Chapter 4 : Goblin Head Soup 4

A dungeon within a dungeon.

A gate within a gate.

As soon as I plunged into the Camouflaged Dungeon, the space completely transformed.

It was quite dazzling.

The location didn't seem like an open forest or wasteland but more like a gigantic underground city with cliffs and caverns.

No, it didn't look like a small city level; it looked like a gigantic, brilliant kingdom.

Typically, goblins only have primitive dwellings like tents or huts, but the buildings I could see in the distance had quite geometric structures and frameworks, not to mention tall spires and structures that looked like a royal palace.

The most notable feature was that all of them had the same flag hung.

From the lower buildings to the large structures resembling a royal palace, thorns sparsely protruded, and red flags with an unknown language written on them were hanging from those thorns.

"Tr'Alka'Katsu'? I have no idea what it says."

– Wow, what is that?

– Is that a kingdom? A goblin kingdom?

– Not a kingdom, it's a goblin empire, isn't it?

– The empire was supposed to be wiped out, but it's back again?

– I've seen goblin dungeons, but I thought they were just high-level dungeons, not an empire. This is my first time seeing one.

– They even mentioned an Emperor Goblin.

– This is my first time seeing this, too.

– What is that?

– Experts, hurry and explain!

– Where did the TMI nerd go?

['KawaiiHorned' has donated 50,000 won!]

– Host, this is dangerous. Seriously dangerous. Get out of there immediately.

At that moment, one of my regular viewers, who often donated, seriously sent a donation.

"Why?"

This person, 'KawaiiHorned,' frequently watched my broadcasts and donated a lot, but they had never warned me so seriously before.

Unconsciously, I tensed up.

Unlike me, the tentacles on my back seemed to have caught the scent of delicious meat, clattering their teeth and drooling again.

['KawaiiHorned' has donated 10,000 won!]

– That's the Goblin Empire that S-rank hunters raided in a party. The flag and language are exactly the same as the ones they saw during the Imperial campaign. They must be disguising it as a Camouflaged Dungeon to prepare for a goblin invasion. If the empire is here, there must be an Emperor Goblin.

– For real?

– For real???

– Is that legit?

– Who's that person, and how do they know so much?

– Sounds like nonsense.

– Are they from the Hunter Association?

['BaldManagerLickLick' has donated 1,000 won!]

– Just reported the appearance of the Goblin Empire to the association.

The Goblin Empire.

Typically, goblin dungeons contain only C~D rank tribes or village-level groups of mob monsters.

Even these tribe-level goblins aren't led by other goblins but rather submit to ogres or other stronger monsters to serve them.

However, there are rare dungeons where a goblin kingdom appears. Compared to a C-rank dungeon, the difficulty of such a kingdom is on a completely different level.

It's ranked at the very top of A-rank dungeons, and goblins from a goblin kingdom are more intellectually advanced than those in other dungeons.

They also use weapons made of steel and have even been reported to wield firearms stolen from humans.

Moreover, there have been cases where they formulated unexpected tactics and strategies that trapped hunters.

Above all, the 'King Goblin' is said to require at least three A-rank hunters to be taken down.

But if it's an Emperor Goblin, not only does the difficulty skyrocket, but it's said to be insanely challenging.

According to the viewers earlier, even when S-rank hunters led a full expedition, two S-rank hunters and several A-rank hunters died.

If I were to roughly estimate the dungeon's difficulty, it must be at least S-rank.

– Noona, I know you're strong, but this seems really dangerous.

– Yeah, get out quickly.

– Yeah, yeah.

– The association should handle this seriously.

– For real, this is an emergency.

"But suddenly, a thought occurred to me…"

– ?

– What are you thinking?

"Didn't someone report this to the association earlier?"

– Yeah, yeah, yeah.

– It's really an emergency.

– Does the empire look like a joke to you?!

– Noona, don't tell me you're about to do something crazy again. This is life-threatening.

