WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: ZERO_SUGAR

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◈ SSS-Class Revival Hunter ◈

Chapter 156: Becoming God (2)

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2.

Under my guidance, the goblins escaped safely.

-Ker! Keru!

-Kek, Kerk!

The goblins hopped around joyously, resembling green chimpanzees. If they had cried 'Ukiki' instead of 'Kerk,' they would have been mistaken for monkeys.

'These little guys are cute.'

-They look cute to you…? Huh?

Guardian Spirit commented with a grimace.

-You sure your eyes haven’t gone bad, zombie?

'Look with your heart, Sword Emperor. I see a future for the goblins, a future so noble and beautiful. I can see a future that hasn’t arrived yet.'

-Ah, I can't handle this bastard anymore... I am so powerless and incompetent that merely hearing this bastard run his mouth makes my mind go blank...

Meanwhile, other races had also successfully escaped.

The Black Dragon Master, transformed into an elegant Black Swan, led the Vampiric Tribe. Earlier, when emerging from the forest and looking up, I saw a flurry of bats flapping their wings across the sky. Forming a triangular formation, they followed the Black Swan.

'Oh. That’s impressive.'

Our eyes met for a moment as the Black Swan flew past. In its pitch-black eyes, I saw not the wildness of a beast but the intellect of the Black Dragon Master. Flap! The Black Swan spread its wings wide.

-Yihee!

And then, in an instant, it disappeared beyond the horizon.

My companions, too, had transformed into mystical animals and led a grand escape.

[Quest Clear!]

[You have successfully evacuated your race from the Primeval Forest.]

[As a reward for completing the quest, you receive 300 Race Points!]

[You currently have 855 Race Points.]

The reward was quite generous.

'500 points for creating a primitive religion or something, and 300 points for the quest. Not bad.'

-Hmm. Is that a lot?

'It’s sufficient for the beginning. At least we won’t starve for points now.'

-If you say so, then I suppose it must be true, at least inside the mind of Goblin God Kim Gong-Ja.

'Yes. Now we need to find them a place to live and eat.'

-Damn it, why did that do absolutely zero damage...?

I chose the next item to purchase in my mind. Shopping in the Civilization Store was possible even in the lion’s form.

[Would you like to purchase ‘Bronze-rank Settlement Search’?]

Without hesitation, I splurged.

'Yes.'

Messages appeared in succession.

[Purchasing ‘Bronze-rank Settlement Search’.]

[80 Race Points will be consumed!]

[You currently have 775 Race Points.]

Whoosh!

A vision unfolded in my mind. After crossing a river and three streams, a suitable settlement area for goblins appeared.

‘Appropriate moisture, decent hunting grounds... Not bad.’

Good, now all that was left was to guide them there.

“Goruk! Gor, Growl, Gor!”

‘Alright! Follow me!’

I marched forward confidently on the lion's front paws. Like ducklings, the goblins followed me mindlessly, full of joy.

And so, on the sixth day, we finally reached the settlement area indicated in the vision.

-Ker!

The goblins joyfully plunged into the stream.

[The Earth Spirit Tribe is very pleased with this place!]

[The sorrow of losing their homeland diminishes among the Earth Spirit Tribe.]

The goblins rolled around beside the stream, smearing mud all over themselves. Apparently, that was their hobby.

The mothers dug out gravel and applied clean mud on their young ones’ backs. The kids laughed, Ker, Ker! Perhaps they couldn’t resist the tickling sensation of the mud?

-Maybe they’re trying to mask their own stench. Goblins do have a rather strong smell, don’t they? At least the mud helps a bit.

'Interesting perspective.'

-Didn’t you know that, Goblin God Kim Gong-Ja?

'A god does not concern himself with every minor detail. Only the grand plan matters.'

-Crazy...

What is he talking about?

I lay down, crossing my front paws, watching the mud festival.

As I watched contentedly, a voice from the Tower spoke.

[Would you like to establish this place as the new settlement for the Earth Spirit Tribe?]

'Yep.'

[A new settlement has been established!]

[Please name this settlement.]

'A name, huh... I'd like to call it Raviel Temple, but I can't pronounce that. They wouldn't be able to pronounce it either.'

I sadly scratched the ground with my paw. Hmm. The sensation of my claws scratching the ground seemed to alleviate my gloominess...

-Hey. You’re becoming more and more like a beast, aren’t you…?

