CHAPTER 52.33: GOSSIPS – THE ONE WHO CHOSE THE SPEAR
Change in terms: The church so far will be changed into West Church.
Goblin Name Cheat Sheet:
The [Goblin] is to make it easier to CTRL+F.
[Goblin] Gi Ga
The goblin in that estranged group that was with the protagonist when he defeated an orc. He is currently a noble class, the highest amongst the protagonist’s subordinates. He prefers to use the spear.
[Goblin] Gi Gu
The former leader of the village. He was pressured by the protagonist in his goblin noble form, and was added to his subordinates. He uses the long sword, and is relatively smart for a goblin rare. Became a goblin noble in chapter 39.
[Goblin] Gi Gi
Known as a beast warrior, a goblin with the ability to tame beasts.
He evolved while hunting spear deer with the protagonist.
He prefers to use the axe. His goblin class is rare.
[Goblin] Gi Go
A goblin with many wounds on his body. The food of his horde was stolen by the gray wolves, so he made a decision to follow the protagonist. He is the most experienced amongst the goblin rares. His weapon is a curved katana. He acts like a samurai.
Recently became a noble, and received the divine protection of the Sword God, Ra Baruza.
[Goblin] Gi Za
The druid goblin rare that recently joined them.
[Goblin] Gi Ji
A goblin rare. He evolved in chapter 37 after hunting with Gi Ga.
[Goblin] Gi Do
Druid. Uses wind magic.
[Goblin] Gi Jii
Goblin Rare. From Gi Gu’s Faction. He is known for his Wide-Open Eyes>> which allows him to see his opponent’s weakness.
[Goblin] Gi Da
Goblin Rare. From Gi Ga’s faction. Notable skills are Knowledge of the Spear>> and Unreasonably Stubborn>>.
[Goblin] Gi Zu.
Goblin Rare. The goblin favored by the Mad God (Zu Oru). Has the Mad Dog>> skill.
[Goblin] Gi Zo
Druid. Water magician.
[Goblin] Gi De
Beast tamer.
GOSSIPS: HE WHO CHOSE THE SPEAR.
Status
Name Gi Ga Rax
Race Goblin
Level 87
Class Noble; Guardian
Possessed Skills Spearmanship C+; Overpowering Howl; Omnivorous; Instant Kill; Adherent of the King; Spear Throwing; Warrior's Soul
Divine Protection None
Attributes None
Abnormal Status Due to the right arm and the left leg being unavailable – fighting power reduced by 60%.
After seeing the chief off, Gi Ga gave his thanks to Gi Da, his support in the coming days.
Then with a sword for a cane, Gi Ga walked with great difficulty.
With the chief gone, Gi Ga was now the highest classed goblin in the village.
Despite that he could not be counted as part of the force… a truly shameful fact.
With his remaining left arm wielding his spear, and with his right leg, skipping, he was somehow able to move.
Everything now was inconvenient. When eating he had to put down his spear before he could chew on the meat. When trying to hold something, he would have to pierce the spear into the ground, before he could grab it.
“Guu…”
It’s an honorable wound from protecting the king. He knows that.
He’s not regretting that.
But with him and the other goblins who have lost some limbs, growing weaker by the day, their food supply was getting thinner and thinner. If things were to continue at this rate, then they would surely die.
Not even one of them could walk on their own just to eat.
It’s vexing.
Didn’t he only lose an arm and a leg?
Why does he have to die because of something like that? To die peacefully outside of war… something like that shouldn’t be forgivable.
The king said…
Stand with me once more, and fight!
If so… then!
Then!
His duty now was to show the king that he could fight with only an arm and a leg!
He gritted his teeth.
He filled the spear he was using as a cane with strength.
Then using the recoil, he freed his body for a moment. Within that small interval, he took his spear, and swung it sideways.
A swing strong enough to scythe down the wind.
But that was all. After that swing his body couldn’t handle the recoil, and he fell to the ground.
When he did, he unconsciously reached out to his wounds.
“Gi, GiiGi”
Fire spread before him.
The pain was so great he began to hallucinate.
As the pain passed through him, he breathed.
He was missing a leg. Who would’ve thought it would be this much of a hassle? There was nothing to keep him planted onto the ground.
And with one of his arms missing, he failed to balance himself.
He waited for the pain to subside. When it did, he picked himself up again with the help of his spear.
This time he tried leaning his back onto a tree, and swinging his spear.
But with that he couldn’t put any strength into his swings.
What should he do? What should he…
He kept trying and trying, but each time he did, he failed.
