I Became a Goblin Ancestor

When Shin-yeon was dispatching the Centaur Golems and starting to conquer the gate in earnest accompanied by the cameraman,

Outside the gate, a girl who had left the tower late, Lee Seol, had just arrived.

“Seems I’m a bit late…”

Seol, with black long hair reaching her back knees and wearing clothes that looked like pajamas, gets off the wind she was riding with a very sleepy expression.

And after landing on the ground, Seol couldn’t help but mutter to herself at the sight before her eyes.

“Damn it, get out of the way!”
“It’s just ten people! Try to break through somehow, you pathetic bastards!”
“These bastards from Hyun-woo’s party… Using us as bait?”

The sight of ten security guards belonging to the Punishment Team blocking about a dozen hunters attacking from all directions while guarding the gate.

It seemed the Punishment Team’s security guards were somehow blocking the hunters trying to rush into the gate, but they didn’t look like they could maintain it for long as their condition didn’t seem good either.

“I can’t see properly because they’re wearing masks, but…”

It seemed they came wearing masks implanted with mana stones in an attempt to hide their identities.

Thanks to that, their faces weren’t clearly visible, but even so, Seol could roughly figure out who these people trying to enter the gate by breaking through the Punishment Team were.

Hunters of the dark world with one foot in the slums.

They were vicious hunters who were certainly committing all sorts of crimes, but remained only at the level of observation because they were only suspected, being swallowed by the shadows of the slums.

“To commit such an act even though it was said to be the General Management Team’s exclusive hunter… Their guts must be really swollen.”

Were they that resentful of someone rising to A-rank, bypassing them?

Although there might be some who came for such simple reasons, it was unlikely that these hunters of the dark world would cause trouble just for that.

Though it was speculation, the fact that they came out like this meant they smelled an opportunity to make money using Shin-yeon.

Being hunters who had stepped into crime out of obsession with money, it was clear that this was the reason in eight or nine cases out of ten.

…Of course.

“The very fact that they harbored such thoughts against our ancestor is unforgivable.”

It was a good opportunity, as they were ones we couldn’t catch because their tails weren’t visible.

Just touching the ancestor was a serious crime, and with this opportunity, we could surely pin crimes on them and make them rot in prison for life, so was there any better killing of two birds with one stone?

Therefore, Seol finished her momentary thought and put strength into her half-closed eyes, and intervened in their chaotic fight.

“That’s enough, all of you.”

Crack—!!!

The ground suddenly vibrating violently and binding the hunters of the dark world.

“Wh-what?!”
“Suddenly the ground…!”
“W-wait a minute… That kid… Could it be Lee Seol of the General Management Team?!”

They seemed confused by the ground suddenly binding them, but soon one of them spotted Seol walking from afar and shouted.

Then everyone’s gaze focused on Seol.

Seol herself rarely came out of her room as she was in charge of monitoring the 2nd district, but her face was quite well-known.

Therefore, everyone here, including the Punishment Team hunters, could recognize her.

That a member of the General Management Team’s founding family had personally come out.

At this, the hunters seemed to be trying to break free from the ground that completely enveloped them from their feet to their shoulders, but Seol’s power wasn’t weak enough to be escaped from just like that.

“Everyone, surrender quietly without resistance.”

Seol’s innate ability was the control of wind and earth received from the ancestor’s gene mana stone, and clairvoyance that manifested from birth.

Among these, she had bound everyone with the power to manipulate earth, the ability of the goblin ancestor, so how could they escape?

Eventually, the hunters gave up resistance and slumped down while spitting curses, and Seol approached the Punishment Team’s security guards, passing by these hunters.

“You held out well until I arrived. Is the damage serious?”
“No… Thankfully, it’s not that bad thanks to your timely arrival. But… We’re sorry! We let five hunters escape.”
“…Is that so? Who are the ones that got away?”
“Judging from what they said and their appearance, it seemed to be the party of A-rank hunter Lee Hyun-woo.”
“Lee Hyun-woo’s party, you say…”

Fortunately, the Punishment Team’s security guards weren’t seriously injured, but Seol frowned at the report they gave along with their apology.

If it was Hyun-woo’s party, it was a party Seol knew well too.

Hyun-woo’s party was one that not only dealt in drugs but also committed violence, extortion, and even murder inside gate dungeons quite frequently, from what she had heard.

To think such a party would break through the security guards and intrude into the gate.

Seol inwardly mulled over the security guard’s report once, then turned to look at the dark world hunters sprawled and bound behind her.

Most of them were B-rank, or A-rank.

Although their actions were dirty, they were hunters with definite skills, and since they had been taken down like this, probably no more intruders would come.

‘Of course, I’ll still stay here though.’

Naturally, that wasn’t a reason to go back, so Seol moved her body, now completely free of drowsiness, and made a phone call on her device.

Needless to say, the recipient was Yeon-ah, who would be in the tower.

Soon after the call connected, Seol immediately relayed the news to her without hesitation.

“Sis, Hyun-woo and his party of five have gone inside. Please take care of it.”

Her job was to guard this place until Shin-yeon came out.

Therefore, entrusting the matter that had become a variable to Yeon-ah and the ancestor, Seol quietly closed her eyes and watched her surroundings.

“…I want to sleep.”

Indeed, it was an extremely tiring day today as well.

“It’s surprisingly not much.”

With a thud, the remains of a Centaur Golem kicked by my foot roll away.

