Duo Leveling LITRPG | Post Apocalyptic | SYSTEM-Chapter 79 - The Awakening of the Goblin King

Chapter 79 - The Awakening of the Goblin King

Jhin regained consciousness two full days later.

«Title acquired: Goblin King.»

«The goblins bow their heads before you.»

He sat up slowly, wincing at the pain that flared through his body. A sharp headache throbbed behind his eyes, followed closely by deep, full-body muscle aches.

«Ugh...»

Still, pain meant he was alive. He exhaled slowly, pushing the discomfort aside.

His last memory was of wandering souls losing their way and falling into chaos. He remembered the shrieks that echoed from all sides, and the energy bar that had started draining by the second. That’s when he’d made his final gamble.

And the result...

«Your Majesty! You’re awake!»

Right in front of him, a goblin was kneeling with a wet towel in hand, visibly thrilled.

Three horns on its head.

Its size was no larger than a child’s doll, and if it had been sitting still, it might have been mistaken for a toy.

Jhin blinked.

«...You’re Nuada?»

This was the dungeon’s boss. The same goblin who had once grown into a terrifying C-rank creature with overwhelming pressure. The one who had nearly consumed the entire dungeon.

Now, trembling in front of him with a towel in hand, it looked completely different.

The gap was almost ridiculous.

What exactly had happened?

He glanced at the corner of his vision and saw a line of text. It showed a title he had never seen before—Goblin King.

«Huh?»

Fortunately, someone who could explain things appeared at that moment. He turned toward the sound and saw her smiling.

«...Millie.»

«You’re awake?»

He nodded, still eyeing Lykan cautiously.

«What happened?»

«A lot has happened over the last two days.»

«Two days?»

«Yes. You were asleep the entire time.»

Millie spoke with a calm voice, leaving out anything unnecessary. It was a clear and focused summary of everything that had taken place.

Starting, of course, with the absurd fact that Lykan had stayed at Jhin ’s side for two days, nursing him without sleep.

Millie gave a wry smile.

«Come to think of it, the National Intelligence Service was involved in this dungeon.»

«The NIS?»

«They were from ARK.»

That part surprised him a bit.

Considering the chaos in New Capital and how the Company was running rampant, he had assumed Corelands had essentially fallen into anarchy.

So the government was still functioning?

Then again, it was a nation with over 4,000 years of history. It wouldn’t collapse from just a game.

Well, Corelands was always strong in gaming anyway.

With one of the highest concentrations of Exodiaplayers in the world, Corelands’s situation should be more stable than anywhere else.

More players meant more warriors to handle dungeons.

Half of the Thousand Skies Guild were Corelandsns, after all.

Then something crossed his mind.

«Where’s Pete?»

Millie answered right away.

«He went to negotiate with ARK.»

«Negotiate? About what?»

«It seems ARK is in a pretty desperate situation. They’re trying to get something from Pete as fast as they can.»

Apparently, ARK was nearly on the brink because of the Lizardmen. Roads were completely cut off, and people were starting to starve.

Jhin frowned.

Lizardmen, huh...

Millie explained further.

«On the day the game opened, they took over the illumination gate. If the dungeon there has never been cleared, it must be quite high-level by now.»

«If they’ve formed an army, it’s probably at least C-rank.»

«Exactly. That’s the problem. ARK doesn’t have any players strong enough to clear a C-rank dungeon.»

She looked at him with steady eyes.

Jhin scratched his cheek awkwardly.

«Is there something on my face?»

«No.»

They talked for a while after that.

About Evan, the survivor they found at the auction house. About the many human slaves still inside the dungeon.

«The detective went to ARK too?»

«Yes. Evan’s condition couldn’t be healed even with potions.»

That’s why they brought him to ARK, where a real doctor still existed. After stabilizing his condition with surgery, they planned to start healing him with potions.

«It’s been two days since they left. They should be back soon.»

Meanwhile, the other human slaves were still inside the dungeon.

Since their souls hadn’t returned, they couldn’t be healed even if they made it to ARK.

Jhin turned to Lykan.

«Your Majesty, please give the command.»

He furrowed his brow slightly.

«...Are the children’s souls gone?»

«No, Your Majesty. The souls you desired have been preserved safely.»

That was a relief.

He had feared the children’s souls were used up in the battle, but they were still intact.

«Then can we return their souls?»

«...That’s impossible.»

Lykan looked troubled, and Jhin frowned again. He clearly remembered placing the Goblin Mask on Lykan’s head.

And the goblin was alive. Millieand the others were safe. That meant Lykan must’ve controlled the souls perfectly.

So why couldn’t it be done?

«The Goblin Mask is not mine to wield,» Lykan said.

«What?»

«As long as the King lives, the Goblin Mask belongs only to the King.»

«...That wasn’t in the game settings.»

Jhin clicked his tongue with a sigh.

Then again, even Lykan’s existence wasn’t part of the game.

Out of curiosity, Jhin checked Lykan’s nameplate.

It was white.

Not blue or red like a monster’s. It looked like a player’s.

«Also, among the many souls inside the mask, it’s nearly impossible to separate only theirs.»

This was the limitation of being human.

If Jhin were a goblin, handling souls would’ve been easy. But as a human, it wasn’t something he could manage.

«Then you do it. I’ll lend you the Goblin Mask.»

«Such an honor... but Your Majesty, I can’t control souls either.»

Lykan had lost all his strength suppressing the rampaging spirits.

He was no stronger than a baby goblin now.

Jhin ’s voice grew slightly irritated.

📚 Hey dear reader! 📚 Hey dear reader

🔗 www.patreon[dot]com/c/levelingmonarch/shop

👉 To read the novel, please click the button below and check out the store link. If you’re currently on a tight budget, feel free to message me—I’ll gladly offer you a discount! 💬😊