"Does that mean I'm now in a time attack to turn the Emperor Goblin into Soup (goblin head soup)?"

– ?

– ??

– Huh?

– What?

– Hahaha

– Are you serious?

['CrazyCrazy' has donated 10,000 won!]

– Is she seriously crazy? I'm telling you, get out of there! Hahaha.

Oh my, going all serious on a broadcast!

"No one can stop me on my journey to make Goblin Head Soup!"

– Is she really nuts?! Hahaha

– Why are you acting up at a time like this?! Hahaha

– I watch this saint Noona's broadcasts for moments like this.

– She's driving me crazy. Haha.

– No, seriously, you'll die!

"Changing the stream title to 'Goblin Empire Massacre Broadcast.'"

['KawaiiHorned' has donated 1,000,000 won!]

– No, seriously, get out. I'm telling you to get out of there. It's dangerous. Take this and get out now.

Even though KawaiiHorned urgently donated, there's no way that would stop me.

Even if they sent a billion won, nothing would stop my journey to make Goblin Head Soup.

Besides, it's an Emperor Goblin.

An Emperor Goblin!

A rare variant much rarer than a Hobgoblin.

Once defeated, who knows when it will appear again?

It's the world's only ultra-rare, strongest goblin! How could I pass that up?

"Hey, everyone. Will you pray for me?"

– Stop fooling around and just get out of there!

– It's seriously dangerous!

– You'll die!

"Oh well, I guess I'll have to pray by myself."

I knelt on one knee and clasped my hands together.

Surely, I must have looked as pious and beautiful as an apostle of God, full of dignity.

"O starlight, I, your eternal daughter, offer my prayer."

– Oh…

– Wow, she really is a saint.

– She's really pretty.

"I, your servant, sit at the right hand of the glittering stars. Please grant me the grace to enjoy a delicious bowl of Goblin Head Soup."

– She's driving me insane.

– What's with that prayer?!

– Hahaha.

– No, seriously, is her prayer about Soup?

– Saint, please stop being ridiculous…

– Haha!

But this was no joke or mere display.

For a saint, prayer is a ritual that allows her to center her mind and send her voice to the starlight, wherever it may be in the universe.

Boom!

Of course, since I'm a beloved saint of the stars, the response to my prayers is always a bit excessive.

After all, I am the Saintess of the Dead.

Being a unique saint, not a human but closer to a zombie or an undead, the starlight would never hate me.

Though the price is my undead, zombie-like body, cursed with eternal hunger, it's truly fortunate that I came to a world full of such a variety of food.

"Kieeeek!"

"Kwuack! Caaak!"

"Kerrk! Kerrk!"

Sensing my power, the goblins of the underground empire began to appear.

These were on a completely different level from the ragged goblins I had met earlier.

Even the common soldiers were wearing armor forged from iron, and instead of clubs or arrows, they were holding swords, hammers, and even crossbows.

Huh? There were even siege weapons. Some goblins were even holding firearms that looked like they had been stolen from humans.

"Krrr…!"

"Kyaak, Khaguak!"

"Karrmak! Karruk! Kaimaga!"

And the goblins didn't charge blindly either.

The ones surrounding me formed an orderly phalanx with armored, shield-bearing goblin knights at the front, while the shamans and archers with crossbows and firearms were positioned in the rear.

Their numbers weren't small, either.

They were swarming like insects, seemingly filling the city walls and the underground city itself.

"Do you see? The goblins are actually organizing tactics and strategies."

– It's the classic rule: front tankers, rear damage dealers. Hahaha.

– Noona, run away!

– Run!

– There are so many of them!

– What the heck is that?!

– How many are there?

– Run awayyy!

– Flee!

– It's dangerous!

– Just leave her. Haha.

– Let's see

how she dies.

['KawaiiHorned' has donated 1,000,000 won!]

– If you successfully take down the Goblin Empire, I'll give you 10 times more.

"Seems like KawaiiHorned is the only one who really knows me."

