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“Are you that famous money changer?”

Francesca asked.

“Could be, could not be,”

the Goblin replied.

“You’re not here for a late-night visit…”

The Goblin revealed a set of white teeth, the flickering candlelight casting a crimson hue on its sharp fangs.

“Are you here to sell, or to buy?”

“Well, isn’t it human nature to come to sell and possibly buy?”

“…Can’t argue with that.”

Whoosh!

In an instant, the magic within the building erupted. The magical wind swept through, washing away the dust clinging to people’s bodies and clothes like a rain shower.

The Goblin, watching the spectacle, adjusted its glasses with an intrigued expression.

Camila and Pereyti, now looking as though they’d just stepped out of a shower, spoke up.

“I think I can breathe now. Thank you.”

“Hmm. Impressive skill.”

“Thanks for the compliment.”

Francesca’s eyes formed a warm crescent.

“Well, well. I thought you were an adventurer, but it turns out you’re a magician.”

“Not like I was hiding it… Is there a problem?”

“None at all.”

The Goblin scanned the faces of Francesca, Camila, Pereyti, and mine, then greeted us with an excessively polite demeanor.

“Please, come inside, esteemed guests.”

—

Episode 11 – No Issues on the Northern Front

—

Goblin is quite a peculiar race.

Humans, Elves, and Beastmen, among other races, are biologically classified as a single species. Yet, even within a single species, physical characteristics and cultures can vary significantly depending on customs and religions.

In simpler terms, it’s akin to the concept of ethnicity.

Though they belong to the human species, people from Asia, Europe, America, Africa, and the Middle East have their differences. Likewise, not all Beastmen or Elves share the same physical traits or customs. Just as a Dog Beastman and a Cat Beastman are grouped together as ‘Beastmen’ yet are distinct beings.

However, that’s a different story for the ‘Greenskin,’ which includes Goblins. The ‘Greenskin’ race has uniform appearance and behavior across all continents.

The most renowned trait of Goblins is their insatiable greed.

“So, you all seem familiar with Goblins.”

“I’ve seen a few at the bank.”

“Oh, those are my fellow workers at the bank. It’s rare to find colleagues like them in the Empire. Very successful folks.”

Their greed rivals that of Dwarves, with an obsession for wealth that can be compared to Dragons.

Describing how Goblins are driven mad by gold, like Dwarves, or hoarding treasures in their lairs, like Dragons, feels almost unnecessary when explaining how greedy these creatures are.

Trusting a Goblin with money is no easy feat.

But,

“A trustworthy Goblin is more reliable than any bank.”

Unsurprisingly, there’s no other race more stable and trustworthy for managing money than the Goblin.

Stability and trust are relative concepts. In that sense, Goblins who engage in commerce are among the most trustworthy types.

With that, the Goblin holding the candle walked ahead, wearing a contented smile.

“I hope to hear good reviews from you.”

“I feel the same.”

Francesca continued walking, exchanging a few words with the Goblin. The sound of our footsteps broke the silence, echoing through the shadowy corridor.

The windows were sealed tight, not allowing a single speck of starlight to enter, casting an eerie gloom over the hallway. The Goblin holding the candle moved forward, beginning to speak in a calm voice.

“By the way, you seem to be newcomers. Is this your first time visiting a currency exchange?”

Francesca, closest, nodded.

“Since you know the name of this money changer, you must have a rough idea of where you are. It’s known as an exchange.”

“I doubt it’s an ordinary exchange. There’s no such thing as a money-changing shop that sells goods.”

The Goblin chuckled mischievously at Francesca’s response.

“What, do you think we only sell goods? We also help you find things.”

“Find things?”

“Whether it’s a lost person or a misplaced item, we will find whatever you seek!”

“……”

“However…”

The Goblin leading the way suddenly stopped.

Turning to observe us, the Goblin wore an intrigued expression.

“If you’re here seeking something, you’d be after a person rather than a thing.”

Its forked tongue slithered across its green lips.

The slightly impolite and somewhat threatening grin caused my companions to react.

Francesca gathered magic in her fingers behind her back, while Pereyti revealed the outline of a flask, a quintessential adventurer’s tool, beneath his robe.

In the hushed corridor, even the sound of a needle dropping could be heard.

I gripped the pistol at my waist, ready to draw it at any moment.

“…Oh dear.”

Just then, the Goblin’s voice broke the silence.

