would only be if it is truly a monster horde, borne from the increased population.

The atmosphere quickly took a turn for the worse. Even if there was still a bit of a distance between them, one could only think about how it is a situation that needs immediate attention.

This time, Womo spoke, hoping to get something out of this meeting. After all, he came here in the midst of preparing for war. He needs to make sure his time was well spent.

"We can't do anything about it. We'll have to move. The territory that I told you before... someone took it."

Perhaps reading his intentions or not, a goblin matching Womo's height spoke up.

"Judging from your tone, you already went there. So? How is it?"

"It's not me who went - my sons. It's doable even if my village is the only village that participates, but..."

Blurring his words at the end, Womo continued in a hesitant manner.

"The village chief there, he has a mark of the Cave."

"Cave of Regalia?!"

"Have you gone mad?! What do you mean, doable?!"

All of a sudden, the already worse mood quickly sped up to the worst possible one.

They couldn't help it; a goblin chief talks about attacking a goblin that has a mark of the Cave of Regalia. Of course, all of them knew about the unwritten rule about it, so they don't dare but...

"Wait, let's hear him out first."

The goblin who spoke was the village chief who questioned about the village. Worry is evident in his tone, but none of it could be seen on his freakish face.

"Well..."

And so, Womo quickly spoke his plan to tell the others how it is 'doable' even if the enemy is a goblin with the mark of the Cave.

With a bit of time, a sinister smile naturally formed on the other goblin's faces...