I grinned as I looked at the chat window—just as I expected.

The viewers were fired up with a variety of reactions.

Some were genuinely worried about me, telling me to run away immediately, while others, more vicious types, were curious about how I would die or get injured from showing off.

['HushTangerineCookie' has set a 5,000,000 won mission!]

– Defeat the Emperor Goblin!

['SellingHallabongs' has donated 100,000 won!]

– Host, please don't get hurt.

['HanzoDiePlease' has donated 50,000 won!]

– I'll donate more if you wipe out all the goblins here.

Of course, the regular viewers, knowing I would never listen to the calls to run away, began enthusiastically donating.

Yeah, this is the way.

The viewers don't just enjoy mindless charges.

Even though it's a live broadcast, there are those who enjoy it like watching an anime or movie.

If you time things right—accept the situation, let the chat burn up, and then act when everyone is wondering what I'll do next—that's when viewers will enjoy it more.

Fortunately, the goblins only stared at me, filled with tension.

Maybe they sensed the ripple from my prayer earlier.

It was odd that the goblins weren't recklessly charging.

Normally, goblins would just launch brainless ambushes or mad rushes, but these ones had formed ranks and were poised to strike the moment I made a wrong move.

"Alright, it looks like the audience has gathered enough. Now then…"

You've got to hit hard when everyone's eyes are focused.

I raised my hands high into the sky.

The goblins immediately aimed their crossbows and guns at me, ready to respond at any moment.

But that didn't matter.

[Miracle – Holy Body Annihilation]!

KABOOM!!!

"Kiek!?"

"Kkuoooooot!?"

A massive white explosion erupted around me, shaking the underground city.

The goblin knights closest to me were flung away like dust by the powerful shockwave of divine energy.

The goblin shamans and archers in the rear were slammed into the city walls.

Of course, I didn't plan on letting them get back up.

The miracle [Holy Body Annihilation] that I had used to blow away the forest earlier was powerful but consumed a lot of divine energy. However, other than that, there was no limit on how often I could use it.

I raised my hand to the air again.

The tentacles on my back climbed up my arm, gathering divine energy.

Two seconds later, before the goblins could get back up, I was ready to use the miracle again.

[Miracle – Holy Body Annihilation]!

Thud! Boom!

"Kugik!?"

"Kurgh!"

"Kugagak!?"

With the second [Holy Body Annihilation], the goblins in armor began to burst from the inside.

Their armor remained intact, but their fragile goblin bodies couldn't withstand the shockwave a second time.

The goblin knights closest to me instantly perished, spewing blood as their internal organs were crushed.

Even the goblins farther away were vomiting pieces of their insides and blood, unable to stand.

Back in the forest, I didn't even need to dramatically charge my divine energy; I only did it earlier for the viewers' sake, to give them a visible performance.

The important thing was willpower and fuel.

My will to exterminate these vile, despicable goblins was first.

And then, enough divine energy to pull off such miracles in rapid succession.

Fortunately, I was the Saintess of the Dead.

And both fuel and willpower were in abundant supply.

[Miracle – Holy Body Annihilation]!

KABOOOOOM!!!!!!!!!!

"K-Keuk...…"

"K-Kheuk….!"

With the third explosion, even the goblins farther away in the rear vomited blood and stopped moving.

"Hmm, as expected, you should gather mobs and wipe them out with an area-of-effect skill."

– …..?

– What just happened???

– What was that??

– Insane…

– What the heck did I just watch?

– Holy sh**, what the…

– Crazy..

– ?

– What in the world…

The viewers, who were slow to grasp what had just happened, began setting the chat window ablaze.

Judging by the reactions, it must have been quite impressive.

Well, the viewers probably hadn't expected me to use an area-of-effect skill in rapid succession like that.

It looks like the Emperor Goblin wasn't here.

I think it's probably in that palace-like building in the underground city.

Click, clack.

I walked slowly, stepping past the goblin corpses, entering the underground city.