Goblins (1)

Unlike ritualists, the government manages the existence known as Martial Force artists.

Why don’t Martial Force artists establish independent organizations separate from the government like ritualists do?

It was due to the nature of the ‘King of Yuldo Kingdom’, the originator of Martial Force arts.

The ritualist Uchion was an extremely selfish person.

Though he was a hero who saved the human world from threats, not all heroes possess altruistic hearts.

He built an independent power base uninfluenced by the royal court – the Ritual Arts Association.

In contrast, the King of Yuldo Kingdom was an altruistic person.

He understood the danger of his own power better than anyone and greatly worried that future Martial Force artists might head down the wrong path, so he actively accepted the royal court’s demands.

Soon after, the royal court granted official ranks to Martial Force artists, treating them as military officers.

This was the origin of the ‘state-sanctioned Martial Force artists’.

While all ritualist information resided with the Ritual Arts Association, all Martial Force arts knowledge belonged to the state.

Without sufficiently high status, accessing Martial Force arts information was impossible.

However, Nam-hun Baek was the Minister of the Yokai Extermination Department.

After goblins appeared, he thoroughly researched the ancient texts left by the King of Yuldo Kingdom and eventually discovered Martial Force arts to counter goblins, distributing them to the Martial Force artists.

This was within the Minister’s authority.

Yet Nam-hun Baek did not distribute the anti-goblin Martial Force arts to his sole beloved disciple Yi Haneul, causing him distress.

According to Miho, the future goblin emergence was inevitable, not mere chance.

Shouldn’t Yi Haneul, like other Martial Force artists, learn anti-goblin techniques?

Having pondered this, Nam-hun Baek headed straight for the Jiri Mountain Yokai Extermination Office to catch up on overdue business.

“Minister? What brings you here?”

“I have matters concerning my disciple.”

“I see… Phew, I thought some strange incident had occurred again.”

“My apologies for the unannounced visit, hahahahaha!”

The Director of the Jiri Mountain Office, Lee Han-ul, greeted him.

Nam-hun Baek studied Han-ul’s face intently – while he came out of concern for his beloved disciple, he also wished to meet Han-ul.

“Lord Yi Haneul is training. Shall I escort you to the training grounds, Minister?”

“No need, let’s have coffee while we wait.”

“Very well…”

“Han-ul.”

“Yes?”

Han-ul was an exceptionally capable individual, not just an ordinary Director.

There were some issues, like not immediately reporting information about ‘Miho’, but his judgment in not doing so upon first encountering her proved correct in the end.

He likely worried about causing social unrest too.

Nam-hun Baek spoke up:

“Let me get to the point.”

“Yes, yes.”

“As you know, the Yokai Extermination Department’s Deputy Minister position is currently vacant.”

“…”

“I would like to appoint you as Deputy Minister.”

A tempting offer – though the Deputy Minister appointment involved complex procedures, after goblins appeared, South Korea had entered a quasi-wartime situation.

In such circumstances, as Yokai Extermination Department Minister, Nam-hun Baek wielded power second only to the President himself.

He considered Han-ul the ideal Deputy Minister candidate, perhaps even a potential future Minister after his own retirement.

Han-ul did not waver, calmly taking a sip of bitter coffee before responding upright to Nam-hun Baek:

“I appreciate the offer, but I must decline.”

“…”

Nam-hun Baek did not seem flustered by his answer.

“May I ask your reasons?”

“It may sound arrogant, but…”

Han-ul continued:

“The Jiri Mountain Yokai Extermination Office cannot function without me.”

“…I understand.”

…

…

…

“Master!”

“Yi Haneul, it’s been so long!”

I witnessed the touching reunion of master and disciple in real-time.

…What business did the esteemed Yokai Extermination Department Minister have at this humble place?

Soon, Nam-hun Baek revealed his purpose – to pass down ‘Martial Force arts capable of countering goblins’ to Yi Haneul.

“Ah, that? I don’t need it.”

“What!”

However, Yi Haneul refused Nam-hun Baek’s offer.

