Surviving a Shounen Manga

Returning to Westland

Crooooooaaak–.

I watched the frog that was on the table.

It was limping and trying to slowly crawl forward.

There didn’t seem to have any bodily problems.

Its leg weren’t hurt, nor had it become weak.

Still, it couldn't do a single proper jump.

It wanted to run, wanted to quickly get out of this table, but it couldn't jump, so it was crawling along.

The reason it couldn't jump was simple.

Because I’d messed with its brain circuit a little bit.

– If you want to jump, you have to stretch your left front leg and right hind leg at the same time.

This was the result. It completely forgot that it had to fold both hind legs at the same time in order to jump, and kept recklessly straightening the legs I’d designated.

With this confirmation that the ability had been properly implemented, I freed the frog.

Then,

Jump–.

It hurriedly left the table.

"Hmm."

[Prankster Playing with the Rules].

Chinuavi's unique ability could be summed up in one word.

‘Terrifying.'

Quite frankly, it was shocking. How can somebody or something be completely turned into a toy just by injecting a simple command?

Even though the frog had almost zero mental resistance, a human being didn’t seem much different. Despite being a complete novice, didn't I succeed on the first try? Even if there were more hurdles in the future, things wouldn’t be too bad as long as I learned the tricks. This was yet another demonstration of what a scam the whole goblin race was.

Anyway, having tested out my power on first a carp and then a frog, apparently the Disruptor God had succeeded in his task without any major issues.

In other words, I could now mimic the unique abilities of the goblins.

"Okay, good."

I let go of the breath I’d been holding and rejoiced.

Of course, just because this became possible didn’t mean I was now an excellent decipherer.

Unique abilities greatly affected the ability of a decipherer, no doubt, but ‘race' was also fundamentally a very important factor.

It could be simply explained in this way. The divine beasts didn’t lack good guides and fighters, but very few among them could be counted on to solve complex problems.

In other words, goblins had a much higher baseline ‘comprehension' and ‘thinking ability' compared to other races, and these were the characteristics most critical to be a decipherer.

And this meant, even though I could use their unique abilities, and had acquired a goblin-related background, I’d get cut down to size pretty quick if I tried to brag about being some bigshot decipherer.

Still, after the goblins started to appear in the upcoming chapters, the background and characteristics related to them would definitely start appearing in the character shop. As long as I bought a few, maybe one day I’d be no worse as a decipherer compared to a real goblin.

‘I'm looking forward to it.'

However, my pleasant daydreaming had to come to a stop.

"Huff…"

My expression stiffened again.

In fact, the current situation was not that good.

Yes, I’d managed to acquire a goblin background and mimic their abilities, but the problem was that my relationship with the Disruptor God had also deepened.

Being involved with him was actually the worst. All the bastards who’d had a close relationship with him in the original work, although none of them had been particularly significant, had fallen to hell in the end. Without exception.

The Disruptor God basically tended to approach and bestow his power to those who could bring his joy. He’d giggle as he watched them become frustrated, despairing, and eventually crumble just short of their goal.

This was the consistent pattern among the goblins who worshiped the Disruptor God.

And maybe, that was his plan for me as well once I failed to live up to his expectations.

Of course, I’d already made up my mind to some extent. I’d gone into this with my eyes wide open.

In other words, we were mutually using each other for our own gains.

And to be honest, I saw this as something I could handle.

Why? Because I wasn’t weak anymore.

It was actually very simple to avoid being attacked by the Disruptor God. Let him play with you to his heart’s content. As long as he was ready to take responsibility for it.

There was only one thing that I needed.

Strength.

So that no matter what I did, nobody would dare find fault in front of my overwhelming might.

Wasn't that the privilege of the strong?

"Nice…"

For some reason, a refreshing feeling was welling up inside my heart.

After savouring it for a while,

"Hmm, let's see…"

Soon it was time to return to reality.

This much arrogance was the limit. This only at the beginning of the game, and there weren't many Named at this point, so it was laughable to brag about my strength.

I began to summarize my harvest at the Goblins’ Den.

1. I got the goblin background I’d been aiming for,

2. I could now mimic the unique abilities of the goblins, and

3. I was about to carry a hundred goblin-shaped bombs to mess up the battle for Ramirez’s treasure.

However, there was only one disappointment.

