Goblin Kingdom

Volume 2, Chapter 113: Talpidae Princess

Cynthia bore her fangs into the hard shell of the rock crab, pinning it down under her two front legs as she tore out one of its pincers. Sounds of crunching could be heard from the rock crab, but Cynthia was relentless. The rock crab tried to attack with its remaining pincer, but Cynthia leapt behind it and rammed herself into it, sending it flying into a nearby tree.

The rock crab fainted, Cynthia calmly walked over to finish off her prey. There was an elegance and dignity to the way she walked. That was something she’s always had about her even when she was younger. Cynthia pinned down the unconscious rock crab, when suddenly the rock crab’s remaining pincer snapped at her.

Surprised, Cynthia tried to jump back, but the pincer held firmly to her leg, causing her to lose her balance and fall. As the rock crab stood back up, it lifted Cynthia up in the air, where she hung down helplessly. In a desperate attempt to break free, Cynthia used her

free foreleg to scratch at the crab, but unable to muster any decent power, the most she could accomplish was a shallow wound.

As Cynthia struggled, the rock crab twisted its body and slammed Cynthia into the ground. Grass covered the ground, but that was not enough of a cushion to shield Cynthia from the pain. Ample damage was dealt.

After slamming her into the ground 5 times, the rock crab was about to leave, but…

“GURUuuRUuU,” Cynthia angrily growled.

Cynthia was not done yet, so the rock crab reassumed its fighting stance.

Cynthia might have been taken by surprise a while ago, but though a pup, she was still a gray wolf. The odds of losing in a straight up fight was essentially nil.

The rock crab’s remaining pincer went for Cynthia’s neck, but Cynthia calmly dodged it, and then she tore it off.

With no pincers left to fight with, the rock crab tried to run, but Cynthia’s mouth was already on its head before it could even try.

Cynthia’s powerful jaw forced her fangs deep into the crabs head, causing bodily liquids to burst out of the poor crab’s head.

Lately, we’ve been hunting in an area some distance away from the araneae village. There wasn’t much left to hunt around the village and my talks with Nikea have come to a close, so there wasn’t any reason not to hunt somewhere deeper.

Besides, if we hunted in one place too much, the araneae might be negatively affected. It would be bad if we did anything to sow ill- feelings between us.

Ruknon, the araneae Nikea sent with us, also thought it would be best to hunt elsewhere, so he pointed us to go deeper into the west, where stronger, more vicious beasts lurked. It was there that we met the rock crabs.

Being small, about roughly Cynthia’s size, I thought fighting one would be a good match for her, but the battle proved difficult. It wasn’t because Cynthia was weak, however, but because she was inexperienced. She had the advantage for the majority of the fight until the end, where her carelessness allowed the rock crab to do a number on her.

Though she managed to win in the end, Cynthia walked back with drooped ears. That didn’t last for long however, for as soon as I patted her on the head, her ears stood straight back up and her tail happily wagged.

I smiled at that.

“We have defeated the enemy, Your Highness,” the ferocious Gi Ba said.

After Cynthia hopped onto my shoulders, I looked up, and I saw the rock crabs being gutted.

“Let’s return then,” I said.

We went back to the araneae village with all the rock crabs in tow. Rukenon’s face seemed to be cramping, but I ignored it. It would only be to my advantage if he reported the things he saw today. If he reported to Nikea how just five goblins seem enough of a threat, perhaps she would stop thinking unnecessary things.

The law of the jungle reigns supreme yet.

I’ll just use it to my advantage then.

I’ll unite the demihumans under one flag, force the elves under my will, and then encroach into the domain of man.

◇◆◇

The Talpidae were closest to the araneae village, hence it took only five days for their chief to arrive.

“A descendant of the dark crystal, the Sharpest Claw, Lord Fanfan,” Nikea introduced.

“My name is Fanfan. Greetings, guest,” the talpidae slightly nodded.