The Goblin took a step back, placed a hand on its chest, and bowed. It was a gesture of apology—very politely it spoke.

“I meant no offense. If I came across as rude, I sincerely apologize for any misunderstanding.”

“……”

All eyes fell on the Goblin’s face.

Francesca’s cold gaze rested briefly on the smiling Goblin before flicking to me. Without needing to say anything, we understood each other. I nodded lightly, conveying the meaning of ‘the back corridor is safe.’

Then, as if nothing happened, Francesca smiled gently, letting the gathered magic dissipate like a wisp of smoke.

“I understand. I’m sure there was no malice intended.”

“Thank you, esteemed guest. Now, let us proceed.”

The Goblin gestured politely towards a door at the end of the hallway. It was an old and heavy door.

As we neared, the Goblin hastened its steps and reached the door first.

“Hmm…”

Its bony fingers swiftly traced patterns carved into the wood. Up, down, diagonally—the sharp nails continued their dance until we arrived.

And then,

“…All done.”

—Creeeak.

The door began to open.

Bright light spilled into the dark corridor. The sudden brightness made me squint.

Yet, the Goblin remained unfazed, bowing respectfully and extending a finger to indicate inside.

“Welcome, esteemed visitors, to the money exchange, the pawn shop, and the information hub. Here, anything can happen and nothing is what it seems.”

The Goblin’s pearly whites shone brightly against the shadows.

“I wish for you to have no losses during your visit.”

—

The shop settled within the ruins of a damaged hotel looked far more pristine than its shabby exterior suggested.

It was as if a luxurious bank branch had been cut out and shoved into the crumbling remains. A bizarre store, seemingly pieced together from mismatched scraps.

I stepped into this strange store in the northern black market under martial law, sensing an odd familiarity with the building.

“Wow…”

Employees sat at long marble desks. Even at this late hour, they moved swiftly as if they had just started their shifts, diligently handling their tasks.

Beneath a floating magical quill that danced in the air, words elegantly etched themselves onto exquisite parchment.

Francesca observed this with an interested expression.

“Reminds me of the Magic Tower. A self-moving quill is a complex magical tool; you wouldn’t see it just anywhere unless it was something like the Secretariat.”

“Are you bragging now? Sounds like deep loyalty.”

“Well… I’m an employee, so… you’d expect some loyalty, right?”

Incredible. The spy selling classified documents just brought up loyalty. Francesca, who had handed me classified documents from the Secretariat just the other day, was utterly shameless.

Shaking my head, I turned my gaze to where Camila was peering at something.

A large aquarium along one wall housed rare tropical fish swimming gracefully.

“How cute…”

As Camila touched the glass with her finger, the little tropical fish swarmed towards her, as if to kiss the glass with their mouths. Her eyes sparkled with delight.

However,

“Wait…”

A tentacle, protruding from the aquarium’s bottom, quickly snatched at the tropical fish performing before Camila. The purple tentacle, resembling a mix between an octopus and a squid, swiftly pulled a few fish down to the depths.

Seeing that, Camila’s eyes dimmed.

The tropical fish that had huddled around her finger were long gone, and something that had once been a fish tail began to float towards the surface before being dragged down by the purple tentacle.

I patted Camila’s drooping shoulders with a sympathetic gaze.

“It’ll be alright, Camila.”

“Sniff…”

“In comparison to the UK, which released perch into Lake Victoria to wipe out tropical fish, raising a mollusk that eats tropical fish in an aquarium is… Ah! Fire! Fire! Put it out! Now!”

I was startled to see flames erupting from her tightly closed fist. Camila shot me a glare that said if I uttered another word like that, she’d shove her fiery fist down my throat.

As we bickered, the store employees briefly turned their attention to us before returning to their work.

But that didn’t matter. Francesca quietly called us over while threatening Camila with her flaming fist.

As she magically tidied up her attire, she casually surveyed the shop like an aristocrat on a day out when the Goblin who’d guided us finally spoke to Francesca.

“You’ve come to exchange, correct?”

“Yes.”

“This way, please.”

The Goblin guiding us gestured politely, leading the way. It paused in front of a desk, placing the candle down on top.

The employee seated at the desk exchanged glances with the Goblin. Since both were Goblins, their conversation flowed without any distance. In fact, all the shop employees were Goblins.

“Here’s the guest.”

“Have you come to exchange, Deputy Guild Master?”

“Right. First, assist with the appraisal.”

