Chapter 530: Chapter 530

“Answer quickly. Are you subordinates of the duke or not?”

“U-uh... I know Hunter Choi Yeonseung, but I’m not his subordinate...”

“I-I’m a comrade,” Uranta said confidently.

None of the goblin warriors doubted Uranta, for they knew that giants were lousy liars.

“Fine. I’ll guide you.”

The hunters were baffled by the familiar clothing of a goblin warrior.

...He was wearing jeans and a rustic t-shirt.

“???”

“????”

At first, the hunters dismissed it as a mere coincidence that the goblin’s clothes looked just like regular clothes from Earth. But when they saw the words “great goblin” printed in Korean, they realized it couldn’t be a coincidence.

His attire was definitely from Earth!

“Uh... What’s with your outfit?”

“Ah, this? As expected of a human, you recognize it,” the goblin replied in a proud voice. “Duke Choi Yeonseung himself has offered me this treasure. Doesn’t it exude dignity?”

“That... Uh...” The hunters seemed to have noticed something.

“It seems you have no eyes since you can’t answer this right away,” the goblin said with a frown.

“No, that’s not it...”

“It looks so good on you that we were at a loss for words for a moment...”

With that, the goblin’s expression softened.

“Alright, I guess you do have a bit of a discerning eye.”

“...”

“Now, follow me.”

As they followed the goblin, the hunters were wondering just what was going on.

***

Choi Yeonseung’s place was located in the center of the goblins’ territory, and the hunters couldn’t help staring in wonder.

“This is really...”

“Amazing...”

Each Abyssal Realm had been a marvel to humanity when first discovered, and this goblin territory was no exception.

Humans generally didn’t think much of goblins—just another Abyssal race out there. As such, they hadn’t expected the realm of the goblins to have such beautiful architecture. The buildings crafted from wood and stone were magically woven together, giving the impression that they were alive.

The numerous mansions loomed over the hunters as they approached the center of the realm, their intricate decorations becoming more apparent.

“Here.”

“?”

The goblin warrior stopped everyone in front of a huge mansion that was incomparable to the others. The hunters thought that the goblin king could live in such a place.

“Do we need to see the goblin ruler first?”

“No, this is where Duke Choi Yeonseung stays. Please enter with courtesy.”

“...”

“...”

The hunters were visibly perplexed, but Uranta confidently went ahead.

“Wh-what did I say? I told you we could trust him, didn’t I?”

“...No, but there should still be some limit to it...!”

***

“I was lucky.”

Of course, the hunters weren’t convinced by Choi Yeonseung’s words. No matter how lucky he might have been, this was just ridiculous!

“The goblin nobles wanted to join forces with me, so we started trading with them. Business is going way better than I imagined, which is why I gained this position.”

“What about the title of Duke?”

“After I made a lot of money, the goblin nobles spoke to their ruler and gave me this title.”

“U-uh... In that case, aren’t we done here? Let’s take all their money and leave!”

“It’s not that simple.”

Choi Yeonseung calmed down the jubilant Uranta. Indeed, he was quickly amassing a huge fortune and attracting other important goblin merchants. However, there was one formidable opponent in the realm.

It was Valtor, the ruler of the goblin territory. Unsurprisingly, he was being swayed by the Greedy Owner of the Treasure House, and he frowned at Choi Yeonseung’s rapid growth. In fact, Valtor had tried to get his subordinates to keep Choi Yeonseung in check, but...

-King Valtor is trying to keep you in check. You had better be careful.

-By the way, can you hang out with me like this?

-Isn’t money more important than loyalty? So what are you going to bring next time?

After the goblin nobles had a taste of Choi Yeonseung’s money, Valtor could no longer do anything to keep him in check.

But even that had reached its limit.

Valtor had sent an invitation to meet Choi Yeonseung in person.

“If I accept the invitation, there’s a good chance a fight will break out.”

“S-strength never loses! I’ll help you take him down!” Uranta exclaimed excitedly.

However, Choi Yeonseung shook his head. “Defeating him isn’t the problem.”

Valtor, the goblin ruler, was one of the richest mortals in this goblin territory. In fact, he was on par with Choi Yeonseung, who had rapidly built up a fortune with the help of the goblin nobles.

If Valtor were to die, would that fortune fall directly into Choi Yeonseung’s hands? Rather than that, his children and goblin subordinates would split up the fortune, or worse, one of them could steal it for themselves and flee the realm.

“We need to get his fortune somehow...”

“Why don’t you take his family hostage?”

“Valtor has a strong sense of pride, so holding his family hostage would be of little use.”

The hunters were stunned when Odaigon told the goblin nobles that it wouldn’t work. This was their ruler...!

They almost thought that Choi Yeonseung was the real ruler of their realm. That was how loyal the goblin nobles were to him.

“Let’s try to win his favor somehow. Resolving this peacefully is the best way.”

“I-I shall swing my weapon at your signal.”

***

Valtor was very uneasy, as things weren’t going as he had hoped in his territory. He hated the idea of an outsider running around unchecked, but the goblin nobles were completely blinded by money. That human had bewitched them one by one, turning them into his henchmen.

“Uh... What do you intend to do?”

“What do I plan to do?” Valtor looked at his subordinate. “As a goblin, I intend to deal with him in the most honorable manner!”

“!”