I still couldn't learn how to mimic Karl Zayed's ability.

In fact, there was no reason to think that it’d be easy.

As long as the Disruptor God favoured me, I’d wondered if he could make it possible one way or another. Since all the other conditions could be satisfied, how about we disrupted only the fourth condition, ‘you must have a physique that meets the level of your ability'.

But,

"You want me to help you steal the power of someone stronger than you?"

"No, rather than saying he’s stronger… and it’s not stealing, but mimicking…"

"Can that even be called breaking the rules?"

"No, that… but…"

"Suddenly I’m starting to regret my choice. Are you this big of an idiot? Does breaking the rules sound like you can turn everything impossible into possible? And even if it is, it's you who has to bear the aftereffects."

The Disruptor God's reply shattered my shallow expectations.

"Do you really think you can handle the wrath of this world that has one of its rules broken?"

"No, what do you… isn't it…?"

This was an idea that’d stemmed from my ignorance of the power of the Disruptor God.

At first, I’d thought that he could just roughly twist the rule, ‘only one unique ability can be acquired', easily by ‘increasing the count to two' or ‘ignoring the condition only for a specific target'.

But from what I was hearing, it didn't seem that simple.

Surprisingly, there were rules governing the work of the Disruptor God. It was necessary to go through several stages, and the difficulty level differed according to the law being disrupted.

He could ignore all the rules that were in effect in this world, but there was another rule, that only applied to the Disruptor God, if he wanted to perform such an action.

Had it not been for that, he would’ve been called the true god of this world, not merely one of the goblin gods.

Currently, I was able to obtain the ‘permission' of the other goblin gods, but that wasn't because of some kind of enormous characteristic being applied to me, such as ‘I alone disregard all rules!'

According to the Disruptor God, he was just peeling off a layer of ‘blockage'. Even that was a huge deal, and it presupposed a huge risk.

Of course, I didn't understand what this ‘blockage' meant at this time.

Anyway, for that reason, my greed of Karl Zayed's unique ability had to be put on hold for a while.

I wasn't despairing, though. After all, he hasn’t said it ‘couldn’t be done'.

Even if he was waving his hands as if he’d lost all strength, right now, the rules surrounding the beings called gods were being twisted at his behest.

‘Let's put it off for a bit.'

Then,

"Squatjaw!"

I heard a voice calling me from outside.

It was Cocoa.

"It’s time. That old goblin is here."

"Eh?"

The old-timer who’d traipsed off to the mountain had apparently returned. Considering how long it’d taken, it seemed that he’d prepared quite well.

"I’m coming."

I immediately left the space.

A playground for bluffers and gossips.

It was a kind of plaza where idle goblins gathered and played games, situated on a flat terrain that was rare here in the Goblins’ Den which was nestled inside a steep mountain valley.

The old goblin and a hundred others had gathered right there.

It was already noisy from afar.

Just then,

"Over there!"

"He’s here!"

"Squatjaw!"

When the goblins saw me, they immediately started making a ruckus.

"Yes, yes. Hello."

I waved my hands.

Yes, yes, I’m the messiah who’ll open a new world to you backcountry villagers living in this valley.

It was time to smile and press flesh.

"Squatjaw! Come here."

The old-timer sitting on a small stump at the centre of the plaza beckoned to me.

"Everybody, gather round. Ahem. There’s one last thing I'd like to ask you all. Listen carefully to what this guy has to say. Like I said last night, this Squatjaw is actually somebody I've been secretly raising in our den since he was a kid; so even if he looks human on the outside, he's no different from a goblin. As you've all seen, he knows how to use the unique abilities of goblins, and surprisingly, he's been chosen by all five goblin gods. So don't think of him as a human, rather as a goblin who only looks human, if you know what I mean…"

Then,

"Nope, as if that could happen!"

"What nonsense are you spouting?"

"Look at that jaw of his! Does that looks like a goblin's to you?"

"Don’t be such a racist, Oldboy!"

The goblins around us all shouted at the old man, telling him to stop.

Apparently he’d been trying to convince them over and over again until I arrived.

Therefore,

"Hmph, hah… you bastards! Let's see if you can shout so loud once you leave the Goblins’ Den! Hmph, snot-nosed kids getting stirred up by every little thing…"

In the end, Oldboy also got very angry and jumped off the stump.

