Goblin King: My Innate Skill Is OP

Chapter 399: Responsibility

I didn’t respond immediately. Because the truth was that she wasn’t entirely wrong.

There was a certain logic to what she was saying.

Taking in more people. More goblins. More responsibilities. More problems. Now more wolves. Every decision carried risks. Every additional responsibility was another burden placed on my shoulders.

And it wasn’t as though I had never considered that before. I had more times than I could count. Even so, no matter how often I turned it over in my mind, I couldn’t bring myself to agree with her. Maybe that made me foolish. Maybe it made me reckless. Either way, it was who I was.

"The alternative is being cruel, grumpy, and alone, Ariel," I said. Then I looked down at the sleeping pup in my arms. "I’d pass on that."

Ariel frowned.

"Even if it means carrying the burden of many?"

"Yes," I answered without hesitation. "I am strong enough to do that. Don’t you think?"

The fox was silent for a moment. Then she shook her head and turned away.

"I’m done with this conversation. Just take me home."

A small grin tugged at the corner of my lips.

"Just so you know, Ariel, the reason you even have a home is because I’m so nice."

She closed her eyes. As if she were gathering every ounce of patience she possessed.

"I get it," she said with a sigh. "Let’s just go already."

I shook my head and carefully lowered the sleeping pup back onto the ground.

"No. I want you to look after the wolves while I go bring workers to mine the crystals."

"What?"

Ignoring the disbelief in her voice, I crouched and placed a hand against the ground.

A thin stream of chroma flowed from my palm as I carved a seal into the earth.

Good. Now I’d be able to [Warp] directly back to this location.

I rose to my feet.

"I’ll be back soon."

"No, " Ariel immediately shook her head. "I do not want to be here."

I glanced toward her.

The fox was looking at me as though I’d personally betrayed her.

"You’ll survive."

"That is not the point."

"It kind of is."

Ariel narrowed her eyes. I ignored her and checked the seal one last time.

Everything was in place.

Behind us, the Matriarch remained near the cave entrance while several pups wandered around her feet, completely unaware of the argument taking place.

Ariel followed my gaze and looked even less pleased.

"Why am I the one staying behind?"

"Because you’re the only one here."

"That is a terrible reason."

"It’s the only reason I need."

The fox opened her mouth, clearly preparing another complaint. I pointed a finger at her.

"Don’t harm them, Ariel."

Ariel stared at me.

"I was not going to harm them."

"Good."

"I was never going to harm them."

"Even better."

Her eye twitched. Then, before she could continue arguing, I activated [Leap]. The world around me distorted. The cave, the wolves, and Ariel’s increasingly offended expression blurred from view.

And a moment later, I was gone, returning to the clan.

*

As soon as Eli was gone, the four-tailed fox let out a long sigh and stared at the spot where he had vanished.

The pup Eli had been carrying remained where it was, blinking in confusion as it looked around the clearing. For several moments, it searched for the goblin, as though expecting him to suddenly reappear.

When that didn’t happen, its attention shifted onto Ariel.

The fox immediately narrowed her eyes.

The pup tilted its head. Then, with clumsy determination, it began waddling toward her.

Ariel was having none of it.

She sprang to her feet in a single motion, her fur bristling as all four tails rose behind her. A low, threatening snarl escaped her throat as she bared her fangs at the approaching pup.

The reaction was immediate.

The tiny wolf froze. Its ears flattened against its head. Then, startled by the much larger predator suddenly looming over it, the pup stumbled backward and lost its footing entirely, tumbling onto its back.

For a moment, it simply lay there in confusion. Then it scrambled upright and hurried away as fast as its tiny legs could carry it.

Ariel watched with satisfaction as the pup retreated toward the cave.

The little wolf didn’t stop until it reached the Matriarch, immediately pressing itself against her side and hiding behind one of her forelegs.

The Matriarch looked down at the frightened pup. Then she slowly raised her head and looked at Ariel.

Ariel looked back. Neither moved.

The silence stretched between them. Eventually, the Matriarch lowered her head and began licking the pup in an attempt to calm it down.

Ariel flicked her tail.

"I won."

*

I appeared in the center of the clan.

Several goblins moving about immediately noticed my arrival. A few were carrying materials, others were busy with construction work, but they all paused long enough to acknowledge me.

"Welcome back, Chief."

I returned the greeting with a nod before stopping one of them.

"Find Narg and tell him to meet me at Talia’s workshop."

The goblin straightened.

"Yes, Chief."

Then he hurried off without delay.

With that taken care of, I activated [Warp] once more and headed toward Talia’s workplace.

The familiar workshop came into view a moment later.

As soon as I stepped inside, I found Talia gathered around a worktable with Zarah, Sheera, and Nira. The four of them appeared to be discussing something, though whatever it was immediately lost their attention the moment I arrived.

Or rather, the moment Zarah noticed me.

Her eyes lit up.

Without a second of hesitation, she hurried across the room and wrapped her arms around me.

"You came back early, just like you promised."

A small smile found its way onto my face. I raised a hand and gently brushed through her hair.

"I did." Then I looked down at her. "Were you waiting for me?"

"I did. Were you waiting?"

"I was," she said with a smile. "But I had friends to keep me company."

"Friends?"

I repeated the word as my gaze drifted toward the three female goblins standing nearby.

I already knew...