“Understood.”

The Goblin, referred to as Deputy Guild Master, turned and smiled at us.

“This is the staff member in charge of appraisals. A newcomer, but their skills are top-notch.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

“Yes. I have something to attend to, but if you have any questions, please ask our staff; they’ll answer kindly.”

The Goblin, bowing politely, disappeared into a room. The Goblin who had been introduced as a staff member pulled out a pair of round glasses and extended a hand.

“Please show me the item you wish to appraise.”

With a whoosh, jewels spilled from the Goblin’s hand. Francesca, letting the multicolored gems fall from her fingertips, rubbed her thumb and index finger together.

Beyond the glasses, the Goblin’s eyes sparkled with greed as it glanced at Francesca’s display.

“Hooh…”

As the jewels lay in his palm, the Goblin’s gaze grew tinged with desire.

Picking up one green gem with her fingers, the Goblin held it towards the bright lights, gently tapping the glasses.

As the lens glimmered, a strange color swept across the glass, making the Goblin’s eyes expand and contract in fascination.

Observing the Goblin’s actions, Camila leaned over and whispered in my ear.

“…What is that?”

“Using magic. Specifically, infusing magical power into a magical tool.”

It wasn’t me who answered. It was Pereyti, the head of the Order of Saint Andrew, who stroked his beard and looked curiously at the glasses.

“It’s magic to assist in appraisal by checking the gems. The magic is inscribed within the glasses, so anyone infused with magic can easily evaluate items.”

“Oh… so they use that for appraising gems?”

“Not limited to gems. Ancient artifacts like ceramics, artworks like paintings, and even cursed items can be appraised with it. Though, for discerning cursed items, even the most excellent magical tools cannot outdo a priest.”

Listening to him belittle mages while elevating priests left me at a loss for words.

The alchemist nearby smirked, finding it ridiculous. However, since neither Francesca nor Pereyti had the personality to engage in a battle of words for no reason, the situation did not escalate into a commotion.

Meanwhile, the Goblin stared at the jewels with an almost hypnotic fixation.

One might think it exhibited impressive concentration, yet observing the glinting greed behind his glasses and the snake-like tongue flicking over his lips dispelled that notion.

“Hmm.”

The Goblin, continuing with the appraisal, placed the gem on a silver tray.

The magical quill moved as if dancing, and the paper was filled with numbers and formulas.

*

The goblin, unable to take his eyes off the jewel, took off his monocle and tucked it into his upper pocket before scribbling numbers on a notepad and handing it to Francesca.

“I believe you can expect this amount from the appraiser.”

Francesca, looking over the figure written on the paper, nodded her head with a smile.

“Not bad at all.”

“But the market price will make a slight difference in the amount.”

The goblin handed her a new sheet of paper.

On that paper, only a shocking paltry sum remained compared to the initial appraisal.

Francesca’s eyes drew a line as she confirmed the figure. Though her smiling face remained unchanged, the smile now felt a bit different.

“Are you sure about this amount?”

“Of course. I take great pride in this precise figure without a hint of error. The price for investment jewels decreases over time because of the diminishing purity of the magic they contain. However, it’s still in decent condition, which is why I’ve appraised it at a reasonable price, excluding any fees.”

“……”

“If you need to bargain, that wouldn’t be impossible….”

“…Bargain?”

The goblin’s lips twisted into a smirk.

“Oh, I see. Bargaining isn’t a term for wizards, is it? I apologize for my foolish comment.”

“……”

Wizards are generally a proud race. It’s not that high-spirited humans gathered to form a magical society; it’s that living in that magical society has made their pride soar.

How could one be humble while flying around on a broomstick when others are trudging along? Therefore, actions that could lower pride are often considered taboo in wizard society.

One such action is bargaining. If those constantly seeking truth and knowledge cannot accurately assess the value of things, it’s deemed they lack the qualifications of a wizard.

Of course, not every wizard avoids bargaining when making purchases, but indirectly suggesting it and outright saying it to someone’s face are two entirely different stories. Bringing up the taboo of the group is more about feelings and face than reason or benefit.

And wizards value pride and face above all else.

“…Sigh.”

What was I expecting? What can one hope for in a black market? If haggling and humiliating someone were not pure scum behavior, I’d be surprised. The goblin in front of me was no different from a lowly merchant in Dongdaemun’s clothing market or Yongsan’s electronic market.