Hmmm.

I had nothing to contribute either, so I just scratched my head.

Then,

"What’re you standing around for, like an idiot? Follow me."

The old goblin dragged me somewhere.

To a hut not far from the plaza.

After confirming that no one else was around, Oldboy took something out of his pocket.

"Take this."

"Huh? Wait, is this…?"

I blurted out in my moment of surprise, but stopped myself somehow from finishing.

"What, you know it?"

"Ah, no, it’s not like that…"

The old goblin gave me a small box.

And, as I remembered, this was the token that the previous Adventure King had left behind at the Goblins’ Den.

Oldboy looked at me as if he suspected something, but quickly shook it off. It was already no secret that there were many questions around me that wouldn’t be answered.

Instead of questioning me further, Oldboy offered it to me again.

"Take it."

"So what is it?"

"Take it first."

"Uh… you don’t like it? Why are you giving it to me? What is it?"

The old goblin coughed briefly.

"It was left behind by the previous Adventure King."

He said in a very serious voice.

I was again perplexed. I’d never thought it’d be revealed so soon. I thought it needed a bit more cooking.

So,

"Uh… Oh, is that so?"

It was an unprepared and sloppy reaction.

"You already knew. No wonder…"

"No, no… I don’t know what you mean."

"Then do you know what’s inside?"

"I don’t, I don’t."

This was half true.

Because the contents of the box would change depending on who opened it.

"I’ll give it to you. take it."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because you two are related."

"The previous Adventure King, related with me? Why?"

Then the old goblin let out a snort as if it was absurd question.

"Hey, didn’t you yourself say it first! That you have things in common!"

"Eh? Ah… but that was a joke…"

"Alright, alright, just take it. It's been left here for decades anyway. It doesn’t belong to us, so we always thought the owner would show up someday. I decided that was you."

"Eeh…"

I was frankly dismayed.

If they gave me this, I’d have no idea what to do.

Of course, I did want it. Because it was a belonging of the previous Adventure King. It’d definitely guarantee my appearance for a full arc.

But the problem was that there was somebody ‘supposed to receive this'.

And naturally, it was Leo.

Was I going to take away something (an arc) that was supposed to belong to Leo alone? Such an important relic who significance extended beyond the King's Road to the Midlands?

I could feel the author’s glare about to stab the top of my head.

Moreover, taking this with me now was not just a matter of taking away Leo's role.

The reason this was a real problem, was that this was supposed to lead Leo to the Goblins’ Den.

Before Leo and his party head to the King's Road, they hear from someone that ‘the relic of the previous Adventure King is in the Goblins’ Den', and even that it was a lead to the Tower of Adventure.

That is the starting point of ‘Goblins’ Den Arc'.

But what if it was no longer in the Goblins’ Den in the first place?

There’d be no reason for Leo and his party to pay here a visit.

Of course, there was still the possibility that they’d visit, but not find what they were looking for because somebody else had already taken it first… but that was still a complete departure from the planned plotline.

That’d be a serious problem with the plot development.

So I truly shouldn't take this.

Besides, other than a guaranteed appearance, this thing didn’t have much other value. Even without it, I knew how to reach the tower.

So,

"Uh… no, it’s fine. I’m… I’m not very good at acceping gifts."

"Heh heh, you’re good at talking nonsense! Your face doesn't lie. Your greed is etched into those jawbones! Don’t talk, just take it!"

The old goblin didn't even pretend to listen to my refusal.

"No, wait…"

That was then.

"If you don’t want it yourself, just hand it over to somebody else."

"Ah…? I can just hand it over?"

Then, suddenly,

‘Oh, isn’t that a better choice?'

A strange thought popped into my mind.

The hundred goblins with me would be able to represent the entire Goblins’ Den to the outside world.

From there, it was no exaggeration to call myself the most mysterious goblin. Then, why couldn’t I call myself the goblin chief? Instead of Oldboy.

‘Is that the way?'

The arc around this Goblins’ Den in the original had aimed at showing off the goblin species. They’d been carefully woven into the story before then, but that’d been the first chance for the author to show them off properly.

But now, if I barged in with my goblin followers, they’d become entangled with the story from much earlier. In other words, the arc around the Goblins’ Den, designed to introduce the race, might become irrelevant.

