SWNOVELXO Chapter 24
Chapter 24
Golden Goblin.
A concept frequently appearing in games.
It was no different in Eternal World.
“So, a Golden Goblin—are we talking about the kind that carries a lot of treasure?”
“Yeah, exactly.”
“Wait, there’s a Golden Goblin in Persville?”
Hearing this, Lee Wonsang sighed, looking at his junior coworker, Oh Jinhyuk, with a mix of exasperation and pity.
Oh Jinhyuk flinched, feeling guilty.
How was he supposed to know? Asking was the only way to learn.
Resigned, Wonsang nodded and continued, “Technically, it’s called a Treasure Goblin.”
“Wait, what? Then… does that player know about it too?”
“It’s possible, but probably not. The Treasure Goblin is unique to the Persville goblin village. But here’s the thing—it’s already dead.”
“Huh? Really?”
If it was dead, it would be nearly impossible to find—unless someone got extremely lucky.
As Jinhyuk pondered this, Wonsang added, “Yeah, a different player killed it, thinking it was a regular goblin. They didn’t discover the hidden piece, so they left for another town.”
“Ohhh!”
That clarified everything.
The hidden piece was now lost, with no clues left to rediscover it.
In such cases, the hidden piece became inaccessible—a feature the developers themselves acknowledged as “practically impossible” to recover.
That’s why it was called a Lost Hidden Piece.
Still, Jinhyuk noticed something odd.
His senior’s expression remained tense, even though there was no longer any reason for concern.
‘Why does he look so worried?’
A lost hidden piece shouldn’t be an issue.
“Since it’s a lost hidden piece, that player won’t be able to get it, right?”
“…Right.”
Wonsang’s answer was brief and lacked conviction.
He looked uneasy but eventually forced a laugh.
“Haha, yeah, there’s no way they’ll find it. It’s a lost hidden piece, after all.”
“Haha! Exactly! You’re always spot on, senior!”
Jinhyuk laughed along, but Wonsang’s unease lingered.
After all, this was the same player who had effortlessly mastered rare-grade skills using “Unknown Power.”
4.
The vast Persville Plains were home to a diverse array of monsters.
From beast-type monsters like deer, wolves, and foxes to humanoid creatures like goblins, zombies, and skeletons, the variety matched the area’s sheer size.
Among these, goblins were the dominant force—not because they were strong, but because they were a nuisance.
Goblins were universally regarded as weak monsters.
Ten out of ten players would agree.
However, their habits made them particularly troublesome:
They traveled in groups.
They were cunning, often setting traps and launching ambushes.
This made them one of the most annoying enemies to face in the Persville Plains.
At least, that’s what Seonghyeon thought—until he witnessed the ongoing massacre before him.
The metallic clash of weapons echoed through the air, mingling with the iron tang of blood.
“Kerrek!”
“Kyargh!”
“Krrrk!”
“Kererhk! (Kill them!)”
“Kehhrk! (Victory for the Master!)”
“Kekek! Kerekrk! (Drench our old home in death!)”
“Krekekrek! (For our Lord!)”
The goblins being slaughtered stood no chance against the dark forces.
Their attackers—undead cloaked in shadow and radiating teal energy—moved with relentless precision.
Despite their ominous appearances, it was clear from their forms that these undead had once been goblins themselves.
Watching the undead slaughter their kin, Seonghyeon scratched his cheek awkwardly.
‘This is… kind of gruesome.’
The thought briefly crossed his mind, but…
[A Death Soldier has slain a goblin.]
[You have gained experience points.]
[A Death Soldier has slain a goblin.]
[You have gained experience points.]
[A Death Soldier has slain a goblin.]
[You have gained experience points.]
The experience notifications flooded his system.
Before long:
[A Death Soldier has slain a goblin.]
[You have gained experience points.]
[Level Up!]
It was far too easy.
Even Vegron, who was level 30, could only control five skeletons and two zombies.