'It’s an illusion.'

Just then, a fly-like insect buzzed around me. By the way, the animal I possessed looked similar to a lion but wasn't exactly a lion.

 I just called it that for convenience.

I swatted the fly with my tail. Thwack! My tail struck the fly perfectly, killing it instantly as it hit my side.

This fly hunting had become my new hobby during this mission.

It was surprisingly fun.

-So, he really has become a beast...?

'If you mean I possess the charm of a beastly man, I gladly accept. Anyway, let’s name it [Guru], after the sound of my roar.'

And so, I roared.

"Guru-!"

The Tower responded to my roar.

[The new settlement for the Earth Spirit Tribe will be named ‘Guru’.]

[The Earth Spirit Tribe has escaped the risk of extinction!]

[You may now declare stage clear.]

[Would you like to declare stage clear now?]

-Whoa, we finally got the clear notice! At last, we can escape this miserable Goruk Zone! Hey, what are you doing? Hurry up and declare the clear!

'Ah, don’t you know the Tower?'

-I know! I know! I just want to get out of here!

'I reject that.'

The Race War.

Across this theme, which runs from the thirty-first floor to the fortieth, time advances as the floors rise. If the thirty-first floor is the Paleolithic Age, for example, then the thirty-second becomes the Neolithic Age. That is how it works.

If I declare clear now, I’ll meet the goblins centuries or even millennia later on the next floor.

'Let’s complete everything we can before moving on.'

I slowly reviewed the status of the Goblin race.

I had glanced over it several times while guiding them, but it was a critical issue that needed to be definitively addressed.

'The goblins' traits were [Victim of Racial Discrimination], [Kinship], and [Top-Tier Greed].'

I reviewed the information in order.

+

[Victim of Racial Discrimination]

Rank: F

Effect: The Earth Spirit Tribe is ugly! Their appearance inspires disgust in those who see them. Because of this, the Earth Spirit Tribe suffers every manner of prejudice and misunderstanding and faces tremendous difficulty forming healthy relationships with other races.

Be warned! Hatred pools in the hearts of those who suffer discrimination. The more the Earth Spirit Tribe's hatred grows, the more they, too, will become unconditionally hostile toward other races. You must resolve this problem before they cross the point of no return.

*However, this trait may change depending on the course of history.

+

'First, this is the problem.'

What if we move to the next floor and find the goblins have formed hostile relations with all other races? What if, as in typical fantasy worlds, our goblins are seen as 'public enemies'?

That would be horrific.

To have saved them, only for them to become public enemies.

'This must be resolved before we leave... Next is Kinship.'

+

[Kinship]

Rank: C

Effect: The Earth Spirit Tribe has a very strong sense of kinship. When one of their own dies, no race in this world, except for the same goblins, will shed a tear for them. Instead, they cheer, 'A monster has died! It's a cause for celebration!'

Goblins are goblins.

It’s an inescapable fate.

Under the belief that they can only rely on their own kind, the Earth Spirit Tribe becomes tightly knit. The greatest taboo in their society is to 'betray their own kind' or 'kill their own kind', among others.

Unless faced with extraordinary misfortune, it’s unlikely that the Earth Spirit Tribe will self-destruct due to internal strife!

*However, this trait may change depending on the course of history.

+

Even after reviewing it multiple times, this seems like a good trait.

After all, even goblins deserve to have at least one good trait.

-It doesn't seem like an entirely positive trait...

'Oh? Why do you say that?'

-Just saying. Hurry up and open the next trait.

'Are you finally starting to feel the charm of the goblins?'

-I just want to get this over with...

It's clear as day that he’s enjoying nurturing the race, even though he denies it.

-No, I'm not...

Either way, a lion and a ghost sat side by side, peering into the final description box.

+

[Top-Tier Greed]

Rank: B

Effect: The Earth Spirit Tribe is overflowing with greed. Perhaps due to their inferiority complex and self-loathing for being ugly, they seek recognition not for themselves but through their possessions. ‘Kerk! I’ve covered myself in warm mud!’ ‘Keruk! I’ve plastered myself with premium mud from upstream!’

An insatiable desire for better things.

A longing for more impressive possessions.

Mixed with feelings of inferiority, self-loathing, and a craving for recognition, the Earth Spirit Tribe’s hearts brew a powerful greed. They might begin to covet shiny treasures, or perhaps they will boast about having prettier slaves than others. The Earth Spirit Tribe is greedy, and their potential lies within this greed.