The thought that I’d struck out here brought a rush of irritation. What in the world is going on?

“Ugh—”

A strange sound escaped Francesca’s lips.

Looking at her violet eyes peeking between her narrowed lids, it almost seemed as if Francesca might summon elemental magic right then and there to rip the goblin in front of her to shreds.

However, no surge of magic pooled at her fingertips, nor did any bloodshed occur. Instead, Francesca’s voice rang out amid the noise of the goblins going about their business.

“Well, that’s fine. Let’s call off this deal.”

Collecting the jewel, Francesca turned to leave without losing her smile.

But then, the goblin employee’s voice from behind snagged her ankle.

“Where do you think you’re going? You haven’t paid yet!”

The goblin who had grasped the jewel extended his clawed hand toward Francesca.

“Paid? For what?”

“You need to cover the appraisal fee.”

The goblin extended one finger.

“For one jewel. Just give me the smallest one. If you have a Takron, you can use that to pay, too.”

“…That’s quite an expensive appraisal fee.”

“Well, everything has its price, doesn’t it?”

The goblin grinned, revealing his sharp teeth. Unlike the goblin I’d heard referred to as the deputy guild master earlier, this one’s yellowed, dirty teeth sparkled in the light.

A green finger, looking as though it might snap if held too tightly, pointed at us.

“If you can’t pay in cash or jewels, we can accept goods instead. Of course, at the correct price.”

“For example?”

“Like….”

The goblin’s finger pointed at Pereyti.

“Perhaps the sword that adventurer over there is holding. Or the brooch the wizard is wearing.”

“……”

“Of course, there would be an appraisal fee for the goods, but since you’re first-time users of our guild, we won’t charge you specially this time.”

The goblin’s mouth twisted in a way that made it seem as if he were mocking someone.

Even though the situation was getting a bit chaotic, the other goblin employees continued their tasks without so much as a glance in our direction.

“What will you do?”

I tapped Francesca on the shoulder, who was still conversing with the goblin.

“Just toss her a jewel. I’ll pay you back later.”

“Is that so…? I can’t help but wonder what you’ll offer me in return, Colonel.”

“…Let’s not do this between public servants. Let’s keep it fair.”

“Hmm…”

At that moment, the goblin scratching the desk finally spoke up.

“If you find goods burdensome, there’s another way.”

“Another way? What do you mean by that?”

“Repayment by services, of course.”

Sharp teeth flashed between his twisted lips.

“You all could help with our guild’s work. You can take home the remaining amount after deducting the referral and appraisal fees from the wages we pay.”

“Hmm… what kind of work is that?”

“Oh, don’t worry. It’s just similar to what adventurers do. Of course, unlike adventurers, it’s not exactly legal requests.”

“……”

Pereyti, a knight by title, kept gripping and releasing the handle of his sword. Illegal activities happening right where demonic beings were close during a state of emergency were things he couldn’t simply overlook.

Pereyti glared at the goblin with a menacing gaze, and I placed a hand on his shoulder.

“If you stir up trouble here, I’ll be in hot water. Me. And so will… you.”

“…Understood. I will restrain myself.”

I removed my hand from his shoulder.

Though the appraisal fee the goblin was demanding was fairly high, I had the means to pay it.

Francesca didn’t need to pull out a jewel; I could cover it simply from the funds provided by the Military Intelligence Agency.

Getting caught here as a diplomat would be a huge problem. I might escape without being detected if I went back now, but if a knife fight broke out and the Military Police caught wind of it, a call could come from the Imperial Foreign Affairs Department to the Embassy of the Kingdom of Abas.

So, I had to slip out as quietly as possible…

“Hmm, who would be good? The wizard? Or the knight? The one in tracksuits in the back looks decent, but the lady next to him isn’t bad either.”

“Eh? Me?”

Suddenly called upon, Camila pointed to herself in confusion. The goblin who had been grinning nodded eagerly.

“Seeing your attire similar to that of this wizard, you must be a wizard too. How about trying a job with our guild?”

Gaining a broader smile, the goblin suddenly fell back into his chair.

The fallen goblin headbutted the floor and, embodying an armadillo, rolled around in a daze.

*Thud. *Snap.*

His nose crumpled against the floor, and he screamed in pain, clutching his face while blood dripped onto the marble floor in little drops.

“…Damn it!”

The sudden scream made all the goblins jump to their feet.

