CHAPTER 1: THE PROPHECY
Ding! Ding!
The sound of the bell reverberated throughout the village, signifying that it was finally night. As nocturnal creatures, this was the time the goblins thrived.
“Ookru! What are you doing! Quick! The teachings of the elder are about to start!””
Ookru ran even faster when he heard those words.
Three feet tall. Bulbous nose. Pointy ears. And dark green, rough-looking skin.
Ookru was just like any other goblin children in the village.
The only distinguishing characteristic he had was his dual-colored pupils. The left was red, while the right was white. It was a stark contrast to the other goblins who were normally born with slit-like yellow pupils.
Fortunately, the goblins did not think much of his eyes. They did not consider the child cursed or a source of bad luck. Instead of calling him sinister names, the goblins of the village embraced his peculiarity. They simply considered Ookru as a ‘special’ child.
“Huff… Huff…”
After running with all his might, Ookru arrived in time for the elder’s teachings.
“Hmmm…”
Seeing their willingness to hear the teachings, the elder nodded approvingly. She sat on the same log by the campfire, right in front of the statue of their god.
The voice of the elder was raspy yet dignified.
“It seems everyone is here.”
Eef was the oldest goblin in the village, and she naturally held the position of an elder. In their entire village, her authority was next only to the chieftain.
“Then, let’s start. Around thirty years ago, it was prophesized that the gate to the other realm will open on this land.”
The goblin children gathered around the campfire had heard this innumerable times before, but they’d been indoctrinated to pretend as though it was their first time.
Everyone attentively listened as the Elder spoke.
“According to our god, Systema, gates will open in this village in the second month of the year of the sun. That is exactly fifteen years from now.”
“The reason why our warriors are training hard each day is because of this prophecy.”
“This is also the reason why everyone gathered here today should hone themselves, all for the sake of fulfilling the will of our god.”
The elder looked up and softly smiled at the statue behind her. It was the statue of a faceless goblin.
The statue of Systema, the god who ruled and guided their race.
“The moment this gate opens, it is god’s will for our race to enter the other realm and explore the world outside.”
The elder added that they would meet the so-called humans there. And it was their duty as the warriors of god to eliminate them.
“It is by the grace of god Syst—”
“—Haah, I can’t listen to this any longer. It’s the same stupid teachings every time.”
All of the children looked at the goblin who spoke. It was a sinister-looking goblin sitting at the farthest back of the group. It was Chukru, the problem child of the village. Despite being young, he was almost as large as an adult.
Ookru said in a hushed voice, “Chukru! What are you doing!”
Chukru ignored Ookru. Without flinching, he voiced his opinions out loud. “Elder, if that god Systema really cares about us, he wouldn’t open that gate in the first place.”
The other children glared at Chukru for his disrespect for the elder, but he didn’t care.
“We’re already living the best life,” said Chukru. “Abundant food. Fertile land. A peaceful village. Even the settlements near the foot of the mountain maintain a harmonious relationship with us. Why is this god Systema so insistent in destroying the life we currently have?”
“Chukru!” snarled Ookru. “That’s enough!”
The elder softly smiled. She shook her head.
“No, it’s fine, everyone. I understand where the child is coming from.”
“Do you really, elder?” retorted Chukru.
The Elder said wisely, “Of course, I do. I had the same thoughts as you when I was younger. But child, mere goblins like us can’t dare to fathom the wisdom of a god. We can only surmise, but no matter how intelligent we are, we will never guess the thoughts of a god.”
“Sounds like you just gave up understanding things, elder.”
“Chukru!”
By now, most of the goblin children were glaring at Chukru, ready to pummel him to the ground if he continued overstepping his bounds.
On the other hand, the elder remained calm, unperturbed by the child’s remarks.
“Chukru, god Systema could have chosen not to divulge this information to us. She could have chosen not to give us this prophecy. But because she took pity on us mere goblins, we are given enough time to prepare for the gate’s opening.”
It was a valid point.