The first monster I encountered in the dungeon of the first gate I entered.

When the Centaur Golems first appeared, I had expectations due to their overwhelmingly large and sturdy appearance compared to me, but seeing them crumble helplessly when just slightly bumped or hit by Hwa-gon, even the tension I had dissipated.

But while it felt easy to me, it wasn’t so for Hyun-seop following behind me.

Hyun-seop approached me closely with a shocked expression at the devastation I had caused.

“Wow… You really are an amazing person. Team Leader Ahn Seo-hyun said you were a hunter worthy of S-rank, and it seems it wasn’t just a rumor.”
“Is this level considered amazing?”
“Of course! Originally, it takes at least 10 B-rank hunters or at least 5 A-rank hunters gathered to barely catch a group of Centaur Golems, right? You smashed such creatures alone, so how could it not be amazing!”

To think that five of these creatures could only be dealt with by outnumbering them or having equal numbers?

I exhaled in disbelief at Hyun-seop’s words that I could hardly believe, but only for a moment.

Soon, I looked down at the Hwa-gon in my hand and the stone mask hanging at my waist before nodding at Hyun-seop’s words.

‘It must have been easy because I’m a goblin.’

The difference in strength between humans and goblins was truly like heaven and earth.

While most humans could barely lift 100kg, we goblins could easily play with weights of about 1 ton in one hand.

Just now, when the Centaur Golem stomped on me with its hoof, it was heavy, but only to that extent, so I could destroy them so easily.

Therefore, I called back the Hwa-gon that I had thrown far away while understanding appropriately on my own.

“Hwa-gon, come back here.”

『Understood.』

Hwa-gon, which had grown as large as a street lamp, shrank back to its original size at my words and returned to my hand.

As I grasped Hwa-gon, I let out a satisfied snort at the sense of stability I felt, and headed further inside, passing through the remains of the Centaur Golems.

“Then let’s go again now.”
“Yes.”

If the place up until now near the entrance felt like sheer rock cliffs, the scenery that appeared as we went a bit deeper was that of a humid swamp.

Or to be more precise, a forest with an atmosphere that seemed like it would lead to a swamp.

Vegetation was visible here and there, and the feel of the ground, which had been like rock, became softer. Plus the moisture felt in the air.

And as I arrived at the entrance of such a swamp area, I let out an interested exclamation at the sight of new monsters I discovered.

“Are those the so-called Orc Crocodiles?”
“Yes. And next to them are Swamp Trolls. There seem to be about 30 in total.”

Orc Crocodiles with their massive bodies full of muscles and vicious crocodile heads, and Swamp Trolls with similarly burly bodies and deep swamp-like colors.

Both were monsters highly rated as difficult to deal with due to their absurd strength and regenerative abilities.

A total of 30 such monsters.

Moreover, each monster easily measured 5m in size, so I felt my heart racing more than when I encountered the Centaur Golems earlier.

It seems they’re fighting over the small river in the center, but if I barge in causing chaos, wouldn’t everyone’s hostility turn towards me?

Then a brawl would break out afterwards. A brawl of one against many.

At that, I was filled with expectation and prepared to jump out while grasping Hwa-gon, which was resonating with my heart.

Ring ring—!

“What’s this?”

Just before I could kick off, I had to stop at my device vibrating.

When I took out the device, the caller was none other than Yeon-ah.

I felt a little annoyed that the fight was postponed due to Yeon-ah’s call coming at this moment, but soon I shook off the momentary negative emotions and answered her call.

The timing was really bad, but at least Yeon-ah wasn’t someone who would call without any reason.

Especially in a situation like this.

And as if to prove my prediction right, Yeon-ah’s words heard as soon as I answered the phone proved that I was correct.

“Hello?”

[Ancestor, I apologize for interrupting an important time, but hunters with evil intentions have intruded into the gate where you are now. The number is five in total. As they are likely targeting you, ancestor, I contacted you to inform you in advance.]

“Five people intruded into the gate?”

[Yes, but as all five are judged to be hunters from the dark world, there will be no problem even if you subdue them harshly. Ah, of course… since it’s being broadcast live, it would be better to refrain from murder as much as possible…]

“Hahah, don’t worry about that. I haven’t thought about killing humans recklessly since the first day anyway.”

[Thank you, ancestor. Then please…]

Yeon-ah hung up with a click after finishing the report she had to make.

Then I muttered her report once more and put the device back in the pocket where it was originally.

The next moment.

Whoosh— Ping!

With a small sound cutting through the air, I deflected a small needle aimed at the back of Hyun-seop’s head by swinging Hwa-gon.

“Wh-wh-what?! What’s suddenly happening?”

Perhaps only now realizing that he had been attacked by someone, Hyun-seop jumped up with a surprised face.

I blocked in front of Hyun-seop and looked over the five men and women who had approached from behind me.

“Damn, we tried to start by killing the cameraman first, but we failed.”
“As expected of the General Management Team’s exclusive hunter, right?”

The five men and women giggling while uttering words about how they tried to kill simply.

Although it was difficult to identify their faces as they were all wearing uniquely shaped masks, I could tell from their vulgar laughter and words that the five were not normal hunters.

And because of that.

I smiled brightly, letting go of even the little consideration I had been holding onto for no reason.

“Yeon-ah said not to kill them, so…”

There’s a camera, and there’s her words, so I won’t kill them, but I’ll go right up to that point.

It was time to beat down those idiots who came all the way here following their heads stained with greed.