LOST IN TRANSLATION

"Scholar Rang has opened our eyes to the world. We cannot allow these brave men to sacrifice themselves. Little goblin, tell the Elder that we will follow him while the others wait here."

Chu said as he walked between the two parties. The others soon joined him, with Pick stubbornly dragging their sled. On the signal from Chu, they all acted without question, since this leader of theirs had a flair for the unusual.

The robed goblin cracked his neck as it spun between the children and Scholar Rang. Did these brats not understand the Emperor's language? How uneducated were these peasants?

Scholar Rang stared in shock at the brave children. The goblins had greeted him as a Master and asked for a reasonable gift. Since they treated him with respect, he could only follow suit. While his brain ticked on how to palm off some adventurers to the goblins as a necessary sacrifice, along came these idiots. He shuffled forward.

"The Empire and all those here will remember your sacrifice this day. Zubyia, quickly tell the half toothed one what the brat said."

Scholar Rang spun to face the men standing behind him

"Everyone here will be marked down in history. When we return to the village, you will all receive a pouch of gold coins and follow me to Limerock City. There untold wealth and fame will accompany you for the rest of your lives. We must never forget the sacrifices of these children who allowed us to live a life of riches."

Scholar Rang preached.

What a golden opportunity. While wondering how he would tie up loose mouths, the children offered themselves up on a platter. As uneducated riff-raff they probably felt the goblins would take them as hostages until negotiations completed. Why should he bother to explain the situation to these idiots.

"Here are your sacrifices, so you can butcher..."

Pah!

Halfway through the translation, Chu walked up to Zubyia Rong and smacked him across his face. Ignoring the surprised look of shock from the faces all around, he bent down, locking eyes with the cowering goblin. This little Rang had lost his bite after being trained, creating a sorry representation of a goblin.

"Hey, say it exactly like I said, tell the Elder we will follow him while the others wait here."

Chu repeated the sentence slowly, word for word. He narrowed his eyes as the goblin stuttered a translation. Chu had no way in hell of knowing what the goblin stuttered, but he waited for the expected response. Sure enough, the Elder goblin glanced curiously between them before calling him forward.

"Scholar Rang, fellow adventurers, for the riches and wealth of the Empire!"

Chu shouted as he and the others trudged out behind the goblins. The soldiers and adventurers looked on as the goblins led the children on their last journey. Some stiffened their hands on their swords, while others relaxed. Children were a copper a dozen in the cities, and they had not interacted with these to form bonds of brotherhood.

The majority might consider the girls as a major loss for the party, especially since they never had the opportunity to taste them. Although beautiful, the cities had ones who were more than willing, albeit of a poorer standard.

"Wait!"

Halfway along their walk, Chu called the Elder at the head to stop. Gesturing at the patient goblins, he signed to the Elder, while blocking the communication from the men with his body. Considering his status, Chu poked a nearby goblin to make his demands clear. When the Elder pointed behind him, Chu nodded.

"Let's make camp here until the goblins have had their fill. Good fortune smiled on us today since we unknowingly walked with gifts. You have all heard the goblins recognizing me as Master. By tonight or tomorrow, I am sure I can gain their goodwill to investigate the ruins."

Scholar Rang paused with his eyes sweeping over his entourage.

"I trust you all know the wealth involved in sweeping the ruins of the Tower Mages."

Priming the men with the enticement for wealth, Scholar Rang wanted to continue but the Captain interrupted him. Four armed goblins had returned from the retreating party, stopping a few paces away. One of them pointed at little Rang while spitting on the ground.

"You, the devil requests your service. Damn whimp!"

The rough-looking menace spat.

Scholar Rang turned as his face twisted in doubt. He looked to his translator witnessing the green face contorting as if it saw a wolf.

"They want me to go with them."

"What? No, no then how will we talk later?"

Scholar Rang said when Zubyia stuttered out the demand. He shuffled out in front, flourishing his sleeves at the lowly goblin. Since the Elder had treated him like an esteemed guest, this little prick needed to learn some respect. Before he could say the words for Zubydia to translate, pointed ears poked out from the snow all around them.

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A plethora of different faces of all sizes, shaped and features, all bearing a menacing hostility peered out from the deep snow around them. Who knew that all around them goblins guarded them from nearby trenches. The sudden movement and waving had riled the critters.

"Hey, I won't ask again. Drag you pathetic frame behind me. You have some balls to have the devil and the Elder waiting. Move before I gut you."

Outnumbered in this standoff, the men eyed each other with their collective gaze falling onto the cause of this hostility. Scholar Rang wanted to say something but Zubyia Rang acted first under the threat of death. Everyone watched as the goblin tripped in haste as it tumbled away behind the children.

Satisfied, the armed goblin spat on the ground and retreated while chattering. The numerous green sprouts around them disappeared within the snow.

"Heh, how dumb is that guy? For a Scholar why didn't he learn goblin?"

Ming asked while walking up beside Chu. Since they began shuffling towards the gates of the large camp, the Elder had motioned for them to walk at the helm beside him.