And for good reason – she had mastered the overwhelmingly superior ‘power of freedom’ encompassing Martial Force arts.

In fact, through diligent training these past few days, Yi Haneul had even combined the power of freedom with Martial Force arts to refine her own unique techniques.

Indeed, her self-professed genius on par with Ho-jun seemed no mere arrogance.

While Nam-hun Baek initially doubted his disciple’s words, he understood once Yi Haneul demonstrated the ‘power of freedom’, his expression one of profound shock.

“J, just what is this power…?”

“I got it from Miho.”

“From Miho…?”

As Nam-hun Baek turned towards me, I awkwardly waved at him.

Glancing between Yi Haneul and me, he eventually approached me with a stern look.

“Miho.”

“Yes?”

“Can you arrange for me to meet Lord of the Mountain?”

Oh…

This person seemed to have some misunderstanding.

Just because I was a ling didn’t mean I could bestow the ‘power of freedom’ upon others.

This power of freedom was a unique ability only I could possess in all heaven and earth.

Once I explained this, Nam-hun Baek seemed disappointed, perhaps feeling a bit deceived.

But he was not just an ordinary Martial Force artist – as Minister of the Yokai Extermination Department, he had to gather all available power to protect citizens from greater future threats.

His perspective was understandable.

In any case, having confirmed Yi Haneul was far stronger than he expected, Nam-hun Baek promptly returned to Seoul.

With the gravity of the situation, he must have been incredibly busy.

The Minister’s duties were no simple task.

…

…

…

One week had passed since we began training the power of freedom.

Ho-jun had combined it with ritual arts, while Yi Haneul integrated it with Martial Force arts.

Hmm.

This should suffice to handle any goblin threats for the time being.

I told them:

“So, if any goblins appear while I’m away… yes, I’m counting on you two. You know a goblin’s weakness, right?”

“Not the spiral cycles, but the liver. I’ve heard it a hundred times already.”

Ho-jun nodded in acknowledgment.

Yi Haneul worriedly said to me:

“Miho, are you sure this is okay? No matter how I think about it…”

“Yes, no matter how I think about it, it’ll be fine.”

“…”

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to die or anything, just to have a conversation.”

“Will conversation even work…?”

“Well, I won’t know until I try, will I?”

After finishing, I turned my back to them and used the power of freedom to tear open a spatial rift.

“Well then, I’ll be going… Waaaah!”

I was swiftly sucked into the torn rift.

---

I had constantly wondered where Duergsini was lurking.

He existed in a realm beyond human technological reach.

A realm Martial Force arts and ritual arts could not pierce.

Even using yoki or spirit energy, his hideout remained elusive.

However, by wielding the power of freedom, I could interfere with his domain.

In hindsight, this was only natural – this ‘power of freedom’ could transcend even the past and future.

No matter how formidable Duergsini the demigod was, he could not evade the power that surpassed the bounds of time itself.

I surveyed my surroundings – the air was stale.

Duergsini’s realm lacked any background, everything a pitch-black void as far as the eye could see.

This space…felt familiar, uncannily resembling the realm where I had conversed with Lord Beast, just…differing in color – white there, black here.

I strode forward aimlessly, unburdened by fear despite venturing into the enemy’s lair.

Would a tiger cower just for entering a rabbit’s den?

The ones cowering were…

The goblins.

Tap tap.

Three goblins wielding rods blocked my path.

They pointed their goblin rods at me and spoke, their voices interwoven as if a single entity:

[I am the Mi goblin of the Four Perverse Beings.]

[I am the Mang goblin of the Four Perverse Beings.]

[I am the Ryang goblin of the Four Perverse Beings.]

[Multi-tailed fox,]

[For what reason have you trespassed here?]

[Speak plainly.]

One.

Two.

Three.

Three of them?

If I recalled correctly, there was supposed to be one more.

“Where is the Ri [Li] goblin?”

[…]

“Ah, did it perhaps die already?”

[…]

“I heard a rumor it became cow feed.”

Chuckling derisively, I extended my claws as I spoke:

“Before adding three more cow feeds, take me to Duergsini.”