【”So there’s a class-change quest after all, and it seems I can complete it even by sending my controlled goblins to their deaths.”】
【”You lot, tell me about the situation inside this cave.”】
The few goblins glanced at each other, then looked at you with blank confusion.
【”These goblins are way too low-level. Looks like I’ll need to find something like a priest to understand Goblin tongue.”】
You commanded the goblins to scout ahead while you followed behind.
The deeper you walked, the more you realized just how terrifyingly deep this cave went. The caverns branched out in every direction, as if they had no end at all.
Bones littered the path from time to time—some from beasts, others from humans.
For anyone else, the claustrophobic environment alone would have been terrifying enough, let alone having to fight these goblins on top of it.
Finally, after several hours, you arrived at a great hall.
Here, other goblins finally appeared—and they were wearing crude red garments.
The moment they spotted the goblins under your control, they bared their hostility. Some of them even swung their clubs and charged straight at you.
But the goblins under your command showed no fear either, baring their bloodstained jaws as they prepared to clash with the enemy.
【Congratulations, Host! Class-change quest progress updated: 5/10000】
Just as both sides were about to fight to the death, you used your Talent again and took control of this group of red-clothed goblins.
Both waves of goblins froze, stared at each other, and wore strange expressions on their faces.
They looked like mortal enemies originally—most likely from two different tribes.
Yet now, because of you, they stood on the same side of the battlefield.
You surveyed the great hall and spotted a crucial clue.
【”Looks like their lair is this way.”】
In the hall, an opening was marked with a skull totem painted in red pigment. As a member of the Skull-Nail Family, you naturally knew this totem represented a boundary.
Once you crossed it, it would be a declaration of war against the goblins of that territory.
But right now, you only wanted to rescue Mei Wei Si as quickly as possible. You wouldn’t fear some paltry goblin nest.
【”All units, advance!”】
Under your command, all the goblins marched toward this unknown tribe.
The moment you entered the opening, you spotted over a dozen red-clothed goblins feasting in the darkness. They immediately stopped eating and joined your ranks.
Just like that, you advanced almost unopposed, until finally, the goblin force before you numbered over a hundred.
And at the deepest level of this nest, you found their true leader.
A goblin priest clad in red robes sat in a chamber at the very bottom.
It raised its head to look at you, then prostrated itself on the ground.
【”Great… Goblin King…”】
This was the leader of the nest, but its Goblin tongue wasn’t very good either, and it sounded horribly off-key.
【”Where’s the exit to your cave?”】
The goblin priest lifted its head and answered you earnestly.
【”No… exit.”】
【”Dwarf, Nuha, was our former master.”】
Dwarf. Nuha.
Lai En understood immediately—the “master” it spoke of was the master of the Tower, that little dwarf.
【”So these monsters and goblins are all Nuha’s creations, except he himself can’t control them.”】
【”Do you know how to meet Nuha?”】
【”Don’t know.”】
The priest answered without hesitation.
【”Looks like I’ll just have to keep exploring this cave until I figure it out.”】
But before that, you were deeply worried about Mei Wei Si. If she had been taken somewhere else, she might already be dead by now.
【”Dwarf, I know you’re in there!”】
You shouted into the air, trying your luck.
But no one answered you.
【”Mei Wei Si… I’m sorry.”】
A pain you couldn’t put into words rose from your chest.
Just as you were about to give up, a rift of a portal opened once again.
【”Are you ready to hand over the ring?”】
The dwarf’s voice carried a hint of exhaustion—it seemed even a single goblin had worn him out earlier.
You felt a surge of delight, but you began scheming to trick him.
【”Yes, but you’ll have to make a deal with me.”】
【”Let’s hear it.”】
The dwarf’s previously tired tone perked up with renewed interest.
You could almost see the greedy expression on his face.
【”You let a female mage into the tower before. Is she still alive?”】
【”Heh heh, seems like she’s someone important to you, huh? I’ll send her to her death right now!”】
The dwarf perked up the moment you mentioned a woman.
【”Then go ahead and kill her. I’ll just stay here forever and never leave.”】
【”Oh?”】
The dwarf had expected you to panic, but every one of your reactions defied his expectations.
【”Even though you used some unknown method to strip her of her magic, her constitution is special—that’s why you had to use some secret technique to make her hide the ring for me.”】
【”If you still want the ring, then keep her alive. I’ll tell you how to undo the secret technique, and you can let me out then.”】
The dwarf fell silent for a few seconds after hearing your demand.
【”Fine, I’ll let you out. Come through the portal right now.”】
【”I can come over, but I have to bring all the goblins under my command with me.”】
【”You! That’s unacceptable!”】
The dwarf said furiously.
【”Then no deal!”】
【”Hmph, think it over carefully. It’s not like I absolutely have to have your ring!”】
You let out a cold laugh—he was clearly desperate, yet still trying to act tough.
【”How about this—give me some time to think it over, and I’ll get back to you once I’ve made up my mind.”】
【”Don’t try any tricks with me. I’m not letting those goblins in, and my patience has limits. Give me an answer soon!”】
【”And the faster you hand over that ring, the safer your people will be. Otherwise, I’ll slaughter them tenfold!”】
You pretended to be deeply distressed and begged him not to do it.
【”Then hurry up!”】
The portal closed, and you breathed a sigh of relief—Mei Wei Si was safe, at least for now.
At that moment, you stared at the class-change quest’s reward, thinking that you could only rely on it.
【”Goblin’s Horn, you better be useful!”】
Time was tight and the task was heavy. You immediately issued orders to all the goblins.
【”Attack all goblins in this cave without discrimination, and report the locations of goblin gathering spots.”】
Through the goblin priest’s words, you got a rough picture of the goblin distribution in the surrounding caves.
Soon, the entire cave would be turned upside down by you.