Brown fur covered the talpidae’s small body. Nikea might have been particularly tall, but the fact that the talpidae stood no higher than her hips proved just how small the talpidae was. The talpidae’s arms and legs were also overdeveloped with claws sharpened seemingly for war. If one were to describe the talpidae’s appearance in a few words, the talpidae could be said to look just like a mole.

The talpidae, Fanfan, looked curiously at me with her - she is a woman, right? I mean her name is Fanfan, so… - two round eyes, scratching her tall nose as she did.

Then she turned to Nikea. “I heard there was someone you wished to introduce… Frankly, I’m a bit surprised…”

Nikea’s brows furrowed, but Fanfan brought her face to hers.

“But, it’s alright… Race… doesn’t matter,” she said.

“Huh?” Nikea asked.

Then Fanfan desperately grabbed at Nikea’s hands, which hovered above her head, and nodded several times.

“Lord Nikea, I’ll support you!”

Nikea tilted her head, puzzled, but Fanfan’s eyes were sparkling.

“I-I see… Thank you.”

“Yes. Well then!”

Fanfan seemed to be quite excited as she left.

Nikea was all smiles as she spoke to me. “How fortunate. It’s a bit troubling that I can’t tell what Lord Fanfan likes about you, but her support will prove to be invaluable.”

‘Her’. So she was a female.

“Are all the talpidae like that?”

“Hmm? They are merchants just like the harpyurea. They are well- informed and are able to swim through soil. They’ve also developed techniques to report—”

“You realize…”

What I was about to say was something really difficult to point out, but it had to be done.

“What’s the matter? It’s rare for you to be so reserved,” Nikea asked, so I went out with it in one breath.

“You realize Lord Fanfan thinks you’re introducing me as your fiancé, right?” I quickly said.

Immediately, Nikea froze.

You know… if you react that badly, even I won’t have any other response but to quietly sigh.

“If you have any intentions of… revising her perception of our relationship, you might want to—”

“Lord Fanfan!!” Nikea yelled as she bolted off like a hare in pursuit of the talpidae princess.

According to Rukenon, that was the first time she’s ever been so panicked.

◇◆◇

After Nikea cleared up the misunderstanding, we met again.

“Oh, that’s too bad,” Fanfan said. “But I think there’s still a chance.”

That was the first time such words have been said to my face. I’m not sure if she’s brave or just dumb, but… Hmm… I wonder if there’s a reason why she’s so friendly to a goblin.

“You sure are friendly,” I said.

Fanfan chuckled. “Please don’t misunderstand, guest. I’m not that friendly, I just happen to have a set of beliefs I adhere to.”

What a friendly tribe. It would be best not to make an enemy out of them. This is the first time a tribe has treated the goblins ‘normally’, after all.

“It doesn’t matter whether it’s a goblin or human, as long as there’s a male and a female, love can bloom. The bigger the obstacles, the stronger the love! Those are the kinds of people I, Fanfan, support!”

…What am I supposed to say to this? Do I thank her?

I glanced at Nikea, but she had this look on her face that seemed to say, ‘Don’t even think of pushing her onto me.’

Am I supposed to deal with this by myself?

Somehow it feels like I’m in a predicament worse than when I was fighting that fiery demihuman.

“Anyway, it’s nice to meet you. Let’s get along.” I said in hopes of building a good relationship with the talpidae.

“But of course! I’m rooting for you, after all!” She said.

I have no idea what she’s talking about anymore.

Isn’t there something I can use to get out of this!?

I looked around me in pursuit of a way out, but aside from Nikea, who was currently polishing up on her acting by acting like she didn’t exist, the only thing left was the tasteless landscape.

—Damn it! There’s nothing! Nothing at all!”

Suddenly, a report came in.

“Chief, Lord Luther of the Papirsag has arrived,” the messenger said.

“Oh, good timing. Let him in,” Nikea said.

Nikea and I sighed in relief.

Fanfan went quiet as reports of various chieftains arriving came.

◇◆◆◇◇◆◆◇

Cynthia’s level has risen.

30 to 45

Gi Ba’s level has risen. 18 to 24

Gi Do’s level has risen. 67 to 71

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