Pereyti, who had been silently watching, finally spoke in a disgruntled tone.

“Didn’t I tell you to keep your hands to yourself? What are you doing swinging punches?”

“…Ah.”

I rose from my seat, surveying the goblins surrounding us and glancing down at my blood-stained fist.

“Crap.”

Old habits resurfaced.

*

It all happened in an instant.

The goblin who got punched sat down clutching his nose, wailing, while the others, fastidiously working beforehand, now surrounded us, glaring.

Watching the encroaching goblin horde, Francesca smiled faintly.

“We’re in trouble. What will you do, Colonel?”

“Hmm….”

Francesca’s smile remained. Though she was smiling, her voice was chilling, and her gaze was ice-cold. What seemed like a smile was anything but.

Pereyti, gripping his sword, clucked his tongue in frustration.

“Tch. Why’d you start this ruckus?”

“It’s just an old habit that slipped out…”

“Do you have a habit of punching faces? That’s quite a nasty habit. When we return, you’d better stop by the church and repent.”

“Let’s save the spiritual talks for later; for now, let’s just get ready to fight, both of you.”

“Understood, Administrator.”

Pereyti unsheathed his sword, standing side by side with Francesca as she gathered magic at her slender fingertips and pulled out a vial from her robe.

Francesca laughed in disbelief.

“If I’d known this would happen, I would’ve brought a rune sword.”

“Do you know how to handle one?”

“A little.”

“How impressive. Truly noble of you.”

Behind the two, Camila appeared, looking puzzled.

She leaned over to me as she had done before and began to whisper urgently.

“Excuse me. It feels like we are doomed, right?”

“Seems so.”

“Seriously, why do you keep stirring up trouble? You’re a grown adult.”

“…Old habits kicked in.”

“Why on earth do you have a habit of hitting people…?”

Well, urgent situations might call for a punch to the face during interrogations. Normally, I don’t resort to violence, but there could come a time when I need information, and that moment might require some force.

Just like now.

*Rustle.*

“Hey! Everyone, get out here!”

“Knives! Grab your knives!”

“Strip him down!”

“Wizard! Be careful!”

The goblins pulled out knives, axes, clubs, and other weaponry from who-knows-where. Watching goblins in fancy suits arm themselves felt like I was watching a B-grade gang movie.

With every intention of tearing us apart, the goblins made their approach, and I turned to look at the window. It was too crowded to see the sky, but it was a chilly, windy winter’s night.

“What a perfect day to die.”

“Stop babbling and do something!”

Camila, sparking flames from her hands, yelled. I raised my gun, retrieving it from my waist.

The sudden appearance of the pistol left the goblins flabbergasted.

“A gun…?”

“Hey, what the hell?! Is that a cop or something?!”

“Go get the deputy guildmaster!”

A few goblins dashed off toward where the goblin referred to as deputy guildmaster disappeared. The goblins facing us were now sweating profusely, clutching their tools as if they would break.

Seeing this, Francesca chuckled softly.

“Bringing you along was a good idea…”

“I’m not some dog; why do you speak as if I’m out for a stroll? I’m doing this for free.”

“Shouldn’t you be the one paying me? After all, you lost the bet and started this mess.”

“Ugh…”

Not only had I been played by an information agent, but I’d also burn with embarrassment amongst my intelligence superiors. When they hear how I got scammed by an information source in Africa for $3000, I’d undoubtedly become the butt of jokes until retirement.

“I’d rather die…”

“Let’s not give up just yet. We need to make it out alive.”

“If we fire a gun, the Military Police will come after us.”

“Let’s lose them. Otherwise, we’ll have to bribe them somehow.”

“Bribe? I’ve had coffee, held meetings with the commander, and even ate meals… Why should I pay off some low-level goons?”

Camila suddenly raised a flailing cry. She urged us in a frantic voice.

“Stop rambling and get it together, quickly!”

Magic flared from Camila’s fists. Pereyti’s sword gleamed coldly, reflecting the light, while Francesca gathered magic at her fingertips with a vial gripped in her other hand.

I steadied the pistol, targeting the larger goblins wielding threatening weapons among their ranks.

“…Who do you think is going to make the first move?”

“Just don’t get hurt.”

Gun, sword, axe, club, magic.

With each prepared weapon, everybody glared at one another, waiting for the moment to strike when—

“What’s going on over there?”

From the direction where the goblins had run off, a peculiar voice called out.

 

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