Goblin King: My Innate Skill Is OP-Chapter 300: Balance

"You’re in charge while I’m gone. Protect the clan."

He nodded immediately, the motion sharp and decisive. If there was anyone I trusted with that responsibility, it was him. Especially now. The ability he carried wasn’t just powerful, it was frightening in the way it changed the balance of any confrontation.

I leaned closer and lowered my voice.

"And keep an eye on those two," I added quietly. Those two being Zarah and Dribb. "I’d rather not come back to find infighting."

"Understood, Chief," Narg replied, his expression turning grim with focus. "I’ll make sure everything is properly managed."

Something about the way he said it made a faint warning prickle at the back of my mind. Not distrust, but awareness. Narg was efficient. Ruthlessly so, when he believed it was necessary.

I met his gaze.

"Don’t go too far, Narg."

His eyes flickered for just a moment before he bowed his head again, acknowledging the restraint as much as the order.

"I’ll try my best not to, Chief," he said, before turning and returning to his seat.

Try?

That single word lingered longer than I liked. It wasn’t reassuring, not coming from someone like Narg, who usually spoke with certainty rather than probability. Still, I let it pass. There was no point pressing it further now.

Narg settled back into place, posture composed, expression unreadable.

Flogga, who had remained beside me throughout the exchange, finally spoke up, her voice low but deliberate.

"Be careful, young totem," she said. "You can die to any other beast, but not another Chosen. You know that, right?"

I nodded, though the gesture came out a bit stiff.

She was right. Too right.

If I died to another Chosen, it wouldn’t just be death. I’d lose my abilities entirely. My entire [Phase Walker] skill line would vanish, stripped away in an instant. My title as a Chosen would be gone, and with it, my guaranteed place in the King’s Games.

No second chances. No recovery. Just erasure.

There were plenty of risks in dying, but that particular one sat heavier than the rest, because it wasn’t just an end, it was a collapse of everything I had built so far.

"Thank you, Flogga," I said after a moment, exhaling slowly. "When I return, I’ll be looking forward to seeing the insane potion you’ll have made by then."

That earned a faint, knowing look from her, and for just a moment, the weight in my chest eased.

Now that she had a full skill line reinforcing her craft, one that directly amplified her potion-making talent, there was no doubt in my mind that whatever she brewed next would be nothing short of absurd. The thought alone made me curious, and a little wary, of what would be waiting when I returned.

"Then I’d best head to my cauldron," she said, already turning away, her tone carrying that familiar mix of focus and anticipation. She left without further ceremony, and the rest of the group began to prepare to disperse as well, conversations breaking off as everyone shifted back into their own responsibilities.

"I’d expect insane creations from you two as well," I added, turning my attention to Bundi and Talia.

"Yes, Chief," Bundi replied immediately, his response crisp and confident.

Talia, however, stayed quiet.

She stood there staring at me, lips parting slightly before closing again, as if the words were right there but refused to come out. The hesitation was subtle, but noticeable enough that it gave me pause.

"You’re not going to respond?" I asked, tilting my head just enough to prompt her.

That seemed to do it.

"Yes, Chief," she said at last, the words coming out a fraction too stiff, as though she’d had to push them past something lodged in her throat.

I noted it quietly.

There was something else sitting behind her eyes, something unresolved, and although I could have compelled her to speak her mind, given the oath she shared with me, an oath that made lying impossible, I chose not to.

Forcing truth out of someone didn’t mean you were ready to deal with it.

And right now, I wasn’t.

That realization brought another thought crashing in.

Where the hell was Ariel?

I hadn’t seen the fox since the other day, not properly. She’d been present, yes, but distant, quiet in a way that didn’t suit her at all. Whatever had been troubling her hadn’t eased, and I still hadn’t found the time or space to sit her down and ask what was wrong.

I shook my head slowly.

Too many people to manage.

Leadership wasn’t just about strength or authority. It was this constant balancing act, keeping track of emotions, tensions, loyalties, and unspoken worries, all while preparing for the next fight. It wasn’t easy. Not even close.

One by one, the room emptied.

Zarah, Narg, Gork, and Nira lingered a moment longer before preparing to leave as well. Before Zarah could step away, I pulled her close and said goodbye the only way that felt right, pressing a few brief kisses to her lips. That was enough to make Narg avert his gaze immediately and excuse himself, clearly deciding that was his cue to leave.

I smiled faintly.

As Zarah turned to go, I leaned in and spoke quietly.

"Don’t get into trouble with Dribb," I said, then added after a beat, "or anyone else, for that matter."

She shot me a look that promised nothing and everything at the same time, then said:

"I’d try."

The same word Narg had used earlier.

That did absolutely nothing to inspire confidence.

I let out a slow sigh, rubbing my temples for a moment.

Yep....they really were siblings, alright.

I turned away from her and looked toward Gork, who was in the middle of saying his goodbyes to Nira. Their exchange was quiet, subdued, nothing dramatic, but there was an undercurrent of weight to it, like both of them understood this wasn’t just another routine errand.

"Let’s go, Gork," I said.

He nodded and walked over to me, stopping at my side. His expression was serious now, stripped of earlier nerves or uncertainty, replaced by a focused calm that told me he was already bracing himself for what lay ahead.

I placed a hand on his shoulder, steadying more than just him.

"Are you ready?" I asked.

Gork exhaled slowly.

"Do you want an honest answer, Chief?" he said.

"I want the only answer I want to hear," I replied without hesitation.

His jaw set, and whatever doubt lingered vanished from his eyes.

"Yes," he said firmly. "I am."

"Good."