The Goblin King's cave was very large.

It was such a vast space that one might think it was once used as a lair by a dragon in the past.

In that enormous space, the Goblin King had installed an imposing throne.

To lead the goblin horde, or rather, the goblin kingdom, he needed to have that kind of majesty. So installing a throne was essential...or so he claimed, but in reality it was just the Goblin King's personal desire.

Even without a throne, there was no problem leading the goblin horde. The Goblin King was simply another goblin with red skin and a slightly larger build - a mutant, born with an extremely low probability among goblins. Humans also call them Hobgoblins. 

Hobgoblins are hailed as kings by goblins from birth, instinctively following them because of their red skin, strength and size. Apart from that, the Goblin King had no particular qualifications.

Wearing a necklace made of animal bones around his neck and holding a staff that looked the part, in reality even four or five ordinary goblins attacking simultaneously would overwhelm a Hobgoblin.

That's why the grand throne was necessary. To be recognized as a king, one must at least look the part.

The Goblin King who had led the horde for a long time may have established his position, but this current Goblin King had only recently formed his horde - a novice king, so to speak.

He had formed a goblin horde, but had no idea what to do or how to proceed. The situation of dozens of goblins staring at him with glittering eyes was psychologically quite oppressive.

So the Goblin King issued this command with an air of majesty.

―Go out and plunder other races!

It was a mindless order without any plan, but the goblins cackled with delight and swarmed out of the cave.

They might get wiped out harassing other races, but that couldn't be helped.

The Goblin King sat on his throne and heaved a deep sigh. The weight of the crown was indeed heavy...

As he was trying to set the mood alone, the goblins soon returned.

Amazingly, they had actually plundered spoils from another race - it seemed they had ambushed some humans.

The spoils included crude iron swords, two horses, two human men, one human woman, and one young elf.

The Goblin King was astonished. These were excellent spoils. He had sent them out on a whim, yet they achieved this much. Perhaps the day of establishing a goblin kingdom to rule the continent was not far off.

It must be because the king was so brilliant, the Goblin King thought, his shoulders swelling with pride.

The three humans and the elf were imprisoned, while the two horses were fed to the goblins - a reward, so to speak.

"Kekekeke!"

The goblins merrily lit a fire in the cave, nearly filling it with smoke and nearly suffocating everyone.

The Goblin King executed the goblin who lit the fire, then made the others tear apart and eat the horses alive.

A goblin must possess that level of cruelty, tearing prey apart alive - that's how they can rule the continent.

Of course, the Goblin King didn't partake. He had a constitution that made him sick unless the meat was cooked.

"Kekekekeke."

Though small, the goblins were numerous, and the two horses were quickly reduced to bones, their faces smeared with blood as they patted their satisfied bellies.

Watching this made the Goblin King's stomach churn, yet he also felt a sense of pride.

The Goblin King issued another command,

"Bring the human woman!"

He had given a reward, so now it was time to display his charisma.

He planned to execute the human woman impressively before the goblin horde. That would further solidify the Goblin King's standing.

Soon after, the human woman was dragged in by two goblins.

The Goblin King descended from his throne and examined the human woman closely.

"Hiiee, hieeeek!"

Seeing her terrified face looking at him filled him with a sense of greatness.

The Goblin King raised the crude iron sword acquired as spoils earlier.

It was heavier than expected, making his arm tremble, but he didn't show it.

Now, with one swing he would sever the human woman's neck, and the goblins would erupt in cheers.

So the Goblin King was planning to spread his arms wide and shout something like "Goblins, be eternal!"

Just thinking about it made the corners of his mouth twitch with excitement...

However, the Goblin King lowered the crude iron sword he had raised.

Come to think of it, did he really need to do it himself...?

Originally, the king doesn't do things like this directly. The king just needs to sit on the throne and issue commands.

The Goblin King handed the iron sword to a goblin standing idly beside him. Then he returned to the throne and put on a majestic expression again. 

His heart was already pounding. In fact, the Goblin King had never killed a life before.

He had made the goblins tear apart and eat the horses, and executed the goblin who tried to light a fire in the cave, but he had never directly bloodied his own hands.