The royal guards were surprised by Valtor’s plan of challenging the human hero to a duel. Normally, goblins never engaged in duels with someone of lower rank. Challenging someone to a duel meant acknowledging them.

“King Valtor! You don’t have to do that! We will come forward!”

“You guys? You don’t even have a tenth of his wealth.”

“...”

“...”

The goblin guards lowered their heads in shame. Indeed, in terms of wealth, they weren’t qualified to challenge Choi Yeonseung to a duel.

They had no choice but to admit that the human hero was worthy of a duel with their ruler!

Bang!

The door swung open, and Choi Yeonseung, accompanied by the nobles, made a majestic entrance.

“Here is the hero who defeated the planet-eating wolf, Acafenrir!” shouted one of the nobles. “He is among the five richest mortals in this territory. He possesses all the treasures of humanity. Behold, Duke Choi Yeonseung is coming!”

“Shame on you, poor bastards!” Valtor’s subordinates gritted their teeth at the sight of the treacherous nobles.

However, the goblin nobles didn’t care.

“Poor? Who are you calling poor?”

“We don’t listen to those who are poorer than us!”

The goblins seemed proud of themselves.

Valtor had claimed the throne for himself with the wealth he had gained by defeating countless enemies, but this human hero could challenge him and claim the throne for himself.

Valtor wasn’t surprised by the reaction of the goblin nobles. It was understandable.

“Hero who has bested Acafenrir, I hereby challenge you to a duel! Do you accept my challenge?”

“Sure,” Choi Yeonseung shrugged.

Valtor nodded. This duel was worthy of the hero who had slain Acafenrir. He hadn’t thought Choi Yeonseung would turn down his challenge in the first place.

Valtor drew his weapon, the legendary Spear of Equilas.

It was a treasure from the Greedy Owner of the Treasure House!

“Be careful, Duke Choi Yeonseung! Valtor is a spear master!”

“His spear destroys everything it touches!”

-Descent of Greedy Souls! Curse of Gold, Whisper of the Wraiths!

Valtor proceeded to swing his spear and cast various spells. On top of that, he also used the power he had received from the Greedy Owner of the Treasure House.

‘Not bad.’

Choi Yeonseung was impressed. As a martial arts constellation, he took pride in the fact that no other constellation could match him in close combat.

However, even through the eyes of a constellation, Valtor seemed outstanding. His fighting style was rather extreme, as it channeled most of his skills and powers into one weapon. In any case, this approach ensured immense combat power.

Valtor’s spear, enveloped by magic, had the power to destroy everything it touched.

‘But he relies too much on strength.’ Choi Yeonseung took a stance.

Valtor rushed in, his magically-enhanced body cutting through the air, and swung his spear. Choi Yeonseung estimated the distance and stepped back, dodging the attack.

Valtor didn’t panic. After all, it would’ve been ridiculous to land an attack on the hero who had defeated Acafenrir just like that.

‘More!’

With another skill, Valtor increased the length of the spear and thrust it forward. However, Choi Yeonseung smacked the spear sideways with his hand.

‘What?!’ Valtor was taken aback by this absurd counter. Even if Choi Yeonseung didn’t touch the blade itself, the spear was being enhanced with all kinds of skills. His hand should’ve been shattered the moment he touched the spear, and yet the spear flew to the side with a neat spin.

Valtor blinked in shock.

Choi Yeonseung calmly threw a fist but then stopped right before making contact with Valtor’s face.

Having accepted defeat, Valtor asked with a flushed expression, “What are you doing?!”

“I don’t have to take your life, do I?” Choi Yeonseung wondered.

“Nonsense! Don’t humiliate me for nothing. Hit me!”

“...”

“Hurry and hit me! Pity is a sin for an honorable warrior!”

Choi Yeonseung hesitated.

It was because...

‘If I hit him, his property will be almost impossible to recover.’

As soon as Choi Yeonseung walked through that door, Valtor challenged him to a duel, giving him no time to talk things out or take his fortune. That was why Choi Yeonseung couldn’t just knock him down.

Of course, Valtor was unaware of Choi Yeonseung’s intentions, so he couldn’t help being infuriated. He thought Choi Yeonseung was just taking pity on him.

“Hit me already!”

“You idiot!”

This time, it was Odaigon who came to Choi Yeonseung’s aid. He shed his disguise, and the guards and nobles were stunned to see a goblin from another realm appear out of nowhere.

Who was it?!

“Do you not understand that my master is showing your mercy?”

“Shut up! Who are you to intervene in this duel?”

“Master doesn’t want an honorable warrior like you to lose in a duel like this! Instead of understanding my master’s mercy, you’re being arrogant! You’ve accumulated fortune but not wisdom!”

“How dare you! You have less than one-hundredth of my wealth, so why are you even talking to me?”

Valtor shifted his gaze on Odaigon, but after a few seconds, he was stunned.

“Y-you...!”

“???”

“?????”

Valtor’s subordinates were taken aback. Why was their ruler reacting like that?

“You... Aren’t you Odaigon?”

“So you realized.”

“!!”

Valtor was speechless after Odaigon confirmed his suspicion. It was incredible.

“Y-you... I never thought we would meet like this...”

“??”

‘What?’

Both Odaigon and Choi Yeonseung were puzzled. Valtor’s reaction was a bit strange; he was acting like a fan meeting his favorite idol for the first time.