Chapter 126: Two Lions

The Goblin Tribe, a type of swarm Monster, possessed an overwhelming collective level in what was considered a beginner’s area—Level 60.

An individual goblin among them might only be between Level 20 and Level 35. However, they made up for it with their massive numbers, mature social structure, and devastating Throwing attacks.

Most importantly, the Experience Value gained from defeating them was abysmal. The materials they dropped were either goblin meat or rusted weapons.

Fledgling Foreigners who encountered them would instantly lose their will to fight. Only when Hermes’ Travel Hat issued a subjugation commission would Foreigners muster up any modicum of interest.

Blaze followed the Map through the woods in search of his destination. This Goblin Tribe was very strange; traces of their daily life actually extended deep into the forest.

The reason a goblin was considered a hostile Monster was because they completely lacked productive capabilities and preferred to directly rob Human merchant caravans.

How did this group of goblins living deep in the forest maintain their daily lives?

SNAP!

Blaze felt a branch break beneath his foot. He hadn’t accidentally stepped on some dry twig; it was a trap.

A bent branch whipped upward in an instant, pulling a rope that cinched tightly around Blaze’s ankle.

It was a very archaic snare trap. Normally, whoever triggered it would be hoisted upside down, and the creatures who set it would swarm out, pointing their weapons at the suspended prey.

As the branch sprang up, a horde of short creatures darted out, ready to cheer for their successful catch.

However, the joy froze on their faces, because Blaze remained standing in place, completely unmovable.

Blaze looked down at the rope tying his foot. How could this level of Power possibly lift him off the ground?

"Whatever. You guys must be the Goblin Tribe the old man mentioned," Blaze said. He drew his Twisted Greatsword and casually sliced through the rope on his ankle.

Just as Blaze was about to strike, a massive goblin suddenly stepped forward. It neither attacked nor tried to intimidate him. Instead, it stared at Blaze in utter shock before devoutly kneeling down and bowing.

Upon seeing this goblin’s actions, the surrounding goblins panicked. They threw aside their weapons and bowed toward Blaze as well.

"Is this a trap?" Blaze wondered, not lowering his guard. He looked at the lead goblin groveling before him.

[Goblin Warrior / Lion Totem Level 30]

"A Lion?"

Because the Goblin Warrior was bowing, Blaze could see several white spots on its greenish back. Together, these white spots roughly formed the shape of a snarling, clawing Lion.

"This doesn’t seem like a coincidence," Blaze muttered, putting away his weapon. He recalled that Foreigners had previously discovered a Goblin Tribe waving a flag with a Lion Totem.

However, nothing ever came of that discovery. The Foreigners who formed a temporary guild to explore it were all young. Due to Arcadia’s Secret, they were all reborn as Arcadians, and that exploration guild disbanded.

"O descendant of the Great Lion, please forgive our insolence," the Goblin Warrior said, bowing its head and expressing its apology with absolute reverence.

It wasn’t that the goblin had suddenly learned the Human language. Rather, Blaze had kept [Translation] active, which allowed his voice to be understood by others and translated their languages for him in return.

The goblins he had encountered in the past only spoke in simple syllables, even when translated. It was proof that they were still Wild Beasts. Even in a Goblin Tribe that possessed the rudimentary beginnings of a society, the sounds they made were merely grunts and roars laced with emotion.

But the goblin in front of him articulated clearly, had flawless linguistic logic, and even used complex vocabulary. Evidently, this Goblin Tribe possessed a rather high level of civilization.

Since the other party showed no hostility and was highly respectful, there was no need for conflict. After the incidents in Arcadia, Blaze was willing to extend goodwill toward any race that didn’t show enmity.

Even if that race was goblins.

Who knows, maybe a Foreigner would even be born as a goblin in the future!

"Ahem." Blaze cleared his throat and said softly, "Please take me to your tribe. I’d like to get some of your tribe’s fruit."

To demonstrate his good intentions, Blaze took out the fruit he had bought from the old fruit vendor. "I’m willing to Exchange these fruits for them."

"No, no, no! Our tribe worships the Great Lion. If the descendant of the Lion desires an offering, we will present it immediately!"

The Goblin Warrior shook its head in panic, not daring to accept the trade. But since Blaze insisted, it had no choice but to receive the bag of fruit with both hands in an extremely respectful manner.

"Please step this way."

The Goblin Warrior led the way, while the other goblins formed a short Guard Team to keep a vigilant watch over their surroundings, treating Blaze as a highly esteemed guest.

Blaze followed the group of goblins to a massive stone wall, which happened to be the exact location marked on his Map.

The Goblin Warrior didn’t stop. Instead, it walked straight into the stone wall. The instant before impact, the mark on its back emitted a faint glow.

Miraculously, the stone wall opened up, revealing a pitch-black tunnel.

Blaze examined the passage. It seemed that only the goblins of this tribe could open it. Perhaps this was why those Foreigners could never find the Goblin Tribe’s location.

The journey through the tunnel was completely dark. A few seconds later, light poured in.

What appeared before Blaze’s eyes was a utopia-like haven. The atmosphere was similar to Balkan City or the Newbie Village the Foreigners always talked about, except the residents inside were all goblins.

Led by the Goblin Warrior, Blaze entered the village. Every goblin villager respectfully dropped to their knees and bowed upon seeing him.

The deeper he went, the more surprised Blaze became. These goblins were already experimenting with agriculture and animal husbandry, and they had done so on quite an impressive scale.

"Maybe there really will be Foreigners born as goblins in the future!" he thought.

However, a goblin’s base racial stats were incredibly low, so he didn’t know if any Foreigner would even be willing.

While his imagination ran wild, the Goblin Warrior brought Blaze before an enormous cavern.

There was a crude stone altar here, upon which rested several fruits that shimmered with a golden hue.

[Nemean Fruit]

[A fruit grown while bathed in the greatness of the Lion. Its flesh can punish despicable rebels.]

[When Throwing at Monsters of the Nemean Lion lineage, the spot tainted by its juice will lose Leo’s Blessing.]

"Could it be!"

Blaze took a few steps back to observe the entire cavern from a better vantage point.

This wasn’t a mountain or a cave at all—it was a colossal skeleton.

[The Place Where Stars Fall — Nemean Crater]

"There are... two Lions!?"