So, somehow, he didn't want to do it. It felt a bit squeamish.

Originally, it's the underlings who do things like that.

The Goblin King shouted at the goblin who received the iron sword.

―What are you doing! execute the human woman!

"Keruk?!"

The goblin holding the sword was startled. Was handing over the sword meant as an order to execute her? That's the expression he had.

The king's command is absolute. For some reason, the goblins firmly believed that.

The goblin shakily raised the sword. It was indeed heavy. It felt like his waist would snap.

Goblins mainly used lightweight daggers, not crudely large iron swords like this.

Anyway, the goblin swung the sword down at the human woman.

But the sword struck the floor instead of the human woman.

Thud!

It missed because the sword was too heavy.

*

Susan didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Seeing a goblin shorter than her waist struggling with a sword as big as her body, she could hardly hold back her laughter.

And yet, the reason she didn't laugh was because her life hung by a thread.

The goblins who dragged her out of the prison seemed to want to kill her for some reason.

They probably intended to eat her. The two horses they had ridden from the village were already reduced to bones.

Soon, she would end up the same way. Thinking that, Susan's body trembled. The terror that had briefly subsided was devouring her mind again.

If only she could communicate, she would beg for her life, but these goblins just made kekek noises no matter what she said.

"Kekek!"

The goblin raised the sword again.

This time, his expression was solemn, as if determined not to miss.

Susan had to make a choice.

Would she die at the hands of this goblin, or would she resist, even a little?

Goblins were quite cruel.

Recalling how they had mercilessly stabbed Jack with daggers earlier, she lost the nerve to resist.

But if she just stayed still, she would die anyway.

In the end, since she would die either way, it seemed better to at least try resisting.

"Hah!"

Susan rose up and struck the goblin's chin with her forehead.

"Kekwik!"

The goblin dropped the sword and fell backwards.

Susan immediately started running.

Her direction was towards the cave's exit.

As Susan fled, the goblins stared at the Goblin King with dumbfounded expressions.

The Goblin King also had a dumbfounded look, but he managed to regain his senses and shouted.

―Catch her!

"Kekek!"

It was only then that the goblins started chasing after Susan.

It was a bit late, but it didn't really matter.

Currently, there were several barricade doors installed in the cave. The Goblin King had instructed them to make it that way.

The Goblin King was a character who valued safety.

If there were barricade doors, they could at least buy time even if other races barged in.

He firmly believed that the barricade doors would save his life one day... but unexpectedly, they proved useful in another way.

They prevented Susan from escaping.

Of course, she could leave if she opened the latch, but it would take time. Enough time for the goblins to catch up.

As Susan trembled with her hands trying to open the latch on the barricade door, she flinched from a stinging pain in her waist.

"Agh!"

When she put her hand on her waist, it was covered in a warm liquid. Blood.

One of the goblins chasing Susan had stabbed her with a dagger. 

Susan felt despair. It didn't seem like she could escape.

Even before opening the barricade door, her body would surely be torn to shreds like Jack's.

And even if she did open the door and run, how far could she go with her injured body?

She didn't have confidence she could run faster than the goblins in the forest. If she could, she wouldn't have been caught when she fled from the carriage initially.

The shadow of death was approaching. Susan keenly empathized with what Tom had said earlier.

They should never have left the village.

A glamorous city life? Marry with a noble man? What was the point of any of that?

Just living peacefully, eating and living well in the village wasn't a bad life.

At least she wouldn't be surrounded by goblins facing a miserable death like this.

"Kerek kerek."

Dozens of goblins gathered in front of Susan. She clenched her teeth.

Now that she really thought she was going to die, flashes like a zoetrope ran through her mind.

The days she was born and lived with all sorts of accidents in Herrington Village, the moments she vainly tried to boost her self-esteem, it was all pathetic.

If given another chance, she wanted to live well again. Without vain thoughts, living diligently and honestly...

"Kerek!"

Seeing the goblins charge at her all at once, Susan tightly closed her eyes. 

It was too late for regrets now. It was the moment she resigned herself to death with that thought.

Boom!

The barricade door behind her exploded.

Susan's body was flung forward along with the barricade door.