Chapter 1: The Decision

On a sunny day with a clear sky, Gobuta caused a storm of silence in his house. Though the house was built with wood, mud, and stone, modestly adorned with shiny objects and boasting a small chimney in the wealthy Green Colony, it wasn’t safe today.

The family gathered for breakfast at the long mahogany dining table, with eight siblings and two parents. But the only thing being served was a heavily hung silence, reminiscent of an Asian household when the youngest child's career was on the line.

However, what he declared was an unconventional career choice.

“Gobuta,” a stern voice echoed through the hall, tingling the glass objects along the way. At the center of all this was the young goblin in question.

“Y-yes, father?” Gobuta replied, his courage wavering despite his steady voice. It was the last day of his semester break. If he missed this opportunity, Gobuta was prepared to live the next four years as an assignment slave at the Genesis University of Banking. If he wanted to escape this fate, a battle of wits with his father was inevitable. And his father was not one to lose easily.

“I’ve heard what you said,” Gobuzo, Gobuta’s father, replied with no apparent reaction. The rustling of his newspaper punctuated the tense silence.

Although the dining table was full, the only voices were those of Gobuta and Gobuzo. No one dared to utter a word.

“You want to drop out of Genesis University?” Gobuzo’s question made the room feel colder than it was outside, despite the crackling chimney. Eight pairs of eyes turned towards Gobuta, increasing his anxiety.

“Why is that?” Gobuzo inquired, turning another page of the newspaper. The tea on his table was warmer than the temperature in the room.

Gobuta gulped. His body shivered while his small mind raced, trying to search for the right words. His father wasn’t one to stop questioning easily.

“NosyPants! Answer him, if not today, then you will not get another chance!” Pulling him back from his thoughts was the voice of his eldest sister, Goberi.

Gobuta had to muster his courage. If not today, then he might never get another chance. However, anxiety was a bitch. No matter how hard Gobuta tried, his tongue felt heavy. His throat dried, and the voices in his head did not help a bit.

“Umm, mmm—” Gobuta took a deep breath. “I-I-I—” However, he continued to stutter. Goberi sighed. No matter how cute her brother was, he was really NosyPants when it came to talking with father.

‘Sorry, little brother,’ Goberi prayed for the last time before pinching Gobuta’s waist until he cried.

“Uwaaaaaa!” It hurt like hell, but suddenly, the voices in his head stopped. The fog in his head cleared and gave him the courage he needed.

“I want to drop out.” The words finally left his mouth. “I do not wish to pursue applied mathematics with Banking and Governance, father.”

Another silence followed in the room before—tinge! The teacup touched the dish.

“Hmm…” Gobuzo put down the newspaper, revealing a face full of wrinkles adorned with glasses barely hanging on the bridge of his nose. The eyes with sheer determination landed on Gobuta. In those eyes, Gobuta did not find anger, sadness, or agitation—just pure disappointment.

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“My child,” Gobuzo said, staring into Gobuta’s soul. “You do understand that you are in the most prestigious university of the Hobgob kingdom, don’t you?” The sound of stirring tea seemed deafening.

Even though Gobuzo wasn’t half as old as the establishment of the Hobgob kingdom, he was still a wise old man.

“I remember how you were as a kid,” Gobuzo suddenly changed his tone. “You could count to a billion without missing a single number. The teachers used to call us to tell us how genius of a kid you were.” Reminiscing over the past, Gobuzo’s eyes teared up.

“Didn’t you say that you wanted to become a manager at Goblin’s International Bank just like your father?” The tears were on the verge of sliding down his cheeks. “I understand that the studies might feel overbearing for now but—but if you could just hold on for a bit, before this old man dies, he might see the eighth prodigy in this house—”

“I don’t want to do it.” Gobuta’s outburst cut his father off. The house fell silent again. “You should’ve tried for acting instead of management, father.” Gobuta’s body shivered. However, having said it, Gobuta knew there was no turning back. He pressed on.

“I don’t want to manage banks like you! I don’t want to learn maths! I am tired of statistics and algorithms!” Pointing his small fingers at his remaining seven siblings, Gobuta said in an agitated voice. “You fooled Goberi, Gobima, Gobisi, Gobari, Gobuma, and Gobutsu. The only one without a banking background is Gobiman, but he too is a politician.” Gobuta, the youngest child of Gobuzo, banged his hand on the dining table. “I-I-I don’t want to be like them! Even when you knew it, you forced me for the entrance exam the same way as you did right now!” Gobuta had enough.

The tears of frustration fell from his eyes, staining the tablecloth on the dining table. All the seven siblings held their gazes down. After all, what Gobuta said wasn’t wrong. Each one of them was either a part of the nation’s finance or somehow connected to the political parties.

“What I want to do is!” The words were on the tip of Gobuta’s tongue. The courage was finally paying off.

“It is?” However, that’s when Gobuzo pulled his trump card. Since emotional blackmailing did not work, it was time for pressuring the kid. This strategy was called “Pressure Cooker.”

Since the seven siblings had never raised their voices against their father, the head of the house, the rebellious Gobuta was the first one. However, rebels can never win solo.

“What do you want to become if not a manager in the world’s most prestigious bank?” Gobuzo’s words were now like a Slytherin.

“I like cleaning the house, I love gardening, playing the flute is also to my liking!” Gobuta tried to get the lead with the flow of the conversation.

“Then, can you make a career while cleaning others’ houses?” Gobuzo cut him down. “The Ratmen have monopolized that business. Then, can you create beautiful gardens and become successful like Elves?” Not letting Gobuta a second to think, Gobuzo added more pressure. “Or, can you become the greatest flute player and earn a living like the Sea people?” This was the final nail in the coffin.

Gobuta had no arguments left.

“But why… why do I have to be successful? Why do I have to live the way other goblins do? Aren’t we being racist to our own race?” Finally, Gobuta blew the whistle and collapsed as the pressure became unbearable. His voice trembled as he looked into his father’s cold eyes that calculated his worth every second he spoke a word.

Even Goberi clenched her fists at her father’s words. For someone in their family to have such boldness to argue with the head, she applauded Gobuta inwardly. But this was the end.

‘Shit! Youngest, stop if you don’t want to be kicked out,’ his other siblings’ thoughts were along those lines. Even though they all had achieved a lot in society, they were all the same at home, shivering like cowards.

“Brat… Just because you are younger, it does not mean I will tolerate your insolence,” Gobuzo’s last argument as Gobuta’s father, the one who gave him birth, was heavy to fight against. “Hmph, as they say, negligence to a child’s actions becomes privilege over time. So shut up and eat. If you are displeased with your career, then prove your worth.”

“Mother, at least you—” Gobuta was about to plead to his mother, but that did not work. Turning her head away, Gobuta’s mother had a sad look on her face.

“Fine then, I am dropping out and that’s final. I don’t want to live the way you direct my life.” Gobuta took a heavy breath before declaring. He could no longer bear it.

However, hearing his words, suddenly, the teacup in Gobuzo’s hands broke.

“THEN… THEN GET OUT OF MY HOUSE THIS INSTANT!!!” Gobuzo roared, cutting Gobuta off. “If you want to drop out of the university, then drop out of my house as well. There’s no need for a failure in my house!” Gobuzo’s words were final.