Goblin Library - Chapter 107

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 107.

Choi Ok-ja smiled and sat down beside me as I glanced in her direction.
“You’re watching Goblin novels like regular novels or dramas now. That conversation you two just had… it sounded like middle-aged women discussing morning dramas.”
“Did it?”
“A little.”
Choi Ok-ja continued, looking at me.
“At first you seemed uncomfortable with it, but now it looks like you’ve let go of a lot of that resistance.”
“Ah…”
I nodded. In the beginning, I had felt burdened and uneasy reading novels written by observing real people in the human world.
But now I was reading them as comfortably as I would any ordinary novel or drama.
“Because I belong to the Goblin World now.”
I had one foot in the Goblin World. And in that world, I was working at the Goblin Library, where novels written by Goblins were collected.
In such circumstances, I couldn’t keep my distance from these novels or view them negatively. It was better to accept them…
“It seems good that you’re offering advice in a positive way.”
“In a positive way?”
“Like how you subtly stepped in when Lim Sung-un was in mortal danger.”
I laughed and explained about Lim Sung-un, then continued.
“It’s good to have a prosecutor like that. Someone who punishes the wealthy and powerful for their crimes.”
“That’s true.”
“So when I read novels, I want to help people who need it.”
As I spoke, I looked at the Dung Carrier Goblin.
“Of course, with the permission of the Goblin authors.”
The Dung Carrier Goblin nodded.
“That’s right. No matter that you’re human, if you’re going to interfere in a novel, you need the author’s permission.”
At their words, Choi Ok-ja nodded and smiled as she spoke.
“So that’s why you’ve been enjoying Bamboo Sword Goblin’s books lately.”
“I’m also reading the Company President’s novels, and I frequently read works by Pot Goblin, Shoe Goblin, and my brother’s writings.”
At my words, Choi Ok-ja’s expression grew puzzled.
“You’ve only read novels from those four authors?”
“Oh! I’ve also read Da-hyang Goblin’s novels.”
“That’s still only five.”
Seeing the bewilderment in Choi Ok-ja’s eyes, I looked at her and asked.
“What… why? Is that too few?”
Then Choi Ok-ja turned the question back to me.
“How many months has it been since you started working at the Goblin Library?”
“Not long. I started before summer began, and now autumn is approaching.”
“There are so many books in the Goblin Library. If you don’t hate reading, since you’ve ended up working at a place like the Goblin Library, why don’t you read various books? It’ll help you in life.”
“Help with living?”
Choi Ok-ja laughed at Yu Tae-poong’s confused expression and spoke.
“I found Gluttony Goblin’s books really entertaining.”
“Gluttony Goblin?”
“After reading that older brother’s books, I became interested in cooking, which is how I ended up running this restaurant.”
“Gluttony… that sounds like someone who loves eating. You became interested in cooking after reading novels about someone like that?”
Gluttony referred to someone with a voracious appetite. It wasn’t entirely unrelated to cooking, but if I was being honest, I thought a goblin associated with fine dining or kitchen work would be more fitting than one obsessed with eating.
Choi Ok-ja explained to the bewildered Yu Tae-poong.
“Loving food means having a strong interest in cuisine. That’s why Gluttony Goblin’s books featured many stories about chef protagonists.”
Choi Ok-ja’s smile faded as she gazed into the distance.
“Now that I think about it, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen Gluttony Goblin.”
Just then, Dung Carrier Goblin suddenly interjected.
“I don’t like that bastard.”
Choi Ok-ja laughed at Dung Carrier Goblin’s words.
“You’ve always disliked Gluttony Goblin, haven’t you?”
“Did I dislike him for no reason? He dislikes me, so how could I possibly like him?”
Then Choi Ok-ja spoke.
“You should try to understand Gluttony Goblin.”
“Understand?”
“That older brother lives for the pleasure of eating… but honestly, being around you makes it hard for him to enjoy his meals.”
“Tch! That’s just my nature—I can’t help it. Have I ever complained about watching him eat? My stomach feels like it’s going to burst just from watching him eat, and yet I don’t say a word.”
“That’s Gluttony Goblin’s nature too.”