‘I think this’d be a more efficient way to introduce the goblins. And more exciting, too.'

Of course, I didn't know if the author would come to the same judgment as me.

Anyway, as long as I had this, I’d have some justification to represent the goblins. This was a token of the previous Adventure King, so it was as if Oldboy himself was entrusting me with his role.

‘And he’s the chief of the goblins…'

Well, it might not be a bad idea.

So,

"Eh, guess it can’t be helped. Give it to me."

I took the box from Oldboy.

He smiled broadly as if satisfied.

"Thanks to you, I’ve been finally relieved of this burden."

"Ah, no, no. I gained a lot too. So, is the business over now?"

"Yeah… you can go now."

The voice held a touch of something like regret.

Of course, that wasn’t because of this box.

Last night, I’d decided to ask him one last time.

"Are you really not going with me?"

"…"

After a spell of silence, the old goblin had slowly opened his mouth.

"How many times do I have to tell you? As the chief of this Goblins’ Den, I have a duty to protect it. And I also need to take charge of the annual Spirit Festival…"

As if he’d already made up his mind.

"Alright, got it. I was just asking."

"… There’re times when I have to welcome any guests that might visit, and if any enemies appear…”

"I told you, I got it."

"…"

I turned my back. It was time to slowly depart.

That was then.

"Oh, I almost forgot. I have something to tell you."

"Hm? What is it this time?"

When I turned around again, the old guy was looking at me with strange eyes.

And his expression was as strange as ever. Like a mix of joy, sadness, and confusion.

"There’s an ancient legend that’s been lost to time."

"What?"

"Someday, the one chosen by all five goblin gods will appear. And he will lead all the goblins."

"… Eh?"

"It’s a legend about the fate of the goblins."

"Huh."

This was my first time hearing this.

It seemed to be a setting that the author had just made and never used.

"There’re a lot of reasons why the legend’s been lost. Actually, it doesn't make any sense. It’s not that simple to be chosen by all five gods. Basically, the goblin race is not that type of a race. It's terrifying just thinking about it, isn't it? The fact that one goblin has all the temperaments that the five gods covet? That can no longer be considered a goblin. It’s more like a monster, created out of someone's playful malice."

"Ummm…"

I couldn’t disagree.

"This legend isn’t a few decades old, like that box. It’s thousands of years old."

"Huh, really?"

"There hasn’t been a single time it’s come true, so far. But it happened this time. Although, well, it's not an orthodox goblin."

"That… you mean me?"

"That’s right."

For a moment, my heart pounded slightly.

Was there a new setting here, tied to something more?

"I see, so? Now what?"

"That’s it."

"Eh?"

"That’s it."

"What do you mean, that’s it? What else does the legend say? What more would that fated guy do? Like he’d go to some kind of place, or go find some kind of treasure…"

"There’s nothing. He’ll just show up."

"…"

It was crazy. There was no after?

Settings weren’t usually like this…

Of course, there might be things he couldn't say right now.

"Yeah, well, got it. I’ll lead them properly. Those hundred."

"Please do."

Then, as I turned around, I heard a faint muttering lingering in the air.

See you again, Goblin King.

It'd been three days since we’d started moving with a hundred goblins in tow.

On the way, in an instant, ‘that event' happened.

Thoooom–.

The world shook.

"… What?"

It was as if a breeze had blown over us.

I hurriedly looked around, but no one made any mention of it.

Cocoa, Chinuavi, and the other goblins were just talking to each other normally.

As if I was the only one who’d noticed this phenomenon.

‘… It’s strange.'

That was then.

Tiling–.

A message arrived as a hologram.

And the content of the message gave me a new sense of tension that I’d never felt before.

[A certain number of new characters have been created.]

[For the balance of the world, the power balance of existing characters is being adjusted.]

[Character's level has been greatly reduced.]

[Character's level has been greatly reduced.]

[Character's level has been greatly reduced.]

[Character's level has been greatly reduced.]

⁝

‘Tch… be a bit less gung-ho about it, will you?'

The power balance was being forcibly adjusted.

Out of nowhere, the first ‘period of upheaval' had arrived.

Editor's Notes:

None for this chapter.

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I wonder what you all think of it now that the long-foretold balance adjustment is finally here! Squatjaw's gotten a lot weaker now. Does that disappoint you? Interest you? Discuss!

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