The elder stood up. Slowly, she knelt before the statue of their god.
“God Systema is benevolent. There is no need to think, we only need to obey. It is only by her grace that we are alive and prosperous today. If it is her will, we shall eliminate the humans once the gate opens.”
***
After the teachings were over, Ookru went back to his house. It was the largest mud hut at the center of the village.
This mud hut belonged to the current chieftain, Ookru’s father.
“Father!”
Ookru ran to his father’s arms the moment he entered the house.
The chieftain was five times the size of Ookru. His face looked chiseled, and bulging veins were visible on his muscular arms. Numerous tattoos filled his body, signifying the years he’d served as their village’s chief.
The chieftain was a hobgoblin. The strongest in their entire history at that.
The chieftain’s frightening appearance visibly softened upon seeing his son.
“Hahaha! Ookru, my precious son! So, how’s it? You listened intently to the elder’s teaching, yes?”
“Of course, I did, father.”
The child couldn’t conceal the disappointment in his voice.
The chieftain smiled knowingly. “Did something happen?”
“Hmph! That stupid Chukru! He started questioning the teachings again!”
Chukru was a well-known delinquent in the village. Although skilled, he would always say that he would never step into the portal once it opened.
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Recently, he even started telling everyone that the god Systema was probably a sinister monster who wished for the goblins to be annihilated.
They’d tried punishing him by solitary confinement several times before, but they did nothing to change the child’s demeanor.
“Kakaka! Chukru, huh?”
The chieftain gently rubbed Ookru’s head.
“No wonder the advisor wants to take him in. That child is smart despite being just a goblin.”
“Smart? Father, he’s blasphemous! You should punish him!”
“Ookru, you’re aware of it already. I may be the chieftain, but I can’t punish goblins for their lack of faith. That is under the jurisdiction of the elder.”
“But…!”
“Now, now. Don’t you want to become a hobgoblin in the future? Don’t you want to grow up to be a strong warrior?”
“Of course!”
“Then, let us sleep. Tomorrow, I’ll teach you more of my techniques.”
The eyes of Ookru glimmered from excitement. A lot of goblins and hobgoblins wished to learn the techniques of the chieftain, yet here he was, learning it for free because he was his father.
“Really, father?!”
The chieftain boisterously laughed.
“Kakakaka! Of course! When did I ever lie to my precious son?”
It was a blissful life.
It was only for a moment, but Ookru also secretly wished that the gate to the other realm would never come.
***
Fifteen years quickly passed by.
Two major changes had occurred in Ookru’s life during this time.
First, he finally became an adult. His body had grown to five feet in height, and his limbs had become a bit more muscular.
Second, his father, the chieftain, had fallen ill. The chieftain was the strongest warrior in the village, but he suddenly became unable to walk a month ago for some unknown reason.
It was a really strange phenomenon, Ookru thought.
Even the shamans couldn’t identify its cause.
Before this, his father was perfectly healthy. He was so strong that even if all the hobgoblins in the village ganged up on him, he would easily emerge victorious.
Even the other goblin villages located at the foot of the mountain respected the strength of their chieftain.
“It’s probably the work of that Systema, or whatever you call that goblin snot, god or whatever.”
Chukru suddenly said those words to Ookru one day while they were sparring.
“…What?”
Despite their contrasting personalities, Ookru and Chukru had become close friends over the past fifteen years. Ookru thought he’d gotten used to Chukru’s delinquency, but he never expected the goblin to blame their god for the illness of his father.
Chukru lowered his dagger. He said, “Think about it, Ookru. In the holy book, how many times were humans mentioned?”
Ookru thought hard about it.
“A… lot?”
Chukru nodded. “That’s right. I don’t understand why the goblins still think favorably of that so-called god. But one thing is clear, it’s not looking out for us goblins. Its favorability is leaning towards the humans.”
Chukru looked in the direction of the largest mud hut in the village.
“If I were Systema, I would weaken the chieftain before the gate opens. He’s too strong. I’m sure he’ll be able to easily kill those humans if they fought.”