"That old crow is a disgrace to his profession. Having access to information from the Tower and a captured live specimen, he wasted a golden opportunity due to pride. He preferred to force his own ideals on that goblin, rather than share and learn the language and culture."

Chu harrumphed. Scholar Rang had the gall to send them off as appetizers without batting an eyelid. Chu marked him down in his mind for later. During their trek, little Rang joined them trying to squeeze into the front between Lucy and Chu.

"What the heck? Dammit man, don't you want us to live? Daring to squeeze between the Legend and the Devil, much less touch them? Do you want the Champion to kill us all?"

The Elder screamed while pounding Zubyia with his gnarled staff. The Champion had revealed to only the Shaman and the Elders the Heaven destroying secret the blond blue-eyed girl carried. A goblin scout walking respectfully on the outskirts of this high profiled entourage rushed in and flung the beaten Zubydia out to the rear.

"Dammit green skin, you dare hop alongside the Devil as if equals? The Champion will flay us all."

The scout chattered while launching some well-placed kicks on Zubyia.

Zubyia Rang curled up on the cold earth like a boiled shrimp, taking in the beatings. Barring the strange treatment dished out to the sacrificial children, he heard a word that sparked a shiver of pride deep within his heart.

Champion.

After centuries, the goblin tribes had recognized a Champion. Since the tribes had not scattered, then it could only mean that this Champion had been recognized by even the Great Shaman. Subdued under countless beating and years of torture, the wild flame flickered.

The Elder halted his steps at the wide-open gates of the massive camp.

"I bring the Legend and the Devil. Show respect."

He shouted.

From behind the high tightly packed wooden post, a group of Elders hobbled out supported with gnarled staffs. The greeters came forward and bowed in a hastily arranged ceremony. The curious Elders parted, as they kept glancing at the visitors. For some, they used this chance to scan the infamous Devil for the first time.

A thin goblin bearing a short sword and a coat of rippling iron proudly walked out. If not for the shinning suite of armor and clean clothing, he might not differ from any of the others.

"Ah, Pug? Wow, I nearly didn't recognize you in those fancy clothes with no smell. Nice, very nice, looks like you have moved up in the world. Seems like both of us are destined for greatness."

Ming hailed the Champion and casually trotted up to him. Chattering with the goblin in spite of the language barrier he scrutinized the Champion while circling him. The goblin guards at the gate and in the entourage stiffed up, while the Elders gawked before chattering quietly.

"It's true, the Champion really did subdue a human."

"If not for the Shaman I would never believe it, but look at how it circles the Champion like a fawning wolf."

"Dammit, no wonder he has earned the title of Champion. Only a goblin of wits and ability can subdue a servant of the Devil. No wonder the Devil treats the Champion like an equal."

"What the heck?"

Amidst the chattering and faces of admiration, Zubyia Rang blurted out an objection while hobbling out. Rubbing his aching hips with one hand he pointed at the Champion.

"What madness is this. How can the Shaman grant a weak ass goblin the title of Champion? This failure of a goblin and that brat are worthless. Why should he be crowned Champion while I who have returned with a Mighty Scholar have to suffer? I demand justice!"

Zubyia Rang bawled.

How could he stand for this farce? He had appeared in grandeur with human escorts, along with a powerful Scholar. The benefits and culture he would impart to these misguided goblins would be sung for generations, yet his return had been shattered by two idiots.

The Champion's armor and symbolic sword should belong rightfully to him. He possessed more culture, more knowledge, more strength, more wealth than these backward commoners. Why should some worthless imbeciles take the esteemed title for the same kind contribution?

Unfair

The Bones fell unjustly.

In a fit of madness, little Rang lunged at the Champion while snarling.

Before the Elders and surrounding goblins could react to the ravings and unforgivable sneak attack of this lunatic, someone moved. Lucy materialized from a few paces away, easily subduing the goblin by grabbing and lifting him by the neck.

Clutching the back of Rang's robe, she choked the flaying goblin in the air until he sputtered for air. Like a leaf, she tossed him towards the feet of the Devil.

"No, that goblin stole my fame. I was supposed to live that life, it should be mine."

Zubyia Rong choked on the words. This time Chu understood him since the previous blathering had been in goblin.

"Hey, you."

Chu squatted down like a mafia boss peering down at a snitch. He slapped the goblin out of his madness and then grabbed his neck.

"Do you know why you are still alive right now? It's only because those two idiots tend to listen to me. If not for me, the Elders, much less those tiny goblins peering out from behind the gate and huts would tear you apart. Only out of respect for their Champion have they allowed you to keep your pathetic, worthless life."

Chu said. He then rose while keeping his narrow eyes on the goblin.

"If you decide to keep your useless life, then follow me. Soon you will understand why neither you nor your worshipped scholar could offer the goblins more than those two idiots. Otherwise, I will kill you here."

Chu threatened.

"What could commoners offer that Scholar Rang could not. Why do the goblins fear and call you Devil?"

Zubyia pouted while wiping the blood from his mouth.

Chu grinned, his smile frightening the little goblin.

"Stick around, and you will soon find out."