Choi Ok-ja continued with a smile.
“And since you’ve changed so much from before, wouldn’t it be good to meet him once?”
“Meet?”
“Gluttony Goblin would be quite surprised to see how you’ve changed, wouldn’t he?”
“I don’t want to see him…”
Watching Dung Carrier Goblin grumble, Yu Tae-poong smiled softly. I could guess the situation.
Dung Carrier Goblin always reeked of filth, so as someone who loved eating, Gluttony Goblin had no choice but to despise him.
The saying about losing one’s appetite wasn’t without reason.
“Let’s invite him. Show him that you’re not the Dung Carrier Goblin of old. Tell him you’ve evolved with the times—a more advanced goblin.”
At my suggestion, Dung Carrier Goblin looked at me.
“You think so?”
Then Dung Carrier Goblin turned to Choi Ok-ja.
“Call him. I’ll show him what kind of goblin I am.”
Choi Ok-ja smiled and opened her mouth.
“Gluttony Goblin, Gluttony Goblin, Gluttony Goblin.”
“It’s been a while.”
Before Choi Ok-ja could finish speaking, a handsome young man in neat formal attire appeared beside the dining table—Gluttony Goblin.
Gluttony Goblin squinted at the sight of Dung Carrier Goblin, then tilted his head in confusion.
“Huh? Why don’t you have a smell?”
At the Gluttony Goblin’s question, the Dung Carrier Goblin cleared his throat and spoke.
“Ahem! We goblins must keep pace with the times too. We can’t go on clinging to our old ways forever.”
Something about his pompous tone made the Gluttony Goblin nod at him.
“That’s true. It looks good and doesn’t smell—that’s nice.”
Then the Gluttony Goblin pulled up a chair and sat down, saying:
“It’s been a while since I’ve had some of Ok-ja’s cooking.”
Seeing the noodles the two were eating, the Gluttony Goblin began placing an order.
“I’ll have noodles too. Oh! Both the spicy mixed and the celebration style. And fried eggs as well. And various pancakes too… what else do you have here?”
“I’ll prepare a nice variety for you.”
As Choi Ok-ja smiled and headed into the kitchen, the Gluttony Goblin picked up his chopsticks.
“I’m eating the fried eggs.”
“You’d eat them even if I told you not to.”
At the Dung Carrier Goblin’s words, the Gluttony Goblin nodded.
“That’s true enough.”
The Gluttony Goblin slurped down the fried egg with its yolk still runny and nodded contentedly.
“The yolk’s still alive.”
With a pleased laugh, the Gluttony Goblin looked at Yu Tae-poong.
“Who’s that?”
“New employee at the Goblin Library.”
“Ah! A descendant of Old Man with a Hump.”
At the Gluttony Goblin’s response, as if he knew of me, I laughed and bowed my head.
“I’m Yu Tae-poong, a descendant of Old Man with a Hump from the fairy tales.”
“Right, I’ve heard plenty about you. I’m the Gluttony Goblin.”
“It seems I’m quite famous in the Goblin World.”
“Famous indeed. You’re the descendant of Old Man with a Hump, who tricked a goblin and escaped unscathed.”
The Gluttony Goblin spoke with a laugh.
“Back then, the Bamboo Sword Goblin searched every corner of Goryeo looking for Old Man with a Hump.”
“That’s right.”
“Ah! But how did you escape the Bamboo Sword Goblin’s eyes?”
Then the Gluttony Goblin looked at me.
“Do you happen to know?”
“I don’t. I only found out recently that Old Man with a Hump was even my ancestor.”
“Is that so? Slurp!”
The Gluttony Goblin slurped down another fried egg and spoke.
“Old Man with a Hump was a rascal when you think about it. He tricked a goblin and even took the gold.”
“Don’t talk about it when the Bamboo Sword Goblin’s around. Back then, he was like a madman, running all over the country, ranting about killing anyone he caught.”
“I know that too.”
With a laugh, the Gluttony Goblin looked at me.
“Anyway, you’re lucky.”
“Me?”
“If I hadn’t given Bamboo Sword Goblin something to eat back then, even if I hadn’t killed him, he would’ve walked around with….”