“W-What… What are you saying, Chukru!”
It was a both preposterous and blasphemous. Ookru couldn’t even understand how his childhood friend connected the illness of his father to god Systema.
“Don’t let your emotions get the better of you, Ookru. As I’ve said before, if that god truly cares about us goblins, it wouldn’t let the gate open in the first place. Three days from now, the gate will open! Are you really planning on entering the other realm!?”
“But… I-It’s the will of god—”
Chukru raised his voice.
“Oh, goblin snot! God this, god that! Think for yourself, Ookru! Even our holy book praised the humans as strong, intelligent creatures! We’ll die if we fight them in their territory!”
“Words of a coward!”
“I’m saying this as your friend! I don’t want you to end up dying, believing in some false deity!”
“Haah… just stop,” said Ookru, disappointment and anger evident in his voice. “I’m disappointed in you, Chukru. If you’re that afraid of humans, go and hide. Although I failed to become a hobgoblin, I’m still a warrior. And tomorrow, I will fight as one.”
“Then go and die out there, for all I care!”
Chukru kicked the stone in front of him, sending it flying.
“Damn this shit. Everyone is too absorbed by the teachings they can’t even see the reality of the story!”
“Hey, where are you going!”
“I’m going to hide, where else? I’m not going to die for the sake of a false god.”
“W-Wait, Chukru!”
After that day, Ookru didn’t see Chukru again.
Some of the goblins said Chukru went down the mountain and left the village, but Ookru believed that his friend wouldn’t abandon them.
Ookru believed that Chukru was probably around here somewhere, watching over the goblins of their village.
Ookru believed that although Chukru had an odd personality, he wasn’t cold-hearted.
***
The day written in the prophecy finally came.
Under the lead of the deputy Chieftain, the goblins and hobgoblins marched toward the top of the mountain. According to the holy book of Systema, this was the place where the gate to the other realm was going to open.
As a devout believer, the elder came with the army despite her age. A cane in hand, she trudged toward the prophesized place.
Including the warriors from the other villages, there were roughly ten thousand goblins and forty hobgoblins gathered here today.
As someone who’d failed to become a hobgoblin, Ookru was positioned at the middle of the army.
“OOOHHHH! IT’S HERE! IT REALLY APPEARED!”
The voice of the elder resounded as the space before them started twisting. A crack in space appeared and slowly expanded, turning into a white vortex.
A portal had appeared before them.
“OOOOH GOD SYSTEMA! IT IS AS YOU’VE PROPHESIZED! THE GATE TO THE OTHER REALM HAS OPENED!”
Seeing that the prophecy had come true, the faith of the goblins to god Systema further solidified.
The deputy chieftain, who acted as the leader of the army due to the deteriorating health of the chieftain, loudly spoke.
“Warriors of the Goblin Mountain! We’ve gathered here today to fulfill the wishes of God Systema!”
He was met with fervent response from goblins and hobgoblins alike. Everyone was wearing leather armors, daggers strapped to their waists. And the hobgoblins were even holding large axes.
“HOOOAAH!”
“Today, we enter the other realm! Today is the day we offer those humans to our god!”
“HOOOAAH!”
“Today, we fulfill the prophecy! Today, we prove our faith to our god!”
“HOOOAAH!”
“Today, we — hm?”
The deputy chieftain stopped midway his speech when the portal suddenly glowed brightly. And seconds after that, creatures clad in metallic armor emerged from the portal.
The one leading the armored creatures spoke.
“What’s this?”
It was a strange language. And none of the goblins present here could understand it.
“Ahh, fuck, damn it. The association sent us here to take care of mere goblins?”
Behind the armored creature, a dozen others started emerging one by one.
Elder Eef’s eyes widened upon seeing the armored creatures. She uttered in a trembling voice, “H-Humans…”
In a louder voice, the deputy chieftain repeated her words, “Humans? Them?”
It was music to the deputy chieftain’s ears.
