Chapter 174: The Constellations Who Stayed: Part 2

In another region, a completely different atmosphere prevailed.

A grand castle stood at the center of a conquered settlement, its towering walls having been rebuilt using the remains of the previous structures. The architecture was imposing and somewhat grotesque, with dark stone towers rising above the surrounding buildings and banners displaying unfamiliar symbols hanging from the battlements.

Within the castle’s throne room sat Lapace the Overproud.

His throne had been constructed from countless skulls, arranged carefully to form an imposing seat that reflected the nature of its owner. Lapace rested one arm against its side, his expression radiating arrogance as he observed the goblins kneeling before him.

"Speak."

A goblin official trembled as he lowered his head.

"Y-Your Majesty, the eastern settlement has completed its assigned construction. However, the workers are requesting additional time to finish the remaining buildings."

Lapace’s eyes narrowed.

"Additional time?"

The goblin immediately pressed his forehead against the floor.

"Please forgive us! We will complete the work as soon as possible!"

"Then why are you wasting my time?"

Lapace rose from his throne, and the entire room seemed to grow heavier beneath his presence. The goblins dared not raise their heads, their bodies shaking as they waited for his judgment.

"Listen carefully," he said, his voice cold and merciless. "I don’t care about your excuses, your difficulties, or whatever trivial problems you encounter while carrying out my orders. If I demand something, you will accomplish it. If you fail, you will accept the consequences."

"Y-Yes, Your Majesty!"

Lapace returned to his throne, apparently satisfied with their response.

Among the goblins, he had acquired a terrifying reputation.

They called him the Evil of Evil.

He wasn’t merely a ruler who demanded obedience, but someone who seemed to take pleasure in watching others struggle beneath his authority. His punishments were harsh, his expectations unreasonable, and his presence alone was enough to silence even the most rebellious goblins.

Some secretly despised him, while others feared that a single careless word could result in their deaths.

Yet none dared challenge him openly.

After all, the previous rebels had already demonstrated what happened to those who attempted to resist his rule.

For the goblins living within his territory, every day was a struggle to avoid attracting the attention of their terrifying ruler.

And Lapace seemed perfectly content with that arrangement.

A pair of guards stood near the doors, their spears held rigidly as they watched the official retreat. None offered him comfort, and none dared question the order. Even after the doors closed, the remaining goblins stayed motionless until Lapace lifted a finger. Only then did they scramble away, desperate to return to their duties before another mistake brought them back into the throne room under his ever-watchful, merciless gaze.

Unlike Lapace, Headless Gnome Ducaya had developed a rather unusual relationship with the goblins.

He had originally remained in Double X’s world out of curiosity, but over the years, he had gradually become interested in the creatures living there. Their rapid reproduction, adaptability, and surprising intelligence had made them far more fascinating than he had initially expected.

As a result, Ducaya had begun spending considerable time among them.

"Hold it properly! If you swing the hammer like that, you’ll break your wrist before you finish making the weapon!"

Inside a large workshop, Ducaya stood beside a group of young goblins, watching as they attempted to forge their first metal weapons. His headless body moved between the workstations, correcting their postures and demonstrating how to shape heated metal without wasting unnecessary effort.

One goblin struggled to hammer a piece of iron into shape, repeatedly striking the same spot until the metal bent awkwardly.

Ducaya sighed.

"You’re supposed to shape the entire blade, not turn it into a crooked piece of scrap!"

The young goblin lowered his head in embarrassment.

"I’m sorry, Master Ducaya!"

"Stop apologizing and try again."

Ducaya took the hammer and demonstrated the proper technique, striking the metal with controlled movements until its shape gradually became recognizable. The goblins gathered around him, watching attentively as sparks flew from the anvil.

Once he finished, he handed the hammer back to the young goblin.

"Now, do it yourself."

The goblin nodded enthusiastically and returned to work.

Ducaya watched the children for a moment before folding his arms.

"Goblins are great creatures, aren’t they?"

One of the older goblins glanced at him.

"What do you mean, Master?"

"They multiply quickly, they don’t need nearly as much time as humans to produce the next generation, and their lifespans are roughly half as long as those of humans. Yet despite their shorter lives, they can learn surprisingly quickly, and some of them are even capable of understanding complicated techniques after only a few demonstrations."

He paused, watching a young goblin successfully shape a small blade.

"Of course, they’re also rather reckless, and their tendency to rush into things can be troublesome. Still, their adaptability is remarkable, especially when you consider how quickly they can rebuild their communities after suffering enormous losses."

Ducaya chuckled.

"If someone managed to combine their reproductive ability with proper education and technological development, who knows what they could accomplish?"

The goblins stared at him, uncertain whether they should feel proud or uncomfortable about being discussed as though they were some particularly interesting species of experimental creature.

Ducaya, however, paid little attention to their reactions.

He had already become quite fond of them, and teaching the younger generation had gradually turned into one of his favorite activities.

As another goblin successfully completed his first weapon, Ducaya nodded with satisfaction.

"Good! Now make ten more."

The goblin’s expression immediately collapsed.

"Ten?!"

"Did you think you were finished after making one?"

Ducaya laughed as the young goblins returned to their workstations, their complaints filling the workshop.

For the time being, he had no intention of leaving this world.

After all, there were still plenty of interesting things he wanted to discover about the goblins, and he was beginning to suspect that their potential was far greater than anyone had initially imagined.