The Goblin King, The Demigod Duergsini (Complete)

Can one call humans good?

Or can one call humans evil?

Humans are not beings that can be defined as solely good or evil.

There are people who live by helping the unfortunate, while

there are also people who live by stepping on others’ backs.

Ironically,

even those with evil tendencies do not necessarily exert an evil influence on everyone,

and even those with good tendencies do not necessarily exert a good influence on everyone.

In other words,

Humans are the very embodiment of chaos,

standing at the opposite pole from Duergsini, the ‘existence of order’.

---

Certainly,

it seems Lord Beast is fulfilling his role splendidly.

Duergsini

is weakening in real-time.

Having lost his divine might, Duergsini is undoubtedly expending considerable strength to obstruct Lord Beast.

For the first time,

hope is in sight.

We can win.

If we all combine our strength to kill Duergsini, I may not need to awaken my ninth tail.

However, the situation was not entirely positive.

Slowly,

we have all reached our limits.

Me,

Ho-jun,

Yi Haneul,

Dapoh fainted in my arms from overusing his spiritual power,

and Heukho…

her entire body was torn to shreds.

I still could not move my body,

as my wounds had not healed.

I had lost so much blood that my clothes and hair were soaked in it.

Yet,

my mind was clearer than ever before.

Perhaps because I realized ‘we can win’,

or perhaps

…because the end of my life was drawing near, I’m not sure.

Most likely,

after this battle ends,

I will die.

Even if I defeat Duergsini, the holes all over my body cannot be mended.

From the very start,

the fact that a mortal like me resisted the ‘divine spears’ unleashed by a demigod meant I had already exceeded my limits.

The possibility of me surviving

is zero.

But,

even if I die, at least

I’ll die later than that bastard.

Before I die, I can meet Lord Beast and receive his praise,

endure the two grandfathers’ nagging,

bid farewell to the yokai extermination office people.

And for my last supper,

yes, that’s right,

let’s have premium feed rolled in milk.

To that extent,

can I not call it a decent end?

Of course, to achieve that perfect death,

defeating Duergsini takes priority.

I wrung out my remaining spiritual power and focused on healing Ho-jun and Yi Haneul.

As the battle dragged on sluggishly,

Duergsini

revealed his true form… or rather, his physical body.

And Duergsini threw a punch at Yi Haneul.

Yes,

not a command,

not magic,

but a punch.

Proof that Duergsini was so cornered that he had to resort to physical abilities.

However,

the timing was too late.

We had all already reached our limits.

Bang!

Yi Haneul was struck by Duergsini’s attack and sent flying tens of meters away.

Yi Haneul lost consciousness.

Damn it,

the healing was too slow.

My spiritual power was almost depleted.

I wrung out my remaining spiritual power to heal Yi Haneul,

but Duergsini was not so kind as to wait until I finished healing Yi Haneul.

Duergsini moved to kill Yi Haneul,

and the one who obstructed Duergsini’s path was

Ho-jun.

[Defensive Taoism]

…………………

Boom.

Ho-jun’s defensive Taoism clashed with Duergsini’s fist.

Duergsini opened his mouth:

[…]

[An unseen Taoism technique.]

“Of course… you haven’t seen it…! Heh, heh… I just created it…! It doesn’t have a name yet…!”

[…]

[Indeed,]

[The future is no longer visible.]

[This too]

[Was unpredictable.]

To create a new Taoism technique on the spot.

This is like…

Ugh…

“Fox wench, hurry and heal Yi Haneul!”

“I… know…”

I don’t need to raise my voice, I know.

I know my healing is delayed because my spiritual power is almost depleted.

…No,

in fact, my spiritual power already hit rock bottom long ago.

Spiritual power

is a power that naturally recovers just by breathing.

Right now, I am expending every bit of spiritual power to Yi Haneul as soon as it recovers in real-time,

except the bare minimum needed to maintain my eight tails.

“Ugh…”

There.

Yi Haneul regained consciousness.

If I expend just a bit more spiritual power, Yi Haneul may be able to knock Duergsini down…

Shhaaaaang.

Ho-jun’s protective Taoism

shattered.

The side effects of recklessly manifesting a Taoism technique were severe.

Ho-jun coughed up blood.

Duergsini did not miss that moment.

But, who is his target…?

Ho-jun?

Yi Haneul?