Meanwhile, Seonghyeon—at level 10—had 20 undead soldiers under his command, thanks to Legion of the Dead.
Or rather, he was now level 11.
The time it took to wipe out the entire goblin village?
Less than ten minutes.
‘This is insane.’
Even as the one watching it unfold, the results were hard to believe.
Of course, the mana cost was astronomical.
Though the battle lasted only ten minutes, his remaining mana had dropped below 10%.
With the goblin village annihilated, there was no need to maintain the undead.
Seonghyeon prepared to deactivate Legion of the Dead.
Although he had managed to summon 20 undead, sustaining them drained too much mana.
Times like these made him envy Vegron’s Undead Chamber, which allowed for storing summoned creatures.
Unfortunately, there was no such luxury here.
As Seonghyeon prepared to deactivate the skill, the undead goblins lined up in formation, their teal eyes glowing with reverence.
“Kerk! Kekek! (It has been an honor to serve you!)”
“Kerekrk! Kerk! (Oh, Lord! My Lord!)”
“Kekh! Kerk! (Endless glory to our Master!!!)”
“Kererhk! (Infinite victory to the Lord!!!)”
Proclaiming their loyalty, the undead turned to dust, leaving Seonghyeon alone.
‘…Wow.’
Even Seonghyeon was taken aback, smiling awkwardly.
Their loyalty was absolute—a bit overwhelming, but certainly preferable to defiance.
After the undead vanished, Seonghyeon checked for any remaining souls but found none.
It seemed they had all peacefully departed.
‘Hope they find peace.’
Though he had killed them, they seemed content in the end. That was enough for him.
[You have singlehandedly destroyed a goblin village.]
[You have earned the title, 『Goblin Slayer.』]
[You have led undead to defeat a large number of enemies.]
[You have earned the title, 『Apprentice Necromancer.』]
‘Oh.’
The messages notifying me of new titles felt oddly satisfying, as if it had been ages since I’d last seen them.
What kind of titles did I get this time?
『Goblin Slayer』
Grade: 《Rare》
Description: Awarded to a player who singlehandedly annihilates a goblin village.
Effect: Increases attack power by 2.5% when hunting goblins.
『Apprentice Necromancer』
Grade: 《Rare》
Description: Given to dark mage players who lead undead to defeat a large number of enemies.
Effect: Increases the health of your undead by 5%.
‘Not bad.’
While not game-changing, both titles were practical and easy to use.
Satisfied, I considered moving to another area for more hunting.
Although my mana was nearly depleted, my health was still full, so I could continue fighting with my sword until my mana replenished.
Just as I was about to leave, something caught my attention near the goblin village.
Had I missed a goblin?
That couldn’t be.
The title Goblin Slayer proved I had wiped out the entire village.
Moreover, my undead soldiers wouldn’t have let even a single goblin escape.
I squinted at the figure in the distance.
‘Huh?’
It wasn’t an ordinary goblin.
The figure was translucent, its legs flickering and glitching as though it were unstable.
A goblin ghost.
I wasn’t particularly surprised, having seen the ghosts of other monsters when raising their corpses, but I did find it intriguing that a ghost could wander about separately like this.
Curious, I approached the ghost.
It noticed me and, surprisingly, began to speak.
“Ho! So, it was you who brought ruin to our village. An impressive feat, indeed!”
“What the—?”
The ghost’s words startled me.
Unlike the goblin undead I’d commanded, who spoke in their native tongue, this ghost spoke in the common language of Eternal World.
‘A goblin speaking the common language?’
I blinked, intrigued.
Such an unusual ghost likely had something valuable.
“Kukuk! I see I’ve surprised you. A mere goblin speaking the common tongue must be quite the shock.”
“Well, yeah. It’s pretty surprising.”
“I’ve dealt with humans since I was young, and naturally picked it up. My intelligence, greater than that of my kin, certainly helped.”
The wisdom in its eyes was almost human-like, its demeanor exuding a sense of refinement.
Even though I had essentially wiped out its village, it showed no hostility, speaking kindly and even praising my strength.