He’d been waiting for this day for so long. How could he not be excited?
The deputy chieftain sinisterly grinned. Upon hearing that the ones who emerged from the portal were humans, he fearlessly stepped toward them.
As a hobgoblin who stood three meters tall, the deputy Chieftain easily towered over the humans.
“Humans? These puny things?”
The leader of the humans looked straight into the deputy’s eyes. He frowned and said, “Hey, I don’t know what you’re talking about. That kiik kiik sound, it’s fucking annoying. And your breath stinks.”
The deputy chieftain couldn’t understand human language, but he was certain the human was insulting him.
“This human—!”
But before he could even raise his axe, the deputy chieftain found himself frozen. He couldn’t move even his fingers.
An invisible pressure was suppressing every muscle of his body, rendering him incapable of doing anything.
“W-What’s this…?”
The leader of the humans spat on the ground. “Fuck, that breath! I told you already, stop speaking!”
The human leader waved his hand once, and to all of the goblins’ surprise, the deputy chieftain’s body was cleanly split vertically in half.
Blood splattered and the deputy chieftain’s cleaved body landed on the ground with a soft thud.
Silence descended.
The goblins were too stunned and terrified by what they’d just witnessed.
Their god wanted them to fight these creatures?
These were the so-called humans written in the holy book?
Another human, this time a female, spoke, “Vice Guild Master, what are your orders? Although there are thousands of them, most are only goblins. And there are only a few dozen hobgoblins in their ranks.”
“Tch,” the Vice Guild Master replied, “That fucking Association. They sent us here since the portal is abnormally big despite its white color. This is totally a beginner zone.”
The Vice Guild Master scanned the goblin army before him. The goblins who met his gaze cowered, and some even peed in their pants from fear.
Subjected to the murderous aura comparable to the chieftain’s, even Elder Eef was visibly trembling.
“Sending an S-ranked hunter to a goblin dungeon. Funny. Fucking funny.”
“They’re probably worried that the Osinshiku Incident will be repeated, Vice Guild Master.”
“I know. But it doesn’t change the fact that we’re wasting time in a beginner dungeon.”
“But Vice Guild Master, isn’t this a good opportunity for us?”
“Huh? What do you mean Cressida?”
“Look around you, Vice Guild Master. This is a huge mountain, and I’m sure there are several goblin settlements scattered around this place.”
“So?”
“What I mean is we could use this place to train our recruits. A beginner hunter training zone, to be exact.”
Hearing this, the Vice Guild Master grinned.
“I’m really glad to have someone as smart as you around.”
The Vice Guild Master raised his voice.
“You heard her! Since those fucking bastards from the Association forced us to this dungeon, we’re taking over this place! Do not kill all of the goblins! Let a few escape back to their village! And if you see the System’s statue, don’t break it!”
“Yes, Vice Guild Master!”
“You know already that this dungeon will close it you break the statue! Mark my words! I will cripple those who breaks it even if by accident! Understood?!”
“Yes!”
After relaying his orders to his subordinates, the Vice Guild Master finally turned his attention to the goblin army.
Even now, the goblins were frozen by fear. They still couldn’t believe that the deputy goblin chief – a hobgoblin second only to the chieftain in strength – was killed so easily.
Other goblins would have already run away by now. It was already amazing that they held their ground this long.
“Hey, fucking critters,” the Vice Guild Master said to the goblins, “you’ll make me puke if you keep clustering like that. Damn nasty.”
The Vice Guild Master raised his hand. From the sky, a massive ball of lightning the size of twenty mud huts combined appeared.
“We’re taking over this dungeon. It’ll be a nice training ground for our newbies. Now, run, if you wish to live, fucking goblins.”
The Vice Guild Master pulled down his hand, and the ball of lightning flew toward the ground at a frightening speed.
The ball of lightning struck the ground and exploded into numerous lightning serpents, burning hundreds of goblins at once.
The prophecy of the goblin god had become the prelude of a massacre.