Gluttony Goblin brought both his fists up beneath his chin.
“…two lumps like these hanging from his face.”
“Ah… I also think I was incredibly fortunate back then.”
“That’s right. You were lucky.”
As Gluttony Goblin was about to eat his third fried egg with a chuckle, Choi Ok-ja emerged carrying two bowls of noodles.
“Huh? Why did you bring them out so quickly?”
“I boiled the noodles a bit longer for these two gentlemen. If it’s not enough, please have more. That’s why it came out so fast.”
Listening to Choi Ok-ja’s words, Gluttony Goblin twirled the bibimbap noodles with his chopsticks and brought them to his mouth, then spoke with satisfaction.
“It tastes good.”
“Please, have plenty.”
Gluttony Goblin nodded and slurped down the noodles enthusiastically. Watching him eat, Dung Carrier Goblin suddenly asked.
“Your appearance has changed?”
“How so?”
“How so? You just look like a goblin.”
At Dung Carrier Goblin’s retort, Choi Ok-ja laughed and spoke.
“It seems like it’s been a very long time since you two have seen each other.”
“It has been a while. Ah! So Ok-ja must have seen Gluttony Goblin before this form? You recognized him right away when you saw him like this.”
“He used to visit our restaurant occasionally to sample the food.”
Gluttony Goblin added to Choi Ok-ja’s words while eating his noodles.
“If my palate is satisfied, wherever I go is bound to prosper.”
Having finished his bowl of bibimbap noodles, Gluttony Goblin lifted the bowl of celebratory noodles, drank the broth, and spoke with a smile.
“In the old days, even if I had some weight on me, people didn’t look down on me.”
“That’s true. Back then, if someone was plump, people assumed they were the child of a wealthy family and actually viewed them favorably. That’s why you used to walk around with a rounder body back then.”
“I did.”
Gluttony Goblin picked up an egg strip from the celebratory noodles and ate it as he spoke.
“But these days it’s different. When I go around in my old body eating according to my appetite, humans stare at me strangely.”
“You changed your appearance because of how humans look at you? Ha! You’re bringing shame to all goblins.”
I laughed at Dung Carrier Goblin’s incredulous expression. It seemed unfair for him to say such things, given that he had changed his clothes and even sprayed himself with scent to mask his odor because of people’s gazes.
Of course, that wasn’t so much about being conscious of others’ opinions as it was about changing to walk alongside me.
Gluttony Goblin sighed and shook his head.
“I didn’t want to change either. But I could hear what people were saying behind my back.”
“What were they saying behind your back?”
“Look at that pig bastard eating. Looks like a pig, eats like one too. Wow, he really goes at it. Oink, oink.”
The goblin’s brow furrowed as he spoke.
Dung Carrier Goblin, listening to this, seemed equally exasperated and asked him.
“What?! You heard that and just let it slide? They dared mock a goblin behind his back?”
“Let it slide? I made sure they got proper misfortune for that.”
“That’s right. If they dare ridicule a goblin, they deserve misfortune.”
The Dung Carrier Goblin’s agreement made the Gluttony Goblin nod in assent.
“Exactly what I’m saying.”
“But why did you change your appearance? We goblins don’t need to worry about human eyes, do we?”
Truth be told, if it weren’t for Yu Tae-poong, the Dung Carrier Goblin would still be wandering around in his original form. Had he cared about others’ gazes, he wouldn’t have spent centuries looking the way he did.
“Every fifth meal or so, something like that happens… and it ruins my appetite.”
“Your appetite?”
“How can I enjoy eating when someone’s criticizing my appearance while I’m eating? And when I hear such things while savoring delicious food, my appetite gets even worse.”
The Gluttony Goblin shook his head.
“I can tolerate most things, but losing my appetite is unbearable. That’s why I changed my appearance. If I look neat and tidy like this, people won’t mock me even if I eat a lot.”
“I suppose for you, Gluttony Goblin, appetite is more important than anything else in the world. It’s your very essence, after all.”
“That’s right.”
For a goblin, essence is paramount. So rather than changing appearance because of others’ gazes themselves, I had done so to eat freely without drawing attention.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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