“Kukuk! This meeting must be fate. Great one, would you perhaps accept the treasures I’ve collected over my lifetime?”
“Treasures?”
“Yes, humble though I may be, my amassed wealth is not insignificant.”
‘Oh?’
The revelation left me momentarily stunned.
I’d heard of Golden Goblins, monsters known for their riches, but I hadn’t expected to encounter one—especially as a ghost.
‘What a jackpot.’
My anticipation must have been obvious, as the goblin ghost chuckled in satisfaction.
“Kukuk, I see you’re pleased. Very well, let me guide you to them. Unfortunately, I cannot leave this place myself.”
“Ah.”
A bound spirit, it seemed.
I’d heard of ghosts unable to move beyond a certain area, and it appeared this goblin ghost was one of them.
Nodding, I agreed to follow its guidance.
The ghost began to describe the path in detail, pointing out traps and obstacles as it went.
Suddenly, I felt something new—an unfamiliar yet unmistakable sensation.
In the past, I’d relied on ghosts for directions, but never before had I absorbed their memories or experiences.
This time, however, I instinctively knew I could.
Reaching out, I placed my hand on the ghost.
“Ohh?!”
“Ah.”
Memories and experiences flooded into me.
My teal eyes glowed as a matching aura radiated from my body.
Within moments, the ghost’s entire life played out like a panorama in my mind.
“Kahkuku?”
“Yes, yes! That is my name!”
“Oh?”
“Ah, now you no longer need my guidance. Truly, you are remarkable!”
“Hm.”
Though a bit embarrassed, I now had all the information I needed—not just the treasure’s location, but also details about the traps and special goblins guarding it.
With proper preparation, there’d be nothing to worry about.
‘Thanks. I’ll find it thanks to you.’
Projecting my thoughts, I saw the ghost—Kahkuku—nod with a contented smile.
“Not at all, great one. Merely being of service is an honor. Kukuk! When I reach the afterlife, I’ll have quite the story to share!”
‘Ha…’
Ghosts certainly had a way of showering me with praise.
Not that I minded—it was rather pleasant, actually.
Just as I prepared to leave, I felt the presence of someone approaching.
Fast.
Normally, it might’ve escaped my notice, but my heightened senses—thanks to the memories of the Drill Instructor and the Hunter Apik—alerted me.
Whoever it was, they were moving with purpose, heading straight for this location.
‘What’s this?’
Could it be another player who had discovered the hidden piece?
No, Kahkuku’s memories confirmed that the player who had killed him hadn’t taken the map.
No one should know about this treasure.
So why were they coming?
Before long, a man in a neat, suit-like outfit appeared, his hair disheveled from running.
‘Hmm?’
I’d seen similar attire before in the cemetery but hadn’t paid much attention at the time.
Looking closer now, I realized—this was a scout.
I recalled reading guides for beginners that mentioned scouts often dressed like office workers.
Apparently, it was best to be polite when approached by one.
Though I’d only been playing for a day and hadn’t considered joining a guild yet, I couldn’t help but wonder:
‘Why would a scout rush here so desperately?’
The man, panting heavily, alternated glances between me and the decimated goblin village before bowing at a sharp 90-degree angle.
“Greetings! I’m Lee Seongyeong, a scout for Sick Brothers. I came here personally because I absolutely must recruit you, Dark Mage!”
“Uh, me? Why me…?”
“Huh?”
My bewildered reaction seemed to throw him off.
Straightening slightly, he scrutinized me with a mix of curiosity and unease.
‘Is this the right guy?’
I had a strikingly handsome face, even with minimal customization allowed in Eternal World, so I fit the general description.
Still, my reaction clearly unsettled him.
‘Did I mess up?’
Desperation creeping into his voice, he asked, “Are you… the Dark Mage who summoned those unusual undead?”
“Uh, yes, that’s me.”
“And… did you attend the elite training center?”
“Yes, that’s me too.”
‘So it is him!’