Goblin Kingdom

Volume 2: Chapter 155 – Paradise is a Long Way Away (1/2)

There was only one month left until the war with the humans. Various weapons and armor have been prepared, and the goblin soldiers’ training have been going smoothly. We’ve also managed to increase food production and have also began cultivating the red fruits which even the goblins should be able to eat.

Although goblin diet still largely revolved around meat, at the very least, we no longer relied solely on hunting.

There’s not much that can be done about the goblins’ taste, so I’ll just have to order them to add fruits and grains to their diet.

Personally, I don’t think they taste good either, but it’s necessary, so I eat them anyway.

Naturally, I couldn’t be the only one to eat only meat, so I had to start incorporating the new menu into my own diet first.

As a result, goblin diet gradually changed. It’s not so easily accomplished, however, so we’ll have to take things step by step.

As the day of war approached, I gathered the elven reinforcements and the demihumans to the frontlines, namely the ones that specialized in war, such as Mido of the Fang Tribe, Nikea of the Araneae, and Kerodotos of the minotaurs.

On the side of the elves, Fei, who has been going back and forth the village and me, arrived with Princess Shunaria, an old elven friend, and some familiar goblins.

“Long time no see, Your Majesty!” Leader of the druids, Gi Za Zakuend, said.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness!” Kuzan, who had left for the elven school, said.

“Was it worth it?” I asked.

“Of course! I will definitely be of help to you, Your Majesty!” Gi Za said proudly with his arms folded.

“I have learned much about herbs, so just leave the wounded to me!” Kuzan said cheerfully as she jumped up and down.

I nodded. “Good, I’ll be expecting much from you. But for now rest up. We’ll talk after.”

I called out to Gi Do Buruga, who was behind Gi Za. “You too, Gi Do.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty,” he said with an elegant bow.

His manners were so graceful that I went wide-eyed for a moment. Who would’ve thought a goblin could become so… graceful? It seems there really is a lot we have to learn from the elves.

Everyone came back better than before, but battle-wise, the one with the greatest results was none other than Cynthia.

A peek at her status through the one-eyed snake’s evil eye showed just how much she had grown. Moreover, because she was subordinated to me, I could see that some wolves were also subordinated to her.

She was also no longer an adult but a wild beast. I can’t imagine just how much blood she must have shed to grow so much…

“Father,” Cynthia said.

I was shocked, to say the least, but I didn’t forget to spoil her by rubbing her head. It seems she can now talk a little.

“Father,” Cynthia said again.

Unfortunately, the words she could speak were still too few. Regardless, it was clear that she enjoyed being rubbed. Her voice was still that of a little girl but the path she has walked was nothing to scoff at.

The skill, Wise Wolf, must be what allows us to understand each other.

“Welcome back, Cynthia. I’m glad to see you.”

I caressed Cynthia as she snuggled up to me.

Spoiling her from time to time should be fine.

◆◆◇

One month before the war with the humans, the people that left to scout: Shumea, Selena, Pale, and Felbi returned.

The information they came back with made me doubt my ears.

A great civil war had begun among the free cities, and the leading actors were none other than the followers of the Kushain faith.

Apparently, the Kushain adherents of the northern city state, Cultidian, rallied the adherents from the other city states and marched east.

Because everything had happened so suddenly, one of the eastern city states fell.

The war was led by the patriarch himself, who called the war a holy war.

“Did you catch the name of that patriarch?” I asked.

Shumea was the one to answer that question. “If I recall correctly, it should be Benem Nemush.”

He actually became patriarch? I suppose strange things do happen, but on the other hand, having things progress so well leaves me uneasy.

Regardless, with this, the public order of the southern part of Germion Kingdom should worsen, crippling their ability to support the west.

Germion Kingdom has no way of knowing how far that so-called holy war will spread, so they shouldn’t be able to spread the south thin. When it comes to religious wars like these, the more zealous the adherents, the fiercer the fires of war will burn.

I don’t think all the believers would be as passionate as that man, but the more aggressive they become, the more refugees and deaths there will be.

This is a good opportunity for us.

As I thought that to myself, I suggested that Pale and the others rest.

“Umm… Do you mind if I ask for a favor?” Pale asked apologetically.

Nodding, I had the others go ahead. “That’s rare, coming from you.”

From the way I saw it, Pale seemed to have resolved herself. She seemed particularly tense.

“Please let me go to the human world one more time,” Pale said.

“Why?” I asked.

Pale gulped as she hesitatingly answered. “…For private reasons.”

“That’s what I want to know,” I said.

Pale shut her mouth tight as if she had been hit.

I quietly waited for her answer.

“I was an adventurer before. My comrades from back then seems to have found themselves in trouble, so…” Pale said.

“We are about to go to war with the western feudal lord of Germion Kingdom. You do understand that we need every man we can get, right?” I said.

Pale quietly nodded, and I thought about her proposal.

“First of all, what exactly do you want to do about these comrades of yours? Do you want to save them? If so, what will you do after you save them?” I asked.

Pale might be blind now, but I’m sure with her skills, she could still manage as an adventurer. According to Shumea, her blindness wasn’t really much of a deterrent.

“I would like to save them if I could,” Pale said.

“Go if you must, but I hope you’re not planning on going against us,” I said.

“But of course!” Pale said.

When she said ‘favor’, she was probably referring to Selena. I’m not keen on sending Pale out alone, but it can’t be helped.

It doesn’t seem like she’s just running away, though. After all, she could have just left without saying anything.

“Nothing bad will happen to Selena. Go in peace,” I said.

“Thank you,” Pale said.

Like that Pale left, and I went to where Selena and the others were.

Pale isn’t going to be around, so it seems I will have to rethink my plans.