The direction of their 'greed' depends on you.

*However, this trait may change depending on the course of history.

+

"......."

I pondered deeply.

'This is somewhat similar to me.'

-Huh? What is?

'Nothing. Just thinking aloud. Hmm.'

I slowly raised my heavy lion body.

As I approached the stream, the mud-covered goblin kids noticed me and gathered around.

-Ker.

-Kek, Kerk?

Compared to humans, goblins had fewer facial muscles. Their mouths were excessively large, and their cheekbones protruded, making it difficult to read their expressions.

“Grrr.”

I raised my paw and struck a rock by the stream. The goblins flinched in surprise, but I paid them no mind and continued to strike with my paw.

Soon, my claws were all broken.

-Huh? What are you doing?

'Just wait and see.'

With my mangled forepaw, I pressed repeatedly into the mud. Like a brush soaking up ink, the lion's fur became saturated with mud.

The goblins watched my incomprehensible actions with bated breath.

“Grrr.”

I approached the nearest little goblin. When the huge lion's shadow fell over the child, it flinched, but it neither fled nor tried to avoid me.

“Gor. Grrr. Grr, Goruk.”

'Right. Be brave. Just stay like that.'

Thump.

I gently rubbed the child's belly with my mud-covered forepaw, tracing curves as though I were cleaning a window. The little goblin flinched each time I smeared on more mud.

-Ah...

Guardian Spirit spoke up.

-Are you creating a tattoo right now?

Exactly.

'Yes.'

I drew a spiral pattern on the little goblin with mud.

And it wasn’t just for this one. After completing the swirl pattern, I drew tattoos on the other goblins as well.

“Gor.”

Drawing with a lion’s paw instead of a human hand was clumsy. Painting with clumpy mud instead of fine paint was awkward. But even if it was awkward and clumsy, it was undoubtedly art.

After tattooing every goblin,

-Ker?

The goblins looked at each other curiously, marveling at their bodies. Soon, like children discovering a new toy, they started smearing mud on each other and playing.

-Kerk! Gerup, Gergur.

-Gergur!

The goblins splashed in the stream. When their tattoos washed away, others would draw new ones, and they all laughed, Keruk.

[The Earth Spirit Tribe awakens to an aesthetic sense!]

[The Earth Spirit Tribe becomes enchanted by the beauty their bodies display.]

The Tower’s voice echoed in my head.

[The Earth Spirit Tribe’s trait ‘Victim of Racial Discrimination’ evolves!]

[The Earth Spirit Tribe acquires a new trait ‘Primitive Fashionista’!]

Letters appeared before my eyes.

+

[Primitive Fashionista]

Rank: E

Effect: The Earth Spirit Tribe is unattractive! Their appearance incites disgust in onlookers. As a result, they face prejudice and misunderstandings, making it difficult to form healthy relationships with other races.

‘Kerk! We are ugly!’ To combat this, the Earth Spirit Tribe invented a special culture. ‘Then we'll just wear fancy clothes, right?’ They cover their appearance with fashion.

The Earth Spirit Tribe paints a variety of tattoos on their green skin. The more beautiful the tattoo, the more recognition they receive from their kin. Congratulations. The Earth Spirit Tribe now has a culture of fashion!

Blessings to the primitive fashionistas!

‘No matter how much they dress up, a goblin is still a goblin.’

Of course, whether this fashion will be recognized by other races is another matter.

*However, this trait may change depending on the course of history.

+

Okay.

I let out a satisfied laugh through the lion's maw.

“Grrr.”

The Race War and guardian Constellations may sound grandiose, but in the end, they are simple.

Basically, I just need to raise these kids as best as I can.

"Grung, Grrrr, Gop, Goruk!"

‘Just watch. I'll make your whole race ascend!’

I roared vigorously.

-Kekerkek!

-Kekerkek! Kekerkek!

The goblins, covered in mud, circled me, dancing jubilantly.

A cauldron of emotions.

Guardian Spirit, who had watched the entire scene from beginning to end, muttered softly.

-No... They just seem like a bunch of crazies... Surely they won't turn into a bunch of Kim Gong-Jas, right? A race full of lunatics like Kim Gong-Ja? Nah, that's impossible. Such a fantasy, such a hellish existence, can't unfold in reality...

-Ker!

The grand chant of the goblins echoed through the new settlement.

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