Before he knew it, he was lying on the ground, looking up the sky.
I’m missing an arm and a leg… of course, my strength would also leave me…
Gi Ga closed his eyes once more.
I won’t die, right?
When I wake up again, I’ll have to swing my spear again.
◇◆◇
Lili had plenty of time nowadays because she didn’t have to take care of the refugees. She used that time to patrol the village. If humans and goblins were to start quarrelling, the days of fear and stress would return.
She’d rather be spared from that.
Although it’s a tad different from relaxing, Lili wants to properly enjoy these days.
“Lord Lili, is there anything the matter?”
The one who called out to her was the goblin water magician, Gi Zo. A goblin with an appearance similar to that of a human. A figure that’s long and slender, red skin, a vicious gaze, and sharp fangs protruding out of his mouth… If it weren’t for those, he could easily be seen a human.
With a robe over the goblin’s body, he was like a scholar.
As Lili thought those things, she answered the goblin.
“It’s nothing, I’m just patrolling. We’ve also increased in number, so it would be troubling if any problems were to occur.”
Hearing that, Gi Zo laughed.
From Lili’s perspective that laugh was nothing more than derision, but in truth, that goblin was only just laughing. As expected, the walls between two differing races is big.
“Well I’m grateful. After all, the village is currently weak. We also have some new larvae born to us a few days ago. With Lord Lili patrolling the village, we’ll be able to focus on hunting.”
If one were to listen only to the goblin’s words, the goblin would certainly seem gentle.
So long as you don’t look at his face…
So Lili tried closing her eyes and folding her arms as she listened to the goblin speak.
“Right. I see things are also difficult on your side. Thank you for your efforts.”
“Oh, no, not at all, compared to Lord Lili who mediates between humans and goblins, the effort we put in is nothing.”
Gi Zo smiled what he believed to be a sweet smile at Lili.
“Right, then I’ll be on my way.”
As Lili was about to leave, Gi Zo called out to her.
“Ah… If you don’t mind, I’d actually like to ask a favor.”
When Lili turned back her head, all she could see was a sinister smile.
“If it’s something I can do,” replied Lili.
“It’s about Master Gi Ga Rax,” said Gi Zo weakly.
“Recently, he’s been swinging his spear by a corner in the village noon and night… Seeing him like that is…”
“Hmm…”
Lili folded her hands as if to agree that Gi Ga’s actions were strange.
Then Gi Zo began explaining with a perplexed expression on his face.
Lili has a good of understanding of the basics of the goblin world which is that it was a completely hierarchical society.
What the higher ups do shouldn’t be wrong. And the lesser ones are to submit to that.
That degree of freedom also sometimes appears in human society, but there is a large difference between the way goblins and humans think.
Gi Zo seems to want to say that what Gi Ga is doing is wrong.
“Please calm Master Gi Ga Rax,” said Gi Zo.”
“I understand. I also have a greater responsibility regarding that matter than you all anyway,” replied Lili.
“So you’ll do it!?”
From distress to happiness; Gi Zo’s change in happiness caused Lili to wryly smile.
He’s rather easy to understand. I suppose it’s because they never had to learn the ability to hide one’s own emotions like humans do.
Bluntly put, this world here is that of the savage lands. But lately, Lili’s started to think that a place like this where lies such as those are unnecessary might not be so bad.
“Please take care of Master Gi Ga Rax.”
As Gi Zo bowed his head, Lili went off to go to where Gi Ga was.
Along the way, she happened by Gi Da who was holding his head with his spear over his shoulders.
He seemed to be suffering some sort of heartache, so Lili called out to him.
“Lord Gi Da?” she said.
“…Ah, human… Lord Li?”
The small goblin rare, Gi da, looked up to confirm that it was the tall Lili.
“You seem to be worrying about something. Is there anything I can do to help?”
Unlike the other goblin, this one was clearly different from humans.
A wrinkled face, a bald head… this goblin has nothing in common with Gi Do except for the color of their skin. It’s truly a mystery how they could come from the same race.
“What should… I… do?” asked Gi Da.
He was so depressed he looked like he was about to squat. Seeing Gi Da so worried, Lili placed her hand over his shoulder, and gently spoke to him.
It’s something she couldn’t have possibly thought of doing before, yet here she was crouching to meet the goblin rare’s eyes.
“Ahh…” said Gi Da. “As expected… Lord Li is a good human.”
As Gi Da sighed, he earnestly spoke out loud what was inside his heart.
He continued.
“It’s… about… Master Ga,” he said.
“If it’s about that, then Lord Gi Zo’s already asked me about it,” she replied.