I have no idea…

I wanted to throw myself to protect them, but

my body would not move.

Duergsini moves

to kill one of the two.

I could only

helplessly watch that scene from where I lay on the ground.

Then,

Swishswishswishswish.

What obstructed Duergsini’s path was a massive sandstorm.

The fine sand particles brushed past my face.

It was Heukho.

Revealing herself in the center of the sandstorm, Heukho directly interfered with Duergsini’s attack by biting his arm.

Why…

Why would Heukho go this far?

[Why do you]

[Go to such lengths?]

[What meaning is there]

[For you to save them?]

To Duergsini’s question,

Heukho answered:

[None.]

[No]

[Meaning.]

Crack.

Those

were Heukho’s last words.

…

…

…

What

am I doing right now?

Heukho is dead.

Dapoh is unconscious.

Yi Haneul is still groaning in pain,

and Ho-jun has lost consciousness.

What am I doing?

Move.

Move your body.

I have to protect them.

How

do I take Duergsini’s liver?

If I take Duergsini’s liver, Duergsini will die.

If Duergsini dies, I will awaken to my ninth tail.

If I manifest the ninth tail, the world will be destroyed.

To prevent the world’s destruction, I must turn the cycle.

If I turn the cycle, all yokai and goblins will die.

However,

if I do not take his liver,

if I do not kill Duergsini,

if I do not manifest the ninth tail,

Ho-jun,

Yi Haneul,

and Dapoh

will die.

There is no need to think any further.

Foxes are selfish creatures.

Even Dalgi was selfish,

just hiding in the shadow of the ‘Guardian Beast’ title.

I too am merely a selfish and cunning fox.

A world where my beloved ones cannot survive

holds no meaning for me.

I moved my body.

Even I don’t know how I was able to move my body.

I extended my claws.

Shaaaaaa.

Duergsini reacts to me.

[Ah.]

Stomp.

Stompstomp.

I approach Duergsini.

[Aah.]

The only thing I see is one thing:

Duergsini’s

liver.

[Come.]

Duergsini did not resist.

Thunk.

I deeply thrust my claws into Duergsini’s body.

Without even applying force, my claws sank in smoothly.

Duergsini’s liver

came into my grip.

Thump!

Just like that, I pulled out Duergsini’s liver from his body.

Duergsini’s liver

was shaped like a helix.

The helix turns,

Clockwise,

Counter-clockwise,

Or in a third direction.

Duergsini opened his mouth towards me:

[Eat it.]

[And manifest it.]

[Manifest your ninth tail]

[And turn the cycle.]

[Then,]

[The yokai may die, but]

[At the very least,]

[You can save those you hold dear.]

Glance.

I looked at the fallen Yi Haneul and Ho-jun,

then at the sand Heukho left behind,

and lastly at Dapoh, fast asleep without a care in the world.

Right now,

I

do not consider the consequences,

and choose the worst option.

If I were a virtuous fox, I would have saved at least one rather than let all perish.

However, I am a foolish fox,

a selfish fox.

I did not want to choose

between abandoning yokai or humans.

“I will eat the liver.”

[Finally…]

“However.”

Looking at Duergsini whose form grew increasingly faint,

I stated the truth without a shred of falsehood:

“I will not turn the cycle.”

“Even if”

“I become a calamity.”

Duergsini was taken aback.

[…What?]

[Yo, you foolish…!]

Duergsini stumbled over his words.

It was the first time Duergsini displayed emotion.

Was it because he lost his divine might?

Or was my action more insane than he imagined?

Grin.

I smiled at Duergsini and spoke:

“Did you predict this too?”

[Manifesting the ninth tail]

[And not turning the cycle]

[Is the worst choice]

[From both your perspective]

[And mine…!]

[Retract]

[Your choice.]

[Reconsider…!]

“No, I’ve already decided.”

Crunchcrunch!

I took a big bite out of Duergsini’s helix-shaped liver.

The first and last liver I would ever taste in my life.

Gulp.

Gulp, gulp, gulp.

As Dalgi said, a goblin’s liver

had no taste at all.

Duergsini’s form faded away more and more.

[You will…]

[Surely…]

[Regret…]

[This…]

[Living alone…]

[Amidst the ruins…]

[Of everything collapsed…]

“Screw you.”

As Dalgi said,

“A multi-tailed fox yokai is not a creature that regrets.”