“Really!?” exclaimed Gi Da.
Gi Da suddenly opening his eyes as he exclaimed that had quite the impact. Lili couldn’t help herself but become panicked for a moment, but she quickly put herself back together.
“Right. He told me to stop Gi Ga from practicing.”
“That’s wrong… What… Master Ga… wants is… correct. Can’t you help him… grow a leg instead?” asked Gi Da.
“Grow a leg?” asked Lili in surprise, unsure if she had heard wrong.
Gi Da nodded.
“The spear is.. no good without legs…” said Gi Da.
Power comes from having both legs planted onto the ground. The same is true for the sword.
There are some beginners who try to swing the sword with just their arms, but that’s wrong. The most important thing in swordsmanship are the eyes. Next is footwork.
Lili may not be that accomplished a swordsman, but she understands full well just how important the legs are.
Stepping… Jumping… Standing. The power comes from the legs to the hips, and then to the arms. Lili knew that by experience, so she nodded to the goblin’s words.
Though goblins and humans may differ in race, the techniques they use to handle their weapons is the same.
“I know that, but…” said Lili.
“Then… Lord Reshia…”
Lili could only shake her head at Gi Da’s clinging gaze as she said that even Reshia can’t grow arms or legs.
“Unfortunately, it’s impossible even for Lady Reshia,” she said.
“I see. Thank you, Lord Li.”
As Gi Da sighed, he began to walk again, still greatly troubled.
“Thank you, huh? Damn it… just how simple am I?:”
Although it wasn’t like her, she felt her heart ache when the goblin thanked her, so she vented out her anger against the ground.
Should I make him stop? Or should I make him continue?
No, he should decide for himself instead. If Gi Ga is to gather the respect of the goblins, then he’ll have to make the decision for himself.
As Lili bashfully though those things, she went to where Gi Ga was.
I want to consult Lady Reshia.
She shook her head to that thought.
“Pull yourself together!” she yelled to herself. “What are you doing relying on Lady Reshia for everything?”
She grasped the longsword by her waist, and close her eyes to calm herself.
“Calm down, calm down… Lili.”
The feeling of touching the cloth wrapped around the handle of her sword calmed her down.
She never knew that taking a single step could be this scary.
But even then, she took that step.
If she were to run, then she wouldn’t be able to face Lady Reshia. She would also be betraying the goblins’ trust.
◇◇◆
How should she describe what she was seeing?
Falling all over the place… there was no other way to describe it, but… ‘clumsy’. But he endured the pain. And no matter how many times he fell, he picked himself back up, and stood. He had within him a noble soul, one that wouldn’t flinch in the face of challenge. That truth was shown to Lili clearly.
The spear struck out by his long spear was certainly fast. It could undoubtedly kill its foes many times. But because he doesn’t have a leg, each time he repeats the attack, he falls over.
But he didn’t give up. He struck out his spear, and each time, he would bring it back and try to strike it into the ground to keep himself standing.
It seems he truly doesn’t understand that he’s lost his arm.
His balance is also bad, making the situation even worse.
Panting, his body was covered in wounds and dirt all over.
But even then, he did not falter. Seeing that, the adventurer Lili couldn’t help but feel strong emotions stir up from within her.
First came bewilderment. Then gradually… that changed into confusion. As she became aware of the emotions within her, she calmly walked toward Gi Ga.
“…What are… you planning?” asked Gi Ga, out of breath, as he looked up to Lili.
At the other end of his gaze was Lili who had brandished her sword.
“I swear by the sword, and ask you.”
The words of restriction of a knight. When a knight swears to his sword, it means that any lie before him would be met with a swift decapitation.
The polished, naked sword shone like sunlight.
“Why do you go that far? Is it for the king? Do you want to kill enemies that much!?”
Gi Ga stood up his body with his one arm, and sat. as he glared at Lili.
“It’s because of a promise. The king promised me! To fight with him again!”
Lili grinded her molars.
I want to kick that goblin king right now.
“…Do you want a leg?”
“That would be best. But even without that, I will fight!”
He was serious. His actions from all this time proved that.
She thought she would lose. The power she had on her hands that held her blade gradually weakened, and the tip of her blade touched the ground.
“I kicked your spear just now.”
“What an insolent thing to do.”
“Gi Ga, I challenge you to a duel.”
“…I accept.”
“In three days’ time.”
“Very well!”
As if she wanted to run from that place, Lili ran back to where Reshia was.
Author Note:
I’ll be writing three chapters about the village.
I wanted to portray the facial features of the goblins that don’t stand out.